The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-02-27


cenlrailng somewhere in the neighborhood oil
the enemy, the march OF the army would no,
only be expedited, but the frontier much more
efiectually protected" And 10 the execution
of the plan, thus judiciously conceived, and
fully approved by the Government, General
Harrison proceeded 10 devote all his own en-
orgies, and the resources of men and means at
his command.
palgn, there are two subjects of personal de.
tan, connected with those events, which re-
qulre to be touched upon here.
One is, the tolls and hardships, to which
General Harrison, in common with the troops
under him, was exposed. For he chose to
participate in all the pryations, as well as the
dangers, Of the campaign, II is difficult TO
descrbe,-it is impossible for those who pass
their lives in the ordinary civil or business
pursuits, TO conceive in all their force, the
suferings of the soldier, marching through a
wilderness country, exposed to all the vicls-
STUDIES. OF the weather, amid the rains OF au-
tumn and the SHOWS Of winter, with necessa-
sarily imperfect supplies Of clothing food,
and equipage, and subject at the same lime TO
all the acquisitions Of military duty and peril.
Honor to the brave men who left their happy
homes to do and dare all this, and who, with
sell-sacrifcing patriotism, rushed to defend
the iresdes of their country and its. threaten
ed honor, from the assaults of the foreign foe
with his scarce more savage allies!
The other subject is, the department OF
General Harrison to the peculiar troops under
his command, and the means by which he Sc
cured their obedience and their cooperation
Amid al ha h,rds h;no Of tho carvica ThpS n
troops were chiefly citizen soldiers, freemen
serving voluntarily in the ranks Of patriotism,
high-spirited and generous, the choice men Of
the States TO which they belonged. Such
men were not to be treated as the common
soldiers of a regular army. To secure their
hearty service, nay, to have their obedience at
all, the General under whom they served,
must possess their confidence, their respect
their affection Such was the relation between
General Harrison and his troops. His proved
talents, his eminent public service, his energy
Of character, his Judgment, commanded their
respect his constituencies, forbearance
good temper, and conciliatory manner, won
acknowledgements. Their commander, il is true
exacted of them the severest service, as the
necessities Of the country required he should;
he was yet their companion in peril, their fell
low-ctizen, their friend. During the whole
period Of his command, he never caused nor
permitted degrading punishment TO be in
hcted on a militia soldier. If the fault com.
mited were an individual one, he dealt with
il by private admoniton il masses OF men
were concerned, he attained his object by
oral addresses or by general orders and thus
his eloquent exhorations reclaimed them to
their duty and their country's cause, when
ever, amid the difficulties and dangers of the
campaign, they were disposed to faulter.
An incident, which occurred on his arrival
in Winchesters camp, ut Fort Defiance, Illus
trates this Soon after he had retired to rest,
he was awakened by Col. Allen. and Major
Hardin, to be informed that Aliens regiment
was in open mutiny, determined to abandon
the expedition and return home and that all
their own attempts TO bring their men back TO
their duty, were utterly in vain. Gen. Harri-
son ordered the alarm to beat the ensuing
morning instead Of a reveile. This brought
all the surprised troops to arms. and when the
troops paradcd at their posts, they saw, with
new surprise, General Harrison appear among
them He began by lamenting the discon-
tents which existed among men he so highly
esteemed; but It was because OF its dishonors
TO them for Government could dispense with
their services; and all those, who were dis
heartened that they did not find in the woods,
the uxuries and comforts OF home, had full Ii
bcrty to return. But what would be their re-
cebton from the old and young, who had
greeted them on their march to the scene Of
war, as their counry's gallant defenders To
be seen returning before the expiration OF
their term of service, without having struck a
blow! IL their fathers did not drive their de-
generate sons back to recover their furnished
honor on the field Of battle, would not their
mothers and sisters hiss them from their pre-
scnce But, if they were prepared thus to
encounter the scorn and contempt Of their
friends at hone, they could go, and the Go
yernment would look elsewhere for Drawer aud
better men to defend the country in its hour
of need This strain Of indignant remon-
STRANGE, and Of mingled regret and rcproval,
was irresistible: the generous men OF Ken
lucky returned by reclamation to their duty;
and no more faithful. troops than they, served
in that whole war.
To resume the narrative of events-the
autumn of the year was passed in laborious
preparati IN for active service; in collecting
troops, in building forts, in erecting depois, in
cutting roads, in opening resources for sup
plies, and in organizing the various depart
monts of the army. So long as hope was
tenable, General Harrison perscvcred in the
hope to be able TO strike the medialed blow
in the current season; but as winter ap-
preached the difficulty of getting forward
supplies increased and he was reluctantly
compelled TO postpone his final advance until
he should be able to take advantage Of the ice
and snow for transportation and the passage
of rivers. Before this time came, however,
the unfortunate movement of General Win
chester, on the river Rasin, led to a new Sc