The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-07-07
st. JOhnSbury Vt July Z, 1916,

braceletied arm, and little hatcbet, wayeJ for
minute above this ambush and the man fell back
doubled 10 a ball. Then the Indian yell burst forth.
In moment, tho woods above were filled with dark,
demon-Iike figures, that came leapng down over the
ridge and durtng among the rocks and shrubbery,
while the air vibraed with their shril cries. and was
clogged with the smoke of their rapid firing Not
voice was raised in reply, except the shout Of the
man in command In spite OF this furious and char
ncterstic attempt 10 strike them with panic, the
white men hold their ground, or only drew back a
yard or two Indeed, they could not have retreated
ariher, as The lake was close behind and their only
alternative was to maintain their position or be killed
on the spot; each sheltered himself behind tree
and stubbornly refused to yield The Indians rushed
up yelling close upon them, when one or two was
shot down by the iron nerVod woodsmen at which
their noisy and ostentatous display ceased at once
They all SUNK behind the cover of rocks trees or
bush es, whence the incessant flashing Of their guns
now glanced ont every side like darling tongues Of
serpents. But the sharp, quick crack of the New
England rifles mingled with the louder and duller re-
ports orthe Indian guns The 6gbt became already
more than doubtful; for as the fierce impetuosity Of
the savages cooled at the unexpected check they had
received, the deep Ang'oSaXon passoq mounted
higher in the breasts of the whites. Not that thew
gave vent TO it, but burned intensely within rous-
ing and concentrating all the faculties, and giving
double strength and uIertness to mind and sense
With forehends knit, and lips pressed close together,
they calculated the effect of every shot and seized
every advantage that offered.
The Indians continually shouted aunts and insults
in broken English or Canadian French There was
-, 1 n
for his reckless inropdty in the first onset and now
lay crouched behind pile of logs and rocks, loading
apd fring and abusing his enemy meanwhile to the
best of his power. He addressed himself especially
to the nearest white man, by means induging
him with that Ggurative rhetoric which have read
that the Indians accustomed to employ on such
occasions; on the contrary his language was the viii
est and most profane that he could gather from the
refuse white men, mingled with lying boasts OF
his own exploits. Among The rest, he told his nearer
that he had killed his wife, and eaten her heart and
to give emphasis to his assertion, he raised the scalp
of a woman on his ramrod, and shook it above the
rock. The white man did not reply word. but he
noticed spot in the pile oflogs behind which he
knew the savage lay, where the wood seemed to his
eye sufficiently dccayed to allow the passage of a
bullet; and at this place, he cred his rifle The In
dian did rot shrek he received the wound but
rose conyulsivoly from his shelter, when two more
bullets were instantly fred into him. and he dropped
dead At this the dishearened Indians broke; leap
ing backwards from tree to tree, they retired up the
hill; the white men pressed upon them with every
faculty at its tension; hand foot, and eye was on the
alert. Thus, in spite of the disadvantage of the
ground, they forced them slowly up the ascent.
MANI In aJ oil
all over with wens and protuberunces rose from the
midst Of the rocks, and stretched its solitary branch
over the stream. II had once been rhe monarch of
that forest, but the lightning had splntered away its
top, and age had filed its gigantic trunk with decay
Around ii the savages chung tenaciously, and made
their last stand, At length, the bullets hailed in
upon them, and the white pressed them closer
and Closer they broke entirely, and with wild cry
retreated, scattering up the forest Then, for the
first time, stern deep shout very different from the
quyering yells Of tho Indian, burst from the throas
of the front!ersmen Throughout the fight, my an
cestors rifle had done good service, but now he
could contain himself no longer That impetuous
ardor that sometimes sleeps beneath the habtua
GOODNESS Of New-Engand, now rose and mastered
him. When the savages broke, he sprang out of his
shelter. CLEAR the way, scoundrels = he shouted
dashing up the ascent with his rifle cubbed but then
his cap was struck from his head; thousand spark
les flashed before his eyes, and he fell down head
long among the decayed logs and the wet mqss.-
His companions, more experienced and more ous,
did not follow his example. Without giving the least,
advantage to the retreating enemy, allowing them
moments rest, they drove them toward the top
Of the mountain. The smothered reports Of the rifles
the shouts, and occasional grew fainter and
fainter, i'll they were lost in the distance:
'And silence settled wide and still,
On the lone wood and mighty hill a.
No trace of the fight remained, but the smoke that
chung in the damp, moonless air. and the dead who
were scattered about the wppd.
Among these to all appearance, was my ancestor.
lie lay his face poor fellow, which had rested on
his left he fell, while the blood dropped from
his forehead. Yet he was dead, orI should new
err have lived write this history Of his exploits. He
laid four hours he told my grandfather, in swoon
for the bullet had ploushed across his temple, within
a hairs breadth of his life; my grandfather well re-
members the scar, which is indeed plainly visible in
the portrait of my ancestor which hangs up in the \
n ,l,Nsv. H.