Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-17
GENERAL SAMUEL DALE.
HIS GREAT CANOE FIGHT.

GENERAL SAMUEL DALE.
HIS GREAT CANOE FIGHT.
In 1884, when Samuel Dale was yet
boy, bis father moved from Virginia, and
made settlement near the site of the
present town of Greensboro, Geo. But
few days had elapsed, when the subject
of our sketch-a youth of sixteen sum-
mers-found himself an orphan and, in
virtue of his seniority, guardian of seven
brothers and sisters. Disposing of them
in the best manner bis limited resources
would allow, he Joined a company of
volunteers, raised to repel the invasions
of the Greeks and here commenced that
military career, which only closed when
the difficulties of his country ceased. We
do not propose to follow it up. Whoever
is acquainted with the history of the In
dian Wars-with the bloody battles of
Burnt Corn and Holy Ground-the terri
BILE massacre of Fort Mims-the hazard
Gus expeditions of Claiborne, and the
Seminole campaigns of Jackson-knows
enough to appreciate the iron nerve and
daring intrepidity of Gen. Dale. We
will only notice few of those remarka-
BILE adventures with which his life is so
replete.
His celebrated /" Canoe Fight" in the
Alabama river, in which he and two of
his company, Drained, with dubbed
rifles, nine Indian warriors, in fair and
open combat, is kind of household word
with our old settlers. Every old crony
on the river, could relate to you the
incidents of the bloody conflict while
her aged partner, whose head had whiten-
ed with the growing improvement of his
State, would hobble down to the bank,
and point out the very spot in the bright
waters where the two canoes met and
if, perchance, the reader has ever made
trip down the river, On that elegant boat,
which bears our bero's name, (Sam Dale
lie has doubtless had designated to him,
by the courteous Captain, the time-hon-
ored old beech which marks the spot, as
we'll as the high projecting bank which
had previously sheltered the namesake of
his boat from the fire of the India ;. :
Soon after the bloody tragedy of Fort
Minis, many Of the whites, urged by their
defenceless condition, and the incr easing
hostillities of the Indians, took refuge in
Fort Madison. As Gen. Claiborne was
prevented from marching to their aid, by
the hostile movements of the enemy about
st. Stephens, Capt. Dale and Col. Carson
were left in command of the Fort. As
soon as his wounds, received at Burnt
Corn, were sufficiently healed, Dale de.
termined to change his line of conduct
from defensive to offensive. With seventy
men, he proceeded eouth.westwardly to
Braziel's landing on the Alabama. Here
they found two canoes, belonging to a
negro, named Caesar, 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. Captain Dale i'm
mediately placed the canoes in charge of
Jeremiah Austill and six men, who were
ordered to keep them parallel with the
party on land. Arriving at the mouth
of Randon's Creek, the canoe party dis
covered boat, filled with Indians, who,
however, Immediately padded to the
shore and fled. 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 several of
his men kindled fire a short distance
from the river, to prepare their day s meal.
Thus engaged they were fired upon by q
party Greeks, from an ambuScade. Re-
treating to the river, SO as to gain the
cover of the projecting bank, they dis.
covered large fat-t ottomed canoe, con-
tanning eleven armed and painted war
riors. The party behind them now re-
tired, leaving Dale to choose his own
course towards those in the boat. As
10th 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 a bali
from the u.Ierring rife of John Smith
perforated the skull of one, who imme.
diately sunk; the other gained the shore
and escaped. Eight men had, in the
meantime, manned the large canoe, and
were approaching the Indian boat; but
coming near enough to see the number of
rlfie-muzzles over the edge of the boat,
they hastily padded back to the shore.
Dale, exasperated by this ''clears back
out" as he termed it, of his men, shouted
to them in scornful tone, '.to look, and
see three brave men do what eight towards
had shrunk FROM" and followed by Au-
sill and Smith, sprang into the smaller
canoe. which the faithful Caesar had just