Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-21
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE DEFENCE OF FORT HARRISON.

Our readers have often, we presume, observed
in The public prints references to the defence Of
Fort Harrison in the year 1912, by General then
Captain TAYLOR, and may have seen some brief
accounts of the particulars OF that remarkable
event but we have ourselves met with no account
OF so full as one which we have lately found in
Kentucky paper, and now subjoin. The descrip-
ton Of an exploit Of such unsurpassed heroism,
which foreshadowed those high military attri-
butes which have been SO gloriously developed in
the subsequent career Of the then youthful soldier
and which have conferred on him the title Of one
who never surrenders," will doubtless be perused
with deep interest by all our readers. In The midst
OF the appalling scenes here narrated, which would
have filed with dsmay, if not despair, the heart of
almost any other man, the young Captain said Of
himself in describing them, g | never for one mo-
men; lost my presence of mind" 1t is this rare
presence of mind, offspring of The highest courage,
which constitutes one of the striking features
In Gen. TAYLoR's character, and one of the chief
elements OF his wonderful achievements.
Tpo~ THE TRANSPORT " CoNMoSwEALTH."
THE TESTIMONY OF AZ OLD SoLnIER-The following
letter. addressed to LErcREa has been handed for
publication The writer old soldier, citizen Of Owen
county, and plain old gentleman of the old school. He
knows Old Zack has known him from his boyhood. Let
the Young Upstairs who ready dispaage Gen. TAY
Lon give Place TO the writer Of this letter
NAw LIBERTY, SEPTEMBER &c, ls4s.
Dram sIR In a ersaion with you the subject of
the pending Presidential election, mentioned that had
oreJ acquaintance with Gen. Taylor in the fall Of 1872,
Immediately after his memorable defence Of Fort Harrison
Al ouI request most willingly communicate my recolecons
peious conflict with his besegers In order
make plain the prominent incidents of that of horror and
show nothing less than the cool mness and ndoita
Die courage Of such Capt, Taylor could successfully
have such emergency, viii require space than
you had anticipated But will condense much possible
Capt Taylor left in command Of this hastily construct
ed fo by Gov Harrison, after the battle of Tppecanoe in
ISL, II situated the Wabash river, about seventy.
i've miles above Vncennes in central position for attack
from al ih Indiar on the Illinois, Indiana and Mh-
gan frontiers. became barrier to their mediiaed
ory the froer inhabitants, bul especially OF the c
Of yncenne ths being the residence Of Gov Harrison,
who was particularly the object Of their vengeance hence
their determination reduae the place and slaughter the gar
For several days previous The attack small parties
would aPolch the fort under the guse Of friendship and for
purposes Of trade Capt Taylor too well acquainted
with he lGdsn character be deceived by their assiduies
irtlke their Interior ect. He would admit them
into the fort under any ot their preences Alergh weaed
sh their unsuccessful resorts TO s,raagem they resolved
;heu forces (sbout hundred) and make
bod aiiaA. soon after /: O'clock dark night they
succeeded setng IRE the lower bockhouse near the
river whck contained the This was ell
ieced with The greatest secrecy not veil or gun announc-
ed their presence until their heh purpose he supposed
l. accomplishment The senIes discovered The
Gre la'e Jr is ngulsh nent, the combusbe materials
upon which acting (whskey, bacon, pork, hou &c)
Instant, ia flames, and communicating their cvouring
vhe oi pudings above, which constituted the line
oi defence . the river, consisting Of barracks hospital
&c AZ his awful romen, the yelling Of The Indians, the
unFcng dCaae oi their guns, accompanied y the burst
ing whi.Eey hae and The Of several women who
had taken shelter the or, made every heart quake,
Ihsi Taylor and his brave hospital surgeon Dr.. Clarke
Al thss cC and fearful Taylor directed Dr. Clarke
with niepid soldiers ascend the burning roof
and Of tie oard while himself and those were able
oG deep weil and conveyed II others ABOVE,
~ Which means, after the exhsusEg toll they succeed
ed Ia sud1ng further progress OF the flames. In the
iin the hudpg Containing the contractors and
the soung picket, burnt down, leaving bod Of brands
Goals and cIler, heated though just vomitod from the
bowe', o Etna, the besegers s yelling AMI firing like in
emsi demons The ready genius of Taylor Immediately
work pulling down the ;usrdhouse and segeans quar-
tsrs fJ as 10 for Temporary breastwok the
consumed angle, to him from immediate assault
through the reach. Amidst the greatest CONSERVATION and
Of The Of the able bodied men in the
easd from the cksdng and made their escape L,
NnceuEes. Their description OF the assault and the fury Of
the flames hc moment OF their departure appalled, every
heart All exclaimed Taylor and his men are missacred
and the Indians wi be down What shall BE- done !"
The Eighth Kentucky Regiment then lying Al Vncennes
AMI nHnl mil Trp;ta
rangers under Col Russell The whole were organized A.
possible and Col Russell placed himself at their head
for the relief o the garrison and Judge Pks Cwho was in
comI1snd o cavalry selected daring spirits like
hmss hrayed every danger and approached enough 10
the fort ascertain that It's coors s flying a the top
o the is mast TO which they attached The Indians
vge m lowering round the fort though they had ceased ac-
tive operations against il. Upon the receipt OF this nieI-
gence Co. Russell Immediately put in motion the uo1ps
amounting twelve hundred men, and with cautious
oey reached ha fort in less Than four day. The Indians
bad retired upon Rues approach leaving behind them The
sad evidences u their netaed cruelty and savage erocy
Yea cannot wei insgbe any thing like the picture Of the
when arrived at the gate Of tho fort. Capt Taylor
mt viii pale emacia,c face, from recent sckness and
hardship lot upon his noble brow the csupiaceu,y oi
The hero snd solder and vhe took him by the anJ the
'bs igg ole sIlsny down his manly cheek can never
bfge the emotions q my heart solemn occasion.
The WHOLE CoGsis,sd u ahOv five and
snd children, t~n-tlrds whom GA ths sick
list ard Zap, Tay W hm-G lad sucrs mach ir0n De.
Ffom ihe hrniar u the oanrsctors until their
relief ,ha Whole garscn sas-d sfeen ccrn uiaained
from the saan'ns pssrs al Irng slide, Ca, Taylor
uhs the lFsi sIsIaylc a Irtisncs aud f0rut0as.
-. a.