GENERAL SULLIVAN'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MOHAWKS.

IN sundry expeditions carried on against the Indians, during the revolutionary war, ample vengeance had been taken on some of them; but these partial successes produced no lasting benefit. The few who escaped had it in their power to make thousands of our settlers miserable. For the permanent security of the frontier, it was resolved, in the year 1779, to carry a decisive expedition into the Indian country. Accordingly, a considerable body of continental troops was selected for this purpose, and placed under the command of General Sullivan.

Upon receiving inte1ligence of this movement, the Indians collected their forces, upon advantageous ground, and fortified themselves with strength and precision. In the latter part of August, Su1livan arrived in the neighbourhood of their fort, having marched several hundred miles through an utter wilderness, and experienced hardships both numerous and formidable. The enemy were now in sight, but intrenched behind extensive works, from which nothing could drive them but a fierce exterminating battle. On the 29th, battle was given. It was an action replete with ferocity and bloodshed. One by one, friend and foe were picked off, by the unerring rifle, while a wail of sorrow pierced lamentably through the dread confusion. Dashing the dead from their stations, the Indians stood by their defences with loud shouts, and for two hours defied every effort of their assailants. Exasperated by mutual outrages, each party fought with a desperation worthy of victory. But at length the discipline of regular troops prevailed. The works were reached, the trenches forced, and the savages obliged to flee on all sides.

Tbe consternation occasioned by this defeat, was so great that the Indians abandoned all their settlements, and fled towards Canada. General Su1livan advanced through rows of the richest corn fields, blooming orchards, and thriving villages. Over these the withering hand of retaliation was spread, and ruin and desolation blasted the labour of years. Towns and settlements were broken up, vegetation levelled with the ground, and all portable property captured. At night the glare of fire reflected from the sky, showed where the cottage was consuming; while in the distance the wretched red man was chafing in wild, but impotent fury, or casting one sad look on his ruined home.

The quantity of corn destroyed was immense. Orchards in which were several hundred fruit trees, were cut down-many of these had been planted for a number of years. The Indians were made to feel the calamities they had so often inflicted upon others; and the sufferings they experienced, together with a fear of their repetition, should they recommence their depredations, rendered their invasions cautious and timid.

Meanwhile (July 23d), a party of sixty Indians and twenty-seven whites, under the infamous Brandt, attacked the Minisink settlement, fired a fort, two mills, and a number of other dwellings, and carried off some prisoners and booty. About one hundred and fifty militia assembled and pursued them; but acted with so little caution, that they were defeated by the Indians.

Another defeat experienced by the Indians about this time, contributed, in no little degree, to prevent for a short time the numerous outhreaks which they had so long carried on. General Williamson and Colonel Pickens entered the Indian country adjacent to South Carolina, burned and destroyed the corn of eight towns, pursued the warriors from post to post, and finally insisted upon their removing immediately from their habitations into the more remote settlements.

In 1781, the Cherokee Indians commenced hostilities in the district of Ninety-Six, burning some houses, and murdering several families. General Pickens promptly collected a party of three hundred and ninety-four horsemen; and, after a march of fourteen days, arrived in their country. To the savages his progress was terrible. Forty were killed, a large number taken prisoners, and thirteen of their towns and villages destroyed. In this expedition, the troops fought in a manner altogether unique-the horsemen rushing forward on horseback, and charging the Indians with drawn swords.

This was the most rapid and decisive of all the invasions of the Indian country during the war. Not an American was killed, and but two wounded. The vanquished Cherokees sued for peace in the most submissive manner, promising to deliver to the United States all royalists who should hereafter instigate them to hostilities.

Some other disturbances happened with various tribes, previous to the close of the war. The suffering produced in some of these was fearful. Not only warriors, but women and children were indiscriminately massacred, and whole settlements involved in flames. Each party was a scourge to the other; and war was rendered doubly distressing, by the dispersion of families, the breaking up of settlements, and a savage devastation of those objects which conduce to the comfort of life.