The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-08-03
1uiscelH q m G d III So
c,on, tho Dover ". III. Enquirer.
DEN MANS STRATAGEM.

NE
b An GATHERS of Cochecho were exposed, AZ
ln' 80 the relentless hostility Of the Indians.
II ~. ,rscautons could circumvent their s'ra'asems
mYI. came at all times and at all seasons win
i" u,obawk in ono hand and the torch In the oth
n n' .,ssacre and destroy. The traveller was
a ." ,,,rn on his journey; the husbandman was
/ ID in mis- field; the women and children
'''" .,,.r,ed at the fire side and consigned to an
u "''' .;ous death, or captivity worse than
& death. 5.
4. ,'.,,n, unop the infant settlement. Their ap-
NJ s.,,,h. having on this occasion been Observed
& i;.o w,s afforded for such of the inhabitants as
II ..nd Do do good service in bush fighting, to re-
n ,,.,t IL the block houses or garrisons. The wo-
wan we're hurriedly gathered within the palis-
,des of their new defences, while the rlhe OF the
husband and father for moment checked the ad'
n ,,pces of the enemy. There were at this time
.ome half dozen of these block houses at Coche-
oho all of which with exception, were success
mIlv defended against tins assault of the Savages,
The manner in which this one was captured shows
i a, once the willy character Of the enemy against
which our fathers had to guard their possessions a.
their lives, and the perseverance with which that
onemy labored to effect their Vaccinations.
The Indians having been repulsed in theiI first
inset upon the settlement, retired carrying with
had been shot down in the fight Two or three
Il Of the white men had also been killed. Their bod
n les had also been dragged off, and having been
"a wslped, and otherwise horribly mutiated, were
W hNss prey to the beasts of the field; while the
remains Of the Indian braves who had fallen, were
~ inferred with all the forms and ceremonies OF their
~ rc, The inhabitants of Cochecho were congra,u
W aing themselves upon their successful escape
"a from the enemy. Some Of their li:tio band, il was
IN true, had fallen some too, whom they could but
IA NY spme.-Their voices, missed in the council
and their arms in the fight. But such things were
NJ ofcommon occurrence; and the cares OF n precari-
W Gus existence left little time for mourning TO the
IN wing.
EM The Indians though repused, had not abandon-
n sdheir designs upon Cochecho. They retired on
N y 10 devise new, and, as they hoped, more sue
FL cesuI sratagems for surprising the white man.
For several days, the watchfulness of the inhabit
ants crcumvented all their vaccinations, during
u which, they did not deem it prudent TO show their
unprecedented vsages within the range reach Of
q n rifle shot from the block houses
On the fourth day after the first attack, they dis,
4 covered that one of the block houses, which was
built on the margin ofthe river, could be entered
! on the water side, provided any means could be de
\ Vsed to reach il unobserved. To proceed to 1t o.
pen'y in their and make the attempt, either
BY day or night was OF the question: as the in
4 habnns kept too strict look out, and would have
( bored bullet through the head of the first Indian
that came within their reach. In this block house
X there were four men with their families, in all a
bout twenty. The Indians having discovered an
opening TO the gar ison were not long ing devIsng
V away to enter it.
n About half mile above the settlement, was a
moving field, the grass Of which had been cut and
made into cocks. by some OF the Cochecho men the
n day before the descent of the Indians upon them
hwas ready for the barn, and as soon as the Indi
ans should retire, it was the intention Of the own
e's F" cart it in. Early in the morning of the 9th
%ay, however, they discovered that the enemy ,hay
aug exhausted every other means ofannoying them
"''e about to commence the assault with and ur
' Ier cover of the hay Having procured cart be
as"g 10 the settlement, which they had foune
I'A" 'he'r reach, they placed large quantity o
A.. upon 1t, and having dragged it within a shor
.''"ce OF the garrison, set il on fire, and, unde
wv. '' OF the burning mass, attempted to back it t.
Wv "u 0u'n with it the garrison. Previous to this
.'"eVer' they had as it seemed, in mere wanton
n''' set some fifteen or twenty cocks of hay adrii
"0 hver, which went floating slowly dow,
~, %"a'ds the garrison. The beseged had Observes
,"' movement, but suspecting nothing, directe
wv. s" a''en'lon exclusively to the danger who
N n,. pressing upon them on the other side Of tn
ss.'''n' The cart with its contents in mass G
orM" ' was coming down upon them. The me
q bo,.. garrison stationed themselves at the Ioor
snos ' WIN their guns, to pick off as many of tn
& Will as they approached as they could. mean
ID S,o." 'ne women and children brought up waite
doo. "e f'Ver' which they obtained through tn
to s,, Mncn the Indians had previously discovered
~, ungulsh the flames.
sena,s turning had reached the garrison, and wa
bs h It's iurd flames far above the walls: vet
s,ons 0 ,s was built Of unhewn logs, massive an
Mo- Tue tire made but little Impression upon
wv ''sp one lpdap who had assisted In pushin