The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-07

the concealed Cherokees. The clamol
was enhanced by their yells, producing 4
terrific effect. The whites found them.
selves "each man his own commander y
and in their confusion, leaving the path
beaten down by their feet on their ascent,
ran heller skelter through the long grass
and luxuriant pea vines, making poor
speed, as hey thought, for at every ten OF
twelve steps they would become so en-.
tangled in the vines, that the only way
to e1tricate themselves quickly, was to
hold their guns tightly in front against
their thighs, throwing themselves forward
and roll, heels over head, rise as quickly
as possible and run, then when again
entwined, another somersault and race.
The hostile Indians had planted them
selves throughout the tall grass above,
with tomahawks and scalping knives in
hand, and seeing their foes rolling and
tumbling pell.mell down the mountain,
of course imagined them TO be severely
wounded, and bounded forward to finish
them with tomahawk and secure the
coveted scalp, for which the british gov.
ernment, to their shame is it recorded,
gave guinea apiece.
Major Ross was with the advance
guard, probably the commander, till the
voluntary assumption Of that position by
young ST. Pierrie in the disastrous at
tempt just recorded. He was among
those who rolled to the bottom, and in a
little ravine was attacked by an Indian.
They grappled. In the struggle both
dropped their weapons, but not till from
both the blood was flowing freely; the
Indian was less muscular, but naked and
greased-a custom of Cherokee warriors
land holding him Was like holding an
eel. The savage was about'to gain the
advantage, when soldier, coming up,
Tor rather rolling down) saw .the situa,
ton" clubbed his musket and knoceed
the Indian down. Major Ross, faint
from loss of blood, fell at the same time.
he had received blow on the head from
the Indians tomahawk which he thought
fractured his skull, and believed death
was upon him.. By this time the Chero-
KEGS had ceased the pursuit and with
drawn up the mountain. The men,
bruised, wearied and diaheartened gath.
cred around the Major, who was man
much beloved, among them the Surgeon.
After short examination he exclaimed,
"Pooh Ross, you can talk; now if you
can bite, your heads not broke and you'll
not die" Tho Major seized the finger
the good Doctor thrust in his mouth and
bit so vigorously that the old Surgeon
screamed loudly with pain. All felt per-
feet confidence in the Doctors surgery,
never doubted his theory, and were de.
lighted at the evidence afforded Of their
friends certain recovery. Ross, himself,
felt much improved by his successful eli.
fort, was bel ped to his feet, and walked
to where his late antagonist was lying,
who, though in the agonies of death,
grinned defiance at his adversary. Ross
took the Indians tomahawk, and to ter.
inmate his mortal suferings, buried itln
his brain.
The main body of tho army having
arrived, they forthwith, though with
more precaution, pursued the Cherokee'
up the mountains, but did not overtake
them that day. Late in the evening
they arrived at the first Keowee town,
containing about seventy.fve wigwams.
The entire population had fed, and the
only human being to be seen, was an old
Indian squaw, whom they secured as
prisoner, and after pulling green corn
from the smiling fields, sufficient to feed
their horses, destroyed what remained
growing, and burned the huts to the
ground. They placed the old woman ON
an Indian pony and directed her to pilot
them to the nearest Indian town, promis:
ing to let her go uninjured, if she did
their bidding, but threatening death, II
she dealt treacherously with them. The
old squaw smiled with contempt at their
oyertures and warnings; and when the
encampment broke up next morning, and
the men started on the march, they felt
it was :. ith an ambiguous smile the old
woman beckoned them on.
All day through most broken and
rugged country, the army pressed for
ward, still melted by the hope of the re-
capture of Mrs. Height and her two
daughters twilight found them two or
three miles from the town, where the
Cherokees had assembled. As night
came on the old guide led them into mar
row defiles, amongst fallen trees, broken
rocks, and here and there, precipice.
It was useless to try aud proceed. The
troops could not travel throug b the dark
in such trail, besides they felt satisfied
the squaw had missed them, and they
must halt for the night, with their arms
in their hands ready for use, for they
we're, by this time, in sight of the town,
could plainly see the Indian fires, here
their iendish yells, and later in the night,
what was indeed heart rending to them,
they could hear the wsiling and screams
of female voice. This drove the off.
GERS and men to fair desperation, for the
wild country and darkness were such that,
although many made superhuman exer.
tions, they could not find their way across
rock and chasm, that encountered them
at each step, and rendered their attempts
to proceed worse than useless. At the
first glimmering of day they pushed on,
and before sunrise they were at the lndi.
an town; it was deserted, but the naked
corpse of the ill.fated Mrs. Height lay
not far from the FIRE, around which,
through the night, the cruel savages had
danced their war dance, and ended the
suferings of their poor victim. A SOL
dier pulled of his coat and threw it over
her body. They dug grave and piously
buried her near the scene of her sad
death. For O few days longer our mon
pursued the savages, then reluctantly
gave up the effort; but in returning,
completely devastated the Indian country
burning all the towns and destroying
the green corn-after which the little
army was disbanded.
Not long after, the Cherokees sued for
peace, and we're compelled to cede their
lands beyond the mountains of "Una,
Gays" to South Carolina, of which are
now composed the counties Of Greenville,
Anderson and Pickens.
The daughters of Col. Height were
sold from one tribe to another, and at
Ia at ont to the Mjssissippi river where q