The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-04-23

I'D 10 the charge, the General slaItd lDr
The line Of Infantry, which was drawn up in
order of battle. He had moi gone far, be.
fore, turning to me, land TO the best my re.
COLLECTION | was the only one of his aids
then with HIM, be said, {" Pursue Col. John. |
son with your utmost speed, see the effect Of I
bis charge, and the position of the enemy's
artillery, and return as quickly as possible. |
Having executed this order as promptly ss
practicable, | met him on my return pres.
sing forward with the front OF the infantry. F.
Upon reporting that Col. Johnson had 4
broke the enemy's line-that they were
surrenderiug, and that their cannon was in F
our possesslon--he exclaimed, in an onirna.
ted tone, "Come on, my brave fellows,
Proctor and his whole army will soon 30
ours" Soon after this, IN officer Il believe
the late Judge John Mcdowell, Of Ohio
rode up and reported that the leii wing, at
or near the crochet, was suffering severely,
and in srea, disorder. The communicated
was made in the hearing OF the soldiers
Tho General contradicted the latter part
of the statement in the most emphatic nal.
ner-but, giving order 10 the next in com.
nand 10 push forward, he dashed With
the messenger to the indicated point OF con.
f.ct aud confusion, and found the comics,
pretty close and severe. A portion Of John.
sous regiment, owing 10 the impraciicablll1
~ of the ground for horse. had dismounted
and was fighting 90 foot aud mingled viii
the mfantIy-which had been, TO some OK |
tent, the cause OF the confusion. Order wa !
soon restored, aud the left win2 closed I'd
the front, (which formed the cro,che,l IN
der the personal supervision Of General Har
nson. In the mcaDtime, some Of our sol !
d.ers were shot within less than ten feet u
the General for the conflict here sas sharJ
and animated, and continued so for somt|
time. With the exception Of the cbargs|
made by Col. Johnson's regiment, Genera
Harrison vas in the most exposed aud dan |
gerous parts Of the battle.
II Is due to the occasion TO relate the foi |
lowing incident The day before the battle
I The army was lmpeded IN It's march by ,h'
destruction OF bridge across branch d
the Thames, up which II was moving, a. Cd
near the mouth OF the brunch. Colonel John
son had been ordered to cross this siresI
at some m,ils, two or three miles above III
mouth. The road led HIN by Tie bridgeI
A portion Of bis regiment he'd brush vii
party Of indians posted 10 cabins ca lhs
opposite side Of the Thames aad tho brunch
"a "a. IL n
banks, 10 dispute the passage Of the stream
and harass al attempts to repair the bridget
As soon as the firing was heard, the Geeer
al hnrned 10 the scene OF action, accompaI
med by portion Of his family, OF ~hie
Commodore Perry was one. When ar
rived, found General Harrison, Commo
dore Perry, and other officers, Il think Gen !
eral Cass ives one,) in an open piece d
ground GEAR the bridge. Colonel JohnsoG
had passed, aud a small portion Of his req
meni, previously dsmoLIled, under lhs
command Of Captain Benjamin wsrhsh
and some infantry which had hurried Up
we're carrying on the skirmish. Msjp,I
Wood had been ordered up with a smaI
piece Of artillery. Commodore Perry urg.
Cd General Harrison 10 withdraw, as no va
too much exposed for the Commander il |
Chief. Ii mistake not, General Cass unl.
Ted with The Commodore, ana offered 10 re.
main and see his orders executed. The|
General, with Perry and the residue OF BIS
suit, started off, but General Harrison wel
bui 4 few steps and returned, and retained
bis position near the cannon, until the Ia.
dams were disodged aud driven, the bridge
repaired and the army put IN motion ID
cross. During this whole time be was a
much or more exposed than the soldiers
beng on hoseback all the while. Tn
Commodore afterwards demonstrated vii
hun against this Unnecessary exposure, Oh
serving, :" that IN open sea he could stan
fire toerable WE'LL but there was no fun ID
beng shot al by concealed enemy"
The General justified bis conduct by say
ing the General who commands Repu5i
. can volunteers, 10 whose ranks the hes |
; blood Of the country is 10 be found, mus
never think Of his own safety, a, least ont
his troops become familiar with his dIsrs
gard OF personal danger" Hardihood i |
self has never denied Perry's courage
Chambers and Todd, Of Kentucky, aud
! O'FaIIon Of Missouri. the other Aids Of Gen
eral HARRISON at tho battle Of the Thames
are still living, and can give you addition
facts, # required.
Although i IS not in direct response
any part Of your letter, mum be permlltc
10 say, that my intercourse with Gen. liar
rlson left the conviction on my mind tia |
he was gentleman, a soldier, aud pat |
riot, and deprccate most sincerely the IN
justice attempted TO be done him by pot
ton Of that party With which have alssy
voted.
am, sir, respectfully, your obedien, ser
want,
]. SPEED SMITH.
NJ. D. GOWN, Esq
An Aged Matron of The ReroiutiOu.-
The widow of BrlgadIer General John Pat