Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-11-27
CARROLLTON OHIO--FRIDAY, NOVEMBER s6 1916

"
Thiiher then, we Immediately bent our course,
and were soon admitted within It's fortified walls.
This For had been built and ddelended some years
before by forty Of the settlers, and this circum-
stance gave il the name Of Forty Fort. IL had
undergone recent Teparalion, and was very well
fitted for the accommodation Of several families. /
Many had already removed there with their Prin-
cipal effects. But some, supposing in case OF at
tack that the force Of the enemy would be there
and that their superior numbers
would cause an immediate surrender; preferred
the safety promisedby their own dwellings. We
found our dear mother weeping bitterly over the
probable destiny of heriule ones, whowcre elm
ging around her in fearful surprise, while my Sc
cond brother, George, was vainly endeayoring to
inspire her with confidence in the issue OF the
perils which surrounded them.
smother. dear mother" cried Philip, advanc-
ing, while we followed silently along, "will you
not welcome your wanderers backl Sister Mary,
ave, and have brought you another daughter,
who will love you as she, the wife of your Philip,
mother"
"Oh! my children, my Children" exclaimed
she, rising and finging her arms wildly around
us; sit will indeed sound cruel for a mother to
say she is not glad to see the darlings Of her bo-
som, but do wish 10 heavenyou had stayed away.
You have only come TO swell the crimson flood
which will, ere long deluge these devoted shores.
"With God'sleave, no" muuered Philip, while
the flush Of pride and conscious valor marked his
high forehead, 'with Gods leave, no; say that
we have come to swell the shoutof victory, which
will soon thunder in the ears of the accursed
Brandt and Butler; telling them that their bloody
career is over: have courage, dear mother, we
have much reason TO hope, our"
He was interrupted by a cry of "to order"
from adistantpart of the Fort. The officers were
holding council TO decide upon the most eff
cient measuresto beadopted in theirpresentthreat-
ened condition, and the gallant young Capt. Stew
art had just risen to speak. He went through
with brief recapitulation OF the former difhcul-
ties of the settlements, and then dwclt al more
length upon the dangers with which they were
now threatened, and the only means by which
he thought they could be overcome.
John Butler, with an army of about 800, con-
sisting of British tories and Indians, had taken
possession of Fort Wintermoot, situate about 9
mile above the head of the Valley, and was con.
ItinuaIly annoying the inhabitants by plundering
them of their property, and was now apparently
making preparations for general massacre. EX-
presses had been sent to Valley Forge nearly a
month before (whie the invaders were quartereC
several miles up the river,) enueatng the com
mander-in-chief to permit the immediate return
of Capt. Somers, (my father,) and his troops tC
T their assistance. The time had long ago expired
when reinforcements, if any had been dispatched
should have arrived. The enemy's force wa
fast increasing, by numerous disaffected Indian
pouring in from the east; the harvest was nearly
ripe; il would of course be destroyed by the say
ages, and should the hepess women and children
escape the tomahawk, they would still be lei
withoutany means of subsistence. Thence ltwa
argued by majority of the council, that an i'm
mediate battle should be hazarded, and the mex
!, day was fixed upon for its commencement. Ma
nv and sorrowful were the adleus exchanged il
the Fort, on the morning of that fatal day, an
, the broken "God bless you," came forth tron
: hearts which seemed almost bursting with grief
: Poor Rosette clung convulsively to Philip, whe
he came to take leave of us, and twas with muc
1 difficulty we prevented her from following him t
/; the field. 1t was q mournfu sight to behold tha
r little band of brothers, as it were, marching tort
| TO their graves. And there was a solemnlty, toe
Q in their steps, which (hough 1t spoke courage an
determination) argued that their hope was Ion
: deferred, and against all possibility OF success
t the sun did not shine that day. consequently ther
}. was no cleaning of swords or flashing OF bayC
+ nets. but the continued roar of musketry, togetf
Y er with cloud of smoke away TO the nortl
g pointed out to us the place of mortal combat
e Colonel Denison anticipating the anxiety "
d should feel, had runners stationed between ii
e Fort and battle-ground, so that we could learn
n most momentarily the progress OF the contest
k AT first the GOODNESS and determined bearing
l. the settlers, (ahough theirnumbers were not ha
At those of the enemy,) seemed about gaining Il
1t mastery, but through the management OF Bran
at who commanded the Tories and Indians, par
| of concealed savages rushed from their ambus
of es and surrounded our left division, while Butl
S. doubled his right wing in order to diminish II
e. the exact distance Of the scanty row OF settler
I'd and thus our whole line was thrown into the U
k, most confusion, and most horrid slaughter cor
e. menced. ltwas with the greatest difficulty tn
a. Colones z. Butler and Denison, escaped TO Il
of us. that our brave friends were all either slain
" prisoners TO an enemy who know as little OF me
It. CIV as the tigers of India. CONSERVATION and d
en- may now reigned throughout the Fort, which W
as soon increased by the appearance of Butler Al
lis Brandt without, demanding an instant surrendc
N, Articles of capitulation were quickly drawn
he and signed by the two opposing officers, in whi
ly the garrison with its military stores, were to
lie given over to the vctors, but the lives of its
he mates were to be spared, except those who h
lid been engaged in the battle, to such, no promise
w. safety was given. The gates were thrown opt
IRE and scene of confusion began, which it wol
ter be impossible for me to describe. Shouts of
ap- umph from the dark swarthy creatures. who ca
lg- garing fercely upon us from every quarter,
la shrieks of the terrified children, who clung wi
wv, lv to their mothers for protection, and the BIT
oh waings of those bereaved mothers for their h
ap- bands and children, all mingled together sount
of absolutely appalling. scarce knew whethe
did were indeed dead or alive, till found myself
nj large boat in the act of crossing the river.