Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-24

nets CLEANED, he was sure to be found il
the hottest of the fray. On two occasions
had he saved the life Of his superior off
Ger, when the uplifted tomahawk glitteret
with the fearful expectation of its victim!
blood. He enlisted in the service yeal
previous as private; and though promo
tion to the rank of non-commissioned Of
ficer had been offered him, on account o.
his good qualities as soldier, and his in
to lligence as a man; he had refused its nc
ceptance, declaring that, as his only desire
was to serve his country, he was willing to
lserve through the wars as private, leav.
ing all conditions above that TO soldiers
more competent and more ambitious. He
was the son of a respectable farmer, whose
industry had enabled him to raise up and
educate large family; man Of severe
discipline, whose watchful eye detected
youthful fault in time to prevent their ma.
turing to crimes. He had been intimate
with the family Of the Zanes, and when
Ashley expressed desire to enlist, the old
man easily prevailed on Col. Silas 10 en-.
roll him among his own men.
Now we will not pretend to say that
there had been any particular understand.
ing between Miss Elizabeth and the young
gentleman above spoken Of, previous to his
becoming soldier, though such thiLg
might possibly have been in mute way.
Verbal declarations certainly had not been
made; for ON owl told how one moonlight
evening, while he was sitting in the shady
branches Of chestnut that stood but few
yards from the Fort,
-"Considering as well he might,
Ways and means for q supper that night
he looked about with a solemn sert,RI, and
beheld coming from the shadow of the
Fort, lover and his mistress; he knew il
was lover and his mistress, they spoke SO
tenderly to one another.
They came out from the Fort so stealth.
lily and stole softly over the green sward
to the foot ofthe chestnut, anG sitting down
upon the gnarled roots, said kind things,
a!tsrsa sacred vows, and breathed feryent
sighs one to the other. They sat there an
hour--a good hour by the march of Sat-
turn, talking and signing all the while,
when, calling upon all the stars to witness
their oaths, and sealing their vows with a
kiss, they retired.
It was but short time after this occur
renee that the siege Of Wheeling was CON-
meneed by the British and Indians; and al.
| though the place was defended with zeal
and an anlimited amsunt Of courage, the
hopes of the besieged grew some dim as
they looked forth upon the masses that
surrounded them. A scarcity of proyis-
ions was not what alarmed them, for Of
those at present they had sufficient sup
ply; bat alarm became almost consterna-
ton when it was announced on the second
day Of the seige, that their powder was
short. Several desperate assaults had been
made by the enemy to break into the Fort,
but Col. Zane and his men repalsed and
drove them back Us vigorously as they u.s.
saulted. The Indians on two er three oc-
casions attempted the destruction of the
Fort and block house by FIRE; but in each
instance they were shot down ere the fag.
got and the burning brand could be applied.
But ultimately those in the Fort began to
fail in their hopes of successful defence,
when the word passed around that they
were in the possession of few eharges of
powder only. There was an abundant
supply in the block house, which they had
been prevented from moving by the SUD
denness OF the assauls; but how was it to
be gotten now? Surrounded by the most
inveterate. foes, what possible method could
be adopted to procure them supply Of
ammunition! Their condition must be
known to the enemy the moment their firs
slackened, and they could easily be des.
troyed without the aoast show of defence.
The second day of the siege had well
nigh worn away-it was in the middle Of
the afternoon. The last shot had been fir
ed, the last grain of powder was exhaust
ed. Nov, what was to be done? Make
terms of eapitulation, or despairlng; SUBJ
NIT to fatea They in the block house still
held out brave!y, and little longer con-
cert of action might have saved them, for
the enemy already began TO show symp-
toms of wavering. Atthis crisis Colonel
Zane called his mon around him, ,and a ftsr
describing to them the situation in which
they were placed, he desired to know il
there was any one among them desperate
enough TO attempt passage through the
enemy to the block house. He added that
it was indeed feriorn hope, but at the
worst could not be more disastrous than to
remain in their present condition. Nc
answer followed the appeal The msn
gazed at their commander and into the
eyes Of each other with the most complete
despair, and with faces blank with any ray
Eof hope. Elizabeth stock by the side OF
her brother, silent, but that silence wa'
more eloquent than the words Of the Col.
onel. Perhaps, though, q slight pane
might have auttered her pulse, to hear nc
one speak. Was there not one brave
enough to peril life for the salvation of tht
wholea Ammunition was all that was
wanted. One keg of powder and they
were free! At this moment a young mar
stepped modestly forward and said:
.Colonel, will attempt the passage. l
| die, all will remember me; if succee
-,
His eye caught the expression Of Eliza
, beth's features, as they gloWed upon hin