The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-05-13
FLORIDA NEWS.

" offered Of writing to you again since |
left Nolusia. | write 10 great haste.
We met with no Indians-saw no recent
trails of any, after leaving Volusia, until we
reached the river 0cklawaka, 30 miles from
that place. The river being higher than
usual. the troops were halted 10 built bridge
for the transportation of the cannon aud
baggage On the opposite side of
lake, on the left, two fires were kIndled
after we halted, supposed 10 be the signal
OF one party Of Indians to another. Col.
Butter, with his battalion, was ordered TO
cross the river and scour tie vicinity Of
these fires. He had not gone more than
.hree miles before four Indians we're dis
covered aud pursued by the advance guard.
Gen. Joseph Shelton was OF Buffers party.
lie charged, ahead Of the advance guard,
upon one OF the Indians, who had separated
in the race from the others. When within
y steps Of the Indian, Shelton leyelled
his gun-,he Indian turned and presented
his rifle at the Generalization fired first.
and put SIX buck shot IN the neck of the
savage, who, being evidently mortally
wounded, turned and hobbled off. Shelton
finding no cap on the tube OF the other bar.
rel Of his gun, dropped It, drew pistol, ad-
vanced to withn FIVE OF SIX feet OF the In
dan. and snapped at his breast; at this mo.
ment toe Indian brought bis rife nearly TO
his shoulder, and shot Shelton IN the hip
bone, the ball passing obhquely through II
was cut out from the opposite side near The
hack bone. At this time MIR. Gibson, OF
the Fairfield troop, came up and discharged
the contents OF his musket in the back Of the
lndian. Shelton was badly wounded, but,
an happy 20 say, is fast recovering. He
leaves to-day for Pensacola, and will be at.
tended by DR., Watts Of Laurens, as Sur.
geon. | am thus particular IN giving the
details Of thls affair, because the conduct OF
Gen. SheI;on-obyiously gallant and man.
iy-deserves 10 be remembered and be.
cause, too, the lndan killed was recognized
by the volunteers from St. Augustine and
the guides as ko.ha ha,l 70, I'm our language
s,.nifying Mad Wolf, chief Of distinction
aad influence Of the Mlcanopy tribe, who
commanded, II Is said, ID or 80 warriors.
the others OF hts party escaped. The
next day Coils Good Syn and Butler, with
battalion Of the mounted men, were sent
ahead to reconnoitre the Indian town Plak.
hkaha-the residence of Jumper and Nj.
canopy, two distinguished chefs. They
had proceeded FIVE or SIX miles on this eS.
petition. when the advance guard, little
distance 10 front OF the man body, we're
fired upon from hammock, on the left Of
their path BY party of from 40 or 30 Ia
dams. Tie Indians kept up brisk fire
ahII,t the men were beng formed IN order
flr the engagement, which beng done, and
the men ordered 10 charge the hammock,
tie enemy reireated. Sergeant Nicholas
Summer, Of fIargrose's Company, from
New berry, had has leg broken, and private
VIM. Jackson, Of Plckeu's Company, from
Anderson, was shot in the flesh part OF his
thigh. Four horses were shot--one kill
"a under the rider. The battalion Of In
fln,ry commanded BY Maj. Kirby, and con.
ststing Of four companies OF L. ;. Artillery
and Capt. Emore's Company, was march.
cd ~ 10 the scene Of action IN double quick
ti.ne--iormed and ordered to charge the
hammock which was doue, without seeing
ans thing Of the enemy. Oh passing be-
ycnd this hammock, INTO an old field, the In
diaus were seen collected around a fire al
the distance Of three or four hundred yards
On beng discovered they sprang from their
s-sais around the fire, set up yell, or war
hoop, and retreated 200 yards back TO a
hammock, on the edge Of which, and for
some distance 10 front, we're a number OF
pine trees. The battalion advanced and
when within proper distance fired upon them
they FIRING all the time upon the battalion
from behind the trees. The battalion was
ordered tocharge with fixed bayonets; which
vas promptly done, and the sayages fled
precIptaiely from their ground. On reach.
Iag the hammock il was found impossible
to penetrate II, the mud and water beng
very deep; and the battalion was ordered
back to their former ground in the field,
within firing distance Of the hammock.
When on the edge Of this hammock, and
some a short distance INTO II, up to their
waists 10 mud and water, We we're fired up.
on from the swamp, the balls cutting the
limbs Of trees over our heads. | suppose
that thousand bullets we're discharged by
the battalion, with what effect is not known
II was remarked, that during the engage.
ment, which was kept up brlskly for about
twenty minutes, party Of five or six were
repeatedly seen employed as though they
we're carving off the dead or wounded