The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-24
From The Cincinnati DAILY Republican.
PRESENTATION OF THE AMERICAN EAGLE
TO GEN HARRISON

PRESENTATION OF THE AMERICAN EAGLE
TO GEN HARRISON
Conspicuous among the various objects Of interest
collected al the great asse,nhlsge Of the People Co
lumbns the 22d OF February, was q noble specimen
Of the American Eagle. This national emblem 10
seen without exciting proud and patriotic emotions
in every American bosom and well may exuli
when recall the numerous instances in which
country's ensign with the Eagle for its emblem and
Unioa its motto. has been carried triumphanly by
hearts and strong amid the herces storm Of
the battle Upon no occasion has that ensign been
borne CALAMITY, or fosted more proudly than over
the slight and mperlec, defences Of Fort Meigs, when
the heroic Harrison aud his brave citizen soldiers
pulsed the repeated and combined assaults Of the Eng
ish Proctor, aud the more noble Indian Tecumseh--
amid the Of artillery, the din Of battle, and the
hercest onslaught Of the siege; noble Eagle winged
it's vigorous flight through the canopy Of smoke, over
the heads Of the American army. The glorious bird Of
country welcomed with enthusiastic huzzas, as
the omen Of the coming success. This inspiring
incident happily alluded by MAJOR Clarkson
in his address, and by the General in his reply. The
site OF :" Old Fort MeIgs" is in Wood county A few
days before the meeting Of the Convention, an Eagle
taken almost within the parapet Of the fort, it
brought to Columbus and presented by the Crawford
county delegation TO Gen Harrison. The delegation
from Hamilton county brought the bird home with them,
and fixed upon Friday the day Of presenting to the
General at North Bend. The steamers Ben Franklin
and indiana chartered to take the company the
Bend The fine volunteer companies of Captains
Shaliey and Mitchell, and Artillery Of Capt Horrocks
IN attendance and the boats left the landing with
about 1000 persons on board, among whom were many
ladies' amid the loud shouts Of thousands the wharf,
the firing Of cannon and the inspiring strains Of martial
music their decks Arrived at the Bend we found
many citizens assembled from the immediate vicinity
and the neghborlng town Of Lawrenceburg. Indiana.
hollow square was formed the General conduct,
ed into il by committee composed Of Captain Len
James Mr.. James Reynolds, Mr.. William Billings,
and Col. Pendiefon. The Eagle carried by Capt.
Story whose courage at tho battle Of Tppecanoe, the
General highly extolled. Major Charles S. Clarkson
who fought For, Meig,, presented with the follow
ing most eloquent and appropriate address:
Gen Harrison-This Eagle, the emblem bird of our
country, was present. and performed conspicuous par,
at the great Convention OF the eemen Of Ohio held
Columbus on the 22d February. II was captured in
Crawford county. not far distant, from the spo,
cuped by Eort Meigs. After the adjournment of the
Convention. It was delivered TO Juige Bureoyae and
myself of the Hamilton county delegation by Mr. Nc
GM IN behalf Of the Crawford Delegation, to be pre-
scented TO The patriot soldier and citizen of North Bend
That duty we now have the honor Of performing, by
placing IN your possession this bird Of Liberty.
The fact, sir, of its capture the neighborhood Of
Fort Megs, will recall your mind, as it doubtless
does to that Of friends Majors Oicer aud G,oynnc
Who with myself were by your side during the defence
Of that post several incidents which occurred the
course of the memorable siege Of May. 1919
well recollect. sir that the FIRST twenty four pound
shot fired by the combined forces under Proctor and
lie, umseh, passed through your another ball
red off the head of the brave Nc Caock standing by
your SIDE subsequently, when the bombs Of the enemy
were falling thick around us. and batteries
we're calamity and efectusly returning their FIRE. the
emblem bird Of America, noble eagle passed slowly
The whole length Of bastions waving his ex-
banded wings as # in triumph, but short distance
above the flag which bore It's image, So striking an
omen OF coming success, electrified each heart inspired
each breast With fresh confidence, and instantly the
shout Of victory above the din OF battle and burst
upon the wondering ears Of our fierce assailants.
May 1t not be- sir, that the eagle before u.s. is the
same bird OF liberty that lowered little army on
that memorable day, and that it has been signay pre-
served TO witness another glorious victory about be
achieved by the eemen Of this land led by the gal
lant defender Of Fort Megs. over the sposmen aud
venal possessors of our republican institutions.
In conclusion, sir, it is the wish of the Crawford
county delegation that this patriacha eagle should be
an inmate Of your Log CABIN and pensioner upon
your bounty, until It is more able to wing its way over
the land Of freedom But when fitted for its native air
that II be set at liberty,
We, SIR, who know need pledge that this request
will be complied With The brave and noble hearted
General who keeps himself poor by supplying the wants
of he old soldiers who fought by his side the battle
Of the Rapids Of the Maumee in 1894, at Tippecanoe
at Fort Meigs and at the Thames, will never keep in
bondage the eagle Of bis country,
To which the General replied in substance as fol-
lows:
receive, sir, with great pleasure, the present which
my friends Of Crawford county have been obging as
to send me- aud allow to say, that no selection OF
committee to represent them this occasion, could
have been more acceptable to than that which has
so kindly undertaken IT, Sir the sight Of this noble
bird, admitting the probability Of its identity with tina,
which presented itself TO our gaze on the occasion to
which you refer, together with many OF my CON-
rades IN arms as before me, is well calculated
to produce associations IN my mind which, If not alto
gether unmingled with pain, still, upon the whole
OF most gratifying character-that glorious day. (,he
9th OF May, 1879 when, as you suppose, this bird
came as the harbnge OF victory, cheer our efforts in
behalf OF our country, that which first arrested the
career OF success which had previously attended the
arms OF oor ocs Their easy conquest Of large and
gallant army-tbe complete, but difficult victory
over another which presented in the individual charac-
ters oil It's officers and soldiers, all the quacs which
Pelopldss would have goried to discover ia the
crus Tor his sacred band, aud the defeat of every pre-
vous effort TO invade their territory on the Niagara
frontier. had inspired them with hopes OF an easy con-
guest over hall garsoned half furnished, aud half
finished fortress You, SIR aud my gallant friend by
your SIDE. well know the solemn pledge that gave,
that during my life the glorious banner Of country
which SCARED above heads should be lowered
by al American hand. And 4 our bird had possessed
consciousness Of what from his ara height il had wit
messed, and could declare 1t here, to what history OF
dsnng achievement and patriotic devotion upon the pari
oil both officers and men, might listen Aud II
instead OF the margin OF lake Ere aud the banks Of s
Miami his lot had cast his haunis in the blood .satu.
rated heds Of Belgium story prolific Of events
Calculated 10 elevate the courage, aud devotion TO the
youthful asprant for military glory he could not dis
close. IN this relation. your own patriotic SQUADRON
WIN its accomplished commander \ could not he for.
gotten Ihe gallant sorte II the leit would he pre-
sented 10 bold relief There was native. un,ut rel
keniucky and Oao valor directed ~ Boswell aud
Neerlng) displayed won't to be- aud there TOO
was mat lovely baud Of youths the pride Of the cities
which sent them forth