Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-07-06
!, Fn 2 !, OLD q MISSISSIPPI WARRIOR.

paper any notice Of the death Of our veteran
friend Gen. SAMUEL DALE. lie died AZ bis
residence, Dalevillc, Lauderdale countv.on tho
23d ult, with the fortitude ola soldier. and the
resignation Of a Christian. On his DIVING he'd
he repeated, as am informed, request. winch
he had made last summer, that should make |
a memoir OF his life, most Of the particulars of
which, had memorandumed from his Inns. I |
design visiting Lauderdale, in few weeks. n |
obtain all the materials that remain. Few |
men have run career SO full OF benevolent
acuons' ana OF romantic adventure; and no
man was ever better adapted to the country !
snatne per'ec N which he lived--that country
,.aielronters 81 Georgia, Florida, and the Chem
mississippi lerrtory, embracing all the pres
cnt Slate OF Alabama; and the period incliding
nearly all that bloody interval between ,be
close Of the Revolution, and the terminstion of
the last war. With the story Of these times
the dreadful massacre Of Fort AIimms-tbe
battle OF the Holy Ground-Gen. Jackson's
Seminole campaigus--and the earlier events
OF the Georgla frontier, Gen. Dale was closely
connected The most affecting Of Those scenes
oi murder and conflagration arc, as vet, un-
written, and live only IN the fading memorials
81 border tradition. In preparing the life of
Nren' Dale, shall seek to put many Of them on
record. AS a scout--a pilot to the emiurants
who blazed the first path through the Creek
nation from Georgia 10 the Tombigbee, with
arms IN their hands, and subsequently,, as a spy
among the Spaniards at Pensacola, and as
a partisan officer during the most sangui nary
opochs OF the late war-present at gevery
butchery-remarks for "hair-breadth 'scapes;"
for caution and GOODNESS in desperate emergon-
cies; for exhibitions OF gigantic personal
strength, and undauted moral courage--his
story is studded over with spirit-stirring Incl
dents, unsurpassed by any thing in legend or
history. His celebrated Canoe fight, where
unai1ed, in the middle of the Alabama. ;hen in
its spring flood, he fought SereR warriors with
dubbed rifles, aud killed them all, and rowed
10 shore with the corpse ofhis last antagonist
under his feet, would be thought fabulous, if
IL had not been witnessed by twenty soldiers
staining near the bank, who not having boat
could render him no assistance. Some years
before, he was attacked by two warriors, who
shouted their war-whoop as be was kneeling
down TO drink, and made at hun with their
tomahawks. lie knitted them both, and though
bleeding from five wounds. he reiraced their
trail nine niles cropt stealthly to their camp,
Drained their sleeping warriors and cut the
thongs of a female prisoner, who lay by their
s de. While in this act, however, a fourth
sprang upon him from behind a log. Taken
at such disadvantage and exhausted by the
loss Of blood, he sank under the serpent-grlsp
Of the savage, who, with yell oftriumph,dre
his knife, and in few moments would have
closed the contest At that instant, however,
the woman drove tomahawk deep into the
head ofthe Indian, aud thus preserved the lie
Of her dehverer.
Shortly after the treaty Of Dancing Rabbit,
our decCa'ed friend settled in what is now
known as Laudesdale county; and it is worthy
of remark that at The first election, 1S36,
believer when he was chosen to the Legisll-
ture, but Ten votes were cast. N0to the coun-
~ could probably FOIL 80, and in every drec-
ton its heecy fields, IFS fine flour mills, its
school-hluscs and churches, Indicate thriv-
ing, enlightened and moral population.
One anecdote Of the old General is so SINH
lar to an event IN Roman history, that canno
forbear relating it. The Consul Acquus re-
turning from a campaign, was allowed a tri-
unph; but shortly al eswards was arraigned for
sOme msdemcanor committed during his for
eien service. lie called no .exculpatory evil
dence, Inor deigned to court the favor Of his
Judges; but when about to receive sentence, he |
tore open his vest, aud displayed the wounds |
he had received IN The service of his country. |
sudden emotion of pity seized the court, and |
nhXed the resolution which, a few moments |
before they had taken TO condemn the accused. !
Some time ago. Gen Dale, being IN Mobile, |
was held 10 bail as esld0rser upun note. The |
debt was IN the hands OF a stranger. Accom- |
panied by an Othcer, lie sought the creditur, |
and found him in the saloon Of CullUm's far !
famed hoiei.-"Sir," said the .ieneral 81 have
no money 10 pay this debt; the principal has
property; make him pay it, or let me 90 home,
and work it out" The Shylock hesitated.
avery ,celL" said the veteran, in tones that
rang Indignantly through the apartment
Every lceiL, sir Look at my scars! / loiH
march 10 jail doiCn MAIN STREET, and all
Mobile shall ICitHesS he treatment Of an old
soldier" These simple words felllike electri-
city upon that heightened people. In half an
hour dozen of the brightest names Of the
city were on the bond, and before morn the
debt was paid and a full discharge handed 10
the General. ! have seen the manly tears
chasing down his check, as the aged warrior
dwelt on these TecOllections of the generous
citizens. In person, Gen. Dale was tall, erect,
raw-boned and muscular. In many respects,
physical and moral, he resembled his antago-
nists Of the woods. lie had the square FORE
head, the high cheek bones, the compressed
lips, and in fact the physiognomy of an Indian,
relieved however, by fine, benevolent Sax
on eye. Like the Red man too, his foot fell
lightly upon the ground, and turned neither to
the right or left; he was habitually taciiurn;
his face grave; spoke slowly and in low tones,
and laughed. / observed of him what | have
often noted as peculiar to border men Of high
attributes--he entertained the strongest at.
tachment for the Indians; extoled tier cour.
age; their love of country; and many Of theil
domestic qualities; and have often seen the
wretched remnant of the Choctaws campeC
around his plantation and subsisting on his
crops. In peace, they felt for him the strong
est generation, he had been the friend, both o
Tecumseh and Weatherford; and in war, the
name of"Big Sam" fell on the ear Of the Sc
minole like that of Marius on the borders Of The
CimbFi. Very respectfully, your friend
JOHN +. II. CLAIBORNE.
Natchez, June 10, 1871.
0Sr The Vicksburg Sentinel states tina