The exploring party consisted, as we have mentioned, of nearly two hundred Indians, and sixteen white men.  They advanced very cautiously.  Two scouts were kept some distance in the advance, two on the side nearest the river, and five on their right.  In this way they had moved along about six miles, when the two spies in front came rushing breathlessly back, with the tidings that they had discovered a camp of Creek Indians.  They halted for a few moments while all examined their guns and their priming and prepared for battle.

The Indians went through certain religious ceremonies, and getting out their war-paint, colored their bodies anew.  They then came to Major Russell, and told him that, as he was to lead them in the battle, he must be painted too.  He humored them, and was painted in the most approved style of an Indian warrior.  The plan of battle was arranged to strike the Indian camp by surprise, when they were utterly unprepared for any resistance.  The white men were cautiously to proceed in the advance, and pour in a deadly fire to kill as many as possible.  The Indians were then, taking advantage of the panic, to rush in with tomahawk and scalping-knife, and finish the scene according to their style of battle, which spared neither women nor children.  It is not pleasant to record such a measure.  They crept along, concealed by the forest, and guided by the sound of pounding, till they caught sight of the camp.  A little to their chagrin they found that it consisted of two peaceful wigwams, where there was a man, a woman, and several children.  The wigwams were also on an island of the river, which could not be approached without boats.  There could not be much glory won by an army of two hundred men routing such a party and destroying their home.  There was also nothing to indicate that these Indians had even any unfriendly feelings.  The man and woman were employed in bruising what was called brier root, which they had dug from the forest, for food.  It seems that this was the principal subsistence used by the Indians in that vicinity.

While the soldiers were deliberating what next to do, they heard a gun fired in the direction of the scouts, at some distance on the right, followed by a single shrill war-whoop.  This satisfied them that if the scouts had met with a foe, it was indeed war on a small scale.  There seemed no need for any special caution.  They all broke and ran toward the spot from which the sounds came.  They soon met two of the spies, who told the following not very creditable story, but one highly characteristic of the times.

As they were creeping along through the forest, they found two Indians, who they said were Creeks, out hunting.  As they were approaching each other, it so happened that there was a dense cluster of bushes between them, so that they were within a few feet of meeting before either party was discovered.  The two spies were Choctaws.  They advanced directly to the Indians, and addressed them in the most friendly manner; stating that they had belonged to General Jackson’s army, but had escaped, and were on their way home.  They shook hands, kindled a fire, and sat down and smoked in apparent perfect cordiality.