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

cheer the men rushed to the charge with the hay.
pnet; but the willy foe had fled, and when in the
hot pursuit, we gained the opposite side of The is.
land, we beheld them already far out on the lake
en- route for the main land. While the warriors
were engaged IN opposing our landing, the wo.
men and children had mustered in their canoes.
for flight; and the men, nth the savage vet keen
witted policy used throughout the war, had fled
as soon as their first fire had been delivered thew
having done all the harm they could without en-.
dangerIng the defeat of their party. may safe
~ say, that OF all the actions during the war one
haT ended without the loss of a man on the side
OF The enemy, while many Of the whites were kill
ed. This do not attribute to any want of skill
or bravery on the side of the whites, but to the
fact OF the Indians being better acquainted with
the cQ1Dtry--therelore advancing or retreatino
with greater facility, and also that for the first
three years oil the war, the whites often fought
in solid ranks instead of "tTcciny it' after the
present approved style. But beg your pardon,
reader, Tor DEPRESSING. Let us return TO the warn
In this instance the Indians had not escaped
entirely unscathed, for five of their warriors Law
stretched upon the field, and tracks of the furi-
tives were marked with blood, while one youny
girl, wounded MORALLY by some random shot, Law
weltering in agony. Tears filled every eye, as
she uttered probably the only English words she
knew,--'mc sck!'
Of our party some whose hearts but an hour
before beat lightly and free in bosoms filled with
glorious aspirations, now were cold and stilled
forever; others, yet living, whose anguish was too
great TO be concealed beneath the veil of silent
iortitude, with eyes rolling in agony, clammy
brows and blanched lips, broke forth in piteous
groans, praying tor death to them their pain
The misery OF that young girl wrung hearts
that were used TO death in all its various shapes.
AS she lay extended upon the green grass, among
her kindred wild flowers, her head piowed upon
nur ...iI
black eyes spoke a touching roproach to every
heart; and at last as her tortured soul burst from the
encumbering clay, we felt that il took its flight
10 be witness against the actors in this dreadful
tragedy, before the tribunal of Just God
Like nearly all the Seminole women, her form
was dellcatey perfect In symmetry; her skin, tho
dark, was clear and transparent the rind of
pomagranate; her hair long, black and silken;
her features regular, and her large melting black
eye-I shall never forget ii!
Our forces being two much fatigued and Grip
Piled to pursue the enemy, took up their quarters
In the deserted huts and while our surgeon was
engaged in alternating the suerings of the wound.
ed, with slight guard stro!led over the island.
The Indians apparently had long cultivated the
rich soil, and In their fields found corn melons
bananas, plantans, sugar cane, pine apples, and
tobacco all growing luxuriantly. The fields
showed tile marks Of neither hoe nor Plough The
underground was removed, the larger trees hay-
Il
not injure the crops with shade.
The setting sun mingled his mellow purple
with the liquid blue Of the western sky, when the
bugle's swelling notes echoed over the still, calm
surface OF tho beautiful lake, calling together our
saddened band, for the purpose OF burying the
dead, preparatory to making an early star, in the
morning.
AT the foot of an old Indian mound, beneath
the wide spread, dropping branches of large cy-
press, our men had scooped out shallow nit
and there laid them, friend and foe, coffinless and
unshrouded, with no funeral service but the in
ward heart wraught prayer, or the long drawn
sigh that pumped from many fearless eye the
tears, which stranger like coursed down the fur
rowed channels OF weather beaten, time marked
cheeks. Than sailors, none more deeply or keen
ly feel the loss of beloved friends and comrades.
to whom by long association amid the buffetinrs
OF the gale, the vayings fife, the pleasures fey
and far between, and their many dangers, they be-
come attached; and though at the burial scene no
formal or outward appearance of ''mourning''
--"ousprcad its cold unmeaning gloom around,'
There were those who feN and mourned their
loss as deeply as silence that true poriraiiure oe
grief, could tell.
After the last sad rites had been Tins hastily
performed wandered out from the camp. The
moon rose, casting its melancholy light upon
our sleeping men; and, tired with exertion and
excitement, l wrapped the folds of my boat
cloak closer around ME casting myself upon
grassy bank, while my mind roamed far and
wide, among distant friends and scenes that were
daguerreotyped upon my hearts tablet Look
ing up at the pale orb, which sailed in queenIy
majesty through the blue cloud-isIanded ocean Of
ether, thought of Moore's beautiful idea:
''Sweet moon if like Crotona's sage,
BY any spell my hand could dare
To make thy disc its ample page,
And write my thoughts, my wishes there;
How many friend, whose careless eve
= Now wandcrs DER the starry sky,
Should smile upon the orb to meet
The recollection kind and sweet;
The rcvcrcs o! fond regret;
The promise to forget;
And all my heart and soul would send
To many dear loved, distant friend"
My senses, drowned in the dreamy reverie
produced by the strange yet beautiful wish of the
poet, gradually gave way to the advances of
"Tir'd Natures sweet restorcr, balmy Sleep
from which the sweet carrollng of birds and the
bugle's call aroused me, TO look upon the first
rosy blush OF the young day, as it imidly stole
from its night Swallowed couch, kissing the pear.
ly dew drops from the monopolizing flowers, and
applying the last finishing color touch of perfec-
ton to Dame Natures toilet.
Hastily we made our dejeune, which delicate
repast consisted Of raw pork, and ships biscuit,
and manning our boats, prepared 10 leave this
sadly beautiful island.
Ere took my seat in the boat, pulled M
young magnolia, and planted il upon the grave of
'he indian maiden, whom, had forgotten 10 state,
we had buried separately from the sterner and
harsher sex,-feeliDg that the pure and delicate
lily would not be fitting companion for the de-
caying OAK; mat there was some thing too pure in
her to be contaminated by the touch even in DEATH
OF the blood yvarrior