The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-02-29
GEN. ARMSTRONG.

This gentleman has published letter in the
National Intelligencer in vindication Of him
self against the charge Of hostility to General
Harrison, in the course fwhichhe quotes seve-
raj extracts Of letters that passed between him
self and Gen. Harrison, which, as he declares.
establish the following facts:
LIST. That the General, when arriving al Erie. was
not from enmity or envy ordered TO repair TO OHIO
or otherwise prevented from giving his services TO
the army then on the Niagara as asserted by his bio
grapher.
%. That on the contrary, he was, without delay
put in command Of that army and assigned to a SER
vice which, had il been performed, would have Just
ly entitled him TO another wreath Of laurel.
Sd. That, by second order from the Secretary
he brought down McArthurs brigade to reinforce
the garrison at Sackeus Harhor-a order entirely
approved and speedily executed by the General.
4th. That, on the llth of May, six months after
leaving Sackett's Harbor he resigned the command
Of the district and quilted the Army-nol as his bio
grapher asserts because denied the privilege OF serv
ing the Government, and therefore ashamed TO cal
its bread, but, he himself says, because he had
some reason for believing that malicious nsinuaons
to his disadvantage had been made at Washington
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
February, 1910.
Our object in noticing the letter is to show
]
deducible from the extract he quotes, nor in
accordance with history. The extract Of
Gen. Harrison's letter to the Secretary Of
War, dated Cincinnati, May IL, 1914, from
which he undertakes to derive the 4th Of the
above items, is this:
~ have the honor through you to request the Pre-
sdent accept my resignation Of the appointment Of
Major General in the Army, with which he pleased
honor Lest the public service should suffer be-
fore be nominated, shall continue to
act until the 3lst inst, by which time hope be
| lieved
| "Having some reason to believe that the most mali
cions lnsinuaons had been made against me at Wash
ngton, Il was my intention TO have requested inquiry
into my conduct from the commencement OF my CON-
mand. Further reflection has, however, determined me
TO decline the application because, from the proud con-
seriousness OF having palpaby done my duty, cannot
believe that 1t is necessary either for the satisfaction OF
| the Government or the people, that | should pay so
much respect to the suggestions Of malice and envy
Instead of assigning the reason of his re-
signation to the suggestions Of malice and
envy" he expressly says that he cannot be-
lieve il is necessary to pay SO much respect
to them, &c. Such a reason as stated by
Gen. Armstrong would not be sufficient to
justify the resignation of General. We
think It is due, therefore, TO Gen. Harrison,
that the cause, which was ample, should be
truly stated. This is done in Cushing's life
Of Harrison, published by us, in the following
terms
Having thus entirely defeated the enemy in Up
per Canada, Harrison advanced with part OF his
army TO the Niagara frontier and thence 10 Sacketts
Harbor, where he left the troops and proceeded 10
the seat OF Government and then 10 Ohio, where his
immediate duties required his presence. In the plan
Of the ensuing campaign General Armstrong, the
Secretary of War saw FIJI 10 assign to General Har-
rison the command Of now comparatively unim-
portant district, while active service agans, Canada