One would suppose that after these appeals Major Beasley, figuratively speaking, never would have closed his eyes; but that officer was one of those who, when placed in a critical situation, seem to be smitten with blindness. Several negroes had been sent up the Alabama by their masters to procure corn. The Indians captured three, but one managed to escape. He ran to Fort Mimms, and told the Major that the Indians were marching against the post. The commandant looked calmly at the panting servant, the picture of terror, and smiled. He couldn't believe the negro had any cause for his panic. The next day several white men came to the fort with word that a large force of Indians were in the neighborhood, and every sign pointed to an attack. The officer was not so foolish as wholly to disregard this news, though he could not believe the danger was serious. That which followed seems incredible. Three negroes, a day or two later, hurried to the post, and told Major Beasley that, while looking for cattle in the woods, they had met a large party of prowling Indians. The officer sent out several scouts to look for them. They came back saying they had not found a single redskin, whereupon, Major Beasley had the principal negro whipped for spreading falsehoods. The next day the same negro discovered a large number of warriors stealing through the woods toward the fort. Not caring to earn another reward such as he had received for telling the truth in the former instance, he wisely decided to hold his peace. Not long afterward, Weatherford, at the head of fifteen hundred warriors, crossed an open field and came within thirty paces of the fort on a bright summer morning (August 30, 1813), before his approach was discovered. To complete the criminal idiocy of the commandant and his officers, the gates were open and unguarded. Before they could be closed, the horde swarmed through and attacked the garrison. Of the defenders, nearly one-half were old men, women and children. The soldiers fought as men do who know no quarter will be given, and who are aware of the awful fate of those dependent upon them, in case of the failure to repel their assailants. It is not necessary to dwell upon the particulars of this dreadful affair. Every officer died fighting. The women and children took refuge in the blockhouse, to which the Creeks applied the torch, and all perished. The wounded Major Beasley was one of those who breathed his last in the flames. Nearly three hundred were in Fort Mimms, of whom only seventeen escaped, and most of these were wounded.