Delaware gazette and American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1837, 1831-08-12


mains of fortified camp of a party of the Huron
Indians who resisted the original invasion Of their
hunting grounds, when the French first attempted
to establish military posts in that remote wilder
ness.
AT first sight il seems strange that the Hurons
should have advanced so far TO meet the enemies
Of their independence; but cursory inspection Of
the map will serve to show that in taking this adj
yanced position they were guided by military
eye of no common perspiculty The country on
their right and left was covered with forest pen
etrable only by Indians; rude ascents and steep
precipices rose in the midst OF it; presenting a
vast rampant of great extent against access from
the low country.
II is evident, from The choice Of their position.
that the Hurons expected the French to arrive 10
boats; and to prevent them iron, penetrating into
Burlington Bay was, without doubt, the motive
which induced them to prefer it. Whether they
were ever attacked in that position is longer
membered, but an adventure of party Of them
during the time they were encamped at this place
is not excelled by any demonstration Of resolution
in the records Of ancient heroism.
The French had in the meantime constructed
Fort ST. Louis at the mouth Of the river Niagara,
at which the Indians became alarmed, and sent
out a strong detachment who intrenched them.
selves on the rising ground Of the opposite bank,
where Fort George is now situated.
In taking this new position, which evidently de.
monstrated courage and defiance, the Hurons did
not sufficiently consider the superiority which the
French possessed in their boats. 1t was easy at
any time for the garrison at Font ST. Louis to at
tack the Indian intfenchments; but the Hurons
had no engines capable of disturbing the embat-
tied walls and sheltered quarters of their enemies
The few rude canoes which they had formed on
the spot we're unfit for war-like purposes.
What was wanting to these brave people in the
machinery Of war las supplied by their ingenuity;
they employed their canoes in fishing, and the SEN
tines on the walls of the fortress were frequently
found pierced with arrows. This annoyance from
the canoes nfamed the garrison, and it was deter
mined to dslodge the Indians.
The night appointed for the enterprise was at
the change of the moon, when no light save that
Of the stars could shine upon the adventure. The
command was given to Chevaler La Porte, a
young officer of aspiring bravery, and beloved by
all the garrison. The boats belonging to the for.
tress were collected, torches were prepared, and
grenates, together with many other instruments
Of combustion, to fire the stakes and fences of the
Indian fertilization. The enterprise was against
warriors who were never known to have yielded.
The Hurons had no intelligence of these pre-
paratiOns, but their natural sagacity appraised them
that they could not expect to remain long in their
strong hold unmolested. While their enemies
were concerning the means of their destruction,
they were no less active in augmenting their de-
we have now to describe. 1Af
While the preparations for the expedition we're
going forward, the wife of La Porte was induced
by the beauty of the weather to embark with her
child for a sail under the walls of Fort st. Louis.
The wind happened to blow strong from Lake On
tariO, and she in consequences directed her pinnace
to be rowed under the lee of the high banks, up
the liver. In the course of this little excursion
the boat was drawn into one of the whirpools;
and though saved from the vortex by the dexterity
Of the rowers. was thrown over towards the Cana
dian shore, and captured by some Indians, who
were fishing near the spot.
La Porte, on hearing of the misfortune of his
lady and child, became impatient to rescue them,
and 10 revenge the insults he conceived his wife
must have suffered. Accordingly it was deter.
mined that the attack on the Indian camp sho,d
be made on that uight; and soon after dark Troops
were embarked. II was gloomy night-th' sky
was oyercast--the wind was gusty--the writer OF
the lake was muddy and troubed--and The heav
ems and the earth were omin0usly darkened as u
fate frowned on the expedition. But nevertheless,
the gallant Frenchman reached the Canadian shore
and approached in silence towards the palisades OF
| the Indian encampment.
The Hurons, in the joy Of having taken pris-
oner the wife of their most intrepid adversary,
had spent the fore part of the evening in revelry
and gladness; bur, tired of their feasting, when
the French approached, we're in profound sleep.
anil, treadless Of danger. without their usual
watch. Butthere was faithful dog among them;
and the soft footing Of the enemy's advance could
not be concealed from his Vigilant ears. AS they
drew near he began to bark-frst at intervalsi
but his alarm gradually became louder and louder,
until he reused the Indians from their fatal secure
ty. While they were rallying, La Porte advany
ced his troops close to the palisades, and poured
shower of fire and lead through the apertures.---
The Indians, notwithstanding their surprise and
confusion, made desperate resistance. They
mounted their assigned posts, and, with heroic re-
solution, defended themselves against their ene-
mics, who having scaled the enclosure, advanced
upon them sword in hand, cutting down all who
opposed their progress.
In the meantime, La Porte, anxious 10 rescue
his wife, frequently called her aloud by nsme; and
at last she heard his voice and replied with ex
| clamaton of joy
| The Indians, on hearing this, believed she was
the object of the enterprise, and formed rampant
around her, and the infant she held in her arms.
The French attacked them with the animation pc
culiar to their character; but it was vain. The
Indians repulsed them with their spears, and rails
ell wall Of the slain before them. La Porte, al
-