tween the United States and the southern Indians. The Creeks, Cherokees, Chickasaws, and Choctaws, four powerful tribes, which possessed a large extent of territory, could muster 6000 warriors. They had listened to the persuasions of Tecumseh, the famous chief of a northern tribe, and began to show their hostility by murdering several whites in their neighborhood. The people on the Alabama river, alarmed at their danger, took refuge in fort Mimms.

28. On the 14th of August, the savages surrounded the fort, cut their way through the outworks, set fire to all the buildings, butchered and burned men, women and children. Nearly 300 perished. General Jackson,* at the head of 3500 militia from Tennessee, marched into the Indian territory. These troops endured great hardships from the want of provisions, while traversing a gloomy wilderness. But in several battles, at Tallushatchie, Talladega, and other places, the Indians were defeated with terrible slaughter. Their villages were burnt and their country laid waste.

29. The decisive battle was fought on the 27th of March, 1814, at the Great Bend of the river Talapoosa. Here about 1000 of the surviving warriors had assembled and fortified themselves. General Jackson, with a strong reinforcement, attacked this last refuge of the

29. What took place the 14th of August? Who marched against the Indians? Where did General Jackson defeat the Indians? 29. Where was fought the decisive battle?

On

Andrew Jackson was born in South Carolina, about forty-five miles from Camden, on the 15th of March, 1767. He was designed for the church, and commenced the preparatory studies, but these were speedily interrupted by the war of the revolution. At the age of fourteen, he, with an elder brother, joined the American army, and was soon after captured and wounded. his liberation he returned to his native place, and commenced studying the law. In 1788, he removed to Nashville, in Tennessee, and began to practice with great success. His first public appointment was that of district attorney, in 1790, and at nearly the same time he was named one of the members of a convention to frame the state constitution In 1796, he was elected a representative to the congress of the United States, and senator in 1797. In 1799, he received a commission as inajor-general in the militia, and in 1814, two years after the declaration of war with Great Britain, was appointed to the same rank in the United States' army. In March, 1821, he was made gover nor of the Floridas, by President Monroe; again elected senator of the United States in 1822, elevated to the presidency in 1828, and again elected in 1832, to the same station.

enemy, and after a most obstinate struggle, was completely victorious. About 800 of the savages, scorning to yield, fell in the battle.

30. The Indians had now suffered a terrible loss by the war. More than 2000 of their ablest warriors had fallen, and their towns were all destroyed. They now began to sue for peace. A treaty was made with them by General Jackson, and he and his brave troops were permitted to enjoy an honorable but short repose.

*

TERMINATION OF THE WAR.

1. The soldiers and officers of the American army had now acquired that degree of discipline and experience which prepared them for a more arduous campaign. Peace having been concluded in Europe, Great Britain shipped an army of veteran troops for the invasion of the United States by way of Canada.

2. About the first of July, 1814, General Brown with 3000 American troops crossed the Niagara, and having taken fort Erie without resistance, he advanced against the enemy at Chippewa. Here he found a force equal to his own, under the command of General Riall. the 5th the armies came to action. The British advanced with a furious charge, which put a part of the American line to flight. But this breach was soon re

On

30. Was this war any advantage to the Indians? Any injury? Why?

1. Why were the British enabled to send more troops to the United States at this time than at any former period?

2. When did General Brown cross the Niagara? Describe the battle of Chippewa.

Soon after the battle of the Great Bend, Weatherford, the principal chief of the Creeks, came and surrendered himself to General Jackson, addressing him as follows: "I am in your power. Do with ine what you please. I have done the white people all the harm I could. I have fought them, and fought them bravely. There was a time when I had a choice. I have none now, even hope is ended. Once I could animate my warriors, but I can. not animate the dead. They can no longer hear my voice. Their bones are at Tallushatchie, Talladega, Emuckfow, and Tohopeka. While there was a chance of success, I never supplicated peace, but my people are gone, and I now ask it for my nation and myself.”

paired by the bravery of the troops under Major Jessup. The enemy was completely routed. and after a loss of 500 men, retreated to their fortifications. This may be considered the first regular pitched battle, and furnished a convincing proof, that nothing but discipline was wanting to give to our soldiers on land the same excellence which our seamen had discovered on the ocean.

3. After several movements, the armies again met on the 25th of the same month, and fought a desperate battle at Bridgewater, near the cataract of Niagara. Gen

eral Scott with a division of the American army began the contest just before night. He was soon reinforced

3. Describe the battle of Bridgewater. What question did General Ripley put to Colonel Miller? What was his reply?

It is said that Major Jessup, suspecting that his troops had expended nearly all their cartridges, passed along the rear of the line to make inquiry as to the fact. Several soldiers who lay mortally wounded, some of them ac tually in the agonies of death, hearing the inquiry, forgot for a mornent, in their devotion to their country, both the pain they endured and the approach of death, and called out each one for himself, "Here are cartridges in my box, take and distribute thein among my companions." A soldier in the line exclaimed to Major Jessup as he was passing, "My musket is shot to pieces." His comrade, who lay expiring with his wounds at the distance of a few feet, replied in a voice scarcely audible, "My musket is in excellent order, take and use her." It is not extravagant to assert, that an army of such men, commanded by officers of corresponding merit, is literally invincible.

by General Ripley, and by the light of the moon the battle continued with great fury. The American lines suffered greatly from the British artillery stationed on an eminence. General Ripley said to Colonel Miller, "can you storm that battery?" "I'll try, sir," he promptly replied.

4. Miller immediately led up his men with charged bayonets, killed or drove the artillerymen, and turned their cannon upon the British lines. The enemy were reinforced and made three desperate struggles to regain the heights; but the Americans, with obstinate fury, charged them in front and rear, took their general prisoner, and drove them from the field. The battle continued till midnight. About 3000 were engaged on each side, and the contest was so nearly equal that each army lost between eight and nine hundred men.

On

5. The American forces now retired to fort Erie. Soon after, that post was besieged by a British army of 5000 men. A heavy cannonade was commenced, which soon made a breach in the fortifications of the fort. the 15th of August, about two hours before daylight, the enemy endeavored to storm the batteries; but the garrison repulsed them repeatedly with dreadful carnage. They succeeded, however, in carrying a part of the outworks, but just at this moment a large magazine exploded, which made terrible slaughter among them. After a loss of 900 men, they retreated. The garrison lost only eighty-four.

6. The enemy, however, continued the siege. On the 17th of September, the Americans made a sally, and gaining the rear, charged them with so much fury that they fled from their intrenchments, leaving all their cannon and magazines in the hands of the garrison. About 1000 of the British troops were killed, wounded, or taken in the short space of one hour. Four days

4. What did Miller do? What was the result?

5. Where did the American forces now retire? Describe the attack on fort Erie. What was the result?

6. What took place on the 17th of September? What on the 21st?

after this battle the enemy retired from the fort, and relieved the garrison from their dangers and their toils.

7. The next considerable action took place at Plattsburgh. During the siege of fort Erie a large force left lake Champlain, and marched to the relief of the garrison. The enemy determined to improve this favorable opportunity to attack the important post at Plattsburgh. army of 14,000 veteran soldiers, under the command of General Provost, advanced against that place. He arrived on the 6th of September, and found General Macomb with about 1500 regular troops and a strong force of militia.

An

8. At this time Commodore Macdonough, with a small fleet, amounting in all to 86 guns, lay at anchor in the harbor. The British general had resolved to attack the fleet and army at the same time; and for this purpose he had ordered Captain Downie to enter the bay with his whole naval force, which carrying 95 guns, was superior to that of the Americans. On the 11th, the British fleet arrived and anchored within 60 rods of the American vessels. Both parties gave three cheers, and opened their fire.

9. The roar of cannon now rolled incessantly across the calm and peaceful lake. One of the British ships had her cable shot away, and drifting into the American fleet was soon obliged to surrender. In two hours the flag-ship of the enemy struck her colors, and shortly the whole fleet submitted to the victorious Americans. On shore the battle was equally furious, but not so decisive. The British made three attempts to cross the Saranac, a small river which separated the armies; but they were as often driven back with the loss of many men killed and wounded.

7. Where did the next considerable action take place? How many soldiers marched against Plattsburgh? When, and under whom? Who commanded the American forces?

8. Who commanded the American fleet on lake Champlain? What was the comparative size of the two fleets? What took place on the 11th of September? How did the battle commence?

9. Describe the battle of lake Champlain. Describe the battle on shore.