Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1840-02-01


which he seconded the views of the gov
eminent, all conspired TO render him a
mark for party detraction. Time has
,ileaced those idle rumors, and the lau-
reIs of the hero are now frightened by
the graiiiudc aud admiration of his coun
try. The field Of 1ippecanoe has be-
come classic ground; the American ira
weller passes there to contemplate a
scene which has become ballowed by
victory; the people Of Indiana contcm
plate with pride the battle ground on
winch their militia won impcrishabe
honor, and their infant state became en-
rolled in the ranks of patriotism.
But the handsome manner in which all
the officers who served in that engage
.nent have since testified to the GOODNESS
self-possession. and intrepidity of the
general. has placed this matter in its pro-
per light As far as any commander is
entitled to credit, independent of his ar
my, he merits. aud has received it. lie
shared every danger and fatigue TO which
his army was exposed. In the battle,
he was in more peril than any other in
dividual; for he was personally known
10 every Indian, and exposed himself
fearlessly, on setback, al all the
points of attack, during the whole en-
gagemen,. Every important movement
was made by his express order.
The kentucky Legislature, notwith-
standing the gloom which was spread
over the state by the untimely loss OF
some of her most cherished and gallant
sons, took an early opportunity Of testi-
flying their appreciation, by the follow
ing resolution
"Rcsolved, That in the late cam
paign against the Indians on the Wabash,
Governor w. III. Harrison has, in the
opinion of this legislature, behaved like
hero, a patriot, and general; and that
for his cool, deliberate, skilful, and GAL
liant conduct, in the late battle of Tippe-
canoe, he deserves the warmest thanks
of the nation"
The legislature Of Indiana, also, pas
sed complimentary resolutions, in which
the superior capacity "integrity," and
s'important services" Of the governor,
are recognized in the most grateful terms;
while The militia who were in the enga ge-
ment, at a meeting held after their return
unanimously expressed their confidence
in their leader, the Cheerful lness with
which they had followed him, and the
opinion that their success was attributa-
ble ''to his mastery conduct in the di
rection and manGuvring the troops"
In 1916, a work was published at
keene in NewHampshire, entitled "A
Journal of two campaigns of the 4th
regiment of United States infantry, by
Adam Walker, private of the 18th re-
gimcnt." Al the thirty-iirst page of
this book are found the following re-
marks, which form the conclusion Of Mr..
Walkers account OF the battle of Tip
pecanoe. They were written by per-
son with whom General Harrison had no
acquaintance, and who doubtless ex-
pressed the opinion Of the common sol
dicrs of that army.
General Harrison received a shot
through the rim Of his hat. la the heat
of the action his voice was frequently
heard, and easily distinguished, giving
his orders in the same calm, cool, and
collected manner, with which we had
been used to receive them on drill or
alade. The confidence Of the troops
IN the general was unlimited"
Again he remarks, in speaking Of
small portion Of the militia who became
dissatisfied by being detained from home
longer than they had expected: "He ap-
against his inclinatIon; being endowed
by nature with a heart as humane as
brave, in his frequent addresses TO the
militia, his eloquence was formed to per-
suade; appeals were made TO reason we'll
as feeling, and never were they made in
vain"
On the night preceding the morning
of the battle, a negro man, who was
Al. r.I1 - 81. L..k
had been missed from his duty, was
found lurking near the governors mar
quee, and arrested. a drum-head court
martial was called for his trial the next
morning, of which Colonel Boyd was
present, and the prisoner was convicted
of having deserted to the enemy, under
circumstances which led TO the belief
that he was engaged in plan against
the governors life, and had returned Sc
cretly into camp for that purpose. The
sentence was that the prisoner was gull
fy, and should suffer death. The SEN
ience was approved, and il was intended
that it should be carried into execution
in one hour. But the troops we're emil
gagged in terrifying the camp, and could
not be called off to witness the exccu- /
ton, and he was at last saved by the be-
nevolence of the governor The rca-
sons for this lenity. as described by him
self in letter to Governor Scott OF Ken
lucky, do great honor to his heart:-l
.sThe fact was that began to pity him,
and could not screw myself up to the
point of giving the fatal order If he
had been oct of my sight, he would have
bcea executed But when he was first
taken, General Wells and Colonel Owen,
who were old Indian fighters. as we had
no irons to put on him, had secured him
after the Indian fashion This is done
by throwing person on his back, split
ting log and cutting noiches in it to
receive the ankles, then replacing the
severed parts, and COMPRISING them TO-
eether with forks, driven over the log
into the ground. The arms are extend
ed andstied to stakes secured in the same
manner The situation Of a person
thus placed, is as uneasy as can possibly
H. Il II