Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-04-30


vfcsory Of Tallahassee, are taken from
he Acshviles Iphig and C2ari,n ert,as.
foRT ttiLLTaM MS, March 81 &
SlR--I amjust returned from the expe- :
dition whichi advised you in my last. I was
about to take to the Tallapoose and asten
TO acquaint you with the good fortune which
attended it. -"
took up the line of march fror, this
place ON the morning of the 24th inst. and
having opened passage of fifty-tw and
halt miles over the ridges which divide the
waters OF, the two rivers, / reached the
bend of the Tallapoosee. three miles hevond
where had the engagement ON the esd
January, and at the southern extremitv of
Ne~- auca. on the morning of the 27th-
J This bend resembles. in its curvature. that
OF q horse shoe, aud is .hepce called by that
name among the WHITES. Nature furnishes
few situations as eligible for defence I: and
barbsrians have never rendered one more
secure by art Across the neck Of land
which leads intp it from the north. tbev
nave had erected breast>work of the
greatest compactness and strength, from
nVe to eIght feet high, and prepared with
double row OF port holes very .irtfuIly ar
ranged The figure If this wall man;fess
ted no less skill in the projectors of il. than
its construction; an army could not an.
proaoh il without being exposed to dou lie
and Cross fire from the enemy, who Law in
perfect security behind il. The area Of this
peninsula. thus bounded by breast works.
lnciudesl conjecture. eighty or a hundred
acres. ,'>- -
In TINS bend the warriors from Oakfuskee.
Oakchaya, Newly Mca, Hiilabees, the Fish
ponds, and Eufauta towns apprized of our
approach, had collected their strength. -
1 heir exact'number cannot be asctertained;
out 1t is said by the prisoners we have taken.
to have been one thousand It is certain.
they were very numerous and that, reiy .
ing with the utmost confidence upon their
strength-their situations and the assn
RANGES of their prophets. they calculated ON
repulsng US with great ease.
Early on the mermng of The 9th, having
encamped the preceding night at the dis
lance OF six miles from them, detached
Gen. Coffee with the mounted men. AND
nearly the whole of the Indian force. to
pass the river at a ford about three miles
below their encampment, and to surround
the bend IN such manner that none of them
should escape by attempting to cross the
river. With the remainder of the forces I
proceeded along the point ofland which led
to the front of their breast>work; and athalf
tiilery on small eminence, distant from it's
nearest point about so yards, and from il /,
farthest about $50 from whence immedi
ateiy opened brisk fire upon its CENTRE
with mosketry and rifles kept up a gal
hing tre whenever the enemy Showed them
selves Behind their works, or ven,ured 70 az.
prnach tAem. This was Continued, with oc-
cas,onat mtermisSon, for about 9 huurs
when capt. Russell's company of spies.Se a
part of the Cherokee force, headed by their
gallant chieftain, Colonel Richard Brown.
and conducted by the brave Colonel Nor,
gan, crossed over to the extremity of the
Peninsulain canoes and set FIRE to few of
their buildings which were there situated.
l,hey then advanced with great sallantry
towards the bleast-work, and commenced
firing upon the enemy who lay behind il.
Finding that tins force, notwithstanding
the determined bravery they displayed, was
wholly insufficient TO dislodge the enemy.
and that General Coffee had secured the
opposite bank of the river,I now determi.
ned upon taking possession of their works
by storm. Never were men better dis
posed Tor such an undertaking than
those by whom 1t was to be effected. They
had entreated to be led TO the charge with
the most pressing importantly, and received
III.
strongest demonstration of joy. The effect
was such as this temper of mind foretoId
The regular troops, led o. by their intrep
I'd andskiIfuI commander. Colonel Williams.
and by the gallant VI j Montgomery were
presently in possession of the nearer side of
the breast work and the militia accompa.
MED them in the charge with vipacify and
hrmness which Could not have been excee>
ded, and seldom been equal ed by troops of
any description. A few companies of Gene
erai Doherty IS brigade on the right, were led
on w,th great gailantry by Colonel Bunch
the advance guard, by the adjutant general,
Colonel Sitter, and The left extremity of the
line by captain Gordon Of the spies and
capt NINETY of general Johnson's bri
gade OF w. L. Militia
Having maintained for few minutes
very obstinate censest, muzze to muzzl :,
through the port holes, in which many of
the eDemy's balls were welded to the bayo.
nets ofour muskets, our troops succeeded
IN gaining possession Of the opposite side of
the works The event could no longer be
doGbtful--the enemy, although MANY Of
them fought with that kind of bravery which
desperation inspires, were at length routed
and cot to pieces. The whoe marg in OF
the river which surrounded the peninsula,
was strewed with the slain. 557 were
found by officers of great responsibility
whom had ordered to coun them besides
very great number who were thrown into
the river by their surviving friends, and
killed IN attempting to pass it, by General
COffee's men, stationed on the opposite
banks. Captain HammoDds. who with m,
company of spies occupied favorable 20.