On the return of Governor Harrison, the Speaker of the Legislature of Indiana, General William Johnson, thus addressed

him :

“ The House of Representatives of the Indiana territory, in their own name, and in behalf of their constituents, most cordially reciprocate the congratulations of your Excellency on the glorious 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 applause."

The gallant Colonel Daviess, who, as has been already mentioned, fell at the battle of Tippecanoe, stated in a letter written a short time before his death,

“I make free to declare that I have imagined there were two military men in the West, and GENERAL HARRISON IS THE FIRST OF THE TWO.”

Soon after the battle, thirteen of the principal officers of the army, issued an address, in which they declared, that

“Should our country again require our services to oppose a civilized or savage foe, WE SHOULD MARCH UNDER GENERAL HARRISON WITH THE MOST PERFECT conFIDENCE OF VICTORY AND PAME.”

The vicTORY OF TIPPECANOE was hailed throughout the country with joy, and every demonstration of gratitude to the invincible Harrison. The hardy yeomanry of the West permitted no limits to be imposed on their rejoicing. It was celebrated in cvery town, village, bar-room, and hamlet, in the valley of the Ohio, and there were few firesides but burut brighter and more cheerfully, as the honest housewife congralated herself and children on their escape from the fagot, the vengeful scalping knife, or reeking tomahawk, of the grim monsters of the woods.

The effect of the victory of Tippecanoe, was the immediate dispersion of the hostile bands of barbarians, who had heretofore hung on the Western frontier. The various tribes denounced Tecumseh, and disclaimed all connexion with him, and shortly afterwards sent eighty deputies* to Governor Har

a

* These deputies promised to deliver the Prophet into the hands of the United States, as soon as they could catch him, and went away, resolved, as -McAfee remarks, “ not to commit hostilities again, until a favourable opportunity offered.” Tecumseh appeared at Fort Wayne during the following winter, (1811-12,) and by his complaints against General Harrison, bore an unwilling but sincere testimony to bis

D

rison, to treat for peace, on the terms of total submission. Far different would have been the scene had the Prophet triumphed; towns would have been sacked, hamlets burned, and the peaceful tenement of the settler offered up a sacrifice to savage fury.

During the time the events which we have just related, were transpiring, a crisis had arisen in the national intercourse between Great Britain and the United States. We have elsewhere stated that she still continued to hold some of the most important fortresses on the frontier; that she had placed the Canadas in such a situation as to use them for offensive or defensive operations, as circumstances might require; she had also committed unprovoked depredations on our commerce. The hour for retribution was now fast approaching. The spirit of the people had been aroused, and nothing short of an open declaration of war could allay it. Of the circumstances which led to the Declaration of War, Tecumseh was doubtlessly apprized. Accordingly we find that he instantly renewed those intrigues among the Indians for which he had been so celebrated. The result was, that their minds, at all times fickle, became again influenced with-a sanguinary desire for slaughter. The aid which had been afforded, and the alliance which was now tendered to them, by their British brethren, settled the wavering, and determined the doubtful; and we find them, in the war which followed, at all times companions with the latter in arms, and scarcely excelling them in their bloody vengeance.

CHAPTER IV.

Declaration of War-Reliance on Harrison-Treason of Hull-Disastrous state of the contest-Harrison appointed to the command of the Kentucky forces-Arrival of Harrison at Fort Wayne-Indians retire at his approach-General Winchester appointed-Discontent of the army-Winchester superseded-Harrison commissioned by Madison-Great powers conferred on him-Attachment and devotion of the troops to Harrison-Commences vigorous operations-Massacre at the River Raisin-Occasioned by a disobedience of Harrison's orders-Renewed efforts of defence The army encamped at Fort Meigs-Investment of Fort Meigs by the British and Indians-Anecdotes of Harrison-Gallant defence of Fort MeigsAdmirable and successful military stratagem-Heroism of Harrison-The enemy repulsed.

WAR against Great Britain was declared on the 18th of June, 1812. The interval between the battle of Tippecanoe, and the declaration of war, was spent by Governor Harrison in putting the frontier in a state of defence. Interviews with him were solicited by the governors of most of the Western States, in which measures were projected for enrolling and equipping troops, and preparing the munitions of war for the approaching conflict.

Conscious of his great abilities and experience, and the universal confidence reposed in his military skill, by the entire population of the West, they placed the utmost reliance on his counsels, and looked to him as the only leader under whom they could confidently expect success against the common enemy. Having aided Governor Edwards in placing the frontier of Illinois in a posture of defence, he was soon after invited by Governor Scott of Kentucky, a distinguished revolutionary officer, to a conference in relation to the Kentucky troops, which had been raised for the defence of the frontier. complied with the invitation, and met Governor Scott at Frankfort; where he was received with enthusiastic and tumultuary acclamations by the people, and with the highest civil and military honours. These signal marks of the ardent attachment and unbounded confidence of the people whom he had, so triumphantly defended from the hostile savages, who me

He

EXPECTED NEIN

naced all the frontier settlements with destruction by the fagot or the scalping knife, were soon after followed by still more flattering proofs of their high admiration and regard for his patriotism, abilities and military prowess.

It was obvious that the 'first blow of the enemy would fall on the West, but with a chivalry truly characteristic, it neither murmured nor faltered, but equipped for the field. We will not pause to narrate the disasters of the campaign under Hull. Chicago and Mackinaw were taken by the enemy. Detroit shortly after fell by treason, and throughout the whole frontier, the mortification of defeat was rendered more poignant by the prospect of a wide-spread savage slaughter. Shortly before the fall of Detroit, letters were received from the army, stating their total want of confidence in the capacity and integrity of Hull. (See McAfee's History of the War, pages 84 and 85. Letter from Cass, the late Secretary of War.)

“ These letters,” says McAfee," also declared it to be the COMMON WISH OF THE ARMY THAT GOVERNOR HARRISON SHOULD ACCOMPANY THE FORCEMENT.”

HARRISON was justly regarded at the time as the most capable, as well as the most popular General in the West. His courage and daring at Tippecanoe, had given him a high place in the affections of the people.

Governor Scott had levied an armed force of more than five thousand militia and volunteers, commanded by some of the ablest men and most experienced officers in the state.

Two thousand of these troops were ordered for immediate service; and they had no sooner learned that they were destined to march to the aid of their countrymen on the frontier, than they at once unanimously expressed the most earnest desire to be placed under the command of Governor Harrison. This feeling was responded to by the great mass of the people throughout the state. The laws of Kentucky, however, would not permit any other than a citizen to hold a command in the state militia, In this dilemma, Governor Scott consulted with the venerable Shelby, (the governor elect,) and other distinguished citizens of the state,* and by their unanimous advice

he gave Harrison a brevet commission of Major-General in the Kentucky militia, with express authority to take command of the gallant troops about to march to the frontier. This was a bold and unprecedented measure, but one that gave unbounded satisfaction to both soldiers and citizens, and one fully justified by the peculiar exigencies of the case. This unexpected proceeding on the part of Governor Scott and the authorities of Kentucky, conveyed a eulogy on the various military acts of the chivalrous Harrison such as no words can express. It speaks volumes in favour of his unexampled popularity and high military reputation, enjoyed among a bold and gallant people, boasting an unusual proportion of distinguished and

able men.

Shortly afterwards he marched for the seat of war, at the head of seven thousand Kentuckians—as gallant and chivalric a band as ever rallied beneath the banner of freedom. It was composed of men of the greatest intelligence and influence in the state. The hardy yeoman marched shoulder to shoulder with the lawyer who had aided in the administration of justice, or the physician whose skill had relieved the diseases of his children. Even the sacred ministers of God closed the volume of gospel news, extinguished the fire on the altar, and bidding

“God speed !" swept on to meet the foe. Such were the men who had enrolled themselves beneath the flag of Har

the army

RISON.

Harrison had not proceeded far in his march when he was informed that Winchester had been appointed by the War Departinent, who were ignorant of the proceedings in Kentucky, to the command of the troops. This information was received with murmurs of indignation throughout the army. The revolutionary veteran, Shelby, immediately wrote to the

Representatives in Congress, the Honourable Thomas Todd, Judge of the Federal Court, &c. &c., it was unanimously resolved to give Harrison a brevet commission of Major-General in the Kentucky militia, and authorize him to take command. The appointment received the general approbation of the people, and was hailed by the troops of Cincinnati with the utmost enthusiastic joy." —McAfee's History of the Last War, p. 108.

General Harrison appointed the Hon. R. M. Johnson, now Vice-President of the United States, one of his aids.- 1b. p. 199.