The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-25

small stockade, about eight miles sOutl
of the present village Of Greenvllle, anC
something more than twenty miles from
Vandalia. These towns were not ther
in existence and the surrounding coun
try was one vast wilderness. During tn,
dav last mentioned, ''lndian signs were
seen about halt mile from the station
and at night the savages were discovered
proving near the fort, but no alarm wa:
given. On the following day, Mr.. Jour
nev moved out with his party in pursui
of the Indians. Passing round the ienc,
of corn-feld, adjoining the fort, they
struck across the prairie, and had not pro
ceedcd more than a quarter of mile
when, in crossing small ridge, which
was covered with hazel thickct, and in
full view of the station, they fell into al
ambuscade of the Indians, who rose sud.
denly round them, to the numher of sev-
enty or eighty, and fired. -Four of the
party were killed, among whom was
Lieutenant Journey; one other fell, bad
ly wounded, and the rest fled, except
Higgins.
1t was an uncommonly sultry morn
ing the day was just dawning; a heavy
dew had fallen the preceding night the
air was humid, and the smoke from the
guns hung in a heavy cloud over the spot.
Under the cover of this cloud, Higgins
surviving companions had escaped, sup
posing that all that were left were dead,
or at all events it would be rashness to
attempt to rescue them from so over
whelming force. Higgins horse had
been shot through the neck, and fell to
his knees and rose again, several times.
Believing the animal to be MORALLY
wounded, he dismounled, but finding that
the wound had not greatly disabled him,
he continued to hold the bride; as he
now felt confident Ct being able to make
good his retreat, he determined to fire off
his gun before he retired. He looked
round for a tree. There was but one,
small elm, and he made for this, intend
ing to shoot from behind it, but at this
moment the cloud of smoke rose partially
from before him, disclosing to his view a
number of Indians, none Of whom discoy-
cred him. One Of them stood within a
few PAGES, loading his gun, and at him
Higgins took deliberate aim and fired,
and the Indian fell. Mr. Higgins, still
concealed by the smoke, reloaded his
gun, mounted, and turned to fly, when
low voice near him hailed him with,
Tom, You won't leave me -
On looking round, he discovered tie
speaker to be one of his own compan-
ions, named Burgess, who was lying
wounded on the ground, and he replied
instantly, ''no, I'll not leave you; come
along, and I'll take care Of you"
Il can't come replied Burgess, "my
leg is smashed all to pieces"
Higgins sprung from his saddle, and
picking up his comrade, whose ankIebone
was broken, in his arms, he proceeded to
lift him on his horse, telling him to fly !;
and that he would make his own way on
foot. But the horse taking fright at this
instant, darted off, leaving Higgins, with
his wounded friend, on foot. Still the
cool bravery Of the former was sufficient
for every emergency, and setting Burgess
down gentle, he told him, ''now, my
good fellow, you must hop of on your
three legs, while stay between you and
the Indians, and kefp them oG"--in-
structiug him at the same time to get into
the highest grass, and crawl as close to
the ground as possible. Burgess follow
cd his advice, and escaped unnoticed.
History does not relate a more disinter-
esled act Of herosm, than this Of llig-
gins: who, having in his hands the GER
tain means of escape from such imminent
peril, voluntarily gave them up, by offer
ing his horse to wounded comrade
and who, when that generous intention
was defeated, and his own retreat was
still practicable, remained, at the hazard
OF his life, to protect his crippled friend.
The cloud of smoke, which had par
TALLY opened before him, as he faced the
enemy, still lay thick behind him, and as
he plunged through this, he left it, to-
gether with the ridge, and the hazel,
thicket, between him and the main body
OF the Indians, and was retiring unobserv-
rr t byy. them. Under these circumstances
it is probable that if he had retreatcd in a
direct line towards the station, he nigh,
have easily effected his escape, but Bur.
CESS was slowly crawling away in that
direction, and the gallant Higgins, who
coolly surveyed the whole ground, fore.
saw. that if he pursued the same track,