The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-22

| TSOH, WltnOul one IllOiDeuI ICdy VI tiIC
est embarrassment, formed his purpose. was
within few feet of him, when the report Of
Col. Wood was made; and he instantly re-
marked that he would make novel movement
| by ordering Col Jehuson's mounted regiment
to charge the line of British egulars-which,
thus drawn up, contrary to the habits and US
| ages Of that description Of troops, always ac-
customed 10 the touch, could be easily pene-
trated and thrown into confusion by the spirit
ed charge of Col. Johnson's Regiment. With
view to This intended charge, Col. Johnson's
command was ordered to the front, supported
in his rear as reserve by Gen. Trotter's Brl-
| gade. know that all the arrangements, every
movement Of the troops during the battle were
made by the order of Gen. Harrison, whose
| position at the commencement OF the action
was just in rear of Col. Johnsons command,
and mainly afterwards near the crotchet formed
| by the junction of Johnson's left, with the
| Kentucky Volunteers, drawn up on the edge
and in front of the swamp; position consider
ed by all as the most exposed and dangerous
within the lines Of our army, and where the
battle was warmly contested by the Indians,
until they discovered the surrender Of the
whole British regular force; the happy result of
| the novel and skilliul movement most CALAMITY
| performed by Col. Johnson and his brave asso-
ciates; but conceived, planned and directed by
| Gen Harrison whose superior military judg-
ment and ready skill neither needed nor receiv-
| ed any aid.
| After the return ofthe army to Detroit, that
brave veteran, that just, good and pure citizen
! the late Gov. Shelby, on the hearing read Ge
neral HarrisoD's report Of the battle, remarked
in my presence and with much emphasis, that
the report did him Gov. Shelby more than
justice, and that to Gen. Harrison alone, was
due the credit of the order ofbottle, the whole
of the arrangements and plans which he Gov.
| 81 had contributed to carry out to the best of
bis abilities.
| At the commencement of the battle of Tip
pecanoe, when the first gun was fred at our
advanced picket l was at the tent of General
Harrison, who was then up at the fire. had
an opportunity to observe his manner; he was
cool and collected, and every movement of his
lcOuntenance, and every word he uttered at
that trying moment, perhaps the most embar-
rassingin the life ola soldier, denos a the high
est order of personal courage. He mounted
his horse instantly, and accompanied by his
staff fastened in the diEectiea Of t!e Ne fissl
attacked. A part OF the line, unable . with
stand, the fierce and desperate onset of the In
diaus, 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 per-
son company of the 18th Infantry to the
breach; and such was the effect of his bold and
fearless behaviour, and so great was the conf
dence of his army in his ability to conduct them
to victory, that his presence and voice at once
rallied the retreating detachment, and then
took position at a point equally exposed, where
half of their number. if not more, were either
killed or wounded. The battle commenced at
about O'Clock in the morning, during slight
rain, and the attack became general within five
minutes afterwards, and continued until dawn
of day; when by an almost general charge, the
Indians broke and fled before the !bayonet-
The dragons afterwards proceeded to their
village and burnt it. During the battle, Gen
eral Harrison was seen wherever danger was
thelmost imminent, wherever the fight wassthe
thickest His Aid, COL Owen, was killed by
his side--an almost at the same moment a ball
passed through the Generals hat, grazing his
head. There was not spot within our lines
secure from the shot of the enemy: On this,
as on every other occasion, within my obser-
walton, General Harrison's conduct was that of
a brave, and skiul commander, always calm
and cool in his manner, and wholly Indifferent
to his personal safety, possessing the faculty
of at once discerning whatever was wanting,
and ofpromptly applying the remedy. A sin
gle instant of vacillaton or uncertainty of pur-
pose; the slightest tremor of nerve or hesita-
ton in mind, in the critical and appalling pc
RODS of the battle, would have been disastrous
| 10 his army. After the action, there seemed TO
be universal admission by the officers and
soldiers of the army, that there was not another
officer in the battle, capable of having prevent
ed defeat and general massacre. ALI seemed
to regard General Harrison as their deliverer
from the Indian scalping knife.
According to my best recollections, Fort
Meigs was cannonaded, day and night, with
but little intermission for about ii days.
Shortly after its commencement, Major 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 1000 men, could not sustain
themselves against four times their number, the
estimated British and Indians force. General
Harrison at once rejected Indignantly this pro-
position, replying to the insult in terms worthy
| of his high character. Both day and night,
during the seige, General Harrison was most
active, observing every movement of the enc
my, and evncing his usual coolness, dauntless
courage. and his happy readiness to perceive
and apply every incident TO his advantage
He succeeded in accomplishing every plan and