The weekly American banner. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1855-18??, 1856-05-30

route lay through portion OF the Chickasaw county
stil unsettled, and during our exploration. we dis
covered curiosity in the shape of mounds and for
tifcations, erected no doubt by beings who, -Four
ished in ages long past We Ind been riding from
dawn of day until through wide dncultivased
forest, without seeing and sign Of habitation; and
all that donated that the white man had ever trod
these wds, were the landmarks left by the survey,
ors when sectionizng the country some years past
We knew we were many miles from any settlement,
and were much surprised to see before us an open
space which we at first took to be field in cultva-
ton. But on a nearer approach we found it to be
an old field or prairie, formed no doubt by the
dwelling Of The cutvators of the soil, now fallen
and crunbled to earth, leaving only the mound and
few broken brick the last visage Of its existence.
On looking further We found that this was only one
of many similar fields of many acres which We're
situated in circle at nearly equal distances from
larger one in the centre. Near the middle Of which
was large square nouad1 or 90 feet above the
level of the surrounding woods, and around it was
the remains of an embanknent of earth, evidently
forming the breast works of the fort into which the
inhabitants retired in the day and hour Of danger
With some difficulty made my horse cilno the
steep sides of the mound, ani paused to gaze upon
the scene before me- and to ponder upon the nature
and history of the beings who had formed the object
of our surprise. 1t could never have been done by
any Of the present wild Inirahs, but bya tribe far
more civilized; for never was an Indian known to
make brick or to build fort with as much regular
ity as this On the top Of the fort where STOOD 1t
was perfectly level, about an acre in extent and
square. Large trees had taken root I'm the mouni,
had lived their hun lrel years. AMI fallen 70 earth
while others had grown in their places coall be
by the OF dtciyel matter, the remain Ter
of logs which were still visible, -.
There is not a ira lidon now in possess ion of the
Oldest Indian which gives history OF the villaga,
No dou 1t, here lived free an happy people.
here in Ii ir Fl Il Is Ii tn y raise grim sufficient for
their own consumption, an 4 AROUND in any jrec.io
the fores. which wouli yield to the rtion Of
the hunter. an abun lance of g,n. to spread their
hospitable board. And often in the strips OF woods
which separate the fields, would the fond youth
the dark eyed maid to repeat their Of love
and enjoy the GOODNESS Of summers eve. Here
they lived, contented and happy. But what follows.
Near the large mound are two others ofa dferent
construction places of burial They speak of deeds
of violence and blood shed which ended in the total
extermination of the unsuspecing villagers. Their
is still ira liton exant among the Quanaw In Inns
of Arkansas that when they were great peoo ola,
long ago, they crossed the Mississippi R.vr all
surprised village AMI killed every soul My NJ.
.he ira lition be true an this be t:e vlag.? W,o
can imagine the horror Of the sc ne3 a. the dea
hour of night while all is hush. lnots r,sth TO lis
surb the quiot slumaer of the inha i.ants. all n
once they are s.srsled d by the draa :
! ful war cry an will wells % = sho1sinl war
rors Who like trooo y :ni l,n,ls ,sc. ,c 1 from
Tartatlis rushneo IN, vtllly, l,llil, le,r lei
TO all they meet. The young br,vs s,srous4i by tht
horri1 soun Is, laps from the arms of hr who hal
but that day becom, his br ic saitcies his weapons
and rushes to the fight. But all in vain. In vair
the inhabitants perform pro ligis of valor unhear,
of among civilized nations. In vain they fight an
strive to stop the progress Of the enemy. Their
houses are in flames they hear the agonzing shrieks
of their wives ana children. who are dying beneath
the knives Of their mus rerers, burning amidst th'
ruins Of their habitations All their efforts fail
| they fall beneath the tonahawk or scalpihg knife
or are thrown alive into the destroying flames Th
bloody work goes on. Men, women, boys, girl
and children all perish in the promiscuous ruin an
none are left on whom the savage can exercise hi
cruelty Then burying their dead in the two mound
by the side of the fort and collecting their booty
they hurry away leaving that village late SO full
ife and happiness, in ruins solitary and desolat
; and not one human being left alive to mourn th
fate of his companions.
Such was the scene that passed before my innagir
alton while gazing from the top Of the mound upoI
the site Of this ancient village and though only in
aginary with me- think that such may be true hi
tory Of its downfall. But few years more and tt
! last traces of it will be swept away by the viii
. man. The small fields will be swallowed up
larger, and the plough will pass these mound
enriched by the blood Of its original owners, ar
nothing will remain to tell the traveller that this
once village of the aborigines II will be people
y by diferentr race, whose descendants may at son
J, uture day be destroyed or driven off, and nothi,
more known Of them than is now known of ths
predecessors. aThasit men die and are forgotte
Others take their place and follow them to the gra,
while the great machinery Of the universe still ro
4 on, uninfuenced BY the petty affairs Of mortals.
= But - the petty affairs Of mortals may be mo
interesting to yoe than hes1eehsnsy of tAe UAioae
IN I viii turn to my own affairs for moment
!. my way hereI took -zs---in In my way, and psss
two weeks there very agrseasly. as might be exne
edit being unde1 ood fat IEiEk andf wprs socatl
ne all the tirne and with hdf Il sarn pereetiv harI
n But when think Of tie inorobslitS Of DIR unie
least for long, long time. my feelings are of
90 fsrent nature Isuppose all things happen !
1.-The. best though we.short sighted morals cannot
the advantage to be derivei from incidents entifs
!. contrary to our wishes Yet He whom we all add
= has Arfsnged all things right S ilit.sss' -
. III had inten led when last saw her, To- propt
c an indefnate engagement, but my plans were !
dr DESTROYED by very unexpectedly meeting = 'riv
ID Cenfound him, i had no oppoctnnity Of speak,
al TO her unheard but - he was pEssept exert