The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-10-17
, pass, the result almost invariably proved his

grass, from which they had arisen in honor
TO the major, when he commenced speaking.
The latter had scarce turned his head again
to watch for the adversary, when he saw i'll
the "dim distance" what seemed to him u
small band of canoes, moving, he could not
tell which direction. Keeping his eye stead
tasty on them, he soon preceived that he was
not deceived, and that three canoes, filed
with Indanswere slowly and cautiously pro-
ceeding up the lake toward him. The MAJOR
significantly motioning TO his men silently APP
preached them and announced the discovery;
and as the enemy was not far distant it be-
came him to make quick preparations to re-
ceive them. The spot on which he was de-
termined to await them was an immense rock
that extended along the lake some thirty-fiVe
or forty feet, and back from it about thirty
feet,and sloping towards the water. A short
distance to the north of this, and in the direc-
tion from which the enemy was approaching
there was small number ofhaifgrown trees
consisting ofshad plum, beach and elm, which
helped to conceal the Majors party; but
what contributed most to this effect was a
thick copse of birch and spice-wood, that had
taken root in the thin soil that lay over the
rock. Add to this that the rock is elevated
several feet above the surface of the water,
and you have the spot which the major had
selected for his ambuscade. He ordered his
men to lie down upon the rock, with their ia
cos toward it, that they themselves might be
concealed by the underbrush, andyet might
perceive the movements of the enemy.
Having made these preliminary arrange
ments, the ma ior took his station behind
tree in order to observe more particularly the
number of men in the boats and their prepa-
rations. They soon came near enough to
enable him to crafty his utmost curiosity
He discovered that the three canoes each
contained seven men, who were armed with
tomahawks and long knives, and who were
| fancifully painted TO strike terror into their
| foes. He observed that they were exceeding
cautious in their unprecedented three sat on
each side ola canoe, and one at the rudder
in the stern-that the three on each side al
ternately gave a few strokes with their oars
and then almost convulsively clutchng their
tomahawks looked keenly on the banks respec
lively opposite each to see if any enemy were
at hand. As is customary among the Indians
their canoes proceeded in what is called SIN
dian file, 'or one after the other, which was
rendered peculiarly necessary from the mar
rowness ofthe stream. Maio Putnam well
knew that the lives ofhs comrades and him
self depended upon the success of the first
fire, for that if much the larger number were
slain, the remainder, fearinga similar fate,
would yield themselves up prisoners; but if
in this they failed, the succeeding struggle
would be one oflife and death. He there
fore arranged his men in such a manner thai
the greatest possible number might be killed
at this fire. He divided them into three com
panies of five each, while he himselfwent in
to the one nearest the enemy. One canoe
was assigned TO each company, three men
were selected to fire at the three helmsmen,
and the other four of each company at the
| ms in hn,lU in fhnir canneS The
major commanded that no man should fire
before given signal, Which would be gem
tie rap upon his own gun.
The canoes were approaching; the whites
knew their duty, and were prepared to do it.
As the first boat, slowly but gracefully skim
ming over the surface of the waters, moved
into the view of the companyto whom it was
assigned, it was with difficulty that they re-
strained themselves from commencing the
work ofdestruction; but vencraton for the
commands of'their leader, whom they so
dearly loved and prudent regard for their
own safety, prevailed. By degrees the sec
ond and the third boats moved along before
them, and the calm, undsturbed air of the
Indians, together, with the diligence with
which they piled their oars,was sufficient ev-
idence that tho ambassadors were as yet I'M
discovered. The Then waited with DEATH
like stiffness, and with throbbing hearts the
long delayed signal-long it seemed to them
when inclination urged, and their position
enabled them so easily to visit destruction up
on a cruel and implacable foe. When the
major saw that the canoes were in the posi-
ton IN ost favorable to himself, and that his
men were ready, at the given signal, TO exc
cute his commands, with his pocket knife in
his left hand, he gently tapped the barrel,
while with the other he gently pulled the
IL:
on the alert, heard the sigma, quickly rose up,
bent their keen eyes upon the bank, dropped
their oars and snatched up their tomahawks,
but it was too late. The volley ofthe whites
had done dreadful execution-fve ofthe In
dams in the first boat were killed instantly
in the second, three were MORALLY and two
only slightly wounded-in the third, four
were killed and two MORALLY wounded
The remaining five, seeing the pale, lifeless
corses of their brethren stretched in the red
gore around them, aud fearing that ifthey re-
sisted the whites, from their superior number,
would administer similar fate TO them, sur
rendered themselves prisoners. They were
permitted TO bury their dead brethren, which
they did with their usual solemnity interring
with them their weapons and trinkets, and
singing over their graves a funeral song
Subsequently, they together with the wound
ed, were conducted to Whitehall, placed in
the hands of a proper officer,and treated with
all the kindness, and granted all the liberties
which their situation permitted, until the
close of hostlities.
Ever since the occurrence of this incident,
the rock on which tho major and his party
were stationed, has been called "Put's Rock"
Although the incident is so well known to
the inhabitants in that part of the country,
and is ON the tongue of every school boy, it
has never, believe, become matter of ao'1t-
tolI oh ;o;t I OH