Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-03-08
From the sc Advocate.

Bill Bratcher was an Indian spy in Brad.
docks war. He had been taken pris.
oner in early youth, Cat about l4:) his
fathor was burned to death before his eyes.
As he wept over this scene Of cruelty, the
Indians held to his face chunk Of fire to-
dry up his tears. He was seven years a
prisoner. During this long captivity, he
was considered the child of an Indian man
and woman, by whom he was adopted,
and treated accordingly. He was allowed
TO hunt, and had at last conceded to him
all the privileges ola warrior.
He and fellow prisoner, arranged
scheme to escape: the Indians suspected
their purpose, and deprived them of their
arms. In this situation they thought flight
impossible: but when the warriors left their
camps TO hunt, the young captives deter
mined to make one effort for freedom
They knew that an aged warrior, whose
age exempted him from the tolls of the
chaise, had his camp in the neighborhood
and that he had good rifle and a plenty
of ammunition. He had assisted in kill.
ing Bratcher's father. 1t was decided
: that they should visit his camp: he was
rejoiced 10 see them: while he busted him.
self in preparing food for them, Bratcher
seized his gun, shot him dead; his rifle,
; powder, and balls and dried meat, was
obtained. and with this prize they com.
menced their return to the abodes Of civil
izcd men. They were beyond the lakes.
, Their flight occupied forty days, eight
: which were spent upon the lakes. Ahe
: Indians in purs lit were often seen: but the
fugitives escaped uninjured.
He often related the following:-During
l the Indian and French war, commonly
called Braddock's war, Dutchman's wife
and children were captured in a sudden
= attack made by the Indians on the white
> settlement. The Dutchman escaped anC
: got into a neighborng block house.
: Bratcher. in the night succeeding, wa
u despatched as Spy, or look out, for the
. Indians. He pursued the ridge running
: along the Kanahaw rive: for three or fou
l. miles, and finding it was not SO near da.
l. as he had supposed, he sat down on a spu
. running in towards the bend of the river
T. In few moments he heard the report {
," shot gun, the squeal of hog and an In
y dian laugh: he knew he was in the neigt
q borhood of the party for which he VIZ
90 seeking. He silently, ard in Indian sty
d. crept towards the place from which II
d'' sounds came, until he d a full view
" the whole encampment. 1t was in Der
IS' of the river hemmed in by the knobs an
"e spurs of the mountains, so as 10 be almn
WI inaccessible. The Indians and their pr
To- oners (the woman and chidren,) were
ION the centre around TIE fire: the horses al
50 plumber were outside. Bratcher kne
11P' enough of the arrangement TO enable h
he TO conduct a successful surprise. i
ger knowledge Of the Indian habits made h
lcy aware that the hog thus killed was to &C
h's- stitute their morning meal, and that tn
ere would not move until they had par:ak
Their aof, and until after day had dawnet
on He returned to the block house, and
the out . rort,, with tho Dntcbman at
nv side, for the attack. They were arou
the Indians just at the day dawned
zHv. Bratcher was to fire the -lgnal gun,
we're which the rest was to fire. The llndl
ting were taking their breakfast, buslly supp
hold their broth out of their complexities.
own big Indian was, 10 epicurian style, en-
ody inc his soup, muscle shell in hand:
are Bratcher pointed out to the Dutchman,
-un. replied 81 give ii to him." Together
aimed, and together cracked their G
min followed in quick succession by e'
oin,. other gun in company. Their ann
four too true to miss, and an Indian role
# to death before every gun. The sur
Drev was complete. At the crack of the
was the Dutch woman and her children ra
mt ward the place from which the gums
came been fired: the Indians surprised and
n the suffering them 10 escape WHO nv
overcome, vengeance was now their
dominant feeling, they sprang torwal
pursuit of them, tOmahawk IN hand
Utmost white men rushed forward to their re
6 hall the woman and children, Just as the
sIr Re ca, ans were approaching them, fell IN
len the root of a tree, which had been
urrleo up. Here, over and around Their
man. white men took their stand, and shot
&c In, eight Indians. During this part
ana fight, Bratcher said he and the Ii
WIN a were SO close together, he heard the
tnem as the Indians ran them down into
had guns. At last the Indians were disc
again CD, they ceased to fight, and plunge
aiming the river. The woman and childre
ero OF unhurt: the rapture of the united hu
wife and children, may be concer
I'd as cannot be described! The who
5 in the plumber, booty and property of the
It's. SO ans were taken: the survivors, had e;
the ma naked, and were supposed to have
ven his ly fed. f,
citation One of the whites was wounded
x,strug' move him it was necessary TO cons
'rnume. litter. During the delay thus occ;
nd saw il was discovered that an lndI;
the APP watching the party. Bratcher wa
mberIng ted to shoot him; he took his seat
at they tree while the rest of the party
i'd with their avocations, as if the Indian
70 upon been observed. Rratcher waited
of the patiently for fuller vi wv of the Ii
Barton vain-he was immoveable as the
/ snioth. hind which he stood. His ey'
r! naur alone be seen: at last Bratcher d
The au- ed on trying his skill, at even TIKI
bout the mark. He fired, half buryng hi
the bark of the tree, and glazing
nothing an on the temple. He fell at the
the gun, but before Bratcher's 10
,st lady. could descend on his head he was
ISIS Phil. running; and Notwithstanding
ent upon strained every nerve in pursuit,