Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1848-01-12

ttrlohe NcxS QcotfQycu- HE dlihcUltf o
i procuring The means 81 subsistence As
tanned them 81 their hunting grounds. tx
The demonstration of The strength 81 tn,
American government, which was mad,
in the very heart Of their country. inspir
cd them with awe. 60 the real aud acsiv
! ity manifested BY Major Taylor, and III,
essential services be rendered the Ariny
the commanding general, IL bis Official LEI
tcrs, bears she lsloss honorable testimony
i II the winter Of 1913 lie vas appointed
4 te sdpefintSnd the recruitipg service in In
diana and illinois, il tho .nerformance ii
which service he coAtin Aed 10 display lis
sharactesis industry ana Success. I'LL
1.-THE month Of July, ii the same year, ii
| accompanied Colonel Russell, with force
Iof rangers aud Kentucky volunteers, Oh
an expedition against the Massasinaway
town, near the sources saf tho Wabash.
The detachment, on reaching the town
found it abandoned BY the enemy, and
meeting with no supply of provisions, MAS
exposed, during its return, 10 the seyersss
priyations. 49,
In the spring Of lsl4, he was ordered
to st, Louis, to take the command Of the
troops IN the Missouri territory until the
arrival Of General Howard, and was az.
1tively employed on its Frontiers until. the
month Of August. The Lardships and re.
sponsibility of such q service cannot BE
conceived Of BY those who are strangers
to the peculiar exposure Of the country,
and who are unapprised Of the almost en-.
tire abandonment Of the territories BIZ the
American government at the period of
which we are now treating. 1t was ascer.
tanned during the summer that the British
llhad taken Fort Shelly ii PrarieduChien,
and were in great force on tie Mississippi
with com bined body of regular troops
and Indian allies TO neet this foSse,-to
protect the immense Ifrnnsisru OF indiana,
Illinois, and Missouri and to restrain the
Of the various savage tribes
Of the Missouri. tho Mississippi, the Iii
nois, and the Wabash, General Howard
was furnished with ten companies of bad
| " organized rangers, and about one hun
bred and twenty efficient regular troops
Witkthese slender resources, and The aid
Of the territorial militia, whose absence
from home often LEFT the frontiers a prey
to the savage foe, he had to protect the in
terror settlements. and furnish detach-
ments to invade the Indian territory Of
these, the detachment which assembled the
Mississippi usffer the command of Major
e Elnr was The most important in its OBJ
l II On a s5 &c sost beneficial IN ito resu
receiiYed orders 70 tasa tic command o.
320men. principally militia, provided with
boats and few pieces Of artillery; to as
cend the Mississippi as highas the indian
villages at the mouth Of Rock river; to-
destroy the Villages and corn; to dispense
the Indians and erect d fort on the most
| eligible site to command the Mississippi
| If lie should find it impracticable to Pass
the rapids Of the Demoine, he was direct.
led to return to the mouth Of chat river, and
there erect fortifcations The leading OBJ
iects Of the expedition were to restrain
the Indians by the establishment of mi
/ litary post in the heart Of their country,
and to arrest the descent Of the British
/ forces on ST, Louis The General closes
his orders to the commanding officer in the
following words: En- ascending theris,
er, should large party be met, every OPP
position will be made from the FIRST discoyl
Eery, down to the lowest point on the river
to which they may descend This com
mand Is respectable III point Of force, and
| is Of high Importance to the country.
Should It succeed in efecting all the OBJ
jects for which il is intended, tho benef.
cial Consequences To our country viii be
greet. On the other hand, should this
movement be stamped with disaster, no
longer can even hope be INDUCED Of the
frontiers maintaining their ground But
from the officer who commands, and those
commanded BY him, the most dattering ex-
pectations may be INDUCED Thus was
1.-THE fate of the frontiers, second time.
staked on the fortunes Of the defender 81
Fort Harrison.
In pursuance Of the orders which he had
received, Major Taylor proceeded with bis
detachment tolthe mouth Of Rock river,
against the difficulties Of rapid current
and the dangers Of lurking enemy, SOC
miles above the highest settlement or posi-
ion the Mississippi. Contrary To his expcc
tations. and those Of the General, be found
4 detachment Of British troops, well sup
lplicd with artillery, and an immense body
i Of Indians, in possession Of the place
\ After skirmishing with the Indians Will
4 his small arms, and being como time can,
nona1ed BY the British, without posi-
i biiityE of returning their fire with effect
i he dropped down to the rapids Denoine
and having landed bis forces, secured hi
boats, and fortified his camp, commence
the building of fort, SO situated al 4
command the Mississippi and the moutl
of the Dcmoine The erection 81. this for
in the face of the enemy, and al 50 grea
u distance from the source Of supply, va
lattended with peculiar hazard, and almos
4 Incredible priVAticn and foil. But III
i Judgment, resolution, and skill, oftbe ccrp
/ mander, seconded 81 bis animated and Ell
\ dearing example, srrmounted every ohsia
4 Gle, and enabled him fully TO cosnplete III
4 important labor. and to realize the mos
sangnine ex pectations Of the vigorous hi
discriminating mind. that conceived an
J. planned theaexp8lE The brave bes
N know how 10 hoaor the brave The work
being 6nisAed the Place Kascalled For
! johnson.
The sudden and lan,eptsd death q Gen
s Howard, ii tlld north 81 October. eaIIsl
Major TayloF 10 81 Louis II Noyepl
Der lie accompanied Colonel Russell segt
J raj hundred niles up tho Missouri 10 d
: cure small Isl tIemont on iliss riyer, III
much exposed 10 Indian dspFedations. {
n Decemil9r, he vas again ordered TO NiE
: ce1nes, TO tale c6i,mana ol the troops !