Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-28
From the Philade ph,a Bulletin.

A SPLENDID SABRE-We were invited,
this morning, by Messrs William II. Horst
mann s. Sons to examine, al their magnificent
military Bazaar, No. 81 North Third street,
sabre, intended As present from the citizens cf
Southampton comfy, Va, 10 Captain George
Thomas, 81 Artillery, u S. Army tor gallant SER
vices rendered in Florida, and al Fort Brown.
Monterey and Buena Vista, and which is one Of
the most splendid weapons OF The kind We ever saw.
The pattern OF the sabre is that worn BY The
u S. Dragons. The blade is OF the lrues and
pretlest steel, finished in manner that wond de-
fy superiority OF workmanship The scabbald
is of solid silver, standard value, beautifully en-
riched with engraved scroll work, enclrc!ine mi
ary trophies with he words, Florida ,""FoU
Brown" "Monlercy," "Buena Vista" and an
graved vigneuc OF The baue of Monterey. The
Hill is of the basket form, very elaboraey chased.
The grip is OF solid silver, aso enriched with en-
grayed scrolls. The pommel is Of gold, srasping
an amethyst, and the rings and bands, in gold bas-
relief.
Upon the Grip is engraved an elephant, sgn-
icant proof OF the hero Tor whom the weapon is
intended, having seen The animal while in Mex
ico The sabre and lis belt are enclosed in q
plain walnut box, with solid silver mounlinss, the
beauty OF which i in perfect keeping with the
splendid present. The satire was made under The
direction o: The Mes>rs. uoIlsmaDn, by Ames,
Cabouville Massachusetts.
CANAAN Thomas heroism in Mexico has so
frequently been the subject OF eulogy in the OFF,
ca dispatches OF his commanders, that no room
Is LETT Tor US 10 speak OF his deeds there. But he
was also distinguished in Florida, during the Sc
minoe war, while Lieutenant; and AZ The bat
lie of Lake Monroe, which was fought on The 9Th
Of February, 1887, he distinguished himself BY one
OF the most heroic acts OF that war.
Al tour O'clock A. NJ in dense fog, six COM
ptr ay W SD Second
cnons and one OF the ~, and one OF the Sd Ar
illery-were surprised by body Il 500 Indians.
under Osceola, Tuskcnuegee and other Chiefs.
| A breas,work, fortunately thrown up the After
noon before, was all that saved The American
command from massacre The hostes. who
| had made their way 10 The centre OF the camp,
were precipilately driven 10 the cover OF a ham,
mock that bounded two thirds Of the circum!er-
| epce OF The encampment (the lake forming The
other third) by a well-mcd and destructive fire
| from The brcastwork, to which the recruits had
| rushed pe!l.mell from their tents -many OF them
with cartridge belts hastily thrown over their
| shirts and drawers, and not few OF the officers
| in their nighgowns.
On this stirring occasion the renowned Colonel
Harvey, commanded Colonel Tanning, OF The
Artillery. since deceased, having yielded him the
command, as an act of chivalrous couTesy,) and
Harvey fought the battle, which lasted three
hours and twenty minutes, in his night gown and
Dieh..cap Among The brave srlilts then pre-
| sent. and whose names have since been thrilling
| " conspicuous were Nav and poor Sch Bird
/ Thornton, al the time young second lleutenants.
The nature OF the battle-ground was such that
| The handful OF recruits did not dare TO make
| .ortie 10 charge the hammock, as before The CO.
| YER of The hosliles could have been reached their
| rifles would have picked of every man. Neither
meuaces nor ,auns (and both were freely show
cred upon them) could induce the hos'iles 10
bulge beyond The edge of the hammock. The
breaslwork was subjected 10 an harrassng cross
fire, which they were able 10 return with poor Ell
| feet.
Our troops being al last provoked out o! all pa
| tience by fight SD ngloTUus, desperate mea-
sure was resolved upon. In The lake, The COM
| mand had several steam transports, ana moorcd
| al the waters edge we're bar2es 10 reach mem. On
| hoard OF one of the steamers was howiizer,
which could he brought 10 bear on that part oil the
hammock where the Indians had CORRECTED Tie Tar
gest portion vi their force
The beach was lined with the rcd skins who
were firing al some sick men in scows IN The lake.
The howiiz-r was to b. used, or there was no dis
lodging the enemy from his hiding place.
AT this crisis Harvey called icr fororn hope.
The call was Immediately responded 10 by Lieut..
Thomas, who, with a squad Of picked anilIefy,
Gu, ais way through the foe on The beach, ana
amid hai.slorm ol bullets, gained the steamer
without loss.
The howi,z,, was opened with deadly effect -
Every discharge OF grape and canister was fol-
owed by The awful death yeils OF the savages.-
The fire Of he Scminoes began 10 s'acken, and
in less than fifteen minutes, the s'illnes 81 me
grave hung over IN, scene OF strife. The In
dians had gone. Paths had been literally cut
through the hammock By the iron hail from The
howi,zer, the ground was srewn with dead bodies,
and for miles The leaves were spattered win hood
from The wounded hosliIes, who fed bleeding or
were dragged away by their comrades.
Thomas, we believe, was brere'rd captain
for this exploit Virginia, the mother oil heroes,
NAV be prond Of him.