Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-10-01

node ofattack, and said. in substance: "Capt.
Davidson, am directed by Gen. Harrison,
% charge, and break through the Indian line,
md form in the rear. My brother James will
,harge in like manner through the British
inc at the same time. The sound Of the
trumpet will DO the signal for the Charge"
In few minutes the trumpet sounded, and
The word "charge" was given by Col. John
son. The Colonel charged within a few pa
ces of me.
We struck the Indian line obliquely, and
when we approached within ten or fifteen
yards of their line, the Indians poured in
heavy fire upon us, killing ten or fifteen of
our men, and several horses, and wounding
Col. Johnson very severely. He immedi-
ately retired. DR.. Theobald, of Lexington,
Il think) aided him off. ] neither saw nor
heard more of Col. Johnson until after the
action was over. The contest continued
warm and animated for some time where my
company and part of Capt. Suckers were
engaged. After Col. Johnson was taken off
the field, saw Gen. Harrison and Gov. Shell
by, both, and quite near me. They were
both on horseback, passing in the direction
of the crotchet, or angle. l well remember
the animating and encouraging manner in
which Harrison, as he passed, addressed his
men. 1t had sensible effect upon myself,
and seemed, j thought, not only to stimulate
my spirits, but to strengthen my body, (then
weakened by loss of bloody "Fellow sol
diers," shouted the intrepid hero, in tones that
stirred the souls of his kindred spirits, s'keep
close and shoot sure; the day will be ours in
a few minutes!" He rode on; was engag-
ed, and saw no more of him. Immediately
upon his leaving us, going in the direction OF
the angle, desperate and severe struggle
commenced at or near that point, between the
Infantry under Gov. Shelby, and the Indians.
This conflict at the angle, with Shelby's men,
lasted, think, at least five minutes. Sever
al ofthe Infantry We're killed. Gov. Shelby
himself told me he had several men killed,
and had found eight or ten Indians left dead
on the ground at that point. This was the
last severe contest during the action.
l have seen with surprise, copied into a
pamphlet recently written and published by
Col Daniel Garrard, of Clay county, a letter
Richard Nj. Johnson, dated December %,
1884, in which is the following statement:
81 crossed the swamp with the Second Bat
talon $500 menu and fought against the In
dams Supposed 400 warriors) under Te-
cumseh, without any aid whatever"
This statement, you will observe, is not
warranted by the facts have detailed. The
writer (f indeed the alleged author oas the
writer, which doubt certainly labors under
a misapprehension which can only be accoun-
ted for by the fact that Col. Johnson was
badly wounded at the first onset, and was i'm
mediately taken off the field, and could not
have personally known ofthe important servi-
ces rendered by the Infantry under Harrison
and Shelby.
must claim, however, for the second Bat
TALON of the mounted Regiment, the honor of
having contributed more than any other corps,
in achieving the victory. But it gives me
pleasure to say. that every officer and soldier
did his whole duty on that day, so far as
know or believe. You will therefore be able
to Judge from the facts here stated from my
personal knowledge, whether General Harri-
son was present in the action, doing his duty
as an officer. and whether any part of the In
fantry was engaged. / had supposed that
facts SO well known by all who were there,
would at this day, be questioned by none.
In conclusion, as regards the standing OF
Gen. Harrison as an officer, and the estima-
ton in which he was held by the army, | am,
from my intercourse with his officers and sol
diers subsequent to the battle, enabled to a.
dept the language Of distinguished officer of
Perry's feet-sshere nerer auaS an, army more
ardently attached or more Acknowledgment
IF General than this
Yours with great respect,
JAMES DAVIDSON.
p. S. / was,in the service and under Gen.
Harrison about fourteen months. ID.
G. A. WIcKLIFFE, Esq.
sThe editor of the Cincinnati Republican
says-'sWe have heard Col. Davidson often
speak Of the shot received in his breast. The
ball in this instance carried the shirt into the
breast with it. So excruciating was the pain
for the instant, and difficulty of breathing,
that he drew the shirt from the wound with a
sudden jirk, bringing the ball with it, and af-
forwards staunched the wound with handful
of leaves taken from the nearest tree. The
brave chieftain was engaged in no child's