The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-09-18
does not himself suffer for it," said Mr. Jones.
as he bade the agent good night.
From the Ohio State Journal
THE SOLDIERS RETURN,
AN INCIDENT OF TIE BLACk-HAWK WAR
BY J. ". K.

y INCIDENT OF HE BLACK-HAwK WAR
BY J. ". K.
No country is richer in historical incidents
han is the West; Ohio and her sister States.
where have met the white and red men in
leadlv strife. and where the stirring and start
ing scenes of pioneer life have been enacting
or the last three e-tourths of century. And
never has there been wanting that ready self
acrifcing patriotism, from the earliest settle
nent of the country to the present day which
alone is able, out of wilderness waste to
build up communities and States.
Twenty years ago the celebrated Black
Hawk, at the head of his Indian forces, be-
came engaged in hostilities with the whites,
Illinois was then the border State, and the
'brunt of the battle fell upon her; but it was
by the Government of the Unit
ed States that a general confederacy of the
Indian tribes, which was believed to be
contemplated, would enable the enemy to
bring into action fearful array of warriors,
before whom the ill-prepared and thinlv set
tied inhabitants of the exposed would
be driven away or murdered. Under these
pcrilous circumstances the Government cast
about for suitable leader. to take charge Of
the operations of the army in that quarter
General Scott was eminentv the man for the
crisis. and he was accordingly sent to COM
mand the troops and conduct the war. Of the
leading events connected with the BLACK
Hawk War we shall say nothing They are
matters of general history, to which the rca-
der is referred. But in all such times there
are under currents of events not presented
on the great surface which we behold. which,
nevertheless, are 1rrplv V interesting and tend
more than any thing else to clucidatc charac-
ter. and devclope the real feelings and emo
tions of the heart OF such an incident we
write.
The alarm had been runr out. the call
made, and hundreds of citizens were prepar-
inc to march TO the scene of danger and of
conflict to do battle for their homes, their
wives, children, friends and country Never
has our great and glorious nation lacked for
defenders in the hour of trial and peril New
er may she
In their Western home newly marrIet
couple, with one little child. were startled b,
the war-crv The husband saw the need hi,
country had of defenders. and the contcS
was hard between patriotism and the en- ov
mcnt Of his pleasant fire->idr. and the com
panion>hip of his beloved and idolzcd wife
and child But the fierce struggle was at las
ended in his bosom, bv deciding to do wha
he believed to be his duty. and leaving th
event to Providence He would 90 to detcn'
his country: but how would he break tn
news to his wife ? for well he knew how sore
" her heart would be troubled at the an
nouncement of his determination tn 90 out t
the battle 1t must be done, however, an
in the best manner he knew how. the difiicu
and delicate task was performed
She wept bitter tears. and cntreatc1 hil
TO remain at home, to protect her and the
helpless child. His heart was touched L
; her distress and almost he was persuaded
abandon his intention. Then came the though
l that if he did 50. very soon it might be. /
Il would have to face the savage foe there, |
his own hearth. at his own home, where h
dear ones would also be exposed to their me
cless vengeance, while now he could me
them away on other ground, where him>cl
q alone would have to stand before the dang
IS while those who lay so near to his hca
I, would be safe. These considerations esta
u lished his resolution as first formed He re
soned them over to his companion, comfort
l. her as far as her feelings would admit of CO..
y fort, babe her an affectionate and fearful adj
and departed!
is
st Oh, how anxiously that tender wife a
mother sought for intelligence from the see
= of conflict! How every report of danger
" battle filed her heart with dread and fear
re Misgivings dark and narrowing, kept h
h mind in a state of continual dread, filling
with every conceivable thought of evil a
If misfortune which fevered imagination co,
ht call into being!
At length came the news of the great b
r tie of the Bad Axe, and the safety of
IS, husband She fell on her knees and thank
God for his mercifu goodness
to But, alas for human fortune her jov '
he of limited duration, and cut short in its t
he and overfowing tide. A few more days pa
he ed away, and the news came that the pc
I'm lence, far more dreaded than the enemy,
rested, like Heavens blighting mildew, VI
re- the ranks of noble and brave men, so rece
les ly victorious in their country's cause. I
sv- ror spread on all sides at the appearance
pc the unseen foe, whose deadly strokes laid
'ay bravest in the dust, against whose attack til
cir was no defence, and from whose relent
ng pursuit there was no escape. Death reig
Dp- supreme and carnival went on-on-on
m. though the insatiate monster would nere,
es, satisfied!
se Alone with her child sat the wife. in
be agony of suspenSe and fear. anxious and