Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-02-25
BATTLEOF TIE THAMES.

Col. Johns n, in his lac address before
the people Of Oswcgo, N. T., gave tie
following description Of the b.tle OF the
Thames. As historical accounts are SO
much at variance, this, coming from a
prominent pastclpator in the contic', Is
worthy of preServa'ion;
Sand now my friends, since you desire
it, wlIl give YOU a patt:cal atcouht OF
this batne. And, first, allow me TO say
that his'ory is all wrong as 10 thc details OF
this aff,ir. have never seen correct
account of il in any book, or 9TH 'aI re-
por'. Even General HAIR n, when he
wiote his Official de pat h, vas lgno ant
OF the mlnner in winch Il was iod4nt, aud
OF the mo i material de ais; and pcrsots
who h We sin, c g:AeI al CONT o. M
sane trans ,ctrn, and who PIE cad to
have lcen engaged in the co hIct, have
il lien !nlO he same rrTois. All these az
caun's rcprcs n, ne Us III rgng the Bsl
h in autry at tie mead - ny ,G.l.Iri /;
and as having had sevt re ,ontil ana "i
my icing dcspe alely w'uoded n TIE
chlrge. No hiag can be iu.lter from the
truth. had noln.ng to 90 wi ch'r9ll
the infantry al the head Of my colu ans, OF
with that attack, except to ptan and dire t
it. | was a mi oil when the ass ult was
made, engaged innhogethcr d.tfoien, or
der. The ground was not unlike this IN
which we are w standing, except it icnI
Il wiliernes-. On thc night WAS tie river
Thames, flowing hike your own teauulu
RIVER, exenling moth, The British regu'
lars were drawn up IN two lines OF 31u
men each, in iul. dress, tier arms g'Is'en'
ing m the sun, and prese ting an lnpos nc
sJcctacIe. The lcit rested on he river
their right on tie edge of Il dark narro"
s vamp, extending norm s)Te .st2nce ~
me lately hind which, on more elevate
ground, lay l,5OO Ind n warriors, un!e
their lrAve and noble minded chief Ie
cumseh. II was about the same d anc,
from where | stood t. the British on my
right, rs to the Indians on my left ; only
in an attack on the latter, ] must first &C
through the swamp. Gen. HARRISON cam'
up accompanied ny his staff. Ills coun
ten2nce beamsd wtl animation and &c
light at the sight Of the enemy. Genera
Harrison was undoubtedly bravo man
|, at Least. am not the man 10 say he wa
not. Ibolcve the contrary. int"rme
h,m of my plan of alta k, and requisite
r the privilege y, beng permitted 10 carr
il into execution in my own way. Ale
consultation, Genera! Harrison conscnIc
, and returned back t. TIE in'antry-at tina
l time m lie in the rear. When Gen. II a
$ rison left me, we brth suPp'sed tn swan
impassib G, ard my intention was tochtrg
| the British infantry with my catlre force
This PROBABLY accounts for the errors h
r fell into his official de-patch. So N atie
D General IIlrrison had gpue, my bro he
f james, my second in command, and m,
n self. discovered that we Coull pass IN
e swamo with cur m unIed men. l inslan
e " diviied my force into two battaIIons
d five hundred each giving tie command
s one to my brother james, with drech'ns
: carry out the contemplated aua. on tn
|. infantry as had teen planned whist
l. would put myself at the head OF the 9TH
IF FIVE hundred, get through the swamp at
f. attack the InJiins al the same Instant
}. The siund o. the bugle was to lie the 81!
d nal of at acx FIR boh. gave my BROTH
!. thirty minutes to dispose Of the regil'I
ot aud he was then to come to my assstanc
=, Immediately after lhcse preliminary a
S. rangemeats, proceeded through Il
ID swamp at the head OF the battalion. v
III soon discovered Indians, peeping the
t. heads from behind the trees in every {
10 re ctlon. horribly panied, and invest
a. with all the habilimen;s of savage wa
ar riors. My own ,oen were armed with
n fifle, a hatchs, an "a large knife. At tt