Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-14
An Incident in the War Of 1912.

Indeed. tits al envied spot! -.
An Incident in the War Of 1879
At the battle, Of Plattsburg, in 1872,
during the din and uproaf of the heavy
cannonade on lake and land, there ap-,
peared before the commanding officer an
unknown Indian, clad in the widest saw
age costume, covered with war paint and
armed to the teeth, who gave information
of the approach : through the woods On
the south bank of the Saranac, of con-
siderable body Of British, accompanied
by a small body of Hurons, or Canadian
Indians, who acted as guides and scouts.
1t is we'll known that one column of the
British army, under command OF, Gen.
Brisbane, had approached Plattsbrrg
froAHthe west along the Deekmantown
road, to the north of, the Saranac. The
American army was not entrenched on
the south bank in the angle formed by
the river and lake. 6 II will, therefore,
be readily understood that the approach
of this new force would place the Amer
cans in a position sufficiently critical, to
say nothing of the dangers to which they
We're already exposed -.-..7 --'iot '..o :
The information brought by the saw
age was too important to be wholly
sighted, and came in too suspicious a
manner to be wholly trusted. The Off
Ger, therefore, thought best to interrogate
the messenger. .lGC o. g2olH ;.s-.s,-. 'a
Who are you, my friend g said he.
=" Mohican, was the laconic reply. :
% What is your name O.
q IStockbridge HANK answered the
stranger. 3-,f.E sGt -Gd} 20 ,-r1'tgE ~.
"W Where did you come, from and why
arc you here 2" pursued the officer.
''Indian come from the Dutch rivers, :"
replied he. ~5rr-". t5.-'o 6 -5.i....
but ttwhy are you here, L say !''
=" Why are the Mingoes in the woods 2
Can the captain tell that r" replied the
savage, his eyes flashing fire. 49,.
Does anybody know this person 2"
asked the officer, turning to the bystand-
ers. But no one replied. for no one knew
him. .r...... ....,.:. go
4" What do you want me to do, then !''
said the officer to the Indian, still suspi-
ciouS. ~ -.j - 'sI E e
& Take four-seven-ten soldiers" re-
piled the savage. holding up both hands,
spreading his fingers. :" Me take 'em and
wait for Mingoes in the woods '-'
He is right, by JoveE exclaimed the
officer. :. The men are to few too have an
ambush laid for them, and We need a pi-.
quet of that kind. The red-skin must be
frienh hly after all. Let nine picked men,
headed byfa corporal, 60 with him; but
let them be ever watchful and keep on
their guard, and let me be Informed of the
first approach of any enemy in that direc-
ton.
The officer turned away The men
were quickly detailed, and guided by the
Indian, they took their silent way in the
woods, up the south bank of the Saranac,
down which the new hostile force was
reported to becoming. They moved for
ward rapidly for about half an hour, when
the Indian began to- proceed with more
caution, and to listen for every unusual
sound that disturbed the forest. At last
putting his ear close TO the ground, he
listened for a moment, and then quickly
rising up he made a9rapid sign to the
soldiers to betake themselves to q neigh
boring thicket, which bordered small
creek flowing into the river. The men
concealed themselves among the bushes
as quick as possible, while the Indian
crawled stealthilyto to position somewhat
more advanced, concealing himself behind
the trunk of a fallen tree. He had en-
Joined upon them not to fire or make a
noise, until they should receive from him
a certain signal. For some distance for.
ward Of the place where he lay, the woods
were tolerably clear Of underbrush, and
kind Of path which skirted the bank of
the river across the creek near its mouth.
about ten rods from where the soldiers
were concealed. From the position the
Indian occupied, this pass was in full
view. In order to cross the stream any
one going along that path had to descend
about, ten feet, perpendicular; so that
| when he was in the bed of the brook he
could not be seen by those who should
happen to be any distance behind. 5.A-
The soldiers had not remained in am
bush long, when, by a quick sign, the
scout gave them to understand that some
one was approaching. They soon saw
an Indian coming at a rapid but silent
pace, along toward the crossing He had
but Just got clearly into view, when at a
distance of about two rods behind, ap-
peared another, and so on to the number
of seven: They were att in war paint,
and armed with rifles and temahawks.
The soldiers were alt attention to the
movements Of theiE gas guide, Expecting every.