Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-03-22

state ofthc country, assembled to the mum.
Der of about 200, to so to the assistance OF
Gen. Gaines. ;,
The following extract of n letter received
by Col. Dell from Capt. Priest, dated Attn
inst. contains some further particulars
"You may not have heard of the recent
occurrences here. General Gaines was at
tackled last Saturday evening, on this sue
the Withacoochce and has been lighting
ever since. Sometimes he has three nights
in the day and one in the night. At one OF
the fights, there were found dead thirty In
dians and one negro. The result of the
others we have not heard. At the last ad-
vices the loss to the Army 1900 men, was
killed and SO wounded. But we have
heard the cannon several times since, firing
heavy.
"Om Alachua Companies left here about
l o'clock this morning in very hard rain,
in order 10 assist in guardiag provisions and
ammunition to the Withlacoochee, both OF
which Gen. Gaines is much in want Of We
understand that two days since, Gen. Scott
with his sorccs, was at Picolata, and that,
| two different expresses have been for
| him."
BY the arrival of sLr. Samuel Harrison
from Alachua. on Tuesday evening last,
VIC arc furnished vi h still later informa.
i ton.
Gen. .Clinch, with his forces in conjunc-
ton with the Alchua militia, making in all
about eight hundred, had gone to aid Cen
10 okoIS Sbo Sn{,
last and effected a junction with him.-With
their united forces, amounting to nearly two
thousand men, Gen. Gaines intended cros-
sing the Withlacocchec, Monday last.
! His boats, floating bridges, &c. were all
prepared. He has four twelve Founders.
with which TO cover his landing en- the op-
positc side of the Withlacoochee. The In
dians will undoubtedly make desperate
struggle TO prevent his crossing. Mr.. Har.
rison SAYS, that on Monday the cannon were
distinctly heard. Itis>all over now, and we
arc anxious to learn the result. He states
that Gen. Gaines has never shown to the
enemy more than about two hundred men,
at one time.
That in every instance ofan attack, whe.
thcr by night or day, he was prepared for
them, having anticipated the movements Of
,Oseola. In this way he made great havoc
among the enemy, having killed several
hundred of them. Ills loss, before Gen.
Clinch joined him, was only eight killed and
about forty wounded. Mr.. H. says, that
in his express, Gen. Gaines said he had men
enough, and asked only for PROVISIONS and
ammunition.
From observation made by Gen. Gaines,
the number Of Indians is estimated between
two and three thousand
By some negroes who have escaped to
the whites, It's stated, that the Indians have
made a fortifcation on the other side of the
Withlacoochcc, only four miles distant. 1t
is made of earth and iuscincs, and surround.
cd by wide moat. This is at Oscola's
town, and is probably the strong hold Of the
enemy. Iti impossible to say, how much
credit is due to these reports ofthc negroes.
But in most other instances since the CON-
menccment ofhostilities, much has been lost
by not crediting their statements. Gen.
Gaines intends marching TOR this place af.
ter crossing the river. There he will learn
whether Oseola yet knows howto make for.
tifcations which can withstand our means Of
battering them down. Before that place is
taken, the one in which the woman and chill.
dren probably arc, the struggle will be Sc
we're. II will be the fight Of death to ma.
ny.
Should Gen. Gaines succeed, Jas he proba-
bly, has before this, he will have conquered
ithc Indians, and they must either surrender,
or betake themselves to the hammocks and
swamps for the purpose of concealment and
eluding the whites. BY all his movements
Gea. Gaines has cvincad great Skill and
has shown that he perfectly understands the
enemy with whom he has to contend. The
manner in which he cuts them off with so
little loss to himself shows that he has been
no idle scholar in the art Of war. We now
/. confidently expect a speedy close Of this
savage warfare, that Oscola's boast Of five
years will be short five months.
| MORE VOLUNTEERS ARRIvED.-By the
arrival, Saturday the 9th inst, of75O noun.
ted volunteers from South Carolina, our
town was made a stirring scene Of din and
hustle. The steamer Essayons, was en-
ploycd in assisting them across the St.
Johns. They arc under the command Of
Col. Goodwin Lieut.. Butler, and Major
Simpson. They proceeded to St. Angus
tine where they unite with another South
Carolina Regiment Of Infantry. The Bri.
gade thus formed, will proceed to Volusia
under the command of General Bull. The
militia Of South Carolina are well organized,
and have brave and gallant officers, who do
credit to the State.
| The War in Florida.-An impression
has been very general in this quarter, from