Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-10-13

FRANKFORT. Ntih. ., lraVs
Dear Sir ! am in receipt OF your letter Of
the 9Th inst. which, after referring 10 the part |
bore IN the battle Of the Thames, October 5,
1878, you PROFOUND TO me two questions IN |
reference 10 the conduc, Of General Harrison
on that occasion. You ask me
LIST. ibid you sec Gen. Harrison while |
the battle ragged. and after Col Johnson had |
been wounded and taken off the ground, and
hear him encouraging and auimaiibg hts
menu
I'd. "was any par, of the Infantry under
Shelby engaged 10 the action"
NY answer to the enquiries will be better
understood by a plain statement OF the facts
which occurred upon the ground, 30 far as
witnessed them.
was At The head or right Of my company,
on horse back, waiting orders, AT about nifty
or sixty yards from the line Of tho enemy.
Col Johnson rode up and explained to me the
mode OF attack. and said, in substance, "Capt.
Davidson, am directed by Gen. Harrison, 10
charge, and break thro' the Indian line, and
form in the rear NY brother James will
charge in like manner through the British line
at the same time. The sound of the trumpet,
will be the signal for the charge In few
minutes the trumpet sounded, and the word
''charge" was given by Col Johnson. The Col.
charged within few PAGES of me. We struck
the Indian line obliquely, and when we APP
preached within ten OF fifteen yards Of their
line, the Indians poured in heavy fire upon
us, killing ten or fifteen of our men, and sew
eral horses, and wounded Col. Johnson very
Immediately retired. DIR. The
ton, Il think) aided him off.
Dr. heard more Of Col. John
IL action was over.
sniinued warn and animated
here my company and part o
were engaged. After Col.
1sl4 zen off the field, saw Gen
harrison and Gov. Shelby both, and quite
near me. They were both on horse back
. passing in the crotchet, or angle. well re-
member the animating and encouraging man
ner In which Harrison, as he passed, address
cd his men. II had sensible affect on my
self, and seemed, i thought not only 10 stimu
late my spirits, but strengthen my body, Cher
weakened by loss of bloody "Fellow sol
diers," shouted the Interpret hero, in toner
that stirred the souls Of his kindred spirits
"keep close and shoot sure the day will b'
ours in few minuiesr' He rode on was
engaged and saw no more Of him. Immedi
, ately upon his leaving US, going in the direc
ton of the angle, a desperate and severe strug
gle commenced at or near that point, between
the Infantry under Gov. Shelby and the Indi
men, lasted, / think at least five minutes
Several of the Infantry were killed. Gov
, Shelby himself told me he had several me
killed, and, had found eight or ten Indians lei
:, dead on the ground at that point. This wa
J. the mos severe contest during the action.
! 81 crossed the swamp with the secoud ba,
). tallon $500 men, and fought against the II
dams supposed 400 wariors) under TecuG
i sch, without any aid whatever"
!. This statement, you will observe, is n,
|. warranted by the details. The writer GfiI
h deed the alledged author was the writer, whc
}. | doubt,) certainly labors under a misappr,
d hension which can only be accounted for :
the fact that Col Johnson WIS badly wouRt
d ed at the first onset, and was taken off ii
r field, abd could not have known of the impo
o tant services rendered by the infantry und,
!, Harrison and Shelby
must claim, however, for the Cd Battal
ion of he mounted Regiment, the honor
r. having contributed more than any other corr
,. in achieving the victory, but it gives me plea
,e ure to say, that every officer and soldier d
=. his duty on that day, so far as know or b
lieve. You will therefore be able to judg
&c from the facts here stated from my own pc
N sonal knowledge, whether Gen, Harrison WI
present in the action, doing his duty as an o
ficer, and whether any part of the infantl
J. was engaged l had supposed that fact S
well known by all who were there, would b
e questioned by none.
IS In conclusion, as it regards the standing
VI Gen. Harrison as an officer, and the estim
4. ton in which he was held by the army, a
,r from my intercourse with his officers and SO
ID diers subsequent to..the battle enabled to ado
RI the language Of distinguished officer of Pc
70 rvs feet--"here nerer wds an army more a
, IDENTITY attached or more enthusiastically proi
m ofa General than this"
"a Yours with great respect,
JAMES DAVIDSON.