Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-11-11
ANECDoTE OF THE REvoITT LYON

war, sergeant and twelve armed men
undertook to journey through the wilder
ness IN the State of New-Hampshire.
lhelr route was remote from any settle
nent and they We're under the necessity
OF encamping over night in the woods. In
the early part Of our struggles for indie
pendence, the Indians were numerous
and did not stand idle spectators to con-
1lIct carried on with so much zeal and
eagerness by the whites. Some tribes
were friendly to our cause, while many on
our borders took part with the enemy and
were troublesome in their savage kind of
warfare as our people often learnt from
the Wotul experience of their midnight
depradatlons. The leader of the above
mentioned party was well acquainted with
the different tribes; and from much in
tercourse with them previous to the war
was not Ignorant of the idiom, physiopuo-
my, and dress of each, and at the COM
mencement of hostilities, was informed for
which party they had raised the battIe-axe,
Nothing material had happened during
the first day of this excursion but early
IN the afternoon of the second, they dis
covered from an eninence, a body of
Indians advancing towards them, whose
numbers exceeded their own. As soon
as the Americans were perceived by their
red brethren the latter made friendly sig-
mails, and the parties approached each
other in an amicable manner. The
Indians appeared to be much pleased at
meeting the sergeant and his men, whom
they observed they considered as their
protectors; said they belonged to tribe
who took the Ratchet in the cause of their
country; and were determined to do all
In their power to injure the common enc
my. They shook hands in friendship,
and it was, &C How dye do, prot how
dye do, pro p that being their pronuncia-
ton of the word brother. When they
had conversed with each other for some
time and exchanged mutual good wishes,
they at length separated and travelled diff
ferent directions.
After proceeding to the distance of one
or more miles, the sergeant halted the men
and addressed them in the following
Words
My brave companions, we must use
the utmost caution, or this night may be
our last. Should we not make some
extraordinary exertion, to-morrow's sun
viii nnu us Sleeping never to awake. You
are surprised, comrades, at my words and
your anxiety will not be lessened when
inform you we have just passed our invet-
crate enemy, who under the mask of
friendship you have witnessed would lull
us into security, and by such means in the
unguarded moments of our midnight slum-
Der, without any resistance seal our fate. -
The men with establishment listened
to this short harrangue: and their sur
prise was greater, as not one of them
entertained the least suspicion but that
they had just encountered friends. They
all Immediately resolved to enter into
some scheme for their mutua! safety, and
the destruction of their enemies. By the
proposition of their leader, the following
plan was adopted and executed.
The spot chosen for the nights encamp-
ment was near stream of water which
covered their rear. They felled large
oak, before which, on the approach Of
night, a brilliant fire was lighted. Each
individual cut log of wood about the
size of his body, rolled it nicely up in his
blanket, placed his hat on the extremity,
and laid it before the fire, that the enemy
might be deceived and mistake it for a
man. After the equal number to the SER
geants party, were fitted out, and SO art
fully arranged as to appear like so many
men, the soldiers, with loaded muskets,
placed themselves behind the fallen tree,
by which time the shades of evening be-
gan to close around. The fire was
supplied with fuel aud kept burning
brilliantly till late in the night when it
was suffered to decline. The critical
time was now approaching when an attack
might be expected from the Indians +; but
the sergeant's men rested in their places
of concealment with great anxiety till near
midnight, not perceiving any movement OF
the foe.
AT length tall Indian was discovered
through the glimmering of the fire, (Which
was now getting low) cautiously moving
toward them, making no noise, and APP
parently using every means in his power
to conceal himself from any one about the
camp. For time, his actions showed
him to be suspicious that guard might
be stationed to watch any unusual appear