The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-07-28

vent the confusion that might arise from
a sudden surprise, it forced It's difficult
way through the forest, and at night arr-
we'd within six miles of the besieged fort.
Here Jackson halted, and sent forward
two friendly Indians and white man to
reconnoitre. About eleven o'clock they
returned and reported the enemy in great
force and within a quarter of mile of
the fort No time was to be lost, and
thoagh the troops had been without sleep,
and constantly on the strain for twenty
four hours, another night, and battle LAY
between them and reposc.
1t was four o'clock of cool November
morning, when the three columns again
moved forward. Advancing with the ut
most caution and quietness to within a
mile of the Indian encampment, they hal
ted and form ed in order ofsbattIe. Fwa
hundred and fifty of the cavalry, under
COL Dyer, were left in the rear of the CEN
tire to act as reserve while the remain
ing four hundred and fifty were ordered
to push on to the right and left on either
side, until the heads of their columns met
beyond the hostile cncampment, and thus
completely cncircle it. The two bripadcs
OF Hall and Roberts, occupying the right
and left, were directed to advance, while
the ring of cavalry was steadily to con-
tract, so as to shut i'll every savage and
prevent their escape. At eight o'clock,
Colonel Carroll boldly charged the posi-
ton in front of him, and carried it; he
then r,treated, in order to draw the In
dians in pursuit They charged after with
such terrific whoops and Internal screams,
that a portion ofGencral Roberts brigade,
on which they were rushing with upliftcd
tomahawks, broke and fled. This made
chasm i'll the line, which Jackson ilnmc-
dlatcl y ordered Colonel Bradley to fill
with his regiment, that for some reason,
known only to the commander, had lag
gcl behind, to the great dctrimcnt of the
order of battle. But not only had he pro-
we'd laggard in the approach, but he re-
| fused to fill the chasm, as ordered bv his
commander, and the latter was compelled
to dismount his reserve and hurry them
forward. As these steadily and firmly ad-
vanccd, and poured in their volleys, the
panic-strickcn militia recovered their cour-
age and resumed their places in the line.
In the mean time, the cncircling cavalry
came gallopping, with loud hurrahs, to-
wards the centre. The next moment the
forest rang with the sharp reports of their
miles. In fifteen minutes the battle was
over, and the terrified savages were wild
ly sEirting the inner edge of this circle of
of fire, seeking, in vain, an avenue, to
the open forest beyond. Turned back at
every step they fell like the autumn leaves
which tiIe wInu'pheok arolsntiS them, Al
length they discovered agap, made by the
neglect of Colonel Bradley, and the delay
of portion of the cavalry, which had ia
ken too wide a circuit, and poured like q
torrent that has suddenly found vent
through it. The mounted rflemen wheel
ed and strcamcd after; and the quick,
sharp reports of their pieces, and the rcce-
ding yells rising from the forest, told how
tiercely they pressed on the flying traces
of the foe. The savagcs made straight
for the mountains, three niles distant,
fighting as they went. The moment they
bounded up the steep ACTIVITY they were
safe, and the wcaricd horscmcn turned
again to the camp. Their way back was
easily tracked by the swarthy forms that
lay stretched on the leaves, showing where
the flight and pursuit had swept. OF the
thousand and more who had composed
the force of the enemy, more than half
were killed or wounded. Three hundred
were left dead on the spot where they had
first fought. The loss of the Americans,
in killed and wounded, was ninetv-fve.
The friendly Indians, who had been so
long shut up without drop of water, in
momcntary expectation of being massa-
creed listened to the uproar without, with
beating hearts; but when the battle was
over, they rushed forth with the most
frantic cries of JOY, and lcaped and shou-
ted around their delivcrcrs in all the Wild
ness of savage delight. They crowded
around jackson as if he had been their
deity, towards whom they could not show
too much reverence.
The refusal of General White to march
to Fort Strother, left the feeble garrison
Of the latter in pcrilous state. If it
should fall, Jackson's whole line of retreat
would be cut off; and he, therefore, with
deep pain, was compelled to stop in his
victorious progress and return to the fort
On his arrival, he found that no supplies
had reached it, and that the soldiers, half
starved, were bordering on mutiny. Gen.
Cooke, from the first, seemed resolved to
withhold all aid from Jackson, lest he HIM
self should be ecliPscd in the campaign.
The latter, however, endeavored to keep
alive the spirits and courage of his troops,
and distributed all his private stores to the
feeble and wounded. Having nothing
left for himself and staff, he repaired to the
bullock pen, and from the offals cut tripe,
on which he and they lived several days,
in the vain hope of receiving the long
promised supplies. One day, as he sat at
the foot of tree, thinking of the hard
condition of his men, and. planning how
he might find some relief from the increas.