Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-04-13

command at Tippecanoc, at Fort Mcigs, and
the Thames. discovered his cowardice and
that the discovery should have remained 10
De made by some scurvy politician of the pre-
sent day For | will venture 10 predict
mat no officer or soldier of responsibility who
served with him, or under his command, can
be found 10 " take the responsibility" of
charging him with cowardce. In connex.
ION with this subject, permit me to relate a
TACT winch occurred in my presence. and
which Is calculated to give some idea of the
+ character OF General Ilarrison's pretcnsions
10 hrmneSs and disregard of personal dan
ger On the day preceding the battle OF the
Thames, when his army approached the last
rghthand fork of the river, (callcd, | think.
McGregors fork,) General Harrison, accom-.
panied by Commodore Perry and his aids de
camp, rode forward TO examine the bridge
which crossed the mouth of the stream, and
which the enemy had partially destroyed ;
and while viewing it, several hundred Indians,
(under the command ofTecumseh as we learn
ed atterwards,1 who were concealed at some
cabins called Chatham, and in the bushes on
the opposite side of the stream commenced "A
brisk fire upon the little party in the midst of
which General Harrison was. At that mo-
ment dlsmounted company of Col. Johnson's
Regiment, commanded by Capt benjamin
Warlield. who now resides in the neighbor-
hood of Lexington, in this State, came up the
fire OF the Indians was so severe as to induce
the gallant Perry TO eXpostulatc earnestly with
General Harrison against the exposure of his
person to such fire, when no good could
result from il but the General cooly replied
that he could not set the example of retiring
from the fire of the enemy. The artillery
came up in a few minutes and opened fire
upon the cabins about which the Indians
were concealed and Capt Wartield crossing
with his company upon the timhcrs OF the
bridge TO charge them, they ran Off
Respectfully, your obedint servant,
JOHN CHAMBERS.
MosEs Il. CoRwlN, Esq. Columbus, Ohio.
ST. Louis, Feb, &c, 1910.
SIR: Your favor of the 9TH instant is just
received and | lose no time in giving il ac-
kowledgment. You request me 10 communi-
cate the information possess IN relation to
the military conduct of General Harrison ut
the battle of the Thames, the arrangements
for the battle the position of the troops, as
well as of the General, during the engage
ment, together with any other knowledge
have touching his military character.
In reply, submit the following statement:
At the battle of the Thames, Col. Charles 5.
Todd, afterwards Inspector General of the
Northwestern Army, and myself, were the
regular aids de camp OF Gen. Harrison. Ma
.jors John Chambers and John Speed Smith
were the volunteer aids The battle. as is
well known, took place on the right bank of
the river Thames near the Morayian village
short distance from this place & whilst our
troops were in rapid pursuit ofthc enemy,
General Harrison received inform alton from
an advanced party that the British and In
dian forces had halted and secmedto be avail
ting us for battle. When within half "A mile
OF the enemy, after the American forces were
formed in the order of battle, Gen. Trotter's
brigade in front, Col. Paurs regulars, with
the artillery, near his right Col. Jonnson's
mounted regiment on thelelt of Trotter, as "A
reserve, and the residue of the Kentucky yo-
lunteers covering the left flank and rear, Col.
Wood, of the Engineer Corps,who, by order
of General Harrison, had approached, unobser-
we'd by them, sufficiently near the front line
of the enemy to ascertain their position and
the oader in which they were drawn up, re-
ported that the British troops, in order TO occu-
py the high ground between the river and the
swamp parallel to it, were drawn up in extern
ded or open order between these points: the
Indians on their right, occupying the swamp
and ground beyond it. General Harrison,
without one nom ents delay or the slightest
embarrassment, formed his purpose.
was within, a few feet of him when the re-
port of Col. Wood was made, and he instantly
remarked that he woudm novel move
nent by ordering Col. Johnson's mounted
regiment to charge the line Of the British reg
uiars; which thus drawn up contrary to the
habits and usage of that description OF troops,
always accustomed to the touch, could be ca
slv penetrated, and thrown into confusion
by the spirited charge of Col. Johnson's regl-
ment. With a view to this intended charge,
Co, Johnson's command was ordered to the
front, supported in his rear as reserve ny
Gen Trotter's brigade. ! know that all me
arrangements, and erery movement OF the
troops during the battle, were made by the
o der of General Harrison, whose position
At the commencement of the action was just
in rear of Col Johnson's command end main
" afterwards near the CROCHET formed by the
inuction of Johnson's left with the Kentucky
Volunteers, drawn up on the edge and III 'front.'
! of the swamp; position considered ny All DIS
the most exposed and dangerous within the
! lines of our army, and where the pa'lie was
warmly contested by the Indians, until they
discovered the surrender OF the whole British
regular force; the happy result oil the mover ~
skilful movement, most CALAMITY perlcrnedby
/ Col. Johnson and his brave associates but
concerned, planned, and duected by General
Harrison, whose superior military Judgment
and ready skill neither needed nor reeeared
aid.
After the return ofthe army to Detroit, that
brave veteran, Gov. Shelby, on hearing read
General lIarrsons report Of the battle, re-
marked in my presence and with inuch EN-
phasis that the report did him Gov. Shelby
more than iustice and that to General iid'ft-