Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-06-13


II ilifian left, dscided the fate Of The dag.
u You are at liberty to make such use of this let
Der as you may think proper.
Very respectfully, your obcdicnt servant
c. 5. TODD.
Moses B, CoEwiv Esq, H,2sa If representatives
Columbus, Ohio.
RIcHHoSD, March 6lh, 10.
SIR: Your letter Of the 1th nit. was received
yesterday, in which you state, tha! at has been
openly ayuwGd that Gen. Harrison W. "a; no time
in the battle of the Thames, nor within $40 miles
Of the battle grould-that the cu,ira- riau Of op-
| erations projected by Col L. ". Johnson
that he led the troops to cUuq It, and that Gen.
Harrison had no part nor lot IN tue matter" My
humiliation is deep that necessity should exist,
produced by party rancor, to prove facts attested
BY history for more than quarter Of q century, and
which have never before been questionGd.-Thut
ignorance and creduity abound to extent to rem
der such baseless assertions available, bcspeaks
amentable state Of public intelligence, and pOr-
tends no good to the republic.
That Col. Johnson led the van and brought on
the battle, is true that he behaved with the utmost
gallantry, is also true but your letter contains the
first suggestion which has ever reached me, that
"tbe entire plan Of operations was projected by
him" The magnanimity OF Col. Johnson, will
repudiate, with proud indignation, such an effort
to cluster additional laurels upon his brow, thus
uniustly torn from the brow Of his General. Col.
Johnson received ORDERS as to the form and man
ner Of charge, from Cen Harrison in person, i'll
the face and almost in sight Of the emmy. The
General was with the regiment when the charge
was sounded. As Johnson moved 10 the charge,
the General started for the lire of Infantry, which
was drawn up in order Of battle. lie had not gone
far, before turning 10 Inc, (and to the best OF lay
recollection, | was the only one Of his aids then
with him. he said, pursue Col. Johnson with
yOar utmost speed-see the effects Of his charge,
and the position of the emy's artillery, and re-
turn as quickly as possible" Having executed
this order promptly as practicable, met him on
my return, pressing forward with the front Of the
infantry. Upon reporting, that Col. johnson had
broke the eneny's ine-that they were surTcn-
dering, and that their cannon was III our possess
sion he exclaimed ia an animated tonc Come
on my brave fellows, PrOtor and his whole army
will soon be ours" Soon after this, officer, q
believe the late Judge John Mcdowell, OF Ohio
rode up and reported, that the left wing, at or
near the crotchet, was suffering severely, and in
great disorder. This communication was made in
the hearing Of the soldiers. The General contra
dicted the latter part 0! the statement in the most
emphatic manner; but giving order to the next IN
command to push forward, he dashed with the mes
senger to the Indicated point Of conflict and found
the contest pretty close and severe. portion Of
Of the ground for horse, had dismountCd, and
lighting on foot and mingled with the infantry
which had been, to some extent, the cause of the
confusion. Order was soon restored and the left
wing closed to the front, (Which formed the
crochet,) under the personal supervision Of Gen
eru Harrison. In the mean time, some OF our SOL
ders were shot within less than ten feet of the
Generals for the conflict here was sharp md ami
mated, and continued 50 for some ii ne. With the
exception Of the charge made by Col JOhnsOns
Regiment, General Harrison was in the most eX-
posed and dangerous parts Of the battIe.
1t is dGe the occasion to relate the following in
cident The day before the battle the army was i'm
peded in its march by the destruction of bridge
across 4 branch of the Thames, uD which it wa
moving, at or near the mouth Of the branch Col.
Johnson had bCen ordered to cross This stream at
some mills two or three miles above the mouth.
The road lead him by the bridge. portion Of his
regiment had brush with party of Indians
posted in cabins the opposite side Of the
Thames and the branch, and also under the thick
cover along the banks, to dispute the passage Of the
stream and harrass all attempt to repair the bridge
As soon as the firing was heard, the General hur-
ried to the scene Of action, accompanied by por-
ton of his family, Of which Commodore Perry was
one. When arrived found General Harrison,
Commodore Perry, and other officers, q think
Gen. Cass was onC,) in an open piece of ground
near the bridge. Col Johnson had passed, and
small portion OF his regiment, previously di =
mounted, under the command of Capt. BENJAMIN
Warfeld, and some infantry which had hurried up,
were carrying on the sEirmish. Mai. Wood had
been ordered up with a small piece of artillery.
Commodore Ferry urged General Harrison TO
withdraw, lie was too much exposed fo7 the
commander in-caief, If | mistake not, Gen. Cass
united with the Commodore and offered to re-
main and see his orders executed. The General
with Perry and the rest Of his suit, started OIL but
tfcnprnI Harrison went hut n fn,v SfnDs md va
turned, and retained his position near the cannon,
until the Indians We're dis.odgei and driven, the
bridge repaired, and the army pat in motion to
cross. During this whole time he was as mu,h or
more exposed than the soldiers, being on horse
back all the while. The Commodore afterwards
demonstrated with him against this unnecessar,
exposure, observing, "tlat in open sea lie could
stand fire tolerab!y well, but there was no fun in
being shot at by a concealed enemy"
The General justified his conduct by saying "the
General who commands Republican volunteers, il
whose ranks the best blood Of the country is to be
found must never think of his own safety, at lea s.
until his troops become familiar with his disrerarC
| ST personal danger" HarJhood itself has nevel
denied PerTy's courage.-Chumbers and Todd o
Kentucky. and O'Fallon of Missouri, the othe
Aids of General Harrison at the battle Of tht
| Thames are still living, and can give you addi
tonul facts, if required
| Although it is not in direct response 10 any par
OF your letter, l must be permitted to say, that N,
intercourse with General Harrison left the conyic
ton on my mind, that he was gentleman, sol
der, and patriot, and deprecate most sincerely
the injustice attempted to be done him By portion
OF that party with which have always voted.
lam sir, respectfully, your obedent servant
J, SPEED SMITH
! NJ, B, CoRwN, Esq.
We certify, lhat we have carefully compared is
letters as above printed, with the originals, Pn
that they prc tra. copic, thereof Tha dridna