Vincennes Gazette, Volume 10, Number 21, Vincennes, Knox County, 31 October 1840 — Page 1

.0 "truth without fhar VOLUME A.J VINCISNNES, INDIANA, SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 31, 1&10. NO. 21.

c r fvMW - - - " -

-- " - ' r ----- P e ,V-s rv ' .-.T-v'-.K ' '!.- t - . .-.--r- . .ri-, - .--.v: .vk'mV - ;v- - ------ - ;d t-3-----;i-' . ' '-sAaiL" ?sV4"-;--?' v---: - ---- I r - -- - . , - ts '-iA .--ir .? - - i

COL. K. 11. JOBlON. r Read the following, as a complete refutv.ion of what the Vico President said on Saturday last, at Vinccnnes: COL. CHAMBERS' TESTIMONY. T- r. . o i lain Washington, Ivy, Feb. .4,1810. -j As to the statement, that tne e'lu;& nlan of operation was projected Dy "i-i-Johnnon," is like the charge ttiat t.M. i Harrison was at no tunc in t.:o DaU' ; nrr xvithin two miles of the battle grounu, falie.uttfrlvfV.se. The idea of charging the enemv with the mounted men, was , exclusively General Harrisons. tcnvresent ichen he first announced it. i knn-v that Col. Johnson was then at the; hed of his command, and was not ron" tilted on the fiihieet until after Gen. Har-

riion had expressed his determination to mnch cmphasis, that the report did make the charge; and if it is intended to hun Gov Sheiby) m0re than justice, state, that the operations of the campaign, anj tha Q Gcn Harrison alone was due r tlin nrdpr OI battle, was projected by,.. rrpdit nf thn order of the battle, the

Wl HH' - luv. - - - - - Col. Johnson, it is equally untrue; and li m vp.rv confident that he has not, nor : never will, give the slightest sanction 1, -uch statements, as yon say have been, ade by members of your tiouee oi m Representatives. j You have my permission, fir, to make. fluch use of thia letter as you may thin proper. Respectfully Your ob't. servant. JOHN CHAMBERS." COL. OTALI.OVS TESTIMONY. St. Louis, Feb. 23, 1M0. When within a half a mile of the enpmv afler the American forces were formed in order of battle. Gen. Trotter's brigade in front; Col. Paul's regular,' rt'lprv near his riht; Col. Johnson's ar ' J -r, f Tailor ma a mted regiment on tne ini ui i reserve, and the reidue of the Ken-' as a tucky Volunteers covering the lett uaniv and rear Col. Wood, of the Enginoer Corps lwho by order ef Gen. Harrison, had approached, unohsened by them, suflicientlv near the front line of tne enemy a, to ascertain their position and the order in which they were drawn up, reported that the British troops, in order to ;-cudv the high ground between the r,v--r arVl the swamp parallel to it, were drawn up m extended, nr open orutr u-.--tween these two points; the Indians, on .K.ir ritrht. OCCUPVltlZ the swamp auu u.u , . i :', Harrison, withgrounu uc . . r..md hi nurnose. I rooarrarw,' f-., f him when tin was wimiN . - ...,nM ri ji . - r r i t. matie: ann n v ; J ;;tntlv remarked that ne w.m,a - i mn,mpnt bv or 'ertng Col. 3innmci im.. ... . - , son mrmnted reatment to cnarge mc ....c ihe DrW h reodars; which 'has drawn nnirTrv ia the habits and usage of , contrary to the hamts c of up tv,. f1scrintion of troops, alw VS aCCU5tomed to the touch, could be easily pene-; "- : , r . ..i ; i,;c -r craved to tne :r - - - a reserve u vcu iw... - - 1 know that all the arrangements, and ev1 k" ontof the Troops during the y.rao",u: .u. .u r Gen.

tri- Uea ch "e of Col. John o 's regi-i Infantrv, which was drawn up in order spm ed charge JO of haue Ie had not gone far before Co Johnson's command whs ' turning to me, (and to the best of my re

i .i i:mn rtv i rr rnart'r. iiic vivu

Ml Vson who" position at the com-i as quickly a, possible." Having execuHarrison. H -e I order omplIy a9 practlCahle m9nC7 Cof JoVns command, and i met him on my return pressing I forward ""naartss crotchet form- u itn the front of the tnfantry. Lponre-

- !

H b' tho iunctioa of Jhs'8 Ieft 1,rith th Kenttirkv volunteers, drawn un on the edge and in front of the swamp, a p iition considered by all as the most e nosed and dangerous within the lines of !o!r army, and where the battle was warm"i i . i- t.i: i" coniesieu ov uie muiaiu, um.u mu d surremler of the jnritish resrula.- for -n '.he happy result of thg navej and sillf,,: motement, most gaila,uU. performe(i sv Cr.I. Johnson and his brave associate"; but conceived, planned , (iirpcte.i DV oen. Harrison, whose rior miiitary judgement and ready nejt,er needed nor received any aid. At-ler the relurn cf the army to De rojt, ;ut brave veteran, that just, goot . nure cilizen the late Gov. Shelby, on hearing Gp.ii. Harrison's report of the k-ittle. remarked in my presence, and vttvx ..w... wnoiR ()f th0 arrangements and plans , . u e cc;0v. S.) had contributed to carry out lo the best of his abilities. j hav0 the honor t0 be, with great rcspect. Your most ob't. serv't., J. OTALLOX. COL. SMITH'S TESTIMONY. Richmond, March 6, l 'O. j Sir: Your letter of the 17th tilt., was ! received on yesterday, in which you state, that "it has been openly avowed that ! Gen. Harrison was at no time in the battie of the Thames, nor within two miles 0f ths battle ground that the entire plan of operations was projected by Col. R. M. Johnson that he led the troops 0n to conquest, and that General Harrison had no part nor lot in the matter," my ! :i: ,;, , : flu n(S(ipitv luiuiuidin'ii ut.p, w.-. . should exist, produced by party rancor. to prove tacts asserteu ay mswjij iu. more than a quarter of a century,' and which have never before been questioned, That ignorance and credulity abound to an ertent. to render such baseless aertiotn availahte, bespeaks a lamentao e Ftate of public intelligence, and portends n good to the republic Th.at Col. Johnson led the van, and hr.vht on the battle, is true that he benavs.i u na wiu uhu'jm jj"""-"1 ' true: but vonr letter contains tr.e hrstsugreached me, that i su.m. -ih? entire plan oi operations was pro tPl, hvhiin" The masnanimitv of I Colonel Johnson, will repudiate, with Colon I John: nroud indignation, such an efTrt to clus ter additional laurels upon his brow, thus , . , f i - f h hrow oi tns uen- . . V:...., ...i . eral Col. Johnson received orders as to . , n charge, trom f rharffp. from u.c .,..... v. - Gen. Harrison in person, in the face and almost in sight of the enemy. Ihe Oen. .;,h the raiment when the charge Was WIWl UlC icgimt.. " - r was soum lpd. As Johnson moved io me cral started for the line ot :: - - 4,rursue Col - onel Johnson with you see the efte:; of his ch with your utmost speed arge, and the positlon of the enemy's Artillery, and return

t I ... Iha nn v nilf' III Ilia ivj J

porting that Col. Johnson had broke the enemy's line that they were surrendering, and that their cannon was in our possession he exclaimed, in an animated tone, "Come on, my brave fellovt Proctor and his whole army will soovf be ours." Soon after this, an officer, (I betiava the late Judge McDowell, of Ohio,) rode up and reported, that the left wing, at or near the crotchet, was suffering se-

! verelv and in creat disorder. This com munication was made in hearing of the soldier. The General contradicted the laurr part of the ftatement in the most jernr'ht;c manni :-:- p 'cvt ir, command to Puh forward, he te --Jsnt of conilict and conttisi:i, snd found the c 'ntest pretty close and ssvero. A portion of Johnson' regiment, owing to the impracticability of the ground for horse, had dismounted, ami was fighting on foot and mingled with the infantry which had been, to some extent, the cause of the confusion. Order was soon restored, and the left wing closed to the front, ( which formed crotchet.) under the personal superision of Gen. Jlurrison. In the mean time some of our soldiers were shot within less .than ten feet of the General, for the confli-.'t hero was nharp and animated. and continued so for some time. With the exception of the charge made by Col. Johnson's regiment, Gen. Harrison was in the viost exposed and dangerous parts of the battle. It is due to the occasion to relate the olio wing incident.: The dy before the battle the aimy was impeded in its march by the lestruction of a bridge, across a branch of the Thames, upon which it was moving. at or near the mouth of the branch. Col. Johnson had been ordered to cross this stream at some two miles, two or three miles above the mouth. The road led htm by the bridge. A portion of his reg iment had a brush with a party of Indians, posted in eabins, on the opposite side ef the Thames and the branch, and also under the thick covert along their banks, to dispute the passage of the stream and harrass all attempts to repair the bridge. As soon as the tiring was heard, the Gen. hurried to the scene of sctlcn, accompanied by a portion of his family, of which Commodore Perry was one. hen 1 arrived, I found General Harrison, Com modore Perry onl other oftera (I think General Cass was one) in an "open piece of cround near the bridge. ColJohnson had passed, and a small portion of his regiment, proviously dismounted, under the command of Capt. Benjamin Warlield, and some infantry which had hurried up, were carrying on the skirmish. Major Wood had been ordered up with a small piece of artillery. Commodore Perry urged General Harrison to withdraw, as he was too much exposed for the Commander-in-chief. The Gen. with Penv and the residue of his suit, started off; but the General went but a few stens and returned, and retained his position near the cannon, until the Indi- ..- l t 1 ans wera dislodged and driven, tne oriuge repaired, and the army put in motion to cross.During this whole time he was as much or more exposed than the soldier bein? on horseback all the while. The Commodore afterwards remonstrated with him 8gainst this unnecessary exposure, observing, "that in open sea he could stand fire tolerably well, but there was no fun in being shot at by a concealed ene mv." The General justified his conduct by saying, "the General who commands republican volunteers, in whose ranks the best blood of the country is to be found, mum never think of his own safetv, at least until his troops become familiar with his disregard of personal danger." Hardihood itself lias never denied Per rv's courage. Chambers and Todd, of Kentucky, and OTallon of Missouri, the other Aids of General Harrison at the battle of the Thames, are still living, and can give vou additional facts, if required. "Although it is not in direct response to any part of your letter, I must b? perGeneral Harrison left the conviction on llllivv vi " - y " - J my mind that he was a gentleman, a soldier and a patriot, and I deprecate, rriost sincerely the injuetice attempted to be done him by a portion of that party with which I have always voted. I am, sir, respectfully, Your ob't. serv't., J. SHEED SMITH." TESTIMONY OF Gen. SANDERSON "I hare noticed in the Ohio Eagle, the remarks of Col. R. M. Jehnson, Vice President of the United States, delivered at a public meeting, of the people at the city of Chillicothe, on the 5th of August, instant, in which he states, in relation to the battle of the Thames, that his "brother James. ( meaning Lieut. Col. Tnes Johnson,") took 700 British, and delivered them up to Gen. Harrison, wno, as James afterwards informed him, was about a mile from ihe scene of action." And having been present on that memorable occasion, I deem it my duty, in justice to Gen. Harrison, to state, thai according to my best recollections, the Vic President is in manifest error. 1 had the honor to command a company in tho 27th Regiment of the U. States Infa.itrv. commmJed by G:n. Paul. j

This regiment was brought up in the road on the second bank of the river, and near the right of Gen. Trotter's brigade of troops. From the position in which I ffa enabled in part to observe the movements of General Harrison, hewas,'twhen under my observation, and during the action, pa?mg back and forward on the margin line, giving his orders in an audible voice, and in the face of the enemy. After the surrender of the British infantry, it wad as senior captain .of the regiment to which I belonged, ordered by Gw. Harrison, iu person, and in the

f)rcnc:i oi ien. L.ewis Cass, to-. taite - rj-i of die prisoners, which order was "V .rvv'". 1 -" iod in thr discharge o! .c iiiiiy entil the army itn vuo tie ground oi its return to Detroit," which occurred the day following. I distinctly recollect when Col. Evans, the officer upoif whom the command of tho British army devolved, after the flight of Gen. Proctor, presented himself and his forces to (Jen. Harrison as prisoners, and claimed the usages of honorable warfare; and took his place, to the beet of my recollection, within a less distance than two hundred varda from the line the British anu occupied during the action, and within a few minutes after the tiring ceased in front. I cannot close this statement without awarding to General Harrison my entire confidence in his personal bravery and military skill and judgement, as displayed upon the occasion, a confidence which I believe was also awarded to him by every otficer and soldier under his command: in that aetion. GEORGX SANDERSON. Ljncaster. O., Aug, 25, 18 10The State of Ohio. Fairfield county. SS. On the2uh of August, 16-10, George Sanderson, Esq., personally appeared before me, an acting justice of the peace within and for said county, ami made oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing siatement, are true to the best of his recollection and beliel. JOHN ARNEY, J. P TESTIMONY OF Capt. DUDLEY. The battle continued with the Indians on the left. The infantry, with some of Col. R. M. Johnson's troops mixed up promiscuously with them, continued the tji:U! for half aa hour after Col. Johnson was disabled and had ceased to command his men. The two companies of infant ry of Trotter's brigade engaged in the battle, as well as 1 recollect, were Capt. Mason, of Montgomery, and Cunr.ning h?-rru of Clark, but of this 1 will not speak with certainty, but recollect, rlis tincuv being the next day at the buna of one of Capt. Mason's men, killed in the engagement. In passing to the left. towards the crotchet, near which Col Johnson's men were engaged, I saw two British soldiers wounded, a drum near one of them; they asked for protection This was in advance of the point where Col. Johnu was coming up. 1 make these statements in answer to th& enquiries contained in your note o this morning. A. DUDLEY. To Col. C. S. Todd. Sworn to and subscribed before ms this 1st dav of September, 1S40. SAM. W. DAVIS, Mayor. Cincinnati, X)2d Aug., 1840. "Just before the trumpet sounded Gen. Harrison and Com. Perry, with whose persons I was well acquainted rede up just to the left of our front, an in advance of the right of the front of the columns of the regiment. At the mo rrient the bugle sounded, they passec along to the left at the right angles to and parallel to the British line, and in 'mother moment, we having charged, 1 saw no more of them. I saw Gen. Harrison in the battle, at a join, within reach of the enemy's guns, wild as far as 1 have a knowledge, he com-lAandc-J th--? army, shared in its dangers. t p,,norrneij h.j8 tluy. 1 am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, .t AMES STMT. Col. C S. Todd. i fun. Fiom the InJiana Journal. As the battle of the Thames is attracting quite an interest at this time, we give place to the following sta'ements. They are made and signed by gentlemen of the first standing in Kentucky who were in ihe mounted regiment commanded by Col. Richard M. Johnson. Those who listened to the Colonel's statement, as made in his speech at this place on Wednesday last, respecting the manner in which Mr. Davidson was wounded, in contrast with the manner in which he himself was wounded, will have an opportunity of reading for themselves what Mr. D. and others say on that head. It is also important, to a right understanding of th whole matter, to lead carefully what Holeman and Davidson both say in relation to the commencement, progress and termination of the batt'e. In relying on impartial testimony there is always safety. ANOTHER WITNESS. WTe are indebted to the politeness of Humphrey Marshall, Esq., for the follow-in?-letter addressed to him by Jacob H,

Holeman Esq., of Owen county, Ky. Mr. Holeman in well known to the people of Kentucky as a gentleman of strict veracity and integrity. He ha? always been a warm friend of Colonel Johnson's, and is, as such, recognized by the Johnson family. Were it not for Mr. Holeman's modesty, the probability is there never would have existed a suspicion that Col. Johnson killed Tetumseh. Mr. Holeman fought gallantly at the Thames, and those who know the man will readily believe that no individual trod that field of battle, Whose description is entitled to more confidence than that given by Mr. IIolem2n. Here is his testimony: Owe Cctj.tTr," Ky., Spt. 2 140.

Mr. II. IUarshall. .Dear thr: i t,.,. ived vour t.T, dated 20th inst. relative to tlie ret.rto in circulation respecting Gen. Harrison's position at, and participation in the battlo of the Thames. So far as I ara a'ule to do so, I feel no hesitation in responding to your questions; indeed, I feel it to be a duty, and an act of justice to my old General, arid therefore answer you with pleas ure. You ask me, 1st. Where was General Harrisn during the engagement ot the Thames? 2nd. Was he or was he not actually in the fight? 3rd. i)id he or did le not come to the point where the Inlians were engaged with Col. Richard M. Johnson's Regiment during the fight? and if he did, at what time did he so come and where was Colonel Johnson at that time? As the above inquiries sem to be very closelv connected, and believing that I can make myself better understood, 1 respond to them collectively as follows: I was in Capt. Jacob Stucker s companv, irom ftcott cnuntv, belonging io Col. Richard M. Johnson's Regiment of mounted Volunteers. On the day of the attle, and shortly after crossing the river rhames, our spies discovered a suspicious individual who seemed to be scrutinizing our movements, and two of them, Ralph I'arlton and Mr. Ware, gave cha3e ami pursued him to within about two hundred yards of the British line, where they caught him. The whole regimnl, being in motion, were pursuing the retreating '7 British Army at quite a rapid pace, when we came up to Tarlton and Ware with their prisoner. I was on that day in Iront, and hesrd the conversation which occur red between Colonel Richard M. Johnson ami the prisoner. He informed Col. John son of the position of the British and Indians of their determination to give us a battle. Col. Johnson immediately des patched a messenger to Gen. Harrison to inform him of these facts, and he then or dered the Regiment to fall back some short distance to suitable ground for forming in order of battle In doing this I was thrown some distance from the road and heard no other conversations, although I could see the officers passing and repaying. Our position was again changed. We crossed the swamp when ve (that is. StuckeVs company and one or two others) were ordered to dismount, secure our hot ses, and prepare for battle on foot. Just before the charge W'as made, the questions were repeatedly asked, " Where is Harrison?" "How far is he behind: fcc, and I can assure you that I felt considerable anxiety myself upon that sub ject. At length I was informed by our Lieutenant William Massie, that General Harrison had given orders for our Regiment to bring on the attack, and, if over powered, to retreat under cover of Shelby's lines, as they were close iu our rear. This information gave me as well a many others around me, considerable comfort, and I have no doubt mainly contributed to the gallant attack and defence which was made by the Regiment; because, knowing we were well backed, we apprehended no danger of being whipped. The charge was made. Wa struck the Indian line a short distance from its junction with the British line. The Horsemen, with Col. R. M. Johnson at their head, failed in thefr attempt to penetrate the Indian lines, tho horees recoiled s-uue ucre killed and mine were wound ed some with their riders and owing to the thickness of the woods and the firing and yelling of the Indians, the front became confused and the charge on horsehack was finally abandoned. I was not more than ten steps from Col. Johnson when the firing commenced; but it soon became so animated that my attention was drawn from all objects except the Indians, who, leaping from the ambush that concealed them, rushed upon us with the greatest fury and kept up a heavy fire and tremendous yell for some fifteen or twenty minutes, when they retreateJ. This was the commencement of the attack, and it has always been my opinion that Col. R. M. Johnson was wounded at this time, as he was immediately taken from the ground and I saw nothing more of him during the balance of the action. In a few minutes the Indians again rushed upon us. yelling as before, with redoubled fury. We drove them a second time and the order was given to charge them. As we were advancing in the charge, at a regular pace. Gen. Harrison came riding through the bushes, in front, from the left of our lines, and requested tnai me wnrus should be nassed "blow on the right." I was so astonished at seeing .ren. tiarrison m that p!at6t at that time, thit I did

not immediately obey his request. He repeated it a second time, I passed ihe

word and he returned tn the same direc tion from which he came. In a few mo ments Shelby's men came up, and we renewed the charge. The irregular formation of the Indian line with that of- the British, so as to take advantage of tho swamp, brought a portion of ShelbyV command, on my left, in contact with the Indians who were attempting to turn our flanks when a sharp contest ensued, b the Indians giving way the battle was soon ended. To your fourth interrogatory, "Do you or do you not. kn- !;'' Colonel Johnson fired his pir'-'' ) battle? I auswer that , knowledt't "so;i my .liable me to say, positively ,?x did not. You ask, . yta the estimation in which General f larifen' fas held by the officers and men Mncit Ms command?" I can only say, that so fsr as my acquaintance or information extended; which was principally confined to Johnson's Regiment the universal opinion was that he was brave, skilful, and prudent. He not only gave entire satisfaction, but was beloved by all. I was one of the first who joined Col. Johnson's Regiment and serv ed with it until the Regiment waa discharged. Respectfully yours, JACOB HOLEMAN. Amlsino Incident. A gentleman of this borough has politely handed us a letter, from which we take Ihe following amusing incidents Not many weeks since, a gentleman of Harrisburg. by the name of Henry Petriken, deputy secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was on a virit to Bellefonte, Centre county. While there he was requested to make a speech to the faithful, or di l it without being requested; nt any rte the speech was made. In the course of it, a9 it is customary with these small irco foco lights v hen they are where they suppose there is no one Jo contradict them, he declared General Harrison to be n coitard. "Do you say General Harrison is a coward.'" demanded an old man in lha crowd. "I do," was the reply of Mr. Henry Petriken. Ilow do you know it?" demanded the tame old man. Here Mr. Henry Petriken was brought to a dead stand. "He had not the documents" to prove it; the Eltra Globe had been left at home, "Do vou remember the man to whom you paid ninety dollars to join the army under General Harrison in the lat war, as a substitute? If you don't, I do. Gentleman continued the incorrigible old man, putting his hand in his pocket and pulling out an honorable discharge from General Harrison, "Mr. Petriken gave me ninety dollars to take his place in tha army, and I hold in my hand my clearance from General Harrison." Mr. Petriken was confounded, so he opened not his mouth. Wo trut this will be tsken as a warning to all of Can. Harrison's slanderers, at least to be extremely cautious (hat there are none of Gen. Harrison's old soldiers about, before they begin to retail their side falsehoods. 6t The Last Resort.-There appeared in the German Loco-foco paper of this city, called the Dutsche ahrheit erbreiter, the following, (translated from the German:) "()n Tuesday night last at a Whig meeting in Market Space, Mr. Ridgely set forth and remarked, that the Germans that came to this country were the off scourings of Germany, and should not be entitled to citizenship, and that their party did not desire their votes in the coming election." A Committee of the German Tippecanoe Club of the city of Baltimore, called upon the editor, Mr. Ludwig, for his authority for publishing the above, to wham he stated that the above, was handed to him by Mr. Horace Pratt, a member cf the Van Buren Central Committee, and vouched for by him a3 afict. The Ijyst Jiible Found. Most of our readers have seen historical notices of th misfortunes of the family of the Rev. Mr. Caldwell, of New Jersey, in the revolutionary war. MfTC. was pastor of tho Presbyterian church, at Elizabethtown, and like most of the clergy of that church, at that time, was a zealous AVhig. His activity against the British made him a mark for their vengeance, and in one of theiTJiient excursions into that neighborhood, when he was from home, a company of soldiers surrounded his dwelling, and one of them deliberately levelled his musket at Mrs. Caldwell, while on her knees at prayer, and fired, killing her in stantly. The party retreated, carrying off several articles of plunder, and among them Mr. Caldwell s family Bible, ot long ago, and more than sixty years after the event we have been recording, an oui woman living on Long Island, called on

one of the grand children of Mr. Caldwell, at Morristown, N. J.. and presen'ed this identical Bible, containing the family record as made by Mr. C. in his own hand .r writing- then the record .e madA by ''r rliier who stole it; and various qjenc-isti Ji

bv susrquent possessors. i4'