The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-03-13
"Agrtculture, Commerce, ManGactu

fight as we'll as die This place | leave not
Here my bones shall lie, bleaching with
yours; and should either of you escape, you
will carry the tidings of my death to my few
relations"
Remonstrances proved fruitless. The two
spies quickly matured their plan of defence,
and vigorously commenced the attack from
the front, where, from the very small back
bone of the mount, the savages had to adj
vance in single file and without any covert.
Beyond this neck the warriors availed them
selves of rocks and trees in advancing, but
in passing from one to the other they must
be exposed for a short time, and moments
exposure of their swarthy forms was enough
for the unerring rifles of the spies. The In
dians being entirely ignorant Of how many
were in ambuscade, were more cautious how
they advanced
After bravely maintaining the fight in
front and keeping the enemy in check, they
discovered a new danger threatening them
The arch foe now made evident prepara-
tions to attack them on the flank, which
could be more successfully done BY reaching
an isolated rock lying in one of the ravlnes
on the southern hillside. This rock once
gained by the Indians, they could bring the
spies under point-blank shot Of the rifle
without the possibility of escape. Our brave
spies saw the utter hopelessness of their sit
uation, which nothing could avert but a
brave companion and an unerrinS shot,
These they had not, but the brave never des
pair. With this impending fate resting upor
them, they continued calm and calculating
and as unweared as the strongest desire OF
life and the resistance of numerous fot
could produce.
Soon MCleland saw tall and swarthy
figure preparing to spring from a covert 81
near to the fatal rock that bound or two
would reach 1t, and all hope of life was thel
gone. He felt that all depended on one sin
gle advantageous shot. Although but al
inch or two of the warriors body was ex
posed and at distance of eighty or a hun
dred wards, he resolved to risk all He cool
ly raised his rifle to Ills face, and SHADING
the sight with his hand, he drew the bead 81
sure that he felt conscious it would do tn
work. He touched the trigger with his fin
ger. the hammer came down, but, in plac
of striking fire, it broke his flint into man,
pieces; and although he felt that the Indial
must reach the rock before he could adjus
another flint, he proceeded to the task wit
the utmost COmpOSurc.
Casting his eye towards the fearful point
suddenly he saw the warrior stretching ever
muscle for the leap; and with the agility O
panther he made the spring. but instead Q
reaching the rock, hc gave yell, and hi
dark body fell and rolled down the stee
into the valley below He had evidentl
received death-wound from some unknown
hand. A hundred voices re-echoed from
below the terrible shout. 1t was eviden
they had lost favoritc warrior, as we'll a
being disappointed for time of the mos
important movement. A very few minute
proved that the advantage gained would b
of short duration; for already the spies say
glimpse of tall swarthy warrior cautious
ly advancing to the covert so recently occu
pied by his fellow companion. Now, too
the attack in front was renewed with in
creased fury, so as to require the incessan
fire Of both spies to prevent the Indians from
gaining the eminenCe, and in a short tim
MCleland saw a warrior making prepara
tons to leap to the fatal rock. The lea
was made, and the Indian turning a sOmer
set, his corpse rolled down the hill toward
his former companion. Again an unknown
agent had interposed in their behalf. Thi
second sacrifice cast dismay into the rank
of their assailantS; and, just as the sun wa
disappearing behind the western hills, tn
| foe withdrew to a short distance, to devils
some new mode of attack. This respit
came most seasonably to our spies, who ha
kent their ground and brayely maintaine,