Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1848-01-12


Margaret Smith Of Maryland, lady il
all respects worthy Of bis affection, and il
the succeeding November was promote,
to the rank Of Captain In 1911 We fint
him in the command Of fort Knox On iii,
Wabash. in the vicinity Of Yineennes
from which station he was ordered to th.
eastward by the war DEPARTMENT, 4 shcs
time before General Harrison marchet
for Tippecanoe In April 1912 lie va.
ordered to take command of fort Harri
SON, post situated on the Wabash, seven
ty miles above Vincennes, and fifty mile
beyond the frontier settlements. Thil
was most important and exposed station
and Subsequent events justified the selec
ton Of the officer, to whose judgment ant
intrepidity it had been entrusted. Capt
Tay Tor had now been four ysars in the ser
vice. His ardent and inquisitive mind
intent on the requirement Of thorough
knowledge Of his profession, had sedulous
ly improved the leisure of the camp, and
diligently compared the objects Of travel
Accomplished in the principles of military
science, and exact in the duties and disci
pine Of an officer, be was peculiarly fitted
BY his knowledge Of Indian character, nc
quired during the previous command d
fort Knox, to perform the hazardous ser.
vice to which he was assigned
Fort Harrison had been hastily erected
BY Gen. Harrison. while on his march to
Tippecanoe, was Of slight structure form
ed On three sides by single rows of pick
cts, the fourth consisting Of a ranged log
hnts appropriated as barracks for the sol
diers, with block house at either extreme,
and the whole built Of unseasoned timber.
When Captain Taylor took the command
ofthis garrison, be foundi its whole strength
to consist Of a single broken company Of
infantry, and the place i'll provided both
for comfort and defence. Small parties
of Indians, principally Miarnies or Weas.
and secretly attached to hostile party 6f
the Prophet, frequently visited the Fort,
under the guise Of friendship, and thus
became possessed Of knowledge Of its
weakness It's situation proving to be
unhealthy. the officers and men suffered
greatly by disease. Every practicableat
tention was given by the officer command
IGsg ia Al. the GAaa ar 4 Of the
to visit Vineennes for the recovery of his
health, although Lieut.. Richardson was
absent, in the commend Of Fort Knox
On the first Of September, the number Of
men fit for duty did not exceed fifteen,
md several Of these were greatly debilita-
ted BY recent indisposition. Capt, Tay-
Tor, the only officer present was slowly re,
covering from a severe attack Of fever,
and from the Indian information previous
II received, daily expected a visit from the
Prophet and his forces. Detroit had fall
len, .Michillimackinac was captured, and
the fate Of Chicago sealed in blood. The
Indian force on the Wabash was strong
and increasing. The Kentucky voluh-
teers, destined for that quarter, had not
vet marched, and the destruction of fort
Harrison would have removed the only
obstacle to dessolation and havoc, along
all the borders of Indiana. On the Sd Of
September two men were murdered by the
Indians within a few hundred yards Of the
fort. On the evening Of the 4th between,
so and 40 Indians arrived from the
Prophets town With white flag, prinei,
pally consisting Of the chiefs, belonging
10 the different tribes that composed the
Prophets party. A Shawnee, who spoke
food English, informed Capt Taylor, that
the principal chief would make speech
To him next morning, and that the object
Of their visit was, to get something to eat
This device was readily detected by the
discerning commander who, redoubling
his violence, put the place in the best
practicable state Of defence The mems
arms being examined, were all found to
be in good order; and The Cartridges were
completed to sixteen rounds man. The
guard was strengthened as much as the fee
Bic condition Of the force would admit
ard, the night being exceedingly dark, .
nofscomniissioned officer was ordered tt
walk round the inside Of Tie garden dur.
ing the whole night, and aid the sentinel.
IN detecting ahostile approach and to dis
cover any attempt to burn the fort The
premeditated attack, so cfaftily ranged
was made, As had been expected; and w
cannot resist the pleasure giving an ac
count Of it to our readers, in the modes
and unaffected language Of the brave off
Ger who so eminently signahzed himself Of
that trying occasion.
About II O'clock, vas awakened by th'
frsng Of one Of the sentinelS sprang up, RAJ
out and ordered the men to their posts, when M
orleriy sergeant, who had command Of the up
per block house, called out thatths Indians has
iircdt The lower blockhonse, which contained d.
property Of The contractor, which was deposites
Il The lower part, The upper having been assignee
% 4 corporal ana Ten Prrsles, a. an alarm post
Tie guns had begun 20 fre pretty smartly iron
hofh sides Idirected the buckets 70 be got ready
ami water brought from the well and the FIRE ex
Htinssenished immediately, as i was hardly per
srfyahIr al fhai tine: boz ft0n debililg or SOM
Iotker cause. HE men were very slow "a execuin:
mt orders The weird 1fs appeared % throw III
whole of rkem into confusiol; and BY the tim
,h{g had fot the Natef, and broken open the door
he Gre had unioE,lnaiely c9nmun.c1ie9 2
o1isrfifv Of uhiske7 The SICK having licked seve
fsl h5,es fhrongh tie 1oNer pzltsof the building
,,i;r ne salt ID Is stored here through vhicl
ssSS hsd Introduced tAs fire without being dis
r5s,rsd a tie night y a ygry dark, and IN SPIT
n c.-sr.v crerrion' nc c31ld make use Of In -
N 8, ! IL ssce1ded to The roof, and bailie
s-{,,, II.,Il We could make 70 cxIihguish il.
81 t,Ss< konse alj1inei The barracks thai max
"a r n ils forlffcafio'ls. most 81 fhe len iins
6;s,eIr rave themselves mp 19r - and had u
rrsaisz lilc1I.y IN ec'.ing apr q ny oseeif sks
eu.s1 AMI I'D Eist iI9.,, Ie 81 W. ~
49,; ,Es cries 81 ni.s .s1ass .ez8 e.7zSsn.
- 81 ..1.,1.I and a'n1rI of a l|I1rs wives Nh
[.'f |... [.t.,- 1. he E1t and the de6rondin