Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-20
From the Ncw.york Commercial Advertiser.
THE BATTLE OF THAMES RIVER.


Some weeks ago, we published in this paper,
Commercial and Spectator,) a communication,
purpor,ing to be from the Note Book OF
,rav, Her, and 10 be narration OF the incidents
leading TO the gallant victory over Gen. Proctor
and his savage allies, in the battlr IN which
Tecumseh was killed We made some preia-
tory remarks Introducing this communication,
intimating that its objects might perhaps be
sinister Whether they were so. or were not,
we have since taken occasion TO examine the
official account Of the affair in question. IN
c0nntXion wish reports ot unques'ionabie ans
lnenticiiy, and deem II an act OF s'mple Justce
TO recuty any erroneous impressions which
may have been derived from the story which an
anonymous informant lod our anonymous COR
respondent The article, as TO style and lively
presentation Of incidents, was well written,
and came through a respectable channel.
Whether there was "snake in the grass or
not, the accounts gave 10 the Colonies John.
sons, the exclusive, or rather original merit oil
thr complete and comparatively cheaply galh-
I'd victory on that occ aston. we would PUCK
no single leaf from the well-carned ladrtls oil
those brave men; nor shall we do so, by giving
as fair statement as we can, from the docu'
m'nts before us, Of that action. This il due
TO General Harrison, who commanded, aud 10
Historical truth, which may, perhaps, be So
phsrcated, even by chance anonymous COM
municatlon in newspaper We gi'an the fol-
lowing brief sketch from materials indlspu'a
he Msflsrn G4aty Sz R9sezs 4ess,
a { ap,aiu in Colonel John,on's 5 moudred regi'
snent ard KEEP, a journai)-- Dd,cs0"'s Nara
tire Cincinnati, 1884, the testimony Of Comma
dofe Perry. who served as the volunteer aid Of
Gen. II as it is recorded IN the same book; and
letter from Governor Shelby, copied into
Niles Regis er, vol. loih, page 425 The
substance of these accounts can br c0rroborated
by oh,r authentic evidence within our each,
if necessary. We stale IT, therefore, with all
possible brevity
.On The 5;h October, sl3, the forces under
GeHeral Harrison, amounting in The total 10
300 meH at most, having crossed the Thames,
came up to Gen. Proctor's position. The
Americ an force consisted Of 30 regulars, 80
Ind ans and $500 militia infantry, and mounted
volunteers. That of The British, as has since
been ascer aimed from authentic returns, con-
sisted IF 1900 northern Indians and or 90
regulars. These Indians, disciplined accord>
ing TO heir mode Of warfare, which proved so
fatal TO Braddock, Harmer and 81. Clair, were
led by Tecumsch. The regulars were veterans.
The advantage was therefore manifestly on the
side Of the enemy. He, too, was relrea,ing
towards his resources, while our troops were
departing from Theirs. The battle must have
proved most sangunary one, and It's issue
might have bren different, but for happy
change in the contemplated mode of attack by
the Americans, sugges ed by military genius
The position Of the enemy was, IN the main,
correctly described by our unknown cores
a.
in two lines, with their left on the river, and
their right exteNding 10 swamp which ran
parallel wi it, their artillery being planted in
the road, near The bank Of The river. There
was an upland beyond this swamp, occupied by
the left OF the Indians, where Tecomseh com
manded in person, son which the underground
was of tolerable thickness; while their right
extended to considerable distance down the
ma marsh, the marsi in Of which, al this place
rtctded very fast from The river, and formed
very ohtu>e angle with the lines % The army"
TNe British wing was The we,kcs part of the
poSuor, and Gen. Harrison, in consequence
determined 'to rtfuSe his left to The Indians, and
Il ack he regulars with his right, reinforced
with oil the disposable force Of his f." The
best arrangements which the circumstances
'dmi'led OF, we're made for This purpose; and
the America infantry were on the poin, Of be-
ing, put in motion, when Ma jor " God, who
had been sent To recnEnoitre, returned and IN.
formed Gen. Harrison that the British troops,
viii were drawnu in two lines, being unable
II occupy the whole spare between The swamp
and the river, in close order, had accomplished
1t by opening their files. Gen. Harrison imme>
dateiy observed, sit is a bunder which they
shall! repent; we mast alter our disposition.
lnstr d of sending Johnson to the swamp, he
shat barge tie British lines. H. will break
ihroHsh them, with muskets and rifles, with
out bres. The infantry can take advantage Of
then confusion, and Complete their discom6>
t"'e Orders were given accordingly and
srccufed. Ii is unnecessary for US to go into a
detail which NAV be found in the works We
have referred 10. History will record with
equal justice and pride, the quick observation