The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-10-31

particularly the number OF men in the
boats and their preparations. 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 arm
ed with tomahawks and long knives.
and who were fancifully painted to
strike terror into their foes. He OBJ
served that they were exceedingly
cautious in their approach that three
sat on each side Of a canoe, and one at
| the rudder in the stern-that the three
on each side ialternatively gave few
strokes with their oars and then almost
convulsively clutching their tomahawks
looked keenly on the banks respective
ly opposite each 10 see if any enemy
were at hand. As is customary among
The Indians, their canoes proceeded IN
what is called "lndian fle,'' or one af.
ter the o:her, which was rendered pc
culiarly necessary from the narrowness
of the stream. MAJOR Putnam well
knew that the lives of his comrades
and himself depended upon the success
Of the first fire, for that if much the
largernumber were slain, the remainder
fearing similar fate, would yield them.
selves up prisoners; but if in this they
failed, the succeeding struggle would
be one OF life and death. He there
fore arranged his men so the greatest
possible number might be killed this
fire. He divided them into three COM
panies of five each, while he himself
went into the one nearest the enemy.
One canoe was assigned to each COM
pany, three men were selected to fire
at the three helmsmen, and the other
four Of each company at the main body
in their respective canoes. The major
commanded that no man should fire be-
fore given signal, which would be a
gentle rap upon his own gun.
The canoes were approaching; the
whites knew their duty, and were pre-
pared to do it. AS the first boat, slow.
ly but gracefully skimming over the
surface Of the waters, moved into the
view of the company to whom it was
assigned, it was with difficulty that they
restrained themselves from commenc.
ing the work of destruction; but vener-
alton for the commands of their leader,
| whom they so dearly loved, and pru-
dent regard for their own safety, pre-
vailed. By degrees the second and
the third boats moved along before
them, and the calm, undisturbed air Of
the Indians. together with the diligence
with which they piled their oars, was
sufficient evidence that the ambuscad-
ers were as yet undiscovered. The
men waited with death-like stiffness,
and with throbbing hearts the long de-
layed signal-long it seemed to them
when inclination urged, and their Pc
culiar position enabled them so easily
to visit destruction upon cruel and
lmplacable foe.
When the major saw that the canoes
were in the position most favorable to-
himself, and that his men were ready,
at the given signal, TO execute his COM
mands, with his pocket knife in his
hand, he gently tapped the barrel, while
with the other he gently pulled the
trigger Of his own gun. The Indians,
always on the alert, heard the signal,
quickly rose up, bent their keen eyes
upon the bank, dropped their oars, and
snatched up their tomahawks, but il
was too late. The volley Of the whites
had done dreadful execution-five of
the Indians in the first boat were Kill
led instantly-in the second, three
were mortally and two only slightly
wounded-in the third, four were Kill
led and two mortaly wounded. The
remaining five, seeing the pale, lifeless
corpse Of their brethren, stretched IN
the red gore around them, and fearing
thatif they resisted, the whites, from
their superior number, would admins
ter similar fate to them, surrendered
themselves prisoners. They were per-
mitted to bury their dead brethren,
which they did with their usual solemni-
ty, interring with them their weapons
and trinkets, and singing over their
graves funeral song. subsequently,
they, together with the wounded, were
conducted to Whitehall, placed in the
hands of a proper officer, and treated
with oil the kindness, and granted all
the liberties, which their situation per-
mitted, until the close OF hostilities.
Ever since the occurrence ofthis in
cident, the rock on which the major
and his party were stationed, has been
called "Putnam's." Although the in
cident is SO well known to the inhabit-
ants in that part Of the country, and is
on the tongue Of every school boy, ii
has never lbelieve, become a matter Of
written history. Every traveller who
visits Lake Champlain, and is curious
7 Il ls.tNl a..