The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-08-22


Let me read you, sir, short extract from thu
official account of the battle on the banks OF thu
Miami, on the 2Oth of August, 1884;
ssrhe bravery and conduct of every officer be
longing to the Army, from the General down t.
the Ensigns, merit my highest apprO b0tton.-
There were, however, some whose rank and 81
tuation placed their conduct in very cOnspicuou:
point Of view, and which l observed with plea
sure and the most lively gratitude; among whom
l beg leave to mention Brigadier General VII
kinson and Col. HamtTanck, the commandant
of the right and left wings of the legion, who's
brave example inspired the troops; and to thes,
| must add the names Of my. faithful aad galla1F
aidS-de-ednlp, Capt. DE Butts, and L. Lewis
and Lieutenant IE.aI2RES ON, l0ho qoith tn,
.adjutGnt General, Major Mills, rendered tn
most essential services By communicating nag
orders IN eee1y direction, and By their conduct
and bravery ercifing Che troops to press .to1
UictoTy"
This battle of the Miami Rapids was fought
with the utmost desperation by the combined In.
dian and British forces which arsounted to 1900
combatants, while the troops aetually engaged
against them E'were short of name hundred. p
You have seen, sir, that the commanding Gene
raj, in an official despatch, expressed his graft
tude to Lieutenant Harrison for ''Tenderirg the
most essential services" during the engagement.
''Mad Anthony" as he was familiarity called by
the Wings of that day, was too bold and too
brave a soldier, to award the need of praise to
a coward; and possessed soul too generous to
withheld the tribute of justice for deeds OF valor
done by his young hero and aid-de-camP. By
the way, as to Gen. Wayne, let me remark that
he, like Harrison, was called S'Granny" by the
British redeoats and their tory allies, during the
Revolution At the battle of Stony Point, on
the night of the 18th of July, 1779y the bayonet
was the only weapon relied upon. The assail-
ants, by the order of Wayne, silently advanced
with unloaded musksts. Mad Anthony was the
first to mount the ramparts of the enemy; the
Captain Of the British guard inquired what that
meants 1t means sEGranny Wayne" said he, as
he severed his head from his shoulders. When
did Martin Van Buren,, who has the audacity and
meanness to call Harrison, through his official
organ, a granny, receive the thanks OF his Com
handing General for sSrendaring essential SER
vices on the battlefield? Under what chieftain
did Martin Van Buren, win his military trophies'
| well remember that, in the letter Of this re-
doubtable champion of the toilet dated at Lon
don, February "a, 1882, he assumed the air of
Iknight-errant, mounted his gold epauletts, and
blue and baff, and strutted the hero, while he
recounted his valiant services in the army of
sold Hickory "I'o haze se7ved," said he,
'sunder such a chief, at such time, and to
hare s1o7s his confidence and esteem, is a SUE
FTCLE.N'T GLORY; and of that, thank God,
nly enemies cannot depTice me-" would in
quire, sir whether it was on the plains of New
Orleans, that Martin Van Buren, performed those
self-glorifying, self-satislying services? Was he
an aid-de-camp of cold Hickory at Talladega,
or the Horse Shoe? Why dses he, as arrant
coward as was ever cast in 'Nature's mould"
thus gasconade like another Robudil? Does this
bragsart plume himself for procuring the disco
luton of Old Hickory's first Cabinet, through
the influence Of a female court favorite? Or
does he take credit to himself for the instruc-
lions he gave as Secretary OF State to MIR. Nc
Lane, our Minister at the Court OF st. James,
and on account of which his own nomination to
that Court was subsequently rejected by the
casting pote of the then Vice President, John C..
Calhoun? cannot forbear, on this subject, to
read three or four lines from the "Richmond
Enquirer" in relation to that rejection:
eSMr. Clay was aware of the KEEN AND Ca
NINE APPETITE with which Mr.. Calhoun was
prepared to devOur HIS VICTIM, and therefore in
sidiously continued to place the banquet before
hin. With what eager delight he seized upon 1t,
we have already seem"
Old father Time, Mr.. Chairman, makes sad
havoc of the consistency of psor mortals. Where
is the eskeen and canine appetite" of Mr.. Cal
houn, now' Surfeited, satiated. Who is the
s'victim" now9 l have known men who, if they
could not get the ioin, would be well content to
take the shin.
But let us return to the examination of the
testimony to establish the distinguished services
which Gen. HARRISON has rendered the nation.
The Legislature of Kentucky, on the 7th of ia
nuary, 1872,
seResolred, That in the late campaign against
the Indiaqs upon the Wabash, Gen. William
Henry Harrison has beltaocd like q HERO, a
PATRIOT, and a GENERAL; and that for
his COOL, DELIBERATE, SKILFUL,
and GALLANT conduct in the Battle of
Tippeeanoe, he WELL DESERVES THE
W.fRJMEST THANKS OF HIS C0UN.
TRY AND THE .N:4TTON:"
| Pray, sir, on what occasion did Martin Van
Buren,, whose 'o6fcial organ" calls Gen. Har-
rison 'sceward" and e'granny," ever behave
like ''hero'' and ''patrtot@' On what field
of honor and carnage did he he exhibit E.cool,"
s'deliberate," "Skilfup and 'sgaIlant" conduct?
Why, sir, | have been told that on the very same
night in which Harrison and his brave compan-
ions were engaged in deadly strife with the mer-
CHESS savages at Tippecanoe, Martin Van Bu-
rem, perfumed like a milliner, and spruce as a
Popinjay, was manifesting his gallantry and he
roism by tripping Con light fantastic toe through
may French cotillions in ballroom. For the
truth OF this fact, however, do not vouch, but
| have heard it from most respectable quarter,
and place full reliance upon ii myself.
In the Legislature of Indiana, on the 18th OF
November, 1911, General William Johnson, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, thus
addressed General Harrison:
''Sa:-The House of Representatives of the
Indiana Territory, in their own name, and in
behalf of their constituents, most cordially re.
ciprocate the congratulations of your Excellcncy
on the glorious result of the late sanguinary
conflict with the Shawnee Prophet and the tribes
of Indians confederated with him. When we
see displayed in behalf of our country, not only
the consumn,ate abilities of che general, but the
heroisno Of the man, and when we take into
view the benefits which must result to that coun
try from those exertions, ace cannot, for a mo
naerat, soitllhold our need Of applause"
And yet Martin Van Buren's E'ofieial organ
has the unblushing impudence to call the ole
veteran, who has displayed the "corlSstnlnsat'
abilities Of the generap and 'sthe heroism o
the man." ''coward," granny and '.pet
ticoat hero"
On the 4th of April, 1918, James Monroe, Pre-
sident Of the United States, approved resolu
ton passed by Congress directing two gold me
dals to be struck and presented to Major Gene
raj William Henry Harrison and Governor Isaac