Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-09-10
Ess0ssssaasgsIs
GENERAL W. II. HARRISON.

10 crafty public cufio>v the following sketch
oil In" llle Of Gen. llNRulsoN has been principally
prepared anu condensed from AN article in the
Port Polio Of 1916, and from other sources:
Major General VIM. II. Harrison is descended
nom one 81 the Oldest and most respectable lami-
lies Of Virginia. family whose name may be
traced IN the highest order of office TIN oueh the ear
lest records OF the Colony His father, BENJAMIN
Harrison, rendered himself particularly conSpicu-
Gus ny hls prompt adoption of the OF the col
onlrN, ana his ardent devotion 10 it. In defence
OF thcr rights aud independence he ha2nded his
HE, his extensive fortune aud all his hopes, and
resolved to rise or fail wiki the fortunes of America
Such noble and d,iutcrestcd zeal, together with
talents ot 4 h9h oltlcr, naturally drew TO him the
confidence of ms eounlrNmcn, and he was elected
one OF the Representatives of the State of Nirei
MA IN the Continental Congress during the scS-
Slons of l17i, - and 20, altel which he declined
Il re-Clcotion-h0th having been elected a member
WIS chosen Speaker of the House of Delegates Of
the State, which Office he filed until the year l7S2
"hea he as appointed Governor Of Virginia, upon
the resignation Of Governor Nelson. While in
congress he IIei The important post of Chairman
"i the Board OF " ar, and was Chairman OF the au-
Gust assembly ia which the Declaration of Indie
peadence was debated to that instrument he had
The nigh honor of afNne hS name. In all these
denihed stations he cvnecd much spirit, pat
fIour Acal and wisdom, that, with each successive
sf9!ltlon al Office he rose in the esteem affection
and confidence of his fellow -ciiizens, till, At
eH2th he reached the hieh elevation grarca
with the Wa hingtou>, the llcnr,s, the Randolphs,
and other lllu,uiou, men who formed that spcn-
did constellation Of worthless which will immortal
ne the era of the Revolution.
VIM. II. Harrison, the Youngest son of this zen
tenan, WIS at an carly age placed at grammar
school, from which hc wis sent To llampdcn Sid
ney College, where he remained ill the end of his
ith year, when lac was removed to anacadcmv in
Southampton County, at which he continued Ill lie
entered upon his I7th year. Having been dcstin-
ed 10y his father To the medical profession, he WIS
placed for a short time under the tuition of Doc
tor Lcper, respectable practitioner OF Richmond,
and in the spring of l79l was sent to Philadelphia
to complete his medical studies While on hi,
Journey, however, to thai city, his father died, and
he determined to abandon profession which he
had consented To enter upon merely to crafty that
gentleman. About this time, General Henry
Lee, ot lrgina, advised HIM to take n COM
mission IN the Army, which advise he unhes-
natnglv accepted. lie accordingly solicited
and obtained commission in the L. :. In
flntry, then employed ON the western waters
under General St Clair After spending few
weeks in Phadelp lia. engaged in the recruiting
service, he proceeded 10 Join his regiment, and
arrived at fon-N ashington, in the Northwestern
Territory, a few days after the memorable and dis
aSrou, defeat of 81. Glars army by the indians
lie was then in his 10Th year. While here he was
aPp5intedto the command of u detachment of 20
men ordered to escort number Of pack horses TO
Fort llamton-a duty which, though it was al
tended by all the difficulties, pcrilS and privatons
oi Indian warfare, lac accomplished well thai he
received the public thanks of General ST Clair for
his conduct Soon after this occurrence Cen St
Clair scr out for Philadelphia, and Gen. Wilkinson
succeeded him in the command Of the army OF
this event Gen Harrison always speaks with plea
sure. To the Kind care OF this officer he was in
great measure indebted for his preservation from
the seductive vice of intempcrance then prevalent
in the army, and for the formation of those rigid
habits Of temperance To which he has adhered
through life.
In June 1903, Harrison Joined that portion Of
the army which was commanded by Gen. Wayne,
then stationed ON the Ohio river, a short distance
bclo" Cincinnati, and WAS appointed second aid
de-camp 10 the General, having, in the proceed
inc year, been raised to ii licutcnancy in the FIRST
regiment.
1t was not till June 1911, thai Gen. Wayne was
enabled To marchIrom Grecnyillc, (o which place,
IN September preceding, he removed from Cincin-
nati) the enemy retrcatmg before him as he adj
vanccd. He took and destroyed the town of the
Indians, and advanced upon the British fort lately
built at the Rapids Of the Miami. The Indians
had collected in thi, neighborhood, and on the
2olh of August opposed the march of the Amer.-
can army, who Soon routed them, and driving them
to Wilma short distance of the fort encamped
in full view Of it. In this battle Iiarrson's con-
duct received the warmeNt applause from Gen.
Naync.
Inthe autumn of 1895, Mr.. Harrison (now a
captain) Vas married to the youngest daughter OF