Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-03-20


had on the preceding day retreated. Our boats
moved as lightly over the ripping waters as j
their crews had not been diminished, and The
careless smi'e,.the merry eye, and lively chat
told how soon The chill thrown by death around
men who are used to his presence, can be melted
away-how light its effect on such as have fell
and refeit has shadowy gloom. 1t is like the
transient shade thrown upon the surface of the
blue ocean by passing cloud, felt or seen bu,
for moment, while the shadow intervencs, then
traceless passes away forever
AS we rowed on gliding over a lake that had
never before TO our knowledge borne white
mans keel, unless in the early days Of enterprise,
when SPANS noblest cavaliers, elnulous of Me.
thuselal's reel OF time, sought
Through tangled brake and forest glen,''
the fountain OF perpetual you,h-passnp amonu
howery. isa'< ~ hich, like brilliant gems OF ma
ny hueS In an azure setting, were scattered a.
round US; the lively paroquet; the lamingo, with
It's coat OF crimson down, and the pink curIew
would rise in whirling circles above our heads,
| screaming forth their alarm, appearing 10 know
mat we were strangers and intTuders there. in
tho distance, the grey brown buzzard lowered
over The pine barren, seeming with his ever hun
cry eye TO be watching for the victims Of the
| The part Of tho main land towards which we
were now approaching, was thickly wooded with
| heavy live oaks, and here and there few moss
hung, spectral looking cypress trees. From our
reckoning, we supposed ourselves near the spot
where Colonel (now Brigadier GENERALLY Taylor
had engaged an immense body OF the enemy, on
christmas eve, 1886, whom after severe and
bloody fight, he drove from their position, with
tho loss Of near $50 men Oh his side while SO
far as known, the loss on the side of the enemy
was comparatively trilling. In this action, the
hardest fought during the war, the gallant oil,
Regiment OF U. 5. infantry suffered greatly, one
company being almost entirely annihilated, its
m. ppyc "a
man escaped uncrippled. Here in the foremost
Tell the gallant COL Thompson, with Lieut.. Van
Swearngin, and host OF others whom at ore
sent we have neither space nor time 10 enumera,e
The Indians, Tor weeks prepared for the contest,
had by many cunning vile and stratapem
drawn Col Taylor to the spot and after deliver
ing few fatal fires, when the bayonet opened the
bracches of their covert fled to the lake. where
the Colonel having no boats, could not pursue
them. Had the cool calm deliberate bravery here
exhibited been displayed upon civilized field,
the 9Th would have been auded to the skies, but
it is thought by many that little glory can be
gained In an Indian war. Is it because the will
derness hides the face Of the menacing foe! Is
II because one cannot see the hand which flings
death through the ranks that less bravery need be
displayed In the combat with the savage, he who
has no ear for mercy, and thinks it a crime to
give even the helpless woman auarter1 False
unjust and mean such ideas Men can gaze
on an advancing column, when il moves upon the
same ground as that which they occupy, formed
OF men moulded and framed as they, with much
more GOODNESS Than they can stand hip deep in a
muddy swamp where every tree and shrubby bush
conceais deadly foe; where the whiz of a rifle
ball is their only warning-theIr music unearthly
yells, which are echoed on every side by the
groans OF those who are falling unavenged around,
by hands Invisible. In such place, at such a
time, have stood, and the tremor OF every leaf
let would send chill cold as death TO nv heart
every whoop seemed the laugh of demon, wait
ing TO drag me to my grave, and gladly would |
then have changed my situation to an open plain
with thrice the number of my foes around me-
where could meet them accompanied by the
horrors which their mode of warfare causes the
Imagination to paint.
True, alas Tor many Of the brave and already !
forgotten fallen; too true is the far echoed idea
that there Is no honor, credit TO be gained in
such war.-There in the distant forest hcv have
fallen unwept, and oftenmes unknown; there
they have found unshrouded soldiers shallow
grave, no monument but Tie hoary trees above
them no friend TO tell their virtues, their history
or death, or TO mourn their loss-there forgotten
they lie in the damp Inorass, their memory alrea-
dy covered with the mould of oblivion.
We neared the shore cautiously, expecting and
tearing reception similar TO that which | have
before described, but not sound or motion indi
Gated the existence of human being. A small
herd OF red deer standing the bank quietly
gazing al us, satisfied us that there was no dan
ger 20 be apprehended, and at once we landed
On gaining the shore, we found that we were in
deed on the "bat;le ground'-,he broken and
dead branches Of trees shattered by balls, scraps
OF clothing and stumps of sapinos which had
been cut down for lltters, all be,okened the place
short distance from The thickel a few large
mounds, on which the young grass had just be-
gan to form sod, and wild vioets TO bloom
showed where laid all that was earthly, of the
gallant fallen.
The Indians had apparepuv heen ,u,i,;,r a,
attack in this place for days, Judging from the
ashes OF their numerous camp fires. They had
even cut notches in the large live oak trees which
skirted the open ground, in which to ensure a ia
tai aim they had rested their rifles. Dreadfuly
fatal was that first fire which lit up the gloom of
The dark hammock, like lightning in the night
storm, making the succeeding darkness douby
horrible.
Now, however, all was quiet and peaceful.
The deer and its light limbed fawn orazed and
gamboled upon the late scene of battle, the wjl6
flowers threw their fragrant breath upon the air.
and,the clear waters Of the sparkling streamlet
poured forth brightly into the lake, as if they had
never been tInged with the rudy lifc-tide which
had been shed upon their petbly banks The
sweet singing of birds echoed through the forest.
where late hell's own music had rung its widest
notes, freezing the half curdled veins Of the dy-
! ing, and startling the bravest Of them all.
Seeing nothing OF the enemy, we re-embarked
in our boats ard returned 10 the island, where we
set TO work, nccoding tn ''0rdcrs from head guar
fers,' at destroying the half ripened crops Of the
natives and burning their palm thatched huts
While the work Of destruction was PROGRESSING
while their corn and fruits were falling beneath
our all devouring hands, and we were tearing
down their lovely arbors treadng in the paths
where the marks Of infant sports reminded me of
the joyous summer hours of bare footed childhood
| thought thatthere was almost an excuse for their
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