communication was returned from Hampton, in which he declined a compliance with the above orders, on the ground, that the provisions of Wilkinson were not adequate to the wants of both armies, and that it would be impossible to transport provisions from Plattsburg.

On the receipt of this intelligence, a council of war was summoned by Wilkinson, by which it was decided to abandon the attack on Montreal, and to go into winter quarters at French Mills.

Shortly after, Gen. Hampton, learning that the contemplated expedition against Montreal was abandoned, himself paused in his advance towards Montreal, by the way of Chateaugay, and returned to Plattsburg, where he established his winter quarters. Soon after, his health failing, he resigned his commission, and was succeeded in command by Gen. Izard.

Thus ended a campaign, which gave rise to a dissatisfaction, proportioned to the high expecta. tions that had been indulged of its success. Public opinion was much divided as to the causes of its failure, and as to the parties to whom the blame was properly to be attached.

Sec. 37. The proposal of the emperor of Russia to mediate between the United States and Great Britain, with reference to an amicable adjustment of their differences, and the appointment of Messrs. Gallatin, Adams, and Bayard, as commissioners under that proposal, have been mentioned, (Sec. 26.) This proposal, however, Great Britain thought expedient to decline; but the prince regent offered a direct negotiation, either at London or Gottenburg. The offer was no sooner communicated to our government, than accepted, and Messrs. Henry Clay and Jonathan Russel were appointed, in addition to the commissioners already in Europe, and soon after sailed for Gottenburg. Lord Gambier, Henry Goulbourn, and William Adams, were appointed, on the part of the court of St. James, to meet

them. The place of their meeting was first fixed at Gottenburg, but subsequently was changed to Ghent, in Flanders, where the commissioners as sembled in August.

Sec. 38. No sooner had the northern armies gone into winter quarters, as above mentioned, than the public attention was strongly attracted to interesting events at the south, growing out of a war with the Creek Indians, which the lat ter had declared against the United States. The motives to this war were twofold. First, a desire on the part of a considerable number of the Creeks, to abandon the modes of civilization and improvement, which the nation was fast adopting, under the influence of benevolent citizens of the United States, and the government itself, and to return to their former savage life. condly, the reception of arms and presents from the British government, made with a view to enlisting them against the United States in the war in which the former were now engaged with the latter.

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The discontentment of the wavering part of the Creeks had been much increased, and their hostile spirit inflamed, through the influence of the celebrated Tecumseh, who, in 1812, had made them a visit, at which time he passed through the nation, with a view to persuade them to shake off the oppressions of civilized life, and to return to their former more independent and unshackled mode of living. By means of the eloquence of this savage Demosthenes, the party hostile to the United States was much increased—a civil war commenced-and a vexatious border warfare was begun upon the whites.

Sec. 39. The war, at length, declared against the United States by the Creeks, proved exceedingly sanguinary in its progress, during the year 1813, and until the close of the summer of 1814, when Gen. Jackson, who conducted it, on the

part of the Americans, having in several rencounters much reduced them, and finally and signally defeated them, in the battle of Tohopeka, or Horse-Shoe-Bend, concluded a treaty with them, August 9th, on conditions advantageous to the United States. Having accomplished this service, Gen. Jackson returned to Tennessee, and was soon after appointed to succeed Gen. Wilkinson in the command of the forces at New-Orleans.

The commencement of hostilities by the Creeks was an attack upon Fort Mimms, on the 30th of August, 1813. About noon, the garrison of the fort was surprised by about 600 Indians. At first, the American troops stood upon their defence, and repulsed the savages; but, on being harangued by their chief, Weatherford, they returned with augmented fury-drove the besieged into the houses, and set them on fire. A shocking massacre ensued. Not one was spared by the savage monsters; and but a few effected their escape. Only seventeen, out of 300 men, women, and children, who had taken refuge in the fort from adjoining settlements, were left to convey the melancholy tidings to the surrounding inhabitants.

On the receipt of this disastrous intelligence, 2000 men from Tennessee, under Gen. Jackson, and 500 under Gen. Coffee, immediately marched to the country of the Creeks. On the 2d of November, Gen. Jackson detached Gen. Coffee, with 900 mounted cavalry and mounted riflemen, from his head-quarters, the Ten Islands, on the Coosa river, to attack a body of Creeks at Tallushatches. This attack was made on the morning of the 3d, and resulted in the repulse of the Indians, who lost in killed 200, and 84 were taken prisoners. The killed and wounded of the Americans were 46.

On the 7th, a friendly Indian conveyed intelligence to Gen. Jackson, that a party of friendly Creeks were besieged by a body of hostile Creeks at Talladega, 30 miles below the camp. With a body of 1200 men, he immediately marched to their relief; and on his arrival, although the resistance of the Indians, amounting to near 1000 men, was bold and determined, he gave them a signal defeat, with the loss of near 300 slain. The loss of the Americans were fifteen killed, and eighty-five wounded.

Subsequently, the Creeks suffered severely in the destruction of the Hillabee towns, (November 18th,) by a detachment under Gen. White. Of 300 inhabitants found here, 60 were killed, and the remainder taken prisoners.

On the 29th of the same month, they were more signally defeated at Autossee, by 950 Georgia militia, and 400 friendly Indians, under Gen. Floyd. During this engage ment, 400 houses were burned, and 200 warriors were slain, among whom were the kings of Autossee and Tallasee. The American loss in killed and wounded was fifty -among the latter was Gen. Floyd.

On the 23d of December, Gen. Claiborne, at the head of the Mississippi volunteers, achieved an important victory over the Creeks, under their prophet Weatherford, at Eccanachaca, on Alabama river.

In January, 1814, Gen. Jackson was reinforced by 800 volunteers, designed to supply the place of the Tennessee militia, whose term of service having expired, had returned home. With this force he successfully attacked and defeated the Creeks, during the month, at Emucfau and Enotachopco.

Notwithstanding these repeated defeats and serious losses, the Creeks remained unsubdued. Still determined not to yield, they commenced fortifying the bend of Tallapoosa river, called by them Tohopeka, but by the Americans, Horse-Shoe-Bend. Their principal work consisted of a breast work, from five to eight feet high, across the peninsula, by means of which nearly one hundred acres of land were rendered admirably secure. Through this breast work a double row of port-holes were so artfully arranged, that whoever assailed it, must be exposed to a double and cross fire from the Indians, who lay behind, to the number of 1000.

Against this fortiñed refuge of the infatuated Creeks, Gen. Jackson, having gathered up his forces, proceeded on the 24th of March. On the night of the 26th, he encamped within six miles of the bend. On the 27th, he detached Gen. Coffee, with a competent number of men, to pass the river, at a ford three miles below the bend, for the purpose of preventing the Indians effecting their escape, if inclined, by crossing the river.

With the remainder of his force, Gen. Jackson now advanced to the front of the breast work, and at half past ten planted his artillery on a small eminence, at only a moderate distance.

Affairs being now arranged, the artillery opened a tremendous fire upon the breast work, while Gen. Coffee, with his force below, continued to advance towards an Indian village, which stood at the extremity of the peninsula. A well directed fire across the river, which here is but about one hundred yards wide, drove the Indian inhabitants from their houses up to the fortifications.

At length, finding all his arrangements complete, and the favorite moment arrived, Gen. Jackson led on his now animated troops to the charge. For a short time, an obstinate contest was maintained at the breastwork-muzzle to muzzle through the port-holes-when the Americans succeeded in gaining the opposite side of the works. A mournful scene of slaughter ensued. In a short time, the Indians were routed, and the whole plain was strewed with the dead. Five hundred and fifty-seven were found, and a large number were drowned in attempting to escape by the river. Three hundred women and children were taken prisoners. The loss of the Americans was twenty-six killed, and one hundred and seven wounded. Eighteen friendly Cherokees were killed, and thirty-six wounded, and five friendly Creeks were killed and eleven wounded.

This signal defeat of the Creeks put an end to the war. Shortly after, the remnant of the nation sent in their submission. Among these was the prophet and leader, Weatherford. In bold and impressive language, he said: "1 am in your power. Do with me 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 cannot animate the dead. They can no longer hear my voice; their bones are at Tallushatches, Talladega, Emucfau, 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."

On the 9th of August, a treaty was made with them by Gen. Jackson. They agreed to yield a portion of their territory as indemnity for the expenses of the war-to allow the opening of roads through their lands-to admit the whites to the free navigation of their rivers-and to take no more bribes from the British.

Sec. 40. On the 2d of December, the fifteenth congress commenced its second session. The