Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-08-13


caanon had not arrived, but they were being
u,oved forward AZ fast as they could be, under
tho eeircuinstsnces, The Petersburg (Vs.)voi
uhteers, were combating the mud and frost
II by the wny OF Huifs road. ! met them the
third or fourti, day after Winchester's defeat
and they had been from sunrise until dark,
in marching three miles. The supplies for
the winter campaign, with the exception OF
\ comparatively small quantity, were East
and South OF tho river IL was ~ consideration
Of these prominent facts, and others which
time will not permit me 10 enuDerate, that
conduccd TO the advice given by the officers
| TO Gen. HARRISON, to take q position at the
crossings oftbe Portage river, about IL miles
from the Rapids Of the Maulnee, where he
could cover the cannon and provisions, and
concentrate the troops. | was not member
Of the council, not having commission, and
! relate the facts as understood them at the
time. The night Of the day we left the
Rapids, the ram fell 10 torrents, and broke
| up tho ice in the river. His conduct at the
time, so far as know or believe, was univer-
sail approved by every person who was ac-
Il qDainted with the movements Of the army,
aud The circumstances referred to. The
Legislature Of this State WAS then IN session,
and was despatched by Gen. Harrison, "soi
itary and Alone" through the wilderness (and
there was not house from the Mn,mec Rap
ids 10 Champagne county, lnLab abned by II
white MANI TO Chllllcothe, to bear inteli.
gsnce OF Winchestsr's defeat, and submit to
the Legislature the request Of Gen. Harrison
TO ofisr bounty to the militia from this
State, to roinain IN service, If necessary, atter
Tho expiration of their six months service
Such was the entire confidence ln the militia
| ry skill, experience, prudsnce and bravery Of
Gen. HARRISON, that such act was passed with
cut, believe, dissenting voice, and SAC, ,000
were appropriated 10 carry the provisions Of
| the act into effect.
II The act was passed on the Cd Of February
1913, aud may be found in Cbase's edition OF
the laws, vol. 2, page 793. II the Lsgisla
ture had entertained ths least doubt Of Gen.
f1nrrlsop's courage, or fitness for lhe rcspon-
sible station he occupied, no bounty would
havo been offered the militia to remain IN
the service. In nine or ten days the concen-
trated army, with the cannon and provisions,
moved forward to the foot Of the Rapids, and
built Fort Meigs.
TO enable you to form an opinion Of the proprl-
ETY. Of Gen. llarrlson's conduct during the
" inter Of 1873, aud have adverted /, the &C,
/
the opinion ] shall give in answer to your
question. Whoever served in that campaign
and calls 10 mind the condition Of that sec.
ton of the county, must be filed with won.
der, that al army maintained its position
there at all. A kind and ovcrruling Provi.
dcnce has thus fur raised up, and qualified
men to act for this beloved country, in i'm
portant exigences and to that station was
Gen. Harrison called, as commander Of the
| Northwestern army-and he was eIninenty
fitted for the difficulties aud trials he had to
encounter. As u military commander, he
has my full confidence. a General of less
| skill aud prudence, would have sacrificed the
Northwestern Army. lie not only never lost
u battle, but, where his orders were obeyed,
no disaster beyond the fortune OF war ever
occurred. In confederation Of my own opin
ION, l refer you to the testimony, Of Governor
Shelby, OF Col. K. nj. Johnson, Of Gen. Har-
rlson's aids, and to every officer and soldier
who served under him, and did not desert
aud 10 the votes and proceedingsat Tdmma-
my Hall; TO tho uDbought opinion of Mr.
! Richie, (which, however, he has since made
merchandze OF y to the opinions, cotemps-
rancously expressed by every patriot of that
day, aud ~ Dawson's life of Harrison.
\ Very few mon in this quarter evaded q
draft or deserted but in every Instance with
in my knowledge, where u man "took to
the woods to evads being notified Ct n
draft, and III every instance where soldier
deserted, and where an officer was conscien.
t,ously scrupulous about crossing the Cana.
dian line; he Is, # living, opposed to Gen.
Harrison, and so are his sons, when their an
csstors is numbered with the dead.
Il At meeting IN neghberng town last
week, one man was dcnouncing Gen. llarr-
son as q coward. Ii was evident he had re.
ceived some 4" Erirus" from WashIngton.-
A gentleman who was acquainted with the
history Of the defaIner, asked hun if he did
not desert during the last war? This was
Il" poser" he did not like To answer /; but it so
happened, that his Captain was Oh The ground,
and he said, our hero was reported descrter
OH his roll and If the fact was denied, there
were four Witnesses who could prove IL.
/ You say you have supported the admins
tration, aud have All undoubted right to do
80 hereafter, If you think proper aud in the
exercise of this rlgh, will not interfere !;
but beg Of you, not to do the country the
injustice to join in the party examinations
against man TO whom We owe so great
debt VI gratitude as we DO to General liar
II risvn.
H As Statesman, the enemies Of Gen. IIar-
rison have almost ceased To rail against him.
Il Hircling presses, and few office. ho ders,
with their pensioners, occasionally renew the
often reiuled charge that Gen. Harrison vot.
ed to sell white men for debt but no polit.
zeal capital can be made out Of It, where the
facts are known. Ii Gen. Harrison shall be
elected President, or it the people shall be
defeated by the office holders, he will be
greatly indebted to them for having so dlrec.
ted the political campaign, as to draw the
public attention 10 every act OF his life; his
writings and his speeches will be embodied,
and read, and admitted by hundreds Of thou
sands, who otherwise would never havo seen
them. saw his letter 10 Bolivar in manu-
script, aud requested It's publication. When
ever have read 1t since, ] have received
additional instruction and pleasure. His
| speeches, his votes ond his writings, abun.
dainty prove him an able Statesman. II he
shall be elected, he will be President of the
nation, and not of party. think he pos
scsses the three cardinal qualifications men.
toned by Mr.. Jefferson, lie is honest, he is
copabic, and lie Is attached to the Coustitu
n ton" 1t is a remarkable fact, that Inc has
never been reported public defautcr, dur.
| ing the long period ho has been in public
service. During the campaign in the winter
Of ISI2-l3, he was as economical Of the pub.
lie money, as he could have been, had the
,,,r Leon carried nm at his own cxn.n,o