South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-09-03

caused each corps to occupy the ground
on which it was 10 fight, in case of an
attack, and the men were ordered to
sleep in their clothes and on their arms.
The result proved his sagacity. As
he had predicted, the Indians attacked
his line an hour or two before day
light, and one Of the most desperate
battles eusued that the records Of In.
dian warfare contain. The enemy
kept their ground two hours, and what
is unusual with them, made repeated
charges on our troops. During the
whole of the battle Governor Har.
rison was on horseback, in the midst
of the conflict, directing every move
msnt 10 person. AT length the Indi-
ans gave way, and fled. Our troops
took possession of the town, burnt il,
destroyed the corn.felds, and then lei
surely returned to Vincennes. By that
movement the deep-laid plan of Te-
cumseh was frustrated, the Indians dis.
hearteued, and the entire frontier of
Indiana obtained security.
Notwithstanding the important re-
suits ofthat victory were manifest, there
we're those who attempted to rob the
victor of his well-earned laurels. A.
n,ong other. things it was alleged that
his force was greatly superior in num-
bers to the Indians. This faIsehood
was easily pu. down. AS soon as the
report began to circulate, l wrote to
my friend, Captain Wells, Indian A.
gent at Fort Wayne, requesting infor.
nation on the subject. lie answered
me promptly that number of his own
tribe Miamis) had returned from the
battle, some of them wounded that
he had seen a number belonging to tue
tribes, on their way home from the
battle, some Of them badly wounded !;
that he had conversed with them, and
that, from their reports, the number
engaged against Harrison was a, leas,
twelve hundred. Sir, | will venture
to affirm, twelve hundred Northern In
dams were never before defeated and
routed by eight hundred white men.
Harmar and st. Clair outn umbered
their opponents, yet both we're defeat
ed, and the victory Of Wayne was OBJ
tanned over an Indian force much infe-
rior to his own. 1t will be recollected
that the battle of Tippecanoe was
fought and won shortly before the
commencement of the late war with
Great Britain. Harrison had scarcely
rested from the fatigues of his recent
campaign, when the war commenced.
He had just obtained security for the
frontier of Indiana, when his attention
was attracted to the exposed situation
of ours. Hull had marched to Ds-
troit, without establishing posts on his
route, to secure supplies. The Iadi-
ans were between him and our frontiel
settlements, which, Of course, were sx-
posed to depreda,ions. Harrison saw
our danger, and hasteaed to our relief.
He resigned the government of lads
ana, came to this place as a private CT
tizan and volunteer in our cause, rea-
dy to throw himself between US and
the danger that threatened. This move
ment excited general attention, and all
eyes we're turned to him as the defen-
der Of Ohio. As yet, however, he was
private citizen, without military rank,
or coamand. Oar sister State, Ken
lucky, knew him thoroughly, and, ha
wing entire confidence ia his talents,
prudence, and courage, created nm a
Major General in their militia. Abou.
the same time, the President appointed
him Brigadier, and soon after Ma
jor General, AMI gave him the com
mand, in chief, OF the Northwestern
army. From the time he assumed the
command the frontier settlers felt them.
selves sale, and those who had Ieh
their cabins and retreaied with their
families TO the more dense settlements
for safely, left their block houses, and
returned 10 their farms. Such was the
confidence inspired by the presence OF
Harrison.
1t is impossible to estimate, correct
ly, the distressing, perplexlpg difficuI-
ties he mad to encounter in collecting
and transporting to the neighporhooa
OF the lake the material necessary to
make descent on Canada. Every
article was to be carried over an ex-
tensive wilderness, then uoinhabited,
without roads or canals Of any descrip-
ton. Ii frequently happened that wa.
CONS started rom the settlements, loa
ded with provender, which was almost