Edgefield Advertiser

ST. AUGUSTINE, Dec. 5.

The negro Damon, mentioned in our last as taken off by the Indians returned to this city on Sunday morning. He states that he was riding through Long Swamp at a brisk pace, he came suddenly upon Mr. W. and Annan's wagon, and thinking all was not right, was turning his horse round when two Indians sprung into the road, seized his bridle, and forced him off. They took him to the wagon, where one of them struck the boy Bartolo, with the but end of his rifle until he appeared dead. The volunteers were now heard coming, when the Indians gathered up the plunder and retired with the horses about one hundred yards into the swamp, where they remained, until the volunteers had gone off with the bodies. They then loaded the horses and went north about a mile, thence west to a point where they had some dried meat, and turning south came again upon the Picolata road, and crossed it. They soon struck another swamp where they stopped, tore up the letters and made pouches and straps of the mailbag. Resuming their journey south about 8 miles from this, they came to the Tomoka road, where two other Indians joined them, and continued on to Tomoka River upon an island in which they had tarpaulin tents, 2 squaws and a child. On Saturday there was rain, One of the Indians went south to bring their friends, intending to return before long. Soon after another Indian fell asleep and Damon on pretence of getting acorns strayed off from their fire, swam the river and escaped. Tomoka River is about 50 miles south of this.

Br. Maj. Ashby, with about 100 dragoons is busily engaged in scouring the country south of this.

Capts. B. Beall and Howe arrived in town this morning with 100 dragoons on foot. They have been scouring the swamps between this and Picolata. -No "signs" were discovered.