The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-04-23

Gov. Shelby more than justice, and that
to General Harrison alone udS due the
credit of the order Of battle, the rhoie OF
the arrangements aud plans of which he
(Gov. 81 had contributed to carry out to
the best of his abilities.
At the commencement of the battle OF
Tippecanoe, when the first gun was fired at
our advanced picket, | was al the tent OF
General Harrison, who was then up at the
fire. | had an opportunity to observe his
manner; he was cool and collected, and
every movement Of his countenance, and
every word be uttered at that trying mo.
meni, perhaps tue most embarrassing 10 the
life Of a soldier, denoted the highest order
of personal courage. He mounted his horse
Instantly, and, accompanied by his staff,
fastened 10 the direction Of the lne first at
tackled. A part Of this line, unable TO with
stand the fierce and desperate onset of the
Indians, the Genera! met retiring within
our lines in some disorder and confusion,
closely pressed by the Indians, some OF
whom we're in the midst Of them. General
Q
Harrison led in person company OF the
ith Infantry TO the breach; aud such was
the effect of his bold and fearless behavior,
ard so great was the confidence Of bis army
in his ability TO conduct them TO victory,
that his presence and voice at once rallied
the retreating detachment, aud they took
position at point equally exposed, where
half ofthelr number, l|not more, we're either
killed or wounded. The battle commenced
at about three O'Clock 10 the morning, dur
ing slight rain, and the attack became
general within five minutes afterwards, and
continued until the dawn Of day, whe0, by
an almos: general charge, the Indians broke
and fed before our bayonets. The Dfa
goons afterwards proceeded TO their village
and burn, IT, During the battle, General
Harrison was seer wherever danger was The
most imminent-whereve the fight was
the thickesi. His aid, Colonel Owen, was
killed 81 his side, and almost at the same
moment ball passed through the Generals
hat, grazing his head. There wGS not a
spot pithia our lines secure from The shot
Of he enemy. On this, as On every other
occasion within my observation, General
HarrisoD's conduct vas that Of a brave and
skilinl commander always calm and cool
in his manner, and wholly Indifferent 70 his
personal safety, possessing the peculiar IA
Guilty Of at once discerning whatever vas
wanting, and of promptly applying The rem
edy. A single lnstau, OF vaelatlon or IN
certainty of purpose, the slightest uemor
of nerve or hesitation in mind, in the crit.
cal and appalling periods oflhe battle, would
have been disastrous TO bis army. After
the action, there seemed 10 be universal
admission by the officers and soldiers Of the
army tia, there was not another officer 10
the battle capable Of having prevented a
defeat aud general massacre. All seemed
to regard General Harrison as their delIS
erer from the Indian scalpIng knife.
According TO my best recoIlections, Fort
Meigs was. cannonaded day aud night, with
hu, Little lntermission, for about II days. =
Shortly after its commencement MAJOR
Chambers, Of The British army, was admit
ted into the stockade, The bearer from Gen.
erai Proctor Of al invitation 10 surrender
the garrison with the honors Of war, on the
ground tina, so small force, about 1000
men, could not sustain themselves against
/ four times their number the estimated Brit
/ ish and Indian force. g n. Harrison q,
once rejected indignantly this proposition,
replying 10 the insult in terms worthy Of
his high character. Both day and night,
during the siege, General Harrison was
most active, observing every movement Of
the enemy, and euncing bis usual GOODNESS,
dauntless courage, and his happy readiness
to perceive and apply every incident to his
advantage. He succeeded 10 accomplish
ing erery plan and Increment where his or.
ders uere obeyed. recollect not one 10.
stance to the contrary. The detachment
under Col. Dudley effected, in part, the OBJ
ect intended, in driving the British troops
from their position but they dlsobeyed or
ders 10 not spiklng the enemy's cannon, de
slroying their ammunition, and laereupor
immediately rectossng the river to tho
main army. The two sortes on the south
e!ue VI wv IlNtI1 anu OH lne slUlt cay
planned and erecued under orders from
General Harrison, we're eminenlly success
} ful, resulting in the objects designed, fore
ing the British to raise tue siege Of For
Meigs That conducted BY the brave anc
accomplished officer, then Col. John Nil
Ter, now a Representative IN Congress from
Missouri, intended to destroy a sunken bat
terry that had annoyed US very seriously by
en6ladlng our rear line of picke,s, rs vel
as 10 prevent the almost entire lndan force
then investing the fort on that side of the
river, from cooperating with tho British
against Dudley's attack, made at the same
time, on the opposite side, considering the
very great disparity between our force anc
that Of the enemy, being as four TO one
was, | must be allowed to say, one Of The
mos, brilliant affairs of the last war.
Gen. Winchester movement TO the riy
or Ralsn, where he was defeated, was il
J disobedence Of General ilarrison's order
which required him 10 proceed to the Rap.
ids of the Maumee Of the Lakes, aud TO re.