Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-28
Gen. MoAfee. an officer in the late war; makes the fol-

The services which he was required to perform were
In the opinion OF DID, experienced and able officers the
most extensive and aruous that had been required
from any military commander in America The endless
number Of posts and scattered settlements which he was
obliged to maintain and protect against numerous and
scattered bands Of Indians while he contendng with
difficulties almost insurmounabe in the main expedition
against Maiden were sufficient to employ all the time
ana talents and resources Of the greatest military genius
| at the head OF q well-appointed army"
How nobly Gen. Harrison fulfilled these expectations
the Of that day afford abundant evidence The
command assigned to him embraced an immense extent
Of territory reaching from the upper Ohio and the Lakes
to the Mississippi with dsnsely wooded frontier stretch
ing along the Lakes, then in possession Of the enemy
with harbors nes and rivers admirably suited to favor
their attacks upon scattered border settlements To
defend this extended line Of frontier the commanders
forces chiefly undscipned militia entirely wanting
experience in the field engaged for short terms of
vice. and held in obedience by personal influence
than the force Of authority But not the defence
alone of this district that Gen. Harrisons duties
confined. He was directed by his Government to act
ofensrey against the enemy by re-takng Detroit and
capturing the uppermos Canada defended it was by
experienced British officers and soldiers aided by large
body of Northwestern Indians the best light troops in
the world Detroit and Canada separated from Gen.
Harrsons Of troops munitions of war; and provi-
sions by trackless and swampy wilderness, without
roads and presenting almost nsuperabe obstacles to the
transportation of army supplies WHILE at the time,
it precisely the region Of country best adapted to the
peculiar mode of warfare pracsed by the bold and fero
cious Indians Notwithstanding these manifold difficult
ties in about year from the time when he invest
ed with the chief command Of the Northwestern army
Gen. Harrison drove the enemy FROM his extended militia
ry district re-took Detroit defeated the combined army
Of Proctor and Tecumseh the Thames conquered the
uppermost Canada and passed victorious chieftain
do IN he epafo f war on The NiaOa front
The grave charge uttered by Mr. Headley against the
military reputation Of Gen. Harrison demands that
should not spare him by Withholding yet lustrious
testimonials calculated to refue the ungenerous imputa
ton. Long after the events in the Northwestern
which Mr. Headley has predicated his beral criticism
and subsequent to the defence of Fort Megs and San
dusky Governor Shelby of Kentucky reposing entire
confidence in the "energy and prompness of Gen. Har
rson determined to repair his standard at the head Of
such mounted force from that State would volunteer
that interesting period The letter of invitation by
Gen. Harrison and the acceptance Gov Shelby cha
racterstic and worthy of both Says Harrison:
"To make this last effort why not, my dear sir, come
in person? You would not object to a command that
would be nominal only have such confidence in your
wisdom that you in fact should BE the guiding head
and the hand The situation you would be placed in
would not be wthoutits parallel scpo the conqueror
of Carthage did not dsdain to the lieutenant of
his younger and less experienced brother Lucius"
Shelby replies
emo apology was necessary to invite me to your stand
ard. Had more age and much greater experience
would not hesitate to fight under your banner for the honor
and interest of my beloved country"
Gov Shelby had served under Gates the conqueror of
Burgoyne and also under Greene and Marion the heroes
of the South in the of the Revolution, and under
Harrison in the memorable campaign of 1913. His opin
ions of that distinguished commander expressed in
equivocal terms in the following extracts of letter
d. Malt ;r nd 70 CAN II
in April, 1876:
Extract from the letter to The President
GA rumor has reached this State which, from the
public prints, appears to be believed, that the Com
handing General OF the Northern army may De re,
moved from that This circumstance has induced
reflect the subject and to give decided prefer
to Major General Harrison as successor Having I
served campaign with General Harrison, by which /
have been enabled to form opinion of his military
talents and capacity to command feel hesitation to
declare to you that believe him to be of the first
military characters ever knew and in addition to this,
he is capable Of making greater personal exeron than
any officer with whom have served. doubt not
but it will hereafter be found that the command of the
Northwestern army and the various duties attached to
it has been of the most arduous and difficult tasks
ever assigned to any officer in the United States yet
surmounted all.
Impressed with the conviction that General Harrison
fully adequate to the command of the Northern army,
should change take place in that division, have ven
ured thus freely to state my opinion of him, that he is
consummate general and would fill that station with abi-
II,
rangement should take place in the War Department
which may produce the resignation of General HARRISON
it viii be misfortune which country will have cause
to lament His appointment to the command OF the
Northern army would be highly gratifying to the wishes
Of the Western people, except who may perhaps be
governed by sinister views"
Extract from the letter to General Harrison
During the whole Of this long and arduous pursuit
no man could make greater exertions vigil |
lance than you did to overtake Proctor whilst the skill
and promptitude with which you arranged the troops
battle and the distinguished zeal and bravery you evnced
during its continuance mered and received my highest
appreciation.
ment of separation, believe that commander
the great object Of the campaign. admired your plans
y your order of battle and arrangements for landing
the Canada shore calculated to inspire every officer
and with confidence that could not be defeated
by any thing like our own number.
"Unfl after had served the campaign Of 1873 was
aware of the difficulties which you had encounter
commander of the Northwestern army have since
often sad and still do believe that the duties assigned
to you that occasion arduous and difficult
accomplish than any had known confded to any
commander and with respect to the zeal and fidelity
with which you executed the high and important trust
there are thousands in Kentucky well myself
who believed could have been committed better
hands"
Commodore Perry who fought po elements like Gov
Shelby in tco cars gives his high testimony in these
words addressed to Gen. Harrison in August, 1917:
"The prompt change made by you in the order Of bat