The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-04-16

preached to examine more closely
What must have been her sensations on
placing her hand upon the back Of naked
corpse, and feeling, by further scrutiny,
the quivering flesh from which the scalp
had been torn In the gloom of night,
she could just discern something, seeming
like little child sitting SO near the body
as to lean its head, first one side. and
then the other, on the insensible and
mangled body. She saw no further, but
thrilled with horror and alarm, remounted
her horse and fastened home; and when
she arrived, quickly put large kettle Of
water over the fire, intending to defend
herself with scalding water, in case of an
attack.
There was little rest or refreshmcnt as
may well be supposed, at the fort, that
night. The women and children of the
vicinity, together with the few men who
were at home, were crowded together,
not knowing but that a large body of the
savage foe might be prowling round, rea-
dy to pour a deadly fire upon them at
any moment, neighbor and six Of the
children of the settlement were probably
lying in the wood, within mile or two.
dead and mangled by that dreadful ene-
my! What awful subjects of thought
and feeling About three o'clock mes
senger was despatched to Fort Russell
with the tidings.
In the morning the inhabitants under
took the painful task Of ascertaining the
extent of their calamity, and collecting
the remains for burial. The whole par
ty, Mrs. Reagan and six children, were
found lying at intervals along the road,
tomahawked and scalped, and all dead,
except the youngest Of Mrs. Reagan's
children, which was sitting near its
mothers corpse, alive, with cash, deep
and large, on each side of its little face
1t were idle TO speak of the emotion that
filed the souls Of the neighhors, and
friends, and fathers, and mothers, and
husband, who gathered round to behold
this awful spectacle. There lay the NOR
tai remains of six Of those whom, but yes
terday, they had seen and embraced, in
health; and there was one hcl pess little
one, wounded, and bleeding, and dying,
an object of painful soicltude, but scarce
ly of hope.
TO women and youth, chiefly was COM
mitted the painful task of deposi,ing their
dear remains in the tomb. This was
performed on the six already dead, on
that day. They were Inferred in three
graves, which were carefully dug, so as
to lay boards beneath, beside, and above
the bodes-for there could no collins be
provided in the absence of nearly all the
men--and the graves being filled, they
were left to receive in aftertimes when
peace had visited the settlement, a simple
covering Of stone. bearing an inscription
descriptive of their death.
1t was solemn day, observed my in.
formant, to follow seven bodies to the
grave, at once, from so small settlement
and they too, buried under such painful
circumstances. Could we have followed
that train 10 the grave in which their little
church and Gem etery were empowered
would we not feel that the procession, the
occasion, the ceremony, the emotions
were Of a character too awful, too sacreC
to admit Of minute observation then; OF
accurate description now! The seventh
however, was not then buried. The child
found alive, received every possible atten
ton; medical aid was procured will
great difficulty, but in vain. 1t followe,
within day or two at most.
On the arrival of the messenger at For
Russell, fresh express was FASTENED t
captain NOW gcneraD Samuel Whiteside'
company, which was on Ridge Prairie
some four miles east of Edwardsvile.
1t was about an hour after sunrise, Of
!, Monday morning, when the gallant troop
arrived on the spot-having rode som
fifteen miles-ready to weep with the be
, reaved and to avenge them of their ruth
less foes.-Abel Moore, who was one {
the rangers then on duty, and of cours
absent at the catastrophe, was permitte,
to remain at home to assist in burying hi
r children and relatives, and the compan
; dashed on, eager TO overtake and engag
r in deadly conflict with the savages. Ire
4 greet that | have no recent account Of tn
: particulars Of this interesting pursuit
and that my memory does not hold theI
, with sufficient distinctness to warrant a
n attempt at the narration. At Indian creel
: in what is now Morgan county, SON
i three or four Of the Indians were seel
f and one killed and il is a current repo