The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-03-26

level prairie, which stretched along
in unbroken smoo,hness to the dis
lance Of at least fifteen miles, on the
summit Of a bluff ovcrhanging to the
height of above two hundred feet.
Shortly after we distinctly saw the
smoke issue from their guns, but we
were at too great distance to hear
the report. In the space of a few
minutes from the discharge we could
perceive our men mount their horses
and start in full speed in a direction
towards us.
A large body Of mounted Indians
were now seen in close pursuit of the
little party. This was an anxious
and exciting moment to all Of us in
the camp. We watched with intent
interest and anxiety the furious pro.
gress of the chase. Several times
we gave them up as lost, as the saw
ages were seen to overtak them and
both parties to become mingled, an
occasional shot flashed out from the
canopy Of smoke and dust in which
both parties were cnvcloped. As
they ncarcd us, however, our men
were perceived to be ahead Of their
savage foe, who followed at full
speed. close in their rear. Is our
men came NJ, and TOOK refuge with
in rife range OF urbugr baulcment
of rocks, we pured upon the pwso-
ing Blackleei a hail al bullets, knock.
ing up the dust in all directions
around them, and having the effect
Of making them suddenly sheer of
in another direction.
In the course of half an hour the
prairie around us was alive with
sayages, shouting and yelling as il
possessed Of demons. After career
ing about for the purpose, apparent
ly, Of showing their horsemansAlp,
they threw themselves into range
Of rocks contiguous to those we
were in possession Of, and opened a
brisk fire upon our party. This was
returned with interest; but neither
appeared to do much execution, as
both parties fired from under cover,
in true Indian fashion. This mode
Of fighting was kept up about two
hours, when our hunters, getting
tired of a mode Of fighting so result
less and inconclusivc, determined
OH bringing matters to an issue.
Accordingly, fifteen of our bravcst
and best men issued from the rocks,
and succeeded in reaching a point
unframed, within twenty five or
thirty yards of the long range oil
rocks occupied by III: savagcs
Among the ''iorlorn hope" were two
Indians of the Iroluois tribe, who
were especially anxious to come 10
close quarters with our assailants,
and both of whom were free trap
pers belonging to our camp. One
Of these men was of gigantic proper
tons, great strength and unwaver-
ing courage. lie had stripped him
self perfectly naked, as is customa-
ry with Indians going TO battle, with
the exccption-which was small
one--ofhis "breach cloth; )" his face
died to blood red with vermillion
plant, presenting very striking pic
turc Of an Indian warrior in battle
array.
With no very definite intention or
my part, ! found myself member o
this little band, determined to have
a dash at the Blacklcct, if sucl
should turn out to be the object il
view, The stopping place we bat
selected was in deep rayinc, o,
hollow, running past, at right angles
the masses or lines of rocks in whicl
the savagcs had taken their posi-.
ton.
1 1t may be as well to remark hclc
that all the principal tribes of In.
dams in the Western wilderness arc
in possession Of fusils or long single
, barrelcd guns, which throw ball.
with considerable precision, and t.
a much greater distance than a ride
These they procure from the Amer
lean and Hudson Bay Companies
/ trading posts in cychang" for The
tpcltrics, They are only used ~ Ia,
savagcs in fighting thcir enemies
their bows and arrows serving tC
kill bulialocs and other game.
After We had remained n shar
time, sheltered from the shot Of tn,
Blacklcet by the brow Of the ravine
it was proposed by Picrre--the Iro
1uois Indian already dcscribed-t
charge the enemy in his strong hold
This was unanimously agreed to
and as we raised the brow of the hil
and became apparent to the savagcs
we were greeted by storm of balls
Which fortunately left us all uniniur
ed. At this moment, the Iroquoi
Numbered out, "letus charge, boys
their guns are empty"
. Npver wnc n command nf N,No