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a war, with Great Britain. He returned to the U. S. in
the spring of 1812, & joined the Northern Army. He was
in most, if not all the battles in the Northern frontier,
and was distinguished for this bravery & good
conduct on all occasions. Before the war closed, he
had been promoted, & was retained as a Major, on the
peace establishment. He commanded at Council
Bluffs on the Missouri in 1819 & 1820 & perhaps
later, having been promoted to a Colonelcy. I met
with him at St. Louis in Missouri in Septr 1820,
the Legislature being in session & found him a
general favorite with the elite of that flourishing
& hospitable city. My "ogre" had been converted
not only into a civilised man, but he was beyond
all question one of the noblest
looking men, I ever saw - his height 6 feet, 2 or 3 inches
with a perfect symetry of form, manly
commanding face - keen piercing grey eyes and all
in all, a most elegant & accomplished gentleman.
We spent two weeks together, very pleasantly, dining
almost every day at private houses. From
St. Louis, I visited Franklin & upon my return I found
my noble & gallant friend, just recovering from a
fit of mania a potu. He seldom drank spirits-
could not bear the excitement it produced.
He had been taken in that situation to a private
house, & while there attempted to jump thro' a
window, & cut his face, very badly with the glass.
He told me he had been in that situation the winter
before, occasioned mainly by the want of sleep.
I don't think, he lived many years afterwards,
but don't at present remember when or where
he died, tho' he continued in the army until his
death. Genl. Morgan, I believe had no legitimate
son, & this illegitimate one never married. I have
been thus particular in giving an account of John
Mitchell, alias Willoughby Morgan, because he
was my first office companion, rough at first
as a block of granite just taken from the quary
but by culture, became as highly polished, as the