Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-09-24

on the east end of the peninsula, before
the war of 1919, and had forsaken them
after ''Hull's surrender"
The wheat cribs were found to be stu
ated so much nearer the lake than the
bay, that it was thought best TO return
TO the boats and take them into lake,
and thence 10 place called 1.-TWO Har
bors, not far from the wheat they were
after. On the return of the detachment,
the men were allowed to do pretty much
as they pleased, no! suspecting that the
willy savages were in their neighborhood.
A few Indians, in the interest of the Brit
ish, h d been lurking about the Islands
and the peninsula for some time. watch
ing for an opportunity to cut of some pa
trolling party, or single individuals as
chances might offer.
Capt. Cotton having discovered no
Indians, or signs ofany on his way north,
suffered his men to separate into differ
ent bodies, for the more thorough exam
inalion of the deserted gardens and wa
ter melon patches on their return to their
boats. While in this situation, the In
dians commenced firing upon struggling
party, passing through corn6eld, as l
was informed by one of Capt. Colton's
sergeants, Thomas Hamilton. with whom
1 had beenwell acquainted for same six
or eight years. This firing soon brought
together a considerable portion of Capt.
Cottons's men, who, instead of retreat.
ing, boldly met the enemy, and a spirit
ed skirmish ensued. Capt. Cotton,
though not skilled as disciplinarian. or
praciiced in Indian warfare, was never
lheless bod and intrepid commander;
and b. a charge with the bayonet, routed
his unseen enemies from their hiding
places, exposing them in then hasty re-
treat, 10 calling FIRE of musketry. How
many of our men were killed or wound
ed in this first skirmish, am moi able to
state with certainty. The wounde1
were placed under care of an escort, 10
be conveyed to the boats. while Capt
Cotton persisted in his search after the
Indians. Every move, now, was mark
ed with precaution. SPIES were sent in
advance to guard against surprise, and 10
give TO the commander seasonable no
lice of the whereabouts of the enemy
In the careful discharge of their duty,
the spies had not proceeded far from the
main body, following the direction
pointed out to them by Capt. Cotton)
they came in sight of two or three Indi-
ans, who. evidently. were runners, sent
out to watch the movements of the Yam
KEGS; and. if possible, to draw them into
an ambuscade. One of The spies FORUM
atelY discovered the Indians first, and
covering himself behind large standing
tree, fred his musket at the one nearest
to him. That he hit him, either with
the ball or some of the buck shot, with
which his gun was charged, he felt sure,
from the unsteady manner in which the
Indian arose and fled away, without dis
charging his own gun, which no warrior
would have failed to do, unless sorely
disabled. Some few more shots passed
between the spies and one or two Indi
ans which had ''lreed"-as they are
wont to do-when the enemy began 10
show themselves in greater force. Capt.
Cotton's men came up about the same
time. 1t was running fight through
out; the commander relied more upon
the bayonet than the ball; and from
whatever quarter his men were fred
upon, he instantly ordered charge TO-
wards the covert from whence the firing
proceeded, thus unmasking his conceal
ed foe to the raking fire of his musketry.
This unexpected mode of warfare tended
to divide the combatants on each side,
and multiply skirmishes in different
directions. Such was the actual re-
suit of the first battle, or, more prop
erly, the irst skirmish between the Mill
tia of Ohio, and the red Allies of the Brit
ish in the war of 1912
Carried away by their military enthu.
siasm, considerable portion of Capt.
Coton's command, led on by Sergeant
Thomas Hamilton-an intrepid soldier -
pursued the Indians so long. at contin-
ued charge, that they became entirely
separated from the rest Of the detach
ment. Hayi G dispersed the enemy,
and silenced their firing. these brave
men turned towards their bosts, h4pin.,
to overiake that part of the detachment
from which they had separated. in sea-
son toembark with them. Retracing their
steps they found that they had pursued |
the Indians further into the woods than
they had anticipated; and having 10 take
along one or two wounded men with
them. their progress was muoh impeded.
When they came up in sight of the bay |
and lake, they discovered their boats al |
ready out of the bay, heading towards
the mouth OF the Huron, and rowing vig-
orou>ly, beeling of the remainder of
Capt. .COttan command. They felt
--n .sHcrsF ~