Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-04-13
Outlines OF tbs 1tte anu Bubble Sacrifices, Gtbr
anu RaIlttarr, Of
VIVA, HENRY HARRISON.
ny Hon. CALEB CUSHING, -scifh notes aud
additions.
fcoNcLu
COMMANDER OF THE NORTHWESTERN ARMY.

son1 become acquainted with the actual state OF
affairs, and learn that General Harrison was the
choice of tho whole Western people, and that he
was already engaged IN extensive preparations for
active service, than the Chief command in the
Northwest was assigned to him. az Orders to
this effect reached him at Pqua OH his return, by
which he was required, after proyding for the
protection of the Western frontiers, to retake De-
troii, aud with view TO the conquest of Upper
Canada, to penetrate that country rs far as the
forces under his command would IN his Judgment
justify. army PLAYED under INN, consisting
OF regular troops and militia and volunteers OF
Kentucky Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania, a
mounted 10 ten thousand men, With the desig-
nation OF these very general objects to he accom-
plished, hrOud authority was given him 10 command
such means might be practicable TO exercise his
o,ca discreet ~ and 10 act in all cases according TO
his otUn Judgment In n word, complete aud dis
crrtionary power was conferred on him to conduct
all The operations If war IN tine Northwest, - sub
jert, always, to the three specific objects l'rrscr
bed 10y the Department. namely, the internal de-
fence OF the Country The Iccaplure OF Detroit, aud
the invasion of Cnliadu.
This extensive roninanl, more extensive than
was ever entrusted before TO any officer OF the
United Siates since The Revolution, -exiersive,
not only rs To The wide exlanse of country it ED
braced, but asu the nature of the powers confer
red was placed in The hands of General Harrison
hy President Madison, whose long and intimate
official knowledge OF the officer employed, gave
him the best possible means of Judging as to that
officers trilstworthiness and capahility. Ia Nor
did the result disappont the Presidents expecta-
tons. General Harrson's command covered II
vast frontier, stretching along the great Lakes, with
harbors and rivers accessible to the enemy, and
with large number of scattered posts and expos
ed settlements, which he was required 10 defend
against host of warlike indians His forces
were either undiscpned recruits, or militia or
volunteers, full of The ardor, it is true, Of patriots
and freemen, but enlisted for limited periods dies
titule of the habits or experience of the soldier,
AMI TO he held in obedience 10y personal influence,
rather than force of authority. Such troops were
unquestionably competent TO the defensive purpo
SIS contemplated for them by the Government
But, in addition TO this, General Harrison was to
operate ofensiceiy; lie was To repair the disasters
of Hubs misconduct; to retake Detroit, and carry
the war into the enelny's country; and, in doing
tins, he was to act against the experienced officers
and well disciplined troops Of Britain. Besides
which, the point of attack was remote from the
source OF his supplies, while the intervening cOun-
try wasa trackless and swampy wilderness, almost
ilnpnssable for heavy wagons, swarming with hos
tile savages and where the troops, though ever so
little encountered with language, could advance hut
slowly, and with incessant labor and the Difficult
ties thus caused were ieniold augmented 10y The
fact that many of the most Indispensable munitions
of war were yet wanting, magazines and depots
to he provided, and a commissariat, covering so
extensive and so npractcab.e a theatre OF oper
ations TO lie created almost out of nothing. That
delays, and subordinate reverses, should have im-
peded the progress of General Harrison, amid al
aatese difficulties, in the inevitable course oil
y things No power short OF one to work I'M acIes
could have sufficed to prevent this. The wonder
is, that General Harrison succeeded at all. And
yet, in the face OF the immense embarrassment
and impediments which surrounded him, he, by
perseverng energy, hrmness aud courage, over
came them all accomplished every one of the OBJ
jecis prescribed to him, and within one short yea
from the time he commenced his undertaking
goroisly concluded it, by the final victory of thu
Thames, achieved in the very heart of Upper Can
ada.
When General Harrison received hia orders
the first consideration was, by what plan of oper
atoms were The prescribed objects Of the Govern
ment to be attained? Snarting under the sens'
of the disgrace Hull had brought on the country
and sanguine in the consciousness of their owl
courage, the men Of The West Ind at first turned
their thoughts to The idea Of the recaplure OF d.
troit by coup de main. Further reflection sails
fled them of the impracticablty OF efectlns this
without The previous concentration OF supplies
aud the armament of particular points, 10 supper
the advancing forces. II troops could be advan
ced in sufficient numbers in the course Of the an
tiun or winter, simultaneously with the collection
OF rniioms ard stores at secure sis, and lie for
ticalion of others 10 he held as points d'dppmio
the intended movements, then n blow could b
struck nj Maiden, so ms 10 brcak up the power q
the enemy, aud the rcrapiure of Drrroi, made Ger
thin. Meanwhile, in these operations, painting II
the nlteror 0ljert us the main one, the n"ideniH
one would liNewise I've attained, of holding i
check The British and their savage allies aud thu
guarding the safety of the frontier States
la this view, General Harrison fixed upOn til
following plan OF operations. The point of con
centraion, from which the principal movenel
on the enemy was 10 be made, was the Rapids
the Mimi OF the Lakes, with II military base eX
tending from Upper Sandusky on the right, 10 Fo
Defiance OH the left. General Winchester was
conduct the left division, consisting Of troops n
ready assembled at Fort Defiance, and some KeI
tuckV regiments AT or near 81. hlarys; GenGr
Topper commanded the centre division OF Il
Ohio troops, assembled ut Fort Macarthur; nj
the right division, composed Of Virginia and Penn
sylvana troops, was reserved for the person
: command Of General Harrison himself. Each
e these columns was 10 move 10y separate line
operation, terminating the Rapids "This, sa
T. From another condensed of Harrison,
the following
rMr Jefferson was then living in eli emeni, bu eelIn
as he ever id, deep interest IN public affairs he
President Madison recommending The appointment o. u
Harrison TO the command Of The Wesern army, as tie M
suitable person retrieve The loss ocealloned by the ca
tIe Of Detroit In his communication he remarked II
Harrison could be relied upon for military skill cool coura
and great prudence, qualifications wach 10 hm see m
necessary to the difficult and arduous services which a! =
peculiar juncture, must devolvc upon The COMMANDER o
army.
Such was Inc halterng estimate which The distinguish
author OF the Declaration of Independence and venera
Paui" OF the Reyolui0n, placed upon the qual'hca"s
Gene a. Harrison. None knew him more Intimately III
Mr. Jefferson, and none held him III higher estimation. Ii
recommendations were received from all quitersfi
Govern rs OF S'ntes and from the Of the people.
President Madison, who had also been long and ultima
y acquainted with General Harrison most cheer,y e.,
pled with the decided ind caons of prhlc sentiment
appointed him Commander IN chief Of the Western q
Northwestern army
g. rhe of General Ilnrrison's appear. f.
tho following extract from letter from the Secretary ef
10 Gov Shelby
~! has been determined 10 yes, the command Of all
forces on the Western and North Western Frontier in
officer whose military character and knowledge of
elun,Iy appeers bs combined with PUBLIC oosFIDES
General Harrison has. accordingly been appointed 10