Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-12

quantity Of provisions which we could not tAke
way with us. Tie surplus arms and ammuni
.on thought proper tn destroy, fearing they
snuld make bad use of il ifput in their posses
ION also DESTROYED all the liquor on hand
non after they began TO collect. The collec-
on was unusually large for that place, but they
conducted with the strictcst propriety till after
lett tho fort. On the 18Th, ut 9 in the MORN
'g, we commenced our march a part of the
itmies were detached in front and the re
nand in our rear, as guards, under the di-
ection Of capt Wells. The situation or the
| country rendered Unnecessary for us to take the
beach, with the lake on our left, and high
sand bank on our right, AZ about 100 Yards dis
| lnce We had proceeded about a mile and an
half. when it wRs discovered the Indians were
| prepared to- attack as from behind the bank
| J! immediately marched mp with the company
| TO the top of the bank when the action com
ncnced after firing one round, we charged,
and the dams ave way in front and Joined
those on our tanks In b nj Is minutes they
| rot possession ofall our horses, provisions and
baggage OF every description, anal, finding the
| hiamics did not assist us, drew off the few
men had left and took possession of a small
elevation in the open prair out of shot or the
bank or any other cover. The Indians did not
follow me, but assembled in body on the top
OF the bank, and, after some consultation among
|
them. advanced towards them alone and was
met by one of the Potawatamie chiefs, called
the Black Bird, with an interpreter. After s!a-
krng hands, he requested me Co surrender, pro-
| missing TO spare the lives of all the prisoners
| On few moments consideration, I concluded
1t would be most prudent to comply with his
request, although +! did not put entire conf
dencc in his pronise.-Aftcr delivering up ON.
! arms We were taken back To their ercamp;nrnt
| mo- t1a o-t ar1 I,., .b,,to
ent tribes. The 1ext morning they set ire to
the tort and lef The place, taking the prisoners
with them Their number Of Warriors was be-
tween four and FIVE hundred. mostly of the Pc.
tawatimie nation, and their loss, from the best
info nation L could get, was about Is Our
strength was ii regulars and - militia, out of
which 20 regulars aud all the militia were kill
| 'ed IN the action, with two women and twelve
| children. Ensign George Roman and DIR. Isaac
| V. Van Voorhis Of my company, with captaiu
Wells OF Fort Wayne, are, to my great sorrow,
| numbered among the dead Lieut. Lina T.
Helm. with % noncommissioned officers and
| privates, and IL women and children, were pri-
soners when we were separa cd. Mrs. Heald
| and myself were taken to the mouth of the river
St Joseph, 3ni Being both badly wounded.
were permitted TO reside with Mr. Burnett an
Indian trader. n Few days after our arrival
there, the I.dians AL went Off to take Fort
Wa.nc, and iii their absence engaged a
| FIR "ehrNan 10 take Us 70 Michimackmac bv
water. where gave myself up prisoner of
| war, with one of my sergrants The command
/ ing officer, capt Roberts, offered me every 81
/ sistance in his power to render our situation
! comfortable while we remained there, and en-
able us 10 proceed on our journey To him |
! gave my parole of honor and came on Co Detroit,
and reported myself to col. Proctor, who gave
as passage to BuIfaoe from that place |
came by the way os Presque Isle and arrived
here yesterday