Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-10-24
SUNDAY, OCTOBER "a, 1918.

thing above 5000 No disposition of an arms
opposed to an Indian force can be safe unless
1t is secured on the TANKS and in the rear. had
therefore no difficulty in arranging the intan-
try coniormably to my general order OF battle.
Gen. Trotter's brigade OF 500 men, formed the
front line, bis right upon the road and his left
upon the swamp. Gen. Kings brigade as seq
cond line, $50 yards in the rear Of Trotter's C
Chie's brigade as corps of reserve in the
rear of it. These three brieades formed the
command of Maj Gen. Henry; the whole of
Gea Dcsha's division consisting of two brig
TrS;ter
Whilst was engaged in forming the in
fantry, had directed col. JohEson's regi>
mcnt, which was still in front, to be formed
in two lines opposite to the enemy, and up
on the advance of the infantry, to take
ground to the left and forming upon that
nank to endeavor to turn the right of the
In1iars. A moments, reflection, however,
convinced me that from the thickness of the
woods and swampiness of the ground, they
would be unable to do any thing on horse
back, and their was no time to dsmount
them and place their horses in security;
therefore determined to refuse my left TO
the Indians, and to brsak the British lines
1T once by a charge of the mounted infantry:
the measure was not sanctioned by any thing
that / had, seen or heard of, but was fully
Convinced that it would succeed. The A
mcricaD back woodsmeA ride better in the
woods than any other people. A musket op
ri4e ID no impeachment to them, being ac
ccstomed to carry them on horseback from
their earliest youth. I was persuaded too
that the enemy wosld be quite unprepared
for the shock and that they could net resist
II. Comfortably to this idea, directed the
regiment to be drawn up in close Column.
18th its right at the distance of fifty yarda
from the road, :. titat IL i..ishs &c in some
measure protected by the trees from The ar.
tillery) It's left upon the swamp, and to
charge at full speed as soon as the enemy
delivered their fire: The few regulartr,cps
OF the 9th regt under their col. (Pauil &C.
CuVied, in column of sections of four, the
small space between the road and the river.
for the purpose of seizing the enemy's ar.
tillery, and some ten or .welve friendly In
dians were directed 70 move under the bank.
The Croscdef formed by the front line and
Gen. Desha'S division was an important
point AT that place, the venerable governs
or OF Kentucky was posted, who at the age
of sixty SIX preserves all the vigor of youth,
tie ardent zeal which distinguished him in
the Revolutionary war, AMI the undaunted
bravery WI ich he manifested IT Kings
Mountain. With roy Aids de Camp. the
acting assistant adj. general capt, Butler, my
gallant friend com. Perry who did me the
honor to serve as my vou7teer Aid de camp,
aud Brigadier General Cass, who having no
command rendered me his assistance,
placed myself at the head Of the front line
of Infantry, to direct the movements of the
cavalry and give them the necessary sup.
port. The army had moved OH in this or
der but short distance, when the mount
ed men received the FIRE of the British line
aud were ordered to charge the horses in
the front of the Column recoiled from the
FIRE; another was given by the enemy, and
our column. at length getting in motion,
broke through the enemy with irresistible
force In one minute, the contest in front
was over the British officers, seeing no
hopes Of reducing their Glsordered ranks to
order, and our mounted men wheeling upon
them and pouring ia destructive Fl g, i'm.
mediately surrendered. II is certain thau
three only or our troops wee won del i'm
this charge. Upon the left, however, the
confess was more severe with the Indians.
Col Johnson, who commanded on that hank
Of his regiment, receit ed n most gal ling Gre
from them which was rpfurred wi n trre.,k