Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-07-06
A WESTERN HERO.

possessing all the interest OF romance, is eX-
tracted from the "IIstory of Illinois," now in
course Of publication in New York. The work
is from the pen of Henry Brown, Esq, of Chi
cago.
The pioneer who dwels in the vicinity of In
dian hunting ground, forming barrier between
savage aud civilized men, learns TO hate the
Indian because he hears him spoken of always
as an enemy. Having listened from his era
die TO tales of savage violence, and peruscd
with interest the narrative of aboriginal cum
ming and ferocty, aud numbering, also, among
the victims of some midnight massacre, his
nearest and dearest relations, it is not to be
wondered at that he should fear and dctest the
savage. While the warwloop is sounding in
his ears, the rifle is kept in readiness, and the
cabin door secured with the return OF evening.
Among those thus born and reared, one
Thomas Higgins, of Kentucky, stands preemi-
nent. During the war of 1912 he enlisted at
the early age of nineteen in a company of ran.
gers, and came to Illinois One of the most
extraordinary events of ,ha, war occurred near
Vandala, in which higgins participated.
Men talk of Marathon, and Thermopyla, and
Waterloo, as if deeds of courage aud danger
were exhibited only there, without rejecting
that single ranger of Kentucky had oclpscd
them ALL
A little fort or rather block-housc, having
been erected about twenty miles from Van
daia, late the capitol of Illinois, and about eight
miles south the present village of Greenville,
to protect the frontier settlements from the In
Jians, Lieut.. Journay and twelve men were as
signed as It's garrison. or the latter, Higgins
was one.
The surrounding country was at that time
a continuous forest, and the little hamlet o
Greenvile frontier town.
On the 2oth of August, lsli, strong iudica.
tons of savages being in the neighborhood
were apparent, and at night party of Indian:
were seen proving about the fort.
On the morning of the 3lst, before daylight
Lieut.. Jonrnay, with the whole force under biz
command, sailed forth in pursuit of them the,
had not proceeded far before large party o
savages-seventy or eighty in number-rost
from their ambush, and at the first fire the Lieu
tenant and three OF his men we're killed an,
another wounded. SIX returned in safety t,
the fort, and ono (Thonas Higgins ingerco
behind to have 'one pull more at the enemy
| The morning was sultry. The day had no
! yet dawncd; heavy dew had fallen during til,
night, and the air being still aud humid, TIT
smoke from their guns hung like u cloud owe
the awful scene.
BY the aid of this cloud the companions O
/ Higgins escaped 10 the fort. Higgins horS
having been shot in the neck, fell upon hi
knees, he rose however, again. Higgins, sup
posing him to be mortaly wounded, dislnoun,c,
aud was about to leave him. Perceiving soon
not dangerous, he determined 10 make good hi
retreat, but resolved, before doing SO, to aveng
the death of some Of his companions
lie sought, therefore, a tree, from behn
which he could shoot with safety. A small
elm scarcely sufficient TO protect his body, va
near. IL was the only one IN s'@ht' ana be
fore he could reach 1t, the smoke partly aros
and d'Scovcrcdto HIM number oi Indians ap
preaching One OF thcm was IN Tie act O
loading his gun. Higgins having taken deli
herate ann, hrcd at The lorm"st savage ana II
fell Concealed still by the smoke, lliggin
reloaded mounted h's horse ana turned TO ny