Canton herald. (Canton, Miss.) 1837-1839, 1837-08-25

came forth on foot, each accompanied
by twelve, Of his people, and each
burning with the same spirit and de-
termination against the other, The
Spanish troops were to the right Of
the governor I; the infantry drawn up
near to the forest, and the cavalry
a l!ys into the, plain.
Il was between nine and ten Of the
morning, when De Soto and Vitachuco
arrived AZ at the spet which the latter
had fixed upon for the seizure Of the
governor. Before the cacique, how
eyer, could make, bis preeoncerted
signal, a Spanish trumpet gave a
warning blast. In an instant, the
twelve Spaniards rushed upon the ca
clque. His, attendant Indians threw
themselves before him, and endeavor
ed to repel the assailants, but in vain.
LIE was borne off captive.
At the same time, De Soto,Ieaped
upon, his fayorite. steed Aceytuno, and
spurred hun upon the, thicEest Of the
enemy, with that headlong valor which
always distinguished him in battle.
The Indians had already seized their
weapons. Their first ranks were
thrown into confusion by the impetu-
Gus charge Of De Soto, but as he
pressed forward, a shower Of arrows
came whis:ling about him. They
were principally. aimed at his horse.
the Indians always seeking most to
XII those animals, knowing their i'm
portance in battle. -Four Of the ar
rows wounded the generous aainlal IN
the knees, four pierced hin in The
breast, and he fell to the earth, dead,
as 7 shot by piece of artillery.
n the meantime, the Spanish troops
at the trumpet signal had assailod the
Indian squadrons, and now came press.
ing up at this critical moment. to the
aid Of their general, One d his
pages, named Viota, a youth Of noble
birth, sprang from his horse and aided
LIE Sot9 to mount him. The COVER
nor, once more on horseback, put him
sell at the head Of his cavalry, and
spurred among the Indians. The lat
ter had nolances todefend themselves /;
and being assailed by three hundred
horse, broke and fled in every direc-
ton. A great number of those who
were in the rear took refuge among
the entangled thickets af tie forest;
others threW themselves into thelarge
lakes and escaped, while others scat
tered themselves over the plain, where
more than three hundred were killed,
and a few taken.
The worse fate attended the van
guard, composed Of the bravest war
riors, who are always doomed to fare
| the worst in battle. After receiving
the first impetuous chsfgs Of the cav
airy, they fed; hut being unable to
reach TIE forest or the large lake, more
shan nine hundred threw thsmselves
into the smaller one. Here they
were surrounded by the Spaniards,
who endeavored by threats and pro
misses, and occasional shots from their
cross bows and arquebuses, to induce
them to surrender. The Indians re.
piled only ky flights Of arrows. A.
the lake was too deep to give then
t0otipg, three or four would cling to
gether and support each other BY
swimming, while 0pe Wqplf noun
upon their backs, and PIX hissbow.
and arE9Ws. In this way, an inces
SAINT diminishing was kept up all day
long numbers Of the Indians were
slain; all their army was exhausted
yet no one gave signsof surrendering
i When night came on, the Spaniard,
posted themselves round the lake, the
horse by two and two, the foot in PAR
i ties of SIX, pear TO each other, les
i the Indians should escape in the dark
i Some Of the latter endeavored to save
1 themselves by covering their head.
! with TIL leaves Of the water lilies, anC
swimming noiselessly to the shore
but the watchful troopers perceivine
the turmoil and bubbling in the water
would spur their horses to the bank
and drive the Indians again into til,
J, channel, in hopes Of again firing then
out, and thus forcing them to capitu
!, Ilate; for while the Spaniards threat
ened them with death if they did mo-
|, yield, they offered them peace and
,, friendship if they wQpld surrender.
! So obstinate were they, however
J that midnight arrived before one o