The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-02-03

the Wiihlacoochic. despatched the
public schooner Motto on the 23d with
Lieutenant Duncan, I'd Artillery, to key
West, for battery of two twelve ponn-
ders, and such other stores as could be
serviceable and at o'clock on the 9th,
the companies GARDENERS and FraDr's
made fifty bayonets each, by details fpm
those companies remaining here, md
with one of the two six Founders Of his
post, with four oxen, had ordered y be
purchased one light wagon, and ten days
provisions were put in march. 4
The first halt of this command wa at
Little Hillsboro river, seven miles finn
this post the bridge Of which had re-
connnoitercd by Indians of Emartcsq
band the day before. From this ] heard
from Major Dade, pressing me to forward
the six ponnders by all means, it having
been left, from the failure Of the team,
four miles out. l accordingly ordered
the purchase of three horses and harness;
and it joined the column at nine that
night. On the night of the Gath, l heard
that the transport with Major Mountford
and company, long and anxiously expec-
ted, was in the bay. sent at one o.
clock letter to him, (received at day
light by an Indian express, urging him
on. He landed with his strong company,
on the 2Sth about noon, and informed
me that Legate's company, under Lieu.
tenant Grayson, nearly full, must be near
at hand. Of this Major Dade was in
formed by most gallant volunteer, Jew
ell, c Company, I'd artillery, who had
left the detachment with the news of the
burning of Big Hillsboro' bridge, near
which Major ID. had halted the second
day, 25th. also informed him that
was using every exertion to push on a
bout thirteen hundred rations on pack
horses, with what ammunition could be
spared. A duplicate of this was sent the
next day by young Indian, who be-
become lame, and could not overtake the
column, and returned with his letters.
Pr. Jewell joined Major Dadc about II
O'Clock on the night of the 25th. y
Now it becomes my melancholy duty
to proceed to the catastrophe of this fa-
ted band an elite of energy, patriotism,
military skill, and constant courage. On
the 9th, in the afternoon, man Of my
company, John Thomas, and temporarily
transferred to c company, I'd Artillery,
came in, and yesterday II. Clark, of same
companys with four wounds, very seyer@k
and stated that an oetion took plans 90
the 2Sth, commencing about ten O'Clock
in which every officer fell, and nearly
every man. The command entrenched
every night, and about four miles from
the halt were attacked, and received at
least fifteen rounds before an Indian was
seen. Major Dade and his horse were
both killed on the first onset, and the in
terpreter " Louis" Lit. Nudge, Sd Ar
tillery, received his mortal wound rhe
first fire, and afterwards received several
other wounds. Lit. passenger, 3D. Artil-
lery, was not wounded till after the Sec
ond attack; and at the latter part Of that,
he was wounded several times before he
was tomahawked.-Captain Gardner,
Cd Artillery, was not wounded until the
second attack, and at the last part of it.
MIR. Basinger, after Captain Gardiner was
killed, remarked, 4" / am the only officer
left, and, boys we will do the best we
can," Lit. Keaye's Sd Artillery, had
both arms broken the first shot, was un-
able to act and was tomabawked the
latter part ofthe second attack by negro.
Lit. Henderson had his left arm broken
the first fire, and after that with a mus
ket fired at least thirty or forty shot. DIR.
Gatln was not killed until after the Sec
oBd attack, nor was he wounded he
placed himself behind the breastwork,
and with two double-barrelled guns, said,
"he had four barrels for them" Cap
tain Frazer fen early in the action with
the advanced guard as a man Of his
company, [ b Sd Artillery who came in
this morning wounded, reports.
On the attack they were in column of
route; and terreceving heavy fire from
the unseen enemy, they then rose up in
such a swarm, that the ground, covered,
as was thought, by Light Infantry extern
sion, showed the Indians between the
files. Muskets were clubbed, knives,
and bayonets used, and parties clinched.
In the second attack, our own mems
muskets, from the dead and wounded.
were used against them; cross fire cut
down a succession Of artillcrists at the
fence, from which forty-nine rounds were
fred-the gun carriages we're burnt, and
the guns sunk in pond. A war dance
was held on the ground-many negroes
were in the field, but no scalps were taken
by the Indians, but the negroes, with
hellish cruelty, pierced the throats of all,
whose loud cries and groans showed the
power Of life to be yet strons. The sur
vivors we're preserved by initiating death,
excepting Thomas, who was partly stifled
and bought his life for six dollars, and in
his enemy recognized an Indian whose
axe he had beIycd few days before at