Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-03-23

lHeHce tllelr InleTnal OiIlceS upon HeT. DuL HeI
thoughts were far away Before her mental
vision arises the home of her childhood-her
aged parents, and the young brave to whom
her troth was plghted. Now her fancy roves
through the green woodlands and wide fields
where she had so often strayed, listening to the
singing bird and running water. No more
shall the songs of the one, and the plaintlve
ripping OF the other, gladden. the heart of
Keleotuc! No omore will she greet them Nring!
Now arc the warriors gathering around her.
See! they are hcaping up the faggots. Listen
to the taunts they cast upon their gentle victim
but she answers not she hears them not Like
the dying swan, she pours forth her latest
breath in touching melody. Her soft, fute.like
tones of voice comes floating through the mid
night air. In solemn chant she sings" Green
earth bright flowers! running waters bear
hence, far away unto Cashatte the young brave,
the last sigh of Keeotuc Spirit of the wa
wing trees whisper forth through the air let
the fate of the wild flower reach the home of
her kindred-let it burn In the hearts Of her
tribe. Companions of my childhood, ,ye birds
of sweet note, sing my requiem Silvery stream
of the mountain, murmur forth my name! And
now, Great Father, listen to thy suffering child
Oh send forth thy winged n1essengers-speed
them quickly or-let them shield and bear me
to thy bosom! Hark like meteors flashing
throug the sky see them! Their snowy pin
ions heat the air, and songs Of joy are floating
round! Welcome sweet shadows of the spirit
land Welcome. bright sisters of the starry
robe! To your outstretched arms | come l
GOMEZ
Thus sang kelootuc, as warrior seized
lighted torch and hurled it at her feet.-Quickly
the dry brush ignited, and canopy of smoke,
black as volume from hell, rose fercely to the
sable sky. One wild shrek Of agony burst
forth from the dying girl as the flames, wreath
ing round blasted her with its fiery breath;
maddencd howl of derison from the infuriated
savaees answered her. A moment more, and
a crushing sound from the tramp of feet was
heard. and, before the Indians could gain GOV.
er, the party of whites burst forth from the ad.
joining thicket, and poured out the contents OF
their rifles upon them.
"Then arose so wild yell
Within this dark and narrow dell,
As if the fiends from Heaven that fell
Had pealed their banner cry Of He'll"
The Indians, although losing several Of their
number, and taken entirely by surprise, main
tanned their ground for some time, fighting hand
to hand with the courage Of despair and the
ferocity Of tigers. The blow Of the tomahawk,
the thrust of the knife, the shrieks OF the
wounded and dying, were now intermingled
with the shouts OF encouragement from one
party and the yell Of deiaUce from the other
None expected or asked for mercy, but fought
desperately, like the wolf, to the last gasp.
In the mean time, the flames rolled on, light
inr up the scene Of battle with all its horrors
bringing every combatant into full view. Fore.
most, from the commencement Of the affray,
was Coshate. who, welding his war-club,
fought with the fury Of a maniac, in the direc-
ton where he had discovered keleotuc bound
and enveoped with fire. None withstood him.
for he struck down all who opposed, aud made
his way, through flame and smoke, to the side
of the Indian girl With one sweep Of his
knife he severed the bonds that held her, and
springing back bore her out of reach--but,
alas, too late No sooner did the blackened
and charrcd remains Of the young girl meet
his gaze, as he bore her body of, than, with a
or, like that Of wild beast, he dropped his
burden and rushed amid the fight. Already
was his arms, face, and breast deluged with
blood, and now his knife at every thrust was
deeply painted with its CORY color. On he
rushed to the very centre of the enemy, and in
despite of the wounds and blows he received
from all sides, he grappled with the chief, and
bore him, writhing and struggling, to the bla-
zing fire that still roared and Missed for its vic
tim. With bound like that of panther, he
sprang with his enemy full in the midst Of the
roaring column Of flame that shot forth its
forked tongues for yards around.-For mo-
ment cloud of ashes and smoke obscured the
view; then thousands of bright sparks ascend.
cd and fell again like hail on the green sward
around An instant more and Coshatte-his
whole person, even to his long scalp-lock on
6re-burst forth, with his blazing shroud, like
a tortured devil loosened from his chains, and,
feebly sounding his war.cry, dashed again
among them HIS enemies the few Caronque-
wavs that were left--hed in terror before this
blazing, frightful apparition, and to this day
they believe that the white men were guided
and assisted by a supernatural being at the
fight Of Indian Hole"
Coshatte lived but 4 few hours after the bat
tie. His body, as we'll as that OF the Indian
cirl was taken some three miles from the creek,
and laid side by side at the edge OF the prairie
his war.club and knife being placed with him
and strong enclosure of young trees and
brush built around them which can be seen to
this day.
The fate of Cosl,atte the brave, and keleo-