Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1840-04-18
MAUMEE CITY EXPRESS.
SATURDAY, APRIL 1a, i84O.

WIN, Esq, Tor the purpose OF relutlng the
slander of Geo. H. Flood accusing General
Harrison of cowardice ut the battle of the
Thames. 1t is the testimony of one soldier
for another, one whom, no political excite
ment can wean from honesty and veracity.
even though the truth seattle like lightning
his own party. John Speed Smith is Lo-
co Foco, an honest one--and has not the
hardihood to endorse the falsehoods of the
cowardly hacks and demagogues who truck
lie to the minions ofpower. He was aide to
Gen. Harrison, at the battle of the Thames,
fought by his side, and speaks of him here,
elsewhere, from long and intimate acquain-
tance. Let his testimony be read, by the
yllifers Of Gen. Harrison.
CIRcLEvILLE HRRALD,
Richmond, March 6, 1910. I
SIR,-Your letter of the 18th ult., was
received on yesterday, in which you state,
that cit has been openly avowed that &C.
neral Harrison was at no time in the battle |
Of the Thames, nor within two miles of the
battle ground-that the entire plan of ope-
rations was projected by Col. R. M. Johnson
that lie led the troops on TO the conquest,
and that Gen. Harrison had no part nor lot
in the matter My humiliation Is deep,
that necessity should exist, produced by
party rancor to prove facts attested by his
tory for more than a quarter of a century,
and which have never before been question:
ed. That ignorance and credqlity abound
to an extent, to render such baseless asser-
tions available, bespeaks lamentable state
of public intelligence, and portends no good
to the republic.
That Col. Johnson led the var, Land brought
on the battle, is true-that he behaved with
the utmost gallantry is also true; but your
letter contains the first suggestion which
has ever reached me, that 'the entire plan
of operations was projected by him. The
magnanlmity of Col johnson, will repu-
date, with proud Indignation. such an eff
fort to cluster additional laurels upon his
brow, thus unjusty torn from the brow of
his General. Col. johnson received orders
as to the form and manner of charge, from
Gen. Harrison in person, In the face and al
most in sight of the enemy. The General
was with the Regiment when the charge
was sounded. AS Johnson moved to the
charge, the General started for the line of
Infantry, which was drawn up in order of
battle. He had not gone far, before turn
ing to me, (and to the best of my recollec-
ton, was the only one of his Aids then
with him,) he said, Pursue Col. Johnson
with your utmost speed-see the effect of
his charge, and the position of the enemy's
Artillery. and return as quickly as possible
Having executed this order as promptly as
promptly as practicable, | met him on my
return. pressing forward with the front OF
the Infantry.-Upon reporting that Colonel
Johnson had broke the enemy's ine-that
they were surrendering, and that their can
non was in our possesslon--he exclaimed IN
an animated tone, Come OH my brave fel-
lows. Proctor and his whole army will soon
be ours ; Soon after this: an officer, Il be-
lieve the late Judge John Mcdowell, Of o.
rode up and reported, that the left wing, at
or near the crochet, was suffering severely,
and in great disorder. The communication
was made in the hearing of the soldiers.
The General contradced the latter part of
the statement in the most emphatic manner
but giving orders to the next in command
to push forward, he dashed with the mes
senger to the indicated point of conflict and
confusion, and found the contest pretty close
ard severe. A portion of Johnson's Regi-
ment, owing to the impraciicubiity of the
ground for horse, had dismounted, and was
| fighting on foot and mingled with the in
! fantry-which had been, to some extent,
the cause of the confusion. Order was soon
restored, and the left wing closed to the
front, (which formed the crochet,) under
the personal supervision of Gen. Harrison.
In the mean time, some ofour soldiers were
shot within less than ten feet the General:
for the conflict here was sharp and anima-
ted, and continued so for some time. With
the exception of the charge made by Col.
Johnson's Regiment, Gen. Harrison was in
the most exposed and dangerous parts of the
battle.
1t is due to the occasion to relate the fol-
lowing incident The day before the battle
the army was impeded in its march by the
destruction of bridge across branch of
the Thames. mp which it was moving, at
or near the mouth of the branch. Colonel
johnson had been ordered to cross this
stream at some mills, two or three miles
above the mouth. The road led HIM by the
bridge. A portion of his regiment had a
brush with party of Indians, posted in ca
bins on the opposite side of the Thames and
the branch, and also under the thick covert
along their banks, to dispute the passage
of the stream, and harrass all attempts to
repair the bridge.
AS soon as the firing was heard, the Cen
eral hurried to the scene Of action, accom-
panied by portion of his family, of which
Commodore Perry was one. When | arri-
we'd, found Gen. Harrison, Commodore
Perry and other officers,Q think Gen. Cass,
was one,) in an open piece Of ground near
the bridge. Colonel Johnson had pas
sed, and small portion Of his Regi-
ment, previously dismounted, under the
command of Capt. Benjamin Warfeld, and
some infantry which had hurried, were car
rying on the skirmish. Major Wood had
been ordered up with small piece of nrtil-
lery. Commodore Perry urged Gen. Har-
lison to Withdraw, as he was too much
exposed for the Commander in Chief.
II mistake not, Gen. Cass united with
the Commodore, and offered to remain and
see his orders executed. The General