Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1832-09-06
THE INDIAN WAR.

The following letter, though it contains no infor-
nation of battles of which we had not before heard,
furnishes us with more minute dc alls OF old Skin
ushcs han we were before possessed OF. We
therefore lay it before our readers
Ertlact Of a letter II The Editors Of The prgintan
lated
PRAlaIE Du CuiES, 1th Aug. 1882,
Thinking that any thing relative TO the host!-
ties in this country may be interesting have taken
the liberty to gave you hurried but believe cor
rect account OF the latest movements OF the amy.
On the ODD ult. Gen Dolge's brigade, consisting
OF 100 mounted men, (twoor three days march IN
advance of the main body OF the army) found the
,ncampment of the hostile Indians, about sun set,
acar the Ousconsin river, 10 miles above this
place, attacked them killed GS, and wounded n
large number; and had not been for the .atcness
OF the evening when he made the attack, II rs high
" probable lre would have made Il finish OF the
present war The number Of whites killed WIS !,
aud wuunlcd Under cover of the night, The
Indians were enabled to mnkc safe their retreat
across slough T. marshy isand IN the ''uiscon-
SIN where it was impracticable TO follow them With
II force so much inferior to theirs so Gen. Dodge
waited tor the nian body OF the army, which came
up IN few days /; but in the mean tlnc the In
dams were furhering their escape, by crossing the
ouscons H. II apparently bcing their intention to
gain the Mississippi If possible, and cross over INTO
their own country. After crossing the Ouls'onsln,
"A number of the old men and the disaiiected. witt,
1hcr squaws and children, were sent down the riv
cr Tin canors rather on pieces bark, or deer
skin stretched over few sticks IN the shape ot
bowD with view to cross the Mississippi and
meet the main body at some point beyond il but
IN this they were disappointed, and very few, if
any n.c their escape across the river, the most OF
them beng either killed or taken prisoners by
few troops from this post, and the AlcromInce and
friendly part OF the WnDcba2o indians the first be
ing stationed at the mouth, and the two latter III
scouting parties up the Ouisconsih river The
sajn body continued their retreat the country
,s pom, on the Mississippi river 40 miles allow
lhis place, near Wmnebago village, no doubt
bedhr invited there by the Nnncbasoes, with the
promise OF being assisted across the AlississIppl,
aud IN this they would certainly have succeeded,
hui il not been Tor tue timely interposition of the
stsamhoa: Warrior, with few troops and piece
of artillery aboard) which had for several days
been kept in the servc. n: this post, coosting up
down the river, with a view to ascertain the point
where they designed to cross, ard, if possible To
prevent ihen. The irst Two tr ps of the boa. were
made without discovering any If the hostile IN
dams, bu, bringing down all the w mmbagocs that
,iuld be fund, as they were suspected At secretly
aiding the enemy those On the Dalsconsin being
previously sent for, and cncampea within gun shot
oil our GARRISON.
On the third trip of the boat the band of hosic
Indians were discovered on the shore ofthc river
making preparations to cross over. Percelyinc the
boat, their commander Black Hawk - s,ed white
flag and rushed into the river as a token Of peace
and surrender but in fact with intent to deceive and
capture the boat. Finding this artifice wo,td not
succeed he hailed the boat, saying that he wanted To
surrender himself and band as prisoners. The
commander Oh board, suspcctng his cunning, and
being too weak 10 trust himself 10 the power of
a SO much larger force by running ashore returned
an answer that they would be received ms prisoners
- they would come To the boat in canoe two at
The tune Seeing tlley aid not regard this, and that
they were talling back into the high grass and
bushes, Il SIX FOUNDER was Immediately let loose up
on them, they returned voey, and brisk fire
was kept up on both sides, Tor sev4ra IN nuics, he
they could no longer be seen. About 80 were killed
- tIts engagement, as 1t was afterwards osccr-
tanned. one or two on the boat being lightly woun-
dtd
The boat being on, of wood returned to this
place for supply, and went up again early on the
following morning {the 2I ins) On arrivln, at
the place, it found a warm and general engagement
between the Indians and army, consisting of Ii
companies of Regulars under the command of Gen.
Atkinson, Gen. Dodges, Eenry's, and Poscys
bngadcs, which (by forced marches, long and toll
some and perhaps over route more rough, rugged
and difficult of passing than any other in our coun-
try, following upon the trad OF the Indians and ev-
cry day flndihg number on the way who had
either died oft their wounds or by famine came up.
on them on that morning, and attacked them Tie
battle was fought n a place perhaps more favo.-
able to the indians than any they could have select.
cd, beng on one OF the Mississippi bottoms, with
timex undarsrowth of willow bushes and hgh grass
Z and ncrsected with sloughs. Two hundred Indians
are supposed TO have been killed in this engage
4 ment, but no correct account can be had, as the
grcaorpurt of them were shot in the water as they
were rstreating to the Islands number of so,raws
and children and few old men were taken prison.
efs Mmy of the Indians were shot out of Tie tops
VI tue trees, like squirrels. The numbe. of whites
"oea were, OF the regulars, 5, and 3 wounded of
'"e nl''ia, III Killed and l3 wounded The
"oaued We're brought IN the boat 10 the iospta, at
.hiS place, 5 OF whom (miitiamen) have since died
IT Is su posed that Il greater part of the Indians
escaped across the Mississippi, aud that Black
H'wk with 90 chosen warriors assembled the e,,,or,
sue OF the river, To the Chippewa counry.-Chip.
| pewas, P"itowaumies 4 Wmmebagocs were found
y" u'e battle ground. All the Indians have seen.
i" '"e "ostile oani, botli dead and alive, were most
''""c'atcd ana miserable looking beings having
'us vs. Tor some time past On their own horses
"' "ho'c army is now at this place pretty
,"ueh worn out,after such long and tedious march.
"'p' Scot arrived to day from Chicago, and has
"'S',"cd the command Of the combined forces. but
We Know not as yet what will be the next move
'.m, whether the war is now at an end or whether
VI" oe prolonged for another season is uncertain.
=, unless Black Hawk is taken soon, We may ex.
~, CONTINUANCE ofhostilitics-as he has consit.
~ io'celef' HIM though pretty much scattered
~ ne has shown himselfto be skilful General
a'"' Dodge was again foremost in the lust ENGAGE