The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-10-26

aggregate something above 5000. No dis
position OF an army opposed to an Indian
force can be safe uoless it is secured on the
Tanks and in the rear. ] had therefore no
dittculty N arranging the infantry conform
ably to my general order OF battle. General
rrottcr's brigade of 500 men, formed the
front line, his right upon the rcad and his
left upon the swamp. Gen. Kings brigade
as second line, $50 yards IN TIE rear of
Trotter's and Chie's brigade as corps of
reserve in the rear OF il. These three bril-
gades formed the command OF Major gen.
Henry !; the whnle of Gen. Desha's division,
consisting of two brigades, were formed en-
fotence uprn the left of Trotter
Willis; ] was engaged in forming the in
fantry. had directed col. Jchnsnn's rer-
ment, which was still in front. tote Formed
III two lines opp site to the enemy, aud, up
on the advanye Of the infantry TO take
grouDd tn the left ard forming upon that
Hank to endeaver TO t,irn the isht Of the In
thRus. a moments refi-ctirn however,
Convinced nc that from the thickness Of he
woods and swampiness o; the ground they
wouid be unable to- do any thing IN horse
back, and here was no time % dismount
theGi and place their horses in security;
! therefore determined to refuse nv left to
the Indians, and to break the British lines
or once by charge Of the mounted infan-
try the measure was not sanctioned by any
thing that l had seen or heard Of but vas
! fully convinced that it would succeed. -
The American backwoodsmen ride better
in the woods than any other people. A mus
| ket or rifc is no iupediment't 10 them. being
accustomed tocarry them or horseback from
their earliest youth. / was persuaded too
| that the enemy would be quite unprepared
Tor the shock and that ihev could net resist
| 1t. Con,ornab'y- to this dee, directed the
| regiment TO be drawn up in close Column,
with its tighs 1t the distance of fftv wards
from the road, [that it might be in some
measure protectedby ,he trees from the ar
ttillery3its LETT upon the swar-,p, & to charge
at inu sp ed IS soon as the enemy delivered
their hire. The few regular troops of the
&1th regi. under thsir col, (Paul) occupied,
IN column OF sections If four, the small space
between the road and the river, for the pur
pose of serving the enemy's artillery, and
some ten or twelve friendly Indians were
| directed 10 move under the bank The
Crolchet formed by the front line and Gen
Desha,s division was an important point
/ AZ that place, the venerable governor of
hentuc Ky was posted, who at the age of six .
ty-six preserves all the vigor OF youth, the
arden zeal which distinguished him in the
iHeVo1utlonary war, and the ind aunted bra
very which he manifested at Kings Noun
tam. w ith my Aids. de camp, the acting
asst. adj. general capt. Butler, nv gallant
friend com. Perry who did me the honor to
serve as my volunteer Aid de-camp, and
Brig. Gen. Cass, who having no com mand
rendered rae his assistance, placed myself
the head of the front line of infantry, to
direct the movements of the cavalry and
give them the necessary support. The az.
my had moved on in this order but 2 sbort
q stance. when tie mounted men received
the ire OF III British line, and were order
ed TO charge; the horses in tie front of the
Column recniled from the fire another was
gwen by the enemy, and cur conmn, at
| 'e'gth getting in motion, broke through the
enemy with irresistible force. In ops min
ute. the consestin front vas over: the pr;t
iNh 0ihcers, seeing no homes OF reducing their
d'>oTdered ranks to vtiier, and our mounted
men. wheeling upon them and pouring in
dssttuctive ire, Immediately surrendered.
1t IS CERTAIN that three only of nur troops
were wounded in this charge. Unon the
let, however, the contest was more s.,,. re
It'll the Indians. Col Johnson, who Cor
m nd on tia flank Of his regiment, rece;
we'd most CALLING fire e. m them, winch
wa returned wi h great effecs.
he Indians still further TO the right ad
vanced and iell in with our front Inns ofin
fah.ry, near its junction with Desba's div;
tsion. and lpr y. mert made an imp ession
up" II. Ills ESceiiensy Gov. Shelby no y
e%er pTodSht ~ fcgiment to its support,
ava the enemy recei0ing severe FIRE in
tnnt, and 4 part q j9Enson's regiment ha
Fip8 ganed taen rcsy, ~ ca ted with Dre
! cipiatlon. Their logsS.o 70 v.ry considerable
~ the action, and may were killed IN their
retreat.
can give no satisfactory information o.
the nunbeT OF Indians that were IN he ar
ton, but they must have been Considerably
upwards OF one thousand. Fen, The da-u.
ments IN my possession, &C n Pscct5r's Of
neral letters, all Of WHICH were taktn) ana
tfom the information of respectable inhabi
Tants ct ibis territ,ry, the Indians kept in
pay BY the British were rush more nume-
rous tnan has been generally supposed. In
a letser TO General De Rottenbure. of
the 2Tta nst. General Proctor speaks of
ihaying prevailed up n most Of the Indians 10
lbcCoNp+oY hlG. OF these IL is certain that
lhfty or sixty Wyand6t warriors abandoned
hita.+
The number Of our troops was certainly
greater than that of tbs enemy, but when
Il IS rscclIected, that they had chosen 20
s'tion ibat eRectuaiiy secured their flank,
which 1t was impossible for US to turn, and
that We could not present to them 2 line
N ere extended than their own. it vii! not he
oasidered arrogant TO claim for NV troops
.'e pal = # agperioT bravery.
10 communicating to the President thro'
yCr ,''r, my opinion Of the conduct Of the
oftcers who served under my command,
an az loss how 70 mention that of Gov.
Shetny, being Convinced that mn euIoo;,,r, ,c