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Show 152 LIFE OF GEN. JAGKSON. CHAP. guided savages, who had avoided the havoc and v. slaughter of the day, were enabled, through the dark....,...,..._, ness of the night, to make their escape. 1814• Whilst the attack was thus waged, in front of the line the friendly Indians, in general Coffee's detach· me~t, under the command of colonel Morgan, with captain Russell's company of' spies, were effecting much ; and no doubt, to the course pursued by them, on the opposite side, was greatly owing the facility with which the breast-work was scaled, and its possession obtained. The village stood on the margin of the ri· ver and on that part of the peninsula most remote fro~ the fortification. At the line were all their warriors collected. Several of the Cherokees, and Russell's spies having swum across, unobserved, and procured some canoes, a considerable number passed over, entered their town, and fired it. No sooner was this dis· covered, than their attention and opposition was neces· sarily divided, and drawn to the protection of a point, which they had hitherto believed secure, and where they had not apprehended an attack. Thus assailed from an unexpected quarter,-a force in their rear, and another, still stronger, advancing on their front, af. forded the invading army a much easier and less ha· zardous opportunity of succeeding in the assault, and securing the victory. This battle gave a death blow to all their hopes; nor did they venture, afterwards, to make a stand. Fro~ their fastnesses in the woods,. they had tried thelf strengt\1, agreeably to their accustomed mode of war· fare ; in ambuscade, had brought on the attack ; and, in all, failure and disaster had been met. The con· LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 15S ·tinual defeats they had received, were, no doubt, the CHAP • .reasons of their having so strongly fortified tl1is place, V. where they had determined to perish, or be victorious . ._.,._ ISH. That such a resolution had been taken, is conclusive, from the circumstance of their having permitted their women and children to remain : tl1ese they are always careful to remove far from danger, and their scenes of I!Ction. The positive assurance of success tl1ey nmv indulged, had prevented their adhering to this precautionary measure, which, hitherto, they had never over, looked. In this action, the best and bravest of their warriors were destroyed ; and a greater loss sustained, than had been met with in any of their previous con ·tests. Few escaped the carnage. Of the killed, many were thrown into the river, whilst the battle raged;many, in endeavouring to pass it, were sunk, by the steady fire of Coffee's brigade; and five hundred and fifty-seven were left dead on tl1e ground. Among .the number of the slain, were three of their prophets. Decorated in a manner wild and fantastic,-the plumage of many birds about their heads and shoulders · with savage grimaces, and horrid contortions of th; body, they danced and howled their cantations to tl1e sun. Their dependents already believed a commu! lion with heaven sure, which, moved by entreaties, and offered homage, would aid them in the conflict and give a triumph to their arms. Fear had no influ~nce · and when .they beheld our army approaching, and al: l~dy scahng their line of defence, even then, far from be,~~ dispirited, hope survived, and victory was still anticipated. Monohoe, a very considerable one, who had cheered the broken spirit of the nation, by h\s ll |