e town, keeping near to it
until our lines met at both sides. We then closed up at both ends so as
to surround it completely, and sent Captain Hammond to bring on the
affray. When he came near the town, the Indians saw him, raised a yell
and came running at him like so many red devils. The main army was now
formed in a hollow square around the town, to which Hammond retreated
till the Indians came within reach. We then gave them a fire and they
returned it, after which they ran back into their town, when we began to
close on it. The Indians soon saw they were on our property, and wanted
us to take them prisoners. Their squaws and children would run and take
hold of us as they could, and give themselves up. I saw seven squaws at
a time holding on to the hunting-shirt of one man. We took all prisoners
that came out to us in this way. I saw some warriors, however, run into
a house until I counted forty-six of them. We pursued them until we got
near the house, when we saw a squaw sitting in the door. She placed her
feet against the bow she had in her hand, took an arrow, raised her
feet, drew with all her might and let the arrow fly at us, killing
Lieutenant Moore, I believe. His death so enraged us all that she was
fired on, and at least twenty balls were blown through her. This was the
first man I ever saw killed with a bow and arrow. We now shot them down
like dogs, and then set the house on fire, burning it with the forty-six
warriors inside.

I remember seeing an Indian boy, who was shot down near the house. His
arm and thigh were broken, and he was so near the burning house that his
flesh was fairly cooking. In this situation he was still trying to crawl
along, but not a murmur escaped him, though he was only twelve years
old. When an Indian's dander is up, he would sooner die than make a
noise, or ask for quarter.

[Illustration: PILOTED BY FRIENDLY INDIANS]

The number that we took prisoners being added to the number we killed
amounted to one hundred and eighty-six, while five of our men were
killed. We then returned to our fort, but no provisions had yet
reached us, and we had been for some time on half rations. For several
days we remained there almost starving, as all our beef was gone. Then
we commenced eating beef hides, and consumed every scrap we could lay
our hands on, before we received orders for marching.

We crossed the Coosa River, and when we had come near to Fort Taladega,
we met eleven hundred pa