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 seventy-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, the 3rd of August, 1918, and
fort Mimms had not yet experienced
an alarm. though it had now hccn man
ned for two long months. The scouts
had reported no signs of Indians for
several weeks past, and hence fatal
feeling Of security had possessed almost
every one. There was one heart with
in, however, throbbing with fearful fore
bodings.
Seated on q wooden stool, in the
company Of some dozen others of both
sexes, n beautiful young girl was seen,
whose pale and troubled features attest
cd the keen anxiety of her soul.
What ails my fair flower, Lucy
Dean, to-day l? Has she seen ghost,
or been dreaming about Indians?' asked
a fine looking young officer, who had
just entered.
'Oh! she thinks that we will all be
scalpcd before night, because the hand
some. Maj. Montgomery left us this
morning. cried on, of the maidens,
laughing. Lucy's own face colored
with swcetcr crimson than ever blushed
on the cheek of an evening cloud.
No, that is not it, said merry, mad.
romp, arching pair of pretty black
eyebrows into comical cxpression.-
She is afraid her old beau, Sultan
Weathcrford, 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 she darkened the smile
playing around the circle, by suddenly
addressing the officer, in tones so sol
emn that they seemed like an unear.i,-
ly warning-sWhat said Gen. Clai-
borne, when ne parted with Major
Bcasley?'
'To rcpcct an enemy, and prepare to
meet him, is the only method to ensure
success, answered the officer.
Chen look at yondcr open gate, and
those children running outside Of the
FORT exclaimed the young girl. with a
slight shudder. is that preparation
to meet an enemy 2
My spies came in not an hour ago,
and assured me that there are no Greeks
within fifty miles, replied the comman.
der, confidently.
'Oh! then, you do not know the
wonderful art of Weatl,crtord, and we
shall all perish ! sighed Lucy Dean, in
a voice Of despair.
Just at that moment 4 snail boy rush
cd into the room, with looks of wonder
depicted on his countcnancc, CRYING
out, eagerly -'Oh! sister Lucy, you
cant guss what | saw III the cane, near
the river
what did you see, nv SOM inquir
cd Major Beasly, something down the
golden locks Of the child.
Il saw negro with straight hair.
and his face all over stained red with
pokeber ries, and he had feathers on his
head like Bird
'Indians!!' shouted Bcasly, lcaping
cut Of the door.
Indians! Indians!' screamed the
women, gathering their children, and
flying wildly to the block house.
Indians! esoundcd from all parts
Of the fort, as the aroused soldiers pras.
ped their guns.
But the alarm came too late. Two
hundred painted warriors, headed by
the barbarously brave Wcathcrford, in
person, already occupied the large gate,
which was literally bristling with the
steel of British bayonets, supplied by
the Internal ielon Elliot, by the order
of the conrt--a court ever devoid of
common humanity as the domestic min
istry Of Lucifer himself.
a 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 eathertord, struggled to
maintain their ground. The weapons
employed by the front ranks Of combat
ants, were swords, knives, tomahawks
and bayoncts, Those behind, who
could not get within striking distance,
on account of the throng fighting before
them, resorted to the rifle and muskct.
After fifteen minutes Of frightiul slaugh-
ter, the savages entered the fort, but
not till every officer Of the garrison was
dead, or all the soldiers slain or mortal
ly wounded. One might have suppos.