Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-09-25

Il Georgetown and four men, were cut oft
ND All murdered but one. who escaped byl
'wlmmlns. This WAS IN act that could
not be passed ever, and i vas determined
to destroy tie fort, If possible. Our vessels
were ordered to-co-o operate with the ARMY.
| am sorry to say they received no'supro, {
and that on the contrary, they
%cre dissuaded from attempting to pass or
destroy the iort, as being inpracticable.
irun the size Of their guns, only twelve
FOUNDERS. aud but two Of them. Not dis
heaitened however, Our gallant little band,
less than hlty III number, all told, began to
warp up, every now and then throwing a
shot to ascertain their distance correctly
the negroes firing their large guns. bur e.
vldeutiy without skill. As soon as they
foand the shot reached the village in the
rear OF the Tort, they determined, as they
say. to see il they could not make bonfire
having previously cleared away their cop
pers to heat the shot, neither Of them hay-
ing afurnace. 1t seems somewhat extra
ordinary aud almost miraculous, but the
very iirst shot, fired by Mr. Basse;t. Judi
cious, cool and very promising officer, who
commanded gun-vessel No. 154, entered
their principal magazine and blew up the
tort. Ihe conclusion was felt at Pensaco-
Ia: distance ofsixty miles. The tort con-
tanned about three hundred negroes and
twenty disaftected Indian warriors, will,
their famiiles-970 were killed, and the
remainder, nearly all mortally wounded
only three escaped unhurt Both the prin.
eiPal leaders OF the indians were made
prisoners-on examing them, it appeared
that one OF the unfortunate sailors was
mate a prisoner but only to experience a
more dreadful death--he was tarred and
burnt alive; when this was known the two
cnieis were siezed upon by the friendly In.
'iians who scaiPed them and executed them
on the spot--a terrible, but Just act of re-.
trioutive justice. They fought under the
5f.t'Sh Jack, with the red or bloody flao
La the fort there were nearly 5000 stands
OF British arms in fine order, never useJ or
opened; about 500 carbincs, between SOC
q iooo pairs OF pistols, 900 steel scabbar,l
sWorus ana an immense quantity of British
uniform clothing amounting in the whole ia
ABOUT 8 100000 worth of property-tbere
were also hive hundred kegs of nowder Sc.
cuteo, which had been stored in the VILLAGE
outside The fort. You have gathered nro.
oaoiy' from the foregoing, that the two YES
iisS.s were simply TO convoy the provisions.
&C. 10 the Amy and to co-onersfe if ne
cessary. Yon will also perceive that thew
.eee'Fed no aid whatever from the land
uoops' otner than that they confined the
neSroes IN the fort, during their getting I'm
W'Ui me gun boats. Colonel Clinch. who.
~ seems, commanded the troops had made
an an agreement with the Indians to give Them
III, ."c p,under, except the cannon and
SSaiss' ,hatthey might CAPTURE but surely
:, "Au no right TO give away that taken i,y
s saiiantry OF separate and distinct
oofPs. Yet such is the fact. that The Indi-
ans have borne OF nearly the whole a
Remnant only is left.
The merits of this transaction. as IL re-
CARDS the navy. in few words are these,
surmounting the difficulties Of NAVIGATION
to which thew were entire strangers---an-
proachidg a fort whose guns were not onJy
double their own number. bnt, absolutely.
twice their calibre. with eight times their
force IN men ; and destroying fort that
had cost the English so much time ard
more money to erect, Ia the space of fifteen
or twenty minutes from the first shot. wifi
out any. other aid than their own resources
Afforded, and without the loss OF single
man. the unfortunate capture of the-boat
before mentioned. being excepted.
T" twill among other of IFS eff; e's strike
feFrHript9 the Indians. IL was their der i
er cesnrtin ell desperate cases. From the
quantity ofarms left in the fort. am clear
y of opinion that they were designed as a
continual supply Tor the Indians, or as a
secure depot by the British in any future
transaction against Us in this quarter.
g They are. however happily frustrated.
and | think. il tlIey should ever have the te-
uerity to visit US again. theywill meet with
rePu!se similar to that of the 9th of Janu
ary."