The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-09-21

| "ssS IVY . rIasP'HS PistOa nnu guns, cur
rying powder and messages from ono par,
OF the garrison to the other. The guns
kept firing. Nearer and nearer they ap.
preached. The frightlul war-whoop aud
midnight yell Of tho rcvcngcinI savage
were in fancy heard. They approach the
garrison-tho sentincs lean from the
watch box and strain their aching eyes in
trying to picrco tho imp0nc,rabIc gloom
aud mist that separated them from their
enemies. The word was given to hail, If
no answer, then fire. Their guns were
cockcd-aim takcn--challensc was given
tho order to fro was about to be given
when tho loud voice Of Capt. n, Of Ma
porvilc, was heard shouting at the top Of
his voicc--lIold! for Gods sake hold we
are friends. The scene that cnsucd beg
CARS description. The gates were opened
and tho glad shout of welcome went up in
thankfulncss and Joy. At tho roll call ono
bravo officer was absent, no was subsc-'
quently found in the ladies' room under the
bed. The next day they vcntured out up
on tho prairie TO gather in their horses aud
shoot game. Ono poor little fellow by the
name Of P was discovered wandering
on tho prairie with saddle and bride on his
shoulders. Two horscmcn gavo chase,
and for two miles he ran without looking
back, until tired and exhausted no foil on
his face. shouting at tho top Of his voice,
"Bon-s hon-nitchc (good Indian) don't hurt
me-" When Inc found that his two faucicd
Indians were his comrades, pan,ingly he
cyclai acd, '.this is too Internal bad-two
great stout horsemcn chasing fellow in
this way through tho tall grass, who has
only been to pn, his pony to pasture in tho
enclosure over yondcr" There was tho
garrison doctor, a glorious fellow, full Of fun
and frolic, and always ready for fight
vet ono night he was awiully scared
Camping in the timbcrs, his horse grazing
beside him with long rope tied to his hind
foot, no was aroused by tho alarm-''thc
Indians aro upon us!'' Rousing from his
slumbcrs he jumped upon his horse, stri-
king his spurs deep; his horse sprang with
great force, tho rope brought him up aud
threw tho doctor far over his head against
stump. which he imagined to be an Indi-
an. Still forgetting the rope, he mounted
his horse ngcin. Again he brought up, the
doctor bounding over his head, striking
stump head foremost. Fancying it to be
nh Indian he dare not rinse his cycs, lest
the tonnhawk and aIping knife OF the
blood-thirsty red man would sever his scnlp
lock. he quick and earnestly exclaimed
"Gcntlcman Indian surrender" No, re-
cciving any answer, the doctor soon discov-
orcd that he was alone in tho timber grasp
ing stump. Forty miles from Chicago, ut
Plainticld, was log fort, where tho people
from tho surrounding country had collect
cd. They were few in numbers, but strong
in bravery. They were commanded by a
Methodist parson, Presbyterian deacon, n
Yankee Squire and Government black
smith, all good and truo men. They were
frequently called together by alarms, that
the hateful Indians were approaching. On
ono occasion m express arrived from Fort
River; his horse was painting with heat and
exhaustion, covered with foam and swcnt.
Tho horscman had ridden all night, his
lcggings and blanket coat was despatched
with mud and dirt. As no rode into the
village he shouted-"To arms! to arms
tho Indians arc coming--thcy cncampcd
last night at Fort Rivcr--thcy'll soon lie
hcrem Tho alarm guns werc fired. The
buglo was sounded. Men, women and
children hurried to the garrison brcath!css
with fear and terrible excitement. The
long brnss swivel md backsmitl's anvil
were loaded, charged and mounted. Tho
loop holes wcro manned: Ladies flannel
skirts wero stripped to make cartridges.
The minister breathcd feryent prayer to
the God of battles. The small band Of pat
riots graspcd their weapons with deep,
determined and deadly grasp. They en-
braced their wives and children, and their
agoniscd feelings in parting with them was
terrible to behold. They wcro brave and
good men, and as they claspod their wives
and little ones in their (supposcd) last en-
brace, their giant hearts throbbcd with
wild and fearful emotions. The scouts an-
nounccd tho Indians in sieht--a largo
force coming towards them. A sentinel
who had climbed tree shouted that they
were thousand strong, he could SEQ their
rod and white Llankcts-thcy must BIO Sac
aud Fox Indians. On they came. An cx-
press was sent to Chicngo-anothcr to o.
tnwa--onothcr to hunt up Lortcn and Capt.
n who were securing tho prairics in
command ofa gallant baud of Rangers. A
long bearded Dunkard was found dead up
on the prairie with chin and head scalpcd
and they were pursuing his murderers.--
The Indians approached slowly. The
shades Of night were fast gathering. The
frightful war-whoop Of tho enemy was
heard, and tho neighing Of their horses who
smell tho bright and sparkling wator from
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