Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-01-25


will doubt, be read with interest by
most of our readers. Many of the incidents
related by him must still be fresh in the minds
of some of our old inhabitants -
CConciuded. }
| gave the signal they came and threw their
packs on the raft, which was made of small. dry
pine timber; with poles and paddles we drove
her brskly across the river, and had got nearly
out of reach ofshot, when two ofthem came in;
they fired, their shots did no injury we soon
got under cover Of an island, and went several
miles we had waded deep creeks through the
day, the night was cold. we landed OIL an island
and found sink hcle, in which we made our
fire !; after warming we were alarmed by a
cracking in the crust 4; Pike supposed that the
Indians had got on the island, and was for call
! ing for quarters to keep him quiet we threat
ened him with his life the stepping grew
palmer, and seemed coming directly to the fire;
! kept watch, and soon noble racoon came
under the light. | shot the racoon, when Pike
jumped up and called out, "Quarters, gentle
men ; quarters, gentlemen" took my game
by the leg and threw it down by the fire, "here,
you cowardly rascal" cried, "skin that and
give us roast for supper" The next night
we reached Wyoming, and there was much
joy TO see us; we rested one day, and il being
not safe TO 60 TO Northumberland by land, we
procured canoe, and with Pence and my cou-
! sin, we descended the river by night we came
I
to Fort Jenking's before day. when found Col.
Kelly and about one hundred men encamped
ont of the fort he came across from the West
Branch by the heads of Chillisquaque to Fishing
Creek, the end Of the Mob Mountain, SO called
at that day, where my father and brother were
killed ; he had buried my father and uncle my
brother was burnt, part of him only was to be
! found. Col Kelly informed me that my mother
and her children were in the fort, and that il
was thought that was killed likewise Col.
Kelly went into the fort to prepare her mind to
see me took off my belt of seal ps and hand.
ed them to an officer to keep. Human nature
was not sufficient to stand the interview. She
had just lost a husband and son, and one had
returned to take her by the hand, and one too
lIdt sue suPposeu was hlieu.
The day after, went to Sunbury, where /
was received with much joy my scaps were
exhibited, the cannon were fred, &c. Before
my return commission had been sent me as
ensign of company to be commanded by Cap
tain Thomas Robinson; this was, as under
s,o'd, part of the quota which Pennsylvania
! had 10 rniS for th.l tal linz T.,
seph Alexander was commissioned as I.cuten
ant, but did moi accept of his ommssion. The
summer ofl1S0 was spent in the recruiting ser
vice; our company was organised, and was re-
tanned for the defence of the frontier service
In February, ISL, ! was promoted TO lieu
tenancy, and entered upon the active duty of al
officer by heading scouts, and as Captain Robin
son was no wOodsman nor marksman, he pr.,
ierred that should encounter the danger an,
head the scouts we kept up a continual chair
of scouts around the frontier settlement, from
the North to the West Branches of the Susque
hanna, by the way Of the head waters Of l.lttl,
, Fishing Creek, Chlli>qunque, and Muncy, &c
In the spring of ISL, we built fort on th'
; widow MClure's plantation, cal He'd M'Cure'
Fort, where our provisions were stored II
: the summer of l7Sl, man was made prison
er in Buffalo Valley, but made his escape, h,
came in and reported there were about thre,
E hundred Indians on Sinnemahoning, huntin!
and laying in a store of provisions, and woal'
; make descent on the frontiers that the,
!. would divide into small parties, attack th
: whole chain of frontiers al the same time o.
the same day. Col. Samuel Hunter selected
D company of five TO recOnnoitre, viz Captain
Y Campbell, Peter and Michael Groves, Lieu,
Cramer and myself; the party was called IN
, G rove party. We carried with us three weeks
!. provisions, and proceeded up the West Branc
! with much caution and care We reached tn
SInnemahoning, but made no discovery excep
: old tracks, we marched up the Sinnemahonn
> so far that We were satisfied that II was falls
report We returned, and ltle below tn
: SInnemahoning, near night We discovered
: smoke we were confdeut it was party {
: Indians, which we must have passed oy, @
they got there some other way we discover
ed there was large party, how many W
could not tell, but prepared for the attack. A
soon as it was dark we new primed our rifles
|" sharpened our fintU, examined our tomahaw
> handles, and all being ready we waited wit
e great imPatience, and till they all lay down
the time came, and with the utmost silence W
advanced tralled our rifles in one hand and tn
tomahawk in the other. The night was warn
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