Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-11-20
WHOLE NUMBER 63O.

lie stood upon the bank looking down the pla-
cid lake as Ear as the eye could reach, bot noughi
appeared in view. Rejoiced that the enemy did
not come, YET disappointed in his expectations, he
turned his head TO make the announcement to his
friends. He said, as yet, no foe was secn-tho'
the expectations he had excited in them seemed
to fail in being realized, he himself Eel, slight
presentiment that the crafty enemy would yet
show himself; that he would not let pass so fair
an opportunity Of attacking his white skinned
brother, al a time when he well knew the later
would be engaged in the necessary business OF the
day. By this speech his men were encouraged,
for they desired to spend the force Of a well d.
rected bullet upon their cunning enemy, and they
knew their leader seldom formed false judgment
with respect 10 the future; when he told them his
belief that any thing would occur, the result al
most invariably proved his opinion correct
Thus elated they sank down upon the green
sod, from which they had arisen in honor 10 the
General, when he commenced speaking. The
latter had Just turned his head again to watch for
his adversary, when he saw in the dun distance
what seemed to him a small band Of canoes, mo-
wing, he could not tell which direction. Keeping
his eve steadily on them, he soon perceived that
he was not deceived, and that three canoes, filled
with Indians, were slowly and cautiously Procee-
ding up the lake toward him. The General sig
niicantiy motoning 10 his men, silently approach
ed them and announced the discovery, and as the
enemy were not far rdisiant itbecame him 10 make
Quick preparations 10 receive them. The spot
on which he had determined 10 await them vas
an immense rock that extended along the lake
some thir,y-fve or fory feet, back from il about
Il. r I II tho EhpPf
distance 10 the north Of this, and in the direction
from which the enemy were approaching lhere
was a small number Of haii-grown trees consist
ing of shad plum, beech and elm, which helped
to conceal the Generals party; but what contrib
uted most TO this effect was thick copse OF birch
and spice wood. that had Iaken root IN the TIM
soil that Law over the rock. Add 10 THIS that the
rock is elevated several feet above the surface OF
the water, and you have the spot which The Zen
eral had selected for his ambuscade. lie ordered
his men TO lie down upon the rock, with their Ia
ces toward it, that they might be concealed by The
underbrush. and vet might perceive the move
mens of the enemy. Having made these pre-
liminarv arrangements. the General took his STA
ton behind tree in order TO observe more par
ticuarly the number of men in the boats and their
preparations. They soon came near enough 10
enable him TO crafty his utmost curiosity. lie
discovered that the three canoes each contained
seven men, who were armed with tomahawks and
long knives, and who were lancitully painted to
strike terror into their foes. lie observed that
they were exceedingly cautious IN their approach
that three men sat on each side of a canoe and
one at the rudder in the stern-that the three on
each side alternately gave afew strokes with their
oars, and then almost convulsively clutched their
tomahawks looking keenly on the banks respect
lively opposite TO each TO see if an enemy was at
hand. As is customary among the indians, their
canoes proceeded in what is called Indian file, or
one after the other, which was rendered peculiar
ly necessary from the narrowness OF the stream
General Putnam we'll knew that the lives OF his
comrades and himself depended on the success OF
the first fire, for that if much the larger plrt OF
them were slain, the remainder fearing similar
fate, would yield themselves up prisoners; but ii
in this they failed, the succeeding struggle would
be one of life and death. He therefore arranged
his men in such a manner that the greatest num-
Der might be killed at this fire. lie divided them
into three companies of five each, while he him.
self went into the one nearest the enemy. One
canoe was assigned to each company, three men
were selected to fire at the hemsmen, and the 9TH
er four of each company atthe main bodyin their
respective canoes. The General commanded that
no man should fire before given signal, which
would be gentle rap upon his own gun.
The canoes were approaching; the whites knew
f their duty, and were prepared 10 do IT, As the
frstb slowly utgracefully skimmlng over the
surface of the water, moved into the view OF the
company to which it was assigned, II was with
difficulty that they restrained themselves from
commencing the work of destruction; but vene
ration for the commands Of their leader, whom
thew so dearly loved, and a prudent regard fol
their own safety, prevailed. By degrees the sec
ond and third boals came along before them. anC
, the calm undisturbed air of the Indians, together
, with the diligence with which they piled thell
oars, was sufficient evidence that theambuscader:
6 were vet undiscovered. The men waited witt
Idea,hiike Stiffness and with throbbing hearts tht
long DELAYED signal-lOng itseemed TO them whel
inclination urged. and their peculiar position ena
bled them so easily to visit destruction upon cru
ell and implacabe foe. When the General saV
that the canoes were in a position most iavorabt
, to himself, and that his men were ready, at tn
: piven signal, to execute his commands; with hi
Docket knife in his left hand, he gently tapped
the barrel and with the other he gently pulled th
trigger of his own gun. The Indians, always OF
the alert, heard the signal and quickly rose up
bent their keen eyes on the bank, dropped thell
oars and snatched up their tomahawks, but 1t was
too late. The volley of The whites had done
dreadful execution-fve Indians in the hrst boa
: were killed instantly-in the second three were
morally and only slightly woundedmln 1aG tn
u third four were killed and two morally wounded
$ The remaining FIVE, seeing the bloody, hteles
t cornsa of their brethrensstreched in the gore
round them, and fearing if they resisted th'
+ whites. from theirsuperiornumbers would admin
= stera similar fate ITO them, surrendered themseVe
prisoners. They were permitted to bury thei
l. dead brethren, which they did with great solemn
S - l. I'M d. and Trim