Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-11
FLORIDA.

TALLAHASSEE, 2l,t January, 1876.
To tic Editor If the Sarannah Georgian
Sir: have read with surprise in the Charleston Cou-
rcr Of the 18th inst article extracted from your pa
per, protesting give account Of the battle of With.
lacoocher You Announce that your intelligence was
received from unreasonable authority. and 1t would
that your informant had been engaged in the fight
This may have been the casc but if il were, his nerves
must have been in distressing state OF agation Tor no.
thing but the most appalling fear could have created in
his ina uinaton state of facts different from the
ality.
Ihave hesitation in pronouncing the statement false
and unuundcd in every essential particular.
He his narrative, by stating that, about
the lime that the regular troops crossed the river three
hundred OF The militia volunteers uncrr General oail
crossed in the same place. The falschood of this
scIlon can be proved by all present that occasion,
your informant, and must have been known by hun
to have been unfounded The stream deep and ra-
pid und there other means OF crossing than that
afforded by Indian found at the place. This was
taken possession of bT the regular troops. They COM
mcnccd crossing about sunrise, and did not finish until
II or II clock: during this time the horsetncn were
engaged in swimming the horses over, but as they could
not carry their guns with them they remained on this
side driving the horses and waiting for the canoe
SO the regular troops finished crossing the
volunteers commenced, and when not more than forty
Gftyo of them had gained the opposite bank, the alarm
was given, the "lndians coming. AT this time,
Cen Clincll, with Col. rarkhil and Col Read of the
volunteers, the opposite SIDE little below the
crossing place. and this side, all actively engaged
in united effort TO construct bridge oil logs, IN or
der 10 the river with greater expedition lhe
logs were rolled into the water from the point Of an
island on the opposite side, ropes attached to them
and passed this side of the river, was endcavorIng
with number Of the volunteers TO draw end Of the
logs across: first heard @ the Indians are coming
from the men in my this side of the river. No
gun had been heard give the alarm, and believing the
enemy coming in my rear | commenced forming
line to receive the attack from that quarter. few
moments alcr, the Indians were at the of
the river The opposite bank advancing TO fire at The
men on this side The volunteers prepared 10
receive theu and the Indians fled at the first fire.
leaving several Of their number dead on the field
After this. the attack made the regular troops
For few moments, there brisk firing
heard, which was succeeded by pause Of several
minutes, when it again commenced. The volunteers
continued 10 crossed myself during the tight
but it nearly over before | arrived at the field
| found the volunteers jud!cously posted in two
lines one above and one below the crossing place,
with one flank resting the river, they had driven
the enemy from their front and were waiting with
great GOODNESS for his temperance | ain not dis
posed II cast reflections the officers and soldiers Of
The regular force; but do, and will maintain that
the officers and soldiers of the volunteers that field
were unrvacd in bravery and efficiency. II would
seem from the statement OF your informant, hat 3GU)
fight and that at the first gum they panic struck
and fed recpitale!y The river, Of the Captains
leading the way and losing his musket the passage
some 20 of them remained and fought CALAMITY
have already shown that not than 4U so Of the
volunteers had crossed. Now for those that crossed
statement of facts will prove the fasehood and wicked
malice Of your informant -.. ...
One ofthe Captains and three other individuals of the
volunteers had stripped themselves and swan their Ior