Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-06-27
ten. rnyior b. tho Las. War.

Ieion the following incident in which Gen.
Taylor wos engaged during the last war!
On the Sd OF September. 1872, soon after
the beating of retreat at Fort fiarrIst,n, in the
then territory Of lndianr, of which post Captain
Taylor was in command, fmr guns we're heard
to FIRE al short distance, in a direction which
len no doubt that two young men who had
gone out few hundred yards TO make hay,
had been attacked. A portion Of the Prophets
party was supposed to be in the neighborhood.
Capt. Taylor having not more than fifteen or
sis'ern men III for service, pruden,iy waited
till morning, when he sent out q small party
with Corporal 10 learn the facts, cautioning
them against an anbuscsde, as he recently did
Capt. Thornton. |
The bodies Of the young men were found
dresdiully mutiiat.d, cold and stiff, and were
brought in and buried.
a communication If a threatening character
was then sent in wi,ha white fog, from the
Prophets party, which satisfied Captain Tsy.
lor that he wns TO bc attacked; he accordingly
made his preparations lie peeonally examined
the mems arms 20 ascertain their condition, dis.
'ribu'cd sixteen rounds pr man, and though
just recovered from n severe attack Of fever,
saw for himself every disposition made that
the emergency required. A non.commission.
cd officer was ordered 10 walk Ground the inte.
ror of the fort during the night, 10 give the a.
larn, If the sentincls should not and though
it was well understood that the post could not
very well be defended by its email and eniee-
blcd garrison. Capt. Taylor resolved not to sur.
render II while he Lived.
At abou, II o'clock at night ,hefCaptsin was
called from his quarters by his orderly, and in.
formed that the indians had succeeded in firing
the lower bockl,uuse This building conta in.
ed, in the lower section, the property of The
army cuniracipr md was used also a. an alarm
post in which corporal and ten men were sta.
toned. The Firing commenced at The same
time, and was actively kept up On both sides
Captain Taylor immediately ordered the fire
buckets 10 be made ready, water drawn from
the well, and the fire extinguished, as at this
momen, !, had not extended very far.
In the Captains despatch to Ues. Harrison,
he says from debility apprehension or other
causes. his men did mol obey his orders with a.
lucri,y, and very som The fire reached the store.
room and connunicat d TO a quantity Of ~his.
key, the flames assembled to the roof, and the
men gave up all for lost. The heavy FIRE of
rules, and mn,ke'ry. the yelling Of hundreds Of
saragrs, nn,l above all the screams and wainps
Of nine or ten %omer and children "a tho fort
we're enough 10 have confused the bravest sol.
diers. II was perceived, also, that il ,he block.
house wrrc burned down, the barracks next 10
il, which made part Of the fertilization, would
be drs'ro. I'd. 80 completely had the men in
the fort become disheartened, that out OF fifteen
or sixteen WIN wrtr able TO 6ght two Of the
best and stoutcs, soldiers jumped the picket and
ran away. This was moment which tested
the supermr qualities Of CAPT. Taylur's mind
Any man may get IN smoothly, when he has
no dliicnl,cs IN mech but i. is only The truly
great who know how to overcome them, nn1
to rise above the pressure Of adverse crcum.
stancrs. ..s --.. .
The Commander took his measures with
promptncss. lie ordered party of men 10
mount the barrack roof, throw of that part
Of il on fire mex, to the block house, and then
keep the gable thoroughly wet He pointed
out to his men, thrt the buildings would thus
be saved. While the block house was burning
down, a temporary breos,.wurk was erected,
protecting the entrance over the ruins, which
was bal about twenty Tcrt wide. This ablr ar
being made, the destruction of the
blockhon.e was Of no consequence in the final
defence If attacked.
These skilml directions gave the sodiets new
lie, they wen, to work with desperate energy.
and by daylight, under heavy Hire, continuing
for eight hours, the fort was in fact safer than
before. When morning came, Capt. Taylor
returned The cnemy's shots with 20 much spi.
ri and effect. that they drew off, and never
made their appearance again while hE was
there, The whole of The Miamis were present
II this siege, and had counted on certain success
Bu, their cunning nnd their courage were I'm.
asaiing, and capt. Tayl lot gallan,ly msin,ained
bis position against large superior force.
It seems as il all his victories were 10 be
won with the odds against him. The cotiir,ti.
nication which the galan, young officer tnade
to Gen. Harrison ON the occasion was written
in the u,ust uoprctendihg and modest finnner,
and is a narrative worthy Of being read. Cant.
Taylor, on the recommendation Of biz General