Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-10-19


flap he wore. She saw no houses and probably
there were more than eight Indians as thew
would undoubtedly be very likely to leave some
with the horses. 1t was now ascertainad that
the Indians had taken FIVE horses from Mr.. Ea.
blnk, one from Mr. Ratclof, and three from Mr..
Johns, whom they murdered, and also that our
p,rty was off their trail. II was not possible TO
follow the trail of horses in the night and thera-
fore our men encamped. + ;rly in the morning
they set out, and supposing the Indians turned
from the left Of the road, they struck into tho
woods in order to come upon the trail without
losing the time of retracing their stops to tho
house where Mr.. Johns was burned. They
struck the trail quite early and followed it with
all the speed possible. They found where tbs
Indians stopped TO take lunch, as was supposed.
They continued the pursuit to the head of Black
Creek, wher,, finding that the Indians, having,
as was known, six hours the start on the day be-
fore, had trivolod in tho night, and tn 1t too with
great ripidity. as the trlil showed. Our towns.
mon, with IN )so who joined them, making 60 in
number, ms to tho conclusion that further pur.
suit would be useless, and with disappointment
and regr,t, and reluct lncs, give up this pursuit;
and it being near night on Fridiy they turned for
HON, and reached here to day.
The Indians rode with all the speed of their
horses. Thos, they took were among the best
in our county, and able to bear pushing. Our
party had good horses and they pushed them in
pursuit all that their sped and bottom would
bear, but it was in vain. The enemy exp acted
pursuit and therefore directed th,ir rapid flight
for tho milton, whore it is supposed they arrived
without stopping. II is presumed they made for
Pdyn's Prairie, we had hoped TINT this daring
purity would have b,an rash enough to attsmpt to
drivs Cattle bo.or, them. In that case our mon
would have push d on till they overlook thsm.-
Taose Indians came in the sun, direction they
took on their return. There were pllin to BE-
seen her, and there the remnants of trail os-
p,cilly in the grass and by pllm,tto leaves gath.
cred in several plic,s where they stopp,d and
probably encampsd.
1t is thought they clme in ten days or two
weeks acquiring which time to tn, present
they have been lurking abou. Brandy Branch
wher, Indians have several tim,s bsen son.
Taey have undoubtedly spied oat tho whole Soc
ton and are gon, to report their intsllig ,ncs
tlking with thsm nine stolen horses, and wo.
mans scalp. IL is tru, this party of Indians
were we'll mounted on fresh horses, but still thu
ssua of the pursuit shows how almost impossibls
it is to overtak, them, an their retreat after COM
hitting dspredAtions. Ifthey have f,w hours
only thu st rt, they can roach tho Nation in
salty and mock pursuit. In truth good por.
ton of the movements of tho army with som,
bright exccptions) have filled of eff ,ct through
hardness and through want ola sufficient mum.
b,r of good spies.
Tnat these cursed bu.cherers, so bold as to
como within seven miles to commit their deprs.
dations, should escap, from ready, rapid and
hot pursuit, and that too. from mon of known
bravery and perseverance,, and determined ut
every haz rrd to overtIke and chastise Thorn,
gives us great mortifc alton and pain. They did
| all that men could do, except running, only 90
strong, and without food and forage, into tho Ma
ton after them, which would hay, boon folly and
| rishness.
Upon tho arrival at Black Creek of tho express
sent to M jor Pierce, he Immediately ordered
out three companies in different directions, to
cut off their retreat. The Indians undoubtedly
passed near Kingsley's Pond. We understand
company went to that piss on Friday evening,
but saw neither Indians or their trail. The com.
panies returned Friday night, without making
any discovery. We rs informed that on Satur-
day morning Mlj Pierce ut the head of SO men
went again to strike, if possible, their trail, in
consequence of the report of tho mail carrier from
this plLce, who arrived Friday night.
We pray that Mi. Pierce, to whom great.
credit is due for his prompt and vigorous exertions
to intercept this bandtti, may be able to fall in
with them.
A letter to the editor under date of tho 10th
inst, late at night, from friend, a lieutenant.
whose mettls has been proved to be pure gold.
Il us CLOSEST
|, 1.-The mail.carrier, for whose fate we wero
quito anxious, has arrived, and information re-
ceived from him has determined M ljor Pierce to
set out in the morning at the head Of so men, to
!. scour the country in the direction of Santa o
} and New river. Be- assured that every exertion
in the power of man will be made, to capture or
} destroy those savages. If we ever strike the
! trail they are ours"
God grant that the next intelligence from that
quarter may be, that this party of dasporadoss is
cut off; but the speed of their fight forces to
: suppose that they have escaped, in spite of all
the exertons made to overtako and intercept them.
, LATEST FROM FLORIDA.
. by the schr. S. s. Mills, Capt. Southwick.
4 arrived yesterday from St. Augustine, we have
! received the st. Augustin, Herald of the 18th.
j and the Jacksonville Courier of the 10th ult.--
Tho following is postscript to the Jacksonville
Courier:
: JACKSONVILLE, Re. FL Sept. l6.
> At 10 O'Clock this morning, 18th ult., as our
p,per was in form, Mr.. Hgginbotham, who
lives at Csdarswl mp, mil,s distant towards
G irey's Forty from this plac,, cams in barehoad-
ed at full speed Of his horso, reporting that at
break Of day this morning tho Indians made an
attack on his house, into which they frci mum.
!, bar Of balls. Four or five Indians, distant not
u moro than 30 steps, firod ut Mr.. William Thorn.
: as, striking FIRE in the houso--did not hit him.
Mr.. Taomas shot at an Indi ms head and
thinks he hit it. Mr.. Higginbotham had Fir
II shot at an Indian and thinks he wounded him.
IS There were two men in the house besides Mr.. II.
+ himself, ons ofwhom is sick They having nine
d guns, beat off tho Indi ms, so that they ceased
l. firing, Mr. II. caught his horse and sst out for
B. Jacksonville, Lowing his fimily and tn, two mon
If TO dcf,nd themselves. The Inliins had taken
10 his sadd, and bridl, and attempted to cltch his
y no So but could not. They also turn I'd loose hi
; cattle from the pm bofor, they conm,ncod tia
r. att ick. Firing was heard last night In thai
r, neighborhood, and there is quits s,ttloIncn
10 vet unabandoned in that vicinity, Mr.. II. thinks
of that other houses have been attacked and thu
r dwssrs murdered.
at A number offimiliss from Alichua, are living
1t in that settlement, having sought safjty Their
v, from the Indians, but it seems they sought II
~ vain.
at All is hustle hore---horssmsn and steods ar
at hurryng TO and fro" In our town we canno
r. oo,,,,t e,.r AZ. ~, ID man. They arma,