Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/33

Rh the "braves " of their nation in battle array against the "palefaces," and make one final struggle for the destruction of their foes. The mystery of this strange mission served to arouse the superstition and inflame the malignity of the nation. Although warriors by hundreds were falling, they still believed their prophets; who assured them that they would win the day and gain a victory over the palefaces. With a storm of wrath, they believed that the Great Spirit would sweep away their enemies, and that a cloud from heaven would be His signal. Even when the struggle was decided, while Gen. Jackson was issuing an order to cease from the carnage, while an interpreter was on his way to tell the Indians that their lives would be spared if they would surrender, a cloud suddenly spread over the sky. Believing this to be the signal promised by the prophets for their redemption, they fired upon the interpreter who delivered the message, and again began the action. A gentle shower of rain fell from the clouds, but deliverance did not come to the trusting brave savages. Tohopeka was covered with the dead and dying, hundreds fallen weltered in their gore; multitudes attempting to swim the river, were shot or drowned. Civilization reckoned the battle to be over; but civilization reckoned in vain. The old prophets gazed on the skies and stood firm; warriors, assured in their extremity that relief would at length come, clustered around them. When the last prophet and the last warrior at his side yielded their lives with an expiring groan, then only hope expired within them. Even then, the bloody work was not ended. Another work of slaughter and the victory of Andrew Jackson at Tohopeka would be complete.

Constructed over a ravine in the form of the roof, a house pierced with narrow port-holes was a part of the breastworks where a large party of Indians had secreted themselves. Hence, a murderous fire could be directed against their assailants whenever they should show themselves. In this place were assembled the last remnant of the Creek warriors of the Horseshoe bend. Cannon could not be brought to bear upon the place. Only a bold charge, which probably would cost the lives of the courageous men who should make it, could dislodge them from their position. These brave, desperate Indians had sealed their fate by rejecting with contempt the offer of life, on condition of their surrender. Gen. Jackson called for volunteers to make the charge. The lines, unmoved, stood silent. No order was given. No officer volunteered to lead on so hopeless a task. Houston waited in expectation that some captain would lead his company forward, but he waited in vain. He called to his platoon to follow him, as he rushed down the steep descent toward the covered ravine. His men hesitated. He seized a musket from one of them and with a desperation only incident to such occasions he led the way,