The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-10

1o -" snd stqst destroy ed the gallant body unde
oos. Harrison a6bmmsnd.
ov hanisop retrcsted a. fast % the condition Of
W. ~osnued w0re permit, and thus commenced the
inosn war which pr loag time drsnehed COR from.
s' 20 blood seds thus ssrmna,ed the famed bsssls d
u uppeosnoe, Wish hes ct the foundation Of all Gen
nsli,sons mlHay glosyi For OF foresight in
precautionary msssures. and want Of Judgment in sc
o"' = .nnoW parallel in the history Of
ye' ioI snIs, GspsrL Harrison is dubbed hero" The
Hero cf TiypsessoS" 81
one OF the gentleman's principal chargcs,i
total wanttof prudence and caution in the
se'ec'ion OF Ghe ground on which his army
was 10 encemp; and that when the ground
was CHOSEN, \ was under the advice Of Indians
VINO mus trained him and his troops into the
midule Ola NAL ambuscade. am prepared to
snow that thls charge is utterly unfounded.-
AHer processing, on the sixth Of November,
INTO the vicinity Of the Indian camp, and re-
ceiving iniosnation that the woods were open
ana tnat the1o ~us no impeachment to approach
ing the enemy, General Harrison called
halt and disrs1ched two Of his officers, Col.
Waller Taylor and Major Clarke, to examine
the country Up and down the creek until they
should find suitable place for encampment
llha letter IS Col. Taylor, under date of cad
o. Fcbruuy, fsf7, then one or his Aids de-.
Camp, speaks thus:
The spot for encs,npment was selected by Colonel
Clarke (who acted Brigade Ma or TO Col Boyd) aud
myself We were directed by Gen Harrison 10 exa.
NINE the country up and down the creek until we should
ma suitable place for enc ampment In short
ume we discovered the place on which the army en-
camped, and to which Il was conducted by Us. No in
'imation was given by the Indians of their wish that wo
should encamp there nor could they possibly have
known where the army would eucamp until it took its
position. ~
" II has ever been my belief that the position we oc
cuped was the best that could DO found any where neal
US and believe that -tenths Of the officers were
o. the same opinion. He did not 90 on the Wabash |
ABOVE 'he town. but am certain that there no po-
sluoh below 1t that was eligible for encampment.
Signed WALLER TAYLOR
" February 22d, 1917"
Major Clarke is a gentleman well known to
me personally, and to any one who does know
him, his testimony is conclusive EVIDENCE
General Taylor then a Colonel, is no less
known in this city, having been one OF the first
Senators in Congress from the State Of In
diana. II these gentlemen are to be believed,
the Indians neither did nor could know the
spot which Gen. Harrison had selected for
his camp. Hear Captain Smelling to the same
point:
my situation as platoon ofEcer prevented my
having personal knowledge Of the above
ment Of the army. under The command OF General Har
rison, by his staff officers but having carefully Pc
rused the extract from McAfIee's history, have no
hesitation IN saying that believe it be substantially
correct aud that in my opinion, the ground on which
the army encamped, combined the advantages Of wood,
WAFER, and deensibe position, in greater degree
than any other ground in that section Of the country
The ground on the Wabash wholly unit-the high
land being destitute OF water and the interval Tor bot
20" '''' ss Signed J. sYtET1SG, -
q Lieutenant Colonel 9Th Infantry.
q Washington February 2Sth, 1917"
Moses Da,osons Life Of Gen. Harrison
The gentleman from Michigan, said some-
thing about musty books, and Of referring to
historical records on the subject Of Gen. .Har-
rison's character and achievements, and spoke
Of them as containing matter unlavorable to
Gen. Harrison's reputation. will not blame
the conference.-the no doubt had his own rea-
sons for this, and in all probability they were
very good ones to him and to his party friends
who seek to destroy Gen. Harrison's reputa-
ton but as am made acquainted with them,
intend to look little into these same "mns.
ty books" and to consult the records Of by
gone times, that we may see how they speak
Of men who are now Treated as unworthy OF
even decent respect. Sir, IN this exaInlna-
ton, hope to take the gentleman from
Michigan with me, that l may have the
benefit of his military light and expert
ence OF these, there can be no ques-
ton, since the gentleman himself, who must
be best acquainted with them, considered
himself as fully warranted to go into de-
tailed examination of the military movements
of General Harrison, and on his own perso-
nal authority, and profound military skill to
pronounce public condemnation OF them.
TO be sure, when heard him assuming this
responsibility, | could not avoid some secret
thoughts about the disparity, in age and expe-
rience. between the critic and the time honor
ed and war-worn veteran, on whom ne sat
IN Indictment. The gentleman from Mlchi-
can might seem, to one who looked no furth-
er than the outward appearance, too much
like smooth faced boy, to have fought many
battles. or to have led many armies TO victory,
or to have had any very enlarged expert
ence in "setting squadrons in the field. =
Yet no doubt, one who thus undertakes to set
nm his own Judgment and opinion against the
current of history, the consent of cotempora-
ries. and the testimony Of intelligent eye-
witnesses, and the ablest military talent, must
have performed, in his own person, many
| great and war-ike achievements. 1t Is true,
| / have been so unfortunate never to have
heard of any one of them. There was,
know, a very celebrated campaign on the
borders of Michigan and Ohio, some short
time since; in which many gallant knight
was on the point of falling, though none fell
but do not remember, in all the history OF
those iilus,rious movements, to have met with
so much as the name of this very celebrated
Brgadier General, of Michigan. lie has
told the House that he is generai-and 1t