The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-23

that YOU made memorandum Oh the P'"s'po III
which had acted in respect TO meeting OF the heo
.t,;csrs with Brig Gen Cass which took place soon
sor INV arrival from Fort Meigs, and but few weeks
sa,sr your gallant defence Of Fort Stevenson, which
took place while was at Fort Meigs.
In repy 10 my inquiries respecting General harn,
cons Man Of operations at Tippecanoe, you replied
thai the selection Of his position was the best 70 DC
fonnd near the place Of encampment that his lorna
ton Of the different corps of his army IN the encamP
ment was made with the view TO hold every oncer
and every ready for action upon the ground where
they slept, That General Harrson's vigilance had
preyously been the subject Of remark and admiration
among the troops, and it that night increased
That you had several opportunities OF seeing nm IN
the part Of the night and at or near .he ue te
battle commenced. That you saw him frequently IN
the course Of the battle and heard him giving his or
ders and with great distnctnes animating his troops
and that no man could have been more collected or
fearless in battle than Harrison upon that occa
sion. -.
In Speaking Of the battle of Fort Megs, Major
Wood and youself concurrcd in the opinion that Gen
Harrisons plan Of defence unexcepionable, and
that the victory at that place was far more important
in its immediate results and ultimate consequences
than had been conceded by many Of the friends
Of the General that shade had been cast over u al
victory by the untoward disaster of the loss of Col
Dudley and his regiment; who, after defeating the
British ON the e bank of the river were led into an
ambuscade Of Tecumseh's Indians, where they were
cut of in attempt TO donore than they had been or
dered to do 1t not possible, as Wood and your
self believed for the General to restrain save them
occupied he the right bank Of the river
in he hottest ofthe battle mile from the point
where the ambuscade formed on the left. You
both assured me that the movement Of Col Dudley
and his regiment contrary to the orders OF the
General, who had of correcting the fatal
into which the impetuosy of this fine corps OF
brave Kentucky volunteers had led them.
In respect TO Fort Stevenson, You and Major Wood
than whom have never known more gallant
promising officer, and who afterwards re-
peatedly covered himself with imperishable fame IN
battle under my command at Fort Erie concurred
fully in the opinion that il would might have been
attended with fatal consequences to the North West
ern frontier for General Harrison to have broken up
the nucleus Of the army then assembling at Camp
Seneca, and marched to your assistance nj Fort Ste
venson His general and field officers were reported
TO have expressed the opinion in council OF
at the time of attack. You expressed then, and
subsequently, your satisfaction, and that OF your
officers and men, that you were permitted to continue
the conflict alone. Major Wood and myself sustained
you in this impression. You both of the OPT
MON that movement on the part OF the General,
with the unnstructed troops such most of those
with him at the time were known to be, might put it
in the power Of Tecumseh, and his army of savagcs-
reported to be upwards of three thousand-to cripple,
and possibly overpowei the troops at Camp Seneca II
not in the intervening thick woodlands In this event,
the frontier for many hundreds Of miles, would have
been laid open to savage depredationwh could not
have been checked before the arrival of the chvary
of Kentucky under Governor Shelby. That gallant
army did not arrive until the middle of September,
L 1913
The loss the nucleus Of Harrison's army at Camp
Seneca, at any time before the arrival of Governor
Shelby, might have protracted our operations upon
that frontier, until the following year. when we might
have found such renforcements on the part OF England
as to have rendered impracticabe for TO profit by
Perry's brilliant victory on Lake Erie.
You have repeatedly assured me that the cores
pondcnce between Gen. Harrison and yourself was
not intended by you for publication, and that you had
shown it only to such persons you considered to be
the mutual friends of both Gen. Harrison and your
self, and that you believed the Generals apparent
neglect to do you and your officers and that jus
tice which yon deemed yourself and them entitled TO,
not the result Of any design his part to inure
you or them.
Unwilling as am to appear in the newspapers, or
to interfere in any way with the political controver-
| sary which is now going on between the advocates
and the opponents of the present administration not
compatible with my official station never hest
to do act ofjustce to those whom have served
in the defence Of beloved country and more espe
cally WHEN sandered, General Harrison has been
by the blind votares of the evil spirit Of partymany
of them know to be mere handles who have never,
to my knowledge, seen the flash Of enemys gun
nor even made effort to big swamp in search
| of a foe
| With great esteem, your friend
| EDMUND p. GAINES.
| Col. GEORGE CRoGHAN