The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-08-24
DISASTER


the officers, yet it viii be substantially cor
rect.
DISASTER! = ;..
AS soon as Governor Clark returned f.o,n
his successful expedition to Prairie de Ch;en
il was thought proper by Brig Gen Howard.
commanding in this district, (who had in the
interim returned to this place, from kcntuc
ky) to send force to relieve the volunteers &
preserve the acquisition so important to the
welfare Of our country.
Ter this purpose 1t. Campbell, of the list
reSt, acting as Brigade major, was intrrsteo
with the command OF u regulars and Go ran
gers, IN thrse keel boats; the contractor and
suffers boat in company.
The whole party, including boats men and
women, amounting 20 about 1873 souls reached
ROCK river, within $50 or 200 miles of the
Franc, without any accident. AS soon as they
entered the rapids, they were visited by hun
dreds OF Sacs and Foxes, some of the latter
bearing letters fl'om the garrison above, to
u Louis the officers being unacquainted
WIta Indian manners, imagined the saVaees
10 &c friendly to this fatal security NAV be
attributed the catastrophe which followed. IL
appears that the suffers and Contractors boat
had arrived near the heads of the RAPIDS &,
proceeded on, having on board the amn,In;.
ton, with sergeantS guard, the rangers in
two barSes followed, and had proceeded two
N cs in advance of the commanders BARGE
thc iattcr inclined to the east side in search of
the nam Channel, and Being now on a lee
shore proceeded with much difficulty & as
the gale lncrcasec, were diTfted into shoal
water, within afew yards OF high bank, CO.
yered with grass waist high a few steps from
the cow and stern, an umbragc OF willows set
out from the shore.
Ia this position the commanding officer
thought proper TO remain until the wind abat-
cd-seitries were placed at proper intervals.
and the men were occupied in cooking, when
the report OF several gus announced an at
tack. At the hrst fire all the sentiies were
Killed, and before those on shore could reach
the barge - or % out Of so we're killed and
woun1ed.--At this time the force and.
Intentions OF the Indians were fully developed.
ch cach shore the savages were observed
IN qnick morton, some III Canoes crossing tc the
b2tuc grCuAd--Cthers were observed running
from above and below to the scene of attack
IN te% minutes from to 700 were ASSEM-
bled on the bani; & among the willows, with
~ tew ards OF the bow & stern If the barge,
the Indians gave the whoop and commenced
a tremendous fire. The few sury iying brave
men in the barge chcered and returned the
hre from swivel and IRE arms. At this
Critical Juncture Lieut.. Rector and Riggs OF
the Rangers, who commended the two barces
ahead, dId not near The guns, bat had seen the
snof,c, and concluded Az attack was made :;
Riggs boat stranded about 100 yards below
CanpbeiPs; & Rector, to avoid a like misfor-
tune, and preserve himself from rel ine fire.
anchored a0ove--both bargcs opened brisk
Ire on the Indians ; but as the enemy fred
from coveits, 1t is thought htt]e execution was
done. About one nour was tent in this uio-
quAl contest, when Campbeli's barge was dis
covered on ire to relieve which, Rector Gu
his cable and fell 70 windward Of him and took
ous the survivors. Finding he could not as
Sst Riggs. having number 0f wounded on
board, anS in danger Of iunuiu,, on 4 lee
Shore, ne made tho best Of mis- way to this
place, where he arrived on Sunday evening
last. 1t is feared that the suffers and con-
tractors boats iiavc been captured, as they
were not less than SIX miles ahead, and must
be ignorant of the transaction below. Fir. u.
OFanen owned and conducted the spt-
tiers barge. The contractors barre had a
full load of provision 50 tkat in the event OF
ther capture, the savages will .glut their ven
gearCe on the % or 80 defcnCClCss men. and
obtain a supply of about 1000 los. of guu-pow-
der, considerable quantity of merchandise,
and upwards Of 200 barrels Of pork, -four,
wh;skey, &c.
KILLED 2 WOUNDED.
There were 8 regulars killed and II ,yo,n-
ded--tWe died on their passage 20 this place
One Ranger killed and four wounded On board
1t ReclOr's barge
| Brigade Major Campbell and Doct. S.c-v-
! art are severely wourded.
Two woBel AID child we're severely