The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-22
BALTIMORE, EDNEsDAY APRIL Ss Gs4O
WASHINGTON. 2s1h Feb. 1870.

WAsHINGToN, 2Sh Feb, 1910.
DEAR SIR,-Since writing o you, in answer
to your letter of the 18th inst, it has occurred
to me that principal object of the faIsehoods
relative to Gen. Harrison, which have found
propagation on the floor of the Ohio House Of
Representatives, must be to make the impress
sion that he s coward and though you do
not state in your letter, the cause assigned by
his sIanderers for his alleged absence from the
command Of his army at the battle of the
Thames, presume no motive for it less chari-
table than sheer cowardice would have been
imputed by one capable Of such misrepresenta-
ton of his conduct. But whatever may be the
alleged inducement for the conduct attributed
to him, the relation in which then stood to
him, and my knowledge of what his conduct
was, imposes on me the duty I'have performed,
oil pronouncing the charge false and trust
you Will pardon me for suggesting the propriety
vi any appropriate occasion presents itself, or
can be made in open SESSION. OF demanding Of
the members OF the House, who have made the
charge, the authority upon which they made
ii; whether from their own knowledge or OBJ
servation, or upon the information Of others,
their names and residence. The original in
ventors of the falSehood ought to have the adj
vantage of all the celebrity it is calculated to
give them.
On the subject of General Harrison's per-
sonal bravery, is ii not very remarkable, ii he
is a coward, that none of the gallant officers or
soldiers who served with him under General
Wayne, or those who fought under his com
mand at Tippecanoe at Fort Meigs and the
Thames, discovered his cowardce; and that
the discovery should have remained to be
made by some scurvy politician Ofthe present
day; for will venture to predict, that no Off
Ger or soldier, of respectfully, who served with
him, or under his command, can be found to
stake the responsibility" OF charging him with
cowardice. In connection with this subject,
permit me 10 relate fact, which occurred in
my presence, and which is calculated &c give
some idea of the character of Gen. Harrison
pretentions to firmneSS and disregard Of per-
! sonal danger: On the day preceding the bat
| tie of the Thames, when his army approached
the last rght-hand fork of the river, Tcalled, |
think, MacGFegor's fork. Gen. Harrison ac-
conpanied by Commodore Perry and his Aids
de-camp, rode forward 10 examine the bridge
which crossed the mouth Of the stream
and which the enemy lad partially destroyed:
and while viewing ii, several hundred Indians,
! Tunder the command of Tecumseh as we learn
J ed alterwaTasl who were concealed at some
VII
the opposite side OF the stream, commenced a
brisk fire upon the little party in the midst Of
which General Harrison was. At that moment
dismounted company of Col. Johnson's Re-
giment, commanded by Capt. Benjamin War
| field, who now resides in the neighborhood OF
Lexington, in this ST., came up; The fire of the
| Indians was so severe, as to induce the gallant
Perry to expostulate earnestly with General
Harrison against the exposure of his person
| to snch fire, when no good could result from
| it: but the Gen. cody replied tina the could not
set the example of retiring from the fire Of the
enemy. TIE Artillery came up in few min
utes, and opened fire upon the cabins, about
which the Indians were concealed, and Capt.
Warfeld, crossing with the company upon
the timbers of the bridge to charge them, they
ran off.
Respectfully, your ob't serv'r.
| JOHN CHAMBERS.
Moses B. Corwin, Esq.