The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-02-29
Outlines Of The Life and Public Services, CT
oil and Miiifory, Of WILLIAM HENRY HAIR
RIsoN, 81 OHIO.
(coHcLuDED.)
DArTLE on THE THAMES.

BATTLE OF THE THAMES.
The time was now at hand when General
Harrison and his army were to reach The full
completion OF all the contemplated objects Of
the expedition.
Among the earliest recommendations of
General Harrison To the Government the year
before, and Immediately after he commenced
operations, had been that Of constructing and
equipping a naval armament on the Lakes
In one letter he says: Admitting that Nal
den and Detroit are both taken, Macknaw and
81 Joseph will both remain in the hands OF
the enemy until we can create a force capa-
BILE of coniending with the vessels which the
British have in Lake Michigan, &c" And
again, IN another letter: Should an often
sive operation be Suspended until spring, it is
my decided opinion that the cheapest and
most eiIeciual plan will be to obtain command
OF Lake Erie. This being once effected,
every difficulty will be removed. An army of
four, thousand men, landed on the north side
of the Lake, below Maiden, will reduce that
place, retake Detroit, and with the aid Of the
| fleet proceed down the Lake to cooperate
with the army from Niagara" These saga
cious suggestions being repeatedly and slrenu-
ously urged by him, and reinforced also from
other quarters, were adopted and acted upon
by the Government. Commodore Perry was
commissioned to build, equip, and command
the contemplated fleet and, on the 10Th of
September. with an inferior force, he met the
enemy, and gained the brilliant victory of
Lake Erie
Meanwhile, Colonel Richard M. Johnson,
then Member Of Congress from Kentucky,
had devised the organization of two regiments
OF mounted militia, which he was authorized
by the Government to raise, as well for SER
vice against the Indians as 10 cooperate with
Harrison. Colonel Johnson crossed the
country to Lower Sandusky, where he receiv-
ed orders from the War Department TO pro-
coed to kaskaskia, to operate in that quarter
but by the interference Of Harrison, and at
the urgent request of Colonel Johnson
said for himself and his men that the first OBJ
ject of their hearts was to accompany Har-
rison TO Detroit and Canada, and to partake
in the danger and honor Of that expedition,
under an officer in whom they had confidence,
and who had approved himself "to be wise,
prudent, and brave,"-the orders of the De-
partment were counternanded, and Colonel
Johnson attained his wish.
General Harrison now prepared to strike
Tue SIcdl oloW. hiucu Wy tuettHtISctlC cuOItS VI
Governor Meigs, of Ohio, and Governor Shell
by, of Kentucky, he had ready on the south
ern shore of Lake Erie, by the middle of
September, a competent force destined for the
immediate invasion of Canada. Between the
10th and the oath Of September the artillery,
military stores provisions, and troops, were
gradually embarked, and on the 9th the whole
army proceeded to the Canada shore. q Re-
member the river Raisin," said General Har
rison, in his address to the troops, /" but re-
member it only whilst victory is suspended.
The revenge of soldier cannot be gratfied
on a fallen enemy The army landed in
high spirits; but the enemy had abandoned
his strong hold, and retreated TO Sandwich, -
after dismantling Maiden burning the barracks
and navy yard, and stripping the adjacent
country OF horses and cattle. General Har-
rison encamped that night on the ruins of
Maiden.
No time was lost in resunling the pursuit OF
Proctor Colonel Johnson's mounted regi
ment came up and supplied the cavalry want
ing for the pursuit Two days only were oc-
cupied in re-estabishing the civil government
Of Michigan, and assigning to it defensive
corps, in organizing portion OF the army Tor
rapid movements, and in giving to the whole
Of il an order Of march and battle. 1t was not
until the 5th of October that Proctor was over
taken, at place ever memorable as the bat
tie ground of one Of the most honorable and
decisive actions fought during the war. On
that day the enemy was discovered in po-
sition skiliuly chosen, In relation as well to
local circumstances as TO the character of his
troops. A narrow strip Of dry land, fianked
by the river Thames on the left and by a
swamp on the right, was occupied by his
regular infantry and artillery, while on the
right flank lay Tecumthe and his followers,
on the eastern margin of the swamp. But,
notwithstanding the judicious choice of the
ground, Proctor had committed the error Of
forming his infantry in open order. Awaiting
himself of this fact, and aware that troops so
disposed could not resist charge of mounted
men, he directed Colonel Johnson TO dash
through the enemy's line in column. The
movement was made with brilliant success.
The mounted men charged with promptiiude
and vigor broke through the line of the enc
my, formed in the rear, and assaed the brok-
en- line with success seldom equalled, for
nearly the whole of the British regular force
were either killed, wounded, or taken. On
the left, the Indians rushed on the mounted
men there, and fercely contested the ground
for a short time, until Tecumthe fell, when his |
men gave way to the Americans. Proctor, who |
had saved himself and part Of his suit by
base deserton Of his troops in keeping with
his character, was now sirenuously but I'M
successfully pursued But the defeat OF the
enemy was now complete. All his baggage
and military stores, together with his official
papers, fell into Harrisons hands Several