The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-12-26

a Wonderful Escape.-l777.


On The banks Of tho beautiful Mo.
hawk. where the town of Rome now
stands stood. during the Revolution. "A
strong fertilization, erected, in conncc-
tiun with others. IN 1jS. to keep open
the communication between the NJ Mohawk
Valley and Lake OAtarip. aud to protect
the Iudini trade. At the opening of
the contest between the colonies and the
mother country. Fort S,auwiX was al.
most III ruins Situated as it was at
that time. On the extreme utskirts Of
the white settemouts. il was an impor.
tant post, yet it was not until the Spring
Of ~, that it was repaired by Gen
Sch1y Ter in whose name it was the chlis.
tened
Early in the spring oftlat year, Thay.
endauegca. or Braut. the chief Sachem
of the Six Nations, made his appearance.
in the Valley Of the Mohawk, with
large body Of warriors, und from his own
confessions, it became evident that the
Indians had been induced By the British
10 take up the hatchet in their contest,
aud that the settlements in that beauti.
fll region Of the country woull b. the
object Of the assault. Congress saw the
necessity of protecting the northern and
western frontiers, and Gen Schuyler was
directed TO repair Fort Stanwx. and ..
rect others should he deem it necessary.
Col. Dayton was detailed By Schuyler to
Fort Stanwx. 1t was while he was en-
IN itl, -
County militia in its repairs, that the
Incident ! am about to relalo occurred
The commaudant Of one q: the com
panle' of militia was Captain Gregg, a
young man of noble appearance, aud pos
scsscd Of all iron constitution, which in
connection with bis temperate habits and
happy disposition, enabled him to pass
through, with life. an ordeal such as man
never passed through befpre
Notwithstanding the immediate vci.
nifty Of the troops, the Indians in small
parties were constantly watching for op.
portunities to cut off stragglcrs from tho
garrison, aud even children were not ex.
empt from death by the tomabawk and
scaIling knife.
Regardless Of the danger, and dospis.
ing the foe whom he hated with the ar.
dent hatred of a frontiersman Gregg
started from the fort one morning in
company with three comrades, for the
purpose of shooting game. One of his
companions was boy of thirteen. by the
name Of Wilson. who.frcm fear that they
might meet with Indians. was sent bacl,
to the fort, lie lived to become ensign
IN the American army. and at tho sur.
render of Csruwalls was appointed to re-
ceive the colors Of the various British
regiments.
Gregg and the two soldiers, relieved
OF the care of the boy, proceeded to the
nelghboring woods, where they entered
with zest upon the pursuit OF game.
They had been thus engaged but short
time when, simultaneously. the crack of
three rifles, sounding almost as one,
brought them all down The two soldi
ers were killed outright, and Gregg re.
eeived ball which passed through his
left arm into his body and he fell to the
ground seriously and dangerously wound.
ed. Raising himself on his arm he lock.
ed around for his comrades, and saw an
Indian in the act of scolping one of them
another bearing off in triumph the reek
ing trophy Of the second, while at the
same moment that he had made this dis
covery the leaves parted and a third red
skin warrior, with his face smeared will
his war paints, his head decked will
feathers, and his tomahawk raised, rush
ed upon him. lie succeeded in dodgn;
the first blow, aimed at his head. whicl
took effect in his back, iuaietiug a deeI
wound. The second and third were NOR