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

| the cnemy's limc--that they were surrender
| ing and that their cannon was in our posses.
sion---he exclaimed, in an animated tone.
Come on, my brave fellows, Proctor and his
whole army will soon be ours" Soon a9ter
this, an officer Il believe the late Judge John
Mcdowell, of Ohio,) rode ny and reported
that the left wing, al or near the crotcfet, wss
suffering severely, and in great disordef.--
This communication was made III the hear
ing ofthc soldiers. The General coniradic-
ted the latter part of the statement in the most
emphatic manner--but, giving orders to tlf6
next in command To push forward, he dash
ed with the messenger TO the indicated
point of conflict and confusion, and found the
contest pretty close. A portion OF JohHscr's
regiment, owing to the impracticabihty of
the ground for horse, had dismounted, and
was fighting on foot aud mingled with the in
lantry-whch had been, to some extent. the
cause OF the confusion. Order vas soon restor-
cd and the lett wing closed the front, wtlcs
formed the crotchot, under the personal SUI
pcrvision of General Harrison. In the mean
time, some of our .oldcs we're shot within less
than ten feet OF the General; for the con1licr
here was sharp and animated, and continued
so for some time. With the exception Of the
charge made by Col. Johnson's regiment,
General Harrison was in the most exposed end
dangerous parts ofthe battle.
1t is due To the occasion to- relate the fol-
loving incident The day before the battle
the army was impeded in its march by the de-
struction Of bridge across = branch Of the
Thames, up which IL was moving, mt or near
the mouth Of the branch. Colonel Johnson
had been ordered TO cross this srrcnm at
some mills, two three niles above the
mouth The road led him TO the bridge. A
portion of his regiment had "A brush with u
party Of Indians posted la cabins on the OPP
poste side Of the Thames and the branch,
and also under the thick covert along fife
banks, 10 dispute the passage Of the stream,
and harrass all attempts 10 repair the bridge.
As soon ms the firing was heard, the General
hurried to the scene OF action, accompanied
b, n portion of his family, Of which Commo--
dorc Perry was one. When | arrived, / fountE
General Harrison, Commodore Perry, and
other officers, Il think General Cass was onc,r
in an open piece of ground near the brirlge~
Colonel Johnson had passed, and small
portion ofhis regiment, previously dismourf-
ted, under the command Of Captain Benja-
min warGeld, and some infantry which had
hurried up, were carrying on the skirmish.-- +
Major Wood had been ordered up with n
small piece of artillery Commodore Perry
urged General HARRISON to withdraw as Ire
was too exposed for the Csmmanderin-C Chief
If ] mistake not, General Cass united with the
Commodore and offered To remain and see
his orders executed. The General, with Per-
ry and the residue olis suite, started off; but
General Harrison went but IA few steps and
returned, and retained his position near ,lpe
cannon, until the Indians we've dislodged and
driven, the bridge repaired, and the army put
in motion 10 cross. During this Whole time
he was as much or more exposed Nan tho
soldiers, being on horseback oil the while
The Commodore afterwards reconstructed
with him against this unnecessary exposure,
observing, "in open sea he could stand fire
tolerably well, but, there was no Sln in bcinV
shot at by concealed cncmy".
Thu J,-,rucu MS conuuct by say
ing "the General who commands Republican
volunteers in whose ranks the best blood oil
the country is TO be found, must never think
of his own safety, at least until his troops be-
come familiar with his disregard of personal
danger" IIardihood itself has never denied
perry's courage. Chambers spd Todd, OF
Kentucky, and O'Fallon, Of Missouri, the 9TH
err Aids of General Harrison at the Thasnest
are still living, and can give you additfon;ss
facts it required.
Although il is not in direct response to any
part of your letter, must be permitted to say
that my intercourse with Gen. Harrison left
the conviction OH my mind that he was a
gentleman, "A soldier, and patriot, and
deprecatc most sincerely the injustice at
to be done him by portion OF that
party with which have always voted.
am, sir, respectfully, your obedient SER
want. J.SPEEO sNii IL.
NJ. B. ConwIN, Esp