Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-04-13


highest order of personal courage. lie noun.
ted his horse instantly, and, accompanied by
his staff, fastened IN the direction of the line
first attacked par of this line, unable 10
withstand the fierce and desperate onset of the
Indians, the General met retiring within our
lines IN some disorder and confusion, closely
pressed by the Indians, some of whom were
in the midst of them. General Harrison led in
person company ofthe 18th Infantry to the
breach ann such was the effect of his bold
and fearless behavior, and So great was the
confidence of his army in his ability To con
duct them toyictory that his presence aud
voice AT once rallied the rctreating detach.
mcnt, and they took position AT point equally
exposed where half of their number, if not
more, were either killed or wounded. The
battle commenced ut about three o'clock in the
morning, during IA slight rain, aud the attack
became general within five minutes after
wards, aud continued until the dawn ofdny,
when by an almost general charge, the In
dians broke aud fled before our bayoncts.
The Dragons afterwards proceeded other
village and burnt il. During the battle,
General Harrison was seen wherever danger
was the most imminent-wherc,cr the fight
was the thickest Ills aid, Colonel Owen,
was killed at his side aud almost AT the
same moment ball passed through the
Generals hat, grazing his head. There tcas not
a spot mthin lines secure from the shot Of Me
enemy. On this, rs on every other occasion
within my observation, General Ilarrison's
condact was that of brave and skillul com
mander always calm aud cool in his manner,
aud wholly indifferent To his personal safety,
possessing the peculiar faculty of AT once
discerning whatever was wanting, and of
promptly applying the remedy. A single in
slant OF vaclllation or uncertainty ofpurpose,
the slightest hemor Of nerre Hesitation in mind,
IN The crifioai and appalling periods Of tic battle,
woud hare been disastrous 10 has army after
The action, there seemed to be a universal ddmiS-
sion by the oEoers and soldiers Of The army
that there mds not another officer IN the battle
capable Of hdring prevented defeat and general
massacre. All seemed 10 regard General Udri-
son as Their dciieerer from The Indian seaiping
knife.
According to my best recolcctions, Fort
Meigs was cannonaded, day and night, with
but little intermisson, for about | days.
Shortly after its commencement, Mayor Cham
bers, of the British army, was admitted INTO
the stockade, the bearer from General Proctor
of an invitation to surrender the garrison with
the honors OF war, on the ground that SO small
a force, about 900 men, could not sustain
themselves against fonr times Their number, the
rison at once rejected Indignantly this propo-
sition lying To the insult in terms worthy of
his high character. Both day and night dur
ing the scige, General Harrison was most ac-
tive, observing every movement of the enemy,
and evincing his usual GOODNESS, danntlcss
courage, and his happy readiness TO perceive
andapply every incident to his advantage. lie
succeeded in accomplishing epery pian and
Increment where his orders mere obeycd. re-
collect not one instance to the contrary
The detachment under Col. Dudley effected,
in part, the object intended, in driving the
British troops from their position; but they
disobeyed orders in not spiking the enemy's
cannon, destroying their ammunition, and
thereupon Immediately rccrossing the river To
the main army. The two sorlies on the south
side of the river, and on the same day plan
ned and c1ecuted under orders from General
Harrison, were cminenny successful, result
ting in the objects designed, forcing the
British 10 raise the siege of Fort Meigs.-
That conducted by the brave and accom-
plished officer, then Col. John Miller, now n
Representative in Congress from Missouri
intended to destroy n sunken battery that had
annoyed us very seriously by cniladlng our
rear line of pckcts, as well as to prevent the
almost entire Indian force, then investing the
fort on that side of the river, from coopcra-
ting with the British against Dudley's attack,
made at the same time on the opposite side,
considering the very great disparity between
our force and that oflhc enemy, being as four
to one, was, must be allowed to say, one OF
the most brilliant affairs of the last war.
Gen. Winchester's movement TO the river
Raisin, where he was defeated, was in DISC
bedence of Gen. IIarrison's ORDER which re-
uuircd him to proceed TO the rapids of the
Maumee of the Lakes, and to remain there
for further orders.
have extended my remarks beyond what
| designed, when commenced, but you will
perceive my object was tog give aiull and salts
factory answer TO your interrogatorles. LAYER
that on every occasion, when Gen. Harrison
commanded, lie ever disrcgarded persona
danger and sacrifice in the performance of
duty, exhibiting all the fine qualities of a
dannless soldier, combined with those OF Ia
Tented, skilul, and most able General. Why,
at this remote period, when death has swept
away so many memorials Of Gen. lIarrlson's
intrepidty and excellence, should the poi
soned spirit ofpoltical envy attempt thus 10
tarnish the hard earned laurels of the veteran
soldier, who, in public as i'll private life, has
lived "pthom fear and withom reproaeh."
This, sir is what have to say of General
Harrison. | doubt whether there is another
living who has possessed equal opportuni-
ties with myself Of forming a correct opinion
of General IIarrsons military character. |
served under him the greater part of the pc
Rod he was in active service, near his per-
son commencing with the Tlppecanoe eX-
petition and continuing to its termination /;
-reioining his army in the fall of 1872, mt
Franklinton, Ohio, where, Immediately on my