Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-02-14

m'nccd thar march and tbc second day struck
fresh Indian trail They advanced rapidly
an1, towards evening head the report Of Gun
about two miles IN front They concluded this
was rom one OF the enemy shooting game for
supper. They then halted TO refresh themselves
aud wait until the savage iae should encamp for
The night As near as dey could determine.
there were about twenty of The Indians Soon al.
ter dusk, Capt Harper and his men again advan.
ced with great caution Atu proceeding about
two miles .ey discovered the fire of the opcanp.
men,, and nineteen brawny Warriors sitting around
II As they wished to makesurc work they con
cludcd TO wan until their enanv should fall aslccp
Hours passed slowly on. a.sas several of them
were awake. A, last all but en- closed their
eyes IN slumber. The Capt and his men advan.
ced cautiously Each one was instructed in case
the savages were aroused, to take MS s,atioo be-
hind tree, and not to fire until they came near
enough to reach them with the mufzle of their
guns Again they hal j TO examine the primipc
OF their musk.ts and h1 their bavoneis A deep
silence pervadcd the wilderness Not a breeze to
move tue Leaf OF tree was perccp'ible The mo-
mcnt was one OF awful suspense aud deep anxiety
The recent murder of the Captains wife ard his
lovely babe, nervcd him for the combat Enthu.
sastlc courage pervad,d every bosom Again
they advanc ID TO within few rods of the spot
where death or victory awaited them The
quick ears Of the wakeful Indian soon caught the
sound of footsteps the dry leaves piercing
war-whoop started his companions on their feet,
They seized their arms and stood ready for action.
For moment no motion agtalcd the parties but
the b'allng heart aud the purple Gu rtnt rushing
through their veins with ten-foId velocity At
length the savages moved cautiously from the fire
directly towards their pursucis. They were in
tI,gl t.,l.t 81 To-,
sition, each man prepared TO marx his victim
Sure and deadly was the aim Twelve Of the
warriors fell at the first fire, and three were NOR.
tally wounded The sugar makers advanced.
and the next moment the surviving Indians were
surrounded A short and desperate conflict cn-
sued and the nineteen lay wcliering in Their blood
locked IN the cold embrace of death.
The Capt. aud four Of bis men were wounded
but not dangerously. This tragedy was closed
about one o'clock in the morning After rtssing
the wounded in the best manner their means
would admit, aud taking some r,feshment the
two men were placed on guard and the remainder
laid down to rest The second day after this
scene was acted they reached home laden with
he arms aud ammunition taken from The ,n'my,
having been absent but six d'ys IN which time
they had made prisoners Of fifteen, and killed
nineteen of their dreaded foe, and all without the
loss Of a man.
This successful expedition placed Capt Harper
in high estimation among thu settlers who put
themselves ui.der his command during the re-
mninder of the war, They were recognized a. a
guerilla corps. for mutual defence During the
whole time OF the revolutionary struggle the op-
erations of this company were limited to that
ton Of country around the waters of the Delaware
which accounts for the omission of their adven.
lures on the pages Of history. They confined
themselves to the protection OF their homes and
families and rendered ESSENTIAL service in cutting
of small parties of Indians as they were passing
through the narrows of Utsnvanlho. Although
many were killed, the survivors never left their
block houses until they returned to their haba
tons at the close OF the revolution
Exasperated at their mlslonunes, the bloody
Brandt and Me Donald collected abou, three hun
dred savages and made descent upon the fort in
Schoharie 1t was too well fortified to be over
come by this force, bit had not men enough TO
make sally Learning their situation Captain
Harper mounted horse IN disguise, and started
for Albany TO obtain aid, tie passed through the
midst OF the enemy tory named Rosed whom
he very much rosembled 10 the evening he
stopped at the public house for reireshmenl, where
there were several men, whose actions on his IN
trance were rather suspicious He went into an
other room and locked the door In a short
lime, four tones, one OF whom had recognlz d
him demanded entrance. He cooked his pistols
drew his sword, op'ned the door and demanded
their business. When informed they wished 6im
he coolly remarked. pass that door and you
dead n,n." He was suffered TO proceed without
any further molestailon ION THIN, us they well
knew he was not to b. trIl.d with About hall
all hour after he resumed his journey, he was
fired upon, but fortunately escaped without injury.
The next mouing, when within short distance
Of Albany, an Indian shot at him with Il Iifi', the
ball Of which passed through his hat, cutting the
SKIN on the top Of his bead He Immediately
wheeled his horse IN pursuit, the savage fled INTO
the bushes aud made ms escape On ms arrival
at head quarters, the commander despa.ch,d a
squadron Of mounted men, who started soon as
the Captain aud his horse were refreshed, and
rode all night The first lnumailon received IN
the ioh OF any assistance was furious attack on
the enemy by this cavalry, Jusi as the day dawn
cd The troop. of the garrison Immediately raj
lied out, and general slaughter Of the red men
ensued At the commencemtn Of The engage
mon,. Brandl and Nc Donald fed Many oil the
Indians plunged INTO the stream ilnginglis waters
with blood They were completely routed and
dispersed 10 various directions Captain Harper
remained equally active duung the remainder Of
the revolution anl subsequently received a large
tract Of land from goyesnln' nj as reward for his
services, and enjoyed he esteem aud respcc, Of a
large circle Of lfcnds and acquaintance TO the
dAy Of his death
Lei Us now return 10 he 'nragcd and reyong-
ia, Mur,l,. Isr.,, tta Time of the h.uls ~ -.