Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-04-12
CulUmjEN S-miEtt:, -Hnfch ~.
GLORIOUS NEMS!I..


Gentlemen Information has just reached
here of glorious victory achieved by the
perscvcrinr Wellborn and a portion OF the
brave volunteers under his command over the
Indians in Pea river swamp, yesterday (fri-
davN have had 4 conversation with sever
n gentlemen, citizens of this place, who were
in ihe engagement, and learn the following
nartic,,iars: WeIlborn had been informed by
express day or two previous that large bo-
DIV OF Indians were encamped somewhere III
the swamp near Itobly's bridge, from which
thew issued to commit depreciation IN the
ncirhborhooI. With that promptness that
charactcrises all his movements he started IN
pursuit, and Oh Tuesday evening received
rcDort from his scouts that the cncampment
had been discovered Immediately upon the
bank OF Pea river, completely surrounded by
water, and that to get to 1t an almost lmpen-
ctrabIe swamp had to be traverscd. lie
made his arrangements for all attack early
the next morning; he then being on the side
oppositc the Indians, he divided his troops into
bodies, assigning the command of one, of a.
bout one hundred men, to Capt. Harrell, or
dering him to march up the river opposite the
cncarlpment, for the purpose OF cutting OFT
their retreat when driven out and forced to
cross. Wel,born with the balance crossed be-
low at the bridge, and marched up. Just be-
fore he reached the entrance into the swamp
opposite the camp he heard firing, and think
inc Harrel had engaged the enemy, he rush.
ed in, not doubling but that they would be
driven TO his side OF the river The Difficult
ties that opposed his progress were almost IN
surmountatc; many lakes and lagoons, be-
vond mans depth, and no means OF crossing
mi Lv swimming. But the ardor and deter
iaation OF his men were unconGuerable. BY
wajinr, WA, SWIM png, running and jumping for
half an hour, over ana Trough MUD, mlre and
water. durina which time 20 or % muSkets
were rendered useless by being wet, the:
came in sight of the Indians in full charge,
yelling like so many tigers about pouncm'g
upon their prey. His line was immediately
formed. and we'll directed and inccssant tire
checked the savage enemy, and completely
djsappointcd their hopes OF an easy victory.
For three hours the Indians fought with
courage and desperation exccelled only by
that of the gallant fellows opposed to them'
and appeared to be determined "to conquer
or to die" Welborn finding ne could gam
nothing by a standing fight, ordered charge,
which was made in the best manner possible
The Indians fled to the encampment to carry
off their Children & there scattered IN every d.
rectiou. many swimming the river. The fire
Of Our tro6,,s after the Indians commenced
retrcatine was very destructive. Twenty
three were found dead from where they COM
menced running to where they crossed the
river, and many were kliicd cn the battle
Ground and others in crossing; anu 1t IS Wen
ascertaincd that from forty to fifty were ki!lea'
The loss on the part of our friends was one
killed. (NIr. James NJ. Holloway and Madl-
son GRADY mortaly wounded; Hartwel Ball,
(sheritf of our county, George Gleason, (ot
the firm of Fulton g. Gleason OF this place.)
-Crowlev, and it is thought two OF the
Georgia volunteers, badly though not danger
ously wounded.
The Franklin Volunteers from your State
were in the engagement, and nobly ana
bravelv did they bear themselves. They nave
Won for themselves reputation that may be
enyied by the yictors of any field. Their
deeds of noble daring is the theme OF their
associates in arms, and assure you 1t IS no
small commentator to say ofthem they were
not behind the rest of the brave fellows, eth
or in the march, the swimming, or the charge.
An incident that occurred during the charge
is worthy of note: one of the Franklin Vol
unteers was in hot pursuit of an Indian, who
finding that he must fall into the hands OF MS
pursuer, attempted to save himself by running
into the midst of the women, two OF whom
seized the volunteer; he used every eXcrtlon
TO disenqaee himself from them, but they
made furious and deadly assault upon hih
with their knives, and in self-detence ne drew
his Bowie Knife and with two blows Killed
them both. One woman was taken prisoner
who saws that the number OF warriors III tle
enpapement was about one hundred and tWen-
ty.tive, and about sixty women who fought
with as much desperation and courage as the
men. ~,
This is certainly the most decisive olow
that has been struck since the commencement
of hostilities, and Wellborn has been long
seeking an opportunity to strike 1t. AL that
skill and vaIour could accomplish, ne has done.
The limits of this communication are 100
confined to do ample justice to this mdefau-
cable officer, who has thus stopped the MUIR
derous savage in his hitherto unchecked ca
reer of devastation and bloodshed, and the;
brave untiring volunteers under his comm and
Suffice it to say they were not appalled, by
dangers, nor stayed by difficulties, all obsta-
c!es vanished before their determined spirits
They stayed not for brake, they stopped not tor
stone,
They swan the .agoons, where ford there was
none.
Their leader had told them the thing must
be done, and it has been done, and well DONE
and could not have been better done. They
went into the field with from seventy to eighty
effective men, q forgot to mention before
that the detachment under Harrel! fled, after
receiving one fire from the indians, leaving, 1t i.
is said, two dead upon the tield,) against an
enemy, who had put more than that number TO
flight, and who fought under all the adVahta-
res which recent victory naturally secures.
Rut men who had overcome as many Difficult
toe os they had TO pet their enemy, were not