The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-03-04
From the Providence yournni.
INDIAN MAGNANlMprY.

|
| INDIAN MAGNANlMrTY
IL was on cold wet night in the month
of November, that | ana my travelling
companion, stopped at the miserable ho,el
of LA Fleur, an hali-hreed Indian, who pre-
tends TO keep house for the entertain.
ment of travellers in the tract of country
occupied by the Chickasaw tribe OF In
| dians. 1t was drrary night, and the me-
lancholy aspect of the weather was lar
from, being frightened by any thing that
La Flour's hovcl presented, and the exp-
ring rays Of torch wood fire, rs if aware
OF the unworthy place il yielded its rays
10, was fast rcceding from the miserable
tenement. Not sign of comfort prescn
ted: but here aud there lay snoring In
dian, whose tomahawk and sealpng knife
fastened Ia his deer skin belt, seemed 10
bespeak a spirit of hostility. Concluding
1t FAR better 10 take our choice in this muir
! Ky easement, than wander the night out
IN the forest, we dismantled our horses,
and as contentedly ms possible (after ha-
wing Intellectually endravored to obtain
from our host some relreshment,) sought
Tor repose among the motley crew whose
nccssant snorinss seemed to challenge the
artillery of heaven. Worn out with ia
tisne rs we Were, we found but little diff
Guilty in joining the chorus Of the song, and
sweetly slumbercd until the rude notes of
the Kentucky boatmcn, aud the ehattering
of the more polished Indian, announced to
us the approach Of day. As we rose, ga
zed around in hopes of seeing some one
from the land of civ ilization nor were my
hopes disappointed, when | beheld u large
well turned man apparently about the age
Of 30, in whom | shortly recognized the
person of General John Coffee, whose
name will ever be ycncratcd as long as
| the memorable battle of New Orleans,
shall hold place in the history of our
country.
In General Coffee we found conccntra-
ted the requirements of the scholar, the
magnanimiy of the soldier, aud the cour-
tesy and polish Of the gentleman. Cir
cumstances, arising from the weather,
compelled us, contrary to our wishes, to
lproiong our stay at La Fleur's several
hours longer than we expected, but which
were however whilcd away without per-
ccpton, by the anecdotc and wit, and his
torical intelligence relating to this newly
! eXplored region, which was communicated
by our inmate Gen. Coffee. In the course
of the morning Gen. Coffee related the
following anccdote, which goes TO estab-
, Iish the Indian character, and to sweep a
way those prejudices, which the illiberaI
white ordlings of the land have raised a.
gainst the red inhabitants of the forest.
In the year 1913, said he, accompanied
Gen. jackson and suite, through this coun-
try, and lodged in the mansion of La
| Fleur. At one Of the novels noticed an
Indian very deXteroualy weaving a deer
skin webb who appeared very solicitous
that ii should be completed before the sun
set. There was something in the Indians
countenance which declared all within was
not well. lie noticed no one and seemed
entirely absorbed in silent meditation, and
hoped for nothing but the completion of
his work. watched him attentyeIy: and
in the contraction and sudden expansion of
his countenance, beheld, beaming at once,
| complacency aud submission, serenity
| and magnanimty, whilst now and then n
ray Of despair and grief, and hope for
sakcn, clouded Il countenance which con-
tanned the strongest marks Of talent and
genius.
My curiosity was excited, and ques-
| toned La Fleur concerning him. His
| story was short and simple. A few nights
before, a number of Kentucky boatmen
| stopped at the hamlet where resided an
Indian, and as usual with these dissoIute be-
lngs, as soon as they had betal<en them
selves 10 shelter, commenced scene of
riot and disorder. The whskey went
| freely around, and the Indians were invi-
| ted to parlake of the intoxicating cup, and
| to mngle IN the wild and bcstial frolick.
They generally refused, but length i'm
PEELED by the threats of the boatmcn, many
complied, and the mast outrageous and
diabolical acts followed in the train
Colbert, for that was the Indians name)
refused, and insisted on the necessity of
their disseminating their riot. The boat
men became eXasperatcd at what they
called Indian audacty, and commenced
a savage attack on the person Of Colbert.
All this he bore patiently, choosing rather
tn bear the scourgings and insults of his
vile guests, than TO revenge the injuries he
had sustained at the white mans hands
The bOatmen, not content with the inlic-
tons of the wounds aud tortures they had
imposed on him, but surprising him inca
pablo Of speech or action, sliced an only
daughter aud attempted to violate her
chastlty.-Nature now called too loudly i
and Colbert could no longer resist, but
springing from his bed Of wo, hurled back
the rulfIan, and with one blow of his t0ma-
hawk laid the villain "A dead man at his
feet. The rioters were filed with amaze
ment, when they beheld their companion
in iniquty, "A llfeless bleeding corpse: and
sobriety began to dipel the mists of iutoxi-
cation, whilst terror impeIled them to a
gcntler course of demeanour. The com
mission of the deed soon reached the ears
of the Chiefs, and Colbert was summoned
10 appear before the tribunal of the nation,