Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-12-20
HEAD QUARTERS, ,
CAMP Spest ofChatahouchie

camp Tresf ofChnfdh ouchie,
December 4, 1918.
Maj Gen. Pmckney,-
SlR,-l have the honor to communicate to
your Excelieucy All account of an action
fought the 29th ult. OF the Talapoosie river,
between par. of the force under my COM
mand, and large body of the Greek Indi~
ans.
Having received information that numbers
OF the hostile Indians were assembled at Al
tossee, tSwn on the southern bank of tho
L alapoosie, about 10 miles II ON the Hicko
ry I'round and 30 above the jInction of that
river with the Coosa, proceeded to its at
tack, with nine hundred and fry of the
Georgia militia, accompanied by between
three and four hundred friendly Indians
tlavmg encamped within nine or ten miles
OF the poilit OF destination the proceeding e
vening, we resumed the march few min.
utes before one On the morning of the Doth.
and at half alter SIX were formed for action
in front of the town.
Booths Battalion composed the right CO
lumn, and marched from it's centre-Wat.
son S Battalion composed the left and march
ed from Its righc-Adams's Rifle Company
and Meiiweth, under Lieut.. iendon,
"ere on the Flanks-Captain Thomas's Ar
tiiery marched IN front of the right column
in the road.
II was my intention to have completely
snrrouneed the enemy by ahhuyinSc the
right wing If my force on Canleebse c eek.
at the mouth Of which I was informed the
town stood, and resting the left on thu river
bank below the town !; but to our surprize.
rs the day dawned, we perceived second
town about ave hundred yards. below that
winch we had hrst viewed and were prepEr-
ing to attack. The plan was immediately
changed-tiireec companies OF Infantry on the
lett, were wheeled TO the left into eche{l5n
* advanced TO tbs lower town, accomuauied
by Merl@ether's Rife Company and two
troops OF Lgh; Dragons under the com>
mand of Captains Irwin aud Steele.
The residue of he force approached the
Upper Town, and tn battle soon became
general. The indians presented themselves
q; every point, and fought with the desper
ate bravery oil real Fa0atics-The well Oh
rected hire, however, of the Artillery, adj
ded TO the charge of the bayonet, soon for.
ced them to take refuge in the cut houses,
thickets and copseS in rear OF the town ma
ny It IS believed concealed themselves in
caves, previously formed for the purpose of
secure retreat. III the high Bluff Of the river,
which was thicklY covered with reed end
brushwood. The indians Of the friendly
were divided INTO four COM panies, and pla
ced under the command of leaders of their
selection. They were, by engagement en-
tered into the day previous. to have crossed
the river above the town and been posted on
the OPPOSITE shore during the action, for the
pur rose 4 hiring on such of the enemy as
might attempt 10 escape or keep in check
any reinlnrcements which might probably
ne thrown IN from the neighOOring towns
put owing to the difficulty of the ford and
cooinCss OF the weather, q lie lateness ot
the hour this arrangement failed, and their
leaders were directed to cross Canleebee
crttk and occupy that flank, t. prevent es
C pes tr0ni the Talhsee town. Sometime af
ter The acton commenced, our Red friends
throiged III disorder IN the rear of our line.
The Cowetaws under M'Intosh and the
iookaubai' hans under the Mad DOg's son,
Tell IN IN our TANKS, aud fought with an in
trepidlty worthy OF any troops.
At9 o'clock the eneuy was completely
driven from the plain, and the houses OF
both towns whipped ~ q mes. a. we we're
'heh o. miles from any depot of provisions,
and cur he days rations pretty much re-
duced, IN The heart Of an enemy's country,
which IN few moments could have poured
from It's numerous towfs hosts ofthe fercest
were properly disposed Of, ordered the
place to be abandoned, aud the troops TO
commence their march TO Cbatahouchie.
IL IS diibcult to determine the strength of
he enemy, but from he Information Of some
u the Chiefs, which j, is said can be reliet.
IN there were assembled AZ Antossee, War
-iors from eighttowns for It's defence, itbe-
hB their beloved ground, on hiCh ihcy pro
CANNED no white man Could approach with
'ut inevitable destruction. it IS difficult 10
si,c precise account ct the loss OF The en-
my Dut irorH the nuniber which were w
ng scattered over the field, together with
hose Gcs royed in the towns, and III. many
slain on the bank of the river, winch respec.
liable officers affirm they saw lying ~ heaps
At the wa er's edge, where thOy had been
1reclpta'ed by their surviving friends, their
ess ia killed, independent # their wounded,
mast have oeen at least 200 [among whom