The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-05-28
RICHMOND, MARCH 6, l840.i!

II ztEssItF RICHMOND, MARCH Q, ioiu.ft
"S1R-Your letter of the tl7th ult. was
received on yesterday, in which you
state, that st has been openly avowed
that Gen. Harrison was at no time in the
battle of the Thames, nor within two
miles of the battle ground--,hat the en-
tire plan was projected by Col. r. NJ.
Johnson---that he ledthe troops on to the
conquest and that Gen. Harrison had no
part or lot in the matter My humilia-
ton is deep, that a necessity should ex-
list, produced by party rancor, to prove
facts attested by history for more than a
quarter of a century, and which have
never before been questioned. That ig-
norance and credulity should abound to
such an extent, to render such baseless
assertions available, bespeaks lamen-
table state of public intelligence, and por-
tends no good to the republic a..-: a.
That Col. Johnson led the van, and
brought on the battle. is true-,hat he be-.
haved with the utmost gallaRtry. is also
true; buttyour letter contains the first
suggestion which has ever reached me,
that the entire plan Of operation, was pro-
.jected by him. The magnanimty of
Col. johnson will repudiate, with proud
indignation, such an effort to cluster adj
lditional laurels upon his brow. thus I'M
Justly torn from the brow Of his General.
Col. Johnson received orders. as to the
form and manner of charge, from Gen.
Harrison in person, in the face and al
. most 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 up in order
: for battle. He had not gone far, before
, turning to me, land to the bestof my re-
collection, was the only one of his aids
then with him. he said,pursue Col. John
: son with your utmost speed---see the eff
: feet Of his charge, and the position Of the
enemies artillery, and then return as
quickly as possible. Having executed
this order as promptly. as practicable |
: met him on my return, pressing forward
I with the front Of the infantry. Upon re-
: porting, that Col. Johnson had broken
= the enemy's line, that they were surren-
dering, and that their cannon was in our
possession--he exclaimed in an ANNA
ted tone, Come on my brave fellows,
Proctor and his whole army viii soon
G be ours Soon after this an officer, q
, believe the late Judge John Mcdowell of
Ohio rode up and reported that the left
> wing, at or near the crochet, was suffer
ing severely. and in great disorder. This
d communication was made in the hearing
: of the soldiers. The General contradic-
: ted the latter part of the statement in the
most emphatic manner-but giving order
to the next in command to push forward,
he dashed with the messenger to the in
S dicated point of conflict and confusion,
o and found the contest pretty close and
severe. A portion Of Johson' s regiment,
. owing to the impracticability of !, the
y ground for horse, had dismounted, and
was fighting on foot and mingled with
e the infantry which had been to Some
extent, the cause of the confusion. Order
was soon restored. and the left wing
closed to the front, (Which formed the
IS CROCHET, under the personal supervision
v of General Harrison. In the mean time
some of our soldiers shot within less than
ten feet of the General; for the confic
: was. sharp and animated. and continued
n for some time. With the exception o.
d the charge made by Col. Johnson's
: regiment, General Harrison was in the
most exposed and dangerous parts of the
battle. is.s44 a ~ a.ag.ts ss5ala. sd
/ 1t is due to the occasion to relate thu
d following incident: The day before thu
l. battle. the army was impeded in it
Il march by the destruction Of bridge
across the branch of the Thames, W
which it was moving, at or near the
r mouth Of the branch. Col. johnson hae
f. been ordered to cross the stream at some
,e mills, two or three miles above the mouth
The road led him by the bridge. A
portion of his regiment had a brush witt
n n a party Of Indians. posted in cabins OF
Id the opposite side Of the Thames and thu
lie branch and also under the thick cove
d along their banks, to dispute thu
passage of the stream and harass all at
: tempts to repair the bridge. AS soon a
the firing was heard, the General hurried
!, to the scene Of action, accompanied by I;
y portion of his family Of which Comma
IN dore Perry was one. Is When | arrived,
Sc found General Harrison, Commodor
IN Perry and other officers, Il think, Gener
n al Cass was one, in an open piece 0
ground near the bridge. Col. johnson
2 had passed. and a small portion of ,hi
IN army pre- viously dismounted under tn
command Of Capt. Benz. WAKEFIELD, an
N some infantry which had hurried up
Is were carrying on the skirnish. -Majo
u w God had been ordered up with small
N piece of artillery. Commodore PER-,
il urged Gen., Harrison to withdraw, as h
O. was too much exposed. for the comman
lie der-in-chief. If | mistake not, Gen
n Cass united with the Commodore. an
st offered to remain and see his orders ex
ce ecuted. The General, with Perry AM
u the residue of his suit. started off; bu
i'd General Harrison went but a fen step
in and returned, and retained his positloo
an near the cannon. until the Indians Wer