Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-10-23

the Gcocrai, q. weji tie ! can r~ecol.oct. sNnt per
hsps two Gags to advise them to surrendc.; the
first by a well known and Influential Indian oil
their tribe, advising them TO surrender and receive
projections; the answer to which l do not know
but l we'll recollect, that The bearer OF the second,
George Mayfeld, the Generals interpreter, was
severely wounded through the shoulder; and this
circumstance, together with their aiterwardskii-
ing three or iour of our men, and wounding sew
eial others, induced the General to direct our
small field piece against them, at the same time
firing the brush III several places by casting i'm
lighted torches; their fire ceased, and on the
brush being consumed, we a few found dead and
some fire arms.
"The women and children were all marched
ont Of the fort after the battle, together with the
lew male prisoners who had surrendered, and in
stead of Z" The cold bioOded massacre" stated in the
report Of the committee, they were all treated
with the most exemplary humanity, such as has
ever characterized the Generals military course,
so far rs / have had any knowledge OF it. Their
persons were protected, and although we were
then without ralions, and 80 or 90 miles from our
Tort, not a moutl,ful Of their small remaining pit
lance of corn and peas. was suffered TO be taken
from them without their consent, at all extrava-
giant price.
1.-The above statement Of facts, sir, l pledge
my honor to be correct. to the best Of my know
ledge, and | can farther say, that so far as 1 knew
or heard, there was not a single life taken. either
male or female, either by order, or with the know
ledge OF the General, except in battle.
Should ii tie necessary to repel the foul ca
this statement oil any value, You are at liberty to
use 1t in any way you may think proper"
NASHVILLE, July %, 1925.
Hts ErccHency Sam. Houston-
DEAR Suit would have given me great plea
sure TO have answered, promptly, the several in
June last, but ! have been prevented by indispo-
sition. 1 believe but few have been in a situa
ton to have a better knowledge than myself, of
the incidents Of the battle ofthe Horse Shoe, md
OF the conduct of General Jackson upon that, "a
well as upon other occasions, i'm relation TO his
treatment both of the enemies Of his country.
when in his power, and of his own troops.
am sure that none can have n more lively
sense, than l have, OF the gross injustice done to
the character Of that great public benefactor, and
to The gallant men who fought under his banner,
by the charges of Sold bloofied massacres,'' Of the
murder oil women and children" and Of the
"wanton sacrifice of the lives Of his own men,"
which his enemies have been so industrious in
iabricating against him.
Ii the experience OF the false and bitter shirt
oil many oil the opponents OF General Jackson had
not taught me better, i would suppose that his
acknowledged public services, and patriotism,
would have shielded him against charges which
are at once so false and revolving TO every feeling
of humanity. The chivalrous conduct OF the Ten,
nessee troops towards the enemies Of their coun-
try, ond tie several affairs OF the Greeks, towards
the murder oil their own wives aud children, should
have secured them against such charges; coming
at least, from any part oi their own counfrymen.
But these reflections are unavailing. Such char
yes have been made; and to witness that they are
untrue, ! call the thousands, who, from Iennes-
see, assisted in opposing the invaders Of their
couniry's peace. IN the south, and whose recoliec-
lions have not been perverted by personal or po-
llical rancour, towards their late General.
In the battle OF the Horseshoe, such was the
provident humanity OF General Jackson, that he
availed himself ofthe services OF some oil the friend
ly Indians, attached TO his own army, TO decoy the
women and children OF the hostile Creeks into a
place of safety was near the person OF the
commanding General, during the greater part OF
the action, and after il vas over, and no order was
given at any time, which could be constructed
into a license to the soldiers TO give no Quarter,
or TO put a single Indian to death who offered 10
Jay down his arms.
a short time after the main battle was over, it
was ascertained that a considerable number OF the
hostile Indians. had taken shelter i'm a collection
OF the laps Of fallen timber, covering perhaps an
acre OF ground. Repeated messages were sent
to them thro' an interpreter, by Jackson,
assuring them that their lives should be spared if
they would surrender-but in vain. They fred
upon all who approached them. George May
field, The interpreter, was severely wounded by
them, before the troops were ordered to extrem-
tiles against them. IL was notorious in the army
at the time, that several men lost their lives in at
tempting TO disIodge these inflexibie and unyieId-
ed savages. Others were wounded, and among
them yourself. Throughout the whole OF The
Creek campaigns, the hostile Indians who SUBJ
United, or were overpowercd, were treated with
the greatest humanity.
To show the kind of feeling which peryaded
the army in relation TO this point, in the prosecu-
ton of tie war, against the Indians, l will men
ton (Hhat j have no doubt is in the recollection
OF hundreds) that at the close OF some one OF the
Affairs with them, one or two OF our men fell un-
der the suspicion Of having ficslcd their swords
tDOn the bodies of Indians tybn a r 1rOpploJ onJ
beyond the power OF resistance; and the very
suspicion OF such cruelty, destroyed their char
acter Willie in the army, and consigned them to
some degree of intaIny when they returned home.
Thousands who were the witnesses Of the feeling,
and the conduct of the army under General Jack
son, in the Creek war, will bear me out when |
say, that no man could have continued in the ar.
my, or have been permitted 20 fight by the side OF
his more worthy companions. whose arm was known
TO have been raised voluntarily, either against an
unresisting warrior, or one Of their women or
children.
As to Gen. Jackson's treatment OF his own men
| will merely state, and l do il without the fear of
contradiction, hy any one, that a soldier enfeebled
bydisease, or by wounds in all the campaigns Of the
south, was never known TO march on foot while
General Jackson had a horse 10 sustain him with.
The whole army often belcld Jackson trudg-
ing or loot, over deep roads, at the head of the
columns, or upon some point OF the lines ,aninating
The inen upon the difficult march, by the exam
pie Of his own privation5. When famine pervadcd
the army, as il sometimes did, Gen. jackson diyid.
all with the common soldier. In repIy to the en-
quiries in your letter, you will see 1 have not
gone into detail. / have stated results merely. and
such facts as ] believe were notorious TO the whole
army at the times alluded TO-, and the truth OF
which, no candid g. unprejudiced spectator of the
whole conduct Of Gen. Jackson aud his troops, du-
ring tho late war, will deny.
respectfully, your ob't. s~erv't,
JOEL PARRISH.
Extract from Cen, John Browns letter, Kingston,