dred friendly Indians. Having encamped within nine or ten miles of the point of destination the preceding evening, we resumed the march a few minutes before one on the morning of the 29th, and at half after six were formed for action in front of the town.

Booth's battalion composed the right column, and marched from its centre. Watson's battalion composed the left, and marched from its right. Adams' rifle company and Meriwether's, under lieutenant Hendon, were on the flanks. Captain Thomas's artillery marched in front of the right column in the road.

It was my intention to have completely surrounded the enemy by appuying the right wing of my force on Canleebee creek, at the mouth of which I was informed the town stood, and resting the left on the river bank, below the town; but, to our surprise, as the day dawned, we perceived a second town about five hundred yards below that which we had first viewed, and were preparing to attack. The plan was immediately changed. Three companies of infantry on the left were wheeled to the left into echellon, and advanced to the lower town, accompanied by Meriwether's rifle company and two troops of light dragoons, under the command of captains Irwin and Steele.

The residue of the force approached the upper town, and the battle soon became general. The Indians presented themselves at every point, and fought with the desperate bravery of real fanatics. The well-directed fire, however, of the artillery, added to the charge of the bayonet, soon forced them to take refuge in the out-houses, thickets, and copses in the rear of the town; many, it is believed, concealed themselves in caves previously formed for the purpose of securing retreat, in the high bluff of the river, which was thickly covered with reed and brush-wood. The Indians of the friendly party, who accompanied us on the expedition, were divided into four companies, and placed under the command of leaders of their own selection. They were, by engagement entered into the day previous, to have crossed the river above the town, and been posted on the opposite shore during the action, for the purpose of firing on such of the enemy as might attempt to escape, or keeping in check any reinforcements which might probably be thrown in from the neighbouring towns; but, owing to the difficulty of the ford, and the coolness of the weather, and the lateness of the hour, this arrangement failed, and their leaders were directed to cross Canleebee creek and occupy that flank, to prevent escapes from the

VOL. II.

3 R

perty found in them, consisting principally of a considerable quantity of corn. I judged it expedient to return for encampment the ensuing night beyond the surrounding hills, and we accordingly marched about two and a half miles from the town, within half a mile of the river bank, where we lay without fire, though a very cold night, within hearing of frequent yells, which were generally supposed to be on the opposite side of the river, and prepared for any attack that the enemy might think proper to make upon us.

During our stay in town, while procuring corn for our horses, three or four of the men went to the margin of the river, where one, under the cover of an Indian hut, and others under cover of such brush and shrubbery as the old field afforded, exchanged a few shot with the enemy, and three of them say they saw an Indian fall at the fire of their guns.

The adjutant, Thomas M. Berrien, who was at the moment considerably advanced towards the margin of the river, and had a spy glass in his hand, endeavouring to ascertain the strength of the enemy, states positively that he saw an Indian fall at the fire of Zachariah Simms' musket and John M. Patrick's rifle; that they were dragged up the hill and fires raised near them. Those few men were in a situation very much exposed in proportion to that of the enemy, and one of them, John M. Patrick of Jasper county, while stooping to take aim at a crowd of Indians, received a ball in his left shoulder, which it was found impossible to extract he is however on the mend, and will probably re

cover.

It is proper to add, that they went to the margin of the river not only without, but in direct violation of positive or

ders.

The other towns which we contemplated burning, Tookaubatchie, Tallahasse and Immookfau, were on the opposite side of the river, and it was impossible to get at them, owing to the high water-hence, nothing was left for us but to pursue our march home, which was done with proper precautionary measures to prevent a surprise until we crossed Chatahouchie, when the whole were permitted to proceed in the order they chose, which very much facilitated our march, and all have arrived safe.

Since my return, I learn from captain Hamilton of general Floyd's army, who is now in this neighbourhood, that his company of cavalry, and some friendly Indians with M'Intosh at their head, were ordered to join us at Chatahouchie;

companies killed a great many Indians, and deserve particular praise. Captain Barton's company was in the hottest of the battle, and fought like soldiers. Captain Myrick, captain Little, captain King, captain Broadnax, captain Clevelands, captain Joseph T. Cunningham, and captain Lee, with their companies, distinguished themselves. Brigade-major Shackleford was of great service in bringing the troops into action; and adjutant Broadnax, and major Montgomery, who acted as assistant-adjutant, showed great activity and courage. Major Booth used his best endeavours in bringing his battalion to action, and major Watson's battalion acted with considerable spirit. Irvin's, Patterson's, and Steele's troops of cavalry, whenever an opportunity presented, charged with success. Lieutenant Strong had his horse shot, and narrowly escaped, and quarter-master Tennell displayed the greatest heroism, and miraculously escaped, though badly wounded, after having had his horse shot from under him. The topographical engineer was vigilant in endeavours to render service.

The troops deserve the highest praise for their fortitude in enduring hunger, cold, and fatigue without a murmur, having marched 120 miles in seven days.

The friendly Indians lost several killed and wounded, the number not exactly known. Captain Barton, an active and intelligent officer (the bearer of these despatches), can more particularly explain to your excellency the conduct, movements, and operations of the army.

I have the honour to be, with high regard, your most obedient servant,

JOHN FLOYD, Brigadier-Gen. Accompanying the above is a detailed statement of the killed and wounded in the engagement of the 29th November, as furnished by the hospital-surgeon, the amount of which is as follows:

Killed, 11; wounded, 54.

Letter from General Adams to the Governor of Georgia. Sir,

Head-Quarters, Monticello, 24th December, 1813. The detachment of militia under my command, authorised by a resolution of the legislature of this state, to proceed against the upper and most adjacent warring Creek towns, having returned from that service, I take the liberty of laying before your excellency the following statement.

On the 9th instant the detachment, consisting of about 530 men, took up their line of march from Camp Patriotism

near Monticello, but in consequence of frequent rains, and having almost innumerable narrow passes to go through, where our pack horses, as well as others, often met with considerable difficulty, and were very generally compelled to march in single file, we were unable to cross Chatahouchie before Wednesday the 15th, which we did about 12 o'clock on that day; it was then rainy, and some of the men, as well as most of the baggage, were very wet. Believing that we should be more successful by being able to surprise the enemy, I determined on marching all that night, and attacking the most adjacent town, New-Yauca, which was then 30 miles distant, at day-light on Thursday, the 16th. The night, however, being extremely dark and wet, we found it impossible, after repeated exertions by torch-light, to proceed; we were consequently compelled to encamp 18 or 20 miles from the town we wished to surprise. The repeated and almost continued rains which had fallen during our march, and particularly that night, unavoidably placed our arms in such a situation as to render it indispensably necessary that some time should be occupied next morning in putting them in order; hence we were unable to march in a suitable condition to meet an enemy, before 10 or 11 o'clock, and therefore could not that day reach the town which was our immediate object.

As soon as we were in a situation to meet the enemy, the line of march was formed, and we proceeded near a small settlement, containing eleven houses, known by the name of the Mad Warrior's village, where the army was halted, and a small detachment sent forward to cut off such of the enemy as might be found there; not a single Indian was to be seen, though there were strong evidences of its having been recently evacuated. Finding some corn here, such persons as were most deficient supplied themselves; we then set fire to the buildings, which contained several articles of property, proceeded to within three miles of New Yauca, and encamped without fire. On the morning of Friday, the 17th instant, the army was formed into three detachments; the right commanded by captain Hagerty, the left by captain Dawson, and the centre by captain Brown; in this order the three divisions marched through different pass-ways, and over very hilly ground, to an eminence within half a mile of the town, where the whole were dismounted, except captain Martin's company of cavalry and about 85 riflemen, under the command of captain Cocke.

The march was then resumed by the three divisions, so

arranged that the centre should fall immediately upon the town, and the right and left wings form such an aligment as would prevent the escape of the enemy either up or down the river, near the margin of which the town was situated. The mounted riflemen under the command of captain Cocke, and captain Martin's corps of cavalry, were directed to form near the bank of the river so as to prevent any from escaping in that direction. A guard, consisting of about 40 men, were left upon the eminence, to protect the horses. When we arrived at a little hill which overlooked the town, we found, to our mortification, as we found at the little village the preceding day, not a single Indian, though there were abundant signs of a very recent evacuation, and repeated yells within our hearing on the opposite side of the river.

The several divisions, after ascertaining that we should be unable to accomplish that part of the resolution of the legislature which related to the destruction of the enemy, were ordered to repair to the place where the horses were left, to return to the town, secure what corn was wanting, and consume the balance with the houses. Upon our return up the hill, where our horses were left, the yell of Indians was heard near them, and two small detachments, consisting of the cavalry and mounted riflemen, were immediately despatched in the direction from whence the sounds seemed to issue; but the ground being extremely hilly, so as to obstruct the view at very short distances, no Indians could be found. The whole were then marched down to the town, when we discovered, on the opposite side of the river, a number of Indians in a wood on the brow of a small hill which commanded the ford, and at a distance of perhaps four or five hundred yards, that space being occupied by a large old field and the river Talapoosie.

The guides who had been procured for this expedition informed me, that the river at this place was more shoal than at any other within our reach, and that it would be impossible to cross here, in consequence of a swell occasioned by the late rains. Judging also from the signs on our route, and from the information given by one of our guides, who was well acquainted with the habits and general plan of the war party in this neighbourhood, that we should not find any of them on this side the river, and our stock of provisions being by frequent rains very much injured, we were under the painful necessity of executing so much only of the object of the expedition as came within our immediate reach, which we did by burning the town, containing 85 houses, and the pro