The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1840-04-25

swampiness Of the ground, they would 10 un- {
able to do any thing on horseback, and there /
was no time to di5mount them and place their
horses in security. therefore determined
to refuse my left to the Indians, and 70 break |
the British lines at once by charge Of the |
mounted infantry, the measure was not sane
toned by any thing had ever seen or heard
of but was fully convinced that il would /!
succeed. The American backw0odmen
ride better in the woods than any other peo-
pie. A musket or rifle IA no impeachment to
them, being accustomed 10 them from their
earliest youth. was persuaded, too, that
the enemy would be quite unprepared for
the shock, and that they. would not resist it.
Conformable to this idea, directed the regi-
ment to be drawn up in close column, with
its right atthe distance Ct 40 yards from the
road, THAT 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 column Of sections Of four, the small
space between the road and river, for the
purpose of Selling the enemy 3 artillery and
some ten or twelve friendly Indians TO move
under the bank. The crotch formed by the
front line, and Gen. Desha's division, was
an important point. At that place the ven
cradle Governor Of Kentucky was posted,
who, at the age Of sixty-six, preserves all the
vigor of youth, the ardent zeal which dis
tinguished him in the revolutionary war, and
the undaunted braverY which he manifested
/ at Kings Montain. With my aids-de-
camp, the acting assistant Adjutant General
Captain Butler, my gallant friend Com. Per-
~, who did me the .sonor to serve as my vol
unteer aid-de-camr, and Brigadier General
Cass, who having no command, rendered
me his assistance, placed myself az the
head Of the from. line of ,nfantry, to direct
the movements of the cavalry and give them
the necessary suppors.
The army had moved ON in this order but
short distance, when the mounted men re-
ceiyed the fire of the British line, and were
ordered to charge; the horses ia front Of the
column recoiled from the FIRE; another was
given by the enemy: aud our column al
length getting in melon, broke through the
enemy with irresistible force. In one min.
ute the contest in front was over. The Brit
ish officers seeing no hope Of reducing THEN
disordered ranks to order and our mounted
men wheeling upon them and pouring in /
destructive FIRE, immediately surrendered
It is certain that three only. of our troop.
were wounded in this charge. Upon thu
left, however, the contest was more severe
with the Indians. Col Johnson, who com
manded on that fank of his regiment, re-
lce,ved most CALLING ERE from them, which
was returned with great bffect. The Indiani
still further to the right, advanced and Eel
in with our front line Of infantry, near ID
junction with Deshais Division, and for
monaent made IA impression upon it. Hi
Excellency, Gc.. Shelby, however, }1eppgh
up regiment to itz support, and the lem
receiving severe Gre To- trout, and part 0
Johnson's regiment having gained their rear
retreated with precipithNop. Their los
. was very considerable il die action, AM
many were killed ii their retreat. s g
& can give no satisfactory information o
Fl the number Of Indians that gsre 10. the &C
81 ton, but they 7nust have been DHiderahll
upwards of 1000. From the documents il
, my possession, General Proctor's of5cia
letters, I'll 81 which we're taken,J and from
, the information Of respectable inhabitanss .
this Territory, the indians kept in pay ).
, the British were nuch more numerous thai
1 has beeH general supposed. Ia sette
) to General de Rottenburgh, Of the 9Th alt
! General Proctor speaks Of having psevaile,
j upon 3, 200 Of the Indians to accompany him
: OF shese it is certain thai so OF 60 Wyandc
. warriors abandoned him. !.
Ill To number Of our troops were certainl
a. Il. 81