Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-10-02
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL,
rwrittsn for the Indiana State sentinei]
The Forest Guide:

" 4
Paddys Dispatch
In this the age Of railroads and elegraPhs, the pes
and hardships of soldier life have been greatly diminish
ed and war is now rather cOnsIdereda glory or yalor-
field where opportunity is Afforded Tor distinguishment
by great actions achievements, than held oil boou
and carnage.
How widely different are the wars Of the present from
those of former daysl Now hostile intentions are oei-
ally declared with the greatest orInay nsee naDle;
the intelligence conveyed on the wings O lightning 10
ali parts of the nations young men, dressed IN their
gaudy uniform and brightly glistening arms, with rat
ting drums and squeakng lilies, march toward tue scene
of strife gaily and unconeerned party TO lAncy
ball. Their bright filed to the brm with
aqua rite and long train OF provision wagons BRING
up the - -.
But this is only the light side of the picture The life
Of soldier say the least, is mixture oil pleasure,
toll and peril. When is compelled to engage IN
war, where oltmes he is without food and drink Tor
days together gives matters quite different appear
ance, Yet such not uncommon occurrence uur.
ing the Indian of IL. But, hold! our object at
the commencement TO relate legend oil days past
and gone so, begging pardon, KIND Teaue ioi "s
The sun was lust sinking down behind the western
horizon. and tipping the tops OF the surrounding ees
with golden hue on a mild summers evening IN the
year IL as n hOrseman, ut full galloP, was seen
swiftly approaching the fort IN which we were tnen sta
toned He man somewhat over hve leet III
height heavy broad the chest, wich ueno-
ted great physical strength combined with manly aeiiv-
Hy. He dressed after the manner oil the pioneers
OF the day. which consisted Of buekskin legginS mock
and cap Of woliskIn On shoulder he pore snort
heavy ride which probably had sent numerous bears,
wolves and Indians, to their final account
OF ordinary size eareessy sung across the 9TH
er, from which depended long hunting kniean artI-
Gle which the western pioneer, or hunter deems ihVau
able The remainder of his attire il would be unneces-
sarF describe few moments altcrward he rode up
aud recognized the spy, scout, who had been
sent out in the morning to reconnoitre without word
he dismouned, and at signal was admitted Captain
Leman, who had charge OF the fort, instantly stepped
forwarded and eagerly demanded
- What luck Harrisl Did you strike the trail OF any
Of the Internal red skinS2"
Wbv may s,y good and bad both - answered Har-
VS. put iiriule begin I'd rather take little some
thing to eat, for you see haven't had DANCED bit To-
day"
'sOh that indeed my good fellow, you must be salts
fed. Sum, SAM" the captain cried IN louder tone
and at the call tall gaunt African come out oil the
eook-roOm.
% Sam, grub up Tor Harris instantly 10
Yah, Massa Captn. Sam heahl" responded the
of darkness he entered the coO&-room, followed
By the scout
WELL to make long story short, the saying is, as
Harris had dined satisfactorily, all gathered
about him. he feeling NICE doubt, from the grub
bling he had undergone, related his story IN the i0o"
= When left here this morning, struck down the
blazed road PneknOt, ntendn TO crcum1ent the blS
slashes but by means or other missed the track
aud afOre knowed what was about, went slap INT"
tina sLashss. As matter of course thought the best
plan would be take my back track. Well, cordn'-
y did, and after travellin thought about fifteen
miles whar do YOU think should find myself but rite
in the Identical place. sgon' slap into the swamp agln!
You may be sure, ellers. pesky Bothered Tor by
that time IL had begun get purity toerabe well along
in the afternoon. So said il wernt tryin the
caper again, just struck in another
direction entirely hoPin by chance to across some
path that would lead 10 the fort Boys, tell you
what won't deny it begined feel little allover-
sh in spots for thinks /, il of them dog goncd
redhides to cum across me- I'D be done-sucker'
for sartain.
- Bnt howsumever though the trees all looked like
many uncivzed sonol- guns, got along purity
well, and with all my hair. The was beginnin to
git purity low TELL you, when all once heard such
Internal yellin md whoopin'. thought the world
cummin' to eend-l did, boys, did by thundeTi
Ihad plegged mind to cut stick and rum but my curl
o<ity overcummin' nv cowardice pushed on TO the
place whar the sound proceeded from But by the time
I'd got in good peepin distance il had got eternal
thunlerin dark. conduit my hand before But
seed enough, did. Thar in a thcket-lookin sort Of
place. around an amaZln big lire, war no moro nor
less than dozen big redskins dancin and yelln like
all rip. Bows, you can't begin mmagine my eeins'
but you may be sure left quick possible would
let me; and more by good luck than anything else, You
me here safe and sound, though dreadnlly scared
and now Captn, if you're amind do so, Pm of opin.
ION we could make proper smash among them to-
. Bravo! Harris, bravo! Long live Joe Harrisp'
cried the men in voice at the conclusion of Harrss
story.
After little consultation il was decided that we
should upon the scouts Suggestion and fit ont an
expedition against the enemy, who were, judged
by the tile OF the spy, holding sort OF Publication,
or war dance, previous TO attack the fort. And
nc declared he could guide us the place of
TeniezvOus without dlhculty,-and the to take
them by surprise it deemed prudent to delay our
departure until midnight.
The time intervening spent in cleaning arms,
moulding balls and Ctler preparations; and tue
tnel on the ramparts announced the hour OF twelve
httla band Of thirteen, incudng the Captain, filed
OF the fort and struck into the depths Of the forest
Harris, Of course, acted guide and as the Lieu
tenant had remansi At the fort, appointed the
second IN command.
As hsrried forward stumbling over stumps OF trees
and logs, and then pIunging half leg deep mud
and water, the gloom became dense could only
with difficulty proceed. Many the deep half utter
ell enrses that from the lips OF the poor fellows
they plunged through the thick tangled underwood that
crowded our path.
At last to the bri-k Of what appeared to be
an extensive marsl and unluckily in his eagerness to
press forward. the guide missed his footing and
plunged head long into the mire.
Curse il mutere he one Of his comrades assis
ted hun IN his disagreeablc situation, Curse it I've
spoiled my uniform entirely felt bad in nv lie
since the time axed Sail Jones hav' me, and she
said, no, III be darned if do" "But," added he
as he once more regained his perpendcuary ''may l.
DO rumssled Il this amt the place cum to SO many
times to-day, dog my eats if it amt !"
Say You 50, said the captain eagerly, then do you
think you could guide correctly from here; s.al
we have To try find our way back to the fortf'
'-SSrtin can, answered the guide, he started off
IN certain direction follow quickly as possible !"
and without more ado again struck up Inc of
running along dry ridge Of mountainous part of the
country. On one side Of extending for many miles
along side Of the mountain, valley, or rayine OF
fearful depth.
Hist" at last whispered tho captain, he bent his
toward the dark ravne Mt our feet We halted ami
listened and as did wild yell whoop, more
resembling the Of wild beast Of the forest than
anything else. came ringing fcarIuy our