Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-04-07
nltsfeIlaneolls.
An Incident in me War of 1912.

on the south side of the Saranac, accompanied
by small band of IIurons, or Canadian Indians,
acting as guides and scouts. II is well known
that one column of the British army, under the
Command of General Brisbane, had approached
Pla'tsburg from the west, alcng the Reekman-
town road to the north Of the Saranac. The
American army was now entrenched on the
south bank, IN the angle formed by tho river and
the lake. 1t will, therefore, be readily under
stood that the approach of this new force would
place the Americans 10 position sufficiently crit
cal. TO say hhng of the dangers to which they
were already exposed.
The information brought by the savage was
lo' important to be wholly sighted, and yet
| came IN too suspicious manner to be wholly
trusted. The officer, therefore, thought it best
to ln'errogate the messenger.
"Who are you, my friend ?" said he.
Mohcan," was the aconic reply.
"What is your name?"
Stockbrdge Hank"
"Where did your come from, aud why are
you here?"
"lndan from the Dutch rivers" was the reply
" But why are you here, say?n
Why are the Mlngoes in the woods can
the captain tell me rhat1" replied the savage,
his eyes flashing fire.
Does any ono know this person ?" asked the
officer, turning to the bysianders; but no one
replied, for no one knew him.
What do you want lne to do, them" said the
officer to the Indian, being still somewhat sus-
picio,ls.
" Take four, seven. ten soldier" replied the
savage, holding up both hands. and spreading
i bis fingers. "hle take 'em and wait for Mingoes
Inln the woods" @~. =,
He. right-bes right !" eAcaimedslhe Idfi-
!. The men are too few to Esges::s- seush
hid for them, and we need pcks .hat kind
! The red skin mus, be friendly af}' =
nine picked men, headed by corporallpb with
L.hkss; but let them be watchtul and keep on their
guafd aud let ME be Informed Of the first ap.
proach Of the enemy in thatdirectlon.'
The Office, turned away. The men were
qoickly detailed, and guided by the Indian they
took their silent way into the weeds, up the
south bank ot the Saranac. down which the new
hostile tnrce was reported to be coming. They
moved forward rapidly for about half an hour
when he Indian began to proceed with more
cuutiuh, ald W. iisfr,ti fos evefy sndsHa. z-.s4s
thai disturbed the forest. AT last putting his ea
close to the ground he listened for moment
taud then quickly rising up, he made rapid sigi
fur the soldiers to betukr themselves to neigh
boring thicket which bordered small creel
flowing into the river. The men concealed them
selves among The bushes as quick az possible
the Indian crawled stnalthly to postio
yf0au,ewhat more advanced, conc6aiing. himse
jIchlndalnd the trunk Of fallen tree. He had cr
Y joined upon them MOTTO fire or maks,any nols
unit they should receive f-',shla Arer'aitFsis
nal. For somsS dIsancs. forwS 1Fof the plac
where he law II woods we're Falsrss'y ceear
under brush aud kind Of path, ~kieh skfred d
4 6ank or~the liver, crossed abe Greek near !
=, mouth, aboneTen rods from where the concealt
. soldiers were hid rom the position the lndis
Y :cupied the pass was in full view. In order
cross the stream, any one going along that pa
}, had TO descend about ten feet almost perpendi
-, ularIy so that while he was 10 the bed of Il
brook he could not be seen by those who shou
hapluu 30 be any distance behind.
:, The soldiers had not renamed in ambush Ion
4 when by'a quick sign, the scout gave them
q understand that some one approachng III
a soon saw an Indian coming at rapid but slle
3. pace along towards the crossing He had
. iittist got clearly in view, when at distance
~ about wo rods behind appeared another. and
40 on 10 The number Of seven. They were all
Ia war paint. armed with rifles and tomahaw
- The soldiers were all attention to The iposeme
i, of their guide, expecting every moment 10
:; crlve the signal to fire. To their surprise, he
10 ever, they saw him lay down his gun and DR.
T, from beneath The log long and powerful b
-, and d buudIe Of hlnl-bcaded. sharp-poiufed
-. roSs. He then turned himself about under
ss,..A faced ,uespa,t, IN tts creek.
N. ssssI'he arrange Endi1ns appeared 10 move
nor ward without the leastetesotieno Euspioi
ii, The foremost of them on comiis to the ere
,,. dropprd at once down 10 Gloss it. AT this
IN tntnt the guide was observed to draw his /
u. with powerful effort; and 50 rapidly as ala
ana tn eIude the sgb,, nm arrow was sped on its
an 81 N o. death. The stranger dropped in
tho middle If the stream. and not cry Issued f
,s- his mouth. Quick as ghlning the Mohlcan
r.r ju.ted an arrow, So that as soon as the sec
Huron had dropped dow,ito cross the stream
.,, too was obs rived 10 reel and fall without
gle groan.
In the same ,nanner was the third and fo
and the fifth Huron pierced as he eaped into
zee, fatal ditch. They were so close to each OF
ees and the whole scene passed with such mir,
~" Inns silence and rap,dity. that none of thcm
his observed the fate of his comrades until he
me met his own. The sixth Indian, however, b.
fllt' little more behind than the Others SCENE
nde be somewhat surprised that he did not see
before him on the Opposite bank. For this
son he descended into the gully with a
,ooi more hesitation. lie was Immediately ava
,uu- the horrible tate that had arrested their steps
afro sllenccd their tongues. He endeayored /,
ril; coil, hut it was already TOO late. A fatal mil
,lher was also on the wing for him. He was st
in like the resl but not with immediate death.
The he had time to raise INTO the depths of the f
arm one of those appalling yels of warning and
full which announces among the people of his
The presence of mortal danger.