The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-04-04
A Thrilling Narrative.

Like most pioneers OF the west, be had cut down
the cane, built a cabin, deadened the timber,
enclosed field with worm fence, and planted
some corn. 1t was on the l7th of August,
1889. The sun had descended, a pleasant
breeze was playing through the surrounding
wood, the cane bowed under its influence, and
the broad leaves of corn waved in the air.
Morgan had seated himself in the door of his
cabin, with his infant on his knee. His Young
and happy wife had laid aside her spinning
Wheel and was busily engaged in preparing
the frugal meal. That afternoon he acciden-
tally found bundle of letters which he had
finished reading to his wife before he had taken
his seat in the door. 1t was a correspondence
in which they acknowledg ged an early and ar
dent attachmentto to each other, and the perusal
left evident traces of Joy in the faces of both,
the little infant too, seemed to partake of its
kind parents feelings, by cheerful smiles,
playful bumor, and infantile caresses. While
thus agreeably employed, the report of rifle
was heard, another followed in quick succession
Morgan sprang to his feet, his wife ran to the
door, and they simultaneously exclaimed
"Indiansp'
The door was instantly barred, and the next
instant their fears were realized by bold and
spirited attack of a small party of Indians.
The cabin could not be successfully defended,
and time was precious. Morgan, cool, brave
and prompt, soon decided. While he was in
the act of concealng her under the floor,
mothers feelings overcome her-she arose,
seized the infant, but was afraid that its cries
would betray its place of concealment. She
hesitated -gazed silently upon ia momen-
tary struggle between duty and affection took
place. She once more pressed her child to her
bosom, and again kissed it with impassionate
tenderness. The infant, alarmed at the profu-
sion of tears that fell upon its cheeks, looked
up in its mothers face, threw its little arms
around her neck, and wept aloud. 'sIn the name
of heaven, Eliza, release the child, or be lost"
said the distracted husband, in soft imploring
tone, as he forced the infant from his wife,
hastily took up his gun, knife and hatchet, ran
up the ladder that led to the chamber, and
burst open and the savages entered
By this time Morgan had secured his child
in bag and lashedit to his back, and then
throwing off some clapboards from the cabin
roof he resolutely leaped to the ground. He
was assailed by two Indians. AS the first ap-
preached he knocked him down with the butt
end of his gun. The other advanced with up
lifted tomahawk, Morgan let fall his gun and
closedin
The savage made blow, missed, but Sc
vered the cord that bound the infant to his back
and IL fell. The contest over the child now be-
came warm and fierce, and was carried on with
knives only. The robust and athletic Morgan
at length got the ascendency, both were badly
cut, and bed freely, but the stabs of the white
man were deeper and deeper, and the savage
fell to the earth. Morgan hastily took up the
child and hurried off.
The Indians in the house, bascly engaged in
drinking and pundering, were not apprised of
the contest in the yard until the one that had
been knocked down gave signs 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 feelings of husband and father,
he moved with all the speed of hunted stag,
and soon outstripped the Indians, but the dog
kept in close pursuit. Finding it impossible to
outrun or elude the cunning animal, trained to
hunts of this kind, he halted and waited till it
came within a few yards of him. fired and
brought him to the ground. In a short time
he reached the house of his brother, who re-
sided near Bryant's station, at Lexington, where
he left the child, and the brothers left for the
dwelling AS they approached, light broke
upon his view-his steps quickcning, his fears
increased, and the most agonizing apprehen-
sons 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 to his fore
head and graspcd the fence with the other, to
support his tottering frame. He gazed on the
ruin and desolation 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 expir-
ing embers. In his right hand he held
small stick, with which he was tracing the name
of "Eliza' on the ground, and his left hand
lay on his favorie dog by his side, looking first
on the ruins and then on his dog, with evident
signs of grief, Morgan arose. The two brothers
now made search, and found some bones burned
to ashes, which they gathered and silently con-
fined to the mother earth, beneath the high
spreading branches of venerable oak conse-
Grated by the purest and holiest re;olectons.
Several days after this, Morgan was engaged
in a desperate battle at the lower Blue Lcks.
The Indians came off VIGOROUSLY, and the sur
viving whites retreated across the Licking,
pursued by the enemy for distance of SIX and
thirty 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
reappear on the ridge, he felt and saw his
wrongs, and recollected the lovely object of his
affections. He urged his horse and pressed to
the 'front.' While in the act of leapng from
his saddle, he received a rifle ball in his thigh
and fell, the Indian sprang upon him, seized
him by the hair, and applied the scalping knife:
At this moment Morgan cast up his eyes and
recognised the handkerchief that bound the
head of the savage, and knew it to be his wlfe'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
a death-like grasp, hugged him to his bosom,
plunged his knife into his side and he expired
in his arms. Releasing himself from the saw
age, Morgan crawled under small oak, on
an elevated piece of ground, short distance
from him, the scene of action shifted, and he re-
manned undiscovered and unscalped, IAN anxious
spectator of the battle.