Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-08-13

peoses Of the indians were lodged, to be SET 90
fire. The flames spread with alarming fapidlt'
the shrieks and screams of the burning victim:
pierced the hearts sven of the nfuriated French
men: bat the Indians stood in their places like
adamant, with oOnstancy OF purpose that TIC
Adventures of European war have never sur
passed. Bv the LIGHT of the flames the Indians
were enabled to make fearful retaliation they
bent their bows and drew their arrows from then
guivers, and in the first shower of their shafts,
every arrow bore billet to the heart OF an enc
my. Another such desolating voilev had de-
stroyed the French; but at Ibis crisis one OF the
sachems fixing his eye on La Porte, called on
his Indian companions to stay their arrows tor
moment; and placing one III MS own bnwstrinS.
he cycled it III the breast of the intrepid fcench-
man.
The sachem was standing at the time beside
Madame La Porte, and by that circumstance
he was protected from the muoketS OF the aSsai!-
ants. On both sides there was a pause--the late
of La Porte seemed inevitable: when sIs lady with
heroic presence of mind, as the bow was drawn
to It's full bent, snatcned a burning brant and
dashed it at the hand of the sachem-the harm
less arrow droppe athis feet--the French raised
a sh0ut-La Porte rushed on the saChem and sd
bred him to the ground. This decided the CON
fict for time. The Indians made no further re-
sistance, bit fed from their eacampmcnt, and
abandoned all TO their enemies.
Here the curious sagacity of the indians In
this desperate condition of their affairs. showed
itself. GA escaping from ;ic entertainments OF
their camp. instead Of scatte!in, themselves, they
all Instnctivey ran, a. !! hey hai been direct
ed BY a command. 10 the spot where he boats
of their enemies were lying. and cut them adr!tt.
They then planted themselves under the bank,
and with bent bows and liked arrows, awaited
the return of the French Ia Porte. when he
found the camp abandoned, mustered his men aud
led them back to where they had left the boats,
with the intention of re-embarkiag. The Indians
heard them comlns,and suppressed their breath
ing. The French drew near and went straight
10 embark: those who were foremost gave the
alarm that the boats were gone. In the same
moment a shower of the Indian arrows made
dreadful havoc among them. LA Porte was
standing with his wife and her child leaning on
his arm, when this terrible ambuscade SO sud.
denly burst upon his men. But possessing that
presence Of mind which qualified him 10 under
take the difficult enterprise IN which he was en-
gagged. he directed his wife to lie down with her
child; and calling 10 such Of the soldiers as had
torches and combustibles to light them. to plant
them on the ground. he charged the Indians in
their lurking places under the bank, and before
many Of them coyd escape, he was their master
again. The conquest was now unequal. The In
dams, however. rallied on the top OF the bank; and
the torches illuminating the shore, enabled them
to take perfect aim at the French La Porte,
though he escaped himself, saw with dreadful
feelings his men falling around him one by one.
BY this time the garrison Of Fort st. Louis,
anxious spectators. had dseerned by the lights on
the shore that the boats were thrown adrtt: and
Justly apprehended from that circumstance that
their comrades had the worst of the conflict,
manned the two or three boats which remained
at the garrison, and went to their assistance
They arrived at the critical moment when the
Chevalier La Porte and his few remaining COM
panions were exhausted with fatigue, and their
ammunition nearly ali exhausted. The rein
forcemcnts cheered the French and dismayed the
Indians who, nevertheless. with the constancy
of their fearless nature. maintained themselves
upon the top of the bank;& the heavens heard by
this time cleared up. their tall forms darby seen
by the starlight. presented conspicuous targets,
as it were. to the French; thus. in their turn,
they fell as fast as the soldiers of La Porte, whom
they had so nearly destroyed. Victory being
now decidedly with the French, La Porte was
anxious to re-cmbark his few remaining men;
but as the Indians stood firm. the honor Of the
French would not permit them TO listen to pru-
dent counses. and with one voice they declared
heir determination not to retreat.
In the meantime Madame La Porte, who.
with her child had continued lyirgor the around.
to escape the arrows of the Indians, daring 4
short pause in the battle, raised herself, holding
her child il her arms, to see the aspect Of the
conflict; while in this position she was discover
ed by an Indian. and almost in the same moment
the infant was pierced with an arrow. She felt
him Sunderland then he was dead; but she
chung to the ifeless body, and again stretched
herself on the ground.
AT this moment, La Porte seeing the frmness
of the Indians, was not to be overcome bv at
lacking them in front. despatched a few Of his
men under the bank of the river to attack them in
the rear. This maneuvre was successful
The Indians finding themselves between two
fires, uttered wild shout aud again fed; but it
was not the flight of defeat. They rallied in the
darkness, and before the French could reach
them, they were descending to the landing place.
throuph a narrow nath which Wound throuvh the