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The 181-18 Homits of in the

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180

INDIAN WARS.

Michillimackinac, and Chicago or Dearborn, 1021 from various tribes at the former, and many hundred from the latter were engaged with uncommon union and zeal. At the battle at Brownstown, 750 were among the British troops, of whom many were killed, and among the wounded was Tecumseh, a distinguished warrior, the brother of the Shawanese prophet Meanemsiceh. Gen. Wm. Hull, in the account of his capture at Detroit, speaks of the Indians as equalling in multitudes the northern hive, which formerly overran Europe. Among the present warriors, Tecumseh, Manpolt, Walk-in-the-Water, and Split-log, are the most distinguished.

Since their successes at Detroit, they are flushed with new hopes of conquests. Not content with victory over a public enemy, they are again beginning to fall upon unarmed innocent individuals. At the present time it has been understood from gov. Cass of Michigan, that serious apprehensions were entertained of disturbances from the Winnebago and other tribes in the North Western Territory. Messengers had been despatched by them to the tribes west of the Mississippi, to inquire whether in case of defeat by the whites, they would be received by the former-and the answer is understood to have been favorable. We must leave it to time to evolve the consequences, and submit to Divine Providence the control of human affairs. A full faith in the unerring wisdom, which guides a world in its revolution, and notices a sparrow in its fall, will to the pious observer prove, in every event, a strong consolation.

Α

BRIEF ACCOUNT

OF THE

Indian Battles,

FOUGHT BY

GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON,

AND OTHERS,

DURING THE LATE WAR.

ROCHESTER:

1828.

APPENDIX.

THE growing hostilities of the Indians towards the United States, particularly the Creek Nation, who were incensed and led on by the powerful appeals to them from the warrior Tecumseh, induced Congress in 1812 to pass an act authorizing the raising of a Volunteer Corps of 50,000 men, to serve one year within two years after they were organized. This induced Gen. Jackson to address the gallant sons of Tennessee belonging to his division. Perhaps no man in the American Republic could have addressed his fellow-citizens more confident of success. In a very short time, he found his standard at Nashville, surrounded by 3,500 men, among whom were many of the first families, and of the greatest wealth. Gen. Jackson voluntarily offered his service to his country, instead of soliciting an office from its government. The General and his army of Volunteers, made a tender of their services, and in November, 1812, were accepted, and became a part of the national force.

Immediately after the British fleets had commenced their ravages upon our then defenceless seaports; and the British armies had began the work of devastation upon our then unprotected frontiers, the Creek Indians, as a tribe, advanced for a similar purpose, to the borders of the states of Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The last mentioned state, then a territory, felt the first disastrous shock from a concealed storm that had long hung in awful silence upon its borders.

In August 1813, a garrison of 150 men was stationed in a settlement called Tensaw, in the state of Mississippi. They occupied an incomplete fortress, called Fort Mimms at Tensalo, to which many females and children had resorted for protection against the enkindled wrath of the Creek Indians, who had before, in small parties, wantonly murdered a number of families. The whole amounted to nearly 400 at the Fort. The garrison and inhabitants were unsuspicious of a general movement of these ferocious sons of the forest.

Upon the 30th of August, the furious storm of savage warfare burst upon them with all its horrors. From 600 to 1000 savages commenced the assault. The tragical scene that followed, no mind can conceive-no tongue can express

-no pen can describe! The savages, having resolved to ask no quarters, nor to grant any, began and completed the dreadful work of human carnage. The demand of the soldier for quarters, was as ineffectual as the heart-piercing entreaties of the mother to save her life and that of her child! A general slaughter was made; and out of about 370 persons, soldiers, women and children, in and about the fort, but 17 escaped. The Indians entered one of the gates of the fort, and set fire to an old building within it. Major Beasly who commanded, made as much resistance as he and his men could against such unequal odds, until they were slain-and while they were selling their lives in the fort, the aged men, the helpless women, and shrieking children, were perishing in the flames in the upper story of the burning building. To use the impressive language of one who was near this scene of carnage-"Under the double influence of British gold, and furious fanaticism, the savages fought in a manner scarcely to be credited."

This direful catastrophe seriously alarmed the inhabitants. Although Tennessee was not immediately in danger, still its legislature convened toward the close of September-authorised Governor Blount to call into immediate service, 3,500 of the militia, and voted $300,000 for their support.

The legislature, and indeed the whole population of Tennessee, fixed their hopes upon Gen. Jackson. He was ordered by the governor, to call out 2,000 militia, and to rendevous at Fayetteville. A part of this detachment consisted of the Tennessee Volunteers, who had the preceding spring returned from Natchez. Upon the 4th of October, 1813, the day appointed, the troops promptly repaired to the place of rendezvous. Colonel COFFEE, [soon after General,] in the mean time had raised 400 mounted Volunteers.

Upon the 7th of October, Gen. Jackson repaired to the rendezvous at Fayetteville; and although much indisposed, he assumed the command of the army designed to avenge the blood of their countrymen, and to conquer the most warlike tribe of barbarians in the universe. He found the troops assembled deficient in numbers, and was aware that few of them had seen service." He commenced the arduous duty of converting citizens to soldiers, and resorted to every expedient which a prudent as well as intrepid commander could devise to ensure success.

Col. Coffee had penetrated with his cavalry and mounted

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