Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-05-11

was sounded, As Johnson moved to the charge, |
the General started Ger the line Vt Infantry, which
was drawn up IN orAet OF battle. He hid Hot gone
far; before turning to me, (Hnd to the best OF my
recollection, / was the only one of his aids then
with him,) he said, Pursue Cob johnson win
your utmost speed-see the effects Of his charge
and the position of the cnemys artillery, ana re
turn as quickly as possible" Baving executed
Tins order aspromphy as practicable me. nun
on my return, pressing forward with me front OF
thu infantry: Upon reporting, that Cot johnson
had broke the eHemy's line tlley were sur
rendering, and that their cannon was IN our pos
session he exclaimed IN an administrations, "Cone
on my brave fellows Proctor and his whole army
will soon he ours" Soon after this, an officer, Il
believe the late Judge John Mcdowell, of Ohio,l
rode Up and reported, that the left wing, ut or
near the crochet, was suffering severely, anl in
great disorder: This communication was made
in the hearing OF the soldiers. The General con
Fadicted the latter part of the statement III the
most emphatic manner; but giving order to the
ueXt in command to push forward, he dashed with
the messenger to the indicated point OF conflict
and found the contest pretty close and severe"
portion of Johnson's Regiment, owing to the I'M
practicnbility of the ground for horse, had dis
mounted and was fighting on foot aud mingled
with the infantry which hal been to some ex-
tent l1e cause of HE confusion Order was soon
restored, and the left wing closed TO the trout,
(which formed the trotcIet,) under tho personal
supervision Of General Harrison In the mean
than ten feet of the Generals for The conflict here
sharp and animated, and continued so for
some time. With the exception OF the charge
made 10y Col. JoliIison's Regiment, General Har
rison was. in the most exposed and dangerous
. parts OF the battle.
Ii is due the occasion 10 reatethe following in
cident: The day before the battle. the army was
inpedcd in It's march by the destruction of n
bridge across n branch Of lhe Thumes, up which
it was moving ut or neart he mouth ofihe branch
Col Johnson had been ordered 10 cross this stream
Mt some mills Two or three miles above the mouth
The road lead him by the bridge. A portion Of
his regiment had brush with party of Indians
posted in cabins on The opposite side ofthe Thames
ard the branch, and also under The thick covert a
long the banks, dispute the passage Of the stream
and harrass all ntteRpt 10 repair the bridge. As
soon rs ihe firing was heard, the General hurried
to the scene of action, accompanied by portion
of his family, of which Commodore Perry was one.
When arrived / found General Harrison, Com
inotlore Perry, and other officers, Il think Gen
Cass was one,) in an open piece of ground near
the bridge. Col. johnson had passed, and small
portion of his regiment previously dismounted,
under the command of Capt Benjamin Warfiuld,
and some infantry which had hurried up, were
carrying on the slirnsh. Mal. Wood had been
ordered up with Il small piece OF artillery. Com
modore Perry urged General Harrison to with
draw, us he was TOO much exposed for the com
mander-in Chief If | mistake not. Gen. Cass
main and see his orders executed. The General
with Perry and the rest of his suit, started off
but General Harrison went but II few steps and
returned and retained his position near the cam
non, until the Indians were dislodged and driven,
the bridge repaired, and the army nut i'm motion
to cross. During this whole time he was MS much
or more exposed than the soldiers, being on
horseback all the while. The Commodore af-
forwards demonstrated with him against this un-
! necessary exposure, observing, that in open sea
he could stand fire iolcrably well, but there was
no fun in being slrot at by concealed enemy"
The General justified his conduclby saying A'hc
general who commands Republican volunteers
in whose ranks the best blood of the country is to
he found, must never think OF his own safety, AT
least until his troops become familiar with his
disregard Of personal danger" Hardwood itself
has never denied Perry's courage Chambers and
Todd Of Kentuckey, and O'Fallon Of Missouri,
the other Aids of General Harrison at the battle OF
the Thames, are stii living, and can give you al
ditional facts, if required.
>Ti1h6llgh it is not in direct response TO any part
or your letIes | must he permitted TO say, that my
;ntrrcourse with General Harrison left the con
yic,ion on my mind, that he was gentleman, d
solder and patriot, aud deprccate most sin
cerely the injustice attempted 10 be done him 10y
II portion ofthat party with witch have always
voled.
am sir, respectfuy, your ohedien servant,
N. b. CoRwIN, Esq
We certify thar we have carefully compared
the lette as above printed, with The originals, ant
that they are true copies thereof. The orgina
letters can be seen by calling on Moses B. Corwin
Esq, of Urbana, Champain Co., Ohio, TO whom
they were directed.
ALFRED KELLEY, LYME STARTLING, il
N. nj. MILLER, JOHN l.. MIN Err,
n STEWART. JOHN w. ANDREWS
ROBERT NEIL, LEWIS HEfT,
Stale Genital Committee.
March q, 1910.