The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-06-02
WOE. REa. No. las


no hesitation in slaing tia, these declarations in
relation TO General Harrison position aud con.
Hurt IN that bhttit are destitute ofnny foundation
in trnlh.-Gen. Harrison has correctly stated in
his report loshe War Deparrn't the position he
occupied just before the commencement of the
action, and he might have added, that he in
person gave the word oi command TO the noun
'ed regiment To- 'chargc'-he having with his
ald' de'cainp, passed from the right of the front
me Ut infantry to the right Of the front of
The mounted column, aud not only ordered tbs
charge 10 lie made by pronouuring the wor,l
but called upon his aids to repeat and pass
the word along The line. was close by his
side, and he was so near the enemy that their
fire cut down The leaves and twigs of the trees
Just above our beads.
AS soon as lh' British troops had surrendered,
and after had been sent to Governor Shelby
win the order already ndvered to, General
Harrison passed to The point where the indlnns
were annoying the left, and personally directed
the operation in that quarter to the close OF the
action. met Governor Shelby bringing
mp Simrnlfs regiment. he having anti.
craed the Generals wishes as To inat move.
menI. In this war Governor Shelby and Gen!
eraI Harrison, with his aids, met ut the pcint
where the Indians had made their most despe-
rate efforts, and from which they soon after re,
ireated.
The first arrangement for the bnttlle, as we'll
MS the Subsequent change, which WAS predica.
u'' u!nn 'He important Information Obtained nv
The military eye Of Col. Wood was pann ed alone
by General Harrison. The execution Of sub:
s"qncnt plan was confdod by Col. Il. NJ. John
son, who led in person the second battalion,
aided 10y Major Thompson; which, in its ex,en.
sion to the left, brought some portion OF it in
contact with the Indian line, The first battar
ion was led by Lieut.. Col. james Johnson, aid.
ed Ivy Major Payne. This battalion, to the right
OF the front of which General Harrison and his
staff advanced and where he personally gave
the word "charge,' captured the British line,
and, having thus turned the Indian eff decided
The fate of The day.
You are at liberty to make such Use Of this
letter as You may think proper.
Very respectfully, your ohediert servant,
G. S. TODD!
Moses b, CoRw1N, Esq. House IF Repre- sen,a.
tlUeS, Columbus.
HmoNp, March 6, l84C.
SIR: Y our letter of the 17tl ul:. was receiv.
ed yesterday, in which you state that 1T has
been openly nvowed that General Harrison
was At 40 time in the battle of the Thames, nor
within two miles of the battle ground--hat The
entire plan of operations WAS projected by Rich.
ard NJ. JohnSon--that he led the troops on 10
compassionate that General Harrison had no
part nor lot in this natter My humiliation is
deep that necessity shouhi exist, procured by
or 6T nnfH r to Ioy Tr gs agSed BY history
uornnco abound to an extent TO render such base
assertions available, hcspealis !uinrntahe state
of public intelligence, and portGnIs no good to
the republic.
That Co.. Johnson led The van and brought
on the battle, is uue--lhat he behaved with the
utmost ganniIy is ii so iruP--but your letter con
iaius the first suggestion which has ever reach.
ed me- that the entire plan of operations was
pro ected hy him The magnanay OF Col.
johnson will repudiae, wills proud Indignation,
suci an effort to cluster additional !Hurels upon
his brow thus uniusy torn from the brow o.
his General. Col. johnson received or'.ers as
TO the form and manuer of chaige from Geaer.
al Harrison IN person. in the face and almost i'm
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. wlich was drawn
up IN order Of battle. He had not gone far be-
fore turning to mex 81 to the9hes of my recollec-
ton was TIE only one of his aids then With
hinil he id,-'Pursue Col johnson with your
utmost speed, see the effect of his charge, and
the position Of the enemys artillery, and Return
as quickly as possible. Having executed this
order MS promptly rs prarlIchhlr met nm on
my return pressing forward with the front of the
Infantry Upon reporting that Col. JohnsotF
had broke The eneiny's lne--'hat they were sur
rendering, aud that their cannon was III our
possess0n-he exclaimed in an animated tone,
Come on, my brave fellows Proctor and hs
" hole army VIII soon DC ours Ooot hltef tnef
an officer, q believe the late Judge John Nc
Dowell, OF Ohio, rode up and reported that the
left wing, at or near The crotchet was suffering
severely, aud in great tsor!er
This communication was madO in the hear
ing OF the soldiers. The General contradicted
the latter pur, Of the statement i'll the most
emphatic inauncr--but, giving order 10 the
nexl in command TO push forward, he dashed
with the messenger to tue indicated point Of
conflict and con fusion, and found the contest
pretty close adj severe. portion of Johnsons
ment owing to the imprncIicubiilty OF the grounu
for horse, dad tismounted, and was igh'lng on
100, end mingled with the infantry which had
been to son,e extent, the cause ST The confusion.
Order was soon restored, and the left wing CLOS
ad to the font, (which formed The croichet,J
under the personal supervision oil General fiar'
'isUn. In the mean tIfnc, some oi our soldiers
were shot within less thnnSIen feet OF the Gentr
al: for the confic, was sharp and animated, and
so for some time. With tho excep.
ion of the charge made hy Col, Johnson's reg'
reni. General Harrison was in the most expos
,d and dan Ierour parts OF The battle