The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-02
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prowllng near the fort, but no alarm was given.
Tn The following day, Lieutenant Journey
moved out with his party, in pursuit Of the In
dams. Passing round the fence OF a corn-held,
adjoining the FORT they struck across the prairie,
ana had not proceeded more than a quarter OF a
| mile when, IN crossing small ridge, which was
covered with a hazel thicket, and in full view of
the station, they fell into an ambuscade Of the
Indians, who rose suddenly around them to the
number OF seventy or eighty, and fired, -Four
OF the party were killed, among whom was
Lieutenant journey. One other fell, badly
wounded, and the rest fled. except Higgins.
II was an uncommon sullry morning. The
day was Just dawnlng, 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,
surprising that all that were left were dead, or
al all events IL would he rashness TO at
tempt 10 rescue them from such over
whelming force. Higgins horse had been sh u
through the neck, and fell To his knees and rose
again several times. Believing the animal 10 be
MORALLY wounded, he dsmounted; but finding
that the wound had not greatly disabled him, he
continued to hold the bride, as he now felt con
hdent OF being able 10 make good his retreat
he determined TO fire off his gun before he e.
treated. He looked round for tree There
intending to shoot from behind it; but at this
moment, the cloud of smoke rose partially be-
fore him, disclosing TO his view a number of In
dams, none OF whom discovered him. One OF
them stood within few PAGES, loading his gun,
and al him Higgins took deliberate aim and fired
and the Indian fell Mr. Higgins still conceal.
ed by the smoke, reloaded his gun, mounted, and
turned his horse TO fly, when a low voice near
him hailed him, with ''Tom. you won't leave
| me-
On looking round he discovered the speaker
to be one OF his own companions, named Bur
| CESS, who was lying wounded on the ground,
and he replied Instantly, No, I'll take care OF
you"
:" can't come" replied Burgess, "my leg is
smashed all to pieces"
Higgins sprung from his saddle, and picking
up his comrade, whose ankle bone was bro
ken, in his arms, he proceeded to lift him on his
horse, telling him 10 fly and that he would make
his way on foot but the horse taking fright al
this instant, darted off, leaving Higgins, with
his wounded friend, on foot. Still the cool bra
very of the former was sufficient for every emer-
gency, and sitting Burgess down gently, he told
him, now, my good fellow, you must hop of
on your three legs, while stay between you and
the Indians, and keep them of n-lnstructing
him at the time to get into the highest grass,
and crawl as close to the ground as possible
Burgess followed his advice, and escaped unno-
ticed History does not relate more dlsnte
rested act of heroism than that of Higgins who,
having in his hands the certain means of es-
cape from such imminent peril, voluntarily gave
them up, by offering his horse TO wounded
comrade, and who, when that generous inten-
ton 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 partially
opened before him, as he faced the enemy, still
| lay thick behind him, and as he plunged through
this, he left it, together with the ridge, and the
hazel thicket, between him and the main body
OF the Indians, and was retiring unobserved 10y
them. Under these circumstances, il is proba-
bic that if he had retreaed in direct line to-
wards the station, he might have effected his
escape, but Burgess was slowly crawling away in
that direction, and the gallant Higgins, who coolly
surveyed the whole ground foresaw that If he
pursued the same track and should be dscov-
cred, his friend would be endangered. He there
fore took the heroic resolution Of dIverging from
the true course so far, as thai any OF the enemy
who should follow him, would not fall in with
Burgess. With this intention, he moved steal
thily along through the smoke and bushes, in
tending when he lmmerged to retreat al full
speed. But as he left the thickct he beheld a
| large Indian before him, and two others on the
other side, in the direction of the fort Tom
cooy surveyed his foes, and began to chalk out
his track-for although in the confidence of his
own activity and courage, he felt undismaycd
at such Odds yet he found it necessary TO act
the general. Having an enemy on each flank;
he determined to separate them and tight them
singlv. Making for ravine, which was not
| far of, be bounded away, but soon found one Of
| his limbs failed him, having received ball IN
the firstl6re which until now he scarcely noticed
The large Indian was following him closely.
Higgins turned several times to fire, but the In
dians would halt and dance about to prevent
him from taking aim; and Tom knew that he
could not afford to fire AT random. The other
two were closing on him, and he found that I'M
less he could dispose of the first one, he must
be overpowered He therefore halted resolved
TO receive fire and the Indian at a few PAGES
distant, raised his rifle; Higg ms watched his
adversarys eye, and just as he though, his
finger pressed the trigger, he suddenly threw
his side to HIM. II is probable that this motion
saved his life for the ball entered the thigh, which
would have pierced his body. Tom fell, but
rose again and ran and the last Indian, certain
of his prev loaded again, and then with the
two others pursued. They soon came near,
Higgins had again fallen, and as he rose, they
all three fired, and he received all their balls
He now fell and rose several times, and the In
dams, throwing away their guns. advanced on
him with spears and knives They frequently
charged upon him, but upon his presenting his
gun at one or the other; they fell back A last
the largest one thinking probably from Toms
reserving his fire so long that his gun was emp
w. charged boldly up to him and Higgins with
steady aim shot him dead
With four bullets in his BODY with an empty
gun two Indians before him, and whole tribe
but few rods off, almost any other man would
have despared. But Tom Higgins had no
such notion. The Indian he had last SLAIN was