bought by the enemy: he was absent at the time, and had used no precautions against an assault. Having possessed themselves of this place, they soon after increased their force, and immediately proceeded to lay waste the Niagara frontier with fire and sword. The militia, hastily collected, could oppose no resistance to a large body of British regulars and seven hundred Indians. A spirited, but unavailing attempt was made by major Bennett to defend Lewistown; this village, together with that of Manchester, Young's town, and the Indian village of the Tuscaroras, were speedily reduced to ashes, and many of the inhabitants butchered. Major Mellory advanced from Slosser, to oppose the invaders, but was compelled by superior numbers to retreat. On the thirtieth, a detachment landed at Black Rock, and proceeded to Buffalo; general Hall had organized a body of militia, but on the approach of the enemy, they could not be induced to hold their ground. Great exertions were made by majors Staunton and Norton, and lieutenant Riddle, but to no purpose. The village was soon after reduced to ashes, and the whole frontier, for many miles, exhibited a scene of ruin and devastation. Here was indeed ample vengeance for the burning of Newark. Even the British general was satisfied, as appears by his proclamation of the twelfth of January: "the opportunity of punishment has occurred, and a full measure of retribution has taken place :" and he declared his intention of "pursuing no further a system of warfare so revolting to his own feelings, and so little congenial to the British character."

We think indeed it was time to stop, and we are well persuaded that those who venerate the lex talionis, must. be satisfied that the measure of vindictive vengeace was full to overflowing.

About this time a very interesting subject was submitted to the consideration of congress. Twenty-three American soldiers, taken at the battle of Queenstown, in the autumn of 1812, were detained in close confinement as British subjects; and sent to England to undergo a trial for treason. On this being made known to our government, orders were given to general Dearborn to confine a like number of British prisoners taken at fort

George, and to keep them as hostages for the safety of the Americans; which was carried into effect, and soon after made known to the governor of Canada. The British government was no sooner informed of this, than governor Prevost was ordered to place forty-six American officers and non-commissioned officers in confinement, to ensure the safety of the British soldiers.

This subject was the theme of very immediate debate in congress, which was at this time in session.

The result of this debate was, a determination to maintain with firmness the position which the administration had taken; and if Great Britain persisted in the fell resolution of rendering the war bloody beyond the example of modern times; as they had already rendered it most barbarous and ferocious, the United States must reluctantly pursue a course to be lamented by every man of common humanity.

Notwithstanding the intemperate opposition on the floor of congress, the war was evidently gaining ground; the conduct of the enemy, in the prosecution of hostilities, was such as to awaken the feelings of every American; and the rejection of the Russian mediation staggered many, who confidently predicted its prompt acceptance. The victories, which we had obtained at sea, came home to the feelings of the whole nation, and were claimed exclusively by the opposition, as having always been the best friends to the navy. The British actually complained, that those whom she considered her friends in America, should rejoice in her misfortunes; and accused them of faithlessness and inconstancy, because they permitted their love of country to overcome their hatred for the men in power. But this was a delightful proof of nationality, such as might have been expected from Britain herself, or from France, though not from a nation so recently composed of independent jarring states, not yet perfectly cemented. It becomes every virtuous man to rejoice in the good fortune of his country, however he may dislike the present rulers. This sentiment was gradually gaining ground; the warlike appearances every where displayed, interested the ardent minds of the young, and enterprising, and the feats of arms daily rc

counted, awakened the desire of being distinguished. The contagion of military pursuits was rapidly spreading. The habits of a people, who had been thirty years at peace, and constantly occupied in their industrious avocations, could not be changed suddenly. But man is every where by nature warlike, and cannot exist long in the midst of martial scenes and preparations, without catching their spirit. It would not have been difficult to predict, that the foreign enemy, which was at first regarded only as the enemy of a party, would soon become the enemy of the country.

Our affairs in the southward, had assumed a serious aspect, and no sooner had the northern armies retired into winter quarters, than the public attention was kept alive, by the interesting events which transpired in the country of the Creeks, during the winter. That ill fated people had at length declared open war.

In consequence of the threatening appearances to the south, and the hostilities which already prevailed with the Indians inhabiting the Spanish territory, governor Mitchell, of Georgia, was required by the secretary at war, to detach a brigade to the Oakmulgee river, for the purpose of covering the frontier settlements of the state. Governor Holmes of the Mississippi territory, was at the same time ordered to join a body of militia to the volunteers under general Claiborne, then stationed on the Mobile. In the course of the summer, the settlers in the vicinity of that river, became so much alarmed from the hostile deportment of the Creeks, that the greater part abandoned their plantations, and sought refuge in the different forts; while the peace party amongst the Creeks, had in some places, shut themselves up in forts. and were besieged by their countrymen.

The commencement of hostilities was witnessed by one of the most shocking massacres, that can be found in the history of our Indian wars. The settlers, from an imperfect idea of their danger, had adopted an erroneous mode of defence, by throwing themselves into small forts or stations, at great distances from each other, on the various branches of the Mobile. Early in August it was ascertained, that the Indians intended to make an

attack upon all these stations, and destroy them in detail. The first place which they would attempt, would proba bly be fort Mims, in which the greatest number of families had been collected. Towards the latter part of August, information was brought that the Indians were about to make an attack on this post, but unfortunately too little attention was paid to the warning. During the momentary continuance of the alarm, some preparations were made for defence, but it seems that it was almost impossible to rouse them from their unfortunate disbelief of the proximity of their danger. The fort was commanded by major Beasly, of the Mississippi territory, (a brave officer, and as a private citizen highly respected,) with about a hundred volunteers under his command. By some fatality, notwithstanding the warnings he had received, he was not sufficiently on his guard, and suffered himself to be surprised on the thirtieth, at noon-day. The sentinel had scarcely time to notify the approach of the Indians, when they rushed, with a dreadfull yell, towards the gate, which was wide open; the garrison was instantly under arms, and the major few towards the gate. with some of his men, in order to close it, and if possible expel the enemy; but he soon after fell mortally wounded. The gate was at length closed, after great slaughter on both sides; but a number of the Indians had taken possession of a block house, from which they were expelled, after a bloody contest, by captain Jack. The assault was still continued for an hour, on the outside of the pickets; the port holes were several times carried by the assailants, and retaken by those within the fort.

The Indians now for a moment withdrew, apparently disheartened by their loss, but on being harangued by their chief Weatherford, they returned with augmented fury to the assault; having procured axes, they proceeded to cut down the gate, and at the same time made a breach in the pickets, and possessing themselves of the area of the fort, compelled the besieged to take refuge in the houses. Here they made a gallant resistance, but the Indians at length setting fire to the roofs, the situation of these unfortunate people became altogether hopeless. The agonizing shricks of the unfortunate women and

children at their unhappy fate, would have awakened pity in the breasts of tigers; it is only by those who have some faint idea of the nature of Indian warfare, that the horror of their situation can be conceived. The terror of the scene had already been sufficient to have bereft them of their senses: but what heart does not bleed at the recital of its realities. Not a soul was spared by these monsters; from the most aged person to the youngest infant, they became the victims of indiscriminate butchery; and some, to avoid a worse fate, even rushed into the flames. A few only escaped by leaping over the pickets, while the Indians were engaged in the work of massacre. About two hundred and sixty persons of all ages, and sexes, thus perished, including some friendly Indians, and about one hundred negroes. The panic caused at the other posts, or stations, by this dreadful catastrophe, can scarcely be described; the wretched inhabitants, fearing a similar fate, abandoned their retreats of fancied security in the middle of the night, and in their endeavours to escape to Mobile, encountered every species of suffering. The dwellings of these settlers, (who were probably as numerous as the whole tribe of Creeks,) were burnt, and their cattle destroyed.

On the receipt of this disastrous intelligence, the Tennessee militia, under the orders of general Jackson and general Cocke, immediately marched to the country of the Creeks. On the second of November general Coffee was detached, with nine hundred men, against the Tallushatches towns, and reached the place about day light the next morning. The Indians, apprised of his approach, were prepared to receive him. Within a short distance of the village the enemy charged upon him, with a boldness seldom displayed by Indians. They were repulsed, and after the most obstinate resistance, in which they would receive no quarters, they were slain almost to a man, and their women and children taken prisoners. There were nearly two hundred of the warriors killed in this affair. The loss of the Americans was five killed and forty wounded.

Late in the morning of the seventh, a friendly Indian