The life of Major-General William Henry Harrison : comprising a brief account of his important civil and military services, and an accurate description of the council at Vincennes with Tecumseh, as well as the victories of Tippecanoe, Fort Meigs and the Thames

II Of

AJOR-GENERAL.

WILLIAM HEIVRY HARRISON:

COMPRISING A BRIEF ACCOUNT

OF HIS

IMPORTANT CIVIL AND MILITARY SERVICES,

AND AN

ACCURATE DESCRIPTION

OF THE

AS WELL AS THE

VICTORIES OF TIPPECANOE, FORT MEIGS AND THE THAMES.

PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY

AND T. K. & P. G. COLLINS, No. 1 LODGE ALLEY.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 1840, by

in the Office of tlie Clerk of the District Court of the Eastern DfetricS

of Pennsylvania.

FRINTED BY T. K. & P. O. C0U.IXS, PHILA.DELrHlA.

LIFE OF

GENERAL WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

Chapter I

8ketch of the Life of the Father of Harrison — Services in the House of Burgesses — Takes a decided part with the Whigs in the American Revolution — Elected a member of the Continental Congress — Anecdote — Important services in Congress — Calls up Resolutions declaring America independent — Reports and signs Declaration of Independence — Revolutionary anecdote — Birth of William Henry Harrison — Educated by the immortal Morris, the Financier of the Revolution, and Dr. Rush, both Signers of the Declaration of Independence — Determines to enter the Army, then struggling with the Indians on the Frontier — -Commissioned by Washington — Hardships and dangers of the Service — Defeat of St. Clair — Appointment of Wayne — Victory — Gallantry of Harrison elicits the admiration and praise of Wayne — Victory of Maumee Rapids — Harrison again distinguished, and again publicly complimented by his Commander — Peace with the Indians— Harrison promoted — Appointed to the command of Fort Washington.

William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia, on the ^th day of February, 1773, at Berkley on the James River, about twenty-five miles below Richmond. He was the third son of, Benjamin Harrison, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and subsequently Governor of Virginia. Benjamin Harrison* was one of the earliest and most conspicuous patriots, and the most active, devoted, and fearless political leaders of the Revolution, His services during and after that eventful period, were inferior in importance to those of but few of his compatriots. Before he had attained his twenty-first year, he was elected to represent his native county in the House

* The facts connected with the life of Benjamin Harrison are taken from Sander son's " Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence." Vide Life of Benjamin Harrison.

of Burgesses, of Virginia. This he did with so much abiUty and effect, as to attract immediately the attention of the British government In order to rid themselves of the opposition of one who had already proved himself a stanch and powerful friend of the People, they proposed to introduce him, notwithstanding his immature age, into the Executive Council of the State— a body corresponding in character with the English

Privy Council.

The oppression of the King of Great Britain having been aheady felt throughout the colonies, this proposal, notwithstanding its advantages, was promptly rejected, and Mr. Harrison TOOK SIDES WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE APPROACHING STRUGGLE BETWEEN THEM AND THE CrOWN.

On the 14th of November, 1764, he was one of the committee to prepare a remonstrance against the odious Stamp Act, which the British Cabinet at that time contemplated. From this time forward, in company with such men as Lee, Henry, Nichols, and others, his whole energies were directed towards a vindication of the rights of the People against the

ENCROACHMENTS OF THE CrOWN.

He was a member of the first Continental Congress, which assembled in Philadelphia on the 5th of September, 1774. It is well known that the proceedings of this body were conciliatory and pacific in their character. They adopted an address to the Crown, and resolved to await quietly its efi"ect.

In the year 1775, Mr. Harrison again appeared as a delegate from Virginia, in the Continental Congress.

Shortly after Congress had met, the chair, which had been before occupied by Mr. Harrison's brother-in-law, Peyton Randolph, became vacant. Congress was divided in the choice of his successor, between Mr. Harrison and the patriotic John Hancock. Mr. Harrison promptly yielded to Mr. Hancock; and when the latter, through distrust in his experience and capacity to discharge the duties of a situation so trying, for a moment hesitated to take the chair, Mr. Harrison, with practical good humour ''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 HEB, BY MAKING A MASSACHUSETTS

MAN OUR President, whom she has excluded from pardon

BY a public proclamation."

On the 4th of Jui)6, this year, Mr. Harrison was appointed on a committee to place America in a state of defence ; and, after a month's deliberation, the committee made a report, which formed the basis of the present miUtia system of the United States. In September of this year, he was one of a committee who, in conjunction with the immortal Washington, arranged a plan for the future support of the army. He was the Chairman of the committee through whose agency the gallant Lafayette and his companions were induced to enter into the struggle for independence ; and shortly after, he was appointed a member of the Board of War.

On the 10th of June, 177G, Harrison called up the resolutions by which the colonies were declared independent, and which authorized a Declaration of Independence to be prepared ; and on the ever memorable 4th of July, 1776, he reported that instrument, (our present glorious Declaration of Independence,) as having received the approbation of Congress. His

NAME will be FOUND AFFIXED TO IT, AMONG THOSE OF THE OTHER DELEGATES FROM VIRGINIA.

A curious anecdote is on record, illustrative of the cheerful temper and intrepidity of the man whom we thus find identified with every turn in the fortunes of his country ; at a period when that country was convulsed by a struggle in which all its rights and very existence were involved. Elbridge Gerry, a delegate from Massachusetts, as slender and spare as Mr. Harrison was vigorous and 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 kickmg in the air half an hour after I am gone."

Mr. Harrison continued in Congress until the year 177S, when he retired, and afterwards filled some of the most important offices in his native state. In the year 1782, on the resignation of Mr. Nelson, he was elected Governor of Virginia, and was afterwards re-elected until he became constitutionally

a2 ineligible. He continued to serve his country until the year 1791, This year he was unanimously elected to the Legislature. The day following he died, full of years and full of honour.

William Henry Harrison, as we have before stated, was born on the ninth of February, in the year 1773.* His youth, when impressions are the deepest and most indelible, was passed amid the scenes and patriots of our glorious Revolution; and it was then and there that he imbibed that devotion to freedom and his country, which has since ranked his name among the most illustrious of America's champions. His father died before he had attained his seventeenth year, leaving him no inheritance but an untarnished name and a virtuous example. Whilst he has imitated the latter, he has added resplendent lustre to the former.

The care of his education, which had been commenced at Hampden Sydney College, was committed to his guardian, the illustrious Robert Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the financier of the Revolution, and one of his father's most intimate friends. Of the patriots of '76, no one (Washington alone excepted) made sacrifices so great, or effected so much for his country, as Robert Morris. He fed our famished soldiers out of his private purse ; and at the darkest era of the contest, saved the cause of liberty from impending destruction. Such was the patriot sage who contributed to form the mind of Harrison. From him was received, by example and precept, inculcations of that love of liberty, courage, devotedness and patriotism, whichhaveevercharacterizedthelatter. Under the guardianship of the illustrious Morris, and the instruction of the distinguished Dr. Benjamin Rush, also a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Harrison commenced the study of medicine in Philadelphia, which he prosecuted until he arrived at his nineteenth year. At this early period in life, with a disinterested and ardent devotion, for which history has few parallels, he determined to abandon the peaceful walks of science, and cast his fortunes with the army of his country, at that time

* See Hall's " Memoir of the Public Services of William Henry Harrison," for these facts.

warmly engaged in defending our frontier from tiie invasion of the Indians. His wishes were opposed, not only by Mr. Morris, but by his other friends ; and finding it in vain to solicit their interposition, and resolved to devote his life to the cause of his bleeding country, he applied in person to the Immortal Washington. The Father of his Country, seeing in young Harrison the germ of future greatness, cheerfully complied with his request, and in November, 1791, when but nineteen years of age, conferred on him the rank of Ensign in the United States army. Immediately on receiving his commission, he repaired to the west, and joined his regiment then stationed at Fort Washington, shortly after the defeat of the gallant but ill-starred St. Clair.

The first tour of duty he performed, was in the succeeding winter, when he marched through sleet and snow at the head of his detachment, with his knapsack on his back, to the fatal battle-field of St. Clair, to inter the bonet* of the slain !

It will hardly be imagined that this transition from the full enjoyment of the comforts and luxuries of a city life, to a winter's campaign against a savage foe, amid the pathless wilderness of the western frontier, could be accomplished without great sacrifice of ease and imminent jeopardy of life. How few are there, at this day, of the pampered sons of fortune residing in our great cities, who would willingly encounter the same hardships and privations for the pi election of their defenceless countrymen from the fire-brand, the tomanawk, and scalping-knife of the savage ! The youthful Harrison had been accustomed to live amidst the most refined society ; his only employment had been the pursuit of knowledge. He abandoned the former for the rude fare of a frontier camp, and exchanged his books for the sword.

No period of our history has been more gloomy than that in which Harrison joined the army. The British, in defiance of the treaty of peace, still held possession of some of cur most important frontier posts. Among others, Detroit, Niagara, and Mackinaw were still in their hands. From these, the agents of the British Government supplied the hostile Indians along our border, with the munitions of war, and continually stirred them up to the massacre of the defenceless white population. There appeared to be no security but m the rifle. The hatchet was iinburied, and the cakimet of peace extinguished. The population of the west, scattered over an immense extent of country, which rendered intercourse difficult, and mutual aid impossible, fell, one by one, bleeding victims of savage ferocity.

Things had remained in this state, with little intermission, since the treaty of peace.

At the period spoken of, the contest had assximed an aspect of appalling importance. The various savage tribes had consolidated their forces, under the justly renowned chief. Little Turtle, into a confederacy so formidable, as to call forth the utmost energies of the government, to protect the frontier inhabitants from indiscriminate slaughter. The spirit of the hardy yeomen of the west, promptly responsive to every call, and equal to every danger, began to shrink beneath continued defeat. To die by the tomahawk or scalping knife, had been the lot of all who had gone forth : no wonder then that the hardiest avoided^ a war, in which victory brought no laurels? and defeat came accompanied by death, prolonged by all the ingenuity of savage torture.

Such was the field into which young Harrison entered at nineteen years of age, in obedience to the dictates of patriotic duty ; we say patriotic duty, for to no other motive can we ' ascribe the voluntary sacrifices which he made.

Those who served on the frontiers, fought for their homes ; to protect their families whilst living, or avenge them when dead. Those who comm,anded had already acquired laurels in the field, which were to be increased or withered by the conflict. Harrison had neither y«??^^73/ nox possessions on the frontier. He had no laurels to guard. Did he seek ivealth? The wilderness has seldom offered it to the soldier. Fame ? A juvenile subaltern's portion is small indeed, and held by a precarious tenure. Ease ? The home and friends he had left were a paradise to the camp of Auglaise. Safety? It has never been found beneath the reeking tomahawk and scalping knife of a merciless foe. For him at least, the war was one against hope : a bosom fired with less patriotism had never entered it. The spirit which impelled him to this sacrifice on the altar of his country's good, will be found to pervade his whole

Hfe. He has never been betrayed into selfishness or seduced into weakness.

The crisis to which we have alluded, was one worthy the sagacity of the great Father of his Country. In his choice of a commander whose genius could master these difficulties, he balanced, for a while, between George Rogers Clarke -mid the renowned Anthony Wayne; and, at length, decided to appoint the latter. Early in the year 1792, General Wayne arrived at the seat of war and assumed the command. The United States Legion, as Wayne's army was called under the new organization after St. Clair's defeat, was at this time alike destitute of confidence in themselves, skill in the use of their weapons, and knowledge of their foe. He revived their confidence, drilled them in rifle shooting, and instructed them in the artifices of the enemy. About this time Harrison was promoted by General Washington, to a lieutenancy, and shortly after joined Wayne's Legion. His fearlessness and energy, with his strict attention to discipline, soon attracted the notice of his commander, himself a bold and daring soldier and a rigid disciplinarian, and General Wayne, not long after his arrival, selected him as one of his aides-de-camp. It is thus seen at how early an age, and in what trying scenes, young Harrison was thought worthy of honourable distinction, and how soon too he drew upon himself the attention and especial notice of a man and a soldier like Wayne, whose well known independence of character was such, that no influence save that of intrinsic merit was ever known to prevail with him, and whose daring, and almost reckless intrepidity, had won for him in our Revolutionary war, the peculiar appellation of "Mad Anthony." At one period, during the darkest hour of the Revolution, he proposed to General Washington that a limited number of men be selected from the British and American armies — that the command of the Americans should be given to him, and let the contest between the two nations be thus decided. Though Washington had the greatest admiration for his boldness and military skill, and Wayne expressed the utmost confidence in the result — and no doubt would have gained an easy victory — the Father of his Country regarded the hazard too 2 great to submit the vast interests of America to a pitched battle or single contest.

Lieutenant Harrison acted as aid to General Wayne, during the whole of the ensuing campaigns, and his bravery and gallant conduct throughout were such, that he w^as repeatedly officially noticed by his commander in terms of the highest encomium.

The war was conducted by Wayne, with all the cool daring of a veteran soldier, and the sagacity of a prudent general. Negotiations with the Indians failing, he had recourse to military operations; and, on the 23d of December, a small detachment of infantry and artillery were ordered to re-possess themselves of the field of battle of the 4th of November, 1791, the scene of St. Clair's defeat. After a sharp conflict it was done ; and in a general order, issued after the battle, the gallant Wayne, publicly tendered his thanks to Lieutenant Harrison, for the Courage and Good Conduct manifested by him during the contest.* If any thing could inflame the passions of a young soldier, it must be such a notice, by such an officer, as the patriotic and chivalrous Wayne.

This action, in which Harrison bore so distinguished a part, turned the tide of war against the foe. In the July following, Wayne moved into the heart of the Indian country, and took up a position at Grand Glaise. The Little Turtle here urged his red brethren to accept the terms offered by General Wayne. They however rejected them, and the two armies immediately encountered each other in battle, on the 20th of August, 1794, at the Maumee Rapids. A bloody and desperate conflict ensued. Harrison was by turns in every part of the field ; and such was his bravery, that the commander, in his general orders, a second time thanked his " faithful and gallant Aid-decamp, Lieutenant Harrison, for having rendered the

MOST essential SERVICE, BY COMMUNICATING HIS ORDERS IN every DIRECTION, AND BY HIS CONDUCT AND BRAVERY ENCOU- RAGING THE TROOPS TO PRESS FOR VICTORY." Had nOt his

whole career — a career marked with uniform success, and

* Hall's Memoir, page 87.

abounding in instances of unexampled heroism — attested the energy and dauntless intrepidity of Harrison's character, such testimony would, of itself, be conclusive.

Thus do we find Harrison, a second time the theme of eulogy with a commander who rarely praised at all, and never but when it was deserved. He had hardly arrived at the age of twenty-one years ; but whilst yet a boy he had performed deeds of daring, and earned, with his sword, a distinction which few attain throughout a long life. By the sequel it will be found that the laurels thus acquired, were never suffered to fade.

The fruit of this victory, so decisive in its character, was the conckision of a treaty of peace with all the hostile Indians, on the 1st of January, 1795, at Greenville, on such terms as our victorious commander dictated. Harrison took an active part, under the direction of Wayne, in the formation of this important treaty. The savages had learned the power of our government to punish; they had also been taught the inability of Great Britain to protect them.

On the conclusion of this treaty, Harrison, now promoted to the rank of Captain, by the sagacious Wayne, was intrusted with the command of Fort Washington — a station of more consequence than any other on the western frontier — and the management of the public property, chiefly collected at that post, in charge of which he continued until the death of General Wayne.*

• Hall's Memoir, page 54.

CHAPTER 11.

Marriage of Harrison — Anecdote — Resigns his Commission — Is appointed by Wasliington Secretary of the Northwestern Territory — His well earned popularity — Is elected Delegate to Congress at the early age of twenty-five — His patriotic course in dividing the public Lands — Important results of that measure — Gratitude of the West — The People apply for his appointment as Governor of the Piorthwestern Territory — He declines from patriotic motives — Is appointed Governor of Indiana — Unbounded power of the office — Unexceptionably exercised by Harrison — Illustration of his republican purity — Treaties with the Indians — Tecumseh and the Prophet — Council at Vincennes — Notice of Tecumseh — Decision and gallantry of Harrison.

While in command of Fort Washington, which occupied the present site of the city of Cincinnati, Captain Harrison married the daughter of John Cleves Symmes, the celebrated founder of the Miami settlements — a lady whose estimable social and domestic virtues llave endeared her to a large circle of friends. An anecdote is related of his marriage, which illustrates the admirable self-reliance that has ever characterized Harrison, and the entire absence of the advantages of fortune with which he entered the busy scenes of life. On applying to Mr. Symmes for his consent to the marriage of his daughter, Harrison wa;s asked what were his resources for maintaining*a wife. Placing his hand upon his sword, he replied, " This, sir, is my means of support !" It is hardly necessary to add, that Mr. Symmes was so much delighted with the daring chivalry and undaunted confidence of the young soldier, as at once to yield him an unqualified assent to his proposal of marriage.

Anthony Wayne died in the year 1797. Immediately after this event, there being no prospect of further hostilities, Captain Harrison left the army and retired to his farm. In this step he exhibited the same regard for the best interest of his country, which has ever distinguished the career of this great and good man. He had encountered her enemies and had subdued them; and although his services, acknowledged and applauded by ali, gave him the strongest claim on her for support, and fully justified his retaining a situation under her, equal to his mainte nance, yet he refused to occupy that station one hour after it had become a sinecure. He was unwilling to be paid

WHEN HE RENDERED NO SERVICE, OR NOT AN ADEQUATE ONE.

As a reward for his fidehty, the immortal Washington

APPOINTED him SECRETARY OF THE NORTHWESTERN TERRI- TORY, and ex officio Lieutenant Governor. Let it be borne in mind, that at this period he was only twenty-four years old. Yet, at this early age, his merit, and merit alone, secured him a place in the confidence of that wise and virtuous man, which at this day thousands would regard as an ample recompense for a life of labour. Washington, the wise and revered Washington,* made the appointment. If any are disposed to doubt the propriety of conferring this high honour upon one so young, they must first call in question the soundness of judgment, or purity of heart, of the Father of his Country. Harrison possessed the merit to attract the attention of Washington, and Washington had the discernment to perceive, and the justice to reward it. %

In this situation, Harrison mingled with the people in all the varied tasks, toils, and amusements which characterize frontier life. In their company he wielded the axe; with them he held the stilts of the plough, or scattered the seed over the bosom of the virgin soil ; with them he shouldered his ritie to expel the howling panther, or to guard them against the subtle Indian. The farmer, the trader, and the hunter, were his companions. In the school of experience he learned their wants; in the same school they had been taught to look to him for relief. His political economy was drawn from the book of nature itself.

In this way he became the favourite of the people ; and in .the ensuing year, when the Territory was admitted to send a delegate to Congress, he was the first man to fill that office, though only twenty-five years old.t He had just arrived at that age v/hen, by the Constitution, he was able to hold a seat in that body. He was, without doubt, the youngest man in Congress; yet we shall shortly see him grappling v/ith the most experienced and able, with signal credit and eminent success.

B

The domestic condition of the settlers of the West was peculiarly distressing, owing to the abuses which had crept into the mode of disposing of the public lands.

These abuses were twofold : First, the disposal of land in tracts of not less than four thousand acres ; and secondly, the granting of large tracts of the best land to individuals or companies.

The effect of these measures was to exclude the needy settlers from the benefits offered by the sale of land. In general, they were poor and unable to buy such quantities. The wealthy speculator had it in his power to demand for them what price he chose. There was left to the settler no alternative but compliance with these hard conditions, or to become an impoverished tenant of some lordly landholder. Thus, those who had conquered the forest, and subdued the savage, who had purchased the soil with their blood, and witnessed its fertilization by the bodies of their compatriots, friends, or relations, as a reward for their sacrifices and sufferings, were delivered to the TENDER MERCIES of a lieartlcss speculator, whose only superiority was the possession of wealth which he was either unable or unwilling to defend.

Shortly after taking his seat at the session of the sixth Congress, in December, 1799, Captain Harrison directed his attention to this subject. He moved "for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the existing mode of selling the public lands," and was himself placed at the head of that committee. In due time, he introduced a bill regulating the sale of the public domain. By this bill, the size of the tracts was reduced to sections of six hundred and forty acres,.and these were subdivided into half and quarter sections. To speak of the influence of this measure on the interests of the people of the West, and on those of the government, would be superfluous.

The FARMER, instead of being the tenant of a wealthy landlord, toiling for his benefit and liable to be dispossessed at his pleasure, became the independent owner of the soil, and transmitted it to his offspring. Emigrants poured into the West; the population expanded; the forest gave place to smiling, cultivated fields ; and the great valley of the Mississippi, instead of being the haunt of the savage, has (thanks to Harrison !)

become the abode of millions of intelligent men, prosperotjs, HAPPY, FREE AND INDEPENDENT. The government has sold land to the amount of millions, which, under the old system, would have cost it millions to defend. The debts of the nation are paid ; her treasury has been overflowing ; and, by a recent act of Congress — the benefits of which have been precluded for a time by gross mismanagement — every State in the Union may reap the advantages of this wise foresight of William Henry Harrison.

It may appear strange, that such a measure should have been opposed. It was however opposed by the eloquent Lee, of Virginia, who brought to any cause he espoused, as great a weight of character, as great a fund of knowledge, and as brilliant talents as any man who held a seat in Congress. Harrison, however, by his eloquence, and practical knowledge of the wants of the people, bore down all opposition.

At that session of Congress, some of the ablest and most enlightened statesmen, and some of the most eloquent men our country has ever produced, were members. Yet in this severe ordeal, the abilities and irrepressible energies of Captain Harrison commanded universal respect. His report on the subject of the public lands, has always been regarded as one of the most masterly productions ever presented by any pen to the attention of Congress. But not with his pen only, did he enforce the claims and rights of the poor emigrants. His eloquent voice was raised on repeated occasions, and with great effect, in their vindication. He united to a ready and fluent elocution, an earnestness and honesty of manner, and great familiarity with all the details of his subject, which rendered him one of the most powerful and invincible orators on the floor of Congress.

The justice and true policy of this measure, for reducing the size of the tracts of public lands offered for sale, having been at last universally admitted, subsequent legislators have found it not only an expedient but a most popular measure, and have followed up the principle of Harrison's bill. Our public lands may now be bought in tracts of but eighty acres each, and at a price of only one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre ; whereas, but for the destruction of the old system, accomplished by Harrison, and but for the wise and just principle, first introduced by him, that aristocratic and monopolizing system might still have continued. In that case the well known limited means of the early settlers, and consequently the entire absence of those inducements to emigrate, which are indispensable to the peopling of a new and uncultivated region of country, justify the belief that the great valley of the Mississippi, the mighty empire of the West, would not at this day have numbered one half the population, nor boasted a moiety of the great wealth of cultivated fields, prosperous towns and permanent and substantial improvements, which it now contains.

The success of Harrison was viewed with enthusiasm in the West. The people immediately petitioned for his appointment as Governor or the North Western Territory. To this, however, Harrison himself offered the only objection. He refused to accept the office out of respect to the aged St. Clair, who still held it. A nobler instance of disinterestedness has rarely been recorded. Harrison is not the man to deprive a veteran soldier of his laurels. He could not j)luck one leaf from the wreath that adorned St. Clair'' s broiv to place it on his own I In the year 1800, the North Western Territory was divided. That part of it included within the present boundaries of Ohio and Michigan, retained its former name ; and the immense extent of country north-west of this, was erected into a separate government and received the name of Indiana. The office of Governor was instantly conferred on Harrison,* a merited tribute to his great worth and talents, and as some slight recompense for the services he had rendered the territory in the field and on the floor of Congress.