American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-07-17


ed from the western bank of the mississippi by
narrow and shallow channel, usually forda-
bic, and 80 thickly set with small willows and
brush that it only could be penetrated by the
men STOPPING, crawling and worming their
way through. With these obstacles TO contend
with, Taylor on foot advanced with his men,
and very soon those at the boats, heard the com
meRcement Of the action. At first, the reports
of the firearms were distinct and apart, but
gradually they increased in number and fapi-
dity, until finally constant discharge was
kept up, and we knew that the whole force was
engaged.
In the course of about an hour, Capt. Rector
returned with his company, and gave orders for
his boat to push off. This at first created some
! alarm for our friends on the island, as we were
apprehensve that they had been repulsed or
surrounded. But we were soon relieved-Tay-
Tor had ordered Rector TO drop down with his
boat to the main shore at the foot of the island,
and cut up some 40 or so canoes lying there
and with which the Indians had crossed the rY-
or during the previous night. The Indians
were giving way and falling back before Taylor,
and he was fearful they would escape him in
their canoes.
We dropped down sterr-foremost, during
which time some twelve or fifteen axes were
distributed, and Lieut.. Kincade with Sergeant
and twenty-five men were ordered to disem-
| bark, and cover the party, while they demolish'
ed the canoes Instead of twenty-five, more
than fifty jumped out, and we had scarcely ex-
| ecuted the order, before the Indians arrived;
and soon after we re-enterod the boat they open
cd their FIRE upon us. At the same time, the
British on the eastern bank of the river, had
brought forward their cannon, and opened upon
US and the other boats; this brought Taylor
and his force to the boats; he had driven the
Indians from the island; and the report of the
| cannon admonished him of the exposed stua-
ton of his frail fotia.
At first the cannon balls flew over us, or fell
short; but soon they began to hit us, and our
situation grew rather hot; the other boats were
also often Inland Taylor determined to drop
down to more secure place-upon our at
tempt to push off our boat, we found that we
were fast aground-the boat upon being light
ened by the number who disembarked for the
destruction of the canoes, neared the shore, and
the consequence was that when we all returned,
she grounded. The Indians soon detected our
situation, and made the woods ring with their
yell Of exultaton. AS the other boats passed
down, Taylor was appraised of our uncomtort-
able postion-and ordered Capt. Whtesides to
relieve US, but his boat was under such Roadway
that he could not stop her for some time-and
we got off before he come up. Rector foresee-
! ing that when the Indians discovered we were
aground, they would make rush and attempt
to board us, or set fire to the boat, had ordered
both swivels douby charged with grape, and
half the men to keep their rifles loaded-soon
they came, rushing pell-mell mob, covering
the whole beach. When they had reached
within fifty yards Of the boat, we gave them
whole broadside at once, which sent them he'll
ter-skelter head over heels back again, and
strewed the shore with dead and wounded-in
this position we remained for at least half an
hour-the Indians keeping up constant fire
and making several charges to board US, while
all the cannon on the opposite shore were
brought to bear upon US. At length we silenced
the Indians for few minutes, by detecting
large number concealed in thick willow cus-
ter Immediately on the margin of the river,
about twenty steps above us-and through
which crowd we sent two canister of grape
our bow embrasure had been accidentally left
open, and they had assembled just above US and
wounded several men through the opening
during the short respite most of our men jump
ed out into the water on the river side of the
boat; keeping it betW cen the Indians and them
selves, and thus tightening her, pulled her off
We then dropped down and oIned the other
boats, the whole force then moved slowly on to
prairie about mile below Rock river, where
it disembarked and formed in order of battle
Here Taylor waited for the enemy-their nu-
merous macanaw boats which had been con-
ceaed up Rock river, now came out crowded
with Indians and soldiers, and exhibited dis
position as we thought to give US battle-from
some cause, however, they returned, and we
waited until night in vain-we retired to our
boats at dark, and the next morning no enemy
was to be seen.
loJ; 80 h. LII h.
had known Capt. Rector for many years. ac-
companed him OH the expsdtion-Jim Cox,
and Deroin-Jim was the most reckless being
ever knew, perfect dare ID. Each boat
was provided with "falling mast" for the
purpose Of using sail when the wind would al
low; ours happened to be standing at the time,
and Jim not liking the confinement of the cab
, in, where he could only see through small
: port-hole-planted himself on deck, upright,
behind the mast, and kept up constant fire
l upon the Indians with his unerrng rife. AS
t we lay aground we could see him over our heads
3 through the matches, which were left open for
the smoke to escape-and ever and anon he
: would cry out "Ca-pe tain, Cd d-m, nusser
!, Ingn dead-wh-o-o-p'' And there the fellow
t stood during the whole fight, behind mast
t scarcely two inchesin diameter larger than him
t self, he almost denuded and yelling all the time
s defiance to his foes
= Agreeable to previous orders, Taylor contin-
s ued down the river the next day, and at the
h foot of the lower rapids erected Fort johnson,
o a strong stockade work, which commanded the
: channel of the river for several miles, and eff
d iectually secured the lower country from any
apprehension off visit by the enemy. Upor
n the completion of the Fort, the regulars were
n left to man it, and the volunteers returned tc
st. Louis.
10 In conversation held many years subse.
). quently, with Ke-o-cock, the head chief now
10 of the Sauke tribe, who was in the engagement