The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-06

This medallion will be presented to the
president at the University grounds this
afternoon by Judge Thomas Burke on be-
half of the mechanics Of Seattle. During
the morning il will be on exhibition in the
window of Mayor Whites Office in the
Occidental block.
THE HONORED GUEST.
Life Of President Harrison and Some Of
His Characteristics.
The most elaborate preparations have
been made for the reception of President
Harrison in this city. The distinguished
party will be kept going from the moment
of its arrival until its departure and will
have every opportunity of seeing the city.
The president Is well known to all, but the
following sketch Of his life viii not be de-
void Of interest:
Benjamin Harrison was born in Hamjl-
ton county, Ohio. August 20. 1888. He
graduated at the Oxford, Ohio. university,
and studied law for two years in Cincin-
natl. In 1854 he went to Indianapolis,
where he has since resided. Mr.. Harrison
was elected reporter of the supreme court
of Indiana in 1850, six years after he had
begun the practice of his profession. Soon
after this, however, he joined the Union
army, in which he was commissioned q
second lieutenant.
He is one of the 5000 volunteers who
answered President Lincoln's call. After
. short service he organized Company A of
the Seventeen Indiana volunteer infantry
and was appointed colonel. He was mus
tered out in June. 1865, with the rank of
brigadier-general. Returning to civil life.
he discharged the duties of court reporter
for four years In 1885 he was a candidate
for governor on the Republican side and
was defeated. He was appointed on the
Mississippi river commission in 1879.
Mr.. Harrison was elected United States
senator for Indiana in 1880 as the success
sor Of Joseph E. Mcdonald, and took his
seat on March 4, 1881. His term of service
expired March 8, 1887.
Those who have visited President Har-
rison's home in Indianapolis have found
no outward indication that he was q vet
eran of the war of the rebellion. No pict-
ure adorned the walls of his parIor or
library depicting war scene; there were
no crossed swords over the mantelpiece:
no musket stood in the corner A newspa-
per correspondent who visited him during
the campaign asked Mrs. Harrison for
. sight Of the battle sword of her husband.
After some hunting she discovered it
standing behind q large chair in dark
corner Of the library. The old sword had
many indications Of having been through
. campaign. 1t was straight officers
sword, with steel blade and q handle of
and its handle was surmounted with q
A~>~ - - Il
Ter wearing the cap of 1850. The scabbard
was of silver, and had pearls set in it
at certain intervals. The rough usage
of campaign and battle had rubbed them
out of their settings, and there were left
only holes in the scabbard where the pearls
once were. The brass of the sword was
discolored and dim with age In all 1T
presented a shabby appearance compared
with the beautiful weapon the citizens of
Indianapolis presented to Colonel Harri-
son, of the Seventeen Indiana, as he rode
away to the war in 1862.
At the battle of Resaca there ware two
private soldiers of Colonel Harrison's regi-
ment. Moses McLain and Daniel II. Rams
dell, who were shot in the right arm and
both afterward had to have their arms am
putated.
On returning from the war Colonel Har-
rison led a movement to elect Ramsdell
clerk of the county of Marion, in which
Indianapolis is situated. Harrison nomi-
mated Ramsdell for the Office in the Re-
publican county convention and sue
ceeded in having him nominated and then
elected. Ramsdell held the office, which
was lucrative one, for eight years. Har-
rison then went before the Republican
county convention and advocated the
nomination Of the other crippled veteran,
Moses McLain, for the place, and he also
was nominated and elected. Both McLain
and Ramsdell naturally think the world OF
their old commander, and in speaking of
him McLain has said:
81 neve saw drawer man than General
Harrison. The battle Of Resaca was fought
on bright spring day-May Is. 1854 Our
brigade, which was commanded by General
Harrison. owing to the wounding OF
Brigadier General Ward, had to charge
across an open field and up steep ridge
at the enemy. Harrison led the way,
waving his sword and revolver. The
rebels poured most destructive fire into
Us as we crossed the open field, and killed
many of our men.
.At the foot of the ridge there were little
trees. We struggled through these, and
then dashed at the rebel intrenchment on
the ridge above. In front of their works
they had four cannon, which blazed away
at US as We climbed the ridge. They had
time to load again before We could reach
them, but we were so close to them tina,
one of our men was knocked down with a
cannon rammer by q rebel. Drop down,
said Harrison, as he saw the rebels were
about TO fire the cannon again, but he him
self was the last man to drop. The rebels
fired over us. and We dashed over their
works and captured the cannon. They
were the only cannon taken in the cam
paign. Harrison captured one of the
cannoneers himself, dragging him from
underneath the gun. l was shot by rebel
infantryman just before the cannon"
Daniel Ramsdell, the other one-armed
veteran, speaking of Harrison as soldier,
said:
Remarkably cool under fire. no one
ever saw Harrison manifest the slightest
indication of fear. lie shrank from no
duty, however dangerous ii might be-
Conscientious and faithful to the last
degree, he threw his whole heart and soul
into the service. No officer was more be-
loved by his men than was General Harri-
son. The privates of his regiment would
have died for him to man His call 10
them was always, Come on, boys and