The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-01-23

and were cnco more aho0t in the sIlif,
jacob merely saving that it was fortunate
hat they haa taken Van Loans skin, in.
stead OF the enc he had obtained FROM
Jnhnson's men. Case. said he. fthey
hadn't know'd this skiG, we might have
II Skrimnage' Jacob directed lis skiG
t" the nolt.crn shore. and then vigorous.
~ pied his oars They were no, long in
arriving AT tic confluence of the Scho-
haric creek and Mohawk when they care
fully sccreted the boat and pushed for.
ward to the settlement on foot. They
were joyouSly rccciycdby the inhabitants
yet they found them in the greatest state
of a'arm, and in mtmCutaly expectation
Of an attack from the Indians and tories
! lie women and children we're placed
within the font, the cattle we're driven IN
into the yards, scntincIs were posted in
the forest around them in different dircc-
t'ons, and every thing that could contrib
utc to Il vigorous and determined de-
fence was placed msomc convenient sit
uatiOn.
Jacob and McrvaNo detailed their
meeting with the mi itiamrn and Mo-
hawks in the wood, and the fact of their
continuing their march in an eastern d.
rection seemed to confirm the fears and
suspicious of the !uHahtans Of Scho-
hare. Soon alter sundoWn ali sought
refuge In the fort, which, although not
built in any scientific form, WAS sui.
Hcicmly Ia'gc and secure against The at.
{ Ick Of any troop dcstitue Of artillery
Jacob found his men ANXIOUS for his arri-
val, aud impatient 20 be led against the
foe. FaiImCn had been unwCarcd in his
altcntl ms to their discipline and practice
in the few tactics then in vogue amongst
the miillI Of the land, and they had Iad
him, in vi>ablc Improvement for the la
hor bestowed.
In the evening consultation was ell
Jed in the fort by the CHIEF mcn Of the
>citIcmrnt and Jacob and McrvaIc were
called upon to participate in their DELHI
rrations A plan Of defence was agreed
upon in case they should be attacked and
a. Tie settlers were we'll awure that they
could expect no mercy from the saya es,
and scarce any from the tories, it was de.
'crmiucd to fghl until the last. After the
'onclusi ci the consultation, the guns
and ammuni ion of Ill were closely in
spcrt' d and all Tut The scntincls Oh du,y
retired t. rest.
Al was silent and undrsDu,bcd uni
midnight, when the sentinel station far
thcst in the forest 10 the west of the set
Irmrnt, discharged his gun and hastily
Dcllcat,d towards the fort I The ulalm
Don spread, aud il short time every
man i'll the font WAS under arms prepared
for battle. They wee not long in CNpcc-
'aIon, for few No men,s after Tie scnti-
mel who gave the a'alm had entered the
Fit, the troops seen BY jacob and Ncr-
vac in thc.mlning, with a strong lcin.
Iorccmcut that had joined them on the
way made thiir Appearance accompanied
b, tie Nchuwk~. As soon a they were
discovers d Il burst oi horror escaped from
Tie lips oi sCNorHl III the Iolt, and the
Games Of ''Blant" and "Butlcr," wee
whispered ircm car to car. 1t W; indeed
those ruthless naraulcrs, who continued
during the revolutionary war to heap
more odium upon their heads Than ever
before icII to the lot Of individuals Ike
themselves, that were marchin! now to
the attack Of Schoharie They had been
strrngl " reinforced by detachment sent
on by JohnSon to cooperate with them,
a d pantlng for hIood and revenge upon
their Whg nrighbors, had approached the
doomed place,
The namc Of Butler and Brant seemed
to strike chill to the heart OF every oc-
cupnnl OF the fort aud the malaudcrs
ere permitted TO approach close under
the lis, ere gun was di-chargcd.-
Indeed Butler ilttcrcd himself that Il
bio, GICss victory awaited him. hut Jacob
Dash, who st0nd in the line Of men with
in TIE font, SEEING the irresolut;on Of the
lradeys, cried in voice Of thunder, fire.!
Just at that moment IL tall spire # flame
from IN near the fort, cast Il bright
and fearful glare over every object, and
its appear ancc, and the tone in which Ja-
cob spoke, served to arouse the settlers
from their lcthaIgy, and they poured in