Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1848-10-26

9
ea.ioa The fwslsr + an Old soldier, = citizen
Owen county, aad plain old gentleman OF III. )
school. He khoEs on Zacs; has knows. Ia fro,
: rs beyhoOd: % - - - II
- Nrw LrBEarr, Sept % 1915.
ti1stsF H,as ". y. L.sllter Er.Czu ~ KeutEeEv
i IA DEAI Slk;-In a CONVERSATION with 10
On the subject Of the psnding PresiIcntiu
, election, 1 mentioned that / hadEforn,ed :,
acqqaiptancc with Gen TayIory IL .l,e fall !
1872, Immediately after his memorable ID
fense Of Fort Harrison. At your re,,iIesst !.
willingly conmunieafe my reeolIectio6s !
that perilous conflict With his savsgc ~
siegers. In order to make plain the nrom;
:. nent incidents Of tie scene OF horror anil !,
4Fsiiow that nothing less than the cool tirmues,
and indomitable courage of such a man i.
Capt Taylor, could successfully have net
such N emergency, viii require more space
than jon had anticipated But wilicoh
dense az much as possible. III .isidat
Capt Taylor was lcft;in command of this
hastily constructed Fort. by Gov Harrison.
after the battle Of TiPpacanoc, 1911 Ii
was situated on the Wabash river. about 10
miles above Vincenhes; in central position
for attack from all the Indian forces on the
Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan frontiers
Il became barrier to their medita.ed mas
sacre Of not ouly the frontier inhabitants
but especially Of the citizens If Vinceuues
It being theresidencc Of Gov Harrison. who
WAS particularly the object Of tier ven.
gelpce hence their discrimination to redaes
the place and slaughter the garrison. For
several days previous to be attack: small
parties would approach the Fort under the
gulses Of friendship and purposes Of trade.
/ lapt Taylor was too well acquainted with
the Indian character to be deceived by their
assiduities, or to mistake their Interior OBJ
/ lect lie would not admit them into the
Fort under any of their pretcuces at length.
Wearied with their unsuccessful resorts to
stratagcm, they resolved to concentrate their
forces. (abont d00,) and make a bold attack
Soon after II o'clock, on a dark night. thew
succeeded IN setting fire to the, lower block
| house near the river; which contained the
contractors sto-asi this was effected with
the greatest sccreey-not yell or gun an
nounced tier presence until their hellsh
7 purpose, as they supposed, was near its ,ac-
c9mplishnent. The sentries discovered the
hrc too late for its extinguislment, the COM
bustlble materials upon which it was acting
-wliiskey, bacon, pork, -four, &c, was IN.
stantly IN flames, and communicating its de-
rournG terrors 70 the row of buildings a
bove, which constituted the line of defence
next to the river, consisting of barracks. hos.
pital, dc. AT this awful Inomentth yelling
fof the Iudians--thc unremitting discharge
of their guns, accompanied by the BURSTING.
OF whiskey barrels--the screams of several
women who had taken shelter in. the Fort.
made every heart quake, save that Of Tav.
-furi -arsa ms rdyc' nospIrar -surgcoh, Dr.
Clarke ~
At this critical and fearful moment Taylor
directed Dr. Clarke with one or two intrepid
soldiers, to ascend the burning roof and tear
off the boards, while himself and those that
were able, drew water from deep well and
conveyed it to the others above, by which
means, after the most exhaasting toll, they
succeeded in subduing the further progress
cf the flames. In the meantime, the build /
ing containing the contractors stores, and
the adjoining pickets, were burned down,
leaving bed Of brands, Goals and cinders,
heated as though just voGiited from the
bowels of -Etna-tho besiegers still yelling
and firing like Internal demons. The ready
genius Of Taylor Immediately set to work
pulling down the guard house and Ser
geants quarters, for materials to form atem-
porary breast-work acrosslthe eonsnmed an
gle, to secure him from an immediate assault
through the breach Amidst the greatest
Consideration and terror of the scene, two Of
the most able bodied men ia the garrison,
leaped from the picketing and made their,es-
cape to Yincennes. Their description Of the
assault, and the fury Of the flames, at the.
moment of their departure, appalled, every
heart All exclaimed, 'fTaylor and his men
fl,, ,..sll ha
on us, what shall be done II The Sth KY
1 Regiment was then lying at Vincenncs, and
a number Of Indiana militia. with some Z
| s Rangers, under Col Russell The whole
were organized as soon as possible, anu Col.
Russell placed himself at their head for the
l relief Of the garrison--for Judge Parke, twlio
was in command of some Cavalry selected
I some daring spirits like himself, braved eve
~ danger, and approached near enough to.
the Fort to ascertain that its colors were still
flying at1the top Of the tall Mast to which.
they were attached The Indians were still
lowering round the fort, though they had
ceased active operations against it Upon
the receipt Of this intelligence, Col Russell
! Immediately put ia motion the troops, amount
/ ing 20 near !, 200 men, and with cautious ce-s
lerity reached the Fort in less than four days.
/ The Indians had retired upon Russells APP
! proaeh, leaving behind them the sad evi-
\ dences Of their lneditated cruelty, aud savage.
I ferocity. You caanot well imagine anything
y like the picture Of the scene when We arrived
/ at the gate Of the Fort Capt Taylor met
y us with q pale emaciated fsee, from recent
sickness and hardship; but upon his noble
brow sat the complacency Of the Hero aud
laSoldier. aud while We took him by the hand
= the s-big tcarh stole silently down his manly
. check * IFcan never forget the emotions Of
my own heart on that solemn occasion The
whole garrison consisted OF about 65, men,
and some women and children; twotkirds Of
\. whom were on the sick list, and Caps TAYLOR
himself had suffered much from disease =
From the burning Of the contraetovis stores
q unsl. their rclief; the whole garrison sub
4 sisted ep green s9En, CHAINED frenn A laa-
s joining prairie, AL faring like, Capt. Taylor
T setting the first example Of patience aud for
a kitnde sse ss4 II = 1aosa angsi ef4sm
u hNoman ever more completely enjoyed the
4 lnicciioa andslove Of his soldiers tkAN Capt
= Tsylor ehss esteemed asafather hiscom'
{ maulsNere always given in The mild tones Of
3 lareDial authority and obe1ienesWas render
a Cd ~ Al With slaority and delight sftis
q - Mach his been said abo,lt Gen. Taylof.
mental and cultivated capacities no man va.
ever more Yronged than be has been. # some
ncrsr1pet ssribblers we're to Be believed I
profess 10 know Something about hin At ths
time referred to above. holding position Il