The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-04-23
CEN. HARRIsoN's MILITARY CHAR.

GEN. HARRISoN'S MILITARY CHAR
ACTER.--sLANDERs REFUTED.
rRoM rnE ONO STATE JOURNAL
The following correspondence was called
out in consequence of remarks relative TO
the character aud conduct of General HAIR
RIsoN made BY members o. the House Of
Representatives of the State of Ohio, in
their places on ,ne floor of that House. A
letter was addressed 10 each OF the gentle.
men whose replies are given below, by a
member Of the House, who, hearing the
remarks, stated their substance and request
cd from each statement of the facts which
fell within his personal knowledge, respec
lively. The high character Of the gentle
men whose statements have thus been OBJ.
tanned Tone of whom has been uniform and
prominent supporter Of the last aud presen,
Administrations Of the General Govern.
ment) is such as 10 put the facts 10 which
they bear testimony entirely beyond doubt /:
WASHINGTON, (kY.) FEB. "a, le4o.
DEAR SIR: Your letter OF the 18th in.
slant reached me o.day BY the Seuthern
mail, marked ennis sent, forwarded. -
This will account for your not having my
answer a, an earlier day. You have been
correctly informed that 4 was IN the bat.
lie of the Thames, and near the person Of
General Harrison from the commencement
to the termination Of the engagement, and
that personally know what part General
Harrison took in IT," | had the honor 10
act as volunteer aid de.camp 10 General
Harrison during the active operations THAT
campaign and was al no time more than i've
minutes out Of sigh, Of him on the day OF
battle, until after the surrender o! the British
army and retreat Of the Indians. You say
II has been avowed on the f)or OF the
House Of Representatives (ot Ohlo) now IN
session, BY members IN their places, that
I General Harrison was at no time 10 The bat.
I tie, nor wilhlntwo miles the battle ground;
that the entire plan Of operations vas pro.
iected by Colonel r. NJ. johnson; that he
led the troops on 10 conquest, and that Gen
eral Harrison had nelbe part nor lot III the
matter" From the reckless character 0!
the attacks made upon General Harrison,
through The prositued and pensloned press
devoted 10 tue support OF the present Admin
.stration, /; IS not surprising that that por
li1n OF lis supporters VINO read nothing else
bat the papers devoted TO the re election oil
Nr. Van Buren,, and abuse OF Gen. Harrison,
should make such statements but that a
meuter Of legislative body, who from hls
station ought to be man OF Information,
and a gentleman, should be so ignorau, Of
The history Of one Of the most important bat
ties Of the late war, or so utterly regardless
Of truth as 10 make such statement, is tru
I y astonishing. Every member of your
Legislature has. presume, read General
Hafuscn's official account Of the battle Of
the Thames; and wanton and unprIncipled
as have been the Misrepresentation Of Gen.
eral Aarrson's military character and con
duct, | have now, (altei a lapse Of upwards
/ Of iweniy.slx wears, for the first time, heard
/ the tntmailou that his account Of 1t was IN
any particular untrue. In that paper, Gen
eial Harrison states correctly the position
De occupied at the commencement Of the &C.
ton ard he mlghI have sta I'd, with equal
truth, that he IN person gave the word Of
command to the mounted regiment to
+" charge :" and that be advanced with it,
until II received the enemy's fire, and then
passed rapidly 10 the left, where the Indians
still obsiInaieiy maintained the fight. Such,
TT, aver 10 be the facts, and feel perfectly
confident that General Cass who was 10 the
b4nlel and General Harrson's other aids
de camp will unbesllatingiy sustain me in
the statement; and Il happens that they are
all yetaIiye. One ofthem, Col. John O'fal.
lon, resides at ST. Louis, Missouri and the
others, Colonies Charles S. Todd and John
Speed Smith, al SheIbyvllle aud Richmond
II this State. AstolLe sta sDent that " the
entire plan Of operations was projected by
Col. JUhrsda," It IS, like the charge lha:
General Harrison was at no time in the bat
tie, nor within two miles the battle ground
false, utterly false, The idea Of charging
. The enemy with the mounted men was exclu
siyeIy General Harrson's. was present
when he first announced it, and know that
! Col. Johnson was then at the head Of hi:
command, and vas not consulted on the sub
Ject, Until after General HaFrison had ex.
pressed bis determination 10 make the
charge: and Il it ,s Intended to state that
the plan Of operations Of the campaign. OF
the order Of battle, vas projected by Col
johnson, It IS equally untrue and | am We
~ confident that he has not, ard never viii,
give The slightest sanction to such statements
as you say have been made BY members oil
your House Of Representatives.
/ fou have ny permission, sir, to make
such use Of this letter as you may think
proper.
/ Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN CHAMBERS.
MozEs B. CoRwlN, Esq.
ARLINGTON, FEE. %, ls40.