Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-04-29
THE BAD FLINT:
T II z MAJOR'S S L 0 R Y

The Major and were seated one cold
evening before roasting fire OF shed bark
hickory, in log house on the banks OF
the Ohio; large jug of cider stood steam
ing on the hearth, and cob pipe was on
duty with both of us.
How'd you make out with the turkeys
yesterday p asked the Major.
'Col. Clem killed four and | three, and
| should have killed four too, but con-
founded bad flint that-'
Don't YOU find fault with bad flint
interrupted the Major-I never do
Now look here, Major said |, that's
all very well to say now, but you have a
fellow just one turkey ahead of you, and
scare up fat old gohbler; you draw a
bead on him-click-Mr. Gobbler looks
around at me, as much as to say, go there
yourself your another; and after swapping
at him half dozen times | threw down
my Gun in despair, and then it went off
and so did the turkey
We'll, that would have made me riley,
said the Major, but never cuss flint,
since the time one saved not only my life
but seven others"
How was that, Major! Just fill your
pipe, take pull at the jug, and then give
us the story comfortably
Just after built this cabin, which was
in its time, the finest one in the country,
go by 60 feet,) had with me an Indian
about forty years old ; he never went out
after game but | was sure of some OF 1t,
and many saddle of vspison has Red
Jacket hing up in this old house. |
called him Red Jacket. | bought him a
large 'Mackinaw,' rom trading.boat one
New Years day, and ever after he was
known by that name. Col. Glenn came
over here one day, and said he Major,
ther's half a dozen of US made up our
minds to take trip to Chicago, and we
want you TO 90 along, and take Red Jacket
for guide, for he knows every inch Of
the ground
when do you start! said |.
in three days ; so you and Red Jacket
getyour rifles cleaned, take plenty of tlinls,
balls, powder, mould and all the hxens
for two weeks hunt, and be ready on
Monday, when we come along
Chicago was about 400 miles to the
no'th'ard, and il was long tramp 10 take
in winter but | was young and strong, and
could drill squirrels head at 60 yards.
Red Jacket was keen to GO, so we fixed
for ii, and on Monday, about 8 clock,
five stout hardy backwoodsmen, with
Col. Glen at their head, stood before
Just such fire as this, in this room. Col.
CLem had been with Gen. Harrison against
The Indians and was just the man 10 head
such party. We started, and | needn' t
describe all our adventures on that tramp;
of course we had lots of all kinds of meat.
| generally cooked my venison on a stick
before the fire, and ate it when about one
third raw, which Think is about the only
decent way. We camped at dark; each
man rolled in his blanket, with his feet TO
the fire. and laid himself out for the night,
after listening to Col. Clem's yarns about
his adventures among the Indians, for he
was an old scout, and hau seen service.
After sixteen days tramp, we arrived
at Chicago, then but small village; we
STAYED there about week, and started
hack. When within about three days
march Of home we had all nearly lost our
sealps. 1t had been showing all day, and
we had about two miles to 60 TO reach
spring between two knobs, ,whele we were