Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-10-01
TESTIMONY OF GEN. GAINES

| In the 81. Louis Ne,o Era Of September 8,
we find letter from Gen. T.. p. GAMES. adj
dressed to Gov. CANNON, Ex-Governor of the
State OF tennessee, under date of ST.. Louis.
AUGUST 10. The main purpose of this letter
appears to have been to vindicate the Gener.
ais plan Of a System of National Defence.
by means of floating steambatteries and ma
tional railroads, suggested by the universal
Introduction OF steam power in contrast with
the old expensive system of defence by per-
manent iortihcationS and standing armies.-
After concluding what he had to say to Gov.
CANNON on that subject, he takes occasion to
give the following testimony, valuable as
coming from an experienced soldier, in reIa-
ton to the merits Of Gen. Harrison:
''Having disposed of the subject ofmy sys-
tenn OF national defence until the meeting of
the next Congress, will now proceed to no
tice the efforts made by some of the party tao
f'cians, sdpperS, and miners, to misrepresent
my views in respect to Major General VIII,
LIAM HENRY HARRISON, and, without attemnt-
Ing to repeat my answers to numerous aues-
lions asked me In reference to that distin-
! guished Individual, l will here state such
! facts as, according to the best of my recollec-
ton, will afford an accurate outline of what
have said In my answers
81 served under the orders of Gen. Harri
son In the Northwestern army durinp the
principal part of the summer and autumn of
the year 1913, during part of which time
held the appointment of Adjutant General,
! which brought me into daily and often hourly
intercourse with him, and though never with
him in battle, had many opportunities of
witnessing his vigilance and devotion to the
service, and of admiring the energetic sim
pliclty and systematic accuracy of his views,
and the zeal and promptitudc with which he
marched to and from Fort Meigs, through the
deep swamps, from post to post, when mo-
mently expecting to entera combined sayape
and British ambuscade of from four TO five
thousand red and white savages; from whose
cannon, rifle. and tomahawk General Harrison
was often protected and escorted by fewer
men than the Life Guards who accom- panied
our distinguished Gen. jackson upon his
seminole campaign In the year 1918, while
the force opposed TO him was not half as GREAT
as that with which Harrison was menaced
With an equal knowledge ofJackson and Har-
rison, should be unju to both, and false to
my country, If did not declare that, upon the
occasions here alluded 10, more trying 10 the
real soldier than any thing the field of battle
often presents, have never known General
jackson, whose military honors are beyond
all dispute, to evince more cheerfulness I'M
der the privations of food and rest, or more
intrepIdIty OF purpose in danger, than Harri-
son uniformly exhibited. And, although |
had the deep modification to be unable to ac-
company him from Detroit in the pursuit of
Tecumsch and Proctor, which terminated in
the battle OF the Thames, October 5, 1913,
yet was assured by Gov. SHELBY and Com.
PERRY, than whom there never breathcd tru.
or or more chivalric spirits, that Harri on
proved himself to be All able General, with.
out fear and without rcproach.'
II is true tiiai, In the early part OF the wa,
in the TALL and winter Of ISi2-'I3-I fell
ana expressed freely the apprehension, tina
harrison possessed too much of the milk n
human kindness, and too much caution in HI;
movements, for efficient United STATE,
misunderstanding. | was STRONGLY inciin
ed TO oame him for not SUSTAINING tho Gal
liant army headed by our esteemed Wincies
Ter, defeated at the river Raisin: and for mn
controlling and saving the brave Dudley AM
MS regiment on the 9Th May, at Fort Nieios
o"' cdTeiul investigation Of the circuinstan
Iee ,l'd' surrounded him convinced me tia
MS discipline, though mild and paternal. wa
strictly conformable to our military law ,,
'ndt without great caution, such as put if ON
oil MS power to reinforce Winchester or +
{ save Dudley, the principal part Of his dispo
, saoie force would probably have been sacri
lceo I'D these or In other unayailinp efforts +
Dfing the war III the Northwest 10 a speed
f termination by grea; battle, when, at an;
time before PeTy's victory, a greatbatte les
DIV zen Harrison would have exposed 70 Al
f most certain massacre hundreds of families
on hundreds of miles of frontier more diff
curt TO defend than any other part of the n?
) uonal frontier, not excepting of Florida
frontier where, from the great depth of rio
. son and muddy roads, forced march of
Few successive days often resulted in a 10.
OF elective strength nearly equal to that IF
: weil-fought battle. ''d' o'
= Il have often admitted, what could n,
now conceal without fragrant injustice to #
= S.dnue rec patriot, that learned in 1919 fro
,ae e" HARRISON tine best lessons had ey
IN L. q.