Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-05-12

an with knives only. The robust and
athletic Morgan at length got the ascen-
dancv: both were badly cut, and bled
freely, but the stabs ofthe white man were
better and deeper, and the savage fell TO
the earth. Morgan hastily took up his
child and hurried off.
The Indians in The house, busily enga-
ged in drinking and plunderlng, were not
apprised of the contest in the yard unit!
the one that had been knocked down gave
sicns of returning life, and called them TO
The scene of action.
Morgan was discovered, Immediately
pursued, and dog put upon his trail.
Operated upon by all the feeling of hus
hand and father, lie moved with all the
s2ecd of hunted stag, and soon outslrip-
ned the Indians, but The dog keptin close
pursuit. Finding it impossible to Outrun
.or elude The cunning animal, trained 10
hunts of this kind, he halted and waited
I,iIl il came within a few rods of him, fred
and brought him to the ground. In
short time he reached the house of his
brother. who resided near Byranl's Sta
Iuon, at Lexington, where he left the child
and the brothers left for the dwelling. As
they approached, light broke upon his
view-his steps qulckened as his fears in.
creased, and the most agonizng apprehen-
Sions crowded upon his mind. Emerging
from the cane brake, he beheld his house
in flames and almost burnt TO the ground.
"My wife = he exclaimed, as he pressed
one hand 10 his forehead and graspeG the
fence with the other, to support his totter-
ing frame. He gazed on the ruin and
desoalion before him, advanced few
PAGES, and fell exhausted to the earth.
Morning came, and the luminary Of
heaven arose, and still found him seated
near the expiring embers. In his right
hand he held small stick, with which
he was tracing the name "Eliza" on the
ground, and his left hand lay on his fa-
vorite dog by his side. Looking first on
tile ruins and then on his dog, with evil
dent signs of grief, Morgan arose. The
two brothers now made search, which they
gathered and silently confined TO the
mother earth, beneath the high spreading
! OIdllCUCS vi d fCHCldOlC OdN NOiS' u E'CN
by the purest and hottest recollections.
Several days after this, Morgan was en-
gagged in desperate battle al the lower
Blue Lichs. The Indians came off victo-
liously, and the Surviving whites retreated
across the Licking, pursued by the enc
nv, for the distance of thlrty-six miles.
James Morgan was among the last who
crossed the river. and was in the rear until
the hill was descended. AS he beheld the
Indians re-appear on the ridge, he felt and
saw his wrongs, and recollected the love-
ly object of his affections. He urged his
horse and pressed TO the front. While in
the act of eaping from his saddle, he re-
ceived rifle ball in his thigh, and fell; an
Indian sprang upon him, seized him by
the hair, and applied the caIping knife.
AT this moment Morgan cast up his eyes
and recognized the handkerchief that
bound the head of the savage, and knew
it TO be his wiie's.
This added renewed strength to his
body, and increased his activity to fury.
He quickly threw his left arm around the
Indian, and, with death grasp hugged
him to his bosom, plunged his knife into
his side and he expired in his arms. Re-
leasing himself from the savage; Morgan
crawled under a small oak. on an elevated
piece of ground, "A short distance from him;
the scene of action shifted, and he remain
ed undiscovered and unscalped, an anX-
ious spectator Of the battle.
1t was now midnight. The savage
band had, after taking all the scalps they
could find, left the battle ground. Nor
gan was seated at the foot of the oak, It's
trunk supporting his head, the ragged and
uneven ground that surrounded him was
covered with the slain, the once white and
projecting rocks, bleached by the rain and
sun of centuries, were crlmsoned with
blood that had warmed the heart and ami
mated the bosom of the soldier.
The pale glimme:ing of The moon occa-
sionallv threw faint light upon the
manged bodies of the dead; then passing
cloud enveIoped all in darkness and gave
additional terror to the feeble cries OF
few still lingering in the last agonles OF
nrotracted death, rendered doubIy appal-
ling by the hoarse growI of the bear the
loud howl of the wolf, and the shrlll and
varied notes of the wild cat and panther
feeding on the dead and dying. Morgan
beheId the scene with heart-rending sem
satlons, and looked forward with The apa-
thy Of despair to his own end.
A large ferocious looking bear, covereu
all over with blood, now approached him;
. he threw himself on the ground; silently
commended his soul to Heaven, and IN
breathless anxiety awaited his fate. lhe