The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-11-01


deed Il was not in our power 10 make any had
We been 40 inclined Eor though We were
permitted 10 carry Oh our Arms, vet Ne werr
MOI allowed a single round ofpowdcr Ia these
hopes. however. We were disappointed for
presently some Of them began To attack the
sick and wounded, when such as we're not n
Able toerawl into the ranks, notwithstanding
they endesvored 10 avert the fury Of their en-.
emy by their shrieks and gruans, we're Soon
dispatched.
Hers ws vara fully in expectation that the
disturhanea yssuld have c0nclndeal, and our
little army bsaas ~ uaayss bpt IA a short
time We saw the front division driven back
aud discovered that We we're entirely encir-
eled by savagcs. We expected every moment
that the guard, which the French by tho ar
tieles Of capitalization had agreed to allow us,
would have arrived and put an end to our
spprehensions but none appeared. The In
dians nom hogan 10 "trip -nxerl one HiLlaaai
exception, oftheir arms and clothes and those
who mAdo the least resistance, iolt the weight
ofthOir tomAhAwks.
] happened 10 be in the rear division, but
it was not long before shared tho fate Of my
companions. Three or four aayaGrs laid hold
Of me, aud whilst some held their weapons
over my head, the Others disrobed me Of my
coat, wAistcoat, hat, and buckles, pmitriDg not
10 take from me what money I had in my
pocket "A this was transacted close by the
passage that led from the lines on TO the plain
near which French sentinel was posted, ]
ran TO him aud claimed his protection, but hs
only called mo an English dog, and thrust mo
with violence back again into the midst Of the
Indians
now endeAvorod 10 Join body Of our
troops that were crowded together at some
distance bat inRumerablo were the blows
that were made at mo with different weapons
As / passed on luckily, however, tho savAges
wcre 10 close together, that they could not
strike at me without endangcring each other.
Notwithstanding this, one OF them contrived
TO mako thrust st mo with n spear, which
grAIed my side, and from another ! received
a'wound, with the sane kind ofa weapon, in
my ankle. At length gained the spot where
my eountrymen stood, and forced mysclf into
the midst OF thcm. Bnt before l got thus far
out of the hands Of the Iudians,the collar and
wristbands OF my shirt were all that remained
Of il, and my fesh was torn and scratched in
many places by their Uavagu gripeS at me.
Then the war whoop was given, and the
Indiana began to murder those nearest 10
them without distinction. IL is not in the
power of words 10 give any tolerable idea Of
the horrid scene that now ensued men, wo-
men and children. were despatched, in the
most wanton and cruel manner, and immedi-
FHtriy scHtprd. MNny uf'these EEvNgrs drunk
the blood of their victims, as Il flowed warm
from the fatal wound.
We now perceived, though too late to
avail us, that VIC were TO expect no relief
from the French; and that contrary to the
agreement they had so lately signed TO allow
us sufficient force 10 protect us from these
insults, they tAcitly permitted them; for
could plainly perceive tho French officers
walking about at some distance, discoursinp 6
with apparent unconccrn. For the honor OF
human ast4re4 ~esla hope that s,,eA-s fla
grant breach of every sacrcdiaw, proceeded
rather from the savage disposition. of the ~.
dams. which i acknowledges it Is sometimes
Alniost impossible to control and which might
now Unexpectedly have arrived to a pitch
not easily to be restrained, than TO any pre-
meditated design of the French commander
An unprcjudiced observer would, however
be apt TO conclude, that body ften thousanC
christian troops, bad it in their power 10 pre-
vent the massacre from becoming 30 general
But whatever was the cause from which !
arose, the consequences oft were dreadful
and not to be paralleled in modern history.
As the circle in which stood enclosed wa
by this time much thinncd, and death seen'et
to be approaching with basiy strides, il wa
proposed by some Of the most resolute q
make one vigorous effort, and endoayor 4
force our way through the Savagos, the onl!
probable method OF preserving our lives tina
now renamed. This, however desperate, wa
resolved on, and about twenty Of us sprunI
at once into the midst of them.
In a moment We we're all separated, AM
what became OF my companions j could no
learn till some months after, when i learne'
iTiast only SIX OF ssveG0r them effected tlici
design. Intent only on my own haSardou
situation, endeayorcd to make my wa.
through my savage enemies in the best man
\ ner possible. And have often been aston
! ished since, when : have recollected wit
what eomposure ! took, as did, every nec
essary step for my preservation. Some
| oyerturped, being at that time young and ath
letic,and others passed by ,dextrously avoid
ing their weapons; till at last two very stou
chief, Of the most savage tribes, as 4 coul
easily distinguish by their dresa, who's
} strvngth could not resist, laid hold ofme b
) each arm, and began 90 force me through tn
: crowd. ~.
Inow resigned myEelf to my fAte,not doub
I ing out that they intended 10 despatch ms
and then 10 satiatc their vengeance with m
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