March 5th--Alabama volunteers arrived, and the day after another company from Louisiana; the whole amounting to twelve hundred men, was commanded by Colonel Lindsay. 9 h--News was brought in early in the night, that a party of the enemy was driving away cattle in the neighborhood. Major Reed crossed the river with his command, at midnight, and was fired on, happily without effect, by our piquet guard, who knew nothing of his movements. About six o’clock, A. M. he came up with a small party of Indians, fast asleep. Their dogs quickly roused them, and they themselves, when they saw the white skins rushing on, threw away their rifles, blankets, and other incumbrances, and jumped into a river close by, where four or five of them were shot. Major Reed returned at twelve o’clock, bringing with him a number of mess pans and spades, also several ponies and blankets which they had left behind in their haste. He reported that there was a large quantity of camp kettles, spades, &c., on the ground. A party was immediately sent for them with a team and brought them in before night. They had been buried by General Gaines army sometime before, and were discovered and dug up by the Indians. We christened this skirmish the battle of the Messpans. 13th--Buried a volunteer from Alabama, a fine young man. Colonel Lindsay refused to allow him a glass of wine, from the sutler’s store, though ordered by the doctor, a few hours before his death. This was carrying his ideas of temperance a little too far. We also buried one of the friendly Indians, who had been killed in a drunken fray the day before. The camp of the friendly tribe is on the other side of the river. Two Spaniards have been for some time supplying them with liquor, and they have been more than a week in a state of beastly intoxication. I paid them a visit yesterday, and saw among other curiosities a fine young squaw with her nose and ears cropped off. I inquired the reason of an old white lady, who lived close by, and learned that it is a summary mode of proceeding with those errant damsels, who are convicted of being too philanthropic. An Indian chief who had gone out with General Gaines, arrived to day, bringing news from the army, and on the day following Black Dirt also arrived. The latter chief, though now the firm friend, was at one time the inveterate enemy of the whites. I have been informed that he once fought hand to hand with General Jackson, and was left for dead by the hero of New Orleans. He wears a turban composed of five handkerchiefs, and declares that each handkerchief shall cost Powell one hundred dollars. I should have mentioned that Powell has set a price on his head, offering five hundred dollars to any one who shall carry it to him.