Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-08-13

II upper Snndnsdy 10 The right or left. Tho
cannon had not arrived, but they were being
o,oved forward AZ fast as they could be-, undor
the circu,nstances. The Petersburg (Va.Dvol
uhteers, were combating the mud and FROST
/ by the wny OF Hull's road. met them the
third or fourth day after Winclesler's defeat
and they had been from sunrise until dark,
10 marching three miles. The supplies for
the winter campaign, with the exception OF
comparatively small quantity, were East
| and South OF tho river IL was ~ onsideratlon
Of these prominent facts, aad others which
Il time will not permit me 10 enuDeratc, that
conduccd 10 the advice given by the officers
| to Gen. HARRISON, to take a position at the
crossings oi the Portage river, about II miles
from the Rapids Of the Maunee, where he
could cover the cannon and provisions, and
concentrate the troops. was not member
Of the council, not having u commission. and
] relote the facts as understood them at the
time. The night Of the day we lett the
Rapids, the ram fell ~ torrents, and broke
up tho ice ~ the river His conduct at the
time, so tar as know or believe, was univer-
sally approved by every person who was ac-
| qnninted with the movements Of the army,
and the circumstances referred TO. The
| Legislature Of tins State WAS then IN session,
and ] was despatched by Gen. Harrison, "soi
| itdry and alone, through the wllderne s. and
there was not a house from the Mnumcc Rap
ids to Champagne county, inhabited by II
Il white man To ChillIcolhe, to bcar intelli
gsnce OF Winclestsr's doleat, and submit to
the Legislature the request OF Gen. Harrison
To ofier bounty to the militia from this
State, to remain IN service, At necessary, after
Il Tho expiration of their ak months service
! Such was the entire confidence IN the militia
| ~ skill, experience, prudence aud bravery Ut
Gen. HARRISON, that such act was passed with
out, believe, dissenting voice, and ! 40 0O0
were appropriated 10 carry the provisions Of
the act INTO effect.
Il The act was passed on the Cd Of February
1873 aud may be found in Chase's edition OF
the laws, vol.2, page 193. II the Leglsla,
ture had entertained tn, least doubt Of Gen.
Harrisop's courage, or fitness for HE rcspon-
sible station he occupied, no bounty would
havo been offered the militia to remain III
1 the service. In Iine or ten days the concen-
trated army, with the cannon and provisions,
| moved forward ~ the foot Of the Rapids, and
built Fort Mcgs
\ have mentioned, thus briefly, some fncts,
|. TO enable you to form al opinion Of the propri-
ETY. OF Gen. llarrlsons conduct during the
winter Of 1913, aud have adverted t, the act
OF the Legislature OF tins State IN aid OF
the opinion ] shall give in answer to your
| question. Whoever served IN that campaign
and calls 10 mind the condition Of that sec.
ton of the county, must be filed with won
| der, that an army maintained its position
there at all. A kind and ovcrruing Provi.
dcDce has thus far raised up, and qualified
men TO act for this beloved country, in i'm.
portant exigences; and to that station was
Gen. Harrison called, as commander of the
Northwestern army-and he was cInnently
httcd for the difficulties aud trials he had to
encounter As u military commander, he
has my full confidence. a General of less
skill aud prudence, would have sacrificed the
Northwestern Army. lie not only never lost
n battle, but, where his orders were obeyed,
no disaster beyond the fortune OF war ever
occurred. la corrobora;ion Of my own opin.
ION, refer you to the testimony Of Governor
Shelby, Of Col. X. NJ. Johnson, Of Gen. IIar-
rIson's aids, and to every officer and soldier
who served under him, and did not desert !:
aud 10 the votes and proceedingsa at Tamna-
ny Hall; TO tho unbought opinion of Mr..
Richie, (Which, however, he has since made
merchandize OF j 10 the opinions, cotemps-
rancously expressed by every patriot of that
day, aud to Dawson's life of Harrison.
\ Very few men IN this quarter evadcd
draft or deserted but IN every instance with
in my knowledge, where u man "took to
the woods" to evads being notified of u
draft, and in every instance where a soldier
deserted, and where an officer was conscien.
tlously scrupulous about crossing the Cana-
dian line; he Is, It living, opposed 10 Gen.
Harrison, and so are his sons, when their an
cestors is numbered with the dead.
AT meeting IN nelgI,borlng town last
week, one man was dcnuunclng Gen. lIarri
son AS coward. Ii was evident he had re.
ceved some Eliras" from Woshlngton-
"A gentleman VINO was acquainted with the
I history Vt the dCianer, asked hun If he did
not desert during The last wnr' This was
" poser" he did not like 10 answer but 1t so
happened, that his Captain was on the ground,
and he sad, our hero was reported descrter
OH his Ioll and II the fact was denied, there
we're four Witnesses who could prove II.
You say you have supported the admins
tratlon, aud have all undoubted right to do
80 hereafter, It you think proper aud IN the
oXcrcise OF tins right will not Interfere ::
but Deg OF you, not 10 do the country the
injustice to join IN the party ordinations
II against man to whom We owe SO great
debt vi gratitude as we DO to General liar
| risvn.
II AS a Statesman, the enemies Of Gen. lIar-
rison have almost ceased To rail against him.
II Hlrcllng presses, and a few office .hol ders.
with their pensioners, occasionally renew the
often reiulcd charge that Gen. Harrison vot
ed to sell white men tor debt; but no pollt.
ical capital can be made out ot 1t, where the
facts are known. II Cen. Harrison shall be
elected President, or IT the people slal be
defeated by the office holders, he will be
greatly indebted 10 them for having so dIrec-
ted the political campaign, as TO draw the
public attention 10 every act OF his life; his
writings and his speeches will be embodied,
and read, and admitted by hundreds Of thou.
sands, who otherwise would never hnvo seen
them. saw his letter TO Bolivar in manu-
script, aud requested It's publication. When
ever | have read It since, have received
additional instruction aud pleasure. His
II speeches, his votes ond his writings, abun.
duntly prove hln an able Statesman. II he
shall be elected, he will be President of the
nation, and not oi party. think he pos
scsses the three cardinal qualifications men.
toned by Mr.. Jefferson, he Is honest, he Is
capable, and he Is attached to the Consitu
n ton" 1t isa remarkable fact, that hc has
never been reported a public deCaultor, dur.
ing the long period he has been in public
service. During the campaign IN the winter
Of 1Sl2-l3, he was as economical Of the pub.
lie money, as hs could hayo been, had the