The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-07-19
From the Richmond (va.) Republican.
A True story.

w
The following anecdoie will serve to il.
'us'fate The manner IN ~hich the canvass Of
le4O was conducted by the Locofocos, and
VII also give Us an insight into the line OF
military criticism which this same party
Will take n reference TO Old II Ich's cam.
paign:
During the canvass Of 1910, icing then
on my very frs, legs as politician, was
holding forth to cfowda, the county sea.
oil C. IN this State, upon the highly
respectable military service Of Gen. Harm.
500. From the respectful manner in which
, the audience attended TO " hat was saving,
! BATTERED myself that my Efforts we're high
I y acceptable to them. spoke Of Tie old
hefo's gal'aniry and eeneralship at the bat,
tie Of Tippecanoe; oil the Grmucss he dis.
played during the night attack Of The saw.
ages upon his encampmenl the prompt.
ness exhibited 10 all his arrangements upon
that trying occasion, aud the victory tha,
crowned his efforts. ! also dilat6 and en-.
lareed upon the siege Of Fort Meigs, and
eulogIsed his conslancy, bravery and self.
denial on that occasion, v icb brought the
campaign OF 1872 to a victorious close,
turned the tide OF savases back from thu
Ohio border, rescued thtusands Of women
and children from the merciiess tom shaak,
and restored the blessings OF security TO the
North Bend. vas proceeding 10 treat
IN the same strain, Of the battle Of the
Thames, when Locoioco OF considerable
II illence IN the neighborhood stepped for
ward and The following dialogue ensued:
"W hat sof! Of movement" said be,
vas II tina, Gen. Harrison made al the
battle Of the Thames ~
! I" don't remember any movement, spe
cia'ly bis movements were doubtless IN
accordance with The rules Of the military
AIT, and he certainly discharged bis duty
with ability and energy"
DON'T you know" says the Locofoco,
With III suppressed Indignation, "tha, Gen.
Harrison made the small tail moremen, a,
he battle Of the Thames p
Really, sir, do no, comprehend The
driit OF your remarks"
Upon this, The l. CO drew out Of his
breeches pocke, an old eda.on Of "Grm.
shaw's History oil the late War;" opened il
a, place where leaf had been carefully
turned down, and asked ne TO read aloud q
passage to the following effect: a, The
battle Of the Thames, Gen. Harrison per
formed q novel movement. He ordere,
charge The lnd,en", ...o .e.e nosren ." .n'
woods, with traiitd arms, &c."
STOP" says the Loco, in great triumph
~ that do YOU think of that -
"Why, sir" SAID |, 81. shews Genera
llarrlson's genus. lie invented maunnvrs
perfectly adapted to the occasion, aud 'h'
whole odair was highly honorable to h'
military sogacity.'
VIVA, is the meaning OF the wor'
nor,l ?" demanded the L1co, with pe,iec
roar Of confidence aud triumph.
a., meaps ner," 'eplIed.
"it meansn ,maH tail" said the Loco
with tremendous voice and drawing on
of his poke, a small edition OF Walker
Dictionary. asked me TO look for the word
| did so, and found II to mean as follows:
Novel, a. New, $. A small tale
saw a, once the source OF the fellow
error, aud dospared Of convincing hlm
II. tried TO explain TO him The d'tiefenc
between az adjecfire and sDbstdni're-
told him ,ha, IN the text quoted above III
word novel was used as an adjective
SAID ], don't you see little a there. 'hd
shews tina, when norei is an adjective
means nep :" but when II Is substantive
as shewn by $, 1t means :" a small tale =
that is small book, u story. This VA
rather beyond the Loco's comprehension
and therefore rather staggered him lat
tie bu, recovering himself he squIned
the Dictionary and exclaimed
al know nothing of your ddJectircs ant
substances but this know, that II ffHe
means any thing over there, 6's mus
mean more on this side-and, therefore
this 10 the most important meaning
"Sir," said |, in perfect despair, " die
YOU ever hear OF the snail ta'i mopemen
being periormedF -
"Yes; | vas at Camp Carter, neal
Richmond, during The last var. and Ire
quenlly saw'i'.'
How was i, done
"why, they went round and round nnc
came out, | cau't tell how. exactly; but 4
was called the meanesl movement IN all 1hs
tactics"
aGer learned tina, the fellow in ques
t,on carried his Grimshaw and Walker
through the canvass; and actually con
WINGED many 10 his section that Gen. Har'
r,son disgiaced himself, at the battle OF the
Thames, by performing a movement called
me small tail movement. He remains OF
The same impression to this day, aud is
generally known By the sobrlques oil 1.-THE
man of the small tail movement.