Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-02-17
From the Kennebec Journal.
ANOTHER OLD VETERAN.

. To all who remember distinctly the vents Of
the last war with England, the name of Gen. Sol
omon Van Rensselaer, will be familiar. He led
the New York volunteers on the expedition across
the Niagara river and the attack upon Queensron
This was one Of the most desperate battles dur
ing the whole war, ard the Americans would have
been successful but for the cowardice of some
who refused to cross in the boats to sustain the
daring few, with Van Rensselaer, at their head,
who led the way in the face Of the enemy's bat
teres. Gen. Van Rensselaer, received several
wounds, but continued to lead on the troops while
he had power to stand He fell covered with
wounds, but though very severe they did not prove
fatal. He survived and still lives, though marked
with scars and partially deprived of the use of his
limbs We make these remarks preliminary to
an account which we find in the Albany Gazette,
OF celebration OF the anniversary of the battle
of Tippecanoe at Albany the 9Th ult, at which
Gen. Van Rensselaer, presided and when the 9th
toast was drank, complimentary to him and his
company, he replied as follows:
GENTLEMEN:-I cannot permit the toast you
have Just drank to pass without some token OF re-
spect in behalf those to whom it alludes.
| Ii is one of the consultations of my later wears
that was in youth the companion of that good
aud great man whose name has been warmly
toasted here tonight Under the command of
Gen. Waynetle bravest of the brave stigma
TIED in his life time, by the voice of folly, as
Granny and an incompetent officer - General Har-
rison and myself served seven years together as
subalterns. shared the fatgues of the field with
hum, and know how grent was his merit even them
before the laures of more recent triumph had clus-
tered round his brow.
Even then, despising the luxurious life to which
he was born; forgetting the claims 10 Office and
to wealth, which, as son OF Gov. Harrison of
Virginia, he might, in imitation of the politicians
OF later times, have most powerfully urged, he
disdancd them ALL He flew to the defence ofhis
country, assaiied as it was by savage foe, and
infested by the presence of the British garrisons
which would not withdraw from our Western
rontersin accordance with the treaty of peace.
There bis personal services and acknowledged
worth soon made him cons picuous, and from
grade he rose to another, until the whole North
Western Territory was placed under his care and
the defence of that Immense region, since parcel
led into five States, was delegated 10 him, us the
ablest commander of the times
! None know better than my friend Henry Clay
the importance of those services, since he himself
was the principal means of calling them FORTH.
Tie Indians were kept in cleck-nllions of ACRES
Of valuable land We're obtained by his negocla-
lions the administration of Justice admira-
his sagaeieus measures-and the wilderness BIOS
soned as the rose
When the Wa: commenced, defeat and disaster
followed the footsteps of those generals who pre-
coded him The loss Of Detroit, and the massa-
ere at the River Rasn left but little consolation
in that quarter, until, rs with one voice, the whole
people of the West called on Harrison to head
ihelrv volunteers and hope once more smiled on
tie desolate fields OF the West.
With generaship that called forth the loud.
est praise from his associated offers and the
thanks OF National and State Legislatures, he pro-
ceeded against all difficulties to maintain his line
of advan e; retain bis POSTS and supplies cap
ture Maiden assist in the destruction OF the Brit
ish fleet and overthrow the army of Proctor
Arriving at the Peninsula forty-eight hours after
he reached BufaIo, he prepared to have
struck blow that would have driven the enemy
10 Quebec; when the envy and nalignty of the
Secretary Of War consigned him to winter quar-
: ers, and the tide Of victory no longer lifted us on
its wave.
! ] need not enumerae his many and valuable
services rendered his conntry subsequently in
I Congress Foreign Minister, or as private
Citizen Three different volunteers extorled from
the pens of political opponents, record The deeds
which, without the addition Of military services,
wonld have entitled him TO our love and regard.
/ | know him well Prudent honest, upright
highly gifted as a scholar, and excellent as man;
he seems Thy mind fitted, above all others, TO
uifHe tne AlleIlcdu people, ana Drlng us oacK 10
the palmy days Of the Republic. Cen Harrison
has done nothing to bring himself forward
candidate. No straiagems, no tricks, offers Of
\ office disgrace his cause. No man can say that
he will personally proftby his election; but all
: who know him must he sensible that The country
at large will he the gamer.
Against him no bitterness Of feeling, no long
smothered enniity, no party jealousies, 10 private
pques can operate, All will be dear to him, who
love their country, and all will be recognized by
hm us his friends and fellow countrynen.
Let me here them my friends, as one of those
who have fought aud bled with him. urge you by
every consideration of patriotism, TO unite while
we may in his behalf. 1t is the last hope Of liher
ty Others may better suit ambitious views of
leading men {; but none can better meet the ext
gGncies Of the times. Let us be wise while we
may. This is man, take him all in all, who pos
sesses every quality we could wish in the Execu.
tive of the Nation and take him all in all, ''we
shall not look upon his like again"
TIE LITERARY REpUTATi on OF HARRisoN-At
the request of the Historical Society of Ohio,
Gen. Harrison prepared Discourse, the last year,
upon the subject of the Aboriglnes of the Valley