The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-05-06
An Incident In the War Of 1919.


IN Incident In the War Of 1919.
A, The battle of Pattsburgh, in 1912, du-
= ,he din aud uproar Of the heavy can
'1' .a. q, lake and land. there appeared
uYs. 49, .oum, NJ i;nQ officers an unknown
Indian. Clad in the widest savage costume
covered with war paint, and armed to me
teeth, rho gave information OF the approach
,btaph the woods on the south bank oi the
saranac, Of 4 considerable body OF 'h'
British. accompanied BY small band OF
II1ron., or Canadisn Indians, who acted
!, guides and scouts. X 10 well known
ba; one column Of the British army, under
eonmand OF General Brisbane, had mp
preached Plsl,sburgh from the west along
III. Beckmsnto road, TO the north Of the
slrsnac. The American army was now
ea,reached on the south bank, in the an,
ole formed by the river and lake. II will
therefore be readily Understood ih,t the np
pro,ch Of this new force would place the
Americans in position sufficiently crit
cal. 10 say no,hiue Of the dangers to which
they were alrend, exposed.
The information brought by the savage
w.s too important 10 be wholly slichted
sna ,e, came in too suspicious manner
- be wholly trusted. The officer there
fore. though, il bes. to in,erroga'e the mes
/ senger.
who are YOU. nv friend?' said he.
.Mohicau,' was The laconic reply.
.,phat is your nnmeg
'Stockbridge Hank, answered the siran'
ger
where did you come from, and why are
you here?' pursued the officer
Indian come from the Dutch rivers re
plied he.
.Bu. why are you here saw?
.Nhy are The Mingoes in tho woods
can the captain tell me thstr replied the
savage, his e,s flashing fire.
Does ANYBODY know this person?' asked
the othcer, turning TO the b,standers; but
no one replied. Cor ~ one knew him.
Wha, do YOU want me TO do theny said
III, officer 10 the Indian, still looking upon
him with suspicion.
Take four, seven, ten soldiers replied
tho savage, holding up both hands and
,prendng his fingers ME take 'em and
wait for Mingoes in the woods
Hes right, BY Jover exclaimed the oftl'
Ger. The men are too few to have an am
bush laid for them, and we need picket o.
rha, kind. The red skin must be Friendly
ailer all lie, nine picked men, headed oN
corporal, 90 with him; but let them be
wa,cbfuI and keep on their guard, and 'e'
me be informed OF the first appearance OF
| any enemy in that direction!
The officer turned away. The men were
qnickly detailed. and guided by the Indian
they took their silent way IN the woods
up the south bank Of the Sarnnac, dowr
which the new hostile force was reported
10 be coming. They moved forward rap,dh
for abou, hall nn hour, when the Indian
began 10 proceed with more caution. and "a
listen for every unusual sound which dis
m,bed the forest. At last, putting bis ear
close the ground, no listened for moment
md then quickly rising up, he made rap
sign for The soldiers to be,ake themselves
10 nsighboring thicke, which bordered
small creek flowing into the river The
men concealed themselves among the bush
es as quickly - possible, while the Indian
crawled s,eal,hily to a position somewhat
more advanced, concealing himself behlnt
the trunk Of a fallen tree. He had enJoln
ed dupun them not to fire or make anv noise
until thev should receive from him Ger
tain signal. For some distance forward o
the place where he Inv, the woods were
to'erabIe clear Of underhrush, and kins
dpa,h which skirted the bank ofihe river
crossed the creek senr its mouth. about te'
rods from where tho concealed soldiers wer'
bid. From the position the lndinn occn
pied, this pass was in full view. In order
10 cross the strenm, any one going nlonl
hat path had to descend about ten feet o.
mos. perpendicnInrly; 80 TINT while he wn
IN the bed Of The brook. he could not b.
seen BY those who should happen 10 be an,
distance behind.
The soldiers had not remained in am
bush long, when by quick sign. the scou
gave them to understand ,bat some one wa
approaching. They soon saw an India
coming a, rapid but silent pace along u
path towards the crossing. lie had b'
JUS, go, clearly in view, when at distnnc
Of about two rods behind. appeared anothe
aud so on to the number of seven. The
were all 10 war paint, and armed with rifle
and tomaha wks. The soldiers were no,
all attention TO the movements Of thei
GUIDE, expecting At every movement to re
s,s'veth signal to fire. To their surprise
however, they saw him lay down bis CUR
.nd draw from benenth the log long an