Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-05-27

the sentiment proclaimed "that rebellion
to tyrants is obedience TO Cod soor
engrossed the mind Of the Nation. Mer
trained up at this juncture caught the con.
tagion of freedom But the American
Revolution, in many respects, was the
most extraordinary event of the civil
world, and was calculated TO mould it.
impressions deeply upon the minds o.
those reared under its influence. Ii was
the best school of patriotism. In 1t were
taught by competent instructors the prin.
ciples Of freedom and the rights Of man.
And the noble cause was sustained by
deeds Of gallantry that won imperishable
fame for the band OF patriots, and covered
the land with blaze of glory!
1t was at this time, midst these excit-
ing, stirring scenes.-the contests of the
Revolution, which gave birth to a free
people--that William Henry Harrison was
born and bred. Nursed upon the lap oil
Patriotism, taught in this school of free
principles, he imbibed their spirit and ex-
hibited them through life! He was ma
tive of Virginia, the third son Of Benjamin
Harrison, devoted patriot of the Revo-
luton, who expended his estate in support
Of the cause, the intimate friend Of Wash
ington, one of the signers Of the Declare.
ton Of Independence, and member of the
Continental Congress. Young Harrison
was educated at Hampden Sydney Col
lege. Here, by his honorable bearing,
frank manners, and generous disposition,
he was general favorite and we are in
formed by fellow student of his, that he
was considered the best classical and
belles-lettres scholar in the Institution, and
that as speaker he had no competitor
His father dying when he was about eigh-
teen years of age, he quit college and
went to Philadelphia TO enter upon the
study of medicine under the guardianship
of the distinguished Robert Morris.
The public career of the late President
commenced in his youth and embraced
about thirty. seven years of his life. His
name and deeds adorn both the military
and civil calender Of the Republic. To
do justice as far as may be IN our power
to the subject, we shall first notice his
military and then his civil services.
The youthful Harrison was quietly pur.
suing the study Of medicine in Philadel.
phia, when the dark cloud of war made
its appearance in the horizon and chung
heavily DER the Western frontier. True
to his Revolutionary ancestry, and the
principles in which he was instructed, he
abandoned his studies, took leave of the
ease and elegancies of city life, obtained
a commission from Washington as Ensign
in the Army, and FASTENED to join his re.
giment at Fort Washington, where he ar
rived shortly after the defea: of st. Clair.
Washington promoted him to Lieuten-
cy, and he was attached to Wayne's
Legion. His conduct attracted the notice
of that gallant commander, and he fire.
quently mentioned him in his dispatches
In the hard fought battle Of the Miami he
acted as Abide, Camp TO General Wayne,
He behaved with such courage and gal
lantry on that occasion, that the General
in his official account Of the engagement
alludes to him in complimentary style.
"My faithful and gallant aids-de-camp, Captain,
De Butts and I. Lewis, and Lieutenant Harrison
with the Adjutant General Major Mills, rendered
the most essential service by communicating my
orders in every direction and by their conduct anc
bravery in exciting the troops to press for victory.
The present Governor Of Ohio, in pub
lie speech, related an incident which he
heard when a youth, from an old soldier
who fought in this battle. II is in sub
stance this: When the contest was Sc.
verest, many IN the wing of the army
where this old soldier was, began to faltei
and think of retreating. At the moment
this feeling was becoming prevalent, a
young Lieutenant known in the army as
the confidential aid of General Wayne,
galloped up the line, addressed the men
in voice that was heard above the roa,
of battle, Coward, my brave fellows the
enemy is flying One more fire and the
day is ours!" The troops thus inspired
pressed on, and the battle was won. Tha,
officer was Lieutenant Harrison, then lg
years of age. In 1895, he was made q
Captain, and placed in command at Fort
Washington, that occupies the site Of the
now city of Cincinnati, and was the most
important and reponposble post on the
Western frontier. In the autumn ofthis
year, he married the daughter Of John
Cleeves Symmes, Esq. He remained al
Fort Washington until, peace being en-.
tirely restored, he resigned his commission
in the army.
The next we see Of Captain Harrison
in the field, is in 1911. At this time the
Indians began to grow restless, and stimu.
lated by British traders, by whom they
we're furnished with arms and ammuni-
ton, committed sundry acts Of hostility.
He was then Governor of Indiana Terri.
tory. With body Of troops raised for the
occasion he marched in October for the
Prophets Town on the Wabash. which
he reached on the afternoon of the 9th Of
November. The Indians met him with
professions OF friendship, promising to
hold council the following day for the
settlement Of difficulties. The army was
encamped for the night in order of battle.
The troops slept with their clothes and &C
coutrements on, and their arms by them.
About four o'clock on the morning of the
It'll, the treacherous savages made an at
tack--a desperate conflict ensued, which
resulted in the deafeat Of the Indians and
their complete overthrow. This gallant
achievement is called the battle of Tippe-