GEORGIA  MILITARY INDIAN WARS  Thomasville (Thomas Co) Aug 1836

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Federal Union  [newspaper, published Milledgeville, GA]
microfilm roll Aug 1833-Aug 1836 

16 Aug 1836

Gallant Affair.-The following account of the late
battle in which the brave citizens of Thomas and
Lowndes counties, under captains NEWMAN and SHARPE
were engaged is entitled to implicit confidence.
The coolness and bravery displayed on this
occasion, would have done credit to tried
soldiers.  The action was commenced and maintained
against more than twice their number, occupying a
strong position.-These same men had previously
distinguished themselves at the battle of the
Chickisawhatchee.

Georgia may well be proud of such sons as these.

"Information having been received at Thomasville,
Georgia, on Tuesday, the 12th inst. that a party
of Indians had been see about forty miles north of
that place, travelling in the direction of
Florida, a company of volunteers to the number of
some forty-six or seven, was instantly raised,
captain NEWMAN placed in command, and pursuit made
the same day.  On Thursday, captain Newman was
joined by captain PIKE of Lowndes, with thirty-
five men.-Major YOUNG, of Thomas, was elected to
the command of the two companies.  A scouting
party, which had been detached, discovered fifteen
Indians in the fork of the Warrior and Little
Rivers, in Lowndes county.  Major YOUNG
immediately proceeded to drive the swamp, which is
upwards of three miles in extent; but in
consequence of a very heavy rain which fell and
wet the arms of the troops, they were not able to
make so close a search as was desired, and failed
to make any discovery.-That evening major YOUNG'S
force was augmented by the arrival of captain
TUCKER, of Thomas, with twenty-five, and captain
SHARPE of Lowndes, with fifteen men, making an
aggregate of one hundred and thirty-six men in the
battalion.  Captain SHARPE having been dispatched
on Friday morning, to examine the wood bordering
on the swamp, for the purpose of ascertaining
whether or not the Indians had effected their
escape, discovered their trail still leading
towards Florida, sent a runner with the
intelligence to  major YOUNG, who joined in the
pursuit.  Before the main body came up with
SHARPE, and earlier than expected, he found
himself in contact with the Indians; their war
hoop and fire from their covert, giving him the
first intimation of their presence.  He was
repulsed by the vastly superior number of the
enemy, with the loss of one man killed and one
wounded; and fell back two miles, when he met
major YOUNG coming up to his assistance.  The
major speedily pressed forward and engaged the
enemy, about three miles from the place of the
first action.  The fire was opened upon the
advance guard, comprised of forty volunteers from
the several companies, commanded by captain
SHARPE; the Indians charging at the same time.
But the prompt support offered by the battalion,
and an immediate charge, in which captain NEWMAN
and his command took the lead, the Indians were
not only driven back to their strong-hold, but
dislodged and forced to betake themselves to a
large cypress swamp, which lay in their rear.
Here they rallied and renewed the fight, and
distinguished themselves by a boldness that
savages rarely exhibit.  They could not, however,
withstand the spirited charge of the troops, who
drove them from their position, throught a similar
swamp, to two bay ponds, and an extent of ground
covered with its timber by a recent hurricane,
making altogether a distance of three miles from
the place the fire was opened upon the advance
guard. Two warriors only, were seen to enter the
Allapahaw swamp; others may possibly have made
their escape, but were not known to do so.

Of the whites, three were killed and eight
wounded.

Killed-BURTON FERREL, of Thomas, PENNYWELL FOLSOM
and EDM'D.  SHANKS, of Lowndes.

Wounded-JAMES I BLACKSHEAR, JOHN HANCOCK, ANGUS
M'AULLY, DONALD M'LEAN, JAMES MUNROE and SCRIVEN
GAULDING, of Thomas; ROBERT PARISH and -------
HENDERSON, of Lowndes.  The wound of the latter it
is supposed will prove fatal.

Several horses were killed and wounded in the
first of the engagement, but none afterwards; the
ground being so rugged, horses could not be used.

In consequence of the great extent of ground over
which the battle was fought, the wounded, and the
immediate attention required by several of them
from the dangerous nature of their wounds,
together with the exhaused state of the troops, a
thorough search could nt be made; but after a
slight investigation, twenty-two warriors and two
negro fellows were found dead.-

Nine women and the like number of children were
captured.  The women state that there were sixty
warriors; and also that they composed a part of
the force which colonel Beall cut to pieces in the
Chickisahatchee swamp.  They crossed Flint river
on the night of the 3d of July, the day after
BEALL's victory, and remained in the swamp a week
on this side of the river, before they took up
their line of march for Florida.  From the fact of
no more having collected at the designated place
of rendezvous within that time, they conclude that
a large number was killed by colonel BEALL.-
Tallahassee Floridian.