Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-03-05
MILIERsBURG HOLMES COUNTY. OHIO THURSDAY MARCH

taken, il could only be done by the utmost
exertion. They were some hours ahead
and from the number of their horses mus
be mounted. Itwas evident that this band
had been south of the. Ohio and plundered
the homes of settlers. They had pounced
upon the family of Gray upon their re
turn. sr fls.sz Is t--..s 90 .ai,i
/ When the pursuit began, it must have
been two O'Clock, at least two hours had
been consumed by the spies in making the
necessary exploration about the house, ere
they approached it, aud in examining the
ruins. Not a word was spoken upon the
route by any one. Their leader kept stead
lily in advance Occasionally he would di-
verge from the track, but only to take ii
up again mile or so in advance. The
Captains intimate knowledge of the topo-
graphy of the country, enabled him to an
ticipate what points they would make.
Thus he gained rapidly upon them by pro-
ceeding more nearly in a straight line to-
ward the point at which they aimed to
coss the Beaver.
AT last, convinced from the general di-
rection in which the trail led, that he could
divine with obsolute certainty the spot
where they would ford that stream, he
abandoned it and struck boldly across the
country. The accuracy of his judgment
was vindicated by the fact that from an ell
evated crest of long line of hills, he saw
the Indians with their victims Just disap-
pearing up a ravine on The opposite side OF
the Beaver. He counted them as they
slowly filed away under the rays of. the de-
clining sun. There were thirteen warriors
eight of whom were, mounted another
woman besides Gray's wife, was in the Ca
valcade, and two children beside his-in all
FIVE children.
The odds seemed fearful to Biggs and
Beyigton; although Brady made no com
ments. The moment they passed out of
sight, Brady again pushed forward with un-
tagging energy, nor did his followers hesi-
tate. There was not man among them
whose muscles were not tense and rigid as
a whip cord, from exercise and training,
from hardship and exposure. Gray's whole
form seemed to dilate into twice its natural
size at The sight of his wife and children.
Terrible was the vengence he swore.
Just as the sun set, the spies forded the
stream and began to ascend the ravine. 1t
was evident that the Indians intended to
camp for the night some distance up a
small creek or run, which debouches into
Beaver river, about three miles from the
location of Fort Mcintosh, and two below
the ravine. The spot, owing to the penin-
sular form .of the tung of the land lying
west of the Beaver, at which they expect
ed to encamp, was full ten miles from the
fort. Here there was a famous spring so
deftly and cunningly situated in a deep
dell and so densely enclosed with thick
mountain pines, that there was little dan
gerof discovery! They might even light
fire and it could not be seen one hun
dred yards. a.'-a+1,. 1i i'i"i 80 go
The proceedings of their leader, which
would have been totally inexplicable to all
others, were partially if not fully, under
stood by his followers. AT least they did
not hesitate or question him. When dark
came, Brady pushed forward with a much
apparent certainty as he had done during
the day. So rapid was his progress, that
the Indians had but Just kindled their fire
and cooked their meal, when their mortal
foe, whose presence they dreaded as much
as that of the smallpox, stood upon a huge
rock looking down upon them. @
His party had been left short distance
in the rear, at a convenient spot, whilst he
went forward to reeonnoitre. There they
remained impaniently for three hours
They discussed in low tones the extreme
disparity of the force-the propriety of
going to Mcintosh to gent assistance. But
all agreed that if Brady ordered them to
attack, success was certain. However i'm
patient they were, he returned at last.
He described to them how the woman
and children lay within the centre of
crescent formed by the savages as they
slept. Their guns were not more than fif
teen feet from them. He. had crawled
within fifty feet of them, when the snort
ing of the horses occasioned by the ap-
proach of wild beast had aroused num-
ber of the savages from their slumbers, ard
he had been compelled to lie quiet for more
than an hour until they slept again.
He then told them that he would attack
them. 1t was impossible TO use fire arms.
They must depend solely upon the knife
and tomahawk. The knife must be placed
in the left hand and the tomahawk in the
right. To Biggs he assigned the duty of
securing their arms. He was to begin the
work of slaughter upon the right, Gray up
on the left and Bevington in the centre.
After each fairly understood the duty
assigned to him, the slow, difficult hazard
Gus approach began. They continued up
on their feet until they had got within one
hundred yards of their foe, and then lay
down upon their bellies and began the
work of writhing themselves forward Ikea
serpent approaching victim. They at
last reached the very verge of the line,
each man was at his post, save Biggs, who
had the farthest to 60. just as he passed
Brady's position, a twig cracked roughly
under the weight of his bo1y, and a huge
savage, who lay within reach of Grays
tomahawk, was startled by the sound, and
raised bis head. After rolling his eyes he
again lay down and all was still.
Full fifteen minutes passed ere Biggs
moved; then he slowly went on. When
he reached his place, a very low kissing
sound indicated that he was ready, Brady
in turn reiterated the sound as a signal to
Gray and Bevington to begin. This they
did in the most deliberate manner No