The Arkansas banner., 1843-11-11

and children, were assembled around them
 they had a sacred charge to protect, and they resolved to fight to the last extremity. and confidently trusted in Heaven for the success ful issue of the combat
 When the enemy's right flank came I'D. Glrty changed his order of attack. Parties of Indians were placed in such of the village houses as commanded view of the block houses; strong body occupied the yard of Ebenezer Zane, about fifty yards from the fort, using paling fence as a cover, while the greater part were posted under cover in the edge of the corn field, to act onensively or serve as corps of reserve, as occasion might require. These dispositions having been made, Girty, with white flag in his hand, appeared at the window of cabin, and demanded the surrender of the garrison in the name of his Britannic majesty. He read the proclamation of Governor Hamilton, and promised them protection if they would lay down their arms and swear allegiance to the british crown. He warned them to submit peaceably, and admitted his inability to re- strain the passions of his warriors when they once became excited with the strife of battle. Colonel Shepherd promptly told him, in re- ply, that the garrison would never surrender to him, and that he could only obtain pos session of the fort when there remained no longer an American soldier to defend it. Glrty renewed his proposition, but before he finished his harangue thoughtless youth in one ot the block-houses fired gun at the speaker, and brought the conference to an abrupt termination. Girty disappeared, and in about fifteen minutes the Indians opened the siege by general discharge of rifles
 It was yet quite early in the morning, the sun not having appeared above the summit of Wheeling hill, and the day is represented to have been one of surpassing beauty. The Indians, not entirely concealed from the view of the garrison, kept up brisk fire for the space of six hours without much mternis- sion. The little garrison, in spite of its he terogeneous character, was, with scarcely an exception, composed of sharp-shooters. Several of them, whose experience in Indian warfare gave them remarkable degree of coolness and self-possession in the face of danger, infused confidence into young: and, as they never fired at random, their bullets, III most cases, took effect. The In- dlans, on the contrary, gloated with their previous success, their tomahawks reeking with the blood of Mason's and Oge's men, and all of them burning with mpatienee to rush into the fort and complete their work of butchery, discharged their guns against the pickets, the gates, the logs cr the block houses, and every other object that seemed to shelter white man. Their fire was thus thrown away. At length some of their most daring warriors rushed up close to the block houses, and attempted to make sure work by firing through the logs; but these reckless savages received from the well-directed rifles of the lrontiersmen the fearful reward of their temerity. About one o'clock the Indians dis continued their fire and fell back against the base of the hill.
 The stock of gunpowder in the fort having been nearly exhausted, it was determined to seize the favorable opportunity offered by the suspension of hostilities, to send for keg of powder which was known to be in the house of Ebenezer Zane, about sixty yards from the gate of the fort. The person ex- ecutIng this service would necessarily expose himself to the danger of being shot down by the Indians, who were yet sufficiently near to observe every thing that transpired about the works. The colonel explained the matter to his men, and, unwilling to order one of of them to undertake such desperate enter prise, enquired whether any man would vol unteer for the service. Three or four young men promptly stepped forward in obedience to the call. The colonel informed them that the weak state of the garrison would not justify the absence of more than one man, and that 1t was for themselves to decide who that person should be. The eagerness felt by each volunteer to undertake the honorable mission, prevented them from making the arrangement proposed by the commandant; and so much time was consumed in the con tention between them that fears began to arise that the Indians would renew the attack before the powder could be procured. At this crisis, young lady, the sister of Eben- ezer and Silas Zane, came forward and desir- ed that she might be permitted to execute the service. This proposition seemed so extra vagant that it met with peremptory refusal; but she instantly renewed her petition in terms of redoubled earnestness, and all the remonstrances of the colonel and her relatives failed to dissuade hef from her heroic pur- pose. It was finally represented to her that
 
 either of the young men, on account of his superior fleetness and familiarity with scenes of danger, would be more likely than herself to do the work successfully. She replied, that the danger which would attend the en- terprise, was the identical reason that induced her to offer her services; for, as the garrison was very weak, no soldiers life should be placed in needless jeopardy, and that if she were to fall her loss would not be felt Her petition was ultimately granted, and the gate opened for her to pass out. The opening of the gate arrested the attention of several In- dians who were struggling through the viii lage. It was noticed that their eyes were upon her as she crossed the open space to reach her brothers house; but seized, per- haps, with a sudden freak of clemency, or believing that woman's life was not worth load of gunpowder, or influenced by some other unexplained motive, they permitted her