The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-04-29

zier's landing on the Alabama. Here they
found two canoes, belonging to negro ma
med Cesar, who informed them that there
were Indians above there on each side of the
river. He also rendered them the use of the
canoes, and proffered to act as their pilot
Capt. Dale Immediately placed the canoes in
charge of jeremiah Austil and six men, who
were ordered to keep them parallel with the
party on land. Arriving at the mouth of
Randan's Creek, the canoe party discovered
boat filled with Indians, who, however,
Immediately padded to shore and fed
The land party, finding it impossible to-
continue their route on account of the thick
cane and vines, were ordered to cross over
and proceed up on the other side. While
they were effecting passage, Dale and sew
eral of his men kindleI fire short distance
from the river, to prepare their days meal.
Thus engaged, they were fired upon by a
party of Creeks from an ambuscade. Re-
treating towards the river, so as to gain the
cover Of the projecting bank, they discover
ed a large hat-bottomed canoe, containing
eleven armed and painted warriors. The
party behind them now retired, leaving Dale
to choose his own course towards those in
the boat. AS both of his canoes were on
the opposite side, Dale ordered the larger one
to be manned. Two of the warriors now
left their boat and swan for shore; but
ball from the unerring rife of James Smith
perforated the skull of one of them, and he
Immediately sunk the other gained the shore
and escaped. Eight men had, in the mean
time, manned the larger canoe, and were ap
preaching the Indian boat; but coming near
enough to see the number of rife -muzzles
over the edge of the boat, they hastily pad
died back TO the shore.
! Dale, exasperated by this clear back out, -
as he termed it, on the part of his men,
shouted TO them in scorntul tone, to " look
and see three brave men do what eight cow
ards shrunk from;' and, followed by Austill,
and Smith, sprang into the smaller canoe,
which the faithful Caesar had just brought
over. Padding their canoe directly towards
their enemies, they soon commenced the
4" canoe fight so celebrated in Alabama ira
dition.
When within twenty PAGES of the Indians,
+ our heroes arose in their canoe TO give them
an opening broadside; but unfortunately the
priming of their guns was wet with the mist
that was falling, and they failed to fire. Had
not the same accident befallen the enemy,
the result of the canoe fight might have been
very different. Dale now ordered Caesar to
DrlIlS HIS DOdL dlOLSSlue anu nOlu lucLl W.
gether. The warriors, confident of their
Strength, and eager to grapple with three men
whose guns would not fire, allowed their boat
! to move eisurely along with the current
AS the two neared each other, the chief arose
} and with an ejaculation of defiance to Big
; Sam," (Which, on account of his great size
and strength, was the name applied by the
5 Indians to Dale,) leveled his gun at Smiths
/ breast; but before he could draw trigger, the
S latter directed blow at him, which woulC
e have proved fatal had it not been adroitly
r avoided.
S The canoes came together with a jar, which
: threw Austill slightly off his balance, ant
ere he could recover it, well directed blow
e from "a war-club prostrated him across the
b boat. A half dozen powerful arms were
S raised to complete the work, when the hea
Wy rifle of Dale came down upon the heaC
!, of the chief with force that sunk it deeI
: into his skull. Smith had not been less &C
S tive, and his trusty barrel had fallen will
. like effect on the skull of another warrior
: and the two now felt their death throes il
# the bottom of the canoe. Austill had in th'
e meantime recovered, and added his strength
f to the work of destruction. The bold C@
t sar held the boats together with an iron grasp
!, and with one foot in each our heroes fought