Arms, Prisoners, Etc. October 15th, 1814
Cramahe 15th October 1814
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of you letter dated the 21st the 24 Inst. , which but for sickness I should have answered sooner; I beg leave to report to you, that as soon as I heard Ensign Meyers had arrived at the head of the Bay of Quinte with the Arms I directed the Quarter Master of Northumberland Militia to go and take charge of the Arms, and to give out Ten Stands to each of the Eight Companies of the Regiment, with the equal proportion of ammunition, Flints etc., Captain Porter refused to take any of the Arms, saying if he could not have enough for his company he would have none, therefore I directed the Quarter Master to give his ten stands to the three next Companies;
On the 10th Instant I received a Requisition from Major Rogers to furnish Two officers, two Sergeants and twenty four Privates, and to be at the Court House in Hamilton by 9 o’clock on the 12th Inst. to escort American Prisoners of War from there to Kingston, upon which I immediately sent an order to Captain Porter for a Sergeant and Eight Men from his Company, on the 13th Inst. a M. McKenney, who I had recommended in my Return of the 24th September last, called on me and said he had prevailed on three or four of Captain Porter’s men to go with him to the Escort, though they would not take Arms when he offered to furnish them, and McKenney said no Sergeant was going from that Company; Please have the goodness to direct me how to proceed with Captain Porter, who I think has been very remiss in his duty in both cases. I have the honour to be Sir, your most obedient humble servant M. Peters Lieutenant Colonel 1st Regiment Northumberland Militia.
To: Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Coffin Deputy Adjutant of Militia N.C. Contents: Letters The Arms forwarded by Ensign Meyers has arrived and that in the Distribution of them Captain Porter would not accept of any; further Captain Porter has been very remiss in his duty. Dated October 15th 1814
Source: National Archives RG 9C1-B-1 Northumberland 1814