Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-06-19
From the Madisonian.
INTERESTING LETTER.

10 us ny Col UNDERWOOD, a distinguished rep
resentative in Congress from the State of Ken
lucky. 1t includes a letter from Col. CLARK,
who selected the battle ground of Tippecanoe,
and OF course disproves the assertions of Mr..
Crazy and others that Gen. Harrison pursued
the advice of a hostile Indian in reference to
the selection OF the cncamplnont. Col. Under
wood details some interesting particulars also
OF Dudley's defeat, of which he was an eve wit
ness, and, in conclusion, describes in graphic
terms the difficulties Gen. Harrison had to en-
counter in his military operations in the North
west The testimony of old soldiers. who can
show upon their bodies the evidence OF the con-
ilict IN their glorious scars, is worth all the as
s%ertlons, speeches and arguments of a whole ar
my of federal loco foco "iire-side warriors who
would, if possible, destroy Gen. Harrison, per-
laps from a motive of sympathy with the Brit
ish and Indians whom he so severely s~courgcd
and drove out Of the country. Col. Underwood
states the very interesting and important fact,
that Gen. Harrison is tbs only commander in
onr serrice 10 whom a British army surrendered
during the last ,car.
WASHINGTON, 2s,h May, 1910.
Mr. Thomas Alien, Editor. DE.
SIR Many years ago Col. Mastin G.. Clark,
now of Indiana, in conversation with me, said
in substance that he discovered the ground on
which Gen. Harrison cncalnped his army on
the evening before the battle of Tippecanoe,
and by his report, was instrumental in causing
that particular ground to be selected for the
~encampment. When Mr.. Crazy stated in the
House of Representatives, that the ground had
been selected at the suggestion of an Indian, |
wrote to Col. Clark on the subject, and rcceiy-
ed his answer in the following words:
SALEM, Ia, March 22d, 1910.
DEAR SIR In answer to your inquiries of the 18th
of FEBRUARY, on the subject of the ground Gen. fIar-
rlson encampcd his army on, the night before the
battle of 1ippecanoc. which ground, You inform me,
has been stated by Mr.. Crazy, was selected at the
suggestion OF an Indian, | am much at a loss how
that gentleman could hazard so groundlcs an as
scrton. The ground where Gen. Harrison oncamp.
ed, and where the battle was fought, was discovered
by myself, IN a few moments after, by Gen. TAYLOR
whom l met on leaving the ground, returning 10 the
army in order to report; when | met TAYLOR, in
formed hun there was no necessity of his gong AMI
farther in search of an c~ncalnpmcnt, as | had dis
covered and left one of the most eligible | had seer
on the whole march, and | wi,hcd to see the army
encamped on it before dark it was then about sunset
wished Taylor TO return with me: he said he woulo
20 on the ground the better to Join Inc in my report
which he full did. The groI d will ever be a stand
e ing monument of the wisdom of its selection, indie
u pendent OF tre-side warriors or political jugglers.
-. Win much respect and esteem,
III The Hon. J. r. UNDERWOOD. VI. G.. CLARK.
e Thus you ~preceive that Gen. Harrison wa.
T. not entrapped and induced to take a position
u, for his army. at tho instance Of his cno,nies.-
- | have known Col. Clark tor many wears. lie
r is a man of unblemished truth and honor, an,
4 as brave as his distinguished relative, Gen. Geo
" Rogers Clark.
| lived in Lexington, Ky, at the time, and q
year or two after the battle of Tippecanoe.
was present and witnessed the reception which
the people OF that town (now city, gave Gen.
eral Harrison, when he visited that place aftc
= the battle. He was met and escorted throupl
the streets OF the town by the military and Cit
zens; aud every manifestation of respect an,
admiration given, which a grateful people coult
bestow upon a triumphant General. Thos,
, people were the friends and neirhbors of Co
e Joseph II. DHviess, and many were devoted
e attached to him.. If the life of that great mai
=" was sacrificed by the pusillanimous or ~ilnprope
Il conduct of Gen. Harrison, is it not astonishin,
, that his friends and neighbors would receive thu
. d~astardly murderer with the honorS of triumph
Political and electloneerlng turpitude must in
=" deed possess the minds and hearts of men.
!, such a story, not heard of at the time. Should
= receive any countenance twenty years after tn,
, facts | have stated!
| was a Lieutenant in Dudley's regiment
b which was defeated and mostly captured on tn,
a 9th OF May, 1913, on the left bank of the Mau
, NEE river, opposite Fort NIeigs, That disaste
resulted from a failure on the part of Col. bud
ID ley to obey orders which were given. | spea,
of the orders, from what | have since learnt, a
| did not hear them delivered. They were i
:; substance-that the regiment should land upor
the left bank of tie river. attack and take tn
encmy's battery, spike the cannon, break tn
carriages of the cannon, retreat to our boat,
Grass tho riNrnr aud frlt ,,r ,,-.y- ,,t, a.. -
We landed ~attaclel and carried the batter
e without the least difficulty. But, then, instea
of returning to our boats, we commenced
charge and pursuit OF a few Struggling Indian
Ne who retreated back from the river and kept up
We retreatlng fire upon us as We advanced. Tw
companies, to wit: Capt. llenry's and Can
u Archd. Morrison's were left in charge of tn
captured battery, whilst the rest pursued the Ir
!, dians il the woods. Their numbers were COZ
IN %tlnually increased by rcintorcements from the
camp (about two miles below and elsewher,
'r We followed them about two miles. Al lenpt
we were ordered to fall back and keep up a re
treating fire upon the enemy. The order wa
r observed for some distance. The soldiers of TIL
We different companies, however, become minrle
id confusion took place-thc officers lost all con
'r mand and a rout eusucd.-We r~etreated to til
OF battery, but on getting there instead Of tindin
ne the friends we had LETT, they were gone aud III
battery again in possession of the enemy.
nd appeared that the British, in considerable fore
10 had attacked and driven the companies of Hem
nd and a. Morrison, and then remained upon th
81 ground, expecting our return from the woods.
- TO this force OF the enemy, thus unexpected
GO ly thrown in our rear, and with which our me
T. came into collision without order and withol
an officers, we surrendered. Captains Henry an
p A. Morrison, and most of their men, reached III
IN boats, crossed the river, and got to the fort. III
residue OF the regiment was killed or capture
The field officers were all on foot. II wa
oil therefore, Impossible to pass with speed fro
NJ company to company and give orders. Co. Duu
lie ley was acorpulent man. lie and Captains
G.. Morrison, Lewis, Clark and Irwin, four
.r the six heads of accompanies which pursued The Ii
~ dams in the woods, lost their lives. | was II
M Lieutenant IN Captain J: { Morrison's compan
os. ! was badly wounded. Our Ensign had bee
or, left behind sick. More than a third of the con
49, pany were killed and wounded. Here was
company without a commissioned officer capab
Ter of service when it reached the battery. Oth'
nm companies were in a similar condition. und,