The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-03-07

Through courtesy, We often nov here call
ed " the disaiIrettd, "ihe friends of In
British government &c. but prefer t,
call them by the good old reeolutionaf,
ln1mc of "To1es.n After the middle .
July they appeared On the west Of Mini
sink, like dark cloud hanging ON IA,
mountain top, ready 10 break upon In,
plain below in thunder aud lightning, TEN.
pest aud hail. On the morning of the 2ot
the inhabitants were awakened from then
SAUNDERS by the flames of their dwellings
and fled IN CONSERVATION. Their farms
were laid WASTE, and their caitle and other
property plundered by detachment al
this eSeerablc band, whom Brandt had
sent out for this work of robbery and muif-
der. On The evening of the same day,
Colonel Tnsten, of Goshen, received by
express, intelligence OF the events Of the
morning, aud issued orders 10 the officers
OF his regiment, 10 meet him ON the 31sf,
with as many volunteers n they could
raise, at Mnisink, which be- had fixed ~
the place of rendezvous. The officers
generally, with the small force which they
could raise and equip on W short u nUtce,
met the colonel at the place appointed,
where they held a council of war, aud dis
cnsscd the question, whether they should
pursue the savages or not Col. Tusten
wisely opposed the pursuit, as Brandt, u
skillul warrior was probably the comman-
der, as the encmy'5 force appeared to BIZ
much superior To theirs, and rs they had
with them many tories, who were well &c.
quantcd with the woods while they had
only a small force, were i'll supplied with
ammunition, and al the same time expect
ed reintorccments. The majority, howe
yer, were for pursuing the Indians, who
they said would not fight, and from whom
they should rndeavor 10 recover the plum
der. In the midst OF these deliberations,
Major Meekrr mount.dhis horse, flourish
ed his sword, and said "let the brave men
follow me, the towards may atay behind. y
As may be readiIy thought, this decided
the question; they al took up the line Of
march, proceeded that evening II milrs,
and encamped for the night. On the next
morning they were Joined by u small rein
iorccmrnt, under Colonel IIaihDiu Of the
Warwick regiment, vino being an older
officer tLan Col. TUsten, took The com
mand When they had advanced few
miles, TO Halfway Brook, they came upon
the place where the Indians had cncamI oil |
the preceding night and another council
was held there. Coils. IIalhoro, Tusten,
and others whose y1lor was governed by |
prudence, were opposed to advancing Ear !
ther, rs The number Of Indian fires, aud |
the extent of ground occupied by their en-
capment, removed all doubt as to the ST. !
periorlly Of the force of the enemy. The |
same scence which broke up the former
council was reacted there, and with the |
game effect.
Captain Tyler, who had some know
edge of the woods, was sent forward ut
he head of = small scouting party, 10 re-
eonnoltre the movements of the enemy |
aud give notice of the best ground for al
lacking INN but he had not advanced |
far until ne was killed, n circumstance |
which created considerable alarm. AS our
troops werr marching north 0n the hills
east of the Delaware, about nine IN the
they discovered the Indians nd |
vantng leisaoly along the bank Of the
river about three quarters Of mile d.
tant.
Brandt had SEPT forward the plnnder uni
" tlf - ~ ~ iiihiIB lfitf&k WI iii' !
Delaware, near the mouth of The Laka- |
Hack, where he intended 10 cross the r. |
yer. Col. llathorn wished to intercept |
him before he reached the fordog place
Owing 10 intervening wonds aud hlls, the
two armies soon lost sight Of each other,
and Brandt, Instead oradyauciHg along inr
ranks Of the Delaware, wheeled 10 the
right and passed up deep raYine, over
which our troops had marched, and thus
crossing our line of march, showing him
sell on or rear, about two O'Clock BY
this skllnl manHuyrp, he moi only took us
by surprise, but chose his Own ground for
commencing the attack. Col ilatborn, Us
bis men were III supplied with ammuni-
ton, issued an order like dat Of General
Putnam, at Buiker's hill, nul 10 fire Sill
gle shot, until the enemy was near enough
10 make it take en.ctl just al that mo
ment, an indian was seen riding horse
which had been stolen from hIinisink ON
the Goth, and was known 10 one ofOur men,
who instantly fired on him and killed him.
The fire soon became genUal, At itscom-
msnccment, about fifty Of Col. ilathorn's
mrn were cut of from the main body, and
could not be brought into the engagement,
having between eighty aud ninety men on
~, TO contend with the whole iotcc OF the
enemy, five times their number. Every
thing that the most determined bravery
could effect, was effected. Soon after the
commencement Of the battle, they were
completely surrounded by the sava8es, on
the summit Of u bill, dcccnding on all sidcs,
and the ground which they occupied a
m0ao the rocks and bushes, WAS about tho
extsnt OF AN acre, which they maintained
in an qbst,aate conflict, from between tet
and eleven in the morning, until late in the
afternoon. The wounded we're collected
in secure place, under "A rock, to the
number Of seventeen, where Col. Tusten
who was a skiltu surgeon, dressed thei
wounds, SO deadly was our Ere, that haf