The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1840-05-29

yond description. The troops under hi.
command, though brave, were mostly mex.
peTienced and undiscipIined recruits; and
the army WIS badly equipped, and nearly
destitute Of baggage and military stores
with these limited means. and under these
unfayoIable circumstances, be was required
70 defend an immense extent Of frontier,
stretching along the shores Of the great
northern lakes, whose numerous harboFs and
rivers were easy Of access to the enemy. In
addition to this, the roads leading 10 those
points which most required defence, we're
nearly impossible, and lay for hundreds of
miles, through wilderness swarming with
hostile Indians, and through gloomy and
dangerous sWamps, where the troops, though
little encountered with baggage, could AL
vance but slowly, and with great fatigue
Under ill these difficulties, the spirits Of the
soldiers were sustained By the presence and
example Of their fayorite communicative
animated them in their fatIgues, and cheer
fully endured the same hardships and priya-
tons which they encountered.
The autumn and early part Of tie winter
were spent in active and laborious prepare
tons for the approaching summer campaign
roads were cut, depots formed, forts built,
and few expeditions were sent.out to pro-
tect our out-posts, and to keep the enemy
in check One Of these expeditions, consist
ing of detachment Of six hundred men,
under Lieut.. Colonel Campbell, was sent BY
General Harrison againsta fortified Indian
village, from which our troops had suffered
much annoyance. This enterprise was con-
Quoted with great skill and success. The
village was attacked in the most gallant
manner, and, after most desperate action
of more than an hour, was carried at the
IpCint Of the bayonet. From the general
order issued by Harrison, on the return IF
this expedition, we make the following ex
tract, which will convey some idea of the
humane and generous feelings, that have al
ways characterised both his public ard pri-
yate conduct. After awarding the gallant
Troops the high need of praise which their
bravery had won, he goes on 10 say:-'But
the character Of this gallant detachment,
Exhibiting as it did, perseverance, fottitude
and bravery, would, however, be incomplete,
liz, in the midst of victory, they had forgot
Item the feelings Of humanity. Il is with the
lsIncerest pleasure that the General has heard
that the most punctual obedience was paid
10 his orders, in not only saving all the wo
men and children, but in sparing all the
! warriors who ceased to resist; and that ever
when vigorously attacked by the enemy, The
Eclaims of mercy prevailed over every sense
lof their own danger, and this heroic banC
respected the lives Of their prisoners. LIE
an acco1nt of murdered innocence be open
ed in the records OF heaven, against on
enemies alone. The American soldier vii
follow the example of bis government; an'
; the sword of the one VIII not be raised a
; gainst the fallen and helpless, nor the gol'
Of the other be paid for the scalps OF mas
sacred enemy" What con trast do tnes
noble sentiments present to the aToe'Ou
conduct of the British General. Hfoelof-
who, at the cruel massacre at RaisIa slVeI
and elsewhere, basely permitted unresislins
prisoners of war ito be butchered, BY III;
savage allies, in cold blood.
Late in the season the army went into
winter quarters at their strongly fortified
position on the banks of the Miami, neal
the rapids, which was called camp Meigs, in
honor of the patriotic governor of Ohio
: Leaving the army at that station, Genera
! Harrison proceeded to Cincinnati to pro-
cure reinforcements of men and supple!
of provisions and military stores, for the ap
preaching campaign. But early in the spring
: intelligence was received that the British
: were making extensive preparations, and con
centrating large force of regular soldiers
] Canadians, and Indians to besiege Fort Meg
On obtaining this information, General HaI
rison FASTENED to his camp, and exeFted tn
! most strenuous efforts to prepare for thi
: threatened attack Of the enemy. His pres
ence cheered the troops, and he inspiret
them with fresh ardor, on the approach o
: the enemy, by an eloquent address, in whicl
he alluded modestly, but in the most anima
: ting manner to the neighboring battle field
where General Wayne had gained the bril-
+ liant victory of the Miami, aud where hi
!. himself had won the brightest Of his earle
! laurels.
) On the 2sth of April, 1913, the scouts
brought in intelligence of the arrival of tht
? enemy. On the same day, strong force 0
British and Indians assembled the river il
boats, and disembarked, partly on the south
: eastern shore, and partly on the opposite
: side Of the river. Here they immediatel.
: commenced the construction Of three pow
, erful batteries. Corresponding traverse
were made within the Fort, and every ap
] proach Of the enemy was met and foiled
u with consummate skill and bravery.
On the 6rst Of May, the batteries Of the en-
envy being completed, they opened heav,
: eannonading, which was returned with equs
vigour by the Fort. This cannonading wa
! continued without intermission for Ave DAYS
but owing to the skilful dispositions of Gen
Harrison, it was attended with very it'll
loss on our side. On the fifth of May,
gallant reinforcement Of Kenluckians unde
? General Clay, fought their way to the camp
{ and Harrison, availing himself Of this fortu
nate occurrences, promptly ordered sorti
! 10 be made from the Fort to destroy the bat