The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-04-20
From The Mobile Com. Register.

WIrHERFoRp THE PROPHET" This
celebrated Savage Warrior, is at length
yanquished +; the destroyer is conquered
The hand which SO profusey dealt death &
destruction among "the whites" is now
motioness. He died al his late residence
near Montpelier, in this state on the eth
lust. His deeds of war are well known to
the early settlers in South Alabama, and
will be remembered by them while they
live, and be talked of with horror by gen
erations yet unborn but his daunflcss
spirit has takenits flight" be has gone to
the land of his fathers"
Billy Witherford, denominated the
prophet was about one fourth Indian,
(some say half breed') his ancestry, on
the white side having been Scottish 1t
has been said that he boosted of having
no yankee (meaning American) blood in
his veins"
This ferocious Chief, led the hostile IN
dams 10 the attack upon Fort Minis (at
Tensa) on the 30th August, 1918, which
resulted in the indiscriminate massacre
of men, women and children, to The num-
Der of near four hundred. He was also
leader associated with the Prophets
Francis and Singuister} at the battle fought
on the esd Dec. following, at Ecchenacha-
ca, or the Holy Ground which had been
considered by them, inaccessible TO their
enemies, and " the grave of white men =
bat it proved a fatal deluslon. His party
suffered great loss of warriors, and all the
provisions, munitions ofwar sc. deposited
Mt this place of imaginary safety, being as
they supposed, rendered secure by the
Influence of some supernatural agency.
1t is stated, that after being" saturated
with the blood of Americans, and witne--
sing the almost total extinction of his own
tribe, he voluntarily and dauntlessly lung
himself into the hands of Gen. Jackson, q
demanded his protection" lie is said, on
surendering himself, to have made the
following speech to the Gen. which looks
very little like claiming PROTECTION. 1t
displays spirit which would have done
credit to Napoleon under similar circum-
stances, after the battle Of Waterloo.
81 am in your power--do with me as
you please. am soldier. have done
the white people all the harm ! could
have fought them, and fought them b'ave-
ly: Ii had an army, | would yet fight,
aud contend to the last but have none;
my people are all gone ; can now no
more than weep over tie mIslortunes Of
my nation. Once | could animate my
warriors to battle but | cannot animate
the dead. My warriors can no longer
hear my voice their bones are at Idtto
dega, IaHushutctee, Emaucktu, and IOho
pskd. | have not surrendered myself
thoughtessly. there were chances
of success, never left my post, nor suppl
Gated peace. But my people are gone, and
now ask it for my nation and for myself
On the miseries and misiortunes brought
upon my country, look back with deep
est sorrow and wish to avert still greater
eaamities III had been left to contend
with the Georgia army, would have ras-
ed my corn on one bank of the river, and
fought them on the other but your peo-
pie have destroyed my nation. You are
brave mani rely upon your generosity.
You will exact no terms OF conquered
people, but such as they should accede to :
whatever they may be, it would now be
madness and folly to oppose. II they are
opposed YOU shall find me amongst
the sternest enforcers of obedience
Those who would still hold out, can be
influenced only by mean spirit OF revenge
and to this they must not, and SHAH moi
sacrifice the last remnant Of their country
Yc-i have fold us where we might go, and
be safe. This is good talk, and my nation
{ onoht Ia listen IN IL. They shat listen II