Gazette Of The United States

Philadelphia, Dec. 18.

By the Pittsburgh paper of the 4th inst. we have received the following particulars of the WESTERN EXPEDITION. A party of 600 men arrived at the Miami Village two days before the main army, and found the town deserted, and some of the houses burnt, under the ruins of which large quantities of grain were found concealed; also in holes in the ground, to the amount of 5 or 6000 bushels. Col. Harden who commanded all the militia, entered and encamped in the town before the arrival of the remainder of the army. About five acres of the ground was picketed. A party of 300, under the command of Col. Trotter, and Major Rhea, were sent out, and discovered the trails of the Indians for several miles. They saw 30 Indians, but did not attack them—not knowing but there was a superior force in their rear. They saw 5 towns which were all burnt. The next day Major Fontaine, with a party of 200, and the light horse, went out—they proceeded 6 or 7 miles, saw trails of Indians in several places. Marching in columns in a swamp, Lieut. Armstrong who commanded one of the columns, was ambuscaded by a party of Indians, formed in a half moon. Our people retreated—The Indians rushed in with their tomahawks—The regulars bayoneting them till Armstrong's men were all cut off—Many of the Indians fell—We lost 70 men this day. Next day was employed in burning corn—we killed 2 Indians. The day following set out and marched 8 miles homeward and encamped. In the night Col. Harden, Major Wyllys, Major Fontaine, Major McMullan, and Col. Hall, with about 400 men, went back to the town—they arrived about day light, and in four parties marched to different quarters of the town—each party was attacked, and skirmished three hours. Major McMullan drove a party of the Indians into the river Miami. Col. Harden was obliged to retreat with loss. Major Wyllys, with about 60 men, were cut off by a party which came in his rear through some hazels. Lieut. Frothingham fell at this time. Major Fontaine having ordered his men to retreat, in a phrensy of courage rode directly back into the throng of the Indians, cutting and slashing, till he was wounded, and carried off by two of his men; he was afterwards seen dead and scalped. Major Wyllys was left mortally wounded; he wished to be helped on his horse to give them another charge; but in the hurry of the retreat it could not be done. Our loss is about 160 killed and 20 wounded. The whole amount of the Indians killed is supposed to be 200. The foregoing is the account brought by several of the militia who are returned.