Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-04-01


in the bammocks. They again returned from The
Isammacks, on my left, 10 apparently larger force,
ard after great deal o. firing, were second time
iepulsed, am confident, with much Toss. as
raj Of their warriors we're seen tn fall a, the dis
charge Of our maskeis. but for the eoasomnaie
GOODNESS, hrmHess, and gallant conduct exhibited
By my men through bout, must have been the great
sufferer, as the enemy @as three or four times
my superior 10 point Of numbers. AS ii was, they
evidently sustained The greatest injury and loss.
Ny ammunition being almost entirely expended,
besides having ny Orderly Sergeant. one CORPORAL,
and three priya,es severely wounded, returned
with my command he Post, bringing Of the
wounded without pursuit.
Immediately on returning to the Post, Ide.Pa,eh-
ed an express o Fort Russell. for the purpose Of
informing the commanding Offer what had hap
pened, in order that be mig reinforce me. gave
the express-rider "a private Of X. Company posi-
per road, TO prevent, if possible, being cut of BY
the enemy. He did not reach Fort Russell.
Not having accomplished the oatensible object
which went in pursuit Of, again divided my
command to The best advantage, leaving that part
at the Post, in the same charge a, at frat. Ny
Commsn1 amounted to seventeen men; and pro
ceeded with il by the yoad to Orange Greek, near
which discovered the body Of Corporal Lang. Of
g. Company, which accounted to me satisfactorily,
for the alarm in the first instance. Sill having
fears for the safety Of the escort and team, deter
mined to continue on the road until | should find
them and passing ont of the hammock, in the d.
rection Of Fort RUSSELL was fred upon BY the In
dams i.om either side of the road. The FIRE Of the
enemy was Instantly returned, with the most mark
cd effect distinctly saw three or four warriors
fall and carried of. The Indians had now acqair-
ed more strength than they had FIRST, and extend
ed themselves on both sides Of .hc road as high up
as the old Fort, and formidable were they, as to
appear to be almost an impossibility for me to
break through their ranks but the ndomitable
irmuess, perseverance and true courage displayed
by my little command, soon overcame the superor-
ty of their numbers, and was enabled to gain the
high pine barren, near Old Fort Russell. The FL
ing Of the Indians continued to be very severe and
heavy, and was kept up and constantly returned by
ny command. The enemy showed himself no i'm
perfect adept at "treeing" well--and frequently
cautioned my men to do the same-to keep prop.
eriy extended-to fight them in their way
and not to expose their persons mote than could be
avoided. At the point stated above, felt conf
dent OF my ability to maintain my ground against
the enemy, and keep him in check until | could get
assistance from the commanding officer of f or, Rus.
sell. and, therefore, despatched man for the pu-
pose Of informing him of my situation; but he was
discovered by the Indians in making his way by
them, and driven to the hammock on the Ocklawa-
desirable object to me. J., however, continued
TO fight as long the enemy made a show advanc-
ing upon him, until the command had got half
mile or more beyond, and to the left, of the june
ton of the upper and lower roads, when he retreat.
ed in the direction of the Ockuwaha and Orange
Creek hammocks. Immediately afier met the
escort and team, and took them back to Fort Rus
SELL thus saving them from the inevitable ma, sacre
and destruction which awaited them, and commu-
nicated the information to the commanding Off
Ger, of my encounters with the enemy.
lot one man, killed. and had but one wound.
ed in the last affair. My total loss in killed and
missing, is two pnvates; aud in wounded, one Ser
gean', one Corporal, and four understanding
total of six.
The loss, &C., sustained by the enemy, have
no accurate means of judging, as they are always
known to carry off and conceal their dead and
wounded but feel confidently assured that it il
much greater than mine. have the honor to be,
Very respectfully your ob't serv't,
WIN. ALBURTlS, LIST It, ID InGy,
Comdg X. Company.
Capt. f. X. 9ARsuM, ID nifty,
Comd'g District, Fort Russell, E. F.
T, S. Since the above was written, the body of
an Indian warrior was found in the Camp on the
Ocklawuha, discoveredby Capt. Barnum. He had,
from appearances, been killed by musket ball, re-
ceived in battle the day before.
WIN. ALBURTIS lst 1t. Cd lnft'y,
Comd'g X. Company.