Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-03-19
Original Cerrespondence.
WILLIAM U. HARRISON.
n U NJ u Err o N Il .

NUMBER ONE.
Mr.. CLARKE In the belief that short nc
count of the life and services of General Harrl-
son will not r-ove unacceptable to the readers OF
the Telegraph, the following numbers have been
prepared To those of the community familiar
with the history of the country till the period
when Jackson was elected to the Presidency, the
merits of Harrison cannot be altogether unknown;
but there are many among us, who, though they
may have heard of his name, are almost entirely
ignorant of his history. II TO is these that the loco
foco press addresses itself; it il to these that II
directs its constant outpourng of slang and a
buse respecting the Wing candidate for the Pres
dency. Its object is to make him appear either
ridiculous or odious and to the attainment OF this
end its most strenuous efforts are increasingly ap-
piled. Fortunately, however, but little Is re-
CURED to render these efforts unavaing as a.
gainst General Harrison, and to cause them to
recoil with tenfod force upon the heads OF their
base orignators. Fortunately the simple truth is
an ample and triumphant refutation of the cal
nmnies which the partizans of the present dynas-
ty are so industrously circulating concerning the
patriot citizen who has been selected by the peo-
pie to lead them in the battle against corruption
and misrule. Letbut the truth be displayed, and,
like the msts and vapors of the morning before
the rising sun, will the falsehood and detraction
by which our enemies seek to blacken the char-
actcr of an honest and an honorable man, be
scattered and dlspelled. brief narrative OF
facts in relation to the services of General Harri-
son, addressed to those among the people VINO are
not already intimate with them, is all that IS here
attempted Imperfect it necessarily is, but should
il awaken in the reader desire to know more of
the distinguished man whose name is now before
the people in connection with the presidency, the
writer's object will be answered. In the blogra-
phies of General Harrison, and in the histories of
the times, will be found full materials to satisfy
such desire, and to them is the nquiring reader
referred. H.
WILLIAM IL, HARRISON belongs to family
distin ouished both in the old world and the new.
A lineal descendant of that General Harrison
who bore conspicuous part in the English civil
wars, as commander in the army of the COM
monwealth under Cromwell, and son of Benja-
min Harrison, whose name Is appended to the
declaration of independence and who tor some
wears filled the Office of Governor Of Virginia
with honor to himself and credit to the State-it
might reasonably be supposed that he would
inherit from them some portion OF their firm love
of liberty and determined resistance to oppression
Accordingly we shall find, as we trace his course
through life, that he has ever been actuated by
these principles; and that desire to enhance
and preserve the blessings Of freedom has been
the Star by which he has been guided.
He was born at Berkeley, in Charles city coun-
ty, Virginia, on the 9Th of February 1878, and, at
an early age, was sent to Hampden Sidney Col
lege to receive his education. His father died
while he was yet very young, leaving no fortune
to support his family, who were thus made de.
pendent upon their own exertions for livelihood
He then determined to embrace the medical pro-
fession and till nearly nineteen, busily en-
ployed in prosecuting his studies, At that time
the country was in state of great excitement On
account Of the ravages committed by the Indians
upon the Northwestern frontier, and Harrison
conceived the design of joining the army raised
to protect that part Of our land from their depre
dations His determination strongly oppo-
sed by his guardian--the celebrated Robert Nor
ris--but was countenanced by General WASH
ington then President, who had been of his
fathers intimate friends From him young Har-
rison received commission ensign in the first
regiment Of Artillery, and thus did he become
associated with the fortunes of the Northwestern
territory--an association destined to have con-
trolling influence over his future life. His reg-
ment was stationed at Fort Washington on the
Ohio river, near the site of Cincinnati, and i'm
mediately upon receiving his commission he hast
cned to join it, arriving soon after the defeat of
the army under Gen. St. Clair, on the 4th Of
November 1891.
The prospects for the Northwest at this time,
were gloomy in the extreme, but circumstances
will not admit Of their being detailed here Suf-
Ace II to say that the defeat of st. Clair, while,
on the one hand, it spread terror and upprehen-
sion throughout the States, on the other crabcld-