Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-11-09

Surrounded by the most inveterate of foes
what possible method could be adopted to pro
cure them supply of ammunition? Their con
dition must be known to the enemy the mo
. ment their fire slackened, and then they coulC
be easily destroyed without the least show o
defence
The second day of the siege had well nigt
worn away-it was in the middle of the after
moon. The last shot had been fred-the las
grain of powder was exhausted Now, what
was to be done? Make terms of capitulation
or despairing submit to fate? They in the
block-house still held out bravely, and little
longer concert of action might save them, fol
the enemy already began to show symptoms
of wavering. At this crisis Colonel Zane cal
led his men around him, and after describing
to them the situation in which they were pla-
ced, he desired to know if there was any one
among them desperate enough to attempt a
passage through the enemy to the block-hous
He added that it was indeed forlorn hope,
but at the worst could not be more disastrous
than to remain in their present condition. No
answer followed the appeal The men gazed
at their commander, and into the eyes of each
other with the most complete dispair, and with
faces blank with any ray of hope. Elizabeth
stood by the side of her brother, silent, but
that silence was more eloquent than the
words of the Colonel. Perhaps, though, a
slight pang might have fiuttered her pulse, to
hear no one speak Was there not one brave
enough to peril life for the salvation of the
whole? Ammunition was all that was wanted.
One keg of powder and they were free! At
this moment a young man stepped modestly
forward and said:
Colonel, will attempt, the passage. If I
fall remember me; if succeed-'
His eye caught the expression of Elizabeth's
features, as they glowed upon upon him with
unutterable fondness and pride, and fell to the
ground. Colonel Zane stepped forward, and
taking the young soldiers hand said:
You are the man expected would volun-
teer for this enterprise Go, and God pro-
tect you! If they see you from the block
house, they will try to cover you with their
fire. Self possession is your only hope. Now
away, while the enemy are partially with
drawn
But here Elizabeth stepped forward, and
addressing her brother, said
'Silas, let me undertake this enterprisep
You'll replied her brother viewing her
with astonishment. Impossible! Do you
know the danger of the attempt@
Perfectly she answered. You have no
men to spare. Every oneis needed in the de-
fence Of the fort; and this is the only service
| can render
But man would be more fleet Elizabeth,
and more certain of success said her brother.
Still you have no man to spare; and a wo-
man would not run the same danger in pass
ing through the enemy. Besides, if I fall, 1
shall not be SO much missed, nor the forces
weakened
: The Colonel was affected to tears, aHdeem-
bracing his sister, exclaimed
Then go! Gods will be done, and may He
protect you.'
A dozen men now sprang forward, prompt
ed by the devotion of this heroic woman; and
Ashley Harper, more urgent than the rest in
sisted that it was his right, as he was the first
to propose. But Elizabeth would hear no OBJ
iections, and at once began to make prepara-
tions for the enterprise. Partially divesting
herself of her clothing, in order that her speed
might be the less impeded, she was let out at
the gate of the fort followed by the prayers
and blessings of all within; while from one of
the embrasures, the anxious eye. of Ashley
Harper followed her, as she fled like young
roe through the lines of the enemy. Now she
falls! Twenty muskets are raised by the saw
ages to stop her progress; but a cry of fsquaw !!
squaw!' saved her, she reaches the block
house in safety, and is admitted
| A period of awful suspense awaited them in
the fort The men were anxious for relief the
Colonel was regretting that he permitted his
sister to go, and Ashley Harper was breathing
prayers for her safety.
In the block-house, the excitement was
! equally as great, and astonishment was ex-
| pressed by every one at the intrepidity of the
maiden. Her brother there endeavored to
persuade her to stay with him. offering to send
one of his own men to the fort with the pow
der, But she overruled his arguments with
| the same logic she had used with her brother
Sas, and at last was permitted to return. A
keg of powder was poured into a table cloth,
and she again sailed forth to run that despe-
rate gauntlet.
In the fort every heart was beating with
the utmost anxiety; and as the dusky foe was
seen gathering around, scarce vestage of
hope was left for the safety of the heroic mai
den. Still watched her lover from the en-
brasure, and still prayed her brother silently.
Forward she sped on her return with her pre-
cious burden, as though her feet were winged,
while the enemy, at length suspicious of her
errand, were pouring showers of lead after
! her.
Yet onward she came, unharmed-appar-
emily unalarmed-preserved by an Omnipo-
| tent power; and at length reached the gate
of the fort which was thrown open with eager
ness to admit her. As it closed in safety up
on the little band within, it was assaulted with
an hundred bullets, while the savages around
made the air peal with their denoniac yells
of disappointment and rage The brother well
coined her with tears. All passed around her
20 thank her for her bravery-al but Ashley
Harper: his heart was too full for expression.
The result of this adventure was the sue
cessful defence of the fort against the beseig-
ers. But ere the war of the revolution was
ended, Ashley Harper slept with the dead
heroes of our country, having fallen at the bat
tie of Saunders Greek, in North Carolina,
August l6, 1880.
| m F[,o