Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-10-18
INDIAN WARFARE.


| particular account of the late shocking mas.
sacre at Tensaw:
DEAR SIR,
The dreadful catastrophe which we
have been some time anticipating has at
length taken place. The Indians have bro
ken in upon us, III numbers and fury unex-
| ampled. Our settlement is over run, and our
country, i fear, is on the eve OF being depo-
pu'atcd. The accounts which we received
led US TO expect an attack about the fell
moon OF August; and 1t was known at PEN
sacola, when the ammunition was given to
the Indians who were to be the leaders of
the respective parties destined to attack the
different parts of our settlement. The at
tempt which was made to deprive them of
their ammunition ISSUED by the Spaniards
on the recommendation of British General)
on their way from Pensacola (and in which
1t was said the Indians lost more than 20
men, altho' only one third Of our people stood
their ground) it is highly probable IN some
measure retarded their operations and the
steady succession of rain contributed 10 pro
duce the same effect. Had their attempt
been conducted with more Judgment and
supported with more yisor, there would
have been an end, for a time, ofIndian war
fare. In consequence of the DELAY, our Cit
liens began 10 grow careless and confident
end stverai families who had removed from
Gensaw to Fort Stoddert, returned ..gain and
.ell sacrifice to the meIcIiess savages.
Our Whole plan of defence was erroneous
It was adopted by the citizens under an inn
eriect view of the extern Of their danger
From the best accounts which can obtain,
suppose ;hat there must have been TWEEN
~ forts erected on the two sides of the river
not a-,J
nents, distance OF about 10 miles, which,
! IN q country SO thiny settled as ours, could
not be maintained, even II they had been bet
ter constructed. About the ooh of August
intelligence was communicated TO US by the
CHI cktaw Indians, that ia sight or ten days,
an attack would be made by distinct bodies
of Greeks on Mims's Fort, in the Tensaw
settlement, which IS on the east side of Ala
bama, nearly opposite to Fort Stoddert-on
the forts in the forks of Tombigby and Ala~
bama-on Easely's fort, near the Chocktaw
line on the Tombgby-aDd finally on the
Fort and U. States trading house al II. Hop
kins. A very valuable officer, Major Bease~
ly of the Mississippi Territory Volunteers,
commanded at Fort Minis. About mile or
two from it was another fort, at Pierce's
Mills; and few miles below that place, at
another mill a small porty Of soldiers was
also stationed. Minis, however, where were
the greatest numbers Of families and proper
ty collected, seems to have been the sole OBJ.
ject of attack in that quarter. -
a few days before the attack some negroes
Of Mr.. NIGHTS, who lived in that part of
the Greek territory which is Inhabited by
i.alf breeds, had been sent up the Alabama
to his plantation for corn three ,(of them
were taken by parry Of Ind9s1s. One e..
scaped and brought down views of tne an
proach of the Indians. The officers gave
but little credit 70 hin 3 but thoy made some
further preparedness to receive the enemy.
On the next day, Mr.. James Cornels, half
hresf, and some white men, who had been
out son the late battle ground aud discover
eaFthe trail OF q considerable body Of Indians
E0ing towards Mr. M'Gut's came to the
Fort, and informed the Commanding officer Of
/the discovery. Though their report did not
appear TO receive full credit, # occasioned
greater exorticus aud Saturday and Sun
day. considerable work was done to put the
fort in state % defence. Sundag morning
3 negroes were sent out 10 attend the cattle,
who soon returned with an account that they
had seen 20 Indians. Scouts were sent out
TO ascertain the truth Of the report. They
returned, and declared they could gee no
signs Of indians. One Of the negroes belong
ing to- Mr. Random was whipped for bring
ing what was deemed false rcpors-9e
was sent out again on Monday, and saw a
body Of Indians approaching; but, afraid of
being whipped, he did not return to Mims's,
but to Pierce's fort but before his story
could be communicated, the attack was
made. The Commanding officer called up
on AR Fletcher, who owned another of the
negroea, to whip him also. lie believed the
boy and resisted two or three applications !;
but at length they had him actually brought
ont for the purpose, when tbc Indians APP
peared in view Of the fort-The gate was
open. The Indians had TO come through an
open field $50 yards wide, before they could
reach the fort, and yet they we're within so
steps OF the fort, at J. in the morning, be-
fore they we're noticed. The sentry then
gave the cry Of Indians and they imme
diately set up most terrible war whoop
| and rushed into the gate with iucouceivable
rapidly, and got within it before the people
Of the fort had any opportunity OF shutting IL.
This decided their fate. Major Beasely was
sbot through the belly near the gate he
called TO the men TO take care of the ammu-
/ milton and to retreat to the houses. lie went
himself to a Kitchen where it is supposed ne
mBt have been burnt.
| The fort was originally square. Major
! Beasely had it enlarged, by extending the
] lines oftwo sides about feet, aud putting up