Sketches of the civil and military services of William Henry Harrison

Front matter

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SKETCHES

C.Wlh AND MILITARY SERVICES

Preface

Thf following work has been written at the request of the Harrison committees in Cincinnati and Louisville, and is published under their sanction.

The limited size of the volume, and the rapidity with which the manuscript has been prepared for the press, have prevented the authors from doing entire justice to the subject of their memoir. Their chief aim has been the presentation of such a narrative of the civil and military services of general Harrison, as would enable the people of the United States, to appreciate more thoroughly, the great principles which have governed him in the faithful discharge of the many important trusts confided to him by his country, in the course of a long and eventful career.

In the preparation of this work the authors have been much aided by colonel M'AfFee's excellent History of the Late War — by Mr. Dawson's Historical Narrative, which embraces many valuable and authentic documents — and by Judge Hall's elegant Memoir of the Public Services of general Harrison. Several other historical and biographical narratives have been consulted ; and, in addition to these sources of information, the authors have had the benefit of original letters and documents not heretofore embraced in any similar publication. They have also been favored with the personal recollections of several officers of the late war, who participated with

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Vi PREFACE.

honor in the north-western campaigns. Finally, they themselves happen to have a personal knowledge of many of the scenes and incidents which they have undertaken to describe.

Under these circumstances, whatever may be thought of the literature of the work, they venture to claim for it, at least the merit of authenticity in every substantial particular. Running, as it does, through a period of nearly fifty years, in the history of the West, it will be found to embrace a variety of matter valuable to the general reader, independently of its immediate relation to the distinguished citizen whose remarkable public career has been briefly pourtrayed m its pages. C. S. T.

B. D.

Cincinnati, March, 1840.

By a resolution of the Harrison executive committee for Hamilton county, passed on the 27th day of February, 1840, Jacob Burnet, John C. Wright, Nathan Guilford, David Gwynne, and Joseph Graham were requested to procure the immediate publication of a biographical sketch of the civil and military services of William Henry Harrison.

In pursuance of their instructions, this committee appointed Charles S. Todd, of Kentucky, and Benjamin Drake, of Ohio, to prepare the proposed work ; and in this appointment the Harrison committee for the central district of Kentucky, at Louisville, unanimously concurred.

Chapter I

His birth. — Parentage. — Education. — Entrance into the army, — Services under St. Clair and Wayne — Battle of the Matt-' mee, — In command of Fort Washington (now Cincinnati.) — His marriage. — Resignation of his commission in the army. Page IX

CHAPTER n.

Retires to a farm. — Appointed Secretary of the North-westem Territory. — Elected a delegate in Congress. — Procures a Law sub-dividing the Public Lands. — Division of the Noithwestem Territory. — Military Land Warrants. — Political sentiments.— Charge of Federalism. 19

CHAPTER m.

Harrison appointed Governor of Indiana Territory. — Commissioner to treat with the Indian Tribes. — His Message to the Legislative Council. — Addresses of the Council to him. — Correspondence with President Jefferson and the War Department.— Indian Treaties. — Reappointed Governor by Jefferson, and again by Madison. — Recommends the building of a fleet on lake Erie. - 23

CHAPTER IV.

Interview between Governor Harrison and Tecumthe.^ — Battle of Tippecanoe. — Various documents concerning the same

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from individuals — the legislatures of Indiana and Kentucky ; from President Madison, and the historians M'Afee, Dawson aud Hall - 30

CHAPTER V.

Governor Harrison visits Kentucky. — Appointed Major-general in the militia of that state. — Brigadier in the United States army. — Commander-in-chief of the North-western army. — Relieves Fort Wayne. — Leads an expedition against the Wabash Indians. — Appoints Winchester to the command of the left wing of the army. — Refutation of the charge that he had intrigued for Winchester's command. — Reconciles the troops to serve under Winchester. — Plan of campaign 40

CHAPTER VI.

Movements of the army. — ^Tupper's expedition to the Rapids. — Campbell's expedition to Mississiniway. — General Harrison recommends a fleet on lake Erie. — Plan of operations for the campaign. — Again urges on the Secretary at War the necessity of a fleet on lake Erie. — Winchester's movement to the Rapids. — His movement to the river Raisin, and defeat on the 22nd of January. — The question examined, on whom rests the blame of that defeat. — Opinion of Wood — M'Afee's opinions, — Address of the Kentucky and Ohio officers-- 48

CHAPTER VII.

Movements of the North-western army, after the defeat at the river Raisin. — Establishment of Camp Meigs. — Kentucky and Ohio militia discharged. — Termination of the first campaign, — Preparations for the next. — Colonel Morrison's opinion. — Siege of Fort Meigs. — Arrival of Kentucky troops under General Clay. — Dudley's defeat. — Brilliant sorties, 5th May. — Proctor's demand of a surrender. — His abandonment of the siege. — Gallant conduct of General Harrison. 64

CONTENTS. rX

CHAPTER VIII.

Council with friendly Indians. — Reported investment of Fort Meigs. — Second siege of Fort Meigs. — Attack on Fort Stephenson.— Croghan's letter. — Statement of the general, staffj and field officers, about the attack on Fort Stephenson. — Ohio Militia at Grand Camp. — Preparations for crossing the lake.— Perry's victory. — Army reaches Maiden. — Proctor pursued. — Council at Sandwich. — Shelby, C ass, and Perry's letters. 81

CHAPTER IX.

Battle of the Thames. — Documents as to the same. — General Harrison sails for Buffalo. — Marches to Fort George. — Ordered to his District. — Descends lake Ontario to Sackett's Harbor. — Passes to Cincinnati, via. New York, Philadelphia, and Washington. — Interference with his command by General Armstrong. — Perry's letter. — M'Arthur's letter. — Johnson's letter. — Croghan's letter. — Harrison's letter of resignation to the President. — Governor Shelby's letter to the President — 98

CHAPTER X.

Commissioner to treat with the Indians. — Elected to Congress in 1816. — Investigation of his conduct in that body. — Effort in favor of the pension laws. — Speech in regard to Kosciusko.— .Speech on General Jackson's conduct in the Seminole war. — Favors the independence of the South American Republics.— A gold medal, and the thanks of Congress awarded him. — Elected to the Legislature of Ohio. — Unfounded charge of having voted to sell white men imprisoned for debt. — Elected to the Senate of the United States.— Refutes Randolph's charge of federahsm. — Minister to Colombia. — ■

Letter to Bolivar. — ^Recalled by General Jackson. 114

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XL

Colonel Johnson's speech in Congress. — General Harrison's Cheviot address. — His address in 1832. in regard to Slavery, — Vincennes speech about Abolition. — His speech at the 47th anniversary celebration of the settlement of Ohio. — Historical discourse on the aborigines of the Ohio. 130

CHAPTER Xn.

General Harrison's first nomination for the presidency. — ^His letter to Sherrod Williams. — His opinions upon Duelling. — His letter to Harmer Denny, on the principles upon which the government should be administered. — Second nomination for the presidency, December, 1839. 143

CHAPTER Xni.

General Harrison's civil and military qualifications considered, — Parallel between him and Washington. — ^His integrity and disinterestedness, illustrated by several anecdotes. — His social and literary character. — His enjoyment of a green old age in body and mind --- — - - 156

SKETCHES OF GENERAL HARRISON.

CHAPTER I.

His birth. — Parentage. — Education. — ^Entrance into the army. ^Services under St. Clair and Wayne. — Battle of the Mau^ mee. — In command of Fort Washington (now Cincinnati.) — His marriage. — Resignation of his commission in the army,

William Henry Harrison was born on the 9th day of February, 1773, at Berkley, on James River, in the county of Charles City, in the state of Virginia. He is descended lineally from the general Harrison, who was a distinguished actor in the civil wars of England, and was a prominent officer in the armies of the commonwealth.

Benjamin Harrison, the father of the subject of this memoir, was a delegate from Virginia, in the continental congress, in 1774-5-6. As early as the 14th November, 1764, he was one of the committee to prepare a remonstrance against the odious stamp act, at that time contemplated by the British cabinet, and from this period he was associated with Lee, Henry, Nicholas and others, in energetic efforts, which were directed towards a vindication of the rights of the people against the encroachments of the crown.

In the congress of 1775 the office of speaker was vacated by Peyton Randolph, and in the choice of a successor, congress was divided between Benjamin Harrison and .Tohn Hancock In this early period of the struggle for liberty, Mr. Harrison being a delegate from the " Old Dominion," in the south, gave an illustrious evidence of his patriotism by yielding his pretensions in favor of the great patriot from the Bay State of the north ; and Mr, Hancock, hesitating for a moment to take the chair, Mr*

Harrison, with practical good humor, " seized the modest candidate in his athletic arms, and placed him in the presidential chair ;" then turning to the members, he exclaimed, ** We will show mother Britain how little

WE CARE for her, BY MAKING A MASSACHUSETTS MAN OUR PRESIDENT, WHOM SHE HAS EXCLUDED FROM PARDON BY A PUBLIC PROCLAMATION."

Mr. Harrison was a member of the committee of that year, whose report formed the basis of our present militia system. He was associated with the immortal Washington, in a committee which arranged a plan for the future support of the army. He was chairman of the committee whose agency brought to our standard the gallant La Fayette, and w^as afterwards appointed a member of the Board of War. On the 10th of June, 1776, he called up the resolutions by which the colonies were declared INDEPENDENT, and which authorized a Declaration of Independence to be prepared ; and he reported that instrument en the ever memorable 4th of July, 1776. A curious anecdote is on record, which furnishes a graphic description of the temper and intrepidity of the patriots of that day. Elbridge Gerry, a delegate from Massachusetts, as slender as Mr. Harrison was portly, stood beside Harrison whilst signing the Declaration. Harrison turned round to him with a smile as he raised his hand from the paper and said, " when the hanging scene comes to be exhibited, I shall have all the advantage over you. It will be over with me in a minute, but you will be kicking in the air half an hour after I am gone."

Mr. Harrison continued in congress until 1777, when he retired, and having been elected to the House of Delegates of Virginia, w^as chosen speaker, tlie duties of which he performed until 1782, when, on the resignation of general Nelson, he was elected governor of Virginia, and was re-elected as long as the constitution would permit. He died whilst a member of the legislature, in 1791.*

William Henry Harrison was educated at Hampden

* See Sanderson's " Lives of the Signers of the Declaration Df Independence.

Sydney college, and then repaired to Philadelphia to pursue the study of medicine under the instruction of the distinguished Dr. Benjamin Rush, and under the guardianship of Robert Morris, the great financier of the revolution, both of whom were signers of the Declaration of Independence. The youth, who had laid the foundations at college for a taste in the literature and history of the ancient classics, was thus afforded an opportunity of drinking deep at these fountains of the genius and spirit of the revolution. He had derived from his patriotic father, the lessons of republican liberty, and in the school of Rush, oi Morris, and of Washington, he imbibed a love of country, which led him to encounter difficulty and danger in her defence. About this period the disasters of the north-western army, under the accomplished Harmar, excited a deep sympathy in the public mind, and the youthful Harrison, partaking largely of the generous impulses of the day^ resolved to abandon the studies in which he was engaged, and to participate in the perils as well as the sacrifices which were incident to this great border warfare. His guardian and his friends opposed his wish to enter upon this hazardous duty; but he applied in person to general Knox, secretary of war, and to the IMMORTAL WASHINGTON, who granted htm a commission of ensign in the first regiment of United States artillery, and in November, 1791, when but nineteen years of age, he marched on foot to Pittsburgh, and by descending the Ohio, joined his regiment, then stationed at Fort Washington.

Shortly before the disastrous defeat of the veteran St. Clair, ensign Harrison formed the resolution to devote his energies to the military service of his country, at a period when his judgment and feelings must have been guided by a high sense of patriotism, and a disinterested love of fame. The theatre of the war was in the remote wilderness, and the character of the enemy such, that laurels were to be won only by great suffering and exposure in situations destitute of the comforts or even the necessaries of civilized life. A great national disaster had occurred in 1790, under the gallant Harmar, who was seconded by the heroic conduct of colonel Hardin, him-

B self a sacrifice to the treachery of the Indian character. Congress authorized at its next session, the raising of two thousand men, under the denomination of levies, and general St. Clair, governor of the north-western territory, was appointed commander-in-chief.

On the 4th of November, 1791, he was met and like wise defeated, with great loss, by a formidable body of Indians, on the waters of Big Miami river.

This defeat of St. Clair, though congress subsequently acquitted him of all blame, produced a deep impression on the public mind, and, connected with the previous disasters of the war, rendered the service unpopular, drained the public treasury, and brought the country into a crisis which developed the energies of Washington's great intellect. The war had assumed a national importance, inducing the president to select for the chief of the army, a soldier of prudence, of experience and of energy. The choice was balanced for a time between Clark and Wayne, both distinguished leaders in the war of the revolution, though on a different theatre — the former acting under the immediate eye of the father of his country, earning for himself the reputation of intrepidity, with fertility of expedient; the latter having won the distinctive title of the Hannihal of the West, The command was eventually assigned to Wayne, who acquired a new •wreath of glory for himself, and added to the proofs of the sagacity of Washington.

Ensign Harrison joined his regiment at Fort W^ashington just in time to witness the return of the fragments of that gallant band, which, marching out in the proud anticipations of victory, was destined to a sad reverse under the veteran St. Clair. Under these discouraging circum- Btances, and with the near approach of winter, ensign Harrison commenced his public service in the command of an escort, having charge of a train of pack horses destined for Fort Hamilton. It was a duty involving peril and fatigue, by night and by day, and requiring the exercise of sagacity and self-denial. His performance of the arduous task elicited the commendations of general St. Clair, and exhibited an interesting instance of a character in which the ardor of youth was combined with the

GENERAL HARRISON.

I5i maturity of age. In 1792 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and in 1793 joined the legion under general Wayne, and was not long afterwards selected by him as one of his aids-de-camp — illustrating, in an eminent degree, the confidence of that tried soldier, since lieutenant Harrison was only twenty-one years of age. He continued to act as aid to general Wayne during the whole of the ensuing campaign, receiving, as he merited, repeated instances of high encomium from his commander. The first occurred upon the occasion of a detachment having been sent on the 23d of December, 1793, to take possession of the field of battle of the 4th of November, 1791, and to fortify the position. To the new post was given the name of Fort Recovery. The following general order wa^ issued on the return of the troops from that interesting duty :

"The commander-in-chief returns his most grateful thanks to major Henry Burbeck, and to every officer, non-commissioned officer, and private, belonging to the detachment under his command, for their soldiery and exemplary good conduct during their late arduous tour of duty, and the cheerfulness with which they surmounted every difficulty, at this inclement season, in repossessing general St. Clair's field of battle, and erecting thereon Fort Recovery^ a work impregnable by savage force ; as also for piously and carefully collecting and interring the bones, and paying the last respect and military honors to the remains of the heroes who fell on the 4th of November, 1791, by three times three discharges from the same artillery th?Ltw?iS lost on that fatal day, but now recovered by this detachment of the legion.

" The commander-in-chief also requests major Mills, captains De Butts and Butler, lieutenant Harrison, and Dr. Scott, to accept his best thanks for their voluntary aid and services on this occasion."

The other instance of commendation of the gallantry of lieutenant Harrison is to be found in the report made by general Wayne to the war department, in relation to the celebrated battle of the Maumee, which we shall presently introduce to the notice of the reader.

The youth, the early habits of study, and the delicate frame of Mr. Harrison, not less than the perils and pnvatiojis incident to the border warfare, would have intimidated a spirit less heroic than his, in entering upon the arduous service in the north-west. As illustrative of the aspect of affairs, and of his first appearance in the army, an old soldier of St. Clair, who was present, has remarked : — " I would as st)on have thought of putting my wife in the service as this boy ; but I have been out with him, and I find those smooth cheeks are on a wise headv, and that slight frame is almost as tough as my own weather-beaten carcass."

General Charles Scott, a veteran of the revolution, who enjoyed the special confidence of Washington, arrived in July from Kentucky with his command of mounted volunteers, and on the 8th of August, general Wayne took up a position at Grand Glaize, seventy miles in advance of Greenville. A strong work was erected at the junction of the Auglaize and Maumee rivers, and general Wayne again opened a communication with the Indians before striking the final blow. " I have thought proper," he said, " to offer the enemy a last overture of peace ; and as they have every thing that is dear and interesting at stake, I have reason to expect they will listen to the proposition mentioned in the enclosed copy of an address dispatched yesterday by a special flag, under circumstances that will insure his safe return, and which may eventually spare the effusion of much human blood." '' But should war be their choice, that blood be upon their own heads. America shall no longer be insulted with impunity. To an all powerful and just God, I therefore commit myself and gallant army."

The enemy rejected the offer of peace, and the celebrated Little Turtle, who advised its adoption in a council on the night before the battle, spoke as follows : *'We have beaten the enemy twice under separate commanders. We cannot expect the same good fortune to attend us always. The Americans are now led by a chief who never sleeps : the night and the day are alike to him. And during all the time he has been marching upon our villages, notwithstanding the watchfulness of our young men, we have never been able to surprise him. Think well of it. There is something whispers me it would be prudent to listen to his offers of peace."

We refer the reader to the official report of general Wayne of 27th August, 1794, for a perspicuous account of the celebrated battle of Maumee^ and deem it sufficient for our present purpose to give an extract relating to the conduct of his aid-de-camp, lieutenant Harrison.

"The bravery and conduct of every officer belonging 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 witk pleasure and the most lively gratitude : amon^ whom I beg leave to mention brigadier general Wilkinson, and colonel Hamtramck, the commandants of the right and left wings of the legion, whose brave example inspired the troops ; and to these I must add the names of my faithful and gallant aids-de-camp, captains De Butts and T. Lewis, and lieutenant Harrison^ who^ with the adju*- tant general, major Mills, rendered the most essential service hy communicating my orders in every direction^ and by their conduct and bravery exciting the troops to press for victory J^^

The praise of which lieutenant, now general, Harrisoo was the subject in the dispatch from the illustrious Wayne, was of a character to soothe him for tlie trials and the perils he had encountered, and to stimulate him to increased diligence in the discharge of the high and responsible duties confided to him when placed afterwards in the command of Fort Washington. This commendation received additional weight from the remarks made in the presence of a venerable gentleman, now living, by general Wilkinson and colonel Shaumburg, Avho «aid that " Harrison was in the foremost front of the hottest battle — his person was exposed from the com* mencement to the close of the action. Wherever duty called, he hastened, regardless of danger, and by his efforts and example contributed as much to secure the fortune of the day, as any other officer subordinate to the commander-in-chief."

The victory at Maumee was achieved by the discipline of Wayne's army, and the introduction bj that sagacious

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leader, of a new feature in military tactics, as applied to Indian warfare, which was the result of a plan digested by Washington, Knox, and Wayne. The north-western savage chooses his own time and his own position, and he retreats from it at his own pleasure. To be overcome, he must be outflanked or kept on the wing, as he was by Wayne, by a constant charge of the bayonet. To provide against the contingency of the enemy assailing his flanks, Wayne had adopted the plan of forming his troops at open order, so as to extend his flanks and move with celerity in the woods. These principles were acted upon in the subsequent war conducted by general Harrison, and may be now regarded as the approved mode of fighting the north-western Indians.

A permanent peace with the Indians was the fruit of this great victory. The negociations commenced in January and terminated in August, 1795. Soon after the close of this campaign, captain Harrison was entrusted by Wayne with the command of Fort Washington, where he was directed to advise the general of all movements connected with the invasion of Louisiana, then projected, and to prevent the forwarding of any military stores by the French agents. As a further evidence of the confidence of Wayne, he specially entrusted captain Harrison with his commands and intentions as to the supply of the troops intended to occupy the posts theretofore held by the British on the northern frontier. Whilst in the command of Fort Washington, (now Cincinnati,) captain Harrison married the daughter of John Cleves Symmes, the founder of the Miami settlements. An anecdote is given in relation to the marriage, illustrative of the independent character of captain Harrison. On the proposal to Mr. Symmes for his consent, Harrison was asked what were his resources for maintaining a wife] Placing his hand upon his sword, he replied, " this, sir, is my means of support." The chivalry and undaunted confidence of the young soldier at once obtained the approbation of Mr. Symnies. Captain Harrison continued in the command of Fort Washington until 1797, when, upon the death of general Wayne, ho resigned his commission in the army.

Chapter II

Retires to a Farm — Appointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. — Elected a delegate in Congress — Procures a Law sub-dividing the Public Lands. — Division of the North-western Territory. — Military Land Warrants. — Political sentiments.— Charge of Federalism,

The war being ended, captain Harrison, like the Father of his country, retired to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture; and on his farm, near Cincinnati, soon acquired that taste for the cultivation of the soil, which through a long life, has prompted him, when not engaged in the public service, to return to the plough. Having turned his sword into the pruning hook, he identified himself with the people in whose defence he had been drawn to the banks of the Ohio. He was not suffered, however, long to enjoy the repose of his log-cabin. Early in 1798, Winthrop Sargent, secretary of the north-western territory, having been appointed governor of the southwestern territory, president Adams selected Mr. Harrison to fill the office thus vacated. The appointment made him ex-qfficio lieutenant governor, and in the absence of governor St. Clair from the territory, he discharged the executive duties iri a manner that won the approbation of the people. In the month of October, 1799, when, under the ordinance of 1787, the territory was admitted to the second grade of government, the legislative council elected him a delegate to congress.

In January, 1800, Mr. Harrison took his seat in that body, then in session in Philadelphia. His first effort was to effect a change in the mode of selling the public lands, which had hitherto been offered in large tracts — a system well suited to the rich speculator, but adverse to the interest of the poor man, however industrious or enterprising. The subject was one of vital interest not only to the territory, but the whole country. The injustice of this aristocratic mode of selling the public domain, had engaged the attention of Mr. Harrison, prior ftO SKETCHES OF

to his election ; and having maturely considered the subject he lost no time in calling the attention of congress to it.

From a circular of Mr. Harrison, to the people of the territory, under date of Philadelphia, 14th May, 1800, we make the following quotation, showing the result of his efforts on this important subject:

" Amongst the variety of objects which engaged my attention, as peculiarly interesting to our territory, none appeared to me of so much importance as the adoption of a system for the sale of the public lands, which would give more favorable terms to that class of purchasers who are likely to become actual settlers, than was offered by the existing laws upon that subject; conformably to this idea, I procured the passage of a resolution at an early period for the appointment of a committee to take the matter into consideration. And shortly after I reported a bill containing terms for the purchaser, as favorable as could have been expected. This bill was adopted by the house of representatives without any material alteration ; but, in the senate amendments were introduced, obliging the purchaser to pay interest on that part of the money for which a credit was given from the date of the purchase, and directing that one-half the land (instead of the whole, as was provided by the bill from the house of representatives,) should be sold in half sections of three hundred and twenty acres, and the other half in whole sections of six hundred and forty acres. All my exertions, aided by some of the ablest members of the lower house, at a conference for that purpose, were not sufficient to induce the senate to recede from their amendments ; but, upon the whole, there is cause of congratulation to my fellow-citizens that terms, as favorable as the bill still contains, have been procured. This law promises to be the foundation of a great increase of population and wealth to our country ; for although the minimum price of the land is still fixed at two dollars per acre, the time for making payments has been so extended as to put it in the power of every industrious man to comply with them, it being only necessary to pay onefourth part of the money in hand, and the balance at the end of two, three and four vears ; besides this, the odious circumstance of forfeiture, which was made the penalty bf faiiinjr in the payments under the old law, is entirely abolished, and the purchaser is allowed one year after the last payment is due to collect the money; if the land is not then paid for, it is sold, and, after the public have been reimbursed, the balance of the money is returned to the purchaser. Four land-offices are directed to be opened — one at Cincinnati, one at Chilicothe, one at Marietta, and one at Steubenville, for the sale of the lands in the neighborhood of those places. In a communication of this kind, it is impossible to detail all the provisions of the law. I have, however, sent a copy of it to the printers at Cincinnati, with a request that they would publish it several weeks."