Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1840-02-22
FRIDAY EvENING-FEBRuARY ai. Is4O.
Laiest dates az the Erehange Readinc Room,
GEN. HARR SON AND His SLAM.
DERERS.

<Ah@
DERERS.
The only charge that has ever been
brought against the eminent military tai.
cnts and services OF General Harrison, is
his order to Colone! Croghan TO evacuatc
Lower Sandusky, under the impression
that II was %untenab'e, when the result pro-
we'd that i, might be defended. 1t was on
This charge that his enemies at the time.
sought to ruin hts reputation; but fortu
na'ely for him and for the cause Of truth.
this SANDER was then promptly met and
put down, in a n which leaves no
question of its falsily.
The fac in relation to the order 10 eva
cuate Lower Sandusky, are briefly these
When the British and their allies. the In
dians, abandoned the siege OF Fort Mciys,
II was deemed on act OF duty on the part
Of the Commanding General, to protect
the lives Of the 600 men occupying Fort
Stevenson, Lower Sandusky. This fort
was utterly untenab!e against heavy artil-
lery-wos of no value except as a cover
against indians, and was completely com
mandcd by the surrounding heights. u
was supposed by General Harrison, that
the British would make the attack from
the water side, and to render il success
Eul, land some of their heavy artillery
tie consequently said in his instructions To
Col Croghan-" Should the British MP
proach you in force piih cannon, and you
can discover them in time To effect a re
treat, you will do so immediately; :, but
he adds-"you must be aware, that TO at
tempt a retreat in The face Of an Indian
force, would be in vain, while against such
| an nnnfnv noar r1r~,, -,.Iy l. IL.
hopsrer great The number"
When il vas reported at head quarters
that the British had crossed the lake in
force 10 Lower Sandusky, Council Of war
consisting Of Cass, M'Arthur. Ball, Wood
PAUL., Hukill, Holmes and Graham. deci
ded that Col. Croghan sheulI be ordere
to retreat without further delay. The
order was despatched to hun at night, but
the messenger who bore il missed his way
aud did not reach tic Sandusky until the
fort was surrounded by Indians and retrea'
Impossible. Then it was that the brave
Gre CHAN determined 10 defend i, 10 the las
extremity; and in conveying this determi
nation TO head quarters. used language in
~tenti0naliy Of Il bragadocia character, in
order to mis'ead the British in the even
Of his letter falling into their hanks Fol
this le'Ier he was suspended, bu, imIuedi
ateIy on making the proper explanation
was reinsta;ed, escorted 10 his command By
n squadron Of horse, and there, with the
sanction and appreciation of General Har
%rison, made his gallant defence Of the fort
If it had been possible TO retreat after the
order had been received, it would have
been promptly obeyed.
In conclusion, it is only necessary tC
repubIish lie following documents;
slower Seneca Town, Aug. 10, 1913
"The undersigned, being the general
field, and staff officers, with that portion
Of tho north western army under the i'm
mediate command Of General Harrison
have observed with regret and surprise
cha. charges, rs improper in the form n
n the substance. have been made agains
thd conduct OF General Harrison, during
the recent investment OF Lower Sandusky
1t another time, and under ordinary cir
cumstanccs, we should deem il improper
and unmilitary 10 give an opinion respect
ing the movements Of the army. But pub
tic confidence in the commanding genera
is essential TO the success of the campaign
and causelcssly to withdraw or To with
hold that confidence, is more than in1ivI
Qua! injustice; u becomes a serious injur,
to the service. A part oftho force Of which
tho American Army consists. will deriy,
its greatest strength and efficacy from
confidence in the commanding general
and from those moral causes which &c ;om
Pany and give energy TO public opinion
\ very erroneous idea OF the number q
troops then at the disposal Of the general
has doubtless been the primary cause o
those unfortunate and u~nfounded impres
, SONS. IN that respect we have fortunate
~ experienced a very favorable change
But We refer the public to the g%encfai'
. official report to the secretary OF war, Q
|. Major Croghan's successful defence {
; Kower Sandusky. In that will be fouo
q a statement Of our Whole d~isposable force
, and he who believes that with such n fore
! and under the circumstances which the
: occurred, General Harrison ought 10 hay
n advanced upon tbs enemy. must be left
correct his opinion in the school Of exp
" rience.
- 4" On a review Of the course then ado.
10 ted, we are decidedly OF tho opinion. th
ie i was such as was dictated by milital
wisdom. and by o due regard TO our ov
% circumstances and the situation OF d
=, enemy. The reasons for this opinion
Is cviionily improper now to give; but
~ hold ourselves ready at a future peri,
'm and when other circumstances shall Ia
!. interviewed. 70 satisfy every man ofits c,
RICHNESS wboi s ANXIOUS 70 investigate .