Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-05-01
From he Ohio Herald.
VILE SLA N DER.
rs Rearards-and Retaliation.

on the floor OF The House of Representatives
Of Ohio. BY members Of that body, in debate,
that Gen. Harrison was at no lime in the |
battle OF the 1hamesInor within two miles oi |
the battle-ground that the entire plan OF OBJ
Grafton was projected by Col r. Nj. John
SOD and that Gen Harrison hal neither
part nor lot in the mattern TO make such
AN assertion. under such circumstances, and
that loo before I've people Of Ohio, required
no ordinary hardihood. But the man was
found sufficiently STEPPED in moral drpraviiy
to give ullerance to lie, falsehood once
uttered By npsierspirit OF the late digniG-
ed House, ii Was endorsed by clustering,
thrice craven hero Of thai august body, and
thus given TO the wings OF fame.
The friends Of Gen Fl. who heard the
calumny. promptly undertook its reiutalion.
and most triumpbantly have they succeed.
ed. But before that object could be accom-
plished ni-the author Of me SANDER acas
nominated By President Van Barren 10
foreign mission, and noo has his commission
in his pocket! A prompt reward for patti
IAN services.
John Chambers, c. S. Todd, and John S.
Smith, Of Kentucky. and John O'Falion. Of
Missouri; were the Adsde Camp Of Gen.
H. in the battle Of the Thames. They are
all living. and have borne testimony 10 the
utter faslehood OF the statements above refer
red TO- We have the statement OF each OF
these gentlemen, which will be laid before
our readers next week. We suJjoin the
statement Of Mr. J. Speed Smith, distin.
guishcd supporter OF Mr. Van Buren, in
Kentucky Let the slanderers OF Gen. Har-
rison read and blush!
RicuMoND. March 6, lS40.
| SIR:-Your letter of the l7ih nli was re-
ceived yesterday. in which you state that iii
has been openly avowed that Gen. Harrison
was at no time in the sanguinary battle OF
The Thames. nor within two miles OF the
battle ground-lhat the entire plan Of ope-
rations was projected ty Col. r. NJ. John
son--tha, he led the troops on TO conquest
and that Gen. Harrison had no part nor lot
in the matter. My humiliation is deep, that
necessity should exist. produced by party
rancor. TO prove facts attesled by history for
more than quarter OF century. and which
have never before been questioned. That
ignorance and crcdulity abound TO an ex-
tent 10 render such baselcss assertions avail.
able, bespeaks lamen,able state OF public
intelligence, and porends no good to the re
public.
THAT Col Johnson led the van, and
Brought on the baiir, is true---ihal be be-
haved with ihe utmost gallantry is also true,
but your letter contains the first suggestion
which has ever reached me that 'rhe entire
plan OF operations was projected by him.
The magnanimty Of Col Johnson, will re-
pudaie, with proud Indignation. such an eff
iou to cluster additional laurels upon his
brow, thus unlustly torn from that Of his
General Col Johnson received orders, as
10 the form aud manner Of charge, from Gen.
Harrison in person. in the face and almost
in sight OF the enemy. The General was
with the Regiment when the charge was
sounded. AS Johnson moved TO the charge,
the General started for the line of Infantry
which was drawn up in order of battle He
had not gone far, before turning 10 me. (and
TO the best OF my recollection, was the only
) one Of his Aids then with him. he said
pursue Col. Johnson with your utmost
|; speed--see the effect of his charge, and the
position of the enemy's Artillery, and return
as quickly as possible" Having executed
this order as promptly as practicable. ] me-
him on my return, pressing forward with the
front of the infantry. Upon reporting tina
) Col. Johnson had broken the enrmy's line
that they were surrendering, and that ,heil
cannon was in our possession-he exclaim
ed in animated tone. "Come on my brave fel
lows, Proctor and his whole arms will soor
be ours" Soon after this, an officer Il be
: lieve the late Judge JohE Nc Dowell of Ohio,
rode up and reported that the left wing, n
or near the CROCHET. was suffering severed,
/ and in great disorder. This commnnica
/. ton was made in the hearing OF the soldiers
The General contradicied the latter part O
the statement in the most emphatic man
\ ner--but giving order to the next in com
: mand to push forward, he dashed with tn,
messenger to the indicated point OF connic
+ aud confusion. and found the contest pretty
2 close and severe. A portion Of Johrson''
/ Regiment. owing to the impraclicability o
n the ground for horses, had dismounted ant
o was lighting on fool and mingled with III,
I'll infantry which had been to some exten
!, the cause OF the confusion. Order was soor
,. restored, and the left wing closed to th,
!. front, (which formed the crochet under III,
$ personal supervision of Gen. Fl, In til,
h mean lime, some Of our soldiers, were sho
:. within less than ten feet Of the General 10
\ the Conflict here was sharp and animated
: and continued so for some lime. With tn
exception OF the charge made by Col John
sons regiment. Gen. Harrison was in tn
Of most exposed and dangerous parts Of III
% battle.
r II is due TO the occasion TO relate the fol
le lowing incident. The day before the bal
Il