Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-06-13

"o""'Su' soWe FeKatned thetr horses,
others retreated On foot. The vieto.
rious enemy pursued with deadly and
untiring perseverance. The retreatinr
kentuckiaDs hurried over tho rocks,
rushed down the precipice. and the
victors and the vanguishcd plunged to-
gether IN the stream; some were slain
before they reached the bank, bot the
river presented . scene bloody 40 il
was destructive. The day was warm,
the retreat rapid; the unarmed and
exhausted kentuckians fell easy VIC
Tins TO the tomahawk and scalping.
knife, and in short time Licking ran
streams of blood. The few who had
gained the southern shore on horseback,
halted and fired this caused 4 mo-
mentary check, but after short pause,
pursuit was again renewed, and safety
only found in Bryant's station, thirty
SIX miles from the field Of battle. -
here the defeated Kentuckiaus met the
van of Col. Logan's command, about
four hundred strong. The battle grou nd
was reached the second day after the
action, and presented scene that ago
nized every bosom, panied every heart,
and moistened every eye. The dead
bodies exposed to the rays Of scorch-
ing sun, were so much swollen and
mangled, that the father, brother, and
friend, who had come to perform the
last sad rites Of burial, were denied
even the melancholy satisfaction Of
knowing whether those for whom thew
sought, were killed or taken prisoners.
The aged parent, in hopes Of recog-
nizing q favorite son, turned, anxious
ly turned body after body, but all in
vain the tear rolled down the furrowe
cheek, yet itfell on he knew not whom.
James Morgan was among the last
that had crossed the river, and was i'm
the rear until the hill was assembled.
As soon as he beheld the Indians re-
appear on the ridge. he felt anew his
wrongs, and recollected the lovely
object Of his early affections. He
urged on his horse and pressed to the
front. While in the act Of lesping
from his saddle, In received rifle ball
in his thigh, and he fell: an Indian
sprans upon him, seized him by the
hair, and applied the scalping knife
At this moment, Morgan cast up his
eyes, and recognized the handkerchief
that bound the head of the savage,
and which he knew to be his wife's.-
This added renewed strength to his
body. and increased activity 10 his fu-
~. He quickly threw his left arm a.
round the Indian, and with death like
grasp Rugged him TO his bosom, plunged
his knife into his side, and he expired
in his arms. Releasing himself from
the savage, Morgan crawled under
small oak, on an elevated piece OF
ground short distance from him. The
scene OF action shifted, and he remain
ed undiscovered and unscalped, an
anxious spectator Of the battle. II vas
now midnight. Girty aud his savage
band. after taking ell the scalps they
could find, left the battle ground
Morgan was seated at the foot Of the
oak, its trunk supporting his head.
The rugged and uneven ground, that
surrounded, him, was covered with the
slain; the once white projecting rocks,
Ibieached with the rain and sun of cen
turles, were crimsoned with the blood
that had warmed the heart and ANNA
ted the bosom 0: the patriot and the
soldier. But few hours before, be
had seen the gallant Todd, Trigg, Har-
land, Boon, and many others, in all the
pride Of life, flushed with hope, glow
ing with zeal, and burning with patriot
ism; now cold and lifeless as the rocks
that lay scattered over the ''dark and
bloody gTOund;" friends and enemies,
the red and the white IN ian side by side,
quietly slumbered in eternal repose. -
The pale glimmering Of the moon,
occasionally threw a faint ray oil
light upon the mangled bodies Of the
dead, then Q passing cloud enveloped
all IN darkness, aud gave additional
horror 60 the feeble cries Of a few.
still lingering in the last sgonies
Of protraeted death, rendered doably |
appalling by the coarse growl of the |
bear, the loud howl Of the wolf, the !
shrilI cry of the panther, feeding on
the dead and dying. Morgan beheld
the scene with heart.rending sensa.
tons, aud looked forward with the I
apathy OF despair 10 his own end Al
large and ferOcious looking bear, cover.
ed With blood. NOW approached him
he threw himself upon the ground, 81. I
lently commended his soul TO heaven,
and 10 breathlets anxiety awaited his Z
fate. The sstlated animal slowly pass. I
cd on without noticing him. Morgan I
raised his head, va. about Offering
thanks for his unexpected preservation. /
when the cry ola pack Of wolves open. |
ed upon him. and again awakened him
to sense Of hiss danger lie placed
his hands over hiseyss. fell on his face. I
and IN silent agony again awaited his .
fate. He heard 3 rushing IN the bushes
steps sppVoaehed--a cold chill ran
over him. Imagination, creative. busy
imagination, vas actively employed