The Arkansas advocate., 1836-09-16

7 , them. They have held up their hands to us, inmat- ing thereby that they want to have iaik.n h talk thought we-a hH at them would be better! Never theless, it something to know that they here that we were within reach of them. We moved ea- gerly on, and turning the point referred to by the Colonel, a rare and imposing scene presented itself Lining the hammock, on the Jeff, was the army, with General Scott at it's head--mute and sti--for was pause of expectancy! Spreading our right, lay one of those immense prairie ponds that the wonder of these wild regions and had now become almost despair! The hammock, in the form of half moon rose high along its borders, edging them with green Of the most vivid hue while, upon piece of head and running out into the prairie right, we could distinguish the dusky forms of the Micasukies, moving to and fro--somemes disappearing in the hammock, and again emerging into view. At that moment, the setting sum-
 ''That like Seraph's wing, above the woods.
 Appeared-'
 lit up the scene, and gave bnlliant and per- yading beauty. It seemed a sacrilege to tear with bloody hand picture ofrepose perfect and SC peace full
 JseT0 who was ouT interpreter, wei. as g};de,11 accompanied by Major B., of the Louisiana Voun- eers, and Indian BiIly--mght be seen--now rising, and now sinkng--aborng hard to get round the pond on the left, in order to reach the Indians, from whom he instructed to learn definitely what they wanted, and to demand from them some account of Primus-- a negro who, weeks belofe had been sent from Fort Drane to feconnoer the enemy and who had not afterWard been heard of The Indians were still stand
 ing upon the head and as Nero and the rest approach ed-near, and now nearer--and the parties met! At the end of about fifteen minutes we saw two of the horsemen returning at their speed --they were tho Major and Billy! Seven Indians, it seemed had sud- denly emerged from the hammock, carrying their rifles after fashion, which the two volunteers (or Ill that character had they accompanied Nero) by no means rellshed-who therefore concluded it wsest to retire leaving the interpreter, nothing daunted to continue the conference. At length he too, began to retrace his steps, and having returned, informed that he could learn nothing from the Indians relative to Pimus, except that he had "goae doua lo dte shorebut that they would tell n the morning, if we would grant them the desired tak The fact was they unapproaehabe by the army where they were, and they knew ii il is otherwise very questionable whether we would not have attacked, instead of talking with them. As 1t was, we resolved upon the latter; and the readily, indeed, from the impression tha-as 1t their intention (for naturally supposed) 10 sue for terms, which h would be in power to dic- tatewe might, by making prisoners of them, them for the purpose of coming upon the others, whose whereabouts, of course, they knew. Camping, there- fore, within mile two of them, salied out the next morning to meet supposed suppiants. part of the troops deed to the left and the rest to the right, of the pond On this latter side, upon small pine peninsula, between which and the hammock there was piece of bad marsh ground-he cavalry sta toned, to intercept and cut of the enemy should he fly or be forced from the hammock and attempt to cape the pine barren. The troops, with great diffculty-punging at every step almost up to their waiss-succeeded in getting the marsh, and were just within rifle shot os the hammock, when it's treach- erous inmates opened sudden and gallng fire upon them! They were, however, not unprepared or such reception, and returned the salute with interest. Our entire line bazed and for ten or twelve minutes the woods resounded with the rapid discharge of ketry and rifles But as we could only fire iii the di- rection of the smoke of the enemys guns, and having given him three or four hot rounds, men now charg ed the hammock driving the Indians before them, whom they pursued for nearly four miles, and in spite of almost incredible difficulties when, taking to the r yer before could come up with them, they escaped After several hours spent the truess and fatlgung chase, returned, with loss of men killed and wounded but without being able to do than guess at the loss of the enemy, who, being considerably in advance of us enabled to drag away their killed and wounded; which they aIl to do, when prac- ticable. The experience of single day thus spent, opened our eyes to he neariy mpractcabie nature o aear against such enenay. m such coualry. How were we to pursue them-to follop them up from ham, mock to hammock, with train of 100 baggage wag- gons! Impossible. Nor could we convert our nfan- try into cavalry-we had not horses enough and if we had, the of the country forbade tfo it was we had to the processdismount our dragoons and incorporate them with the infantry Ii was manl- fest however that the presence of the cavalry had the effect of keeping the enemy forever in the hammock, where at the same time that arm of he service was iInpracticabie. But supplies were deficient and defschre. This precluded he possibility of our em- ploying another dag in pursuit cf de enemy. Instead of hard bread (biscuit,) aud bacon the Commlssary General at Washington had burthened us with pork and hour--which, while it took up double the room
 that similar quantity of the other would have done. without being as wholesome, occasoned, also, much greater loss of time in preparing meals This ,ee Jake to hdue teen tke hue secret of te fa,ae of te campaign. It too late to remedy the evil afier
 had infn inc enemY'a cnunirv. hut the fouLL