Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-04-10
A Lsc.narkaple Adverture.


hunting ground forming barrier between savage
7ad civilized men, learns to hate the Indian because
he hears him spoken Of always as an enemy. Hay
ing listened from his cradle to tales Of savage vio
ience, and perused with interest the narrative of abo
rlginal cunning and faroci;y, and numbering also
among the victims Of some midnight massacre, his
nearest and dearest relation is not to be wondered
at that he should fear and detest the savage While
the war-whoop IS sounding in his ears, the rifle is
kept in readiness and the cabin door secured with the
return OF evening.
Among those thus born and reared, one Thomas
Higgins, Of Kentucky, stands pre-em.nent. During
the war Of 1912, he enlisted the age of nineteen
IN q company Of rangers, and went to Illinois, Oae
ot the most remarkable events Of occurred near
Vandalia, in which Higgins participated.
little FORT or rather block house, having been
erected about twenty miles from Vandslia late The
capital Of Illinois, and about eight miles south of the
present village Of Greenvilc, to protect tie frontier
settlements from the Indians Lieut.. Journay and
twelve men were assigned as It's garrison. OF the
LITTER Higgins was one.
The surrounding cOun;ry was, at that time 4 con-
tnaons forest; and the little hamlet of GrccnyiIle
frontier town.
On the 25h Of August, 1914, strong Indications Of
savages being IN the neighborhood apparent and
at night party OF Indians seen pTowling about
the fort.
On the morning Of the 3Ist, before daylight, Lieut.
Journey, with the whole force under bis command
sailed forth in pursuit of item they had hot pro-
eeeded far before large party Of savages-seyenty
eighty ia nIrnber-rose from their ambush, and al
the first fire the Lsuenant and threeo his mea were
Killed and another wounded. Six returned in safety
to the fort, and one (Thomas HgGins) fingered be-
hind III order 10 have tone more pull at the enemy"
The morning was sulry. The day had not yet
dawned; heavy dew had fIlen during the night,
and the air being still and humid, the smoke ION
their guns hung like cloud over The awful scene.
By ald Of this cloud the companions of Higgins
escaped TO the fort. Higgns's horse having been
shot IN the neck, fell upon his knees he however
again. higgins SuPposlng him TO be MORALLY wound
ed, dlsmoun.ed, aud about 10 leave him. Per-
cevng soon thereafter his error, and that the wound
was not dangerous, he determined to make good his
retreat, but resolved before doing 50 to avenge the
death of some of his companions.
He sought, therefore, tree, from behind which he
could shoot with safety small elm scarcely stuff
cent to protect his body, near 1t was the only
in sight, and before he could reach it. the smoke
partly arose and discovered to him number of Indi-
approaching. One of them was in the act of
loading his gun. Higgins, having taken deliberate
aim, fired, and the foremost savage fell Concealed
still by the smoke, Higgins reloaded, mounted his
horse, and turned TO fly, when voice apparently from
the grass, hailed hin with, TON, you wont leave
me, viii you p
Higgins turned Immediately around. and seeing
fellow soldier by the name Of Burgess lying On the
ground, wounded and gasPing for breath, replied
"No. I'll not leave you-come along"
81 can't come" said Burgess; "my leg IS all
smashed to pieces"
Higgins dismounted, and taking up his friend
whose ancle had been broken, about to lift him
bis horse, when the latter taking fright daTted of
in an instan and left Higgins and his wounded friend
behind.
This is too bad" said Higgins sbut don't fear
YOU hop of on three legs, and I'll stay behind be-
tween you and the Indians and keep them OF. Get
into the alest grass and crawl the ground
possible" Burgess did SO and escaped.
The smoke soon cleared away and he resolved If
possible to retreat To follow the track Of Burgess
was the most expedient. 1t would however endanger
his friend.
He determined, therefore, to venture boldly for
ward, and if discovered, to secure his own safety BIZ
the rapdity Of his flight. On leaving small thick
ct, IN which he had sought refuge, he discovered a
tall, porly savage by, and two others in direc-
ton between him and the fort. He paused for a mo-
men and thought if he could separate and fight them
singly, his not so desperate
He started, therefore, for little of water hard
by, but found one OF his limbs failing hint having
been struck by ball in the first encounter, of which,
till now, he was scarcely conscious.
The largest Indian pressed close upon him--and
Higgins turned round two three times in order to
fire. The Indian halted and danced about in order to
prevent his taking aim Higgins saw it was unsafe
to fire at random; and perceiving two others APP
preaching, knew he must be overpowered in no
nent, unless he could dispose of the forward Indian
He resolved therefore, to halt and receive his fire.
The Indian raised his rifle, and Higgins, watching
his eye, turned suddenly his finger pressed the rig
ger, and received the ball in his thigh, which other
wise would have pierced his body.
Higgins fell, but rose Immediately and The
foremost Indian, certain Of his prey, now loaded
again, and with the other two, pressed on. They
overlook hm-Higgins fell again, and as he rose the
whole three fired, and he received al their balls. He
now fell and rose aeain-and the Indians, throwing
away hsir guns, advanced upon him with spears and
knives. As he presented his gun at or the other,
each fell back
At last the largest Indian surprising IIigginss gun
to be empty from his FIRE having thus been reserved
advanced boldly TO the charge. Higgins fired, and
the Indian fell.
lie had now four bullets in his body-on empty gun
IN his hand-two Indians unframed, yet, before
bim-and a whole tribe few yards distant. Any
other man but Higgins would have despaired. Nap0-
Icon would have acknowledged himself defeated !
Wellington, with all his obstinacy, would have con-
sidered the case as dOubful-and Charles of Sweden
have considered it Of peril. Not so with Hig-
gins. He had no notion Of surrendeTing yet lie
had slain the most dangerous Of the three; and hav-
ing little fear from the Others he began to load his
rifle. They raised savage whocp and rushed to the
encounter; but kept a respectable distance when
Higgins's rifle loaded, but when they knew il
was empty they were better soldiers.
A bloody conflict ensued. The Indians stab
bed him in several places. Their spears, however,
but thin poes hastily prepared for the OCCASION
and bent whenever they struck rib a muscle. The
wounds they made were not, therefore, deep though
numerous, his sufficiently testified At last,
of them threw his tomalIawk. 1t struck him up
the check, passed through the which 1t
ed, laid bare bis skull TO the back Of the head, and
stretched him upon the prairie. The Indians again