Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-07-22

p
with his wrist broken. The scntncls in con- |
iormity with previous orders reiterated To the |
boats, and the drums beat TO arms. A soon I
as II was ascerlaiucd that the enemy Was on /
the island, and would not attack the boats,
orders Were passed from boat 60 boat, for one
halt OF each to turn out--thc other half with
ibe guard to remuin in charge cot the boats.
Day abou, this time began toilluminate the
cast, aud dispcl the gloOm which surrounded
us. Some confusion at first had been created
10y the noise OF the drums, the retreat of the
guard, and arousing the mcD from their slum-
bets, but with the coming fight all was quiet
ed, and the troops soon formed on the bank
ot the river. The hour had now arrived which
the men had 50 much dcsircd-,mring the
long AMI tedious trip they had frequently talk
ed II over-iorncd their plaus-aud detcrm-
IN ',thow they would act when the trial came
and now, that the time hal arrived, upon
which the lives ol 80 many hung, they were
as brave, dauntless aud eager, as ever.
The island Ut which we Law, MAS only sep
aattd from the we stern bank of the Nissis Up ii
by narrow and shallow channel usually
lonible, and 50 thickly set with small will
lows and brush, that il only could b. pene TIA
ted 10y the men stopping. crawling and worm
ing their way through. With these obstacles
To contend with, Tay Tor on foot advanced with
hls men, aud very soon those at the boats
heard the commencement of the action. At
hrst, the reports OF the firearms were distinct
and apart, but gradually they increased i'm
number ana npidity, until finally constant
discharge was kept up. and we knew that the
whole iOrCe was engaged.
In the course OF halt an hour, Capt. Rector
returned with the company and gave Orders
ior the boats To push of. This at first gave
some alarm for our friends ON the island, as
49, Il. Al q
pulsed or surrounded. But we were soon re-
lieved-raylor had oriercd Rector to drop
down with his boat To the main shore at the
loot OF the island, and cut up some 10 or 90
canoes lying there, and with which the Indi-
ans had crossed the river during The previous
night. The Indians were giving way and
ialhng back before Taylor ANA he was fearful
they would escape him in their canoes.
We dropped down stern foremost, during
which time some twelve or fifteen axes were
distributed, and Lieut.. kincadc with Ser
geant and twenty-five men were ordered To
disembark and cover the party, while they de-
molished the canoes Instead of twenty-five,
more than fifty jumped ont. aud we had
had scarcely executed the order, before the In
dams arrived, and soon alter we Te-entercd he
boat they opened their fire upon us. Al the
same time, the British on tie eastern bank OF
the riNer, ha;i brought forward their cannon,
and opened upon us and the other boats; this
brought Taylor aud his force To the boats; he
had driven the Indians from the island; and
the report Oi the cannon ajmonislicd him of |
the exposed situation oi his trail Aotilla.
AT first the cannon balls flew over Us, or !
Tell short; but soon they began To hit rs, anl !
our situation grew rather hot; the other boats
were also Often hil-and Taylor determined |
TO drop down TO a moe secure plaCc-upon
AT fssTia mt 10. ii.
That we were fast agrOund- boat upon be-
ng ightcned by the number who disembark-
1T ior The destruction of the canoes, ncarcd
he shore, and the consequence was that when
We aihrelurncd, she grounded. the Indians
Don detected our situation, aud made the
oods rIng with their wells OF eAuliation. As
~ other boats passed down, TAYLOR was APP
Esd OF our uncomfortable position-and or
5Sed Capt. Whitesidcs To relieve us but his
'oal was under such Roadway that lac could
lot stop her loT some tine--and we got oil !
before he came up. Rector iorcsecing that /
when the Indians discovered we were aground 4
they would make rush and attempt to board |
Us ~ set fire TO the boat had ordered both |
doubly charged with grape, and half
II e men to keep tl, IL rifles loaded-soon they (
came, rushing pcll-mcll mob, covering the 4
whole beach. When they had reached with 1
III MY yards oi the boat, we gave thcIna en- /
Tue broddside at once, which sent them he'll |
ter SHELTER hcad over heels back again. and
slrcwcd the shore with dead and Wounded I
IN thIa position we remained for at least half
an hoaI-the Indians keeping up constant
lire dpl making several charges TO board Us,
Whiie all the cannon ON the opposite shore
Wefc brought To bear upon Us. Al length we
slenced The Indians for few minutes, by de- !
leclluS large number concealed in thick
a L..
'he nNer, about twenty steps above us-and !
through which crowd we sent two cnnistcrs of /
sIdpc-gur bow cInbrasurc lad been accident
lY iclt open, and they had assembled lust a
ho'e us and wounded several men through the I
op hinS -dunng tbe short respite most uf our !
men jumped out into the water on the river
SIe OF The boat; keeping IL between the In /
dians and themselves and thus lightning her.
pulled lier of. We then dropped down and
coined the other boats, the whole force then
moved slowly on TO a prairie about mile be
low Rock river, where il discmbarkcd aud
'grmed IA order oi battle. Here Taylor wait
~ Tor ne enemy-thcir numerous macanaw
oi's winch h0d been concealed up Rock river,
now came out crowded with Indians and sol
dlers, aud exhibited adispositiom as we Thought
to give as bittic--lrOm some cause. however
'hcy returned, and wc waited until night i'm
'd'h-We rc'ird TO Our boats OF dark. AMI the
leAi morning no enemy was TO be seen.
TWO Indians OF the kaskuskia tribe. who
had known Capt. Rector for many years. oc-
oinl1nIcd him ON the cxpcdition--Jim Cox.
ind Dtroin-Jim was the most reckless bcing
ever knew; perfect dare ID. Each boat
was provided with failing mast" for the
purpose Of using sail when tie wind would al
owi ours happened to be standing at the time.
'nd jim not liking the coulinemcntof the cab
49, where he could only see through small
'orl ,liole--p planted himself on deck: upright
hI Kept up constant Ere upon ,he, Indians
WIN hi' uneuing rifle. As we lay aground
Nc could see him over our heads through the
'a"'eS' which were left open for the smoke 4
o cscape-and ever and anon he yo,,lJ 60
'lt Ca pc-tain, -dd--m. uu.escr lupiu drad
WIN ~ a nd Ll.n-o H. 80 -.