Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-06-11
LISTEN TO AN HONORABLE oPPoNEN-

The following letter is worth the attentive peru
sal of every candid who desires to entertain an
honest and correct opinion of Gen. HARRIsoN-and
what other opinion can man desire
The eter comes from who knows the facts
of which he speaks-aye, more, from one who as
he says the close Of his letter, has always voted
| NTH the administration party! And is he not to
be credited
1t has been called out in consequence of state
ments made of contrary import, in the House of
Representatives of the State of Ohio. 1t is but one
of many, originating under the same circumstances,
and called out by the same sense of propriety All
the officers who served with Gen. Harrison at the
battle of the Thames, accord tn him the same need
Of praise-the distinction for generaship and
valor And shall it be allowed to few partizan
brawlers, newspaper hirelngs, to rob tbs man,
and the country, Of the need of fame rghteously
won by him
Read fellowcitizens, and calmly digest the testi-
mony Of history, and of witnesses who have mo-
| tive or interest to impose upon you deception
tand then judge Of the character, the services and
| the claim upon your confidence, Of the warworn
soldier and parrlot.-Eastern Argus Revioed.
RICHMOND, (Ky.,) March 6, 1910.
! SIR: Your letter of the 18th ultimo, received
yesterday in which you state, that it has been
openly avowed that General Harrison was at
time in the battle Of the Thames, within two
| miles of the battle ground-that the entire plan OF
| operations was projected Ivy Colonel Richard M.
Johnson--that he led the troops TO conquest end
! that General Harrison had no part nor lot in the
matter" My humiliation is deep, that a necessity
should exist, produced by party rancor, TO prove
facts attested by history for more than quarter of
a century, and which have never before been ques-
toned That ignorance and creduty abound To
extent render such baseless assertions available
bespeaks lamentable state Of public intelligence.
ard portends good to the republic.
| That Col Johnson led the van, and brought on
the battle, is true-that he behaved with the utmost
gallany is also true but your letter contains the
| FIRST suggestion which has reached me, that
he entire plan Corporations was projected by him."
! The magnanimity Of Col. johnson will repudiate,
with proud indignation, such effort to cluster adj
ditonal laurels upon his brow, thus unjusty torn
| from the brow of his General Col. johnson recei
we'd orders, to the form and manner of charge
from Gen. Harrison in person, in the face and almost
| in the 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 had been drawn up in
order Of battle. He had not gone far. before turn
ing to me, land to the best ofmy recollection, was
the only one OF his aids then with him,) he said
Z" Pursue Col. johnson with your utmost speed, see
the effect of his charge, and the position OF the enc
my's artillery, and return as quickly as possible"
Having executed this order promptly as practical
BILE, met him my return pressing forward with
the front of the Infantry. Upon reporting that COL
johnson had broken the enemy's line-hat they were
surrenderng, and that their cannon was in our pos
| session-he exclaimed. in an animated tone, "Come
| on my brave fellows, Proctor and his whole army
| will soon be ours" Soon after this, officer, Il
believe the late Judge John Mcdowell, of Ohio,)
rode up and reported that the left wing, at near
the CROCHET was suffering severely and in great dis
order. This communication was made in the hearing
Of the soldiers The General contradicied the latter
part OF the statement in the most emphatic manner
but giving order the next 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 A portion of ohnson's re-
giment, owing the mpracticability of the ground
for horse, had dismounled and were fighting on foot
and mingled with the inIantry-whch had been, to
some extent, the cause OF the confusion. Order
soon restored and the left wing closed to the 'front.'
(which formed the crotchet) under the personal su
| peryision Of General Harrison. In the mean time
some of our soldiers were shot within less than ten
feet of the Generals for the conflict here was sharp
and animated, and continued so for some time
With the exception ofthe charge made by Col john
sons regiment, Gen. Harrison was in the most ex-
posed and dangerous parts of the battle.
1t is due TO the occasion TO relate the following
| incident: The day before the battle, the army was
| impeded in its march by the destruction of bridge
| across branch of the Thames, up which it was
moving at or near the mouth OF the branch. Soi.
johnson had been ordered to cross this stream at
| some mills, two or three miles above the mouth
The road led him by the bridge. A portion of his
regiment had brush with party Of Indians post
ed in cabins on the opposite side Of the Thames and
the branch, and also under the thick covert along
their banks, to dispute the passage of the stream
and harrass all attempts to repair the bridge. As
soon as the firing heard, the General buried to
the scene Of action accompanied by aporton of his
family, of which Commodore Perry was one