Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-11-03
DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.
Copy Of letter from Mr. John NJ Neia,
to the War Department.
River Black Warrior, Tuscaloosa City,
Alabama Territory, Sept. %, 1918.

HONOURED SIR,--I hasten to lay be.
fore your department some statements
relative to the late battle fought with a
band OF Indians, consisting oil 10 war
riors, and their women and children.
From the best information that l have re-
ceived, they are remnant of the hostile
Greeks, who on fnding they could no
longer be protected in Florida, lately APP
piled to the Chickasaw tribe for land to
settle on; but being denied, they formed
a resolution TO fight their way through
our settlements, over the Mississippi,
where, they were told by the Chickasaws,
they could net get land. In order TO ex-
ecute their design, they crossed the rivers
Alabama and Cahaba, and on Their way
TO the Warrior, they killed two white
men and three Choctaws. On reaching
this river at place called Cornefs Set
Element, they committed several outrages
on our citizens, and murdered some of the
family of Mr.. Hall. They then steered
their course for this place. Having re.
ceived intelligence of their approach, or
the 10th inst. sixteen OF our most enter.
prising men armed themselves, and chose
Major S. Taylor and myself to command
them. We were joined by Capt. Bacon
and fourteen men. Being thus united W,
went in pursuit, and having met with their
trail, we followed it through swamps and
cane brakes, heretofore thought TO be i'm
penetrable, until we found where they
had crossed the Warrior, eight miles be.
low the falls. After crossing, and march
ing four miles, through the most horrid
swamps and cane brakes and being sepa
rated from Capt. Bacon's command, we
discovered the enemy encamped in a
beaver dam, well fortified by nature, there
being thick cane brake on the right and
high bluff on the left. They no sooner
saw us than they raised the war whoop.
and prepared for action. We then gave
orders to charge on them, which was done
with the spirit of true Americans, and
or 10 of their warriors were laid dead on
the ground. We then retreated and load
ed our guns and having formed again
on the entrance of the encampment, We
were reinforced by Capt. Bacon and part
of his men. A smart skirmish was kept
up for 80 minutes, during which time We
killed or more of the enemy bui
finding they were endeavouring to out
flank us, a retreat was ordered, which
was effected without any molestation. We
lost two brave men killed, 10 the contest,
and had one badly wounded the loss of
the enemy was not less than Is killed, and
several wounded On the 18th, eighteen
of us went to the battle ground to bury our
dead but, ON finding that the enemy had
not left their strong hold, we withdrew.
On the 10Th, with more formidable force,
we again proceeded in quest of our enc
my, and after patrolling the swamps and
cane brakes it was discovered they had
fled towards the Sipsy river We hen
buried our dead, and returned to our re
spective abodes. On the same day COL
T. Hunter, with ITO mounted men, set
off in pursuit Of them, and coming up with
their rear, killed one of their warriors
They have taken their flight toward the
borders of the Choctaws, who are appri-
sed Of their approach, and will I trust
soon give good account Of them.
My reasons for making this communica
ton to your department, is 10 consequence
Of our having acted without any kind of
orders, but solely from self preservation
Should it meet the appreciation Of govern
ment, ] shall feel happy in having render
ed my country the smallest service if not
hope it will be attributed to my want of
skill, and not the lack of good will to be Of
service to my fellow citizens in general.
have the honour to be your most ODE
dent servant,
JOHN M'NEILL,
Formerly Lieut. of the AID regt.
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