Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-01-23
AN OLD VETERAN.

all VINO remember distinctly the E.
vents of the last war with England the
name of Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer,
will be familiar He led the New York
volunteers on the expedition across the Nj
agara river and the attack upon Queenston
This was one of the most desperate battles
during the whole war, and the Americans
would have been successful but for the
cowardce OF some who refused to cross in
the boats to sustain the daring few, with
Van Rensselaer, at their head, who led the
away in the face of the enemy's batteries
Gen. Van Rensselaer, received several
wounds but continued to lead on the troops
while he had power to stand. He fell COW
cred with wounds, but though very severe
they did not prove fatal. He survived and
still lives, though marked with scays and
partially deprived of the use of his limbs.
We make these remarks preliminary to an
account which we find in the Albany Gaz-
cite, of n celebration of the anniversary of
the battle of Tippecanoe at Albany on the
9th ult., at which Gen. Van Rensselaer,
presided, and when the 9th toast was
drunk complimentary to him and his COM
pany he replied as follows;
GEVTLEMEN:-I cannot permit the toast
you have just drunk to pass without some
token of respect in behalf of those to whom
ii aludes.
1t is one Of the consultations of my later
years that was in youth the companion of
that good and great man whose name has
been so warmly toasted here Tonight
Under the command of Gen. Wayne-the
bravest of the brave-stigmatized in his
lifetime, by the voice ofloly, as Granny
and al incompetent ofiicer-Gen. Harris
on and myself served seven years together
as subaterns. shared the fatigues of the
field with him, and know how great was
his MERIT even then, before the laurels of
moro recent triumphs had clustered round
his brow.
Even then, despising the luxurious life
to which he was born; forgetting the
claims to Office and to wealth, which, as a
SOP of Gov. Harrison of Virginia, he
might, in imitation of the politicians Of lat
err times, have most powerfully urged, he
dsdaned them ALL lie flew to the de-
fence of his country, assaied as it were
by a savage foe, and infested by the pres
ence of the British garrlsons, which would
not withdraw from our Western frontiers
in accordance with the treaty of peace
There his personal services and acknow-
edged worth soon made him CONSPICUOUS,
and liom Que grade he rose to another, I'M
iii the whole North Western Territory was
placed under his care, and the defence Of
shat immense region, since parcelled into
FIRE States, was delegated 10 him, as the a
blest commander o. the times.
None know better than my friend Hen
ry Clay, the Importance OF those services,
since he himself was the prime. nal means
of calling them forth. The Indian were
kept in check-milIions OF acres of walt, able
land were obtained by his negotiations.
the administration of Justice was admiralty
naintained-peacca and tranquility followed
his sagacious measures-and the wilder
ness blossomed as the rose.
When the War commenced, defeat and
the disaster followed the footsteps of those
generals who preceded him. The loss OF
Detroit, and the massacre at tho River
Rasin LEFT us but little consolation in that
qnartcr, until as with one voice, the whole
people of the West called on Harrison to
head their volunteers; and hope once more
smiled on the desolate fields Of the West
With a generalship that called forth the
,oudest praise from his associated officers,
and .he thanks Of National and State Leg
islniufes, he proceeded against all difficult
4ies lomaitain his line of advance retain
j,s posts and supplies; capture Maiden;
assist in the destruction ofthe British feet
and oqeHhgow the army OF Proctor, Ar