Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-05-20

ed cr Oct. ,hey cncamped within fnir mills OF
his pusirion at Dason's On the Sd, ,hey NOV
ed forward To save the bridges over the flvulets
falling into the Thames. which Proctor had
no, yer d. stroycd, & were successful IN captur-
ing an officer Of Dragons, * ten m'n VINO mad
been DEF he'd for this rvice On that night they
again encamped within or mites oil tAe
British. who con,inucd their retreat on tie 4h;
and en- the 9Th, they fonni Proctor and has ar
nv pos,ed with The river Thames on his lett,
and a swamp aud woods Or his right--thrre
was pas, Of about 50 yards between the river
and III. moras, across which the regulars were
drawn up: and TO the right, l ecumsch and
J 500 Indians lay concealed m amDa'h. ne
army were in fine spiri,s and OILY anxious Tor
the Iht, aud 20 put an end 10 the pnrs'l' o' 'ne
enemy, whom they were conscious was rs'e"'>
ing IN his resources while they were reteding
from theirs IN order 20 prevent mis-, Coi'
Johnson prGpos" d 20 h. General 10 divide MS
regiment AID NIKE a simultaneous attack on
thu British aud Ind!ans, wnica would ple,ent
further retreat, and engaged 10 MAINTAIN the
fight until the m in ac'nv, which was about
,hrr- miles in ;iIrir rear could be brought up:
this suggestion was accep ed ythe General
and announced IN .he regiment The day was
pleasan., and every man mounted his horse
with the conviction that THIS day would be
1he las, Of he existence Of he British army
lhey were determined 10 wipe o1' the Disgrace
of the River Rai,in and The very nam" OF .''o''
tor rnu seti every feeling Of ,rtuous indignation,
! and nervtd every arm, for the conflict. ihelr
! corDs consisted Of men q. character ahd iniei-
lieence, hose religious sentiments led them 10
be superior to icar-even Of death and ITS con-
! sequences. Tho reg iment was put IN moton
| At 3 O'Clock, P. M.-One battalion under Col.
| r NJ. Johnson rode toward the Indian line OH
the RIGHT, wniie the battalion OF which he was
mcmarr under their brave and eXctlen' OH
GER the Ea,e Col. James Johns n, rod" n sight
of the British lInc, which was dr.wn III at the
mass ready 10 receive them. Col. James john
son directed them to malt, and ord red Major
Sucse,, with 100 men, to dismount and NOV"
rorw ard, which lhcy did, until they were within
fifty Yards Of the enemy. Their bugle then
| was sounded, to announce to Col. X. Nj johns
son that they wee ready 10 commence the at
tack, ard The moment that the Colo'ePs buS'c
responded, the men under Maj. Suggst present
ed their pieces, took dead aim, and hired, winch
was Instantly returned by The whole line OF the
! British: those of the battalion on horseback,
with Col. Johnson al their head, then spurrin, ::
| on their horses, and raising dreadful yell,
which increased The fury OF their attack, rode
tuous was their movement, that the line OF the
euemy'was entirely bi okenup. Rigging in their
horses as soon as they could they turned S III ed
on the rear, who were already in the utmost
panic, aud they Instantly sci up the c'y Of Quar-
ter! quarter. threw down their arcs, aud di-
: vested themselves ofthcir accoutre cents with
a despatch and facility which was highly anus
ing; thus endea the fight on this side OF the
swamp. Cen Proctor and e fcW dragons on
~ sscapea capture.
! While these events were uanspitiDg, and
while they. we're guarding and tcuIing their
prisoners, Col. Richard VI. Johnson commen-
ced his attack OH the Indians by Leading I'll
loriorh nope OF twenty mep. The Indian, lay
so completely hid that no trace of warrior
was TO be seen, although they were certain Of
being in their immediate vicinity. At'length
! the furhe advance was stopped by the FIRE OF
the Indians, who on the discharge Of thtir rifles
raised their war cry and discovered themselves
OF this gallant band OF devoted men, only one
remained seated on his horse beside their brave
Colonel, " no was himself severely wounded.-
| Ills men instantly dismounttd and ran into The
| hight, which was sanguinary and savage-eyery
man fighting the Indians after their own man.
! ner, selecting his tree or ambush, and firing On
J the warrior whom he Glanced TO discover
| This lasted for about half an hour, when the
krntuckians gained the rear of the left wing Of
the Indian line, and retreat was commenced
just their Colonel received another severe
wound from an Indian warrior, whom he ill.,
| stant'y killed, and who proved to BE- their great
chirf rrcumseh. On the left Of the Indians the
attack was made under lor Thompson, and
after conflict III lnlained with the utmos. OBJ
sinacy on the part of the Indians they gave
ground, and the re reat of the indians became
general and the pursuit commenced. There
was no regiment, company or platoon OF the
main army, as such, which succcr ded n get
ting into the fight i'll alter the Indians gave way
and The pursuit became general. The army
was as ardent & as anxious as men could be TO
distinguish themselves and 10 sci, their cOun-
try, but they could not annihI|ate space, and be-
fore they could reach the battle ground the VIC
tory Was WOMB This he said "the honest
tale which speeds best being plainly told" He
expressed his regret that in the official report
the mounted regimen were not SO distinctly
mentioned as they deserved ID be-which hr
presumed originated from the combination Of
a..