The Madisonian., 1840-01-23
Charles Fuller, Lieut. Alb Infantry,
A. Hawkins, Lieut.. 4,h Infantry,

Still further, as 10 Governor HarrIson's ar
my being surprised on the morning of the 7th,
Major Charles Lanabee, who distinguished
himself at the battle Of Brownstown, and lost
an arm, at the head of the same company he
commanded in the battle Of Tippccanoe, says:
" Al the time The army lefl vincennes, they we're
formed in the order Of battle against the attack OF
the Indians, and out Of this situation ill
they returned each one occupied the ground he
would defend himself upon, whether marching or
at rest upon il. This a-daring idea was nslilied
into the army collectively and individually, by The
General, from the time entered the wilderness,
| MI trial was had Of the effect. The army was
trained 10 be prepared 10 receive the attack, ana no
thing but the unremiited attention OF Generai fiaf-
riSon 10 enforce the necessary discipline, could nave
brought The troops to such state OF preparation anu
order the result of the battle proved Inc iac' "
the army rising from rest, and being ready 70 re-
ceve the Indians in Two minutes ai'er 'he report u
the first fire. is sufficient 10 satisfy all persons capa-
Bile Of judging, as well as all unpreIudiced minds,
that il was a surprise; The officers and soldiers
slept with their clothes and accoutremenls on WIN
drawn swords, mu,kets loaded ,iand bayonets hxed,
laying by the sides of those who were to use them IN
a night attack"
In the month Of December, 1911, there
was a public town meeting at Vincennes,
composed in part Of those who had served
with Governor Harrison in the battle OF lip
pecanoe. This meeting resolved,
"That il Is a notorious fact, known 10 the whole
army that all the changes OF position made by The
troops during the action Of the 7th ultimo, and by
which the victory secured, were made by The
direction of the Commander-in-C Chief, and generally
executed under his immediate superniendence."
The article from the Post, further charges.
that Major j. III. Davies was most wantonly
sacrificed TO the incapacity Of his command
ing general" Major Davies was Ken
mckian, and generally beloved and admired
in that State One month after the battle of
Tippecanoe the Legislature of Kentucky,
with only three dissenting votes resolved,
"That in the late campaign against the Indians
on the Wabash, Governor w. H. Harrison has, in
the opinion of this Legislature, behaved like hero,
patriot and general; and that for his cool deli
berate skifu and gallant conduct in the late battle
of Tippecanoe he we'll deserves the warmestthanks
of the nation"
On the 7th of December, 1871 the Legis-
lative Council and House of Representatives
Of the Territory of Indiana, passed resou-
tions approbatory Of the :" superior capacity
of Governor Harrison, in leading the army
in this campaign, On the 10th OF December,
1911, the venerable James Madison, then
President of the United States, in message
to Congress, says, in reference to this engage
ment,
"Whie ii is deeply lamented that so many valu-
able lives have been lost in the action which took
mill ,,,th
satisfaction the daunlless spirit and fori,ude, vic
loriously displayed by every description of The
troops engaged, as we'll as the collected frmness
which distinguished their commander, on an occa-
sion requiring the utmost exerion of valor and dis
cplne Itmay reasonably be expected that the good
effects of critical defeat and dispersion of COM
bnation OF savages which appears to have been
spreading to greater extent, will be experienced
no, ouy in the cessation Of the murders and depre
dalions committed our frontier but in tn, pre-
vention of any hostile incursons otherwise have
been apprehended"
Documents of a character equally high
with those already cited, might be multiplied
all tending to the refuiation of the gross ca
lumnies cast upon General Harrison by the
Baltimore POST But it is useless to multiply
evidence in this case The truth is, that no
battle ever fought in the United States, has
been more fully canvassed than the one under
consideration. 1t has ELECTED the opinions
of most of our military men, and the weight
OF testimony in favor of the skill, courage
and prudence of the Commander in the battle
Of Tippecanoe, is overwhelming. The wri-
ter of the article in question, in portion of
il not quoted by me, has made reference to
the Vice-President, Col R. M. Johnson
am pleased tina, he has brought such wit
ness on the stand. His competency will not
be questioned, trust, by the administration
party. Here is his testimony, publicly pro-
claimed, under the solemnity Of his official
oath, in the House of Representatives of the
Congress Of the United States:
"Who is General Harrson7 The son of one of
the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who
spent the greater part of his large fortune in re-
deeming the pledge he then gave, of his fortune,
his life and sacred honor" secure the liberties of
1 his country. Of the career of General Harrison I
need not speak-hs history of the West is his hisorv
For fory years he has been identified ,cih its interests
It's perih and It's hopes Universally 6eloped in the
,calksof peace, and dastnguhcdly his ability in The
councils of his country he has been yet more iustri
osiy distinguished in The fsid During The late lcar.
he longer aetipe than anu other general
otFcer; he pasP perhaps oener in action than any one
Of them, and Meier sustained a deteat"
Here, sir, take my leave, for the present,
of the Baltimore Post, having fixed upon its
charges against General Harrison, the brand
of falsehood: | shall make the effort to do
the same, in every case in which such gross
injustice is done to this patriot, soldier and
statesman.
In conclusion, | ask, can it be possible that
Mr. Van Rnron conl.a n..e..;., L.. Z