14th. We moved to the fort, and received a supply of provisions (salt, flour, and whiskey); we had been without salt ever since the 7th, and without flour two days.
16th. A detachment of one hundred men was sent this morning six miles below the fort, to a suitable place of timber to build pirogues.
18th. (Sunday.) The troops marched to the centre, agreeably to a general order, to hear the Rev. Mr. Shannon preach a sermon suited to the times. While he was zealously engaged there were six or seven guns fired down the river in quick succession; this alarmed the whole congregation—every one flew to his arms and left the speaker alone. The alarm originated from a pirogue party, who had just arrived with a pirogue for a supply of provisions.
19th. The fort was finished and christened “Fort Winchester.� It is composed of four block-houses, a hospital and storehouse, and picketed between each block-house, containing about a quarter of an acre.
20th. The General issued an order for the troops to be assembled every morning at 9 o’clock, at such places near the encampment, as the commanding officers might deem convenient, and cause the rolls to be called, and mark all delinquents; and there, until 12 o’clock, practice the manual exercise, and manœuvre according to Smith’s instructions for infantry.
27th. In consequence of Gen. Winchester’s receiving information, he issued an order respecting clothing, which will show a flattering prospect of being supplied, an extract of which is as follows:—
“General Orders.—Fort Winchester, Oct. 27, 1812.
“With great pleasure the General announces to the army the prospect of an early supply of winter clothing, amongst which are the following articles exported from Philadelphia on the 9th of September last, viz. 10,000 pairs of shoes, 5,000 blankets, 5,000 round jackets, 5,000 pairs of pantaloons, woollen cloth, to be made and forwarded to the westward immediately; besides the winter clothing for Col. Wells’s regiment some days before; 1,000 watch-coats, ordered from Philadelphia the 7th of October, 1812. September 24th, 5,000 blankets and 1,000 yards of flannel. 25th, 10,000 pairs of shoes. 29th, 10,000 pairs of woollen hose, 10,000 do. socks.
“Yet a few days and the General consoles himself with the idea of seeing those whom he has the honor to command clad in warm woollen, capable of resisting the northern blasts of Canada.
“J. Winchester,
“Brigadier-Gen. Commanding Left Wing N. W. Army.�