The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-04-12
Mislfllanfons.
JAMES MORGAN.


st an early are. and soon after settled near Bry-
ant, station. in the wids Of kentucky. Like
most pioneers of the west he had cut down the
cane. built cabin, deadened the timber, enclosed
a field with a worm fence, and planted some
corn. w
1t was on the 9TH of August, l7s2.-The sun
had descended pleasant breeze was pEv'hE
through the surrounding wood, the cane bowed
under its Influence, and the broad green leaves
of the corn waved in the air. Morgan mad
seated himself in the door of his cabin. with his
infant on his knee. His young aud happy wife
had laid aside her spinning wheel, and was h'S-
" engaged in preparing the frugal meal. That
afternoon he had accidentally found bundle OF
letters. which he had finished reading TO his wife
before he had taken his seat in the door. 1t WAS
correspondence in which they acknowledged an
early and ardent attachment for each other, and
the pcrusal left evident traces Of JOY III the conh-
tenance of both; the little infant, too, seemed
to partake of its parents feelings. bv It's cheer
ul smiles plavful humor, and intantile care>$cS
While thus agrecaLlv employed, the report q;
q rifle was heard, another followed III quick sue
cc<>ou. Morgan sprang to his feet MS WIG
ran to the door, and they simultaneously en-
claimed. indians"
The door was immediately barred and the
next moment, their fears were realized by bod
and spirited attack Of a small party OF Indians
The cabin could not be successfully defended,
and time was precious Morgan, cool. brave and
prompt, soon decided While he WIS in the act
of conccaling his wife under the floor, a mothers
fcelinrs overcome hcr-she arose, seized the IN
FAINT but was afraid that its cries would betrav
her place of conccalment.- hcSltatcd-
cazcd silently upon it-a mom"ntary stru@JIe
between duty and affection took rIac' She
once more pressed her child to her a@tat"d bo-
som. and again and again kissed it with lmraS-
sonate tenderness. The infant. alarmed at the
profusion of tears that fell upon its cheek, look
"a ~, !, its mothers face threw ITS niue arms
aronnd her neck and wcpt aiono;-,, l" ','F
s'amn of Heaven, Eliza. release the c!''i", or De
,.n s.;J the distracted husband. III SOFT ana
;n,norno tone, as he forced the l"'''' rom '''>
~" ':i LaS,;Iy took up his gun and hatchet' ran
ur ,bn ladder that led to his chamber ana "rew
uP t I;,r In moment the door WAS burst
omen and the sava@cS entered. ~. ILL, :,
Rv ,his time Morgan had secured his cn''' III
h,r and lsshed it to his back ticn '"F'M','S
off some clapboards from The CABIN : fo"'' nc
rason,olv leaned to the ground. lie Was aS>"O,-
.sIL,. ,;r, Jnlians. As the first arproach'u'
~ ~ Lnacl..5 him down with the butt end o' Ills
l.,' rho other advanced with ul,ltr1 t""a-
Iawk: Morgan let fall his gun and e''se" ',u"I ~;
The savare made a blow, missed D",
the chord that bound the infant TO Ills o''IN anu
i f.lI The contest over the chm" NO" ',c"'',t
w,r,n and fierce, and was carried 0" Will N''NI>
.nI,. Tbe robust and athletic Morgan got 'i'e
o,nsnJoncv. both were badly cut, and hcd irec'!;
,,'. .I,o stabs of the white man were better ana
9""r S"s wv ord tho savage soon fell to the earth III
ds, ds,ih. Morgan hastily took up his child and
"1' Tho n Indian, in the house, buSily engaged IN
Jr;nL;nr and plundcrng were not aVpr'>ca o,
the contest in the yard, until the one t'"' nv" M
iaon knocked down, gave signs OF returning lI'"
III oalloJ them to the scene OF action. MorSa"
m.s discovered, immediately pursued aud Il doS
,n, u,on his trail. Operated upon by all thr
fceIpas Of husband and father nc '"'' :" "'V''
all the spccd of hunted stag and 500" I"'
strinpcd the Indians. but the d"S kept III c'>e
nursuit Finding it Impossible u """"'' V,
clpda the cunning animal, trained 70 i""'> -
this kind, he halted and waltcl un''i conn,
within few wards Of him, fired an1 brought
him down. In short time he reached inc
hnmso of his brother, who resided near bryant
..a,;or at Lexington. where he left the chiI''
anJ tho two brothers set out for the 1""''Ih='
Astbev approached light broke in upon his 'ic%L -,
-. s,oy nn,;ckcued. his fear increased ana th"
most anonizinr apprehensions cr3wIei upon ms n,
;,J Emcrfina from the cancbr'kc hc h'iicIH
his house in flames, and almost n"r'', I" ',''
aruud. "My wife" he cXcia'"'g'' "' hr
ssrossnd one hand 20 his forehead, ana "f'Sl""
ih fence with the other, to SUPPORT ms '"',''!'2
s.au,n lie razcd on the ruin an" H;-"E'''""
,as,rc l', him, advanced few PAGES ami i''l 'S-
baustcd to the earth. t, .o
I'm E7und him seated near the almost "X
:.;,,t ombers. In his right hand he hrId
ln,Ii stick. with which he was tracing ,''e i''' liz,
81 :. Eliza" on the ground, aud ms icit hI'u E'E
~ h;. fayoritc dog, that lay by his Sr'" looking
e.. On the ruins, then on his master VII" WI ''''
M. n. 81 s;ars Of Grief. Morgan arose. Inc Nv"
oe"I now made search and found some bones
pro'a',. ashes. which they carefully gafh"r"d'
O"1''t ,an,iv y, consigned to the mother 'arth' "r
""', ~ u'Js snrcsd branches Of q Hr"cr'o'' U'N'
ne"'n oya.' ~"J '1 by the purcst and h"ir~' r"r"r-
''o.!o, o,cr,I davs after this, Morgan wa, ""TS""
Sc''''. ", h.ttIo at the lower Blue Lacks
in 4eIlyas'o oo,nc Of yictors. and the surviving
lne i"u', ro."rncJ across the Licking, pursued U!
,,omv for distance OF SIX Hi ''''''! SsoI
' lame. Morgan was among the la,t VIII I'm .os
-" r:,cr and wa, in the rear UNI! ''' '',',
',..,..,},J y hr i"ir.i t!''' li'''''' ''''il