The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-31
Washington, 2sth Feb, 1910.

Washington, 2sth Feb, 1910.
DEAR SIR-Since writing to you IN answer to your
letter of the l7h inst, 1t has occurred to me that
principal object Of the fasehoods relative General
Harrison which have found propagation the floor Of
the Ohio House OF Representatives, must be 10 make
the impression that he co1ard aud though you do
not state your letter the assigned by his Sian
derers for his alleged absence from the command Of his
army the battle of the Thames, presume motive
for 1t less charitable than sheer cowardce would have
been imputed by capable of such misrepresentation
Of his conduct, But whatever may be the alleged in
ducemeni for the conduct attributed him. the relation
IN which then stood 10 HIM, and my knowledge OF
what his actual conduct was, imposes me the duty
have performed Of pronouncing the charge false aud
trust you will pardon me for suggesting the proprley.
OF an appropriate occasion presents itself be
made open session. OF demanding OF the members OF
your House. who have made the charge, the authority
upon which they made II whether from their own
knowledge or observation. or upon the Information OF
others aud if upon the information OF Others their
names and residence. The original inventors of the
fasehood ought 10 have the advantage Of all the celeb
nty II is calculated TO give them.
On the subject of General Harrsons personal brave
ry, is it not very remarkable If he is coward that
of the gallant officers soldiers who served with
nm under General Wayne, or those who fought under
bis command at Tlppecanoe, at Fort Meigs and the
Thames, discovered his cowardlce and that the dis
coyery should have remained TO be made by
scurvy politician OF the present day for will venture
to predict, that officer soldier OF responsibility,
who served with him, under his command, be
found to take the responsibility Of charging him with
cowardce. In connection with this subject permit
to relate fact, which occurred in my presence, and
which calculated to give idea of the character
OF General Harr,son's pretensons to hrlnness and dis
regard Of personal danger On the day preceding the
battle of the Thames, when his army approached the
last right hand fork of the river, Called think Mac
Gregor's fork) General Harrison, accompanied by
Commodore Perry aud his aids de.camp, rode forward
to examine the bridge which crossed the mouth Of the
stream, and which the enemy had partially destroyed
aud while viewing II, several hundred Indians under
the command Of Tecumseh we learned afterwards,
who concealed at some cabins called Chatham,
aud in the bushes the opposite side OF the stream,
commenced a brisk FIRE upon the little party, in the
midst of which General Harrison was At that mo-
ment dismouu,ed company OF Col Johnson's Regi.
ment commanded by Capt. Benjamin Warfeld, who
resides III the neghborhood of Lexington, 10 this
State, up the fire OF the Indians was so severe,
as induce the gallant Perry oxpostulste earnestly
with General Harrison sgalnst the exposure Of his per-
son to such fire. when good could result from II
but the General coolly replied that he could set the
example Of retiring from the fire OF the enemy, The
artillery came up in few minutes, aud opened fire
upon the cabins about which the Indians were con-
ceaed, and Capt. Warhed, crossing with his company
upon the tmbers OF the bridge charge thein they
Off Respectfully, your obt ser,t,
JOHN CHAMBERS.
MosEs b CoRwfN ESQ Columbus Ohio