Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-05-05

lor Thompson Tor some distance. Solohcl 'onnooA
sunk under his wounds, and borne froa Tue heo'
Where was General Harrison during this ACTON
Ny colleague Mr. Corwin,l says, that he was III
the rear, where he ought to have BEEN but some OF
the demogogues and hired mnions OF the aay' suy
.tba he was in the heat of the battle and IN al Pa
off The statement OF one TACT VIII Pia'e 80" w.
hood in its proper place. , 49,. ~: ,a
Col Johnson received five balls through ms ooe!
and limbs His clothes and accourenientS were Perio
rated and cut from head to foot with balls ana inc
- ,bcb he rode received fifteen wounds by rifle
halls of which he died in few minutes alter the ac
ION was over How it, then, if General HARRISON
was n the heat of the battle, and in every part OF IT.
that he came off without the smell OF powder upon MS
garments His escape must have been as miraculous
s the escape Of Daniel from the den OF hungry hons
and of Shadrach, Meshach and Abedneg"' iFo" ane
xfery furnace. The day of miracles has passed. zen
Harrison was not Sin the heat OF the battle OF ua
and every part Of it. and he had about as much 10 40
with command in the action John Rogers VINO was
burnt at the stake . ,., e.
Colonel r. NJ Johnson commanded III 'ne o"''e =
the Thames. "a, r, ;,
Ihelisve that General Harrison did his duty But
il is casting u dark reflection on General -
saw that he was in the heat OF the battle wi!h
or Shelby and his infantry. All the hghuus was
aone ON square of not than the fourth OF mile
fbe infantry were present why were the Indians not
I,ken prisoners If Gen. Harrison could have crossed
the swamps, and did not, he was highly to blame Tor
permitting single battalion to fight twelve or fifteen
trnared Indians near an hour. If he did cross
the swamp with the infantry, and he and they were
actually in the fight, that strips the battle OF all OF us
brilliancy and the American arms OF honor lot al he
indians escaped, except what fell II the Dragons
were fighting the Indians for near an hour IN close
yrapple WHY were the infantry not ordered TO Surround
the Indians and take them prisoners: SIR attempt 10
rob Colonel Johnson aud his gallant regiment OF the
GLORY of that battle and thar moment you run INTO IN
expcable difficulties, and bring disgrace upon the
American arms; and dishonor upon the commander.
The history Of the battle Of the Thames had better De
permitted to stand it is and as the world understands
II The political canse of General Harrison VIII hoi
he advanced By violating TRUTH justice, and honor
The American people, ready TO mete the reward
of gratitude those who defend their country III te
hour Of peril have also the capacity and discrimination
10 award Justice and honor TO whom justice and honor
are due .
The gentleman from Michigan, (hlr. Crary) IN ms
remarks thought that, in the confusion and turmoil OF
the surprise of Tippecanoe, the commanding 1enefai
should have been at his tent where he might nave ueeh
found BY the officers who sought his orders 10 tn's
my colleague (Col. Corwin) took EXCEPTIONS and Ia
ored us with many illustrations and examples 10 prove
that the commanding General should be at the heau
81 his army, and in the front OF the battle but Whch
he was forced To admit that General Harrison was IN
the rear Of the battle Of the Thames, with the infantry
he assured us without any explanation qualification,
that that was the proper place for the commanding Gen
sral believe under all the circumstances, It was the
proper place for General Harrison. These circum-
Stances | have attempted to explain though my col
league left us without explanation. | viii attempt
some illustrations to prove that the rear Of an enemy
has al,eays been the position winch commanding
Generals have occupied in time of battle.
In the great battle Of Thymbrea between Cyrus and
Cr1ssus in which the whole power OF the Persans ana
Modes arrayed against the Lydians and asSyr'as
after Cyrus had finished the order of attack, and was
prepared 10 make the onset he drank little wne' pour
ed some upon the ground as libation to the gods,
mounted his horse in the front of his army, and called
out aFolio,c me. lie continued to hight IN front OF
The army until the battle was finished.
Alexander the Great commanded III person the right
wing of his army against the Persians a, the battle OF
the Granicus he the first to enter the river and
TO meet and encounter the enemy the other side
lie continued TO fight in the front ranks until victory
was his.
The same Alexander was the first TO mount the walls
Of Odyracea and plunge himself into the thckest OF
the enemy, when his army stormed that city.
Hannibal fought in the front ranks OF the battle
OF Canine.
In the celebrated battle between Cnsar and Pompcy,
the former in the front ranks from the commence
ent Of the engagement until the latter, with his troops,
was routed
AItades fought in person at the head and front OF
his army against the Pcrsians, in the memorable battle
Of Marathon.
But later, land my colleague brings it to my mind
when Napoleon attempted to pass bridge at Lodi, ms
troops cut off as fast they marched up CO.
unn after column He rushed to the head OF the Tore
most column in the midst of the thckes fire, seized
the standard, and ordered his troops to follow him
So, sir, commanding generals have not always posted
themselves in the rear at the time OF battle .
would not have presented these illustrations win
& view to apply them TO General Harrison position
al the battle of the Thames, only that my colleague
seemed DESTROYS of turning his position 10 some pni'ti'
cal advantage, BY assigning the rear as the PFoP place
tor him.
NV colleague seemed TO lay claim to the Presidency
for General Harrison, because his history covered
great part Of the history of this country That argn
ment of ITSELF has but little weight IN IT, Some OF
Ie basest and most perhdious wretch"s that ever ans
pE lp
ever lived to curse the human family, have occupied
The largest portion of history and their names, thohg
known in nfamy a!one stand foremost on the records
Of human history. II IS not the historical recoec
lions of any that TO him respect and con.
hdence in his own day. The who has rendered
services, civil or military, will find those services WRIT
ten in the hearts of his cointrymen, and their affec-
Tomato remembrance will BE- transmitted to their pos
terty If General Harrison has rendered services to
MS country which have not been cancelled, there al
Hivs spirit of gratitude identified with, and forming
part of, the very nature 81 the American people, 10
reward them whenever the demand Id made so that II
h.. not n the expense Of political principte
Has General Harrison uncancelled claims upon !i's
country aud what their character II they are pc
lunar, present them. Are they upon the gratitude
%, the people: If SO, how they 10 be iqudated'-
BY sacrifice of all political principle on the part OF
the Democracy of this country, do you suppose: NO,
Sir The Republicans Of this country hold their De-
ocratc principles too sacred to barter them OIL IN gra'
ritude for any mans services, however valuable tley
may have been If Gen. Jackson, Al any time IN the
zenith of his popularity, with all the briliancy and
glory that surrounded his name and all his transcend
services that constituted his countrys boast with
al the unmeasured and undesirable flow of national
gratitude in his favor, had the OF his political
.arerr deserted abandoned OF the fundamental
pt,ncples of Democracy, the Republican party would
have abandoned him politically, though they would have
acd their gratitude for his services Nor, Sir if the
Father of Country to rise from the tomb, and
walk forth amongst US, demanding of the Republican
,aShrI nj
ftude il would be denied him. Gratitude is thing
with the Democracy, and political principle is another
the latter never be sacrificed TO the former But
more Of this before | close
desire TO inquire if the Federal party are sincere ~
their manifestations of gratitude 10 General Harrison
Tor his military services have before exposed their
inconsistency in relation to their support of military
chcftan for the Presidency; but now desire TO know