Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-28

"of the career of Gen. Harrison need not speak the
history of the West is his history For forty he has
been Identified with Its interests its pes and its hopes
beloved in the walks of peace and distinguish
ca by his ability In the councils of his country he has
been yet more llustrously distinguished in the field
During the late he was longer in active service
than any other general officer he was perhaps oftener
In action than any Of them, and sustained defeat
The account Of the victory the Thames be found
in Brackenridges History page 1885, is less explicit
as to Gen. Harrisons military capacity and the glorious
result OF his management Of that part Of the war confded
to his guidance:
"By this splendid achievement Gen. Harrison rescued
the whole Northwestern frontier from the depredaons of
the savages and the horrors of war; The national graft
tude burst out in loud voice Of applause He was
compmented by Congress and by various public bodies
ana distinguished public man, Mr.. Cheves asserted on
the foor OF the national House of Representatives that
his victory was such would have secured Roman
General in the best days of the Republic the honors of
triumph"
Mr. Brackenridges reflections at large upon the war
were well worthy of imitation by Mr.. Headley. A short
extract is introduced illustration Of his views:
On the Niagara frontier there was much hard fight
ing; but every campaign opened uader q new general
and sometimes before its close that general suppressed
ed After the fall Of Pike the war in that quarter was
carried on without any settled plan object and it end
ed without accomplishing any thing, except to afford OPP
portunity to number of officers to distinguish them
selves for their military talents and ntrepdty OF these
Generals Broom, Scott Jes Miller, Ripley, Toacson,
among the most deservedy eminent To the Northwest
our military affairs conducted different plan,
and under commander who completely successful
In what he undertook. In the South the also
conhded to single individual, who found fully
petent to the duties assigned him. Harrison and Jackson
are therefore, the only generals who be said to ve
conducted entire plans of operation to successful ISSUE
and their names decidedly the most conspicuous in
the history Of the war"
The injustice extended to the memory of Gen. Harrison
by Mr. Headey is papabe when reflect that Congress
never voted gold medal to General who not
efficient commander " have the people elevated
a military to the Presidency whose career in the
field lacked energy and promptness." How strangely
would the following sentences appear in juxtaposton
Congress votes gold medal to Gen. Harrison for gaan
try and good conduct in the capture of the British army
and dispersion of the Indian force at the battle of the
Thames, yet he lacked the energy and promptness
cessary to efficient commander! And thus parallel
might be between the opinion of Mr. Headley and the
statements of nearly all the principal officers who had
been eyewtnesses of his energetic conduct and indefa
gable exerons But deem it unnecessary to pursue the
subject further simply remarking that faithful history
will regard him the best read military chief of that
warWikinson, Pike, and lizard alone approaching him
in comparison. He had examined and analysed every
important battle Of ancient and modern times the
position of the forces the plan of attack the strategy
the weak points, and the deciding of victory
all reviewed and stored in his memory and he thus unit
ed the accomplishments of the military scholar with the
gor of the patriotic hero gathering the double wreath
and the blended fame
Mr. Headlsy has dwet with great complacency and
uniform praise in reference to the of Gen. Jackson
New Orleans and Generals Brown and Scott and their
gallant associates the Niagara This is in commenda
Bile taste The genius of Jackson was brilliantly dis
-,
December, and his vaor and decision of character
conspicuous throughout every movement of that world
campaign while his fame will be chanted by
long the waters of the Father of Rivers roll
on TO the ocean the deeds of Brown and Scott and
their heroic subalterns will be regarded in after ages
noble specimens of American skill and valor In trium
plant contact with the reerans of Europe; but Harrison
was the first general 10 maintain his ground in night at
ach by the Northwestern Indians and he alone captared
ntrc Brish army and defeated formidable indian force
n the territory Of the enemy This is his praise, and his
,nly, and win !" bid the distant generations hail !"
The fame of eminent public is not less the rich in
iertance than the moral wealth Of the State 1t is not
hen, the dictate of patriotism to deprecate the charac
er of those whose career is identified with the history
he Republic If this be true of statesmen and orators
much ruer is in regard the soldier who exposes
lis life maintain the public safety and advance the
ional renown! There is peculiar ngratitude in the
historian of depreciang the claims of those en-
rused with the conduct Of military operations The
soldier is jealous above all men, of attempts to mpugn
lis courage his patriotism while the leader of army
eels all these motives, combined with strong sensblity
attacks upon his military efficiency The survivors Of
he second with England have right and it is their
Ugh duty to vndicate the memory Of their associates
rom all aspersons presumpuously cast upon them by
he manufacturers of history. Such feel it to be my
.be assault upon the weeaned fame Of Gen. HARRISON
With respect to whose career in the particular events
Terted to, may say in the language Of Eneas to Dido
. Mutum que vidi ct quorum pars magma full"
Accept the cordial respects Of and devoted
friend, 4. G. S. TODD.
A DIsGRACEFUL OUTRAGE IN MAINE.