The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-15
night, where large se,,lemcn. Of the ma

1
the head chief and disclosed the object Of
her journey. She was secreted by the
chief, aud the runners were despatched
TO all the tribes summoning them imme-
diate to meet in Council, which was held
al Onondaga Hollow.
When all convened the chief arose, aud
in the most solemn manner rehearsed a
vision, in which he said beautiful bird
had appeared to him and told him that
the great war party Of the Fries was pre-
pairing TO make a secret and sudden de-
scent upon them and destroy them; that
nothing could save them bat an immedi-
ate rally of all the warriors of the i've ma.
tons TO meet the enemy before they could
be able to strike the blow. These SOL
emn announcements were heard in breath
less silence. When the chief had finish
ed and sat down, there arose one immense
yell Of menacing madness, and the earth
shook when the mighty mass brandished
high in air their war clubs and stamped
the ground like furious beasts.
No time was to be lost; body of five
thousand warriors was organised, and a
corps OF reserve consisting of one thou.
sand young men, who had never been in
battle. The bravest chiefs from oil tho
tribes were put in command, and spies
Immediately sent out in search of the en-.
envy. the whole body taking up line Of
march in the direction from whence they
expected an attack.
The advance of the war party was con-
linued for several days passing through
successfully the settlements of their
friends, the Onondagas, the Cayugas, and
the Senecas; but they had scarcely pass.
ed the last wigwam near the foot of Can
an-da-gua (Canandaigua) Lake when their
scouts brought in intelligence of tho adj
vance Of the Fries who had already cross
ed the Ce.nis.se-u (Genescc) River in
great force. The Fries had not the slight
est in.imaiion of the approach of their
enemies. They relied upon the secresy
and celerly of their movements to sur.
prise and subdue the Senecas almost with
ont resistance.
The two parties met at point about
l'aif ~"y between the foot OF CanandaIgua
Lake and the Gcnesee River and near the
outlet of two small lakes. near the foot OF
one of which (,he Iloneoye.) the battle
was fought. When The two parties came
in sight Of each other, the outlet of the
lake only interviewed between them.
The entire force Of The five confederate
tribes was no, IN view of The Fries. The
reserve corps of one thousand young men
had not been allowed TO advance in sigh
of the enemy. Nothing could resist the
impeiuosily of the Fries a, the first sigh
of an opposing force on the opposite side
Of the stream. They rushed through il
and fell upon them with tremendous fury.
The undlun,eG courage and determined
bravery Of the lroquois could not avail
against such terrible onslaught, and they
were compelled To yield The ground on
the bank Of the stream. The whole force
of the combined tribes, cxccp, the corps
of reserve, now became engaged. they
fought hand to hand and foot TO foot, the
battle ragged horribly. No quarter was
asked or given on ellher side.
AS the fight thickened and became
more desperate the Fries. tor the first
time, became sensible of their true si,ua.
lion. What they had long anticipated
had become fearful reality. Their enc
mics hat combined for their destruction,
and they now found themselves engaged
suddenly and Unexpectedly in struggle
involving not only the glory but perhaps
the rery eTiSfe1ce Of their nation.
They were proud, and had been hith.
erio victorious over all their enemies.
Their superiority was fell. and acknowl-
edged BY all the tribes; they knew how
TO conquer, but not TO yield All these
considerations flashed upon the minds OF
the bold Fries, and nerved every arm
with almost superhuman power. On The
other hand the united forces of the weak
er tribes, now made strong by union, fix
ed with spirit Of emulation excited to
the highest pitch among the warriors OF
the different tribes, brought for the first
time TO act in concert, inspired with zeal
and confidence by the counsels of the wi
sest chiefs, and led on by the most expe-
rienced warriors Of all the tribes, the Iro-
auois were invincible.
| Though staggered by the first desper-
ate rush of their opponents, they rallied
at once, and stood their ground. And
now the din Of battle rises higher, the
war club. the tomahawk, the scalping
knife, welded by herculean hands, do
terrible deeds Of death. During the hot
ties! Of the battle, which was fierce and
long, the corps of reserve, consisting Of
the one thousand young men, we're by a
skillul movement under their experienced
chief. placed i'm rear of the Fries. on the