The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-18
From the Chillicothe Advertiser.
speech, of Col. johnson n; ChiIIicot.,c.

From the Chlllicothe ADVERTISE.
speech of Col. johnson N ChiIIicothc.
When the veteran hero once more pre-
scented himself to the people, an intense
interest was visible on the countenance of
those who were present, and the quiet
stiffness which prevailed, enabled them all
to hear and understand what he said to
them. lie commenced by stating that he
had been public servant for the people
for thlrty-three years--two years under
Jellerson's administration eight under
Madison, eight under Monroe, four under
John q. Adams, eight under Jackson,
and three years he has been associated in
the administration Of Martin Van Buren,.
lie then said that he had been acquainted
with MARTIN VAN buren, for TWEEN
ty-eight years and that for the last
twenty years he had been on terms of the
greatest intimacy--and it gave him plea
surs to state that in the whole of his
political connections he never knew one
more upright in principle or of purer
morals, and very few possessing talent of
a higher order than Martin Van Buren,.
No stronger advocate of the war policy
was TO be found in 1909, and no ADLER
defender of it in 1912, than Martin Van
Buren,. He spoke of what he knew and
what he felt to be true, and of which he
entertained not the least doubt
Having been frequently urged by the
To nf thn e th,
Thames, he reluctantly felt compelled in
duty to state some OF the leading facts
which came within his knowledge. He
commenced by stating, that he did not
wish 10 claim any glory for himself on
that occasion-nor did he wish in any
way to detract from the fame of any com.
panion in arms, far less from his com
mander. At the battle of the Thames,
he said his (Col. is regiment did pur-
sue the enemy, marching considerably in
front of the infantry. He was in the
van at the head of three companies of
mounted men, which were brought up in
solid column. He came up with the
enemy who were drawn up in line of
battle. The force under Tecumsch was
about 1000 or 400 strong-the British
700. 1t was at first intended, he observ-
cl, by Gen. Harrison, that the infantry
under his command should be broughtup,
and the enemy fought by our troops in
line. But Col. J. having praclised his
regiment to serve both on foot and on
misunderstanding frequently dismounted
one half of them and fought sham battles
for that purpose, and believing that he
could successfully overthrow the enemy
by charge of his mounted men, request
ed permission to make such charge
having obtained, he left Gen. Harrison
and proceeded to the front, where his
regiment awaited him. He never saw
Gen. Harrison afterwards, until the battle
was over; when the General came to
where he (Col. Johnson) was lying, at
the place to which his soldiers had car
ried him back after he was wounded.
When he left Gen. Harrison, he said he
thought the swamp, which separated the
Indians from the British army, could not
be crossed. He afterwards ascertained
that it could and he then determined
that his brother, Lieutenant Col. James
Johnson, should attack the British at the
same time that he attacked the Indians.
His motto was TO charge rapidly on the
enemy in columns. In few minutes
after his brother made the attack on the
:. British, they surrendered. The British
force consisted of 700 men, and his
brother James's division consisted of 500
men. He related a humorous anecdote
of an lrishman of the captured army who
asked his brother James if he was the
commander, and what they should do
with their arms. Why, replied James,
had not thought about that. The Irish
man then proposed to stack them, which
was Immediately ordered by his brother.
Iames .ihen took the 700 British and