Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-12-18
up his medal to Captain Head.

in token Of mutual friendship. But our young
men are resolved on blood cannot restrain
.them-and will not wear it as token of
peace, while | am compelled to act as an en-
emy."
Sad were the hearts of those who lay down
in the fort that night to rest. Not only the
women and children looked forward with
dread to the next morning, but the stoutest
J hearts in the fort expected day of blood.
The morning of the 18th, the day of depar
ture, arrived The sun came up behind the
lake as clear and calm as if there were to be
scenes of carnage enacted beneath its beams.
At nine o'clock all was ready Capt. Wells
and the Miamies led the way, followed By the
baggage wagons, with the sick and the wo-
men and children, guarded by the effective
troops; while the band of treacherous Potta-
wamies who had promised the party safe
escort followed little way behind.
Let US for moment turn to Sanders and
the White Fawn. With depth of cruelty
inconceivable, Black Bird told the prisoner
the troops, and even including the women and
children and then, for the sake of learning
what effect the sight Of the dastardly act
would have in determining his national char
acter, he had him conveyed in canoe to u
station about mile below the fort, on the
lake shore, where he would be compelled to
witness the butchery! He was not kept long
In waiting. The train had not gone more
than mile from the fort, upon the lake shore;
before the Indians fled off so as to put the
sand hills between them and the whites, and
prepared for the attack. Capt. Wells, though
in advance, observed the movement, and rode
rapidly back to the troops, calling upon them
to form, and charge the Indians up the sand
hills. They received a volley of musketry as
they advanced, and the battle became general.
The chief of the friendly Miamies. rode up
and charged the Pottawatomies with treach-
cry, and threatened them with future yen-
geance, but his Indians fed, and nc was for
ced to follow.
Never did troops beirlve more gallantly
than did the Americans on this occasion; but
they were betrayed and outnumbered, and a
terrible massacre followed. After the fight
Ing. had continued about quarter of an hour,
Captain Heald succeeded in drawing off such
of his men as remained to an elevation out
of the reach of the fire from the sand hills
After some consultation among the Indians,
who did not follow; the latter made signs to
Captain Head to approach, and he did so
alone. He was met by Black Bird, the Pot
tawatomie chief, who gave him his hand, and
offered that if he would surrender, the pris-
oner's lives should be spared. The offer was
accepted; and after delivering up their arms,
they were conducted TO the Indian encamp-
ment, to be distributed among the tribes.
The Americans had lost 80 in the action,
besides two women and twelve children, and
the prisoners consisted Of Captain Heald and
wife, Lieutenant Helm, with twenty five nom
commissioned officers and privateS and eleven
women and children.
Many thrilling scenes are related by eye
witnesses, as having occurred during that
terrible day, and the women, as we'll as the
men, exhibited the most determined bravery
Mrs. Helm, who was attacked by young
warrior, grasped him around the neck, and
almost succeeded in getting possession of
his knife, but she was suddenly grasped by
another Indian and carried rapidly away to
the lake, and held forcibly beneath the wa
ters But she soon found that the object was
not to drown her, but apparently to protect
her from the fury of the other savages. She
looked in the face of her captor, and recog-
nized Black Partridge.
The twelve children who were butchered,
all fell beneath the tomahawk of one young
demon, after the troops had surrendered
Captain Wells saw this act of barbarity, and
exclaimed, 'Then will kill too," and turn
ing his horses head towards the Indian camp
in which were the squaws and children, he
galloped off in that direction. The Indians
pursued, and finally succeeded in bringing
him down, when they killed and scalped him.
During all this bloody butchery, Sanders
was compelled to be spectator What his
feelings were, may be inferred from his ac-
tions. When he saw the assault of the Pot
tawatomies, he leapt from the canoe, and en-
deavored to join the whites on shore. But
he was arrested, and forcibly brought back
All fear for his own safety lett him; and he
charged the Indians who had him in keeping,
with cowardice, and told them that none but
squaws would thus detain man from assist
ing his people against such overwhelming
odds. They did not deign to answer him,
however, but held him still, boiling with in
dignation and rage; and when the fray was
over, they padded the canoe up to the fort
at the mouth of the Chicago. The savages
had already rihed it of every thing of value,
and were setting it on fire. In little time,
a tall and robust savage, covered with paint
and gore, approached the canoe. But the
prisoner instantly recognized Black Bird.
The cruel chief heard the account of the
prisoners conduct during the fight, and ex-
claimed, at is enough; bring him to the war
dance" lie then turned upon his beel and
departed.
When Black Bird returned to the encamn-