The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-23
CENTREvILLE, ANTE, Mi, !
September 10, 1910. 4

timo in which you desire me to state whether | am
the person bearing the name Of Winans, who was pre-
sent at the celebrated conference, held between Gen
William IL. Harrison and Tecumthe, at Vincennes
in 1910 and what then, and what is at this
time, my opinion of the capacity Of Gen III to rule
the destnies of this great nation" And, have
scIuples of conscience to forbid me- feel bound
by principles of patriotism and Justice on all proper
occasions, to repe the aspersions which party malice
and party management have cast upon the fair and
well-earncd fame of that venerable sage, brave war
rior and true hearted patriot.
am the Wlnans, spoken of in the Biography Of
General w. H. Harrison, as present on the occasion
above referred TO. was, during the year 1870 ira
yelling, Methodist itinerant preacher on the cir
cult which embraced the town of Vincennes the
place of General then Governor Harrisons residence
AT the time OF the conference council mentioned in
your inquiry, was enjoying, often did, the hos
| pitaty of the Governor. The council was held in
| his yard, not more than fifty yards from his door.
The number Of Indians belonging to the party Of Te-
cumthe was sixty or seventy; and there were from
fifty TO sixty whose party had not been openly TAKEN
though little doubt was entertained that most of them
would join that chefin case of collision between him
and the white.
/ In the course of the discussion Tecumthc who as
well as the rest of the Indians was seated upon the
ground sprang to his feet and angrly pronounced
General Harrison liar, or, what he had Just said a
lie. The Indians of his party followed this movement
of their chief; and, by tone and gesture, indicated
hostile purpose Nearly all these Indians were armed
for close conflict whereas not more than about TWEEN
~ of the Dhites had any sort of was standing
at the back of General Gibson Secretary of the Terri
| tory, who had been some twenty years n prisoner
among the Shawnee Indians and who consca uently
knew their manners well; and | heard him say to
Lieutenant jennings Have your men" (alludng to
sergeants command who were then on guard J
| " Have your men ready-here is danger" About
the same instant the Governor rose and babe the in
terpreter tell Tecumthe that the Council was dis
solved for he would sit no longer with such scoun-
drel." All believed that there was probability of an
attack from the Indians and | have no doubt there
would have been, had not the position Of Tecumthe
and the other chiefs been SUCH with relation TO the
sergeants guard, to render it almost certain that
they would fall in the No man could have act
ed with cool deliberate bravery than did Gene
raj Harrison this trying occasion | spent the
evening and night Of this dreadful day in his family
and though the Indians were encamped within halt
mile of the house, there was not in him. during the
whole time, the slightest indication Of of cour
age, though there provident and judcious care
taken to be ready for night attack should one have
been made by the Indians, as was apprehended would
| be the case.
Ofthe talents of General Harrison il becomes me
to speak with modesty-my not being of an order
that would warrant great degree OF conf,ence-bu,
if may be allowed TO hazard opinion il is that his
talents would qualify him amply for any office in the
United States which does not require specific prepa.
ration-as in the of high judicial situations
Thirty years ago considered him equal TO any uub
lie of his years and his public conduct since,
both in the camp and in the Senate has satisfied me
that my opinion well founded. twill be difficult.
think to fix upon any individual, who, during the
last forty years has counselled more wisely acted
more prudently efficiently, committed fewer errors
than General William Henry Harrison And my
observation during recent intercourse with him. az
opied me the gratifying assurance that has mind has