The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-11-01
SELECT TALES.
af From The Mont onsery Mail.
KEYS RACE WITH The INDIANS.
ATrue Narrative of the Creek War
of 1886.
BY JAMES c. KEY.

The hero OF the narrative which follows
Mr. JAMES L. KEY, now of Russrl county
in this State, Is well known Iu the editors
of this paper His standing is such as 10
entitle him to the fullest credit. We have
long known something of his adventures
and few weeks ago, meeting him ca ually
got promise from him to furnish us f. r
publication the narrative cf his pcrls and
escape. This he has done.
1t was in the year S36 that my faith
+r sent me to the manua-labor school in
Gwiunett county, Georgia. was the
sixth cl,ild and first son, consequently u
petted and spoiit youth, and could not
bear the restraints imposed upon me by
such school. The steward of the school,
to my youthful imagination, was very de
spotI. He ordered me about several
Iinle' III II way that no youth that had
been petted and humnred IA had, would
yield to, and at last decidedly refused 10
obey him. One or the other had to sue.
cumb, and in all probability it would have
ended in my being expelled from school.
But about this time volunteers were en-.
rolling all over the State to fight the In
dians in Alabama and the western portion
Of Georgia. A company of volunteers
Was formed in our little village. Ibccame
very much excited. A SOLDIERS life" and
soldiers glory" for me. And my feel
ings, too, wee interested for the settlers,
whom the Indians were staying indiscrim-
inately; gray-aaired men, matrons, young
girls, just blooming into womanhood, sue
king infants. But thoughts of my dear
parents anxiety and grief prevented me
from joining. But when on the second
lime they beat for recruits, could not re-
sist, and four Of my companions and my
self were enrolled as volunteers.
In the course Of week our company
was organized, Mr.. Garmany was e!ec-
tod our captain, and other officers were
chosen aud appointed. During this week
my mothers grief WAS almost more than
she could bear, and i, so worked on my
fathers feelings that lie procured me
substitute, hceding not my ro nonSlrances,
listening not to my words, that 90 must
Suffice it to say, that when the volunteers
left, went with them--my substitute
staying at home. When my mother
found that was resolved to 90, ganst all
persuasiors--for my parents would not
s>ert their authority and use force--tley
yielded; and my mother, like a brave,
true hearted woman as she still is, gave
me her blessing, babe me not to f,lier,
but do my duty. "lsathcr," said she,
would mourn fallen hero than clasp
- coward in my embrace
AS near rs my recollection serves me,
OH the 28th OF May our company started
for the Creek nation. That WAS happy
day Tor me, with music floating on The
breeze, flags waving, horses prancing, Of
iicers riding TO and fro, their uniform gilt.
tenng aud sparkling in the suns rays
How glorious everything seemed; and
did not peal forth note after note from
that dear old buglcf think | must
have grown several inches that day, If INV
feelings were ANY criterion. Aud must
pay tribute 10 the citzeus Of Decatur.
Iney received Us WITH open arns, lodge,I
aud tel us that night at their expense.
asa parted with uS next molning with
nany kind WISHES that We might meet
"Ith many adven.nres, oc the conquererS
in AL, and n sale and happy return to our
homes.
On the 81 Of June We arrived ut Col
umbus, crossed the river aud were armed
with muskcts, aud mustered into service
the same day. rhe next morning We re-
crossed the river, our c"ia .,ia :s,aarki,,g.
lIc came to find and light Indian We
marched rs low down as the Cowigees-
there We cainpel for one night. Tie nest
morning AN ainnn was given, by one Of
the sentlnels firing on party off four or
five gentlemen going from lrwihtowu To
the pIantations. Our guard thought they
were Indians, from bciLg on the opposite
side Ut the river. Ills shot took elect on
one Of The gentlemen, wounding severely,
but not nortslly. This alarm made us IA
little more cautious. We thought the
next alarm should not find ia so unpre-
pared, whether true or falsc---but still all
WAS gay excitement, and death was the
thing least thought Of 10y most ofus. Ia
the afternoon We started back fut Shep-
herds plantation, between Roanoke and
Fort MeCrary, but dill not arrive until the
afternoon Of the next day. Here we
cMnpc'l for an indefinite period. On the
following day an order was read TO Capt.
Gsmony Tor some of Our iueu to help
guard the Fort. Our captain picked
twenty of our best men and sent tIiem--
nearly half Early next morning Captain
JeFnigan made Us q short witt while out
mfa scouting exp@lition ;s',d While there
be and Capt. tsarmony pledged them
selves 10 each other. that II eiiI,rr got into
battle one would go 10 the Others assis-
tance. Il that vas possible.
When wc left Columbus Ieh all my
clo,hin: 10 iba, city. AND 10 day had tor