The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-08-06

could assemble at such short notice, and
marched to meet the hostile Narragansetts
Towards the middle of the afternoon
when they had got five leagues from theil
capital, from the summit of hill they
espied, at the extremity OF valley the
host Of Miantonimoh advancing. With {
shout of defiance, they rushed down tn,
hill and met them midway the plain, il
an open space bounded on one side BY
forests, and on the other by the river Con
necticut. Miantonimoh hailed the ap
proach of his rival with fierce cry o
mingled triumph and revenge. A singh
glance, as he rolled his fierce eye over th'
plain, assured him that his own forces
nearly doubled those Of Uncas.
When the two armies had advanced
within fair bow.shot Of each other, Un
cas- stepped in front of his warriors, wav
ed his hand towards the Narragansetts
and demanded a parley. He then turn
ed to his own warriors and said,
"Our numbers are less than those o
Miantonimoh. In fair fight, we nigh
be the loosers, Ihave thought ola strata
gem. am going forward to confer with
this assassin. When you see me fall 10
the earth, discharge your arrows over me
and rush on with your spears and toma-
hawks, and charge the enemy" atr a.
Uncas had previously drawn up his
forces in three lines. In the first, he plac-
ed two hundred bowmen foot apart: the
second rank was composed of two hum
dred spearmen, with their spears advanc-
ed between the spaces left in the first time:
in the third, and rear rank, were station
ed as equal number OF the most athletic
warriors, armed with battle-axes, and
wearing bucklers Of the tanned hide on
their left arms. MIantonimoh had drawn
up his forces in two lines, of five hundred
men each; in the front rank, his spears
and tomahawks were stationed in alter
nate files; in the rear, we're his bowmen.
Uncas, advanced into the space between
the armies, and thus ironically addressed
Miantonimoh: -''t b.'a 441
valiant Narragansett! You are at
tended by gallant array Of braves. You
see also that am not without warriors.
IT'S pity that so many brave warriors
should be set to killing one another for a
private contest between us> only" The
quarrel alone is ours. Come forward,
then, like a good warrior and a worthy
Sachem, and let us fight it out, as you
may remember we have done heretofore.
If you slay me, my warriors shall be yours.
If kill you yours shall be mine."
Uncas leaned on his spear and awaited
his reply. The naughty Narragansett
laughed scornfully as he answered,
"The courage of the Moheagan fails.
He becomes woman when he beholds the
spears Of the enemy. Miantonimoh came
hither to fight and not to talk. His war
riors thirst for the blood of the Mohea.
gans.'
With these words the selfconhdent
Sachem levelled his spear at the breast of
Uncas: whereupon Uncas fell fiat upon
face to the ground. Instantly the air was
darkened with cloud of arrows which
flew harmlessly over him and tell like hail
among the Narraganset;s. Their front
rank swayed to and fro; the centre gave
way, and the whole army was thrown into
wild confusion. The spearmen of Uncas.
with loud war cry, seconded the bow
men, and rushing through the spaces in
their line, while they were fitting other ar
rows TO their strings, advanced furiously
upon the staggering ranks Of the enemy,
scattered the first, broke through the Sec
ond with irresistible force, and put it to
fight A general route followed. Led
on by Uncas and Onecho, the Moheagans
pursued them as they fled, struck with a
strange panic along the valley; pressing
them into the stream; hemming them in
defles; driving them down rocks and pre-
cipices, and hunting them far and near,
like huntsmen on the track Of the scatter
ed herd. Onecho led the pursuit, every
where Distinguishing himself by acts Of
prowess, on those who turned at bay, and
his magnanimity towards the unresisting
In the heat Of the pursuit, which continued
till the sun went down, he entered glade
of the forest within the borders Of the Mar |
ragansetts; for SO far had the chase led the |
pursuers. The shouts Of the victors and
the cries Of the fugitives, were heard afar
of, gradually dying away in the distance. |
Some ways behind Onecho, came Uncas,
and four others warriors, less light Of heel.
Before him, run a single Narragansett, to
whom he called out to surrender, as he
came rapidly up with him. He turned
round at the sound Of his voice and
Onecho recognized Miantonimoh. His
royal crest Of feathers was gone; his robe
Of costly furs, torn and bloody; his limbs
scarce did their office as he tottered with
difficulty forward; he bled from many
wounds: an arrow was buried to the hast
between his shoulders; his whole appear
ance was that Of one in the last stage Of
exhaustion. He was armed only with a
broken spearhead, which he grasped from
habit, rather than with the hope Of defend
ing his life with it, When he saw WHO his
pursuer was, he stopped and brandished
his broken weapon. ~
"Cub Of Uncas,'' he cried, as Onecho
Al