Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1840-09-05
BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

I d speed O
son and n Van Buren, man.
RICHMOND Va, March 6, $40.
Sir: Your letter Of the 9Th uIt. was receive,
on yesterday, in which you state, that ut ha
been openly avowed that General Harrison wa.
at no time la the battle Of the Thames, nor with
IN two miles Of the battle ground-that the en-
tire plan OF operations projected by Col X
NJ. Johnson--that he led the troops con
quest, and tina, General Harrison had no part nor
the necessity should nos:s by party rao-
cor. to prove facts aitesied by history for more
than a quarter Of q century, and which have new
er before been questioned That ignorance and
creduli.y abound to extent Ia render such base
less assertions available, bespeaks lamenta5le
state Of public intelligence, and poriends no good
to the republic.
That Col johnson led the van and brought on
the battle, is true--that no behaved with :he ut
most galantry, is also true but your letter COM
tains the first suggestion which has ever reached
mo, that the entire plan of operations was pro-
jectei by him. The magnaninity OF Colonel
johnson, will repudia,e, with proud indignation,
such effort to cluster additional taures upon
his BOW, thus un Justly torn from The brow OF his
General. Col. Johnson receive ed orders, as to the
form and mannar Of ch,rge, from General Har-
rison in pc son, the face and almost sight OF
the enemy. The General with the regi-
ment when the charge sounded As John
son moved to the charge, the General started Tor
the line Of Infantry which was drawn up IN order
Of battle. He had not gone far, before turning to
me, (and to the best OF my recollection. was the
only one Of his aids then with hm) he said. 'Pur-
sue Col. Johnson with your utmost speed--see
the effect of his charge, and the position OF the
cnemy's ariIIleary, and return as quickly as pos
sibe.' Having executed this order promptly
as practicable, | met him on nv return, pressing
forward with the front Of the infantry. Upon re-
porting, that Col. Johnson had broken the enc
,ndt that
their cannon in possession--he exclaim-
ed IN an animated tone, Come on my brave fell
lows, Proctor and his whole army will soon he
ours Soon after this, officer, q believe the
late Judge John M'Dowcli, Of Ohio,) rode up and
reported that the left wing, at or near the crotch
ct. was suffering severely, and in great disorder
This communication made in hearing OF
the soldiers. The General c.ntradicted the lat
ter part Of the statement, in the most emphatic
giving order to the next IN com
mand to push forward, he dashed with the mes
sengcr to the indicated point Of conflict and con-
fusion, and found the contest pretty close and Sc
vero. A portion of Johnson's Reg mt, owing to
the imprac ,cahility Of the ground for horse, had
d,smoun,ed, and was fighting on foot and mingled
with the infaniry--w hich had been, TO some
tent, the cause Of the confusion. Order was soon
restored, and the left wing closed To the front,
which formed the cro,chet, under the personal
supervision Of General Harrison. In the mean
time. some Of our soldiers shot within less
than ten feet Of the Gcneral for the conflict here
was sharp and animated, and continued so for
made by Col. Johnson's Regiment, General Har-
r'son was IN the most exposed and dangerous
parts of the battle.
1t IS due to the occasion to relate the folowin inc
incident: The day before the battle the army
was Impcded in its rch bv the destruction of a
bridge across a branch Of the Thames, up which
II WINS moving, nj the mouth Of the b, anch
Col johnson had been ordered TO this stream
Al some mills two or three miles above the mouth
The road led him by the bridge. A portion of
MS regiment had brush with parry of Indians,
,os'ed in cabins on the opposite side of the
Thames and the branch, and also under the thick
covert along the banks, TO dispute the passage of
no stream, and harass all 1tfcmr, TO repair ,hc
'ridge. As soon the firing heard. the
General hurried to the scene Of action, accompa.
'icd bv portion Of his family. Of which Conmo-
lore Perry was When | arrived ] found
Iencral Harrison. Comn"dore Perry, and other
Ulcers, q think Gen. Cass one,) in an open
ece of ground near the bridge Col. Johnson
lad passed, and small portion Of his regiment
d!sn,ounted, under the command Of
capt. Benjamin Warficid, and some infantry
which had hurried up, were carrying on the Skin
nish. Maj. Wood had been ordered up with
mall piece Of artillery. Commodore Perry ur-
ed General Harrison Z" wit!,draw. n. he was too
much exposed for the onmander-in.chief. If
Mistake not. Gen. Cass united with the Commo-
ore, and offered to remain and see his ORDERS ex-
cuicd. The General, with Perry and the rest
his suit, started OFF; but General Harrison
rent hut a few steps and returned, and retaaed
Iis position near the cannon, until the Indians
,ere dIsodged and driven, the bridge repaired,
nd the army put in motion to cross During this
hole time he much more exposed than
ne soldiers, being on horseback all the while
he Commodore afterwards demonstrated with
i'm against this unnecessary exposure, Observing,
that in open sea he could stand fire ioIerabiy
'eil, but there was no fun in being shot at by
onccaled enemy
The General justified his conduct by saving
The general who commands Republican valun-
GERS in whose tanks the best blood of the an
" Is 20 be found, must never think Of hi. own
afety, at least until his troops become familiar
18th his disregard Of personal danger" Hardi-
hoe