, 1843-03-18
BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

IN A1A VT mr. 1Ss
Colonel Johnson. ia his late address
the people Of Osweg". says the
Ky. Clarion. gave the following de-
scripiion Of the battle of the Tnnre<.
As historical accounts are so at vari
this. coming from n promih'n n
participa'or in the c"nhict. is worthy
preservation, as il doubtless approx.
mates nearer the truth, than any ar.
Tet published
An, aow. NY friends, since YOU
d sire il. will give You particular
account Of this battle. And first, al
low me Il say that history is all
wrong, as To the deiails "f this affair.
! have never seen a correct account
"f it in any hook. or official report
Even Gen. Harrison, when he wrote
his official dispatch, was ignorant rs
la the m IN which it Was fought,
and of the most material Diet ills; aud
persons WHO have since given an ac-
count Of the SINE ~trlnslc'inn. and
VIII, pretended To hive 'men engaged
in the conflict. have fallen into the
same errors. All these accounts rep
resent me as charging the i ir,si in
fantry at the head of my regiment,
and as having had Il severe conflict.
an Of my being desperately wound
ed in the charge. Nothing c,n be
further from the truth. | had nothing
to do with chargin. the infintry at
the head of nv columns, or with the
attack, except to plan and direct it.
| was 4 mile of when the assault as
made, engaged in altogether "A di.rrr-
ent order. The ground was MT IN.
like this on which we are nov stand.
ing. except its beinga Wilderness
On the right was the river Thames.
flowing like your own beautiful river.
From the bank Of the river, extend
ing north, the British regulars were
drawn up in two lines Of $50 men
each. in full dress. their arms gIi,ien.
ing in the sun and presenting IN i'm.
posing pectacle. The left rested on
the edge Of a dark, narrow swa up,
extending north some distance; imme
ditiely bei,ini whI:h. on mure eleva.
ted ground. Law 1900 Indian warriors
under their brave and undetermined
Chief, Tecumseh. 1t was about The
same distance from where ! stood t.
the Indians on my right. rs to then
on my left; only, in an attack on the
latter, must first get through the
swamp. Gen. Harrison came up. &c
c"mpanied by his stall. His counie
!, nance beamed with anIma,i, N and dc
f ligh. at the sight of The enemy. Gen
Harrison WIS undoubtedly 4 BRAY,
man. Lat least, am not the man I,
/ say that he was not. ] believe IN,
contrary. | informed him of my plli
+ of attack, and requested The privilrg,
OF being permitted ,"> carry IL int
execution in mv own way. Ate
consultation, Gen. Harrison r"n<en,
ed, and returned back 10 Tie infmtr,
at that u ne Il mile in the rear; whe
n Gen. HARRISON left mr.. we both sur
e posed the swamp inpas.ible, and N,
Intention vas t, charge tie british u
= fan,ry with my cntire i"rce. Tn
. ,r.l.. a. fAr tho a-.-- 4,
l. iell INTO in his official drspnrch.-
: 81 on alter G,n. Harrison lad ."n,
l. my brother James. my second in c"l
u mani, and myself, discovered tn.
II we - uld PASS the swamp with I"
mounted men. INST: My divide
= INV farce into two laiia'Iitns If liy
u hun ired each. giving the commnan
!; al "ne Ia my bother james. " irh d
Z reciions tocarry out the c"nlempli
U ed attark "n The infantry us had bee
D. planted: whilst | would PIT myself
Z: Tie lead ot The other five hundred. .,
IL through, tie swamp. and attack Il
- Indians ut the same instant. VI
IS sound of the bngle was t. be the 81
nal Of attack far both. Igave ~
.e brother thirty minutes 10 dispose
u the regulars, and he Was then /" con
.: To my assistance. Immediately all,
|. these preliminary arrangements.
Id proceeded throu, h the swamp at II
AZ head of my battalion. We soon dI
covered Indians leeping their hea'
p from behind The trees in every dire
ton, horribly panied, and invesl'
y with all the Indictments of sava,
d. warriors. Ny own men were arm
DR. with rifle, Il halchet, and Il lar;
~ knife. At this moment, With vie
H. TO make the Indians waste their fiji
and to give my me an OPT orIunr
DIS OF rushing upon them heInre tit
could have time Ia lie lnad, ] tod n
III men that wanted twenty brave {,
N lows who were willing TO doom The,
~ealvasto c~ertojn deoth- More IN.