either bread or salt.* This had been the food of the army during the expedition, and the rations of the General were always precisely those of the soldiers. On every occasion, indeed, he made it a point to set an example of fortitude and patience to his men, and to share with them every hardship, difficulty and danger. Whether encamped or marching, the whole army was regularly under arms at daybreak; and however severe the weather, he never failed to be present, and indeed was generally the first officer on horseback in the whole

army.

On receiving the glorious news of the VICTORY OF THE THAMES, the thanks of Congress, were expressed to General Harrison in the warmest terms of approbation. Among many others, whose grateful feelings found utterance on the occasion, the Hon. Langdon Cheves of South Carolina, formerly Speaker of the House of Representatives, observed on the floor of Congress, that

"THE VICTORY OF HARRISON WAS SUCH AS WOULD HAVE SECURED TO A ROMAN GENERAL, IN THE BEST DAYS OF THE REPUBLIC, THE HONOURS of a TRIUMPH. HE PUT AN END TO THE WAR IN THE UPPERMOST CANADA."

James Madison, President of the United States, in his Message to Congress, December 7th, 1813, in speaking of the North-western army, stated that

"THE OFFICER COMMANDING THE NORTH-WESTERN ARMY, (HARRISON,) TRANSFERRED THE WAR THITHER (TO CANADA) AND RAPIDLY PURSUING THE HOSTILE TROOPS, FLEEING WITH THEIR ASSOCIATES, FORCED A GENERAL ACTION, WHICH QUICKLY TERMINATED IN THE DEFEAT OF THE BRITISH, AND DISPERSION OF THE SAVAGE FORCE. THE RESULT IS SIGNALLY HONOURABLE TO MAJOR GENERAL HARRISON, BY WHOSE MILITARY TALENTS IT WAS PERFORMED."

Simon Snyder, the patriotic Governor of Pennsylvania, and the idol of Democracy in that State, thus expressed his admiration of Harrison in his annual message to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, dated December 10th, 1813.

"THE BLESSINGS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN RESCUED FROM SCALPING KNIFE OF THE RUTHLESS SAVAGE OF THE WILDERNESS, AND

THE

66

The following resolution was passed by both branches of Congress:

“Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the l'nited States of America, in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby presented to Major-General William Henry Harrison, and Isaac Shelby, late Governor of Kentucky, and through them to the officers and men under their command, for their gallantry and good conduct in defeating the combined British and Indian forces under Major-General Proctor, on the Thames, in Upper Canada, on the 5th day of October, 1813, capturing the British army, with their baggage, camp equipage, and artillery; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause two gold Medals to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to General Harrison and Isaac Shelby, late Governor of Kentucky.”

The venerable Thomas Ritchie, Esq., an ardent personal friend of Mr. Van Buren, and the editor now, as then, of the Richmond Enquirer, in referring to General Harrison's official account of the action, remarked,

General Harrison's detailed fetter tells us of every thing we wish to know about the officers, except himself. He does justice to every one but to Harrison ; the world must therefore do justice to the man who was too modest to be just to himself.”

But why multiply proofs of the universal sense entertained of the importance of this brilliant achievement of valour, or of the high national estimate of Harrison's heroic bravery and military prowess! Volumes would not contain the recorded tributes of admiration and gratitude which filled the columns of our public journals and the minutes of our legislative bodies. His name was a theme of praise upon every tongue. He was hailed from Maine to Louisiana, as the “ WASIIINGTON OF THE West.” He was the subject of eulogy at every democratic celebration in the country. The mayors of all the large cities issued proclamations inviting the citizens to illuminate their houses in honour of the glorious triumph. And why did the 'nation thus rejoice? why did joy light up every countenance at the mention of the name of HARRISON? He had expelled the British and their savage associates from our soil, which they polluted! He had followed them in their flight to Canada, and made the proud Lion of England cower before the American Eagle! He had put an end to the strife of arms on our north western frontier. He had hushed the din of war; given repose and security to millions of his fellow citizens, and enabled the husbandman and mechanic to resume their peaceful occił. rations!

CHAPTER VI.

Harrison removes his troops to Niagara and thence to Sackett's Harbour-Sets out for Washington-Urged by Madison to repair to Cincinnati-His resignation— Causes of this step-Feelings of the American people and army-Croghan's resistance to the Secretary's measures-Jealousy of General Armstrong, and his dismissal from the War Department-Shelby interposes to prevent the resignation of Harrison-Remarks-Sentiments of Colonel Richard M. Johnson-Civil services of Harrison-Elected to Congress-Solicits an investigation into his conduct whilst in command of the army-A committee is appointed-Their report-Triumphant acquittal-Congress bestows a gold medal on Harrison for his military servicesHis course in Congress Bill for the relief of veteran soldiers—Bill regulating the militia-Elected to the Senate of Ohio-Elected to the United States SenateSucceeds General Jackson as chairman of the committee on military affairs-Appointed minister to Colombia-Conclusion.

PEACE was now restored on the north-western frontier. The ever-memorable victory of the Thames, so brilliant in its execution, and so decisive and glorious in its results, at once termi. nated the conflict in that quarter. Having expelled the enemy from our soil, and signally defeated them on their own territory in Upper Canada, General Harrison resolved to remove a part of his troops to the Niagara frontier, to assist in the operations then in progress there. The Secretary of War had forwarded an order to him to this effect, but the bearer having been drowned on his journey, it never reached him. Thus do we find Harrison a second time anticipating the instructions of the government. On his arrival at Niagara, he found an order directing him to proceed to Sackett's Harbour with his troops. With this he immediately complied, and, leaving his troops at Sackett's Harbour, he set out for Washington. His journey was one of triumph. He was every where received with the utmost enthusiasm, and entertained with the most distinguished hospitality. New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, each, in its turn, rivalled the other in its demonstrations of regard and veneration for the man whom all hailed as their deliverer.

On his arrival at Washington, he was urged by President Madison to repair to Cincinnati, to superintend the measures then contemplated. Shortly afterwards, however, his military career was brought to an abrupt close by his resignation. This event, the subject of national regret, was produced by causes which all deemed abundantly sufficient, who had the slightest knowledge of military etiquette, or were able to appreciate the high sense of honour with which a conquering general's bosom must be animated.

In the plan for the ensuing campaign, to the surprise and regret of the public, General Harrison was designated for a service far removed from any post of danger, and inferior to that which he had a right to expect. Regardless of the memorable victories which this gallant and experienced officer had won, and unmindful of the various and important services which he had rendered to his country, the Secretary of War, (Armstrong,) saw fit to assign to him the command of a district where he would be compelled to remain inactive, while others were appointed to those more arduous duties which he had heretofore performed with so much honour to himself and to the nation. As if still unsatisfied with this egregious insult which he had offered to General Harrison, Secretary Armstrong, on the 25th of April, 1814, appointed a subordinate officer to a separate command within his district, and at the same time opened a correspondence with the subalterns of the army under his command; and even went so far as to issue orders to them directly, instead of communicating his orders through the commander-a course which good discipline required to be observed, and which all previous practice had sanctioned. On the receipt of this intelligence, General Harrison instantly addressed a letter to the Secretary, tendering his resignation, with a notification thereof to the President.

These measures, on the part of the Secretary, were regarded with disgust by the whole American people, and were viewed with equal abhorrence and contempt by the army.

To show the feelings with which they were received by the army, we will give an extract of a letter to Harrison, by CROGHAN, THE HERO OF Fort STEPHENSON.

“ Major Holmes has been notified by the War Department that he is chosen to coramand the land troops, which are intended to co-operate with the fleet, against the enemy's fleet, on the Upper Lakes. So soon as I MAY BE DIRECTED BY YOU, (Harrison,) to order Major Holmes on that command, and to furnish him with the necessary troops, I shall do so; BUT NOT TILL THEN SHALL HE OR ANY PART OF MY TROOPS LEAVE THE SOD."

For this unjustifiable and outrageous course on the part of Secretary Armstrong, no sufficient apology has ever been assigned by him, and conjecture is baffled by the inquiry, why a General, who, by the force of his military genius, had expelled the enemy from our shores, had subdued a hostile territory, who was neither accused nor suspected of any impropriety, should be deprived of the command of the field where his arms had triumphed. The second measure of the Secretary, independent of the indignity offered to Harrison, was calculated to destroy all discipline in the arm

It was well known that General Armstrong had long viewed with acrimonious jealousy, the imperishable laurels won by Harrison. Well might he regard with bitterness, therefore, every new occasion for adding splendour to the halo which encircled the head of the gallant chief, who had already "FOUGHT MORE BATTLES THAN ANY OTHER AMERICAN GENERAL, AND NEVER LOST ONE." Few, however, deemed his envy of so malignant a character, as to be able to impel him to a course calculated to disgrace the service, tarnish the national honour, and cast the apple of discord into the army.

It will be difficult, at this period, to trace out the true motives that induced the Secretary of War to the unjustifiable course he pursued in this affair. But some knowledge of those events of the war in which he bore a part, with a little insight into human nature, would suggest that the leading causes which prompted him, were the envy and jealousy which a narrow-minded man would naturally feel, on contrasting his own feeble efforts, and abortive attempts, with the consummate skill and brilliant victories, and the almost uniform successes of another. That he had acted in an arbitrary and unwarrantable manner, was afterwards clearly proved. And in the investigation which took place in Congress in the winter of 1816-17, it became so evident that General Harrison had been treated with great injustice by the war department, that are