the British line of regulars, which, thus drawn up, contrary to the habits and usages of that description of troops, always accustomed to the touch, could be easily penetrated and thrown into confusion, by a spirited charge of colonel Johnson’s regiment.”  This determination was presently made known to the colonel, who was directed to draw up his regiment in close column, with its right fifty yards from the road—­that it might be partially protected by the trees from the artillery—­its left upon the swamp, and to charge at full speed upon the enemy.

At this juncture, general Harrison, with his aids-de-camp, attended likewise by general Cass and commodore Perry, advanced from the right of the front line of infantry, to the right of the front column of mounted troops, led by colonel James Johnson.  The general, personally, gave the direction for the charge to be made.  “When the right battalion of the mounted men received the first fire of the British, the horses in the front column recoiled; another fire was given by the enemy, but our column getting in motion, broke through the enemy with irresistible force.  In one minute the contest was over.  The British officers seeing no prospect of reducing their disordered ranks to order, and seeing the advance of the infantry, and our mounted men wheeling upon them and pouring in a destructive fire, immediately surrendered."[A]

[Footnote A:  Official Despatch.]

Colonel Richard M. Johnson, by the extension of his line, was brought in contact with the Indians, upon whom he gallantly charged, but was unfortunately severely wounded by the first fire of the enemy, and was immediately taken off the field, not, however, it has been stated, until he had despatched an Indian by a pistol shot.  The fire of the Indians having made some impression upon Johnson’s men, and upon the left of Trotter’s brigade, general Harrison despatched an order to governor Shelby to bring up Simrall’s regiment to reinforce the point pressed by the Indians; and then the general passed to the left, to superintend the operations in that quarter.  The governor, however, had anticipated the wishes of his commander, being in the act of leading up the regiment, when the order reached him.  He and the general met near the crochet, where after a severe contest of several minutes, the battle finally ceased.  The particulars of the charge made by colonel Johnson on the Indians, are thus given by an intelligent officer[A] of his corps.  In a letter to the late governor Wickliffe of Kentucky, under date of Frankfort, September 7, 1840, he says: 

“I was at the head or right of my company, on horseback, waiting orders, at about fifty or sixty yards from the line of the enemy.  Colonel Johnson rode up and explained to me the mode of attack, and said in substance, ’captain Davidson, I am directed by general Harrison to charge and break through the Indian line, and form in the rear.  My brother James will charge in like manner through the British