Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1813-06-07

the late engagement at the Rapids,
were arriving there in comfortable
numbe S, having been landed by the
Britfh at the mouth of Huron, and
liberated on their parole. Their ap-
pearance was truly deplorable. hav.
ing been itripped and plundered by
the Indians OF every thing valuable.
Few of them had any other garment
except fhirt and trowfers, and blank
cts which had been fent them by
Gen. Harrifon. The inhabitants had
furniihed mott of them with bats,
though many were ftill without any.
The people TOO were very liberal in
fupplying them with proviGons.
They fate that they defended the
Miami in boats from fort Defiance,
in number about twelve hundred, un-
der the command of general Clay.
On the 9Th May, divi6on of be-
tween fcven and eight hundred men,
under the command of Col. Dudley,
landed on the welt fidc of the river OPP
polite to fort Meigs, by order of Gen.
Hauifon. for the purpofe of form.
ing the Britifh Batteries, which they
effected without much lois. They
fpiked the cannon and took feveral
Englilhmen prifoners The only
formidable force near the fort were
Indians, who retreated, and were
pnrfued without much order by the
Kentuckians.-They kept ikirmilh-
ing with them for fome comfortable
time, until the Britifh, who were en-
campsd fome difa1ce in the rear of
the batteries, came up, and cut Oft
their retreat to the river. Finding
themfelves iurroupded on all fidcs,
mott of them were compelled to fur
render. At this time il i, fated by
fome, that there were net 40 togeth.
er. About I4o made their efcape
and got out to the fort. The prifoners
were taken to the old fort, when they
were counted, and ftated b. the Britiih
officer to amount to about $50. Hav.
ING been left in the fort under fmall
guard, the Indians broke in upon
them and killed a number. Two of
the Englilh folders were killed by the
Indians in attempting to defend
them Tecumkh, and Col. Elliot foon
came to their relief and put an end
to the manacre. Tecunleh, in par
ticular, was much enraged at the
conduct of the Indians.-Towards
evening of the fam. day they were
put on board fome Britiih veilels,
where they remained two or three
days, and were then taken to the
mouth of Huron and difcharged on
parole.
Their lofs in killed wac varioufly,
ftated from 90 to 100, one third of
which were faid to have been malta
cred by the Indians after the furren.
der, Among the killed was Col.
Dudley and 4 captains. Col. Dudley
is faid 10 have died very bravely );
being fevcrely wounded in the action
in the leg and temple, and faint with
lofs of blood, he requeited folder
to give him gun, and leave him
when the Indians came up he fired
and killed one of them-they ruihed
upon him, and with their tomahswks
diipatched him in a mott cruel man.
ner. cutting off his legs and arms, &
hewing bis body to peices.
They reprefent the Indians in gen.
eral to have acted with great cruelty.
The Britifh on the other hand, treat
ed them well. took care Of the
wounded. and ufed every exertion to
protect them from the Indians.
They Ultimate the force of the
Britlih at about 1000 men, and that
of the Indians from Is to 10 hundred.
The Britiih were tending the Indians
to Maiden, and re-embarking their
cannon, and every thing indicated
their intention Immediately to raife
the fiege of the fort, and 10 leave
that part of the country.
CCrSince the receipt of the above
article, we have received Hand
Bill, from Montreal, containing the
Britifh official account of the captor