Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-12-26

cASeh'h- ORDER and every man appeared ca
Sert' decide the contest immediately. Be-
ing informed that a good cncampment might
De mad upon the Wabash, Yielded to what
appeared the general wish, and directed the
TROOPS TO advance, taking care however TO
pace the interpreters in front with direct;-
ons to invite conference with any INDIANS
they might meet with. We had not at!van-
vei abeye 800 yards, when / was inform
ed'tnSt three Indians had approached the
advanced goard and had eXprcsse6 wish
tospcab - me- found upon their arrival
s'at one OF them was man IN great esti-
nation with The Prophet. He informed ne
tlat the Chiefs we're much surprised at MY
;-IFahcing upon item So rapidly-that they
we're riven "a urti>rstand by the Delawarcs
and Ailaniics whom had sent to them a few
days before, that would net advance to ;heir
town, until had received an answer To NV
demands made through them. That this an
swer had been dispatched by the Potawati-
me chiet Nmenac, who had ACCOMPANIED
The A,ianiies and Dc,aMares ON their return
that they had left the Prophets Town two
days before with design to meet me, but had
unfortunately taken the road OH the soutl,
siSe OF the Wabash. i answered that had
30 intention of attacking them until disco
Ttred that they would not comply with the
demands which had made-that / WORLD
go on and encamp at the Wabash, andin the
morning would have an interview with the
PROPHET and his chiefs, and explain to them
TIE DISCRIMINATION Of the Presilent---that in
the mean time no hostilities should be com
Knitted. Hc seemed much pleased with this.
ard promised that it should be observed Ga
Their part then resumed my march, we
struck the cultivated grounds about five hun-
ofeI yards below the town, but rs these e-c-
tended to the bank pfthe Wabash there was
30 possibility of getting an crcampment
which was provided with both wood and wa
ter. My guards and Interpreters being still
with the advanced guard, and taking the di-
rection OF the town, the army followed and
had advanced within about $50 yards, when
SO or 60 Indians sailed out and with loud ex-
CARNATIONS, called TO the cavalry and to the
militia iniaEtry, which were on our right
flank to halt. Immediately advanced to the
front, caused the army TO halt, and directed
an mterpretcrto request some of tie chiefs
TO come to me. In Il few moments the man
who had been with me before made his ap-
pearance. / informed him that my object
'or ihe present was TO procure good piece
OF ground to cncamp on, where we could get
wood ard water-he informed me that there
was creek to the north west which hctho't
would suit our purpose. l Immediately dis
patched two officers to examine it, and they
reported that the situation was excellent
then took leave OF the chief and n mutual
promise was again made fer suspension of
hosnlities until we could have an interview
on the following day. I found the ground
destined for the encampment not altogether
such as could wish tit was indeed aami-
rably calculated for the encampmcnt of re-
sular troops, that were opposed to regulars,
but 1t afforded great facility to the approach
OF saVaEes. 1t was piece Of dry oak land,
rising aooutten feet above the levelof mar
shy prairie in ircnt towards the Indian I own)
and nearly twice that height above a similar
prairle IN the rear, through which and near
to this bank ran a small stream clothed with
willows and other brush wood, Towards the
left flank this bench of high land widened
considerably, but became gradually narrower
In the opposite direction, and at the distance
st one hundred and fifty yardsfrom the right
flank, terminated IN an abrupt point. The
two columns OF infantry occupied The front
and rear OF this ground at the distanse ola
bout one hundred and fifty Yards from each
other on the left and something more than
half that distance on the right -fiank-thcse
TANKS were filed up, the first by two corDoa-
MES OF mounted rihemen amounting to about
one hundred and twenty men, under the com :
mand OF Major General Wells of the Ken
tucky militia who served as Major; the
other by Spencer's company of mounted ri
temen which amounted to eighty men. The
front line was composed of one battalion Of
United States infantry under the command
OF Major Floyd fianked on the right by two
companies of militia, and on the left by one
company. The rear line was composed Of a
battalion of United States troops under the
command ofCaptain Baen, acting as Major,
and four companies Of militia infantry under
Lieutenant Col. Decker Theregular troops
of this line joined the mounted rifemen UNI
der General Wells on the left flank, and Col
Decker's battalion formed an angle with
SpenceT's company on the left
Inc troops Of Dragons, amounting TO in the ap-
Rregate about sixty men, we're encamped in the rcar
al the LETT Hank, aud captain Parke's troop which
was iulgcr than the other two, in tie rear Of the
front line. Our order Of encamDrct varied Uttle
from that above described, EXECUTING when so,nc
peculiarly of the ground made it necessary For
night attack the order of encamprnent was the or
der OF battle, and each man slept imnediateIv or,,o
81 TO his post IN the line IN the Formation of Io,
troops used single rank or what is called Indian
hle-bccausc in Indian warfare where tbcre Is an.
shock TO resist, one rank is nearly as GOOD as two.
and ~ that Kind OF warfare the c.tensnn oc linz s n
matter oil the first importance. Raw troops also
map@uyrc with maCh more facility IN single than in
uOUVle "a Ks 1t WIS my constant custom, IN oseern
bic a the hc'a officers at my tent every evening by
@Fhal, 10 give them Tie watch word and their in
structlons iorthe nghtthose given for the night of
Tie 9TH were, that each corps which formed part
OF the exterior line olthe cncampmcut should hold
is own ground until relieved. The DR., goous verc
directed to parade dismounted in ense Of nipl,, at
tack, with their pistols in heir belts and to ct ne a
corps de reserve. The camp was defended nv two
captains guards, consisting each Of four non.com.
miss'oned officers and ~ privates-and two subsl-
terms guards OF twenty Don.commissioned officers
ana pirates The whole under the command Of
field officer Of the day. The troops were rcouI,rv
enIIcdnp an hour before daX md made 10 c..,ti.,