Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1843-07-08
COLONEL JOHNSONSAND TE-
CUMPSEH.

We have been very much interested III
readinga speech Of the Richard M. John
son, in which he recounts his fight with
Tecumpseh. We copy a portion Of it
from wing paper, and therefore we trust
none of our readers will attribute lis APP
poarancc in our columns to political mo-
tlyes. As we have room but for brief
extract, we you'd premise that the Colo
mel is describing the battle Of the Thames.
PiCaylne.
We all wanted to catch Proctor, said
Col. Johnson. | asked permission Ct
Gen. Harrison 10 90 in search Of him. |
shall never forget the fire in his eye as he,
replied: $50 Colonel, but remember dis
cipline. The rashncss ofyour brave Ken
mckiaus heretofore destroyed themselves.
BE cautious, sir, as well as brave and ac-
tive, as know you all are" We were
near that beautiful river Canada, the
Thames. departed with my regiment
in search OF Proctor. In p short time we
caugh. spy, who begged hard for his life.
told him that if he did not tell us where
Proctor was | would instantly shoot him.
talked big, said Johnson. 50 scare him.
dom know whether should have killed
him or not. However, he said he was an
American, and had been compelled by
Proctor TO come out as spy. He said
that the British army was only within a
few miles Of US. | instantly sent word to
Gen. Harrison of what this spy had de-
yelopcd; and afterwards in marching to
the dcsignatcd,spot sure enough there was
Proctor and his soldiers, drawn up in
beautiful order on rising ground, about
700 strong. | again sent word to Gen.
Harrison that ''we had freed PROCTOR"
and in very short time Gen. Harrison
came up with the main body OF the army
on foot. again asked permission of Gen.
Harrison to begin the battle at once. He
granted that permission; and here let me
say that Gem Harrison behaved through
ont the engagement like brave officer
He was where he ought to have been-in
the place where duty called him. As to
my regiment, it was pi0us regiment
that is, we had many religious men i'll it..
Preacher Sucket was an uncommon man.
DO believe he loved fighting better than
any thing else, except praying; that IS
fighting the enemies ofhis country. Well,
| divided my regiment into two bodies.
Nv brother James commanded the 800
of them who were opposed 10 the British.
Upon the first onset of brother James with
a few of his men, the British line fired en-
tire-upwardS Of $50 of them all fired to-
gchcr, and what do you think was the
damage, Why, fellow citizens, they
killed one horse! Those falling back,
the remaining portion OF the British also
advanced and fired; but this time not a
soul was hurt; lhey did not even touch a
horse. Our men advanced at full speed
on the British, who threw down their
weapons, calling out, ave surrender-we
surrender! Proctor, the coward, had
fled long belore---like the captain | once
heard of, who told his men that they might
fight or retreat as they deemed most ad-
ysablc; but as retreat" might be the
word, and as he (the captain was little
lame, he would set out now, so that he
might not be behind too far! SO it was
with Proctor. He had run away some
time before.
Such was the battle Of the Thames, said
Col, Johnson. The British were defeat
ed by my brother James and his brave
men without losing scarcely a man.
Here Colonel Johnson concluded, but
was called upon to give an accout Of the
conduct of that part of the regiment en-
gagged with the Indians.
Col. johnson said that at his age ii was
wrong to put on any false modesty; and
as he had been called upon to relate that
portion of the fight which took place with
the Indians, he would cndeayor to do so.
The Indians were 400 strong, comman-
ded by Tecumseh, one of the bravest war
riors who ever drew breath. He was a
sort Of Washington among the Indians
that is, they looked upon him as we look
mon Washington. The Indians wero in
ambush on the other side ofwhat we were
informed was an impossible swamp; but
lust before they came on, narrow pas
SAGE across the swamp was discovered.
Knowing well the Indian character, ] de-
termined TO draw forth the entire Indian
fire. so that the remainder of the regiment
MIGHT rush forward upon them while their
riaes were empty. Having promised the
wives, mothers and sisters of my mon,
before | left Kentucky, that | would place
their husbands, sons and brothers in no I
hazard which | was unwilling to share
myself, put myself at the head of those
twenty men. and we advanced upon the
covert in which knew the Indians were
concealed. The moment we came IN
NVllNDo-. ~. III ln Indinn Grn-