The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-11


evidences of its having been recent, evacu
cuated Finding some corn here such per-
sons as we're most deficient supplied them
selves; We then set fire to the buildings
which contained several articles of proper
", proceeded TO within three miles of N w
f3ucau and encamped without fire. On the
morning OF Friday the 18th inst. the army
was t'rmed inro three detachments; the
righ commanded by captain Hagerty, the
'ieit oy captain Dawson and the centre by
capt. Brown in this order the three tlivi
SONS marched through different pass ways
and over very billy ground TO an emipence
within half mile of the town, where the
whole was dismounted except captain Mar
TINS company of cavalry and about IS rifle
men under the command of capt. Cooke.
Inc march was then resumed by the three
divlsions, so arranged that the centre should
tau Immediately UPON the town, and the
right and left wings form such an slignement
as would prevent the escape of the enemy
either up or down the river, near the mar
gin OF which the town is situated. The
mounted rifiemen under the command of
captain Cooke and captain Martins corps
OF cavalry were directed to fol- m near the
bank OF the river SO as to prevent any from
escaping in that direction. A gard con-
siStihg at about 40 men were left upon the
eninerce to protect the horses. When we
arrived at little hill which overlooked the
town, we found TO cur modification, that it
was like the village of the preceding day );
there was. not singh Indian. though there
were abundant signs { a very recent evacu-
Stion, q repeated ellis within our hearing on
the opposite side of the river. The several
DIVISIONS after ascertaining that we should
DC unable to accomplish that part of the re-
solution OF the Legislature Which related to
lIle 0S StrUCtIOn Df tho Il Il
TO repair to the place where the horses were
'eft, To return to the town, secure what corn
was wanting and consume the balance with
the houses. Upon cur return up the hill
Where our horses were left, the yell of In
dians was heard near them, and two small
detachments, consisting of the cavalry and
some mounted rihemen, were immediately
despatched in the direction from whence
the sounds seemed to issue !; but the ground
oeinS extremely billy, so as to obstruct the
view at very short distances, no Indians
Guild be found The whole were then
marched down to the town, when we dis
covered on the opposite side of the river
NUMBER OF Indians in a wood on the brow of
Z small hill which commands the ford, and
~ d distance from the town cf perhaps or
hnndred yards, that space being occupied by
large old field and the river Taiapoosie
The guides who had been procured for this
expedition informed me, that the river at
shis place was more shoal than at any other
within our reach, and that it would be i'm
possible to cross here in consequence of 2
SVEN oceas'oned by the late rains. Judging
aiso from Inc signs on our route, and from
the information given by one of cur guides
who was well acquainted with the habits &
.eneral plan ut the war party in this neigh
Dturhood, that we sh uid not find any az
th-Tn on this side the river, and our stock Of
provisions being by freqNcnt raius very
much injured, we were u der the painful,
nee ssity OF executing SC much only of the.
oJect II the expedition as came within our
l.Hmediate reach, which we did by burning
the town containing eighty five houses, and
me property found IN them, consisting prin
cipaiiy OF considerable quantity of corn.
judged 1t expedient TO return for encamp.
inent the ensuing night beyond the surroun
ding hills, * we accordingly marched abru{
two @ half miles from the town within half
mile or the river bank, where we lay with
our nre' through very cold night, within
nearing OF frequent yells, which were gene
rai'y supposed TO be on the opposite side of
me river, and prepared for any attack that
the enemy might think proper to make upon
US.
During cur stay in the town, while pro
curing Corn tor our horses, three or four Of
'ne men went 10 the margin of the river.
where one under the cover of an Indian hut.
and others under cover Of such brush and
shrubbery as the old field afforded, exchanp
cd lew shot with the enciny, and three Of
them say they saw an Indian fail at the FIRE
of their guns.
MY Adutant, Thomas NJ. Berrien. who
was at the moment considerably advanced
towards the ma gin Of the river and had a
spy glass in his hand endeavorine 10 ascer
tam the strength of the enemy, states pos
ltiveiy that he saw an Indian fall at the Are
81 Lachariah Simms's musket and John M
Patrick's rifle ; that they we're dragged
up the hill and fires raised near them
those few men were in situation very
much exposed in proportion to that of the
enemy, and one Of them, John NJ. Parker
II jasper county while STOPPING to take aim
at c. OVID OF Indians, received ball in his
left shoulder, which il was found impossi-
BILE to extract-he is however now on the
mend, and viii probably recover.
1t is proper 10 add, that hey went TO the
margin OF tlie river not only without, tut in
direct violation of positive orders.
The other towns which we contemplated
burning, Toakaubatchie, Tallahassee and
immookiau were on the opposite side Of
the river, and it was impossible to get
az them, owing to the high water--hence
nothing was left for us but to pursue
our march home, which was done with
proper precautionary measures to pre-
vent surprise until we crossed Chatahoo-