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


sons regiment and the LEFT Of Trotefs brigade WINCH
was pressed by the Indian force.
Yoa say iii has been openly ayowed on the aoor Of
the Rouse oil Representatives OF OHIO now season
by members IN then places, that General HARRISON sa
at DO time IN the battle, within ndes Of l1e
battle ground that the entire plan Of operations H.,
projected by Col X NJ Johnson that he led The troot
TO conquest, aud that General HARRISON had 10 paf a.
lot IN the matter" From my personal know ledge II
the plan and events OF that battle, have hesia an
10 stating that these declarations IA relation 10 enei
Hansons position and conduct IN that battle are De-.
tiiute Of any foundation IN truth General Hafnsop
has correctly stated IA his report TO the War Depsn.
ment, the position be occupied JUS, before the CON
! rnencenent Of the action aud he might have ADDED
that he IN person gave the word OF command to lie
mounted regiment TO "chafge''-he having, win N,
aids de-canp, passed from the right Of the front ne Of
infantry 10 the right Of the front OF the mounted a..
lumn and not only ordered the charge to be made ~
proDouncng the word, bot called upon his AIDS to re.
peat and pass the word along the line. wa, lose "
his side, and he was so the enemy that their fire
cut down the leaves and wigs Of the just above
our heads.
the British troops had surrendered and
after | had been sent to Gov Shelby with the order
already sdverted 10, General HARRISON passed 10 Tie
point where the Indians annoying the left and per
socially directed the operations IN that quarter The
close OF the action, | met Gov Shelby, bringing 10
Smralls Regiment, he having anticipated the Generals
wishes 10 that movement 10 this xay, Governor
4 Shelby and General HARRISON with his aids mel al the
point where the Indians had made their desperate
effort and from which they soon after retreated.
The first arrangement for The battle, well as the
subsequent change, which pedIcaled upon the
pousnt information obtained by the military eye ~
Col Hood, plsnnad alone by General HARRISON
The execution Of this subsequent plan, conhded 10
the Regiment commanded by Col k NJ Johnson, who
led in person The I'd battalion, aided by MAJOR Ihomp
son which, in It's extension TO the left. brought
portion nj 1t IN contact with the Indian line The Isl
wa ed bv In ohuson by
MAJOR Payne This battalion, 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 ard having thus turned the Indian left
decided The fac Of The day.
You at liberty make such Of this letter as
you may think proper.
Very respectfully. your obedent servr
| c, s. TODD.
Moses B. CoRws Esq, House Of Represenanre,,
! Columbus, OHIO
RcHMosD March G. 1910
1 Sir Your letter OF the l7lh ult was received on
yesterday, which you sate that II has been openly
avowed that General Harrison was at no time in the
battle Of the Thames, within two miles of the bat
tie groundthat the entire plan Of operations was pro
Jected by Col X M Johnson-thsl be led the troops on
TO conquest and that General Harrison had no part nor
lot IN the matter" MY humiliation is deep, that ne
cessliy should exist produced by party rancor prove
iacts aested by history Tor more than quarter OF
century. and which have before been questioned
That ignorance aud credulty abound an exten, 10
render such baseess assertions available bespesks
amentable state Of public intelligence, and portend
good to the republic
! That Col Johnson led the and brought on the
battle, is true-thst he behaved with the utmost gaaa-
try, is also true but your letter contains the frs sug
geson which has reached me, that 1.-The eutre plan
OF operations projected by HIM" The msguanuul.
ty Of Colonel Johnson will repudate with proud lndp.
nation, such an effort 10 cluster additional auels upon
his brow thus unJustly from the brow Of his GeGe.
raj Col johnson received orders, TO the form ald
manner Of charge, from General Harrison IN person.
10 the face and almost in sight Of the enemy The
General was with the regiment when the charge was
sounded As johnson moved to the charge the General
started for the line OF Infantry which was drawn III Ia,
order OF battle. He had gone far before turning 10
me- (and to the best OF my recollection, the Only
one OF his aids then with him,) he SAID, Pursue Col
johnson with your utmost speedsee the effect Of his
charge and the position OF the enemy artillery, and
turn quickly spossiole" Having executed this order
as promptly as practicable, hun on my return
pressing forward with the front Of the infantry 80
Upon reporting that Col Johnson had broke the enc
my lne-that they were surrendering. aud that ihet
in possession he exclaimed, in AMI.
mated Tone GONE my brave fellows Proctor and
h's whole army will soon be ours" Soon after this,
officer (I believe the late Judge John Mcdowell, Of
Ono rode up and reported that the left wing at or
the crotche suffering severely. and IN great
disorder. This communication was made IN the hear
ing Of the soldiers The General conradlced The latter
part OF the statement IN the most emphatic manner
but giving order to the In command TO push for
ward, he dashed with the messenger to the indicated
point Of conflict and confusion, and found the contest
pretty close and severe. portion Of Johnson's Reg
ment, owing 10 the npractcablty OF the ground for
horse, had dismounted, and was fighting foot aud
mingled with the iniantry-~ hch had been, to
tent, the cause Of the confusion Order
stored and the left wing closed 10 the front, winch
formed the CROCHET under the personal supervision Of
General Harrison In the time, OF
soldiers were shot within less than ten fee. of the Gene
raj for the conflict here sharp aud animated, aud
continued so for some time With the exception Of me
charge made by Col. Johuson's Regiment, General
Harrison in the most exposed and dangerous parts
OF the battle
1t is due the occasion TO relate the following tcl-
dent The day before the battle the army was npeded
IN It's march by the destruction OF bridge
branch of the Thames, up which it moving at or
near The mouth OF the branch. Col johnson had been
ordered this stream some mills two three
miles above the mouth. The road lead him by the
bridge A portion OF his regiment had brush with
party OF Indians posted in cabins the opposite side
of the Thames and the branch and also under the thick
covert along the banks dispute the passage Of The
stream, and harrass all attempts 10 repair the bridge
As the firing was heard, the General hurried TO
the scene OF action, accompanied by portion OF his
family Of which Commodore Perry was one When
arrived found General Harrison. Commodore Perry
aud other officers, q think Gen Cass one.) in an
open piece OF ground near the bridge Col Johnson had
passed and small portion Of his regiment, previously
dlsmounted. under the command OF Capt Benjamin
War6ed, and Infantry which had hurried up,
carrying on the skrmlsh. Maj. Wood had been order
ed up with a small piece of artillery Commodore
Perry urged General Harrison to Withdraw, he was
too much exposed for the commander in chief. II !
mistake not, Gen. Cass united with the Commodore
and offered remain aud his orders executed
The General, with Perry and The Of his SUIT started
off: but General HARRISON went but few steps and
returned, aud retained his position the
I'll the Indians dlslodged and driven the bridge
and The army n,t IN m oton IN ernss Durtuu