Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-07-05
[vol. xxxVIII---No. 40.

months alter, when Gen. frames sent q
detachment to bury the bodies of our
soldiers. All hands then commenced
throwing up small triangular breast
work of logs; but just as we bad raj
sed il about two feet, the Indians retur.
ned and renewed the engagement. A
part of our troops fought within the
breastwork, aud part outside. re-
manned outside till received ball in
my right arm, and another near my
right temple, which came out at the
top of my head. next received shot
in my thigh, which brought me down
on my side, and then | got within the
breast work. We gave them forty.
nine discharges from the cannon and
while loading for the hfiieth, the last
shot we had, our match went out. The
Indians chiefly levelled at the men who
worked the cannon. In the mean time
the main body Of our troops kept up
general fire with musketry.
The loss of the enemy must have
been very great, because we never ii.
red until we fixed our men but the
cannon was necessarily fired at ran
dom, as only two or three Indians APP
peared together. When the firing COM
menced the advanced guard wheeled,
and in returning to the main body, were
entirely cut up. The battle lasted till
about four in the afternoon, and was
about the last one who bundled gun,
while lying on my side. Attic close,
received shot in my right shoulder,
which passed into my lungs the blood
gushed out Of my mouth ia Il stream,
and, dropping my musket, rolled
over on my face. The Indians then
entered the breastwork, not one man
standing to defend it. They secured
the arms, ammunition, and the cannon,
and despatched such Of our fallen sol.
diers as they supposed still to DO alive.
Their negroes came in to strip the
dead. had by this Time somewhat re-
vived, and negro observing that |
was not dead, took up musket, and
shot me in the top of the shoulder, and
the ball came out at my back. After
firing, he said, +" There, you d. you
take that" He then stripped me of
everything but my shirt.
The enemy then disappeared to the
left OF the pond, and through weakness
aud apprehension, remained still, Till
about nine o'clock that night. then
commenced crawling on my knees and
left hand. As was crawling over the
dead, | put my hand on one man who
felt different from the rest The was
warm and timber. ] reused bim up,
and found it was DeCourcy, an Eng
lishman. and the son of British otli-
Ger, resident in Canada. | told him
that il was best for us to attempt to
travel, as the danger appeared to be
over, and we might fall in with some
assistance. As he was onl y wounded
in the side and arm, he could walk a
little. We got along as well as we
could that night, continued on I'LL noon
when, on rising ground, we discove.
ed an Indian ahead, on horseback, loa-
ding his rife. We agreed that hc
should 20 on one side of The road, and
on the other. The Indian took after
DeCourcy, and | heard the report of
his rife. This gave me time to crawl
into hammock, and hide away. The
Indian soon returned, with his arms
and legs covered with blood, having,
no doubt, according TO custom, cut De
Courcy to pieces, after bringing him
down with his rifle. The Indian came
riding through the brush in pursuit OF
me, and approached within ten feet of
me, but gave up the search. ! then
resumed my route back TO Fort Brook,
crawled and limped during nights and
forenoons, and slept in the brush du-
ring the middle of the day, with no o.
Their Lourishment than cold water.
got 10 Fort Brooke on the evening OF
the fifth day; and in five months ailer-
wards was discharged as a pensloner,
OF eight dollars a month. The doctor
attributed my not dying Of my wounds,
to the circumstance that | bled good
deal, and did not partake of any solid
food during the first five days.
Two other soldiers by the names OF
Thomas, and Sprague. also came in
afterwards. Although badly wounded,
they assembled tree, and thus escaped
the evening Of the battle. They JOIN
ed another expedition, two months al
ter, but before their wounds were hea-
led, and they soon died of them.
Let the Van Buren, men lend an ear
70 their Cincinnati organ the Republi.