Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-04-13
Hon. Moses Ii. ConwIN.
CINCINNATI, February %, $40.


Hon. Moses II. ConwIN.
ClNciNNArI February 30, 1910.
DrAn SIR: Your letter of the l7th instant
was forwarded. under cover, tn Major Cham
bers nj Washington, Kentucky, and sent by
him To my residence after | left home, which
must be my apology for the delay of this an
swcr.
can state that YOU have been correctly
informed that IL was in the battle of the
Thames, aud near the person of General flar-
rlsol from the commencement to the end oil
the engagement, and that personally know
what part General Harrison took in IT,"
was acaptain in the army ofthc United States,
and had the honor To act as II regular Abide
Camp TO General Harrison during the active
operations Of the campai IN, allei the capture oi
the British feet and was by his side in the
battle Of the Thames, with the exception OF
the time when, after the capture of the British
troops, he directed me 10 proceed To Cover
nor shelby and order hmto bring mp Simrall's
regiment, and reinforce that portion of john
sons regiment and the left Of Trotter's bri-
gade which was pressed by the Indian force.
You say sit has been openly Nowcd on
the floor of the House of Representatives OF
Ohio, now in session, by members IN their
places, that General Harrison was nj no time
in the battle, nor within two miles of the bat
tlc.ground ; that the entire plan OF operntions
was projected by Col. Il. NJ. Johnson; that
he led the troops TO conquest, and that Gen
eral Harrison had 40 part or lot IN the mat
ter" From my personal knowledge of The
plan and events of that battle, have no hes
itatlon III stating that these declarations i'll
relation TO General Harrsons position and
conduct in that battle are destitute Of any
foundation in truth. General Harrison has
correctly stated, in his report To the War De
partment, the position he occupied Just be-
fore the commencement oi the acton and
he might have added, that he in person gave
the word of command to the mounted rcgi-
mcnt TO "cbargc"-he having, with his aids
dc.camp, passed from the right OF the front
line of infantry to the right of the front Of
the mounted column, and not only ordered
the charge To be made by pronouncing the
word, but called upon his aids TO repeat and
pass the words along the line. | was close
by his side, and he was so near the cncmy
that their fire cut down the leaves and twigs
of the trees just above our heads.
AS soon as ~: -. n.;: :::si;; troops had surrcn-
dercd, and after had been sent 10 Governor
Sehlby with the order already advcrtcd To,
General Harrison passed 10 the point where
the Indians were annoying the left, and per
sonally directed the operations IN that quar-
ter To the close of the action. ! met Governor
Shelby bringing up Simralfs regiment. he
having anticipated the Generals wishes as To
that movement In this way Governor Shell
by and Harrison, with his aids met at the
point where the Indians had made their most
desperate effort, and from which they soon af
ter rctreatcd.
The first arrangement for the battle, as
well as the subsequent change, which was pre-
Dictated upon the important information OBJ
tanned by the military rye Of CoL " ood, was
planned alone by General Harrison. The
execution of This subsequent plan was conf
ded TO the regiment commanded by Col. II. nj
who led in person the second bat
talon, aided by Major Thompson which,
in it's extension to the left, brought some
portion of il in contact with the Indian line
The first battalion was led by Lieut.. Col
James Johnson, aided by Major Payne. Tins
10 the right of the front OF which
General Harrison and his staff advanced, and
where he personally gave the word "charge,"
captured the British line, and, having thus
turned the Indian left, decided The fate Of the
day.
You arc at liberty to make such use of this
letter as you may think proper.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C.. =. TODD.
vi OSES u. IORNIN, IsStl. II. " 'e'P'', Coi"''D""
Richmond, March g, 1910
SIN Your letter of the l7th ult was receY-
ed on Yesterday, in which you state that "h
has been openly avowcd that General Harri-
son was atno time in the battle OF the Thames,
nor within two miles Of the battle ground
that the entire plan Of operations was pro-
iected by Col II. NJ. Johnson-that he led
The troons on to conquest, and that Gen
eral Harrison had no part nor lot IN the
My humiliation is deep that a ne
cessity should exist, produced by party ran
cor to prove facts attcsled by history for
more than a quarter of a century, and which
have never before been questioned. Thatig.
norance aud credulity abound to an extent
TO render such base assertions available, be-
speaks n lamcnable state of public intelli
gence, and portcnds no good to the republic.
That Col Johnson led the van and brought
on the battle is true--that he behaved with
the utmost gallantry, is also truc-bnt your
letter contains the first suggestion which has
ever reached me, that the centre plan OF OPP
erations was projected by him" The mag
nanimity of Colonel Johnson will repudiate,
with proud Indignation, such AN effort TO clus-
ter additional laurels upon his brow, thus
unjustly torn from the brow of his General -
Col johnson received orders, as to the toim
and manner of charge, from General llarrl-
son in person, in the face and almostln sight
of tho enpmy The General was with the re-