Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-08-23


eclipsed them all.
A little fort, or rather block house, having been
erected about twenty miles from Vandalla, late
the capitol of Illinois, and about eight miles south
of the present village ofGreenvic, to protect the
frontier settlements from the Indians, Lieut. Jour-
nav and twelve men were assigned as its garrison.
Of the latter, Higgins was one. Inc surround
ling country was at that time a continued forest;
and the little hamlet of Greenvie frontier town.
On the SOth of August, 1912. strong indications
of savages being in the nelghhorhood were appa-
rent and at night a party of Indians seen
proving about the fort. On the morning of the
31st, before daylight, Lieut. Journay with the
whole force under his command, sailed forth in
pursuit of them; they had not proceeded far, be-
fore large party of savageS-seventy or eighty
in number-rOse from their ambush, and at the
first fire the Lieutenant and three of his men were
killed, and another wounded. Six returned in
safety to the fort, and one, (Thomas Hggins) lin
gered behind, in order to have zone pull more at
the enemy
The morning was sultry. The day had not yet
dawned; heavy dew had fallen during the night
and the air being still and humid, the smoke from
their guns hung like cloud over the awful scene
By the aid of this cloud the companions of Hig
) gins escaped to the fort. Higgins horse having
been shot in the neck fell upon his knees; he rose
however, again. Higgies supposing him to he
MORALLY wounded, dismounted, and was about to
leave him. Perceiving soon thereafter his error
and that the wound was not dangerous, he Geter-
mined to make good his retreat, but resolved be-
fore doing so, TO avenge the death OF some OF his
, companions.
He sought, therefore, tree, from behind which
he could shoot with safety. A small elm, scarcely
sufficient to protect his body, was near. 1t was
the only one in sight, and before he could reach it,,
the smoke partly arose and discovered to him a
: number of Indians approaching.
One OF them was in the act of loading his gun.-
I'll nh, tbo
foremost savage and he fell. Concealed still by
the smoke, Higgins reloaded, mounted his horse,
and turned to fly, when a voice apparently from
the grass, hailed him with 'Hom, you won't leave
me, will you"
Higgins turned Immediately around, and seeing
a fellow soldier, by the name of Burgess, lying on
the ground, wounded and gaspng for breath, re-
piled: No. Il not leave you-come along.
81 can't come said Burgess; 'my leg is all smash
ed to pieces
Higgins dsmounted, and taking up his friend
whose ANGLE had been broken, was about to lift
him on his horse, when the latter taking fright
dared off in an instant, and left Higgins and his
wounded friend behind.
sThis is too bad said Higgins; 'but don't fear;
you hop off on your three legs, and I'll stay behind
between you and the Indians, and keep them off.
Get into the taest grass, and crawl as near the
ground as posslble.' Burgess did so, and escaped
The smoke which had hitherto concealed Elig.
gins, now cleared away, and he resolved, if posi-
bic to retreat. To follow the track Of Burgess was
NEST expedient. 1t would, however endanger hi,
friend. He determined, therefore, to venture
u boldly forward, and, if discovered: to secure hi:
retreat by the rapdity of his fl ight. On leaving
small thicket, in which he had sought refuge, he
discovered tall portly savage near by, and two
others in direction between him and the fort
He paused for moment, and thought if he coult
separate and fight them singly, his case was no
, so desperate.
. He started therefore for little run of water
hard by, but found one of his limbs failing him
, having been struck by ball in the first encOun
. ter, Of which till now he was scarcely conscious.
The largest Indian pressed close upon him-anC
Higgins turned round two or three times in order
to fire. The Indian halted and danced about tt
prevent his taking aim. Higgins saw it was un
safe to fire at random; and perceiying two other
approaching, knew he must be overpoWered in
" moment, unless he could dispose of the forwart
Indian. He resolved, therefore, to halt, and re
ceve his fire. The Indian raised his rife, ant
Higgins, watching his eye, turned suddenly as hi
finger pressed the trigger, and received the ball il
his thigh, which otherwise would have pierced hi
body.
Higgins fell, but Immediately rose and run
The foremost Indian, certain of his prey, nov
loaded again, and with the other two pressed or
They overlook hm-Higgns fell again, and as h
rose the whole three fred and he received al
their balls. He now fell and rose again; and thu
Indians, throwing away their guns, advanced up
on him with spears and knives. AS he presente
his gun at one or the other, each fell back.
At last, the largest Indian, surprising Higgins
gun to be empty from his fire having been thus re
d, served, advanced boldly to the charge Higgir
fired, and the savage fell.
He had now four bullets IN his b0dy-an empt
gun, two Indians unframed, as yet, before him
and whole tribe few yards distant Any otht
man but Higgins would have despaired. Napolt
on would have acknowledged himself defeated; !
Wellington, with all his obstinacy, would hay
av considered the case doubttul-and Charles of Sw
den have regarded it as one ofperil. Not so vii
Higgins. He had no notion of surrendering We
He had slain the most dangerous of the three; al
to having little to fear from the others, he began
load his rife. They raised savage whoop al
rushed to the encounters but kept a respectful di
lance Whe Higgins rifle was loaded, but wh'
they knew it was empty, they were better soldier
ga bloody conflict now ensued. The India
.. now stabbed him in several places. The spear
90 however were but thin poles, hastily prepared
the occasion, and bent whenever they struck +
or muscle. The wounds they made were not Their
{. fore deep, but numerous, as his scars sufficient
testified
. cat last one of them threw his tomahawk.
struck him upon the cheek, passed through /
49, ear, which it severed, laid bare his skull to t
back of his head, and stretched him upon the pri
RE. The Indians again rushed on; but Higgir
JOS recovering his self-possession, kept them off wi
tied his hands; grasping at length of their spea
of the Indian in attempting to pull it from him,
ork ed Higgins, who, taking up his rifle, smote t