Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-12-10


The left division, under Gen Armstrong encountered
no opposition from the cncmy II crossing INC c'ec' u
the negro town.
The creek WAS deep enough 10 swi in their horses -
Col Trousdairs Regiment crossed It: burnt two well
built negIu nr Indian towns on the opposite s:a'' al'cf
which, the Brigade rrtreaied 10 The camp near lnr riFr
From the report Of old and Intrm negro, lcit al 's
place By the enemy it was asccrtancd That They had rd
Tor the WalUo Swamp on the approach q! our army,
carrying with them all their property and corn From
the same learnt that. ut the previous affairs
of the lh Of October, the river and the creek, the
loss Of the enemy had been at the irSl Is, and at the
last :}3 killed.
Dispositions were then made to pursue the enemy in
ever direction, BY which he could possibly retire Col
Pierce with go of the Regulars, the Creek rige ana
Colonel Warreus mounted men were ordered 10 pass
out Of the Cove. by the uny practicable outlet III n'
direcl;o and after rlly exploring the country n0u'
and West rI the River. reuDc with The army about
the 10Th or 2Glh near Dates battle ground lie Coni-
mauGern chief serving the river, marched WIN 'e
Tennessee, Brigade, Two Companies "t ARTILLERY anu Tie
Florida FuotIurn. and with the wh"Ie wagon tram III
search Of the enemy. the north SIDE o! tie river anu
UPWARDS lie Wu,oo swamp. Both Divisions marched
on tie lll-cn the Eth about noon large party oi te
enemy discovered near the line ni inarch Oh 'c
main army. encamptd near hammock lie iirst 'e'
piIrnt of Tennessee volunteers under Cu!onr Draa-
ford, then constituting the regiment under lllr lhme-
diac Command ol Gcncra Armstrong: was instantly
detached to attack the enemy then distant about 4oO
yards The enemy: though surprised haa u'ic 10 Will
draw themselves and portion OF their property INTO an
adjoining hammock and swamp where they awaited The
approach of men, who advanced rapidly TO he en-
counter. Before the troops could dlsmount, thcy were
received with fire from the enemy Inc IRE was
promptly returned. The fight vigorously ilialhlaH'
ed by the enemy firing from their covert upon our troops
but upon charge being ordered and promptly executed
by our men the most gallant manner the enemy pre-
cipalry fed leaving 20 dead in the wood and all their
horses aud baggage. Other dead and great number Of
wounded were carried off b. them during the iIyh as
indicated BIZ bloody trails. The pursuit was
continued hy men waist deep III water and nuu, aS
onr rs thu. traces of the enemy could be followed.
At the beginning of the action two Companies OF the
Cd Rcrt and the Companies Of pies afterwards, were
detached Tie left to Gu, off the retreat OF the enemy,
but the OF the country prevented all crctua pr
suit. The enemy were supposed TO amount TO from loo
10 POO.
Our loss was one killed, and 10 woundcd-one nor
tally. This very gallant affair. III which both o.
fcrrs and men behaved with the utmost spirit and in
trrp!dny. After bringing of our killed and woundeI
the army moved four miles Oh lis route, and cncamprd
On t!lr 18th, the COMMANDMENTS Chief, after leaving the
wagon train under strong guard marched al te mead
of aboul.JU rncssrcans, consisting OF Col lroustalc
regiment. principally oomrn, and part OF the lst he
enrn, and the companies OF Spies, all under the lninc
da,e command Of Gen. Armstrong, into the NaIoo
swamp About three miles from the camp, they struck
into large Indian trail which led the left, through
two dense hammocks, and two creeks, into large
field, surrounded three sides by iammocks. The en-
envy on our approach, found to have just deserted
the position having set fire to their houses which were
then burning. Evidence Of their presence in the ham
mock in 'front.' afforded, and the line was quick
" formed 10 attack them.
The tootmen, under Col Troustlalt formed i'll
open order to charge into the hammock, while the horse
men to the right and left thrown back 10 protect
the rnk, and 10 act corps OF reserve Before our
troops had received their final orders to advance they
were sauted with tremendous fire along their whole
front from the opposite hammock After exchanging
shots with the enemy for short time, and slowly advan
cling upon em on receiving the order 10 charge, our
troops rushed forward with shout TO the wood and
were soon closely engaged in deadly combat Near
ly at thn heavy fire opened
both iankS, and, after, large party Of the enc
lnv-at least 20 in nuinbeT-bo!dly threw themselves
in tie rear, following the courageous example OF their
Comrades in the front: the horscncn on the right ana
left quickly Gsnountcd aud charged int the wood
The action maintained OH all Sides with great aa-
nation and effect, for about Al or % minutes, when
the enemy was DIR ven at all points small company
Of men commanded by Captain Fletcher, being lell
off from the left flank charged down aud dispersed Tie
enemy in the The enemy in front, were driven
completely through the hammock, and pursued so long
Is they could he heard alter which they retired in
good order the field, bringing off the dead and wound.
cd Our loss three killed and fifteen wounded. The
enemy left dead the field twenty-five: and others
were doubtless carried oii.-Of their wounded could
form estimate. This really most brilliant affair
Tie enemy could not have been less than from GOO 700
men: at the same moment their fire covered our entire
front and both lanks while large party openly cxi
btrd themselves in the rear Al this point OF ground
in the centre Of the field occupied by the Commanding
General aud his Staff the balls distinctly seen and
heard strike and each other from three sides at
the same moment The extent Of tic ground and The
open order taken by troops together with the success
OF charge, alone prevented the enemy from obtaining
decided advantage from their position and numerical
superiority.
No terms do justice 10 the gallantry Of the troops
on the occasion. Wherever the enemy could be toun'
they were promptly charged upon and even followed to
the very depths OF their hammncks, and swamps Thus
ended the first battle OF the Wahoo swamp. The late
ness Of the hour ignorance OF Tie country the fatigue
of the men. and the exhaustion Of their ammunition
prevented The army from following up the advantage
Tie army marched back 10 camp, wchlt reached at
late hour Of the night.
The next day, the lYt the army marched TO the place
appointed for its junction with The right division under
Cu Pierce, near Dade's battle ground, position more
formidable for the renewed attack mcdItaed on the
Wahoo Swamp This junction was effected late the next
day, ard preparations then made for hasty nroad
into the swamp, which alone The reduced state OF sup
plies would Justify.
On the 2Ist, alter leaving sufficient guard The
baggage train and wounded the army marched in three
columns into the swampt lie Tencssccans for the right.
the Regulars, with Col Warrcn's mounted men. the
centre under Col Pierce, and The Creek Regiment the
left On reaching The of conflict OF the 18th, the
enemy showed themselves ready 10 renew the light
The ienncsseeans and Regulars formed the right
und CENTRE and advanced steadily towards the hammock
in line Of battle and were met BY general fire from the
enemy their whole front. Without Pdusng and
without firing gun, they marched into the hammock
and poured destructive fire on the enemy. The charge
was Irresistible; the cnsmy fed and scattered.
So the direction Of their retreat discover
ed, COL Pierce, with his division and Creek Indians,
were ordered To pursue and after, Col Trousae,
with his Rcgmcat. and COL Warren, with the Florida
horscmen sent osuPport them The greater pat
Of the REGULARS and the Tenncsseeans unfortunately
took trail TO the right by which they became involved
in an almost impossible morass where horse could
move, and where the wadng breast deep in
mud and water.
small body of Creek Indians on the left, led BY 1t.
COL Blown taking better path firm ground, fol-
lowed closely spoa the enemy, and found them strongly
posted in Cypress Swamp 9th deep creek in front,
and thanked by two deep Doggy ponds; there they