Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-06-20
A REMARKABLE ADVENTURE.

The following histories! incident, though
possessing adj the interest Of romance, is ex.
tacted from the History Of Illinois, lately
published al the New World office, in New
York, and is from tie pen Of Henry Brown:
The Pioneer who dweIs in the vicinity
Of Indian huntmgground, forming bar.
rier between sayage and civilized men,
learns to hate the Indian BECAUSE h. hears
him spoken Of always as an enemy, Hav.
ing listened from his cradle to tales Of say.
age violence, and pursued with interest
the narrative OF aboriginal canning and ie,
rocitV, and numbering, also, among the
vicluIs Of midnight massacre, his nearest
and dearest relations, it is not to be wonder
ed al that he should fear and detest the
savage. While the war-whoop is sound
ing in his ears, the rife is kept in readi-
ness, and the cabin door secured with the
return Of evening,
Among those thus born and reared, one
Thomas Higgins, Of Kentucky, stands pre-
eminent During the war Of 1919, he en-
listed at the early age of nineteen in com.
pany of rangers, and came 10 Illinois
One Of the most extraordinary events of
that waroccurred near Vandalia in which
Higgins participated.
Men talk Of Marathon and Thermapylm,
and Waterloo, as if deeds of courage and
danger were only exhibited there, without
rejecting that a single ranger OF Kentuc-
ky had ecIipsed them all.
A little fort, or rather block house, hav-
ing been erected about twenty miles from
VandaIia, late the captalo Of Illinois, and "a.
bout eight miles south of the present VII
age of Greenvie, to protect the frontier
settlements from the Indians, lieutenant
Journay and twelve men were assigned as
its garrison. Of the latter Higgins was
one. The surrounding country was, at
that time continuous forests and the little
hameL of Greenvile a frontier town.
On the 30th of August, 1914, strong in
dications of savages being in the neighbour
hood were apparent, and at night a party of
Indians were seen prowlmg about the fort.
On the morning of the 31st, before day
light, lieutenant Journay, with the whole
force under his command, sailed forth in
pursuit Of them. They had not proceeded
far before large party OF savages, seventy
or eighty in number, rose from their ann
bush, and at the first fire the lieutenant and
three of his men were killed and another
wounded. Sixreurued in safety to the fort,
and one (Iiggins) fingered behind in order
to have zone more pull at the enemy"
The morning was sultry. The day had
not yet dawned, heavy dew had fallen du.
ring the night, and the air being still and
humid, the smoke from their guns hung
like cloud over the awful scene.
BY aid of this cloud the companions of
Higgins escaped to the fort. Higgins horse
having been shot in the neck, tell upon his
knees, he rose however again. Higgins,
him to be mcrtally wounded, dis
mounted, and was about to leave him.
Perceving soon thereafter his error, and
that the wound was not dangerous, he de-
termined to make good his retreat, but re.
solved, before 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 10 protect his body