To the Readers of the Old Sold[ie]r.

Some time since the undersigned se[n]t a Circular to particular individuals in se[v]eral Counties of this State, urging them t[o] use their best exertions to organize, and for[m] into “battle array” the friends of Gen. [H]arrison, for the approaching contest. This Circular we marked “Confidential.” We did so, because we knew, that nothing short of the utmost secrecy, on the part of even our own friends, could enable it to [“]clear the clutches” of the Post Office, and reach any tolerable portion of its points of destination. As we anticipated, it has been pirated from the mail, and published in the Van Buren papers.2 Of course, all copies of it, which have not reached their addresses, will not now be permitted to do so. We therefore urge upon our friends in those counties which this circular has never reached, (if the paper containing this article shall ever reach them) to go to work and organize themselves in the most effici[e]nt manner, for routing the enemies of the country and of Gen. Harrison, from the councils of the nation.

The Van Buren papers raise many objections to the Circular in question. They affect the greatest horror, that it should have been marked “Confidential.” Had they not better reserve their horror for the contemplation of the fact, that their friends “robbed the mail” to get hold of it? And does not the fact that they did thus rob the mail, justify, nay, even imperiously require, every honest man to use every possible precaution, to enable his communications to pass unembezzled through the post offices, to their destination?

But, again, it is objected that we, the undersigned, are the editors of “The Old Soldier,” as it is urged appears from this confidential Circular. This assumption the Circular does not warrant. In it, we say “the Old Soldier” will be superintended by us. Of course we are responsible for its contents; and we desire to shun no part of the responsibility, arising from its management. But while we say this, we also say to the friends of Gen. Harrison every where, that they, as well as we, are the editors of “the Old Soldier.” And we now invite them—particularly those who have seen Gen. Harrison, where cowards dared not show their heads—where storms of “leaden rain and iron hail”3 carried death and desolation in their course—where his erect figure, stationed on the loftiest rampart, and seen from every part of the theatre of action; and his voice, rising in trumpet tones above the roaring of the death-dealing tempest,—gave “form and spirit to the war;”4 them, we invite to aid us, in filling its columns with such “burning truths” and “confounding [arguments” as may sear the eye-balls, and stun] 5 the ears of the Old hero’s thousand-tongued calumniators.

What credit or discredit “the Old Soldier” may derive from our names, is not for us to determine. We have not thrust those names upon the public; but now that our enemies have, we only say: “Then they are; let those assail them who can.” Upon the authority of those names, (whether that authority be good or bad,) we assure the readers of “the Old Soldier,” that nothing shall appear in its columns, as facts, which we do not, on the fullest investigation in our power to make, believe to be true. No “vile falsehood” shall enter them. It is our intention, that our friends every where may, without fear of successful contradiction, repeat whatever they may find, stated as a fact, in the columns of “the Old Soldier.”

But the Van Buren papers object to the friends of Gen. Harrison organizing. We urge that organization; and we insist that it is not for our opponents to inveigh against it. They set us the example of organization; and we, in self defence, are driven into it. If they now wish disbanding, let them again set the example. Let them disband their double-drilled-army of “forty thousand office holders,” a part of whose regular tactics it is, to pilfer letters and papers from the mails, lest the old soldiers, who have fought and bled with Gen. Harrison, may all learn that he is now a candidate for the Presidency.6

With our own friends, we justify—we urge—organization on the score of necessity. A disbanded yeomanry cannot successfully meet an organized soldiery.

The old soldiers of the war of 1812-13[1813]- and ’14[1814], remember, that previous to that war, there was no organization amongst them; but that, immediately on learning that an organized foe was invading their land, they, too, organized—met—conquered—killed and drove the foe beyond the “world of waters.” To those old soldiers we say—An organized army of office-holders is now fitting out an expedition against your old commander. They are coming armed—(not with bristling steel, because that bedazzles their eyes—not with powder and balls, because the smell of sulphur offends their nostrils, but) with falsehood, slander, and detraction, upon the characters of yourselves and your chi[e]ftain, established in the hard and bloody conflicts with your country’s invading enemies. That army too, must be met. Organizat[i]on must again be had. We, your sons and younger brothers, will form the rank and fi[l]e; you shall be the generals, and comman[d]ers-in-chief. Thus organized, we will me[et], conquer and disperse Gen. Harrison’s a[n]d the country’s enemies, and place him [i]n the chair, now disgraced by their effeminate and luxury-loving chief.7