Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-10-24
VOL. IX.--No. Is.
General jackson and Bloody Bill.


the country, crcpt singly, or in small squads,
into Gen. ,Jackson's headquarters, at Fort
Jackson, humbIy suing for his pardon and
protection. The last to stoor 90 this de-
gradation was the famous half-bfecd Indian
chlcf William WeAthcrford Familiarity
known as "Bloo(ly Bill" Though unedu-
Gated, he possessed eScoaloht native intel
lcct great mngnonimity of soul, cloudcd,
but not obscurcd by his savage education
and habits.
Wcatherford led thousand warriors
against Fort Mimms in the summer of 1873
Falling upon the garrison, he took it by
surprise, and after gallant resistance, slew
the Whole party, consisting of several fami-
lies and military force. 1t was this event
which had drawn Jackson from his civil
pursuits, into his first In ,',n campaign.-
The descriptions of th,t bloody massacre
greatly excited his ard mt and sympathetic
nature, and no doubt gave vigor and deter
mination to the measure employed by him
to punish such atrocities.
After several fights, in which he display
cd his usual courage and address, Wealth
erford encountered strong force under
General Claiborne, ,atanothcr "holy ground
of the Indians, on the Alabama river, where
a fierce and protractcd conflict cnsued.-
Fighting to the last, Wcatherford discover
cd that his mon had deserted him, and
were passing over in the boats to the other
side OF tho river, leaving hiu, alone amid
his enemies. AS soon as he perceived his
situation, he fled on the charger he always
rode in battle, and coursing along the bank
of the Alabama came to rayine, where
there was perpendicular bluff, ten or fiji
teen feet above the surface of the river
Over this, with mighty bound, lcapcd the
dauntlcss chief, and both riuer and charv
ger sunk out of sight beneath the waves
Soon, however, they rose again, the chief
grasping the name of his horse with his
left hand, and firmly holding hir rifle in his
ed the opposite bank Of the river, and
shouting a loud defiance at his foes, ,Iplung-
ed into the forest and disappeared. This
feat has given name to the bluff where it
was performed, and ever since it has been
known throughout -Alobama as '"Weathcr-
ford's Leap"
Deserted by his men, alone, amid the
soitudes of nature, Weathcrford roamed
the forest unsubdued. Hearing that Gen
eral Jackson had offered large reward for
his capture, and that many, even of his old
followers, were on his track, lie resolved to
90 in person and surrender himselfto Jack
son. and thus thwart the treacherous de-
signs OF the recYeant of his own race. MoMnt
ing his noble horse he rode towards Fort
Jackson. Reoadiug bs rifle with two
balls, for the purpose of shooting Big War
rior,' renegade of his own tribe, then in
Jacksons camp, should he offer him any
insult he advanced to the American out
posts. Some soldiers, of whom he politely
inquired for Jackson's Whereabouts, gave
him unsatisfactory rude replies, which sore
| y tried the temper OF the fery chief, when
grey headed man pointed to the Gener-
ais marquee, and Weatherford eontemptu-
ously turned his back upon his revilers,a and
rode up to the tent, where, suddenly cl x.
GUS Big Warrior standing before him. 'Ah!
have we got you at last p The fearless
Chief cast glance of ineffable scorn at the
rene gade, who shrank under his keen glance
and exclaimed in a determined voice. You
base traitor ifyou givo me any impudence
will blow bullet through your cowardly
heartl General Jackson, hearing the al
tercation and the name of Weatherford,
rushed out OF his tent, and in furious and
threatening maDDer cried out, how dare
| you, sir, ride mp to my tent after having
murdered the women and children at Fort
Mimms 2 Assuming an attitude Of fearless
defiance, folding his arms with the resigna-
ton of a hero Wcatherford replied, Gener-
al jackson, am not afraid of you. / fear
no man, for am Creek warrior / have
nothing to ask for myself. You can kill
nc IS you desive. Bnt came to beg YOU
to send for the women and children Of the
war party who are starving in the woods.
Their fields and cribs have been destroyed
| by your people, who have driven them to
the woods without an ear of corn. hope
| you vii! send parties 10 relieve them. I
tried in vain to prevent the massacre Of the
! women and children at Fort Mimms. | am
now doue fighting. The Rcd Sticks are
nearly all killed. IS conld fight you any
longer | would most heartily do so. Send
for tbe.women and children; they never did.
you any harm, but kill me, if your people
want il ! AT the conclusion of these re-
| marks, several persons of the crowd that
had gathered around The chief, exclaimed,
I xiii him, kill him rGen. Jackson eomman
! ded silence, and ina emphatic manner
| said AIRY man who could kill rs brave ~
man as tlIisip. cold bood, would rob the
dead 2 IIo then invited Wea,herford to
aligbt, aud entered into cheerful converse
ton withlin under the Guueral's marquee.
4 A