The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-01-17
rnnHaRRsoN. 81 Iiisfosr.

ISpIASAPoifs, Ind, JAM A.
From their hIsH military titles IL II
doubted II many people ever asso-
cIsted the names Of General Benja-
min Harrison, the President elect,
and his illustTiOus grandfather
General William Henry Harrison,
with the humber military titles ana
grades. General Benjamin HARM
son entered the military service rs q
lieutenant, and raised . company,
afterwArd Company A, ofthe Seven
tieth Indiana, Whereupon Governor
oliver 2. Morton, on July = 1852,
commissioned him captain. When
ne completed the organization Of
the regiment he was promoted, on
Aug. ., Is52, TO the Office OF colonel,
and mustered into active service
the same day. From colonel he
rose 10 the rank Of brigadieT general
Of volunteers.
While these facts are matters Of
comparative recent history, the
early military career OF General
William Henry Harrison IL not 30
well known aud Il will surprise many
To learn that President William
Henry Harrison entered the army
a. a priva'e soldier. The follow
ing extract from q letter written
by Beuiamin Harrison, 1.-The signer, +"
aud father Of William Henry Harri-
son, to Major General Charles Scott,
afterWaTd Governor Of Kentucky,
and dated Oct. 10, IT92, establishes
this fact. He concludes his letter:
And now, before take my leave,
permit me to tell you my son, q
youth Of ~ years OF age, have sent
Tot ward In the character Of n private
soldier under captain Rollins. His
youth aud ineXpeTiencP, | make no
doubt, will stand in need Of your
friendship, therefore, prey you.
teach him the duties Of his station,
and il any accident should happen
him, I,ay some attention to him.
Nuur obrIlicnt aud humble servant.
BENJAMIN HARRISON"
"a would seem that he did not re-
main long Ia the Tauks-SOmethiug
over six month"; for he had started
West some mouths prior to his
fathers letter, for General Anthony
Wayne ia his general orders dated
Greenville, dee. -, li!ti, returns the
thanks of General Washington Ia
every officer and private belonging
To- the detachment, for their soldier
~ and exemplary good conduct dur
ing their late aTduuus tour Of duty,
Ia repnssesSing the field of battle
aud erecting Fort Recovery" etc.
The general orders concluded: THE
Commander-in-chi also requests
Major Mills, Captain RutileT, Lieu
tenant Harrison, and DIR. scott Ia
accept his best thanks for their
voluntary aid and services upon
tins ucrAsiOH." The occasion re-.
Ierrrd To was the collecting and in
trTring Of the bones OF the heroes
who fell upon the llh uf November,
II9I Thus IL appears that ''Old
TippRcauOe" began his famous mill
tary career a. "A private soldier anal
rose hy degrees 10 the exalted rank
Of rummauder-in-chie something
that nn other man Ia history ever
achieved beginning from the rank
From the same authority another
interesting historical fact il CLEANED
that benjamin Harrison, The Sig
ner," had himself received an ap-
pOintment under General Wayne.
aud Intended accompanying him on
the expedition against the North
western Indians, but was unable tO
do 80 from having" n lac writes,
"thrpp at my ribs broken near the
backbone. also IOosened from my
breast, aud one broken near the
middle " II was under these circum-
stances that lie determined to send
his son, even la the humble capacity
Of private soldier.