Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-05-01
Mlisrellanp.
Adventures of a Ranger.


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Adventures of a Ranger.
We do not know that we can gil a few pages
more proftably than by relating an adventure
of our friend and neighbor, Mr.. Higgins, as we
have heard it from his own mouth. He resides
within few miles of Vandalia, and receives
pension from the United States for his services.
The following statement may be relied upon, as
Mr.. Higgins is man of strict veracity; his
companions have eorroborated his narrative. and
his wounds afford ample proof Of his courage
and sufferings.
Tom Higgins, as he i usually called. is ns"
tive of Kentucky, and is one of the best exam
pies extant of the genuine backwoodsman.
During the last war, at the age of nineteen, he
enlisted in the Rangers, q corpse of mounted
men, raised expressly for the protection of the
western frontiers On the 18th Of August,
1914, he was one of the party of twelve men,
ender the command of Lieutenant Journey. who
were posted at Hill's station, a small stockade,
about eight miles south of the present village
of Greenville, and something more than twenty
miles from Vandalia. These towns were not
then in existence, and the surrounding country
was one vast wilderness. During the day last
mentioned, "Iudian signs" were seen about
half q mile from the station, and at night the
savages were discovered prowling near the fort,
but no alarm was given. On the following
morning early, Mr.. Journey moved out with
his party in pursuit of the Indians. Passing
round the fence of corn-feld, adjoining the
fort, they struck across the prairie, and had not
proceeded more than quarter of mile, when,
in crossing small ridge, which was covered
with hazle thicket and in full view of the
station, they fell into an ambuscade of the In
dians, who rose suddenly around them, to the
number of seventy Or eighty, and fired. Four
of the party were killed, among whom was
Lieutenant Journey; one other fell, badly
wounded, and the rest fled except Higgins.
1t was an uncommonly sultry morning; the
day was just dawning heavy dew had faller
the preceding night; the air was still and hu-
mid, and the smoke from the guns hung in g
heavy cloud. Higgins surviving companions
had escaped, supposing that all who were left
were dead, or that at all events it would b.
rashness to attempt to rescue them from SO over
whelming force. Higgins horse had beer
shot through the neck, and fell to his knees and
rose several times Believing the animal NOR
tally wounded, he dismouuted, but finding tha
the wound had not greatly disabledhim he con
tinued to hold the bride; for, as he now fel
confident of being able to make good his retreat
he determined to fire off his gun before he re
tired. He looked round for tree. There wa
but one, small elm, and he made for this, in
tending to shoot from behind it; but at thi
moment the Gle of smoke rose partially fror
before him, disclosing to his view number @
Indians none of whom discovered him. On
of them stood within few PAGES, loading hi
gun, and at him Higgins took deliberate all
and fired, and the Indian fell. Mr.. Higgins
still concealed by the smoke, re loaded his gun
mounted, and turned to fly, when voice nea
him hailed him with -
"Tom, you won't leave me !? -
On looking round he discovered the speake
to be one of his companions named Burgess
who was lying wounded on the ground, and
replied instantly
"No: III not leave you. Come along, an
I'll take care of you"
"l cannot Gomez replied Burgess; " my le
is smashed all to pieces"
Higgins sprung from his saddle, and pickir
up his comrade, whose ankle-bone was broke
In his arms, he proceeded to lift him on h
horse, telling him to fly, and that he wou
make his own way on foot, but the horse taki
fright at this instant, darted off, leaving Hi
gins and his wounded friend, on foot. Still t
cool bravery of the former was sufficient for e
cry emergency, and setting Burgess down gent
he told him" Now, my good fellow, you mt
hop on three legs, while stay between you a
the Indians, and keep them off," (nstructi
him, at the same time, to get into the high
grass, and crawl as close to the ground as pos
BILE. Burgess followed his advice and escaT
unnoticed. History does not relate more
teresting act of heroism than this of Higgi
who, having in his hands the certain means
escape from such imminent peril, voluntal
gave them up, by offering his horse to wou
ed comrade; and who, when that generous
tention was defeated, and his own retreat '
still practicable, remained, OF the hazard of
life, to protect his crippled friend.
The cloud of smoke, which had partia
opened before him, as he faced the enemy, {
lay thick behind him, and as he plunged thro
this, he left it, together with the ridge and
hazle thicket, between him and the main b
of the Indians, and was retiring, unobserved
them. Under these circumstances, it is pre-
Bile that if he had retreated in direct line
wards the station, he might easily have effe'
his escape; but Burgess was slowly craw
away in that direction, and the gallant Higg
who coolly surveyed the whole ground, fore
that if he pursued the same track, and shc
be discovered his friend would be endangere,
He therefore took the heroic resolution Of
verging from the true course so far, as that
of the enemy who should follow him, W
not fall in with Burgess With this intent
he moved steadily along through the smoke
bushes, intending when he emerged, to re
at full speed. But as he left the thicket h
held large Indian near him, and two o
on the other side, in the direction of the
Tom coolly surveyed his foes, and began to Q
out his track for, although in the comic
of his own activity and courage, he felt u
mayed at such odds, yet he found it nece
to act the general. Having an enemy on
flank, he determined to separate them, and