Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-02-13
Capture of Robert Lyon.

My father, Robert Lyon, was one of the
most ancient of the settlers at Shamokin,
Or Fort Augusta (now Sunbury) There
be followed the Indian trade up the West
Branch as far as the Big Island, learning
the Indian language, and making Middle
town aud Carlisle the head quarters Of the
trade. He married in Dauphin county,
removed to Maryland and lived there
.h-.. ye.rs, "Leu he returned and settled
in Northum berland. Soon after, the War
broke out, when he obtained 4 commission
as first lieutenant, enlisted many aud took
up many deserters.
Lieut.. Lyon was up the Nor,b Branch
with supplies for men at Wyoming, aud
on his return lodged at the mouth of Brier
Creek Columbia county, with company
of Rangers commanded by Capt. Schot's.
1t was in the month of March The CON-
pany remained until the break of day,
when the Captain sang the revel!ie and
started down the river to jenkins Fort.
After he had gone, taking about one half
of the men, the Indians attacked the small
number left by firing three shots in at the
door, two Of which struck Robert Cambell,
young, unmarried man, who was sitting
on bench eating his breakfast with Lyon.
Nineteen Indians aud one white man then
rushed in to the house; Tom Shenap, the
Captain of the Indians, pitched at Lyon
with a pistol in his hand, when Lyon
knocked him down, and having nothing to
fight with but his knife he endeavored to
stab him, but missing his throat the knife
entered the Indians mouth and cut his
cheek out to the ear. BY this time Lyon
had received three tomahawk strokes-one
in the shoulder. one glancer on the head
Chipping out piece of the skull, leaving
a cavity, in which finger could be laid,
to the day of his death, and the third on
the back part of his head. He said the
last blow made things look as though the
house was on fire! but he fought on until
be got out Of the house, when two Indians
presented guns and told him to give up;
Lyon looked at his bloody knife, and as it
was his only means of defence tho't best
to yield the hopeless combat. During this
contest, some of the Americans escaped,
but others were taken prisoners with Lyon
and Cambell They all marched off about
a mile, when it was found poor Cambells
wounds disabled him from travelling: the
Indians made him sit down on log, then
struck a tomahawk in bis head, drew him
on his face, took of his scalp, and slapped
it in Lyons face. They then examined
Lyons wounds, aud decided be was not fit
to travel; they ordered him to sit down,
which he refused, and said be would die
on his feet; when an Indian named Leven
Hopkins, who had known Lyon when an
Indian trader, interfersd, saying, if they
killed Lyon, they should kill him Hop
kius) too-aud thus saved bis life.
While in captivity at Niagara, his name
drew the notice of an officer in the British
service, who upon inquiry found out the
prisoner was his own brother, from whom
he had hot heard for very many years.
This brother supplied him with money
and clothing, and offered to procure bis
release on parole; but Robert Lyon pre-
ferred to be exchanged.-A true patriot,
he lived till eighty years of age; and may
God reward with bis richest blessings more
than earth can do
Lewisburg, Jan. 1857. RI.
The "ground hog sign" has certainly
Ftiled, this year, for time q, lesst. !