The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-02-16

Ipared to night at the woru, shouIu the III
ldians prove treacherous, & attempt an al
tack. Before daylight the Indians unper
lceived were beneath the brow Of the en-
lcampmcnt hill ON both sides. A sentine
at the extreme rear of the tents was fire.
upon, tomahawked, and scalped bcior
lthe' alarm"had aroused the camp. liar
rison shouted his men to arms, but th'
favorable situation OF the enemy preven
lied the fire of the whites from being at al
destructive; while on every side were fall
| ing the bravest Of our men. Defeat star
ed the white men in the face, and the
chill look of death was settling III every
lcountenance. The bravest quailed and
tottered beneath the thunders OF the saw
ages fire; and The war-whoop rang upon
the still morning as the knell OF bright
anticipations and glorious hopes. The
chances of victory were against the white
men, and tie duskiness Of the morning
preserved the enemy from the conse-
auences of the firing ofthe forces. Mem
ory wandered back to the fireside of sold
ier, s. Imagination pictured the widow *
the orphan resting upon the cold charity
of the world. At this critical juncture
Dayiess shouted to his Kentucky rangers,
to follow hlm to the charge, as the only
measure of success. His command was
obeyed instantly they rushed down the
deciivity upon the foe on the left OF the
encan pment, and received maniully the
fire of the Indians-Daviesf fell; yet with
his last breath he cheered his men to VIC
tory; One impulse and the conquest was
ours. The determined spirit OF the ran
gers struck terror to the savages: the
prediction of their prophet was proved
ialse*-and their line gave away. Mum
bers of the redmen lay dead upon the
spot. The retreating whoop Of the fugl-
tive started the remaining wing, and IN a
few minutes the field was in the quiet
possession of the white men.
What scene did the ground exhibit
upon the return of the light of day For
ty of the bravest and stoutest OF that
camp lay weltering in their gore: and the
groans OF the wounded sounded awluiiy
In the cars OF the survivors. A deep
grave was dug between two or three
large oaks, and the fallen soldiers slept
together. No long funeral tram accom-
panied the course ofth worthy dead to
their last dwelling place on earth. NO
afiectionate wife bent over the couch oil
the fallen warrior, and wiped otfthe clam
my sweat of death that gathered upon his
manly, but stricken brow; but brave and
stern hearts were bowed low upon that
battle ground, and many an unspooken
prayer ascenGed to the throne of OmniPo-
tence, that the worthy dead might be
happy in a future world. .... !, ~
The troops left the encampment the
second morning alter the engagement,
and the ground was not visited by white
men for several weeks. 1t appeared
however that the Indians had returned
some few days after the battle, and dlsIn-
TERED the remains Of the dead bodies,
stripped them of their clothing, and lelt
their naked bodies exposed upon the
ground. Upto 1921, their bodies were
bleaching upon the theatre Of their gIori,-
Gus deaths, unhonered and unsepuichred'
On the 4th of July of that year, nuumer-
Gus assemblge Of persons, among whom
were many Of the survivors of the battle,
and relatives Of the fallen met upon the
battle ground, and having collected the
scattered and bleached bones; placed
them together III one large coffin, bearing
upon the lid the inscription in guild let
ters, "Rest, Warriors Rest 20 and rein
tered them with the honors of war, upor
the side Of the hill, on the right of the en-
campment ground. No m..rble oblisl
rears its gorgeous foImarom above ths,
grave no sculptured monument gives tn
story of their glorious death to the vlsl
tor but far more holy feeling than th'
sisht of such honor would conjure up
burns within the bosom OF the Americat
as he gazes upon the rude mound OF eartl
that is thrown up above their bones.
Lo,clu nau be the turf that copers
The sacred grave Of their last rerose,
But oh ! there is glory around It hoters,
Broad as the day-break, and bright as u
close" "a
A rude panelled fence is around tn
lprave & the winds whistle wildly throug
the large oak that stands at the heac OF IN
enclosure. The memoirs OF those wn
4 fell in that struggle will be cherished unit
America forgels to honor her brave 'ore
4 fathers, till she loses recollection OF doed
which have made her what she Is.
NV companions and myself had stop
ped longer on the ground than we ha
intended. As the old gentleman gave
last look at this interesting spot, nc sa'd
!, "Here is the death ground of Dawes
the brave and excellent Joe DaViess =
!, Kentucky, of Owings, and OF many OIL OH
h er as worthy fellows as ever hred a go'
!, God gran, that they are now HAPPY,
. heaven ;''and he repeated, with h'e'"