The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-03-16


ions, each containing seventy Americans, one of
which with Davis at their head lead the charge.
The obstinate ressiance--tbe shouts of the savages
the long and bloody conflict, alas stretched
many promising youth upon the ground, man
gled corpse We discovered that we were
not contending with the Indians alone. Some hun
dreds of Spauiards were in their ranks, and Span
lard led them on" Several hundred of the sava-
ges had already fallen, and their ranks began to
break, at which the energies of the Americans re-
doubed.-They fought with desperate impetuosity
pressing forward as the enemy gave way until the
begerants were now commingled. Man grapped
man, sword sparkled against sword, and bale-axe
clashed against batlle-axe. Jean ID. Vonka, the
Spanish leader, percevng their disadvantage, made
a signal and drew off his men.
They were pursued by Watson the American lea
der, the full moon standing midway in the cloud
less heavens, the herbage sparkling with crimson
dew as the drops of blood ooZed from the scars of
brave men, or spurted from the gashed arteries of
the wounded, as each cut down his fellow fell in
| his turn.
Within mile of the village yonka suddenly rail-
lied. pause silent death ensned, except when
the shrieks Of the wounded left behind them, the
hooting of the distant owl and the shrl whistle of
the nightingale fell upon the ear
! For some minutes, if by common consent, ev-
cry foot was st-evcry breath was held, and the
blood seemed almost to stop in The veins.-Each
commander looked The other in the face, every SOL
dicr eyed lis foe. As when two bulls ready for
fight, stand for moment drcading to move from
their fixed position so stood the combatans. Wat
seeing that his men had taken breath, gave the
signal.
Davis, with about twenty Americans, that had
kept by his side, and fifty sixty friendly Indians
cutting through all opposition, broke from the main
army, pushed his way through those stationed to
dispute his passage, and having by single blow of
his cutlass brought down the sentinel who had mis-
taken him for some of Vonka's party, and entered
the village. In few minutes the whole was in a
sheet of flame, the occupants many of them per-
shng in the midst of their slumbers, and others fly
ing in every direction The fate of the nation de-
pended the fate of the village. Here was a
scene painful to describe.
Mothers, half suflocated, rushed with frantic
screams into the midst of the smoke and fires for
their children. Children faint and unprotected, fell
at every pass-The aged wrung their clasped hands,
unable to speak and with bursting hearts plunged
into the hottest fames-some flew to their altars,
some called upon the moon and stars to defend
them. Two lovers running hand in hand, plunged
into the unstained waters of the Thames. For
moment they struggle with the waves, then clasped
in each ethcrs arms, they sunk to rise no more
Meantime Davis half stihed in the midst of the fires
as when proving lion leaping from his covert
roars upon the prey, with loud and energetic voice
chcered on his band. Moving their way through
solid columns of human flesh, they penetrated to
the outposts Of the town. Here was assembled
mixed and tumutuous group of all ages. The pal
asades of defence with which it was surrounded
proving in this snare, had brought them to n
stand. As sheep huddled in the fold with beating
lambs, moaned the children.
Here for moment the hearts of the victor SEEM
ed to relcnt.-Davs paused short in his haste and
stayed his sword. His eye fell upon its ht 1t
was glued in his hand wifi the curdled blood of the
slain. John Seaman who bore the standard whis-
pered the motto, to hero, Total destruction "
At that instant Seaman fell An arrow sped by an
unseen hand whizzed by the side of Davis pearced
the heart of Seaman. lie jerked the quiverng fea-
ther from his vtaIs and with groan, gaspcd and
expired. Davis raising the ensign, planted it in the
ground near his feet and in voice of thunder, that
echoed in the Forest repeated the inscription. They
rushed like eagles for their prey. Some dashed in
the heads of the little ones upon the rocks. Some
seizing them by feet smote them upon the heads OF
their mothers, who stood imploring their lives, and
thus mingled their brains together. Others sho,
their antagonists. Some of the Indians attempting
to escape clenchcd their opposers, wrenched away
their weapons and fighting with the desperation o.
wounded tigers, fell covered with blood.
Eight ten Indians, armed with tomahawks, who
had stood like oaks in the tempest, rushed tow
ards DAVIS, wnere ne WIN hVe or SIX Americans wa
engaged in inglorous slaughter upon the detenceles
herds of women and children. With deaienin:
shouts and yells they seized upon any that Opposes
them. Three of them buried their weapons in tn
head of am American who stood between them AM
E our hero then aimed at him. The first threw
great stone that he had in his hand, which hurlin
through the air missed the intended mark an
crushed its victim just beyond. They are separate
from the rest of their comrades, who one by nr
falling in their But they three keep close to
gether. They meet Davis, with their huge brow
arms they raise their tomahawks over their heads
covered with blood which glisten by the red fir
From his bet Davis seizes his pistols, and in an it
slant two of his antagonists fall lfeess at his fee
But the other aims his blow. They stand alon
each upon bodies of the dead. The long handle
. axe is now suspended over his head. With h
sword he parties the stroke which knocks the weal
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