The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-02-05

In the curse Of the day two struggling
Indians were killed, and a party was
discovered to be following in the rear,
but the detachment was recalled in the
evening by a signal given by firing can
non at the camp, and returned without
being molested.
On the 10Th, Colonel Hardin was
sent out with about one hundred and
fifty militia and sixty regular troops to.
wards a town a few miles up the ST.
Joseph's river. In the evening the de.
tachmcnt was passing where the road
ran through a mario W prairie, when
they were suddenly attacked by the
enemy who were concealed in the
woods on one side, and in the edge OF
a morass which skirted the road on the
other. The militia gave way and fled,
and their officers found it impossible to
rally them; but the regulars stood their
ground until they were nearly all de-
stroyed. Only seven or eight OF them
escaped, among whom were Captain
John Armstrongand Ensign Hartshorn.
Captain Armstrong broke through the
enemy and plunged into the morass
where he continued through the night
with his body wholly under water and
his head covered by a tussock Of grass,
and witnessed the yelling and dancing
of the victors over the dead bodies of
his men. Towards day, it having be-
come very dark, and the enemy becom-
ing quiet he extricated himself from
the swamp, and attempted to find the
camp. He was so much chilled and
benumbed, by remaining SO long in the
water, that he had not proceeded far
until he found himself almost unable to
move his limbs; having got into a hol-
low, he scraped some dry leaves to.
gether and possessing materials for
striking fire which were constructed
water-tight, and had not been wet, he
kindled the leaves and some small
sticks, and rested upon his hands and
knees, with his body over the blaze,
until warmth and power of motion
were restored, when he again started,
and succeeded in reaching the camp.
Ensign Hartshorn in running to escape
from the enemy, stumbled over a log,
when the thought struck him to lie
still. which he did, without being seen,
until dark, when he was also fortunate
enough to reach the camp.
On the next day, the corn and vege-
tables about the village were destroy
ed, and on the 31st, the army commenc.
ed their return home ward. After pro-
ceeding a few miles, the general re-
ceived information, that the enemy had
already returned to their village, upon
which he determined to endeavor TO
change the fortune Of the campaign.-
In the evening, Colonel Hardin was or.
dered to take sixty regulars under the
command of Major WHY'S, and about
five hundred militia, and return and at.
tack the Indians at the town. They
did not arrive at the village until about
sunrise, when a few Indians were dis.
covered and fired on, who fled in diff.
ferent directions pursued by the militia,
who thus fell into disorder. They were
then attacked ~impetuously, by the In
dams, who in many cases, fought at
quarters, with the tomahawk against the
%bayonet, making their most strenuous
efforts against the body Of regular troops
who preserved their order for some
time, but were finally overpowered by
numbers, and all killed, except a cap.
tain, ensign, and seven men. Major
WHY'S, wa killed. 1t was moi until
the regulars had been cut of, that the
militia could be recalled from the pur-
suit. Colonel Hardin al length brought
them into regular order, and the con-
test was continued until past noon,
when a retreat was ordered, and the
Indians did not pursue. Upwards of
one hundred and thirty men were killed
the action; and it was supposed that
the enemy must have suffered severely
also, as they permitted the army to re.
turn to Cincinnati without further mo-
Iestatioh. The expedition reached fort