The Madisonian., 1840-02-08

Johnson's mounted regiment being upon the
right Of the army, had seized upon 'he re-
mains OF the bridge at the mills nncer pea
Wy fire from the Indians. Our loss on this
occasion. was two killed and three or four
wounded that Of the enemy was ascertalned
to be- considerably greater house near
the bridge, containing very considerable
number Of muskets had been set on hre-but
il was extinguished by our troops and the
arms saved AL the first farm above the
BRIDGE. we found one Of the enemy's vessels
on fire. loaded with arms and ordnance stores,
and learned lha, they were few miles ahead
of us, still on the right bank of the river with
the great body of the Indians. At Bowles'
farm, four miles from the bridge, we halted
for the night, found two other vessels and a
large disllllcry filed with ordnance and other
valuable stores, 10 an immense amount, IN
hames--it was impossible to put out the nre
two twenty-iour Founders with their car
riages were taken and large quantity OF ball
and shells Of various sizes. The army was
put in motion early on the morning OF the 9th;
pushed on in advance with the mounted re-
giment and requested Gov. Shelby TO follow
as cxpeditiously as possible with the infantry;
the Governors zeal and that Of his men en-
abled them TO keep up with the cavalry, and
by 9o'clock, we were at Amods Nj ills, hay
ing taken in The course Of the morning two
gun boats and several batteaux loaded with
provisions and ammunition.
Whilst was engaged in forming the in
lantry, | had directed Col. Johnsons reg-
ment, which was still in front, TO be formed in
two lines opposite to the enemy, and upon The
advance OF the infantry, TO take ground to the
left, and forming upon that flank to endeavor
to turn the right of the Indians. \ moments
reflection, however, convinced me that from
The thickness Of the woods and swampness oil
the ground, they would be unable to do any
thing on horseback, and there was no time to
dismoun them and plnce their horses in secu-
rity. | therefore determined to refuse my LETT
to the Indians, and to break the British lines
al once by charge OF the mounted infantry
the measure was not sanctioned by any thing
had ever seen or heard OF, but was fully
convinced that it would succeed The Ame-
rican backwoodsmen ride better in the woods
than any other people. A musket or rifle is
no mpedment to them, being accustomed to
them from their earliest youth. was per-
suaded, too, that the enemy would be quite un-
prepared for the shock and that they could not
resist it. Confornable to this idea, directed
the regiment to be drawn up in close column,
with its right al the distance of 40 yards from
the road, Uhat it might be, in some measure,
protected by the trees from the artillery its
left upon the swamp, and to charge at full
speed as soon as the enemy had delivered
their fire. The few regular troops of the 9th
regiment, under Col Paul. occupied in a CO.
lumn of sections of four, the smah space be-
tween the road and the river, for the purpose
of sezing the cnemy's artillery, and some ten
or twelve friendly Indians to move under the
bank. The crochet formed by the front line,
and Gen. Desha's division, was an important
point. AT that place the venerable Governor
Of Kentucky was posted, who, at the age OF
sixty-six, preserves all the vigor Of youth, the
ardent zeal which distinguished him in the re-
volulionary war, and the undaunted bravery
which he manifested at Kings .nountain.-
| With my aids -dc-camp, the acting assistant
/ Adjutant General, Captain Butler, my gal
liant friend Com. Perry, who did me the honor
to serve as my volunteer ad-de-camp, and
| Brigader General Cass, who having no com
! mand, rendered me his assistance, | placed
myself at the head Of the front line Of infantry,
to direct the movements of the cavalry, and
give them the necessary support.
| The army had moved on in this order but a
short distance, when the mounted men re-
ceived the fire of the British line, aud were
ordered to charge; the horses in the front
Of the column recoiled from the fire another
was given by the enemy, and our column at
length getting in motion, broke through the
enemy with Irresistible force. In one minute
the contest in front was over. The British
officers seeing no hope of reducing their dis
| ord ared m ril ~ order and Our mounted men
wheeling upon them and pouring in destruc-
tive fire, Immediately surrendered. Il is GER
tain that three only of our troops were wound
ed in this charge Upon the left, however,
the contest was more severe with the Indians.
Col Johnson who commanded on that flank
of his regiment, received a most CALLING fire
/ from them, which was returned with great
| effect The Indians still further to The right,
advanced and fell in with our front line of in
fantry, near its junction with Desha's divi-
] sion, and for moment made an impression
upon ii. Ills Excellency Gov. Shelby, how
ever, brought up regiment to its support,
and the enemy receiving severe fire III
| front, and part Of Johnsons res imeut having
gained their rear, rereated with precipitation.
Their loss was very considerable in the ac-
ton, and many were killed in Their retreat.
can give no satisfactory information OF
the number of indians that were in the action,
but they must have been considerably up
wards of 1000. From the documents in my
possession (Gen. Proctor's official letters, all
of which were taken,) and from the informa-
ton OF respectable inhabitants OF this Terri
tory, the Indians kept in pay by the British
were much more numerous than has been ge-
nerally supposed. In letter 10 General de
Rotienhurgh of the 9th ult., Gen. Proctor