Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-01-18

up, when the general ordered us TO enter the
narrows, Observing "Soldiers, cut your way
through" We did SO, and entered the Indian
village and camp at day break but found that
the birds had flown. We halted few minutes
for our men 10 refresh themselves set fire to /
their village and having discovered from their
trail that they had gone up the river, followed it
about two miles. Here our path lay up mar |
row ridge, called Ilogback Hill, which we re.
marked seemed formed by nature for an Indian
ambuscade. Accordingly every eye was fix
cd on the hill, and as We began to ascend we
saw the bushes tremble, and Immediately rifles
were presented, and we received n deadly fire,
by which sixteen or seventeen of the advance
were killed or wounded. We that stood sprapg
under cover OF the bank, and for a moment re-
served our fire. Six or seven stout fellows rush
ed out with tomahawk and knife to kill and scalp
our comrades. IT was now our time to fire;
every shot counted one they fell. Gen. Hand
now came on at quick step, advanced within a
few rods of them, and ordered his men to fire
and then charge them at the point of the bay
onet-they were soon routed and put to ght
We returned with our dead and wounded the
opportunity al coming to brush with them un.
| I'll we were joined with our whole force under
Gen Clinton. We were opposed by the enc
my's whole force consisting of Indians, British
and Tories, to whom he gave battle little
below Newton Point. Our loss was trifng.
On the return of the army vas taken with
the camp fever, and was removed to the fort
which | had built in IS, where my father was
still living. In the course of the winter re-
covered my health, and my fathers house huv.
ing been burnt in IS by the party " hich at
tackled the aforementioned fort, my father re-
quested me to 90 with him and younger bro.
ther to our farm, about four miles distant to
make preparations for building another, and
raising some grain. But little apprehension
was entertained from molesta,ions from the In.
diOns this season, they had been so completely
routed the year before. We left the fort about
thela last of March, accompanied by my uncle and
his son, about twelve years of age, and one Pc
ter Pence. We had been on our farms about 4
Or5 days, when, on the morning of the 3Oth of
March, we were surprised by party of ten In
dans. My tather was lunged through with a
war spear ; his throat was cut and he was scalp.
ed, while my brother was tomahaw ked, scapcd
and thrown into the fire before my eyes, While
! was struggling with warrior, the fellow who
had killed my father drew his spear from his
/, hnlu nd 40 a ,in I tbrust NJ s,t,
from the spear, and the savage vino had hold o
me turned it with his hand 20 that 1t only pen
etrated my vest and shirt They were thcr
satisfied with taking me prisoner, as they hat
the same morning taken my uncle's little soI
and Pence, though they killed my uncle. Th,
same party, before they reached us, had touch
=, ed on the lower settlement of Wyoming, anC
e killed u Mr.. Epson, and took boy prisoner o
? the name of Rogers. We were now marched
: off up Fishing Creek, and in the afternoon q
the same day we came to Huntington, wher,
r the Indians found four white men at n sugar
e camp, who fortunately discovered the Indian
d aud fled To house ; the Indians only fired up
4 on them and wounded Captain Ransom, wheI
4 encamped and made their fire, we, their prison
= ers, were tied and well secured, five Indisns ly
I ing on one side of us, and five on the other; il
; the morning they pursued their course, and
. ieavingt the waters of Fishing Creek, touched III,
n head waters of lIemlock Creek, where the,
d found one Abraham Pike, his wife and child
$ Pike was made prisoner, but his wife and ch
:, they painted and told Jogga, squaw, 60 home
p They continued their course that day, aud en-
!. camped the same night in the same manner a
;. the previous 1t came into my mind that some
t. times individuals performed wonderful actions
il and surmounted the greatest dangers the
& decided these fellows must die aud thought c
Q the plan to despatch them. The next day ha
If an opportunity OF communicating my plan To m
g telow-prIsoners; they treated 1t as ylslouar
o scheme for three men to attempt to desparc
At gcs that three men would have over ten whc
Of asleep; aud that we would be the first prisor
N that would be taken into the tow Ms and VI!
e. lagos after our army had destroyed their corr
At that we should be tied to the stake and sutlt
a cruel death we had nov an inch of groun
III to fight on, and if we failed it would only
ID death, and we might as well die one way as al
d. other. That day passed away. and having ct
~ campe1 for the night, we lay as before. In ii
le morning we came to the river, and saw the
he canoes they had descended the river and ru
TN their canoes up little Tunkhannock creek