Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-06-13
ISLANDERS REFUTED.

The following correspondence was called out
in consequence Of remarks relative to the cha.
racter and conduct OF General Harrison, made by
members OF the House Of Representatives Of the
State Of Ohio, in their places on the floor of that
House. A letter was addressed 10 each of the
gentlemen, whose replies are given below, by a
member of the House who heard the remarks,
stating their substance and requesting from each
a statement Of the facts which fell within his per.
sonal Knowledge, respectively. The high cha
racter Of the gentlemen whose statements have
thus been obtained zone Of whom has been a
uniform and prominent supporter Of the last and
present administrations of the General Govern
ment,) is such as to put the facts to which they
bear testimony, entirely beyond doubt
WASHINGTON, Ky, 24th Feb. 1910.
DEAR SIR Your let er OF the 17th inst.
reached me to-day by the Southern mall marked
''missent, forwarded" This will account for
your not having an answer at an earlier day
You have been correctly informed that " | was
in the battle OF the Thames, and near the per-
son of General Harrison, from the commence.
ment to the Termination Of the engagement, and
that personally know what part General Har-
rison took in it," had the honor to act as a
volunteer abide camp to General Harrison du-
ring the active operations Of that campaign; and
was at no time more than five minutes out Of
sight Of him, on the day Of the battle, until after
the surrender OF the British army, and the re-
treat OF the Indians. You say, it has been
avowed on the floor OF the House Of Representa-.
tives (of Ohio now in session. by members in
their places, that General Harrison was at no time
in the battle, nor within two miles Of the battle
ground that the entire plan Of operations was
projected by Col R. M. Johnson that he led
the troops on to conquest and that Gen. Harrl-
son had neither part nor lot in the matter" From
the reckless character Of the attacks made upon
Gen. Harrison, through the pr stitued and pen
stoned press devo ed to the support Of the pre-
sent administration, it is not surprising that that
portion Of lis supporters, who read nothing else
but the papers devoted to the reelection OF Mr..
Van Buren, and abuse Of Gen. Harrison, should
make such statements; but that a member Of a
legi slative body, who from his station ought to be
a man of information, and gentleman, should
be so ignorant of the history Of one OF the most
important battles Of the last war, or so utterly re-
CARELESS of truth as to make such statement, is
truly astonishing. Every member Of your legis-
lature has, | presume, read General Hlrrison's
official account Of the battle OF the Thames; and
wanton and unprincipled as have been the misre-
presentations Of Gen. I1arrison's military cha
racter and conduct, have now, (alter lapse Of
twenty-six years. for the first time heard the
intimation that his account was in any particular
untrue. In that paper General Harrison states
correctly the position he occupied at the COM
nencement OF the action; and he might have
stated, with equal truth, that he in person gave
the word OF command 10 the mounted regiment
10 " CHARGE" and that he advanced with it until
received the enemies fire and then passed rapidly
to the left, where the Indians still obstinately
maintained the fight. Such sir, aver to be the
fac's, and feel perfectly confident that Gen. Cass,
who was in the battle, and Gen. Harrison's other
aids-de-camp, will unhestatingly sustain me; and
it happens that they are all yet alive. One Of
them, Col. John O'Fallon, resides at st. Louis,
Missouri; and the others, Coils. Charles S. Todd
and John Speed Smith, at Shelbyville and Rich
mOnd, in this state. As to the statement, that
the entire plan Of operations was projected by
Col. Johnson" it is, like the charge that General
Harrison was at no time in the battle, nor wi hin
two miles Of the battle ground, false, utterly
false. The idea OF charging the enemy with the
mounted men, was exclusively Gen. Harrson's.
was present when he first announced it, and
know that Col Johnson was then at the head Of
his command, and was not consulted on the sub
ject, until after Gen. Harrison had expressed his
determination to make the charge: and if it is
intended to state, that the operations of the cam
paign, or the order of battle, was projected by
Col. Johnson, it is equally untrue; and am
confident that he has not and never will give the
slightest sanction to such statements, as you say
have been made by members of your HOu Of
Representatives.
You have my permission, sir, to make such
use Of this letter as you may think proper
Respectfully