The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-11-01


the severest almost ever known in that cold climate,
(when, if they had surrendered at discretion every
dictate of humanity and principle of manhood,
even without regard to articles of captulaton, re-
quired their protection,) y were given up by British
officers to the ruthless brutalies OF the Indians,
and put to death according to their most barbarous
proceedings on such occasions. Never giving or
taking quarter, they make no prisoners, but exer-
else what is perhaps, the sternest right OF war, by
putting all their captives to death According TO
the regulations of civilized hostilities, this right
does not exist but in the OF absolute necessity
for selfpreservation; and under no circumstances
can It be exercised with nrtures, mutlaon, scalp
ing, burning and other abomniable excesse
All our prisoners were, according to promise, TO
hive been conveyed in sleighs from the Rsisin to
Maiden. Instead of that, every one OF them una
BILE to march was not only murdered, but most Of
them tortured to death by the savages, as mischev-
ous children torment insects by tearing them TO
pieces. Captain Nathaniel Hart, Mr.. Clay's BROTH
erin low, had been wounded in the battle in the
knee, and was unable to walk. He had greatly
signazed himself by undaunted intrepidity. A
half breed Indian, Elliott. holding the King OF
England's commission, who had been college
companion of Captain Hart promised to have him
carried to Maiden, and there taken care of in Ell
Iiott's own house. A band OF ruffian savages,
nevertheless, tore him from the bed on which he
was lying, and were about to kill him, when he was
rescued by brother ificer. Soon after, while
mounted on horse on his way to Maiden, (on the
23d january he was shot by party Of Indians,
tomahawked and scalped his body left on the road
unburied, to be devoured by hogs. The fate Of
many most respectable men was similar to Captain
Hart's. Nearly all our prisoners were stripped Of
their clothing rified of their money, the officers
swords given up to the savages; men of feducation,
talents, and the highest responsibility, treated by
British officers of every grade. from the highest 10
the lowest, with supercillious harshness, unmanly,
ungentemanly, and inhuman. When an Ameri-
can officer urged the necessity of British surgical
assistance to the wounded, (as five of our seven
surgeons were kiIled,) Elliott's execrable reply
was, ,."the Iadians are excellent doctors" Sixty
four wounded Americans were left on the ground,
under the care of Drs. Tod and Bowers, (the two
living surgeons,) with every assurance and full
reliance that they would be kindly removed in
seds next day to Maiden.
At sunrise on the 22d, a large body of Indians
stripped them, as they lay extended on the ground,
tonahawked and scalped all who were unable to
walk, (such was their frightful surgery,) and took
away with them few surviving prisoners for fur
ther and more excrutiating tortures. Among
those assassnated were Captains Hickman, Mead,
Edwards, Prince, Nc cCracken, and many valuable
and highly respectable subaern officers and pri-
Yates, nearly all OF whom were among the most
considerable citizens of Kentucky. Seldom, if
ever, has greater outrage been committed The
murdered prisoners and poisoned wells imputed to
Bonapare in Egypt, were no worse than these bar
barties, which are unquest'onabe, while the Brit
ish Egyptian stories as fabulous as many Of the
romances OF that remote country. The unfortu-
nate victims at Raisin were betrayed to their des-
truction incorporate with my narrative. as
more authentic and particular than anything
could give. the following account from Captain
M'Afee. The troops within the picketing. under
Majors Graves and Madison, had, with Spartan
vaIor, maintained their position, though powerful
ly assailed by Proctor aud his savage allies The
British had posted a slx-pounder behind small
house, about two hundred yards down the river,
which considerably annoyed the camp till its sup.
plies Of ammunition, which were brought
sleigh, were arrested by killing the horse and his
driver. Major Graves, passing round the lines,
was wounded in the knee--he sat down, and bound
it up himself, observing to his men, "never mind
me, but fight on" About ten O'Clock. Colonel
Proc tor, finding it usuless to sacrifice his men in
vain attempts 10 disodge this little band of heroes,
Withdrew his forces to the woods, intending eith-
er to abandon the contest, or to wait the return
of the Indians, who had pursued the retreating
party. The loss sustained BY our men was incon-
siderable; and when Proctor Withdrew, they en-
ployed the leisure to take breakfast at their posts
Winchester was taken, he basely determined to
take advantage of his situation, to procure the sur
render ofthe party in the pcketing Herepresent-
ed to tho General, that nothing but an immediate
surrender would save the Americans from an in
discriminate massacre by the Indians A flag was
then advancing from the British lines, carried by
Major Overton, one Of the Generals aids. and ac-
coinpanied by Colonel Proctor himself and several
other officers Having halted at respectable
distance, Major Madison with Brigade-Major Gar
rard. proceeded to meet them, expecting that the
object Of the flag was to obtain cessation of hos
tties for the Britishto bear off their dead. They
were much mortified to find that Major overton
was the bearer Of an order from General Winctes.
ter. directing the officer, commanding the Ameri-
can forces to surrender them prisoners of War;
This was the intimation they had that their Gen.
eral had been taken. Colonel Proctor. with great
haughtness, demanded an immediate surrender,
or he would set the town on fire, and the Indians
would not be restrained in committing an immedi-
ate massacre. Major Madison observed "that il
had been customary for the Indians to massacre the
wounded and prisoners after surrender, and that