ground, I discovered the Indians falling back, and making every preparation for battle, by unslinging their packs, prining their rifles, and each man taking his tree. We continued to advance, taking advantage of the trees in our progress, until we were within 130 yards of the Indians, when many of them fired, and I instantly ordered the charge, which drove then from behind the trees, and caused them to retire, with the greatest precipitation. Our men, all the while, firing at them, slew several; and, by repeated charges, drove them half a mile, when they took shelter in a swamp. The action, including the skirmishing upon the flanks, lasted two hours and a half-the Indians frequently attempting to outflank us, and get in our rear, but were repulsed by the companies on our right and left. We had 1 man killed, and 9 wounded; 2 of which have since died of their wounds. The loss of the enemy must have been considerable; I saw seven fall to the ground, among whom was their king, Payne. The rifle company on the right, and Broadnax's on the left, speak of killing several, near the swamp, who were borne off by their comrades; it being a principle among the savages, to carry off their dead at the risk of their lives. We remained on the battle ground, watching the movements of the Indians, who were near the swamp, painting themselves, and appeared to be in consultation; all which indicated a renewal of the combat. Accordingly, half an hour before sun set, having obtained a considerable reinforcement of negroes and Indians, from their towns, they commenced the most horrid yells imaginable, imitating the cries and noise of almost every animal of the forest; their chiefs advancing, in front, in a stooping, serpentine manner, and making the most wild and frantic gestures, until they approached within 200 yards of us, when they halted, and commenced firing. Our men were not to be alarmed by their noise and yells; but, as instructed, remained perfectly still and steady, behind logs and trees, until the enemy, by this forbearance, had approached somewhat nearer, when a brisk and well directed fire,

G

from our line, soon drove them back to their original ground. I would now have ordered the charge; but, being under the necessity, from the extension of the enemy's line, of detaching nearly one half of my force to protect our camp and wounded, (the assailing of which, is a great object with Indians,) I was left to contend with a force three times as numerous as my own. The action lasted until 8 o'clock, when the enemy were completely repulsed, in every attempt. We had two men killed, and one wounded; the enemy carried off several of their men before it was dark; after which, all firing, (of course at random) was at the spot from whence the flash arose. After fighting, and fasting, the whole day, we had to work through the night; and, at day-light, had a tolerable breast-work, of logs and earth, with port holes, on the ground on which the battle was fought we were reduced to this necessity; for, in dispatching Capt. Whitaker, about dark, to St. John's, for a reinforcement, six more men took the liberty to accompany him, taking with them our best horses; our pilotand surgeon, (who was sick,) was among the number. The two days succeeding the battle, we neither saw nor heard any thing of the enemy; but, on the evening of the third day, they commenced firing on our work, at a long distance, and renewed it every day, for 5 or 6 days, but without killing or wounding any of our men. After killing two or three of them, through our port holes, they seldom came within shot. Seven or eight days had now elapsed, since our express had left us; hunger was staring us in the face, and we were reduced to the necessity of eating one of our horses; we had no surgeon, to dress the wounded, and apprehensions were entertained, that the enemy would receive reinforcements from Augustine, or the Makasukie Indians. Expecting relief every hour, I was unwilling to leave our breast-work, while we had a horse left to eat; but I understood, from some of my officers, that a certain Captain was determined to leave us, with his company; and, that many of the men, giving up all hopes of relief, talked of deserting in the

gun

night, rather than perish, or fall a sacrifice to the merciless negroes and Indians, whom they were taught to believe would surround us in great numbers, in a few days. In this trying situation, when our few remaining horses were shot down by them, and the number of our sick daily increasing, I reluctantly assented to leave our works that night, and directed the litters to be prepared, to carry the wounded. About 9 o'clock we commenced our distressing march, carrying 5 wounded men in litters, and supporting two or three more. We had not proceeded more than eight miles, when the men became perfectly exhausted, from hunger and fatigue, and were unable to carry the wounded any farther. About 2 hours after we left our breast-works, 25 horsemen, with provisions, arrived to our relief, on a different road from the one we had taken; but, from motives best known to themselves, instead of following us, returned to St. John's, and we were left to encounter new difficulties. We again constructed a plan of defence, and I dispatched sergeant-major Reese, with one private, to Picolata, to learn what had occasioned the delay of our expected supplies; and told him, I should remain where I was, until I could hear from him, and endeavored to procure cattle, as I discovered signs of their being near us. The evil genius of Capt. again prevailed; and I have since learned, from Capt. Cone, that this person instigated not only him, but many of the privates, to urge a departure from our works, even in the day-time, when I was con. vinced that the Indians, knowing our weak situation, would endeavor to ambuscade. This gentleman, if innocent, will have an opportunity of proving himself so, before a court martial.

With a burning fever on me, and scarcely able to walk, the march was ordered, about 3 o'clock, P. M. I had directed the Adjutant, Captain Harden, to march in front, to avoid all places where there could be an ambuscade, and the litters should be distributed among the different companies. Being extremely weak, I marched in the rear, with Captain --, (who carried

my firelock,) Lieut. Fannin, and 15 or 20 privates. We had scarcely marched 5 miles, before the front of the detachment discovered the heads of several Indians, on both sides of the path, from among several pine trees; the same instant, the enemy fired upon our advanced party, and shot down 4 of them; one, a Spaniard, died on the spot, and 2 survived a few days; my negro boy was one of them. The moment I heard the firing, I ordered the detachment to charge, and the Indians were completely defeated, in 15 minutes; many of them dropping their guns, and the whole running off, without attempting to rally; four were left dead on the field; and I am convinced, from the constant fire we kept up, that many more must have been slain, but were hid from our view, by the thick Palmetto bushes. We lay on the battle ground all night, and started next day at 10, o'clock-marched 5 miles, and again threw up breast-works, between two ponds-living upon gophers, alligators, and Palmetto stocks, until serjeantmajor Reese arrived with provisions, and 14 horseswhen we were enabled to proceed to St. John's, with all our sick and wounded, where a gun-boat, by the direction of Col. Smith, was in waiting for us, which conveyed us to his camp, where we met with every attention, that humanity or benevolence could bestow.

The number of Indians, in the first engagement, from every circumstance that appeared, must have been from 75 to 100. In the second engagement, their number must have been double our's; and, in the third engagement, there appeared to be 50, which was nearly equal to our force, deducting sick and wounded. I believe the loss of the enemy was fifty.

I have the honor to be, &c.

His Ex. David B. Mitchell.

DANIEL NEWMAN.

RUSSEL'S INDIAN EXPEDITION.

Copy of a letter from Col. Russell, commanding a detachment of the U. States Rangers, to the Secretary of War, dated

Camp Russell, 31st Oct. 1812.

SIR-This will inform you, that I arrived at this place, from Vincennes, after Gen. Hopkins had marched his mounted riflemen up to fort Harrison. I took with me, a part of three companies of U. States rangers, where I was joined by Gov. Edwards, with his mounted riflemen; the whole of our strength amounted to 360 privates. We penetrated very far into the Indian country, with an expectation of co-operating with Gen. Hopkins, who, by appointment, was to meet us at the Peoria towns, on the Illinois. In this, we were sadly disappointed, as we could get no intelligence of his army. This prevented us from doing as much damage to the Indians, as otherwise we could have done, As our numbers were too weak to make any delay in that quarter; as this was farther than any troops had hitherto penetrated-we stole a march upon the celebrated Pimartam's town, situated about 21 miles above Peoria, and immediately at the head of Peoria Lake. This was a well built town, and contained a number of Indians; between the town and river, was a dismal swamp, in which they immediately flew for shelter, returning a few scattering shots. Our men nobly pursued them through the swamp-and also others, as they were crossing the Illinois river; the men also pursued them to the opposite bank, and brought back some of their canoes, and several dead bodies. The Governor states, to be upwards of 20 killed, of the enemy. This was a flourishing town, with an immense deal of Indian plunder in it, together with a great deal of corn; all of which was committed to the flames. I believe not less than 80 horses fell into our hands, belonging to the enemy. Several white persons' scalps, were also found among their plunder. I had the immediate command of the battalion, and