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


may be attributed much the misfortune of fatal
day. The British and Indians attacked early in
the morning of the 22d January, 1918. Colonel
Weiss detachment resisted, unprotected by any
cover, the fierce attack of superior numbers,
fought not only with unflinching bravery. but
with great effect till their ammunition began to
fail; sad deficiency, which ought not to have
occurred. General Winchester, who courageous
ly commanded, ordered Wells to retire into the
enclosure, where Lewis was stationed Attempt
draw in the face ofa superior enemy pressing upon
them, Wells's men fell in confusion. Directions
to fall back into Lewis's enclosure were mistaken
for an order to retreat. Instead of falling back
upon Lewis, which would have rendered them
safe, which an officer of experience as well as
courage, ihe bewildered men unhappily passed
over the river on the ice, and retired into the
woods, towards the rapids. They were immed-
ately, in fact constantly pursued by the Indians,
who surrounded and cut them to pieces, fighting
to the last with the utmost resolution. selling their
lives dearly, and nficting their assailants heavy
loss. All of Wes's detachment were killed but
twenty-eight, and about forty taken prisoners
General Winchester and Col Lewis, who ac-
companed and attempted to rally them, with the
Generals aid aud son, were taken prisoners. The
Generals official account of the action, written at
Maiden the next day. says, .'the few of US that re-
NAMED with the retreating party, borne down by
numbers, at length submitted" By thus losing
their two principal officers, our troops, never
more than halt the number of their enemies, were
not only reduced to less than FIVE hundred remain
ing with Major Madison within the pickets, but
we're deprived Of their principal commanders and
at least three hundred of their companions.
Thus reduced. however, the remainder main
tanned their position with undaunted and even
desperate spirit, repulsng the British regulars sew
eral times and killing many more OF them than
their official accounts after the battle scknowl-
edged. The false report of the British Adjutant
General Edward Baynes, dated a, Quebec. the
9Th Of February, 1873. was this, that four hundred
took refuge in the houses of the town, and kept up
calling fire from the windows. The fact was,
that Madison repused every attack on his position,
and maintained it from near noon till daybreak
when the battle began; the British having suffered
so severely that thev deemed it necessary to resort
10 stratagem, in which they unhappily succeed
ed. -Fasehood is, ,perbaps, not among the forbid
den arts of war, and the mere stratagem by which
the surrender oil the remainder of our brave men
was effected, might not be deemed contrary to
the usages OF legitimate hosttes But the vile
use made of, at any rate, rather an unmany trick,
calls for the strongest reprobato ofa base conriv-
ance. General Winchester was prevailed upon,
when taken prisoner, from motives of humanity to
send his aid. Major Overton, with flag ofruce
to Mr.. Madison, with proposals. for an honorable
capitulaton, il he would surrender. At that time
the firing had so far ceased, that our men suppos-
ed that the British flag had come to propose ces-
sation ofhostilitie, General Winchester had only
acceded to Proctor's proffer of an honorable ca
pitulation IN order to save the lives of many valua-
who were with Major Madison Proctor told him
that unless they SURF .ndered the buildingin which
they were would be Immediately set OIL fire, and
that he would not be responsible for the conduct
the number of their warriors killed in the action
In this critical situation, desirous of saving the
lives of the brave men with Major Madison, and
expressly stipuIang with Proctor that they should
be protected from the savages, allowed to retain
their private property, and have their sides arms
returned to them. Winchester yielded to Proc
tors earnest solicitation, and sent Major Overton
with the fig of truce to Major Madison, and who
not without great reluctance and proper and pos
sibIe precauton, finally submitted himself and his
gallant comrades, prisoners of war. Between four
and five hundred men thus fell into the hands of
the enemy. OF whom great many were wounded
and doomed next day to horrld assassination.
The British account claims to have killed between
four and five hundred Of our people Adjutant
General Bsynes. in his official report, boasted that
the Indian chief Roundhead with his band of
warriors rendered essential service by their brave
ry aud good conduct; and that all the Americans
who attempted to save themselves by flight, were
cut off by the Indian warriors. 1t was Roundhead
VINO captured Generai winchester ana ueIVeTtu
him to Colonel Proctor, to be the amiabe and
good natured instrument for his vile companion.
Such was the battle Of the River Raisin, on the
22d Of January, 1878, preceding the massacre Of
the next day. which covered nearly every respec-
table family in Kentucky with mourning. filled
every generous American bosom with Indignation;
was visited by condgn retrIbution at the battle Of
the Thames the following October, aud should
ever be exposed among the detestabe acts Of En-
giish barbari,y in that war, which, nevertheless,
found disaffected Americans graceless enough, il
not to viudca.e, at all events to palliate and re-
joice over. t,.
After the captulation, Major Madison strongly
with the British commanding officer
upon the nacessity and duty of protecting the
wounded American prisoners from the savages,
who were hoverDg about like blood hounds, thirst
Ing to prey upon them The stipulated protection |
was again promised, with rem ewed assurances that
he terms Of capituation shou ID be justly and faith