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• 
 
 A SHORT HISTORY 
 
 or THE 
 
 EIFE AND SERVICES 
 
 OF 
 
 GEM. WHjMAM HEMY HARBISON, 
 
 SAMUEL J. BAYARD. 
 

 
«r- 
 
 A SHORT HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE AND SERVICES OF 
 
 GEN. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, 
 
 COMPILED FROM CONGRESSIONAL DOCUMENTS, OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER 
 
 AUTHENTIC SOURCES^ 
 
 -^♦^©^H*- 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It falls to the lot of few, and it is in 
 the power and disposition of still fewer, 
 to win that applause which rewards the 
 Patriot Soldier, and the honest Statesman. 
 Under a republican form of government, 
 the people ought carefully to cherish the 
 memory of such. Unless public virtue is 
 rewarded with the public gratitude, the dis- 
 tinction between political vice and political 
 virtue is abolished. It is a duty, then, of 
 all good citizens, to award to our public 
 worthies their just recompense of honor, 
 to defend them when unjustly assailed, to 
 rejoice in their vindication, and by no 
 means to permit them to be traduced or 
 stigmatized with unjust opprobrium. 
 
 The great achievements of William 
 Henry Harrison, both in civil and milita- 
 ry employments, form a portion of our na- 
 tional renown. His history is blended 
 with the national history. His fame is the 
 property of the nation, ft is a treasure 
 which no Patriot would desire to see di- 
 minished by the detraction of party spirit. 
 
 Thousands of those who followed his vic- 
 torious banners and now enjoy the bles- 
 sings secured by his wisdom and valor, in 
 their homes beyond the mountains,consider 
 him as the Father of the West, and next 
 to the immortal Washington, as the great- 
 est benefactor of the Republic. But mil- 
 lions have come into existence since the 
 fame of his victories and the lustre of his 
 civil administration of the Western Terri- 
 tory were fresh in the minds of the people. 
 And too many who would have been pro- 
 
 nounced traitors twenty-five years ago, 
 had they dared to lisp a calumny on the 
 name of Harrison, now in the wanton spir- 
 it of party hatred, boldly assail the long 
 worn laurels of the illustrious veteran. 
 
 The public service of General Harrison 
 extends through a period of near forty 
 years. The chief portion of that period 
 embraces the most bitter party contests 
 which the country has experienced. The 
 most active services of General Harrison 
 were performed in the employment of the 
 democratic administrations of Mr. Jeffer- 
 son and Mr. Madison. And most, if not 
 all the assaults upon the reputation of Har- 
 rison can be traced to the federal press, 
 during the war, which waged perpetual 
 hostilities on those democratic adminis- 
 trations, and all in authority under them. 
 It is from the dust and oblivion of such 
 sources that the materials are now ob- 
 tained to vilify the name of a man, whose 
 fame is dear to the hearts of his country. 
 But it will be found that his claim 
 
 men. 
 
 to the gratitude of the nation is too well es, 
 tablished to be slighted or undermined at 
 this late day. 
 
 The facts recorded in the following pages 
 are attested by a cloud of witnesses, and 
 can never he denied nor disproved. They 
 will be found fully corroborated by the tes- 
 timony of Harrison's most determined po- 
 litical opponents. The Life of General 
 Harrison, written many years since by 
 Moses Dawson, of Cincinnati, (a prominent 
 supporter of Mr. Van Buren, and who was 
 
tif»|j w iattal ;<> 'mikt.-iI Jackson, a Receiver 
 of a Land < Office in Ohio,) has furnished the 
 compiler with a considerable portion of his 
 materials. Mr. Dawson, in his fcrife oi 
 Genera] Harrison, triumphantly vindicates 
 him from all the aspersions of hid envious 
 and jealous rivals. 
 
 chapter 1. 
 Birth, Parentage, Education, and the com- 
 mencement of his Military career. 
 William Henrv Harrison was born at 
 Berkley, Virginia, on the 9th of February, 
 1773. He came of a Patriot stock. 1 lis 
 father was Benjamin Harrison, one of the 
 signers of the Declaration of Independence. 
 As a Member of Congress and as Gover- 
 nor of Virginia, Benjamin Harrison ren- 
 dered invaluable services to his country. 
 1 [e was in Congress during the memorable 
 years of 1774, '75, and '70. Ho was 
 chairman of the Board of War, and acted 
 as chairman of the committee of the whole 
 Mouse, when the Declaration of Indepen- 
 dence was considered. 1 le was subse- 
 quently Speaker of the House of Delegates 
 and Governor of Virginia. He expended 
 in the cause of his country a fine estate, 
 and left to a large family only the legacy 
 of a good name anil good principles. "Wil- 
 liam Henry, his third son, was educated at 
 Hampden Sidney College^ and at the. age 
 of 17 commenced, under Dr. Rush, in Phil- 
 adelphia, the study of) medicine. 
 
 At this period the whole western frontier 
 was alarmed with the hostile operations of 
 the Indian nations in that quarter, With 
 •■very breeze came intelligence of their fe- 
 rocious incursions. Horrible details filled 
 the papers of women and children slain oi- 
 led into captivity, — of the hardy settler 
 down in his eoni fit Id or beleaguered in his 
 log cabin. Sometimes he was waylaid in 
 his path, and often awakened by the, mid- 
 night bla/.e of his habitation, ar-.d the war- 
 whoop of his savage enemy. Two armies, 
 those, of llarmar and St. Clair, were in 
 succession almost completely annihilated. 
 Dismay and terror pervaded the frontier 
 and effectually checked the progress of the 
 western settlements. 
 
 Born with a generous and noble dis- 
 position, ihe bosom of the youthful Har- 
 rison kindled with patriotic ardor to 
 hasten to the succor of his bleeding coun- 
 
 try. He burned to avenge her injuries, 
 
 to chastise the barbarian foe, to re- 
 store peace and safety to the harrassed 
 pioneer. I [e unfolded his views to his 
 guardain, the celebrated Financier, Robert 
 
 Morris, who discouraged his enterprising 
 determination, and depicted a campaign 
 against the Indians as the most perilous 
 and least glorious of any. He told him that 
 defeat by such a foe was sure disgrace, and 
 that victory over him was not rewarded by 
 the brightest laurels. Hut no remonstran- 
 ces or discouragements could divert this 
 brave young man from bis settled purpose. 
 His application to President Washington 
 for military employment was gratified. 
 He received a commission as Ensign in 
 the artillery, and immediately departed for 
 the scene of hostilities at the west; Thus, 
 at the early age of 19,commenced the pub- 
 lic services ai' William Henry Harrison. 
 The pursuits of literature, the security and 
 luxury of an Atlantic, city, the pleasures 
 and comforts of city life, the social inter- 
 course, ami powerful patronage of his fath- 
 er's distinguished friends and revolutionary 
 <• impauioiis, were all relinquished without 
 a sigh. He-turned his back on all these 
 fascinating allurements, to plunge into the 
 deep forest where prowled the crafty In- 
 diau. He repaired to the post of danger 
 where active service against the enemies 
 of the country was to be performed. None 
 but a youth whose heart was moulded-after 
 an heroic model, would thus have acted. 
 
 Harrison arrived at Fort Washington. 
 the scite of the present city of Cincinnati, 
 a short period subsequent to the < 1 . - 1 ". at of 
 GeneTal St. Clair. This terrible disaster 
 gave the combined Indian forces the com- 
 mand of the whole Northwestern Territory, 
 and left the. .scattered settlements of the 
 West alujpst entirely at their mercy. 
 
 The fir>t duty Harrison performed was 
 that ol visiting the battle ground where St. 
 Clair was defeated, and giving honorable 
 burial to the remains ol the unfortunate. 
 men who there fell. It was in the depth 
 of winter, and the young soldier " marcjied 
 
 on fool through the snow, at the head of his 
 detachment, with his knapsack on his back, 
 to the lata] ground."* 
 
 liurtH UV Bp 
 
8 
 
 CHAPTER 2. 
 
 The campaign of General Anthony Wayne, 
 and the Bailie of the Miami Rapids. 
 The spirit of the country was only roused 
 and invigorated by the calamity of St. Clair. 
 ' In 1792, another army was called into the 
 field. Gen. Washington appointed to the 
 chief command of this army, the celebrated 
 Gen. Anthony Wayne. Distinguished for 
 impetuous valor, great sagacity, prudence, 
 perseverance and resource of mind, Gen. 
 Wayne enjoyed the confidence of the peo- 
 pl e, the army and the Government. Bold, 
 but cautious, he combined, in happy union, 
 the qualities of tremendous energy* and the 
 most wary vigilance. He was a thorough 
 and indefatigable disciplinarian, and yet, 
 notwithstanding, the idol of his army. — 
 Harrison, now a lieutenant, was ordered to 
 repair to the standard of this accomplished 
 soldier. He had been but a short time in 
 the camp of Wayne, when his martial bear- 
 ing, his observance of discipline, activity, 
 promptitude and intrepidity, attracted the 
 military eye and secured the confidence of 
 his General. Harrison was appointed one 
 of the aids of Wayne, and acted in that ca- 
 pacity until the close of the war. In the 
 military family and under the tuition of this 
 renowned General, Harrison acquired a 
 knowledge of tactics. He acquired, also, 
 those habits and that discipline which were 
 eminently useful to him in after life. 
 
 Gen. W r ayne penetrated cautiously but 
 steadily into the heart of the hostile coun- 
 try, driving before him the confederated 
 tribes. It was not, however, until August, 
 1794, that he succeeded in bringing the In- 
 dians to a general action. On the twenti- 
 eth of that month, near the Rapids of the 
 Miami river, Gen. Wayne engaged the 
 combined force of the Indian nations then 
 in arms. The Indians were defeated with 
 great slaughter after a hard fought battle, 
 which humbled them for many years. In 
 this action, the first he ever witnessed, Har- 
 rison bore a conspicuous part. His cool- 
 ness, decision and valor, won for him the 
 admiration of the whole army and the 
 warmest commendations of his General. 
 There are soldiers still living who were in 
 that battle, who delight to expatiate on the 
 gallant behaviour of Harrison on that bloo- 
 dy field. In his despatches to the Presi- 
 dent, after his victory, Gen. Wayne says : 
 
 " The bravery and conduct of every officer be- 
 longing to the army, from the generals down to the 
 ensigns, merit my highest approbation. There 
 were, however, some whose rank and situation 
 placed their conduct in a very conspicuous point 
 of view, and which I observed with pleasure and 
 the most lively gratitude ; among whom I beg 
 leave to mention Brigadier General Wilkinson, 
 and Colonel Mamtramck, the commandant of the 
 right and left wings of the legion, whose brave ex- 
 ample inspired the troops ; and to these I must 
 add the names of my faithful and gallant aids, 
 decamp Captains De Butts and T. Lewis, and 
 Lieutenant HARRISON, who, with the Adjutant 
 General Major Mills, rendered the most essential 
 service by communicating my orders in every di- 
 rection, AND BY TAEIR CONDUCT AND BRAVERY EX- 
 CITING THE TROOl'S TO TRESS FOR VICTORY." 
 
 Thus, on this first occasion which of- 
 fered, we find young Harrison winning an 
 honorable name and establishing a title to 
 the gratitude of his country. He has now 
 
 become no longer unknown to fame. 
 
 From this period henceforth his deeds and 
 services are recorded among the archives 
 of his country, and the first historian ofhis 
 achievements is General Anthony Wayne, 
 the Hero of Stoney Point and the favorite 
 General of the great WASHINGTON, 
 
 CHAPTER 3. 
 
 Is appointed Captain ; Secretary of the N. 
 
 W. Territory ; Delegate to Congress, and 
 
 Governor of Indiana. 
 
 The decisive victory cf Gen. Wayne 
 broke up the dangerous and formidable con- 
 federacy of the North- West Indians, and 
 restored tranquility to the frontier. In 
 1795 the Indians sued for peace, and Har- 
 rison, under the superintendence of Gen. 
 Wayne, assisted in negotiating the famous 
 Treaty of Greenville, which established our 
 relations with the north-west tribes. 
 
 Soon after the battle of Miami, Harrison 
 was promoted by Gen. Washington to a 
 captaincy and stationed at Fort Washing- 
 ton. There he became acquainted with 
 and married the daughter of Judge Sym- 
 mes, the proprietor of a large tract of coun- 
 try between the Big and Little Miamis. — 
 This amiable lady has always been distin- 
 guished for benevolence and piety, fulfilling 
 with eminent fidelity all the duties of wife 
 and mother. She is still the living consola- 
 tion of his advancing years, and the witness 
 of the new honors which a grateful country 
 may have in reserve for him. 
 
 The inactive garrison life of a soldier, in 
 a period of profound peace, wa$ unsuited to 
 
the tn*ts and ardent disposition of Harrison. 
 In 1797 he resigned his commission in the 
 army and retired to private life. lie was, 
 however, soon summoned to the service of 
 his country in her civil department, and 
 received the appointment of Secretary of 
 the North-West Territory, and vx-ojjicio 
 Lieutenant Governor. Thus, at the age 
 of 24, we find him commencing his career 
 of civil employment, placed in a position of 
 great responsibility and requiring the ex- 
 ercise of talents of a high order. In 179q 
 the North-Western Territory became enti- 
 tled to send a Delegate to Congress. The 
 eyes of the people were directed to Harri- 
 son, and he was elected the first Delegate 
 of the Territory to Congress. When we 
 consider how many and important duties 
 devolve on the first Delegate lo Congress 
 from a new Territory, we shall be able to 
 appreciate with what high confidence in his 
 abilities and integrity the people of the N. 
 W. Territory must have been inspired. — 
 Previous to his election he met with much 
 opposition from some of the settlers, who 
 had landed disputes with Judge Symmes, 
 the father-in-law of Harrison. They sup- 
 posed that he would feel interested in pro- 
 moting the views of his father-in-law ad- 
 versely to their claims. They were hap- 
 pily surprised when they found in Gen. 
 Harrison a warm advocate ot their wishes. 
 He considered that the welfare of the Ter- 
 ritory would be promoted by their success, 
 and that what*, ver might be his own or his 
 father-in-law's interests, his duty required 
 him to support the claims of the poor set- 
 tler. Accordingly, after taking his scat in 
 Congress, he ably and satisfactorily vindi- 
 cated the claims o*f the settlers and estab- 
 lished them in possession of their lands. In 
 this act, at the outset of his political liie, he 
 thus displayed that heroic independence of 
 sordid and selfish considerations which has 
 ever since characterized his career. In- 
 deed, as we proceed in his history, this will 
 be found a peculiar trait in his character. 
 The acquisition of property seems never to 
 have been with him a motive of action. — 
 The love of laudable distinction— a desire 
 to discharge his duty and his whole duty 
 — to advance the welfare and the glorj oi 
 his country, these were the objects ol his 
 ambition. With his patriotic eve thus di- 
 rected, ho overlooked the opportunities of 
 
 amassing wealth, and herded not the gain- 
 fid chances of speculation. 
 
 At the period when General Harrison 
 entered Congress as a Delegate of the 
 Northwest Territory, the public lands 
 could be purchased of Government only in 
 tracts of about 4000 acres. The fact was, 
 therefore, that none but the wealthy could 
 buy the public lands. The poor man could 
 only obtain them at second hand of the spec- 
 ulator, at an advanced price. The effect 
 of this unfortunate mode of selling the west- 
 ern lands, was seriously to retard the set- 
 tlement of the western country. The har- 
 dy and enterprising emigrant was compel- 
 led to purchase of the monopolist and pav 
 a monopoly price for his lands, and too of- 
 ten to experience the grasping exactions of 
 his greedy creditor. To destroy entirely 
 this odious and pernicious system was one 
 of the first objects of Harrison's exertions 
 after taking his seat in Congress. He 
 brought the subject before the House of 
 Representatives and pressed it upon tho 
 consideration of members with zeal and en- 
 ergy. He succeeded in obtaining a com. 
 mittce to consider the question. He was 
 himself appointed chairman of that com- 
 mittee, (the only instance of a delegate from 
 a territory ever acting in such capacity,) 
 and as such, made an able report, the sug- 
 gestions contained in which, are the basis 
 of the present admirable system of disposing 
 of the public domain. The report conclu- 
 ded by recommending the s£le of the pub- 
 lic landsin small parcels. A bill was accor- 
 dingly introduced with provisions to that ef- 
 fect. It encountered violent opposition in its 
 passage through Congress. But thecnlight- 
 encd and liberal views, the powerful argu- 
 ments and eloquent appeals of Harrison fi- 
 nally prevailed, and the bill became a law. 
 The consequences of this memorable act of 
 Congress were immediately perceived in 
 the increased progress of the western set- 
 tlements. It stimulated emigration to a 
 vast extent. Swarms of hardy eastern and 
 northern farmers repaired to the cheap and 
 fertile lands now offered for their selection. 
 The whole western country leaped forward 
 as it were with a bound. From the adop- 
 tion of that act of Congress we may date the 
 commencement oi that wonderful devel- 
 opment of national wealth and resources 
 in the west, which is bearing our country, 
 
as on eagle wings, forward on her career of 
 power, opulence and grandeur. To Har- 
 rison the chief glory of this change of the 
 national policy must forever be ascribed. 
 Doubtless at a later day it might have been 
 accomplished without his agency, but that 
 it received the sanction of Congress at that 
 early day, can only be attributed to his in- 
 defatigable and persevering exertions. 
 
 To have been instrumental in procuring 
 the enactment of a law, so beneficent and 
 glorious in its consequences, would of itself 
 have been sufficient to immortalize any 
 statesman. And had Harrison died on the 
 morning of its adoption, his memory would 
 have lived through all time. He would 
 have been venerated forever as the Father 
 of the West. Western States would have 
 vied in doing homage to his worth, and 
 western generations delighted in his praise. 
 The famous alien and sedition laws were 
 adopted during this session of Congress. 
 It has been attempted to connect General 
 Harrison's name with these unpopular 
 measures. The falsity of such attempts 
 will readily appear when it is considered 
 that a Delegate from a Territory has no 
 vote in Congress. He is there to attend 
 to the interests "of the Territory, and no 
 Delegate ever takes part in any discussions 
 but what relate to his Territory or its im- 
 mediate welfare. The consequence is, that 
 bo far as concerns the proceedings of Con- 
 gress, no Delegate can be considered as a 
 partizan. In relation to the alien and se- 
 dition laws, there is no vote or act of Gen- 
 eral Harrison which can be produced as 
 evidence of his approbation of those laws. 
 While it is highly probable that had he ever 
 approved them, his enemies would long since 
 have furnished the conclusive proof of such 
 fact; the strongest negative testimony 
 exists, of his hostility to those laws, in 
 the entire confidence which Mr. Jeffer- 
 son and the democratic republican party 
 always manifested in his principles and a- 
 bilities. 
 
 The brilliant results of his legislative 
 career soon operated so powerfully on the 
 public mind at the west, that a party was 
 formed in the Territory which desired the 
 removal of Gen. St. Clair, as Governor, 
 and the appointment of Harrison. As 
 soon, however,as this project was disclosed, 
 he discountenanced it, and refused the pro- 
 
 posed honor, on the ground that the revo- 
 lutionary sei vices and individual merits of 
 Gen. St. Clair, gave him a claim upon the 
 country, when entitled him to the station 
 he occuped. 
 
 Soon after this, however, the North- 
 Western Territory was divided. The pres- 
 ent State of Ohio was erected into a Ter- 
 ritory by itself, and the whole country 
 west and north-west, comprising the pres- 
 cut States of Indiana, Illinois and Michi- 
 gan, and the Territory of Wisconsin, were 
 organized into a new Territory, called the 
 Territory of Indiana. Of this great Ter- 
 ritory, Harrison, then only 25 years of age, 
 was appointed Governor. After the pur- 
 chase of the Louisiana Territory, the up- 
 per part of it was annexed to Indiana Ter- 
 ritory. 
 
 As Governor of this vast country, Gen- 
 eral Harrison was cx-officio Superintendent 
 of Indian Affairs. He was appointed, like- 
 wise, by Mr. Jefferson, in 1801, sole com- 
 missioner for treating with the Indians.— 
 During his administration of the civil gov- 
 ernment of the Territory, he negotiated 
 fifteen Treaties with the different Indian 
 Nations, and obtained for the United States 
 more than 70,000,000 of acres of lands. — 
 His justice, forbearance, and address, gave 
 him great influence with the native tribes, 
 — while his firmness, vigilance and vigor, 
 kept them in check when often predisposed 
 to "violence and outrage. His powers as 
 the superior Civil Executive Magistrate of 
 the Territory and Commander-in-Chief of 
 its military force, were more unbounded 
 than any before or since entrusted to any 
 single individual in the United States. He 
 discharged, likewise, for several years, the 
 duties of a Legislature for the Territory. 
 He was clothed with power to select from 
 the civil and criminal laws of the other 
 States, such as he deemed suitable for the 
 Territory. He appointed all the magis, 
 trates and civil officers, and all military of- 
 ficers below the rank of General. He was 
 entrusted with the power of confirming 
 grants of lands to claimants having equita- 
 ble claims under French or other grants, 
 or purchases. It is a little extraordinary, 
 that exercising these unlimited discretion- 
 ary powers, affecting public and private 
 interests of vast magnitude, during all 
 his administration, no charge of malfea- 
 
(3 
 
 sance, no Executive blunder, no error of 
 judgment, no abuse of authority, was ever 
 substantiated against him. Power neither 
 corrupted his heart nor disturbed the sound 
 exercise of his reason and common se 
 His vast patronage was uniformly ex rci. 
 sed for the public good. No venal favor- 
 ites were permitted under him to plunder^ 
 the public treasure. No official misconJ 
 duct was screen. •(! by him from public cenj 
 sure. No servile instruments were em. 
 ployed by hi in. for his own aggrandizement, 
 lie never was accused of using the patron- 
 age of.his office for the promotion of a 
 personal schemes of profit or honor. Aloof 
 from the storms of party contests and the 
 intrigues of petty politicians, lie pursued 
 the honest- tenor of his way, — his object, 
 his country's welfare; his "ambition- 
 fame." 
 
 In the exercise of his official duties, op- 
 portunities abounded for successful invest- 
 ments in lands. He possessed the power 
 of dividing the Territory into counties 
 and towns, and of designating the seats of 
 justice for the respective counties. No one 
 canfailto perceive how easily he could 
 have enriched himself under such a state of 
 things, by selections of lands near the scites 
 of villages, which he could not but perceh 
 would soon spring up„ Butthe Roman vir- 
 tue of Harrison was proof against all such 
 temptations. He invariaWj abstained from 
 all traffic in the the public domain. No sus- 
 picion ever assailed him, oi having profited 
 by his official means of information ■, in any 
 landed investment. 1 low few, in these de- 
 generate days, who enjoy but a tithe of Har- 
 rison's opportunities for accumulating prop- 
 erty, tail to avail themselves to the Utter- 
 t of all such official chances I 
 In the year L805, after repeated recom- 
 mendations by General Harrison, Congress 
 authorized the people of the Territory of 
 Indiana to choose Representatives to a Ter- 
 ritorial Legislature. In urging this meas- 
 ure I [arrisonknewit would curtail his pow- 
 er and influence. But In- was governed 
 by a desire to promote the public goo. I, and 
 not by any ambitious wishi s to retain and 
 engross tlje exereise of powers which the 
 people ought to exercise ami enjoj . 
 
 No better testimony oi the uprightni 
 and purity of Harrison',: official character 
 is needed by his friends, than his rep< 
 
 reappointment to the office of Governor of 
 Indiana, by the democratic administrations 
 oFThbmas Jeffersoit, and Janus Madison. 
 ■' !i : first appointmenl was made by John 
 Adams, his second and third by Mr Jeffer- 
 son, and his fourth by Mr. Madison. J n 
 the year 1809 the Legislature of the Ter- 
 ritory of Indiana, adopted, spontaneously 
 and unanimously, the following resolution: 
 "They (tap House of Representatives) cannot 
 forbear recommending to, and requesting of, the 
 President and Senate, most earnestly in their own 
 names, and in the names of their constituents, the 
 re-appointment of their present Governor, William 
 Henry Harrison :— because he possesses the good 
 wishes and affections of a great majority of his 
 fellow-citizens; because they believe him to be 
 sinCefely attached to the Union, the prosperity of 
 the United States, and the administration of its 
 government; because they believe him in asuperi 
 or degree capable of promoting the interests of our 
 territory, from long experience and laborious at- 
 tention to its concerns; from his influence ovcrthe 
 Indians, and wise and disinterested management 
 of that department.; and because they have con- 
 fidence in his virtues, talents, and republicanism.'' 
 
 The growth of the western country under 
 his judicious administration, is a noble com- 
 mentary on the wisdom and sagacity of his 
 measures. In 1802 Ohio was' admitted as 
 a state, into the Union, and Indiana was 
 rapidly treading in her steps, when the 
 difficulties with the Indians fur a while re. 
 tarded her progress. 
 
 CHAPTER 4. 
 
 Tecumseh's intrigues ; Indian hostilities; 
 Battle of Tippecanoe ; Dispersion if the 
 Proph et '&• forces. 
 
 It is well known that the British ( rovexn. 
 ment, long after the peace of 1783, treated 
 the United .States with great indignity. 
 J hr authorities seemed to consider only a 
 truce, and not a permanent peace, as in ex- 
 istence. Great Britain retained until after 
 1794, many important posts within our 
 Territory. She inculcated upon the In- 
 dians the probability of her again, by con- 
 quest or the intestine division of the States, 
 acquiring her lost colonies. The Indians 
 were taught to look to England for protec- 
 tion against the encroaching settlements of 
 the Americans. They were supplied with 
 munitions of war, clothing, and by 
 annual presents kepi in the condition of 
 tributaries to ©real Britain. This prac- 
 tice is still pursued by the British authori- 
 ties, and even now, all the tribes on our 
 
north-West borders are subsidiary to their 
 purposes, and ready at a moment's warning 
 to take the field under the British flag. 
 
 Subsequent to the year 1807, as the pros- 
 pect of a war between the United States and 
 Ureal Britain appeared more prominent 
 and inevitable, the hostile dispositions of 
 the north-west Indian nations rapidly de- 
 veloped themselves. Impatient of delay, 
 they could not wait for the actual com- 
 mencement of hostilities between the two 
 countries, but by frequent acts of menace, 
 plunder, and even murder, alarmed the fears 
 of the inhabitants of the frontiers. Tecum- 
 seh and his brother, the Prophet, acting un- 
 der the instigation of British emissaries, la- 
 bored assiduously to kindle the flames of 
 an Indian war. He inculcated upon the 
 tribes the impolicy of selling their lands, 
 and even maintained that one tribe could 
 not dispose of their lands without the con- 
 sent of others. 
 
 Tccumseh united in himself many of 
 those qualities which, in civilized life, com- 
 bine to form the great statesman and suc- 
 cessful warrior. Bold and ardent, restless 
 and aspiring, no difficulties intimidated him, 
 no scruples embarrassed him. He posses- 
 sed a penetrating and discriminating judg- 
 ment, a commanding eloquence, a prepos- 
 sessing and irresistable address. His phy- 
 sical qualities were adapted to facilitate the 
 success of his intellectual powers. Athlet- 
 ic and active, he excelled in all the sports 
 of his tribe, requiring the exertion of great 
 muscular power. His valor was impetu- 
 ous and daring. Danger had no terrors 
 for him. War was his peculiar delight. 
 Trained to all exposure in the forests of the 
 north, he was capable of supporting great 
 fatigue and long abstinence. He was a wa- 
 ry and skilful negotiator, and acquired by 
 the display of his various talents, unbound- 
 ed influence over not only his own tribe, 
 but likewise over the contiguous nations. 
 Indeed, from the Gulf of Mexico to the 
 Lakes, the Indian nations were all more or 
 less the instruments of his designs. 
 
 Tecumseh had conceived the formidable 
 plan of combining all the southern, western 
 and north-western Indians into a League, 
 for the purpose of arresting the progress 
 of the western settlements. In pursuance 
 of this design, he had visited in person ev- 
 ery tribe from Florida to the head waters 
 
 of the Mississippi. lie Wanted, he said, to 
 erect a dam against the mighty torrent 
 which was sweeping before it every vestige 
 of the red man's primeval supremacy. 
 
 In his visits to the different Indian na- 
 tions, Tecumseh inculcated upon them all 
 the necessity of union against the United 
 Slates. He breathed into them his own 
 implacable hatred of the white man, and a- 
 larmed them with predictions of their early 
 extinction, unless by timely combination 
 they could establish an effectual barrier to 
 the extension of the western settlements. ■ 
 
 Gen. Harrison was, at an early period, 
 apprized of Tecumseh's operations, and 
 familiar with his hostile movements and 
 intrigues. It required the exercise of the 
 greatest prudence, vigilance and discretion, 
 to discharge the delicate duties which now 
 devolved on him in his frequent intercourse 
 with the Indians. Aware of the ultimate 
 designs of Tccumseh, and of the exposed 
 condition of the scattered and extensive 
 settlements on the frontier, it was true pol- 
 icy and cautiously observed by Harrison, 
 to conciliate the Indians, and postpone a 
 rupture as long as possible. The settle- 
 ments were annually enlarging and mul- 
 tiplying, and becoming more able to resist 
 Indian aggression. The orders of gov- 
 ernment likewise instructed him to main- 
 tain peace as long as practicable — to do 
 nothing which would tend to precipitate 
 hostilities — and to remain prepared for an 
 attack. He was directed to negotiate with 
 the Indians whenever they were disposed, 
 and in his intercourse with them to temper 
 moderation with firmness. Ably and suc- 
 cessfully did Harrison carry out these dif- 
 ficult and delicate duties. On one occasion 
 having invited Tecumseh to a conference, 
 accompanied by only thirty men, Tecum- 
 seh accepted the invitation, but instead of 
 30, came with 400 warriors, fully armed and 
 equipped. The inhabitants of Vincennes 
 and the neighborhood were much alarmed 
 at. the sudden appearance of this formida- 
 ble band ; Harrison, however, exhibited no 
 surprise at the extraordinary display of 
 Tecumseh's force. The council was open- 
 ed with all the usual gravity and formality 
 of such negotiations. But suddenly, at a 
 concerted signal, the whole armed band of 
 warriors sprang to their feet, raised their 
 hideous war-whoop, and brandishsd their 
 
Weapons with violent And ferocious menu. 
 3. Here the moral courage, self-posses- 
 sion and lofty bearing of Harrison shone 
 conspicuous. He arose, sword in hand, 
 and in an undaunted and commanding tone 
 of voice, rebuked the insolence of the sava- 
 ges. Although actuallyunequal in force at 
 the time, he threatened them with instant 
 chastisement if they manifested any further 
 hostility, refused to sit longer in council 
 with them, and ordered them to depart 
 without delay. His presence of mind and 
 tearless determination, quelled the barbar- 
 ous host. Their courage quailed before 
 the manly and heroic Harrison, and they 
 slunk away, dispirited and crest-fallen.— 
 Had Gen. Harrison faltered for a moment 
 on this critical occasion, had he hesitated 
 an instant in the course to be adopted, or 
 evinced the slightest alarm or apprehen- 
 sion, the probability is, that he and all his 
 attendants would have been tomahawked 
 on the spot, and their scalps adorned the 
 triumphant return of Tccumsch. 
 
 At length emboldened by the imminent 
 prospect of a warbetween the United States 
 and Great Britain, the Prophet, in the ab- 
 sence of Tecurnseh at the south, began to 
 draw his forces together, during the summer 
 of 1811. When the government became 
 convinced upon the information furnished 
 by Gen. Harrison, that an Indian war was in- 
 cvitable,he was directed to collect a force suf- 
 ficient to cope with any expected opposi- 
 tion, and to penetrate the country as far as 
 Phrophet's Town for the purpose of over- 
 awing the Indians, ncgociating or fighting 
 with them according to circumstances. I lis 
 orders were, however, to resort to the last 
 alternative only defensively, and in case of 
 absolute necessity. Thus it was at the op- 
 tion of the Indians, to remain at peace or 
 commence war, and to choose their own 
 time and place for beginning the war. 
 
 Gen. Harrison hit Vincennes, the Ter- 
 ritorial scat of government, on the 20th of 
 October, 1811, with about 800 men, com- 
 posed of Kentucky and Indiana volunteers 
 and militia, together with a small number 
 of regulars, being part of Col. Boyd's r< La- 
 ment. He directed his march up the W'a- 
 bash towards Prophet's Town, where the 
 hostile Indians were embodied. 1 lis troops, 
 being mostly raw and undisciplined, requir- 
 ed training. This he gave them while on 
 
 their march, and without stopping for that 
 
 purpose. The same masterly operation 
 was practiced several years afterwards by 
 Icon, when concentrating his raw re- 
 cruits upon the French frontier to repel the* 
 threatened invasion by the allied forces; 
 and is mentioned by historians as a charac- 
 teristic display of the military genius of that 
 great Captain. Harrison's army marched 
 in the order of battle, and in marching, 
 went through, and practiced those evolu- 
 tions, requisite for their discipline. Major 
 Larabee, an officer of distinction, who ac- 
 companied the expedition, thus describes 
 their march : 
 
 "At the time the army left Vincennes, they 
 were formed in the order of battle against the at- 
 tack of Indians, and were never out of this situa- 
 tion till they returned ; each one occupying tho 
 ground he would defend himself upon, whether 
 marching or at rest upon it. This all-daring idea 
 was instilled into the army collectively and indi- 
 vidually by the General, from the time we entered 
 the wilderness till a trial was had of the effect. — 
 The army was trained to be prepared to receive 
 the attack, and nothing but the unremitted at- 
 tention of Gen. Harrison to enforce the necessary 
 discipline could have brought the troops to such a 
 state of perfection and order as the result of the 
 battle proved. The fact of the army rising from 
 rest and being ready to receive the Indians in two 
 minutes (of which there oujrht not to be a doubt) 
 after the report of the first fire, is sufficient to sat- 
 isfy all persons capablo of judging, as well as all 
 unprejudiced minds, that it was not a surprise. — 
 Tho officers and soldiers slept with their clothes 
 and accoutrements on, with drawn swords, mus- 
 kets loaded and bayonets fixed, laying by the sides 
 of those who were to use them in the night attack. 
 
 The army arrived near Prophet's Town 
 on the 0th of November. The Indians 
 assembled there, amounted to 1000 war- 
 riors. Gen. Harrison, previous to his ar- 
 rival, despatched in advance, two experi- 
 enced officers, Majors Tayloi and Clark, 
 to select the ground for encampment. After 
 reconnoitreingall the ground on both sides 
 of (he river they selected a spot of high 
 ground on the Tippecanoe creek, well sup- 
 plied with wood and water, and surrounded 
 principally by a wet prairie. Subsequent 
 observation has satisfied all competent 
 judges that it was the only suitable place 
 in the vicinity of the camp. In obedience 
 to his orders, Gen. Harrison made several 
 overtures to the Indians for a pacific ar- 
 rangement. They were rejected with in- 
 sult. After rejecting repeatedly, all the 
 General's propositions to treat in council. 
 
9 
 
 the Prophet suddenly, late on the 6th, sent 
 fehree~of his principal chiefs to the camp 
 with propositions for a council on the fol- 
 lowing day. Gen. Harrison's knowledge 
 of Indian character, enabled him at once 
 to penetrate the crafty design of the Proph- 
 et. He knew his emissaries came merely 
 as spies, and he dismissed them without 
 affording them any opportunity of observ- 
 ing his preparations or force. He said, as 
 soon as they had departed, that he would be 
 attacked before morning. He never re- 
 laxed his uniform vigilance. His troops, 
 as usual, reposed on their arms with their 
 clothes on, each soldier on the spot, where 
 he was to form in order of battle in case of 
 an attack. The dragoons' horses were 
 surrounded by sentinels. The General 
 himself, divested his person of no article of 
 dress, except his boots. He was always 
 ready to mount his horse at a moment's 
 warning. The whole camp was surroun- 
 ded by sentinels, not so far distant as to 
 permit their retreat to be cut off if attacked, 
 and far enough to enable the army at the 
 first signal, to be prepared to meet the foe 
 if they entered the camp. Thus on the 
 night of the 6th of November, the army of 
 Gen. Harrison reposed on the field of Tip- 
 pecanoe. A better state of preparation, 
 no human sagacity could have arranged. 
 The morning of the 7th of November 
 was dark and lowering, and rain fell at in- 
 tervals. General Harrison had risen about 
 two hours before dawn, and was waiting 
 with his aids the appointed signal for a turn 
 out of the troop?. The discharge of a sen- 
 tinel's musket apprised him that the antici- 
 pated attack was being made. The Indians 
 commenced firing on the guard about 300 
 paces from the camp, and then, as the guard 
 retreated, they rushed upon the camp with 
 loud war-whoops. General Harrison was 
 mounted in two minutes from the time of 
 the alarm, and galloped to the scene of ac- 
 tion then in the onset, being on the left 
 flank upon which the Indians were char- 
 ging with desperation. The savages were 
 received by the troops of Captains Barton 
 and Guiger, with firmness. The General 
 perceived that they were hard pressed, and 
 ordered up from the centre two companies 
 to their support. The engagement was 
 now general. The army had risen howev- 
 er, in the appointed order of battle, and 
 
 four minutes after the attack was made, ev- 
 ery man was at his post and prepared to 
 maintain it. General Harrison was every 
 where in the thickest of the battle. — 
 " Wherever," says the brave General 
 Scott of Kentucky, " the action was warm- 
 est ,was General Harrison to be found and 
 heard encouraging and cheering the offi- 
 cers and soldiers." His voice, says ano- 
 ther witness, was heard clear, cool,and col- 
 lected above the din of arms, issuing orders 
 and exciting his troops to stand firm. Af- 
 ter reinforcing his left, General Harrison 
 immediately crossed the camp to reinforce 
 his right front which was now severely en- 
 gaged. While leading up a company for 
 this purpose, the gallant Col. Owen, of Ken- 
 tucky, his aid, fell at his side. Col. Daviess, 
 the popular orator of the same state, a man 
 universally admired and beloved, fell early, 
 while charging upon a concealed body of 
 the enemy who were pouring into the ranks 
 a deadly fire. He solicited of the General 
 permission to make the charge, and while 
 gallantly pushing forward fell, perforated 
 with balls. General Harrison immediate- 
 ly ordered Captain Snelling, of the regulars, 
 to effect the design of the lamented Daviess, 
 which he successfully accomplished, dis- 
 Ioflging the Indians and driving; them before 
 him. The battle raged for an hour and a 
 half, and until dawn, with unprecedented 
 slaughter. The Indians fought with des- 
 perate courage, frequently charging with 
 the utmost impetuosity up to the point of 
 the bayonet — and though driven back, re- 
 turning again and again to the attack with 
 a fierceness and resolution seldom if ever 
 equalled. At length, as day dawned so as 
 to enable the General to see his enemy, he 
 ordered the whole front to advance simul- 
 taneously, and charge the foe. This was 
 done with promptness and success. The 
 Indians were every driven and routed. — 
 They fled at last precipitately, leaving ma- 
 ny of their dead on the field. * Thus Mas 
 fought and won, the famous battle of TIP- 
 PECANOE. 
 
 A harder fought action between the white 
 and red men never took place since the col- 
 onization of America. This victory, 
 which for a while gave peace and security 
 to the frontier, spread the fame of Harri 
 at this time, over the whole republic. — 
 Resolutions applauding his conduct and 
 
10 
 
 gallantry, filled the papers of the day. 
 President Madison, in his Special Message 
 of* December 18, 1811, said — 
 
 " While it is deeply lamented that so many val- 
 uable lives have been lost in the action which took 
 place on the 7th ult., Congress will see, with sat- 
 isfaction, the dauntless spirit and fortitudo victo- 
 riously displayed by every description of the troops 
 engaged, as well as the collected firmness which 
 distinguished their commander, on an occasion re- 
 
 Juiring the utmost exertion of valor and discipline, 
 tmay reasonably be expected that the good effects 
 of a critical defeat and dispersion of a combination 
 of savages which appears to have been spreading 
 to a greater extent will be experienced, not only 
 in the cessation of the murders and depredations 
 committed on our frontier, but in the prevention 
 of any hostile incursions otherwise to have been 
 apprehended." 
 
 Tho Legislature of Kentucky, adopted the fol- 
 lowing resolution, 00 days alter the battle. 
 
 "Resolved, by the Senate and House of Repre- 
 sentatives of the State of Kentucky, That in the 
 late campaign against the Indians upon'the Wab- 
 ash, Governor William Henry Harrison has beha- 
 ved like a hero, a patriot, and a general ; and that, 
 for his cool, deliberate, skilful, and gallant conduct 
 in tho battle of Tippecanoe, he well deserves the 
 warmest thanks of liis country and his nation." 
 
 In the Legislature of Indiana, on the 12th 
 of November, 1811, the Speaker of the 
 House of Representatives, Gen. William 
 Johnson, thus addressed General Harri- 
 son : 
 
 •'Sir: The House of Representatives of the In- 
 diana Territory in their own name, and in behalf 
 of their coustituents, most cordially reciprocate 
 the congratulations of your Exccllencyon the glo- 
 rious result of the late sanguinary conflict with 
 the Shawnee Prophet, and the tribes of Indians 
 confederated with him. When we see displayed 
 in behalf of our country, not only the consummate 
 abilities of the General, but the heroism of the man; 
 and when we take into view the benefits which 
 must result to that country from those exertions, 
 we cannot for a moment withhold our meed of ap- 
 plause." 
 
 CHAPTER 5. 
 
 Declaration nfu-ar with Great Britain ; Gen. 
 Harrison appointed to the command of the 
 North- Western army ; defeat of Win- 
 chester ; termination of the first campaign. 
 War with Great Britain was declared on 
 the 18th June, 1812 : a little more than six 
 months after the battle of Tippecanoe. All 
 eyes, in the West, were now directed to 
 Gen. Harrison, as the only individual com- 
 petent to the defence of the country in that 
 quarter. His long residence in the West 
 — his various high stations in the public 
 service — his perfect knowledge of the west- 
 
 ern country and its inhabitants, "whether 
 white or red — the confidence felt in his 
 abilities and integrity by the people — his 
 eminent military qualifications — his capa- 
 city for encountering and overcoming dif- 
 ficulties — his discretion, wisdom, and valor 
 — all marked him for the public choice, in 
 this dangerous and imminent crisis. The 
 talented and lamented Daviess, in 1811, 
 in writing to the President, emphatically 
 said, " he had thought that there were two 
 military men in the West,and that Harrison 
 was the first of the two." Indeed, an invin- 
 cible repugnance soon manifested itself at 
 the West, among the militia of Ohio, In- 
 diana, and Kentucky, to serve under any 
 other General in chief, than Harrison. 
 Before, however, this sentiment had made 
 itself felt at Washington, Gen. Winchester 
 was assigned to the command of the troops 
 destined to relieve Detroit. As soon as 
 this appointment became known, the indig- 
 nant murmurs of the western people were 
 heard in every direction. Kentucky, as if 
 to declare in the plainest manner whose 
 banner she chose to follow, conferred upon 
 Gen. Harrison the brevet commission of 
 Major General. This step was taken un- 
 der the advisement of a council composed 
 of the most eminent citizens of Kentucky. 
 At this council were present Ex-Governors 
 Shelby and Greenup, Col. R. M. Johnson, 
 Henry Clay, and the judges of the United 
 States Courts. No stronger evidence of 
 the affection and enthusiasm inspired by 
 Gen. Harrison in the bosoms of Kcntucki- 
 ans, could be offered than this. 
 
 On the 30th of August, 1812, Gen. Har- 
 rison joined his troops, about forty miles 
 north of Cincinnati. Three days alter- 
 wards he received a commission in the 
 United States army, of Brigadier General. 
 This he held under consideration, being 
 extremely doubtful whether he ought to ac- 
 cept it. 
 
 Gen. Winchester, though a brave man, 
 and an officer of the revolution, had little 
 experience in the Indian mode of warfare. 
 He had been long out of active service ; 
 he was unacquainted with the country, or 
 the people he was to command. Gen. 
 Harrison well doubted, therefore, whether 
 he ought to place himself in a position in 
 which he might be held responsible for the 
 errors of others over whom he had no con- 
 
11 
 
 trol. He believed that as Governor of In- 
 diana, his services might be more useful to 
 the country than if acting as a subaltern un- 
 der a General in whom he could not feel 
 confidence. He felt and knew that his 
 fellow citizens of the West were willing to 
 follow with alacrity no other commander. 
 He had perfect confidence in the patriotic 
 intentions of Mr. Madison, and felt satisfied 
 -that however slighted he might be by the 
 intrigues of his enemies, the Government 
 could not have acted with that forethought 
 and circumspection which, it would soon 
 perceive, ought to have been exercised. 
 Without, therefore, manifesting any impa- 
 tience or disgust, he continued the dis- 
 charge of his military duties with assiduity 
 and vigor. On the 3d of September, hear- 
 ing that Fort Wayne was invested, he de- 
 termined not to wait for the arrival of Win- 
 chester, to whom he designed relinquishing 
 the command, but proceeded to the relief of 
 that place. The Indians having fled on 
 his approach, he pushed forward his troops 
 to the Wabash, for the purpose of destroy- 
 ing the hostile Indian settlements, which he 
 effected successfully. On his return to 
 Fort Woyrte, Gen. Winchester was there, 
 and Gen. H. surrendered to him, in pursu- 
 ance of the orders from Washington, all 
 the troops, excepting a few regiments, 
 which were to be subject to his orders as 
 Governor of Indiana. The magnanimity 
 of Harrison breathes forth in every word 
 of his general order, turning over these 
 troops to the command of Winchester. 
 **If any thing," he says, " could soften the 
 regret which the General feels at parting 
 with troops who have so entirely won his 
 confidence and affection, it is the circum- 
 stance of his committing them to the charge 
 of one of the heroes of our glorious revolu- 
 tion : a man distinguished as well for the 
 service he has rendered the country, as for 
 the possession of every qualification which 
 constitutes the gentleman." When it be- 
 came known that Gen. Harrison had 
 yielded up the troops to Gen. Winchester, 
 much dissatisfaction prevailed among all 
 ranks of the men. At last it amounted to 
 open mutiny. 
 
 The regiment of Col. Allen, of Kentucky, ex- 
 pressed their determination to return home. The 
 severity of their duties, their exposure to hard- 
 ships, and want of camp equipage and protection 
 against the weather, together with their disap- 
 
 pointment In being placed under the command of 
 a General of whom they knc?w little, and who did 
 not possess their confidence, dispirited and dis- 
 gusted them with the service. At the request of 
 Gen. Winchester, Gov. Harrison addressed these 
 men on parade, and combatted their mutinous dis- 
 positions. He appealed, in a manly and frank 
 manner, to their patriotism and courage ; remind- 
 ed them of their duty to their country, and por- 
 trayed the disgrace of an inglorious return to their 
 homes, while their comrades were fighting the 
 battles of the Republic. His address was com- 
 pletely successful. The men returned to their 
 duty with alacrity, and none proved themselves 
 better or braver soldiers. 
 
 But a few days, however, elapsed after Gen. 
 Harrison relinquished the command at Fort 
 Wayne to Gen. Winchester, when he received, at 
 Piqua, a commission from the War Department, 
 appointing him Commander-in-Chief of the North- 
 western army, investing him with power almost 
 unlimited and discretionary in his mode of prose- 
 cuting tha war. The order of the Secretary of 
 War directed him as follows : " Having provided 
 for the protection of the western frontier, you will 
 retake Detroit, and with a view to the conquest 
 of Upper Canada, you will penetrate the country 
 as far as the force under your command will jus- 
 tify." 
 
 In a letter to Gov. Shelby, of the same date at 
 that of the above order, the Secretary says :-- 
 «« After consulting the lawful authority vested in 
 the President, it has been determined to vest the 
 command of all the forces on the Western and 
 Northwestern frontier in an officer whose military 
 character and knowledge of the country appeared 
 to be combined with the public confidence. Gen. 
 Harrison has accordingly been appointed to the 
 chief command, with authority to employ officers 
 and to draw from the public stores, and every oth- 
 or practicable source, all the means of effectuating 
 the objectofhis command." Thus, justice, though 
 tardy, was eventually extended to Gen. Harrison, 
 and the demands of the army and people of the 
 West fully gratified. The powers conferred by 
 Mr. Madison on Gen. Harrison wore more am- 
 ple and unrestricted than had ever been conferred 
 on any General before, excepting Washington. 
 They indeed amounted to a carte blanche to ex- 
 ercise just what means the emergency might ren- 
 der expedient. Gen. Winchester, in surrender- 
 ing the command to Gen. Harrison, said :— " I 
 have the honor of announcing to this army the 
 arrival of Gen. Harrison, who is duly authorized 
 by the Executive of the Federal Government to 
 take the command of the Northwestern Army. 
 This officer, enjoying the implicit confidence of 
 the States from whose citizens the army is and 
 will be collected, and possessing, himself, great 
 military skill and reputation, the General is con- 
 fident in the belief that his presence in this army, 
 in the character of its chief, will be hailed with u- 
 niversal approbation." 
 
 Three days after receiving his appointment to 
 the chief command, Gen. Harrison announced to 
 the Secretary of War his plan of the campaign. 
 He proposed approaching the rapids of the Man. 
 
1*» 
 
 1 -v 
 
 mee in three divisions, — the left by way of Fort 
 Wayne — the centre down the Auglaize by Fort 
 Defiance, and the ri^rlit by Upper Sandusky and 
 through the present county oi Hancock, in Ohio. 
 II nvevor anxious the Commander-in-Chief felt 
 to recover the Territory of Michigan, so disgrace- 
 fully surrendered by Hull, he soon perceived that 
 it was impracticable, owing to his deficiency of 
 supplies and artillery, to accomplish that impor- 
 tant object in his first campaign. The order in 
 Which his duties were enumerated placed tin 
 tectionof the frontier among the first A prema- 
 ture advance and repulse, might lay open the 
 whole western settlements to the ruthless attacks 
 of the savage. 1 f is duty, and true policy, there. 
 fore, both required, thai nothing should be placed 
 unnecessarily at hazard. Profiting by the experi- 
 ence and tactics of Gen. Wayne, who was three 
 campaigns in bringing hisTndian war to a close, 
 Gen. Harrison determined not to attempt the re- 
 capture of Detroit, or the invasion of Canada, un- 
 der such circumstances of preparation as might 
 be inconsistent with the importance of the object. 
 He labored, there lore, with indefatigable exertions 
 to hasten forward supplies of men and munitions of 
 war. lie repeatedly urged. likew is;', upon the Gov- 
 ernment, as he had done in 1809, the importance 
 of constructing a fleet of vessels to obtain the com- 
 mand on Lake Erie. 
 
 In order to be prepared to prosecute with vigor 
 offensive operations, he proposed, as before stated, 
 to concentrate on the Rapids of Maumee, mo- 
 ving in three columns with a military base extend- 
 ing from the .Sandusky to Fort Wayne. Gen. 
 Winchester was directed, early in December, af- 
 ter accumulating a sufficient supply of provisions, 
 to proceed to the Rapids and there await the arri- 
 val of the remaining part of the army. He was 
 likewise ordered to construct huts for winter 
 quarters, and sleds for the transportation of the 
 troops to Maiden, if a dash upon that post should 
 be considered, in the sequel, practicable and ex- 
 pedient. 
 
 <.Vn. Winchester unfortunately did not keep 
 the Commander-in-Chief sufficiently apprized of 
 his movements. Whether this arose from cool- 
 ness, or was the result of negligence, docs not ap- 
 pear. While on his march to the Rapids he re- 
 d a dispatch from (Jen. Harrison, advising 
 In in to abandon the movement. This counter- 
 mand was dictated by information received by 
 Gen. Harrison of the movements of the Indians, 
 communicated byCok Campbell, who ha.. 
 returned from an expedition against I he Mississin. 
 niway Indians. Gen. Winchester disregarded 
 this recommendation andreached the Rapid- mi 
 t r i . ■ loth of January. Contrary to the expri 
 don of Gem Harris >n, he proceeded on to the riv- 
 er Raisin. .Vs soon as Gon. Harrison heard of 
 Winchester's arrival at the Rapids he made exJ 
 traordinary efforts to forward him those reinforce 
 ments he knew he would but too surely require. 
 Ho followed, himself, with great expedition, but 
 arrived only to learn that on the 22nd, Win 
 ter had suffered himself to be surprised in an mi. 
 fortified camp, and that tie part ol Ins ar- 
 
 my were killed or taken prisoners. This d 
 
 filled the whole West with mourning. Some of Ilia 
 choicest soldiers, and most distinguished men in 
 tin- Western States, I'll in this terrible battle. — 
 The merciless Proctor, surrendered his prisoners 
 to the relentless Indians, who tomahawked them 
 in Cold blood. 
 
 Soon afterthe defeat of Winchester, Gen. Har- 
 rison established his head quarters at (lamp Meigs. 
 He had previously by various detached expeditions 
 against the Indians in tlu Northwest completely 
 broken their settlements up, and paralized all oh 
 fensiye operations on their part. He. thus gave 
 complete protection to the frontier and covered 
 the inhabitants from attack. Gen. Harrison com- 
 menced fortifying Camp Meigs, on the termina- 
 tion of the campaign, and collecting there supplies 
 and munitions of war preparatory to the renewal 
 of active operations in the spring. 
 
 CHAPTER G. 
 
 Siege of Fort Mrigs; retreat of Proctor and In. 
 dians; defenceof Fort Stephenson. 
 
 Early in April, 181.'$, intelligence was received 
 
 of preparations, on the part of Proctor and the 
 Indians, for an attack on Fort .Meigs. On the 
 23th of April, the British and Indians were disco- 
 vered approaching the fort. The combined for- 
 ces of British, Canadians, and Indians, exceeded 
 5,000. Gen Harrison dispatched Capt. Oliver to 
 Gen, Clay, of Kentucky, directing him to hasten 
 forward his troops. Every preparation for the 
 defence which it was in his power to make, was 
 judiciously directed by Gen. Harrison. The Brit- 
 ish erected formidable batteries on the opposite 
 side of the river ; but as they were on the point of 
 manning them, and opening a fire on the fort and 
 cam]), the tents of the American army were struck 
 and removed in the rear, and a grand traverse, 
 twelve feet high, of embankment , stretching along 
 three hundred yards, disclosed a complete shield 
 of earth, resting on a base of twenty feet, and 
 completely protecting the" whole garrison. The 
 British batteries, hewever, opened a heavy can- 
 nonade, which was continued without interruption 
 fur five days. In the mean time the fort was sur- 
 rounded by Indians under Teeumseh. All ac- 
 counts of this memorable siege unite in praise of 
 the energy, coolness and intrepidity displayed by 
 Gen. Harrison throughout the attack. The first 
 cannon shot discharged by the enemy penetrated 
 the General's tent. Capt. McCullough, of the 
 Ohio troops, was killed at his side while conven- 
 ing wilh him, and he was himself struck on the 
 hip by a spent ball. During the night of the 4th 
 of May, Capt. Oliver returned, with the intelli- 
 gence that (Jen. Clay, with a reinforcement, was 
 upon the Rapids, and but a few miles abovo 
 the invested fort. The military genius of Harri- 
 son inn. n d ati lv - I the brilliant exploit of 
 a sortie from the fort, on the southeast side of the. 
 river, supported by Gen. Clay, while a part of his 
 troops sh.iiild storm the British batteries on the 
 other side. ( Sen. < 'lay was directed to detach 800 
 m >n on lie' northwest shore of tin' .Maumee, who 
 were to charge the British entrenchments, spike 
 tie ir guns, destroy their stores and ammunition, 
 and immediately return to the southeast side of 
 river. The troops of Goo. Clay on this 
 
13 
 
 formed a junction with the garrison, and united 
 With Gen. Harrison in a genera] assault on l ! 
 emy's lines. This was attended with signal suc- 
 cess. Col. Dudley, with the detachment i 
 men on the northwest side of the river, gallantly 
 executed the duty assigned them. With loud 
 shouts they rushed upon the batteries, spiked the 
 guns, and killed or routed the British regulars in 
 charge of them. But, elated with theirsuccess, 
 they neglected the peremptory order to return as 
 soon as the batteries were taken. They were led 
 on in the eagerness of pursuit and victory, sur- 
 rounded and almost the entire detachment killed 
 or captured. On the southeast side, complete 
 success attended the sortie. Col. Miller, with 
 less than 500 men, attacked and carried a post de- 
 fended by about 700 British regulars and 1000 
 Indians ; dispersed the Indians and British, taking 
 fifty of the latter prisoners. Notwithstanding the 
 unfortunate result of Col. Dudley's expedition, 
 the British and their allies were discomfited at 
 every point. Proctor, indeed, had the insolence 
 on the following day, to send to Gen. Harrison 
 ' a summons to surrender. Gen. Harrison's reply 
 to him, through his messenger, was, " Tell your 
 General this post will never be surrendered to him. 
 Should he take it, it would be in a manner calcu- 
 lated to do him more honor than a thousand sur- 
 renders." On the 8th of May, Proctor and all his 
 forces made a precipitate retreat. Tecumseh, 
 who had with and near him, in arms, about. 5000 
 Indians, was extremely indignant at the ignomin- 
 ious flight of Proctor. At a council in which the 
 British General declared his intention to retreat, 
 Tecumseh compared him to a great bear, which, 
 when alarmed by dogs, scampers off with his tail 
 between his legs. 
 
 President Madison in his message to Congress 
 at the following session of Congress, thus speaks 
 of the gallant defence of Fort --"The is- 
 
 sue of the late seige at Fort -Meigs, leaves us noth- 
 ing to regret, but a single act of inconsiderate val- 
 or." 
 
 Towards the last of July the British and In- 
 dians in great force again made a feint upon Fort 
 Meigs. Gen. Harrison then supposed the attack 
 to be only a feint, and that they really designed a 
 blow at Cleveland or some other point. He dis- 
 patched relief to Fort Meigs, but established his 
 headquarters at Seneca, about miles above Low- 
 er Sandusky. From this point, on the arrival of 
 expected reinforcements, he could readily march 
 to the aid of Upper Sandusky, Fort Meigs or Cleve- 
 land. The result proved the sagacity of his an- 
 ticipation. Proctor remained- but a few days be- 
 fore Fort Meigs, when he embarked his regulars 
 and Canadians and sailed for the Sandusky river, 
 while the Indians marched across the Black 
 Swainp to meet him before Fort Stephenson, at 
 Lower Sandusky. 
 
 This post was commanded by Major Croghan 
 with 160 regulars. It was not 'deemed a tenable 
 position against artillery, as it was commanded by 
 the high ground in the vicinity. As early as the 
 2lst of April, 1813, and before the siege of Fort 
 Meigs, Gen. Harrison, in one of his despatches to 
 the Secretary of War, observed, with respect to 
 
 Fori Stephenson; » I will cause the movements of 
 the enemy to he narrowly watched. Bui in the 
 event oj their landing at Lower Sandus%y. that 
 post Cannot be saved. 1 will divert it, in such an 
 event, to be evacuated." A few days before the 
 British appeared in the Sandusky river, Gen. Har- 
 rison, in company with Major Croghan and a 
 council of officers, critically reconnoitcred Fort 
 Stephenson. It was the unanimous opinion of all, 
 that if the British approached it fvom the river, 
 from whichfact theirhaving heavy artillery would 
 be justly inferred, that then the post ought to be 
 abandoned and burnt. The officers composing 
 this council were Generals McArthur and Gas.s 
 Colonels Ball and Paul, Majors Wood, Hukill, 
 Holmes and Graham. The orders left with Mai' 
 Croghan were, " .Should the British troops ap- 
 proach you in force, with cannon, and you can 
 discover them in time to effect -a retreat, you will 
 do so." You must be aware that an attempt to 
 retreat in the face of an Indian force would be 
 vain. Against such an enemy your garrison 
 would be safe, however great the number." 
 
 On the 29th of July, Gen. Harrison received in. 
 formation which rendered it probable that an at- 
 tack by Tecumseh with 2000- warriors was a- 
 bout being made on Upper Sandusky. He had 
 but 800 men, 150 of whom were sick, and one-fifth 
 of the remainder cavalry and therefore unsuitable 
 for service on the thick and wooded banks of the 
 Sandusky. Ten thousand barrels of flour and o- 
 ther valuable public stores and supplies were at 
 Upper Sandusky. Under these circumstances, 
 anticipating a simultaneous attack on Upper San- 
 dusky and Fort Stephenson, a general council of 
 officers united in advising the abandonment of 
 Fo^t Stephenson. Orders, accordingly, were de. 
 spatched to Maj. Croghan. These did not reach 
 him until eleven o'clock on the 30th, when, ap- 
 prehending from the appearance of the Indians 
 in the neighborhood that a retreat was not advi- 
 sable, he returned the following reply, usino- the 
 strong language contained in it, to deceive the en- 
 emy, provided it fell into his hands, and not, as ho 
 afterwards explained, from any disrespect to the 
 Commander-in-Chief. The reply was, " Sir— 1 
 just received yours of yesterday 10 o'clock P. M., 
 ordering me to destroy this place and make good 
 my retreat, which was received to late to be car- 
 ried into execution. We have determined to 
 maintain this place, and by heaven we can." — 
 This answer reached Gen. Harrison the same day, 
 who not knowing the peculiar reasons which go- 
 verned Maj. Croghan's mind, and supposing it to 
 be a case of wilful disobedience of orders, imme- 
 diately directed his arrest. On the arrival of the 
 Major the whole affair was satisfactorily explain- 
 ed by him, and Gen. Harrison replaced Maj. 
 Croghan in command at Fort Stephenson, under- 
 his former instructions. 
 
 When, on the 1st of August, Gen. Harrison 
 heard the attack on Fort Stephenson, and from 
 its severity and continuance was satisfied that a 
 large British and Indian force was before it, lie 
 was bound, by every military principle, to remain 
 at Seneca, and not risk his entire army, unequal 
 to the enemy, in the open field. The defeat or 
 
11 
 
 destruction of his troops would have: exposed tha 
 Frontier, and opened the road for the enemy into 
 tha heart, of Ohio. He, accordingly, by the ad- 
 vice of his whole staff, deemed il proper to await 
 reinforcements at Seneca, (then hourly ejepcctcd,) 
 hoping that they mighl arrive before the reductioq 
 of Fort Stephenson. Major Oroghan gallantly 
 defended his post. After repeated a: is&ults the 
 enemy were repulsed with lighter. In 
 
 his official report of this affair, Gen. Harrison 
 said, "It will not be among the least of Gen. 
 Proctor's mortifications, to find that he has hcen 
 baffled by a youth who has just passed his twen- 
 ty-first year. He is,. however, a hero, worthy of 
 bin gallant uncle, George R. Clark." 
 
 The personal and political enemies of Gch. Har- 
 rison have endeavored to tarnish his n put a lion 
 by unjust censure of his conduct in relation to 
 the attack on Fort Stephenson. The best answer 
 to such ignorant or malicious aspersions, is that 
 given at the time, spontaneously, by Major Crog- 
 han himself, and all the field and stall' officers 
 then in the camp of the Commander-in-Chief. 
 
 On the 27th of August, 1813, Major Croghah 
 published, in tin' Cincinnati papers,* clear, frank 
 and patriotic communication, from which wc 
 make the following extracts : 
 
 " Lower Sandusky, Aug. 27, 1813. 
 
 " 1 have with much regret seen in some of the 
 public prints such representations respecting my 
 refusal to evacuate this post, as arc calculated not 
 only to injure me in the estimation of military 
 men, but also to excite unfavorable impressions 
 as to the propriety of Gen. Harrison's conduct 
 relative to this affair. 
 
 " His character as a military man is too well 
 Established to need my approbation or support. 
 Hut his public services entitle him at least to com- 
 mon justice ; this affair does not furnish cause of 
 reproach. The measures recently adopted by 
 him, so far from deserving censure, an' the clear- 
 est proofs of his keen penetration and able gene- 
 ralship. 
 
 " It is useless to disguise the fact that this fort 
 is commanded by the points of high ground around 
 it ; a single stroke of the eye made this clear to 
 me the first time I had occasion to examine the 
 neighborhood with a view of discovering the rela- 
 tive strength and weakness of this place. 
 
 "About 10 o'clock on the morningofthe 30th 
 xilt., a letter from the Adjutant General's office, 
 dated Seneca Town, July 29, 1813, was handed 
 me by Mr. Connor, ordering me to abandon this 
 post, burn it, and retreat that night to head-quar- 
 ters. On the reception of the order I called a 
 council of officer;-, in which it was determined 
 not to abandon the place, at least until the further 
 pleasure of the General should be known, as it 
 *vas thought an attempt to ret real in the open day, 
 in the face of a superior force of the enemy, would 
 be more hazardous than to remain in the fort, 
 under all its disadvantages. I therefore wrote a 
 letter to the General, couched in such terms as I 
 
 thought were calculated to deceive tin !tny 
 
 should it fall into his hands, which I thought 
 more than probable, as well as to inform the Gen- 
 eral, should it be so fortunate as to reach him, thai 
 
 I should wait to hear from him before I should pTrt- 
 cecd to execute his order. This letter, contrary 
 to my expectations, was received by the General, 
 who, not knowing what reasons urged mo to 
 write in ;i tone bo decisive, concluded very ration- 
 ally that the manner of if was demonstrative of 
 the most p termination to disobey his or- 
 
 der under any circumstances. I was therefore 
 suspended from the command of the fort, and or- 
 dered to head-quarters. But, on explaining to the 
 General my reason for not executing his orders, 
 and my object in using the style I had done, he 
 was ho perfectly satisfied with the explanation that 
 I was immediately reinstated in the command. 
 
 " I desire no plaudits which arc bestowed upon 
 me at the expense of Gen. Harrison. I have felt 
 the warmest attachment for him as a man, and 
 my confidence in him as an able commander re- 
 mains unshaken. As long as he continues (as in 
 my humble opinion he has hitherto done) to make 
 the wisest arrangeinenls and most judicious dis- 
 position which the forces under his command will 
 justify. 1 shall not hesitate to unite with the army 
 in bestowing upon him that confidence which he 
 so richly merits, and which has upon no occasion 
 been withheld. Your friend, 
 
 " George Crogiun, 
 " Major 17th Infantry, 
 " Commanding Lower Sandusky." 
 [Dawson's Life of (Jen. Harrison.] 
 The officers in his camp likewise drew up, of 
 their own accord and published a statement, Irom 
 which wc make the following extracts: 
 
 Lower Seneca Town, Aug. 19, 1813. 
 " The undersigned, being the general, field, 
 and staff officers with that portion of the north- 
 western army under the immediate command of 
 Gen. Harrison, have observed with regret and sur- 
 prise that charges, as improper in the form as in 
 the substance, have been made against the con- 
 duct of Gen. Harrison during the recent invest- 
 ment of Lower Sandusky. * * We 
 refer the public to the General's official report to 
 the Secretary of War, of Major Croghan's success- 
 ful defence of Lower Sandusky, In that will be 
 found a statement of our whole disposable force : 
 and he who believes that with such a force, and 
 under the circumstances which then occurred, 
 Gen. Harrison ought to have advanced upon the 
 enemy, must be loft to correct his opinion in the 
 school of experience. 
 
 " On a review of the course then adopted, we 
 arc decidedly of the opinion that it was such as 
 was dictated by military wisdom, and by a due 
 regard to our own circumstances and to the situa- 
 tion of the enemy. With a ready acquiescence, 
 beyond the mere claims of military duty, wo arc 
 proparcd to obey a General whose measures meet 
 our most deliberate approbation, and merit that of 
 his country. 
 
 Lewis Cass, Brig. Gen. U. S. Army. 
 
 Samuel Wells, Col. 17th Reg. U. S. Infantry. 
 
 Thos. D. Owings, Col. 28th Reg. U. S. Infantry. 
 
 i. orge I'aull, Col. 17th Reg. U. S. Infantry. 
 
 .I.e. Bartlett, Col. Quartermaster General 
 
 James V. Rail, Lieutenant Colonel. 
 
 Geo. Todd, Major 19th Reg. U. S. Infantry. 
 
Lo 
 
 Win. Trigg, Major 28th Reg. U. S. Infantry. 
 Jas. Smiley, Major 2S*.h Reg. U. .S. Infantry. 
 Rd. Graham, Major 17th Reg. U. S. Infantry. 
 Geo. Croghan, Maj. 17th Reg. U. 8. Infantry. 
 L. Ilukill, Maj. and Assistant Inspector Gun.. 
 E. D. Wood, Major Engineers. 
 
 [Dawson's Life of Harrison, p. 409-10.] 
 
 chapter 7. 
 
 Perry's Victory ; Gen. Harrison invades Canada ; 
 Battle of Thames; termination of the war in 
 the Northwest. 
 
 By the advice of Gen. Harrison, Commodore 
 Perry had been dispatched to Erie for the pur- 
 pose of constructing a fleet. This was now com- 
 pleted, and that gallant sailor, on the 11th of Sep- 
 tember, 1813, achieved a glorious victory over the 
 British naval forces on Lake Erie, acquiring 
 thereby a command of those waters. Previous 
 to that event, Gen. Harrison had spared no exer- 
 tion to obtain a suffie'ent force upon the lines with 
 which to make a landing on the Canadian shore. 
 The militia now pressed forward with unbounded 
 spirit and alacrity. The long-looked-for hour was 
 near, when Gen. Harrison was to retort upon the 
 enemy his intrusion, and bring the war to his own 
 fireside. Nine days after the victory of Perry, 
 Gen. Harrison commenced the embarkation of his 
 army for the invasion of Canada. 
 
 On his way across the lake, ho issued a spirit- 
 stirring proclamation, in which he says — 
 
 li The General entreats his brave troops to re- 
 member that they are the sons of sires whose fame 
 is immortal ; that they are to fight for the rights 
 of their insulted country, while their opponents 
 combat for the unjust pretension of a master. — 
 Kentuckians ! remember the river Raisin .' but 
 remember it only whilst victory is suspended. — 
 The revenge ef a soldier cannot be gratified on a 
 fallen enemy." 
 
 On the arrival ofthe fleet at Maiden, they found 
 that the enemy, after burning and destroying ev- 
 ery thing, had retreated. Detroit was abandoned 
 likewise by the British on the approach of Gen. 
 Harrison. In the pursuit of Proctor, two plans 
 suggested themselves to the mind of Gen. Harri- 
 son : a pursuit over land, or taking to the lake a- 
 gain and landing at Long Point to attempt inter- 
 cepting the flying British by turning their front 
 line. A council of war was convened — Gen. 
 Harrison presented both methods of pursuit, frank- 
 ly expressing his preference for an immediate pur- 
 suit by land.* This step was unanimously appro- 
 ved. And orders were immediately issued by the 
 Commander-in-Chief, for a prompt and vigorous 
 chase of the retreating Proctor. 
 
 The enemy retreated up the banks of the river 
 Thames. On the 5th of October, Gen. Harrison 
 overtook them. He found them strongly posted 
 in force, near 3000 men, including Indians. Their 
 left rested on the north bank of the Thames. — . 
 Their right on a swamp, about 3-4 of a mile from 
 the river, which run parallel to the river, the in- 
 tervening ground beinjj dry and suitable for de- 
 fence. 
 
 *Gov. Shelby's letter to Gen. Harrison. 
 
 The American army, about 2500 men, con- 
 sisted principally of Ohio and Kentucky volun- 
 teers, the latter commanded by the brave Shelby, 
 of revolutionary memory. Gen. Harrison's dispo- 
 sitions were made with promptness and consum- 
 mate skill. The 1st division were drawn up in 3 
 lines in front of the British infantry. The 2nd 
 division were posted at right angles to the first 
 and on their left, so as to keep the Indians who 
 filled the swamp on the enemy's right, in check. 
 Col. Johnson's mounted men were directed to turn 
 the right of the Indians. After this disposition 
 was made, and just as the Commander-in-Chief 
 was about directing an advance of the 1st divis- 
 ion, he was apprised that the British infantry were 
 drawn up in open order. - His military genius at 
 once detected the error and promptly tnrncd it to 
 account. He ordered Col. Johnson's mounted 
 men to charge the British regulars thus falsely 
 posted, and after breaking their ranks to form in 
 their roar and continue the engagement. Only 
 one battalion of the mounted men, under Lieut. Jas. 
 Johnson could be fully brought into action im- 
 mediately. This battalion executed the order of 
 Gen. Harrison with the most daring and irresisti- 
 ble valor. They galloped down with sweeping 
 impetuosity upon the British ranks, penetrated 
 them at every point, throwing them into inextri- 
 cable confusion, and forming in the rear, pursuant 
 to order, renewed the onset. The 1st division 
 were now in full charge on the disordered line of 
 the enemy, when they threw down their arms 
 and G00 British regulars surrendered at discretion. 
 Col. R. M. Johnson was severely engaged on the 
 left with the Indians. Gen. Harrison, finding 
 that the battalion of mounted men under his lead 
 could not be brought to act against Proctor, order- 
 ed him to cross the swamp and rouse the Indians. 
 This he did with the greatest gallantry. He or- 
 dered his men to dismount, and fought hand to 
 hand with tho savage foe. He was bravely sup- 
 ported by Col. Donclson's regiment, who rushed 
 into his lines and participated in the deadly strug- 
 gle. Tho Indians fought with great obstinacy 
 under their renowned loader, Tccumseh, and 
 contested the field long after tho surrender ofthe 
 regulars. But they could not stand the sharp and 
 galling fire poured in upon them on all sides, and 
 finally fled through the swamp, leaving Tccum- 
 seh among the dead. The victory was complete. 
 Proctor fled with precipitation, and only escaped 
 by the fleetness of his horse. 
 
 The bold and novel manoeuvre of Gen. Harri- 
 son in directing the charge of mounted men, de- 
 cided the fate of the day. The British were 
 struck with utter dismay and consternation at that 
 splendid demonstration of skill and valor. The 
 battle was fought and won in a space of time in- 
 credibly short. All the enemy's baggage and 
 camp equipage, together with the official papers of 
 Proctor, and military stores to the value of a mil- 
 lion of dollars, fell into tho hands of the victors. 
 Several pieces of brass cannon, originally taken 
 from the British in tho revolutionary war, at Sar- 
 atoga and Yorktown, but which had been surren- 
 dered by Hull, were recaptured. 
 
 Thus, in a period of time exceeding a twelve- 
 
■ I) 
 
 month by only a fuwdaj i, From I 1 !-' dal 
 Harrison's appointment to the chief command ol 
 the Northwestern Army, hi iccomplisiied bvery 
 obJei i DKSictNAf *d in hie • ; ' The orders 
 
 which weha> i mentioned, were as foil 
 
 "Having provided for the protection of the 
 ern frontier, you will retake Detroit, and with a 
 to the conquest "/ Upper Canada, you trill 
 penetrate tin country as fat as the force awl :ryour 
 Cuimx/tiiil will justify .'" 
 
 All these important objects lie accomplished in 
 the period we have stated. They were attained 
 too, under diflB of appalling magnitude, and 
 
 with slender and precarious means, when compar- 
 ed with the mighty results so gloriously real 
 
 Glen. McAJFee, an officer in tho Kite war, and 
 the historian of its principal events, says, — 
 "The services which Gen. Harrison was required 
 to perform were in the opinion <>t' old, experienced, 
 and alile offi :ers, the most extensive and arduous 
 that had ever been required from any military 
 commander in America. They were sufficient 
 to employ all the time, talents and resources ofthc 
 greatest military genius, at the head of a well ap- 
 pointed army !" 
 
 Gov. Shelby writing to the Secretary of War, 
 May I."), 181 I, says;~ "Haying served a cam] 
 with Gen. Harrison, by winch 1 have been ena- 
 bled to form some opinion of his military talents, 
 and capacity to command, I feel no hesitation to 
 declare to you, that I believe him to he one of the 
 first military characters lever knew. I doubt not 
 but it will hereafter be found that the command 
 of the Northwestern army, and the carious duties 
 attached to it, has been one of the most ardu. 
 oils dial difficult tasks ever assigned to am/ officer 
 ofthc United States; hut he surmounted them 
 all." 
 
 The victoryof the Thames annihilated flic Brit, 
 ish force in Upper Canada. Gen Harrison's was 
 the only successful invasion of Canada during the 
 war — the only conquest of any British province 
 by the American arms. The war, indeed, in the 
 Northwest might be considered terminated. 
 
 The Republic rung with the fame of the Conquer- 
 >>r. Cities, and States, and distinguished public 
 men vied with each other in showering honors up- 
 on the victorious ( ;, neral. 
 
 Among many others, whose grateful fee 
 foUbd utterance on the occasion, the Hon. Larrg- 
 don Ghevcs of South Carolina, formerly Speaker 
 of the House of Representative, observed on the 
 floor of Congress, that 
 
 "The victory of Harrison was such as would 
 have secured to a Roman General, in the b< st days 
 •ofthc Republic, the honors of a triumph. — He put 
 an end to the war in the uppi rmost ( ianada." 
 
 .lames Madison, President ofthc United States, 
 in his message to Con Dec 7th, 1813. in 
 
 speaking of the Northwestern army, stated that 
 
 "The officer commanding'thc Northwestern ar- 
 my, (Harrison,) transferred the war thithi 
 Canada,) and rapidly pursuing the hostile troops, 
 Hoeing with their B neral ac- 
 
 tion, which quickly terminated in the d T, at of the 
 British, and dispersion of tl The 
 
 result is signally honorable to Major General 
 
 IIILl IWIIY TALENTS IT (| is 
 I'KRFOKMl 
 
 Simui Snyder, the pa • nor of IYim- 
 
 iiia, and the idol of I democracy in thai State, 
 I his admiration of Harrison in his 
 annual m islature of Pennsylva- 
 
 nia, d itcd Dcci mb r 10th, 1813. 
 
 "Tiie hi of thousands of women and chil- 
 
 dren rescued from tho scalping knife of the ruth- 
 1 the wild and from the still 
 
 st oh Harrison and his gal- 
 lant arm 
 
 The foil by both 
 
 branches i 
 
 "Resolved, By the Senate and House ofReptc- 
 sentatiyes of the United States of America, in 
 Congress assembled, "That the thanks of Con- 
 be, and are hereby presented to Major Gen. 
 William Henry Harrison and Isaac Shelby, late 
 Governor* I through them to the of- 
 
 ficers and men r command, for their 
 
 gallantry and iduct in defeating the com- 
 
 bined British and Indian forces, under General 
 Ph the Thames, in Upper Canada, on the 
 5th day ofOctoboj, I®l3, capturing the British 
 army, with their ha camp equipage, and ar- 
 
 . ; and that it of the United 
 
 H !>e reqn : two gold Medals to 
 
 be struck, ciubJam'aticaToi this triumph, and pre- 
 sented to Gen. Harrison and Isaac Shelby, late 
 ( Jovemor of Kentucky." 
 
 The above resolution, it is true, was delayed in 
 its progress, from the fact that some of Gen. Har- 
 rison's enemies had falsely preferred charges a- 
 gainst him, which ! his friends to desire 
 
 that the action of Congress on the- resolutions 
 should be vindical rration. Such 
 
 investigation by a committee ofthc House of Re. 
 ntatives was made, and resulted in the tri- 
 umphant vindication of (Jen. Harrison; when the 
 above resolution 'was unanimously adopted by 
 both Houses ofCongress. 
 
 (>n Gen. Harrison's journey to Washington, 
 soon after the battle of the Thames, the gratitude 
 ofthe people, for his splendid services and achieve- 
 ments, manifested itself every wherein the warmth 
 and enthusiasm ofhis reception. In New York 
 city a brilliant entertainment was provided for 
 him bv the Democratic Republican Comm 
 at which Col. Rutgers presided and Daniel I). 
 Tompkins at t . n which occasion ( Jen. Har- 
 
 was toasted as I lie Deliverer of the North- 
 
 CIIAPTER 8. 
 
 mtionofGen. Harrison; Elected /o I he H. 
 of Representatives and Senate ofthe U. States; 
 
 A/i; I / Co nhia ; Retirement 
 
 to private life ; His character. 
 
 Our limits will not permit us to dwell as minute- 
 ly as wo could wish to do, on the subsequent c- 
 ventsin the lit I and good man. 
 
 In the year 181-1, the Secretary of War, the 
 blundering and incapable Armstrong, disgUsti ■'. 
 ■ tic Harrison by a scries of petty and an- 
 noying Blights which no military officer of spirit 
 could tamely endure. All appointments oi active 
 1 him. Orders were trail 
 
17 
 
 * 
 
 tedto inferior officers in his district, from the de- 
 partment, in defiance of military usage- or the 
 rules of ordinary courtesy, and his feelings of hon- 
 orable pride were wantonly assailed. Aftersolicit. 
 Iitg in vain for more active service, Gen. Harrison 
 tendered his resignation, resolving not to receive 
 compensation from the country when lie could 
 not serve it as he desired. In the absence of Mr. 
 Madison, Gen. Armstrong accepted the proffer d 
 resignation, much to the regret of the Pr 
 as he subsequently declared, and Gen. Harrison 
 retired to private life. 
 
 In 1S16, Gen. Harrison was elected to Congress 
 from Hamilton county, Ohio, and subsequently 
 to the Senate of that State, and to the Senate of 
 the United States. 
 
 In Congress he proved himself an able and elo- 
 quent speaker, and a profound and sagacious 
 statesman. His speeches arc characterized by 
 great eloquence and various research. Few spe- 
 cimens of American eloquence excel his speeches 
 in commemoration of the memory of Kosciusko, 
 the Polish patriot, and in behalf of the widow of 
 Gen. Brown. The revolutionary patriot always 
 found in him an ardent and intrepid advocate. 
 He took bold and strong ground in favor of na- 
 tional works of internal improvement, and of pro- 
 tecting our domestic manufactures by a tariff. 
 
 Whilst in the Senate of Ohio, the laws punish- 
 ing crimes and offences were reviewed. At that. 
 time the jails and penitentiaries of Ohio were in 
 a bad condition. A juvenile delinquent, senten- 
 ced for larceny, or other minor grades of crime, 
 was sure to be irreclaimably corrupted if immured 
 in one of those receptacles. To save such offend- 
 ers from hopeless depravity, it was proposed to 
 apprentice such sentenced criminals to such per- 
 sons who might have employment for them, until 
 the value of their services should amount to the 
 fine and costs imposed by the court. Gen. Har- 
 rison, from motives of humanity, approved and 
 voted in favor of this measure. Mr. Grundy, 
 late Attorney General of the United Sfc.ites, and 
 now Senator. from Tennessee, when in the Legis- 
 lature of that State voted for a similar law. 
 
 Out of these facts the political opponents of 
 Gen. Harrison have invented the charge that he 
 voted to sell poor men for debt ! ! 
 
 1st. It will be perceived that he voted to sell 
 no one. When a father apprentices the time of 
 his son, with what propriety can he be said to 
 sell him ? 
 
 2d. It was the time of criminals only, which 
 he approved of being thus disposed of. 
 
 3d. It was for the benefit and reformation of 
 the criminal, that the measure was supported. 
 
 4th and lastly, The law provided that the em- 
 ployer should give bond for the proper treatment 
 of "the apprentice ; and the same remedy was 
 given the latter for mal-treatment that all other 
 apprentices enjoy. 
 
 The proposed measure never became a law. 
 It is of no consequence what the phraseology of 
 the particular law may have been : the relation 
 it proposed to create between the criminal and 
 
 the employer was no other than that of master 
 and apprentice.* 
 
 In 1828,Gen.H.waa appointed Minister toColom- 
 bia. He arrived at Maracaibo, in South America, 
 on the 5th of February, 18:29. On the 8th of the 
 following March, he was unceremoniously super- 
 
 I by Gen. Jackson, who appointed Thomas 
 Moore, of Kentucky, in his place. Before leav- 
 ing Columbia, he addressed, as a friend, a letter 
 to the celebrated Bolivar, who was at that time 
 suspected of a design hostile to the liberties of his 
 country. Gen. Harrison's letter was intended to 
 dissuade him from the indulgence of such ambi- 
 tious views. In a clear, powerful, and eloquent 
 manner, he portrayed the superior virtue and 
 glory of the patriot who prefers his country's 
 happiness and welfare to any schemes of personal 
 
 andizemefft. He exhorted the South Ameri- 
 hief to emulate the fame of Washington, ra- 
 ther than that ofCssar or Napoleon. He said to 
 him, li To be esteemed eminently great, it is ne- 
 cessary to he eminently good." The qualities of 
 the Hero and the General must be devoted to the 
 advantage of mankind, before he will be permitted 
 to assume the title of their benefactor." This let- 
 ter, containing the noblest and most elevated sen- 
 timents, deservedly attracted much attention. 
 It is believed that it exercised the happiest influ- 
 ence on the mind of Bolivar. 
 
 Gen. Harrison, since his return from Colombia, 
 has resided on his farm near Cincinnati. He is de- 
 voted to the pleasures, and healthful pursuits of ag- 
 riculture. He is not only a scientific but a prac- 
 tical farmer. He performs, himself, much of the 
 work on his farm. In the harvest field he is at. 
 home, and cuts his swathe with the stoutest. He 
 is often seen driving his team, holding the plough, 
 or threshing out his grain. Enjoying in his green 
 
 * The following is the 9th section of title 5, 
 chap. 20, part 1, of Revised Laws of New York. 
 We may add here that the statutes of half the 
 States of the Union contain provisions for thus 
 ''selling" the services of convicts or criminals. 
 ' " § 9. The court may discharge such disorderly 
 persons from confinement either absolutely or 
 upon receiving sureties for his or her good beha- 
 vior, in its discretion ; or the said court may in 
 its discretion, authorize the county superintend- 
 ents of the poor, or the overseers of the poor of 
 any county or town, or the commissioners of any 
 alms house to bind out such disorderly persons 
 as shall be minors, in some lawful calling, as serv- 
 ants, apprentices, mariners, or otherwise, until 
 they shall be of full age respectively : or to con- 
 tract for the service of such disorderly persons 
 as shall be of full age with any persons as labor- 
 ers, SERVANTS, apprentices, mariners, or oth- 
 erwise, for any term not exceeding one year, 
 which binding out and contracts shall be as valid 
 and effectual as the indenture of any apprentice 
 with his own consent and the consent of his pa- 
 rent, and shall subject the persons so bound out 
 or contracted to the same control of their masters 
 respectively and of the court of general sessions 
 of the peace as if they were so bound as appren- 
 tices." 
 
rg 
 
 old age a sound constitution, the result of & life 
 of temperance and regularity, he is now in his six. 
 ty-seventh year, as capable ot the endurance of 
 exertion, whether of mind or body, as most men 
 who are fifteen years his juniors. 
 
 In his political opinions. Gen. Harrfeon Ins al- 
 ways been a Democratic Republican of the Jpf- 
 fersonian school. Though he received his first 
 appointment us Governor of Indiana from Mr. 
 Adams, and respected his revolutionary merit 
 and integrity of purpose, he was a "decided 
 opponent of his peculiar party measures and 
 principles. The confidence of Mr. Jefferson and 
 Madison, Gen. Harrison possessed and retained 
 throughout their administrations. 
 
 Having fixed principles, and always ready to 
 maintain them, yet Gen. Harrison was never an 
 active party man. Indeed, his history and scrvi- 
 ces belong to no party or faction, bat to his conn- 
 try. 
 
 The character of Gen. Harrison is a fine model 
 for the patriotic youth of America. Devoted to 
 the glory and welfare of his country, they were 
 always the chief objects of his solicitude in all his 
 various public employments. His industry in the 
 discharge of his duties was never fatigued. He 
 brought to its aid and direction an honest heart 
 and unclouded perceptions. Keen, prompt, and 
 discriminating, his mind was happily adapted for 
 laborious investigation, or the rapid decisions so 
 often required in the camp and field of battle. 
 His courage, both moral and physical, was of that 
 order of which the hearts of heroes are composed. 
 He never desponded in the darkest hour, when 
 dismay and terror paralyzed all others around 
 him. His Coolness and self-possession were as 
 remarkable amidst the din of battle and showers 
 of balls, as in the deliberations of the council. 
 His resources of mind and indomitable pcrsevc. 
 ranee and energy, no difficulties appalled, no dis- 
 aster discouraged, no obstacle resisted. He pos- 
 sessed that essential quality of a great commander, 
 the art of fastening upon himself the affections of 
 all his soldiers. They idolized him. Under the 
 familiar designation of " Old Tip," his men would 
 have followed him to the world's end. No Gen- 
 eral ever possessed the faculty of converting raw 
 militia so soon into steady and disciplined troops; 
 and no American General ever won such victo- 
 ries as Harrison with armies almost exclusively 
 composed of citizen soldiers. He shared always 
 the same fare with his soldiers, and cheerful !v ex- 
 posed himself to the same weather and fatigue. 
 During the whole period of his command he never 
 inflicted on a militia soldier any degrading punish- 
 ment. 
 
 He was always foremost where danger and ex- 
 posure were to be encountered. Indeed his offi- 
 cers had frequently to interpose and entreat that 
 he would withdraw from positions of imminent 
 hazard. In the battles of Tippecanoe and the 
 Thames, he led on in person, the most important 
 and daring charges. His person was well known 
 to the Indians generally, and no officer therefore 
 in his army was exposed so likely to prove a mark 
 for the rifleR of*hc enemy. 
 
 But if his valor in the engagement shone con- 
 spicuous, not the less washis humanity distinguish- 
 ed in the flush of victory. His uniform order§ to 
 his men were, that the cifusion of blood must cease 
 with the strife, and that old age, women and chil- 
 dren, were to be inviolably protected. 
 
 As a Statesman, the views of Gen. Harrison are 
 enlarged, comprehensive and liberal. They havo 
 always been frankly published to the world. Up- 
 on all vexed and contested questions, upon all sub- 
 jects of national interest, — or w : hich have, or may 
 become subjects of legislative consideration, his 
 opinions are on record. They are explicit, clear 
 and unequivocal. They are as well known, as 
 those of any living Statesman. No one who wish- 
 es to know Gen. Harrison's opinions upon polit- 
 cal subjects need be ignorant of them. His letters 
 to Harmcr Denny, of Pittsburgh, and Mr. Sherrod 
 Williams, of Kentucky, in which his political 
 views arc given at large, which were published four 
 years ago, have been re-printed in every town 
 and village of the U. States. Indeed he never 
 was accused of non-committalism. It is not his 
 character to conceal his opinions, or express them 
 in ambiguous and equivocal terms. 
 
 In private life Gen. Harrison is hospitable and 
 generous. Plain and unostentatious in his dress 
 and appearance, he is a kind and obliging neigh- 
 bor, and always ready to throw open his doors to 
 a guest, without distinction of persons. His old 
 soldiers, frequently, in passing, resort to his house, 
 and, in the emphatic language of one of them, 
 " never find the siring of the latch pulled in." 
 
 Like Washington, equanimity and moderation 
 are prominent features in the character of Gen. 
 Harrison. He was never known to indulge in 
 transports of rage, or in any violence of denuncia- 
 tion. As affable and polite to all, he was at the 
 same time equally firm and immovable in the per- 
 formance of his public duties. Pure and unspot- 
 ted, through a life of temptation, he has never ex- 
 hibited avidity for the honors or the emolument? 
 of place or power. And now, from the quiet of 
 his Farm House and the repose of a Veteran, the 
 spontaneous voice of the country calls him to the 
 chief place in the Republic. No intrigues with 
 ambitious tools or corrupt parasites — no machina- 
 tions, pursued through long years of dissimulation 
 and duplicity, have obtained for him this loud- 
 voiced summons to the chair of state. He has 
 enjoyed the subservient and indefatigable plot- 
 tings of no potent Regency, to. smooth ms access 
 to the porches of the Presidency. He has receiv- 
 ed the nomination of no imperious or " illustrious 
 predecessor." When he assumes the place of 
 f Magistrate, the " footsteps" in which he 
 will tread, will be those of Washington, of JefTer. 
 son, of Madison, and of the Genius of the Consti- 
 tion. He is the man of the People ; and the 
 People, not tho Politicians, have hung his ban- 
 ncr on high, and given the watch-word — Harri- 
 son and Reform. 
 
 " Who is Gen. Harrison V said Col. Johnson, 
 the present Vice President of the United States. 
 " The son of one of the signers of the Declara- 
 tion of Independence, who spent the greater part 
 of his large fortune in redeeming the pledgp ha 
 
19 
 
 then gave, of his ' fortune, life, and sacred honor,' 
 to secure the liberties of his country. 
 
 "Of the career of Gen. Harrison. I need not 
 speak— the history of the West is his history. 
 For forty years he has been identified with its in- 
 terest, its perils, and its hopes. Universally belo- 
 ved in the walks of peace, and distinguished by 
 
 his ability in the councils of his country, ho ha* 
 been yet more illustriously distinguished in th* 
 field. 
 
 " During the late war, he was longer in activ* 
 service than any other General officer ; he wai 
 perhaps oftener in action than any one of them, 
 and never sustained a defeat." 
 
 ERRATA. 
 In the third chapter it is stated that the alien time. Abundant testimony has been published, 
 and sedition laws were enacted during the session showing conclusively Gen. Harrison's disappro- 
 of 1799 and 1800— when Gen. Harrison sat as a bation of those laws at the time of their adoption. 
 Delegate This is a mistake. They were passed See Judge Burnett's letter to Hon. Mr. South- 
 during the session previous to that in which he gate, of Kentucky, in the Evening Journal of 
 •at, consequently he was not in Congress at that May 6, 1840. 
 
 FULLER & BLOOMER, PRINTERS, SENECA FALLS. 
 
 1 
 
 [From the Baltimore Republican, a Van Buren Paper which publishes the Laws -By Authority.'] 
 
 "Give Gen. Harrison a barrel of HARD CIDER, and 
 settle a pension of two thousand a year on him, and our 
 word for it, he will sit the remainder of his days con- 
 tented in his LOG C AB1TC___ 
 
 LEAVES FROM HISTORY." enemies alone ; the American soldier willfol 
 WHAT THE DEMOCRATS OF 1812-'13 low the example of his Government, and neu 
 THOUGHT OF GEN. HARRISON. ther the sword of the one will ie raised a- 
 
 [From the Albany Argus, of March 12, 1813.] gainst the helpless or the fallen, nor the gold 
 There is an elegance approaching sub- 'of the other paid for the scalp of a massacred 
 limity in ouc passage in the General Orders enemy. — — 
 
 ofJan. 2, to the Northwestern Army under [From the same of Sept. 21 1813.] 
 
 GENERAL HARRISON. These orders Major Croghan — This gallant young 
 were issued in consequence of the return American has added new lustre to his char- 
 of a detachment from a successful expedition acter, by repelling the insinuations which 
 into the Indian country. The detachment had been promulgated prejudicial to l*en. 
 had orders among other things, "to save Harrison. He states, that the order tor 
 the women and children, and spare the war- him to abandon and burn the tort, was not 
 riors that ceased to resist." After thanking delivered to him till it had become impru- 
 the detachment for their attention to this dent, if not impracticable, to retreat, b> 
 order, the general order proceeds : reason of a far superior force of the enemy 
 
 Let an account of murdered innocence be having already surrounded him. He there- 
 opened in the recor'ds of Heaven against our fore wrote aletter to the General,calculatea 
 
*0 
 
 to deceive the enemy, and which he sup. 
 posed would fall into their hands. It reach- 
 ed the General, and the Major was arrest- 
 ed ; but on an explanation taking placet 
 his sword was immediately restored. 
 
 "The measures adopted by Gen. Har- 
 rison, (says Major Croghan,) so far from 
 deserving censure, are the clearest pn 
 of his keen penetration and able general- 
 ship." 
 
 [From the name, Nov. 2, 1813.] 
 Wc have the satisfaction of announcing 
 to our readers, that the United States brigs 
 Niagara,Caledonia and IIunter,the schoon- 
 ers Ariel and Provost, and the sloops Trip- 
 pe and Little Belt, arrived oil* Buffalo Creek 
 this day, with COM. PERRY and GEN. 
 HARRISON on board. To describe the 
 public joy exhibited on the appearance of 
 the gallant and brave men, to whom the 
 inhabitants on a frontier of a thousand miles 
 owe their peace and security ; we will 
 merely state, that the heroes were very 
 handsomely saluted by Col. Chapin, from 
 our battery with three hearty cheers, which 
 was returned in a very appropriate manner 
 by the fleet. 
 
 [From the Albany Evening Journal.* 
 
 GEN. HARRISON'S "FEDERALISM." 
 
 * * * * * * 
 
 But does the Argus really suppose that 
 it can make any body believe that Harri- 
 son was in fact a federalist and a support- 
 er of the alien and sedition laws ? Let us 
 examine the arguments by which it hopes 
 to sustain the charge. 
 
 The first and main reliance of the Argus 
 seems to be upon an allegation made by 
 John Randolph in the Senate of the United 
 States, in March, 1826, twenty eight veers 
 after the alien and sedition acts were pas- 
 sed — that Gen. Harrison "was an open, 
 frank, zealous supporter of those laws." — 
 An extract from the speech of Mr. Ran. 
 dolph, as reported in the National Intelli- 
 gencer, is quoted by the Argus, which suf- 
 ficiently proves that the charge was made. 
 It is also true, as stated by the Argus, that it 
 was made in the presence of Gen. Harri- 
 son, then a member of the Senate. Upon 
 these two truths the Argus bases a falsehood 
 so shameless and base — so easily disprov- 
 ed—so ridiculously absurd, that common 
 
 t common decency, should ha vt 
 suppressed its utterance. 
 
 " In no part of Gen. Harrison s reply that 
 wc /• 'gus, "did he de- 
 
 ny the truth of Mt. Randolph' s allegation. — 
 On the contrary he distinctly admitted it.'" — 
 Now, in the same speech, reported in the 
 same paper, and on the same page from 
 Vrgus quotes two or three de- 
 tach' 1 ! ntences of Gen. Harrison's reply 
 to Mr, Randolph, we find him explicitly and 
 unequivocally denying the assertion of that 
 
 gentleman. 
 
 After referring Mr. Randolph to the peri- 
 od of their first acquaintance, (the session 
 of 1799— 1800,) and mildly correcting the 
 inaccuracies of his recollection, Gen. II. 
 said : — 
 
 " My opposition to the alien and sedition 
 laics was so well known in the Territory, that 
 a promise was extorted from me by my 
 friends in the Legislature be which I was 
 
 CD J 
 
 elected, that I would express no opinions 
 in Philadelphia which were in the least cal- 
 culated to defeat the important objects with 
 which I was charged. As I had no vote I 
 was not called upon to express my senti- 
 ments in the House. The Republican par- 
 ty were, all in favor of the measures I wish- 
 ed to have adopted. But the Federalists 
 were the majority. Prudence, therefore, 
 and my duty to my constituents, rendered 
 it proper that I should refrain from expres- 
 sing sentiments which would injuriously af- 
 feet their interests, and which, if express- 
 ed, could not have the least influence upon 
 the decisions of Congress." 
 
 Is this an admission of the charge made 
 by Mr. Randolph? Did the Argus not see 
 this lano-i,a"e when it extracted detached 
 sentences from the same report of Gen. 
 Harrison's speech which contains it? 
 
 Where was Gen. Harrison when the a- 
 lien and sedition acts were passed? He 
 was at home in the North West Territory. 
 Had he been an advocate or even an appro- 
 ver of those acts, why did his friends, when 
 they sent him as a Delegate to Philadelphia 
 the following year, where Federalism was 
 in the ascendency, extort from him a prom- 
 ise not to give utterance to his " well known 
 opposition" to those acts, least the majority 
 should take offence at his sentiments, and 
 thus defeat the objects of the Republican 
 party which he was delegated to promote 7 
 
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