Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-01-27
SELECTED STORY.
From the United Service Magazine.
Il III II PL H Id q E:
An Incident Of Frontier Warfare


'Thorncastle, as much of himself as any
other person.
No one attempted reply. There
was total silence, so deep that each
might have fancied he heard his own
heart beat, and yet some forty persons
were grouped on the platform of very
small, irregularly built fort, between
Lakes Michigan and Huron. The fort
had, in fact, originally consisted of a
rude blockbouse, built by Old Mark
'Thorncastle, for his own safe lodging,
and palisaded enclosure, where his cat
tie and horses might at need be driven
for security. But after the early days
of the struggle between England and her
American colony, when the bravery OF
Thorncaslle had been rewarded by the
title of captain of very irregular corps
of sharp shooters, composed chiefly of
the young settlers around, the blockhouse
became its headquarters, the palisades
grew into high, strong, loop-holed wall.
and platform was erected, garnished by
two nine-pounders. commanding the
greater portion of the open space around
the fort; while swivel planted on a bas.
lion opposite performed that service for
the remainder of the circle.
Rude as was this construction, the fort
had withstood more than one rough at.
tack, thanks. perhaps, less to its defences
than to the firmness and prudence of its
commandant; for Mark Thorncastle was
no novice in warfare, but had seen much
hard service, both in India and Europe,
and tough. his way up from the ranks, un-
til at last the leading of forlorn hope
won him at once an ensign's commission,
and a severe wound which famed him
for life, cut short his military career--as
he then believed-forever. Prosperity
had attended his beating his sword into
ploughshare among the western wilds,
and the old soldier. was waxing rich
through the arts of peace. when the
breaking out of the war recalled him to
more congenial pursuits.
And again, as of old, there was one
to think and feel with him, to pray for
him while he fought, and lose the re-
membrance of his past danger in proud
gladness, when men praised some deed
of gallan,ry. The wife who had shared
The hardships, and many of the perils of
his campaigns, was long since dead; but
her only child--as fair a one as ever bles.
seG fathers love--entered with her
whole heart into his feelings. say 1t
advisedly, "with her whole heart" for
MANY lover had found, to his sorrow,
that there was no part to spare for him.
Still, despite all her coldness, Villa
Thorncas,le had crowd of sui,ors and
admirers. attracted by her double charms
as the handsoTest girl in the district,
and the heiress, not merely Of Old Mark
Thorncas,le's fertile acres, but of a good
ly store of Spanish dollars besides.
All This time the party on the platform
have been standing as silen, as we left
them. looking at the long stretch OF quie,
woods which lay sleeping so calmly in
the moonlight. 1t was a sweet, still
scene, full of repose and beauty to the
eye; but all were thinking of far other
scenes which The next night might look
upon. For some twenty miles away in
that direction stood, on round hill. a
larger and stronger fort, beneath the
protection Of whose guns village had
hitherto rested in security. But, within
the last hour, messenger had been cap
tured, bearing letter from the command
er of an American force in the neighbor-
hood OF Moore's fort, to his superior Of
ficer, camped IN the Ohio, and this let,
ter boasted that the next night would
make the fort their own. A British Of
fcer's servant, ian American, who had
introduced himself into the place for that
purpose had engaged TO admit them the
following night into the fort, which. thus
taken by surprise, might fall easily into
their hands; and though, the writer ad-
ded, his strength in white troops was not
a hundred men, he depended confidently
on the assistance of their Indian allies,
who occupied the woods, and whom a
night attack of this sor, was the very
thing TO delight.
More was not required to picture to
Thorncastle and his companions the ter
rible'events sure to ensue. They knew
al once that the lives of the garrison of
Moore's Fort, and the helpless inhabit-
ants Of Moore's village. would lay alike
al the mercy of horde of savages, whom
the sight Of blood was certain to infiame,
and whose fury the handful of Ameri-
cans could not restrain, even supposing
them inclined to try.
: "What is TO be donel'' remarked Mr..
Thorncastle. brushing in his hand the in
tercepied dispatch, as though it could
destroy The evil of lis contents, which he
had made known to his little band. .If
leading you all to their relief could do
any good, ! would give the word to start;
but it seems that the Indians form broad
living belt through the woods between us
and Moore's Fort, SO that il would be
only throwing away every one of your
lives. without. doing them one particle of
service. And yet to leave them there
unwarned-to give up men, women and
little children to the thirsty knives of a
pack Of Indian wolves, without making
single effort to save them, that does
not-no, my friends, I feel il does not
r1nn1r LII