Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-01-14
From the N. Y. Evening Post.
DESPERATE ENGAGEMENT

Messrs. Ed .ors.- Being in the sam
, neighborhood where the following cir
cumstaDees happened few years since,
they were related to me by one Of the
parlies concerned. nave thrown them
together in rough manner; and if worth
inserting, in the Post, by doing so, you
VIII obIige one who has for he last two
years received and read, with uiucb plea
sure, your useful and Interesting paper.
Nafchez, Mss tug. 10, 1925.
In the first settlement OF the State OF
Indiana, il so happened hal tive families,
one from The state New Jersey, and the
other from the state OF Virginia, settled
themselves down together on one OF those
tributary streams, which, after Howing
through the richest soil 10 the werlu,
pefhaps, empty them selves into the great
ami beautiful river Ohio. Hither the
heads OF those families had retired, in
hopes, by persevering industry, and pa
tisnt endurance of hardship, to lay the
foundation OF the future prosperity and
happiness OF the rising generation. The
fssnlles were both large, but my story
relates only to the two oldest of the chill
dren, whom shall call William and
Msry. They, the second year after their
parents had settled in the same neigh
borhood, became attached to each other,
we're married, and retired few miles
further up the same stream, 10 open a
clearing Tor themselves They hsd cho-
sen rich and beautiful valley, and in
the course Of few years, William had
forty or fifty acfes under good improve
ment-a good log house, s'sbling, fences,
&c. They were both prudent and in
dusfrlous, and what with the sale Of their
corn, poultry, maple-sugar, &c, TO the
travellers and new settlers, they had ac-
cun,ula,ed considerable sum OF money,
which was carefully bearded up, to pay
for heir land as soon as it should be sur
yeyed 90, and offered for sale. They
had row three beautiful children; and
as Mary had received a toerable educa-
ton in her native state, she was begin
ming 10 be daily engaged in importing
instruction to her rising offspring. Al
ready had they few flowers, garden
plants, and fruit trees, around their little
dwelling, together with the sweet briar,
woodbine and rose Indeed, every thing
around them seemed to bespeak de-
gree of industry and comfort not gene
rally enjoyed by the FIRST settlers of the
forest. In this situation matters stood
at the memorable battle of Tippecanoe,
L. Cr,p,,.p nd i,,Io tba
whole stale, was thrown INTO commotion
and alarm. Many depredal ions and mas
sacres we're committed by the Indians,
and some :. deeds OF dreadful note" were
done, which never could be satisfactorily
accounted for. The brave and humane
General Harrison, who commanded at
that time, had erected in various parts
OF the state, what were termed lines OF
block -heuses, in which were posted de-
tached parties OF soldiers and militia,
who acted as picke,-g guards to the from
tier inbabitapts-they also served as a
line Of commune from postto post,
and as place OF refuge for the weak
and deienceless, from The approach OF
an enemy. One OF these lines Of block
houses extended through The settlement
10 which William lived, and most Of the
I inhabitants had taken shelter within their
walls. He, however, from some cause
or other, had neglected SO to do, as we'll
as one or TWO Of his nearest neighbors.
One morning, William had taken his
rife, and gone some miles on business,
promising 10 return home as early in the
evening as possible. He had no, been
zone mere than an hour, when Mary,
Who was . few rods from the house with
her cti,srcn, was alarmed by the sudden
and horrld yell Of the savsges-two OF
them at the same time appearing in the
skirts Of . wood, . few hundred yards
distants She insssnsly caught Up tho