The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-02-13


on the Black Warier. A qu,drangn,
lar wall of enormous pine logs, aud pro.
tccted at the four corners by four
strong block houses, it might have been
deemed secure against any force desti.
tutc of artillery. 1t was impregnable
to other arms, if properly guarded
It's garrison numbered two hundred
and scventy-fivc, Of whom nearly one
half consisted of women and children,
having left their own homes for this un.
fortunate asylum. 1t was bright noon
day, tho 3rd Of August, 1918, and
fort Mimms had not yet experienced
an alarm, though it had now been man.
ned for two long months. The scouts
had reported no signs of Indians for
several weeks past, and heuce fatal
feeling Of security had possessed almost
every one. There was one heart with.
in, however, throbbing with fearful fore
bodings.
Seated on wooden stool, in the
company Of some dozen others Of both
sexes, a beautiful young girl was seen,
whose pale and troubled features attest
ed the keen anxiety of her soul.
what ails my fair flower, Lucy
Dean, today Has she seen ghost,
or been dreaming about Indians?' asked
fine looking young officer, who had
just entered.
'Oh! she thinks that we will all be
alped before night, because the hand
some. Maj. Montgomery left us this
morning. cried on: of the maidcns,
laughing. Lucy's own face colored
with swceter crimson than ever blushcd
on the cheek of an evening cloud.
No, that is not it, said merry, mad
romp, arching pair of pretty black
eyebrows into q comical expression.
She is afraid her old beau, Sultan
Weathcrtord, will pay her another Wis
it, and she objects to being made sthe
light of the harem.'
Lucy turned deadly pale at this raj.
ly Of wit; but che iarkened the smile
playing around the circle, by suddenly
addressing the officer, in tones so sol
emn that they seemed like an unearth-
ly warning-'What said Gen. Clai-
borne, when he parted with Major
Bcasley?'
'To rcpcct an enemy, and prepare to
meet him, is the only method to ensure
success answered the officer.
'Thcn look at yondcr open gate, and
those children running outside Of the
FORT exclaimed the young girl. with
slight shudder. is that preparation
to meet an enemy?'
My spies came in not an hour ago,
and assured me that there are no Creeks
within fifty miles, replied the comman-
der, confidently.
'Oh! then, You do not know the
wonderful art of Weatlicrtord, and we
shall all pcrish' = sighed Lucy Dean, in
a voice Of despair.
Just at that mnmcnt su.all boy rush
ed into the room, with looks Of wonder
depicted on his countcnancc, crying
.,ut, eagerly -'Oh! sister Lucy, you
can't guss what saw in the cane, near
the river
'What did you see, nv SOM inquir.
cd Major Bcasly, something down the
golden locks of the child.
Il saw negro with straight hair.
and his face all over stained red with
pokebe, rics, and he had feathers on his
head like bird
'Indians.' shouted Bcaslv. leaning
cut Of the door.
Indians! Indians!' screamed the
women, gathering their children, and
flying wildly to the block house.
Indians iesoundcd from all parts
Of the fort, as the aroused soldiers gras.
ped their guns.
But the alarm came too late. Two
hundred painted warriors, headed by
the barbarously brave cathcrford, in
person, already occupied the large gate,
which was literally bristling with the
steel Of British bayoncvs, supplied by
the internal ielon Elliot, hy the order
of the court---a court ever devoid of
common humanity as the domestic min
lstry OF Lucltcr hlnSelt.
y tremendous contest ensucd. The
Americans, animated by the example
of Major Bcasly, strovc to push their
enemy from the gate. The Greeks,
inspired to phrensy by the trumpet
tongue of Weatheriord, struggled to
maintain their ground. The weapons
employed by the front ranks of combat
ants, wore swords, knives, tomahawks
and bayoncts, Those behind, who
could not get within striking distance,
on account of the tlrong fighting before
them, rcsorted to the rifle and nuskct.
After fifteen minutes Of frightful siaugh-
ter, the savagcs entered the fort, but
not till every officer of tho garrison was
dead, or all the soldiers slain or mortal
ly wounded. One might have suppos-