Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-15
Jnttrestinp gtotg,
A WESTERN HERO.
nv EMERSON BENNETT.

BY EMERSON BENNETT.
It was a wild, fearful scene-a scene of
carnage and destruction. Loud shrieks
Of pain. and yells of rage. defiance and
triumph, cemmineled with reports Of mas,
kerry, and here and there the clashing Of
steel, resopnded on every hand.
A small but gallant band of Kentuck-
ians were completely surrounded by an
overpowering horde Of duskv savages. and
we're fighting desperately while falling
victims to superior Misunderstanding for
the hope of retreat, but with none OF vic
tory.
The scene was partly in an open glade,
and partly in a surrounding forest, not
far from the banks of the Ohio. in what
is now the State Of Indiana. hat which
was then an unapportioned and unsettled
wilderness.
Over this open glade were hurrvinq
hundreds of human beings some mounted
and ONE on foot-some white, and dress
ed in the rough costume of the borderers
but more of the dusky hne. half naked,
and hideouslv p~ainted-and all with pas.
sions excited to the fierce, uDgovernable
fury of fighting wild beasts.
Many a riderless horse was snorting
and bounding away; while the ground
was strewed with the dead aud DYING
the latter soon ceasing from the agonies
of life, as the knife or tomahawk Of either
foe made his work sure. There we're old
men and youths, and men in the prime of
manhood. all doing their duty bravely.
and bearing down the foe in close encoun.
ter. or being themselves borne down to a
bloody end.
Foremost among the K~eftucKianx in
the very hottest of the fight, more desper.
ate ever than the oldest veterans. rq&s a
tall, ~fne-looking youth, who charged Mon
the foe itheut regard to numbers orper
il-and fast they fell beneath the almost
superhuman strength Of his single arm
Several times his horse was seized by the
bit, and borne back almost upon its
launches, while the uplifted tomahawk
was aimed at the head of the rider; but
with the quickness of thought, and the
strength of a Hercules, the blows were
parried right and left. and returned with
a precision that laid his opposers bleed
ing beneath the feet of the fiery animal,
which literally trampled them into the
dust, as the undaunted youth still urged
him on to new scenes of peril and victory
"On, comrades!" he shouted-and his
loud shrill voice was heard above the din
Of battle. son for the honor Of old Ken
lucky! Though surrounded by four times
our number, we are not yet defeated: and
will not be while there is an arm left to
strike!"
Almost as he spoke, a shower Of balls
was poured in upon him, some cutting his
clothes, some wounding him seriously,
while his gallant steed sunk under him.
Springing from the back of the falling
beast, into the very midst of his dusky
foes, this noble youth, wounded and bleed
ing though he was, still laid about him
with desperation, the balls whistling
about him fearfully, and a dozen arm
raised for his destruction.
Reck1essly and desperately, however,
alone and unaided, he continued to fight
his way through his savage foes, back to
the main body Of his friends, where he
arrived just as the order a m for re-
treat.
AS several, who were mounted, wheeled
their horses to. obey this welcome COM
mand, our hero dashed suddenly in among
them. and selling the hits of two animals
one in each hand, be fairly brought them
round, and SO quickly as almost to throw
their riders, at the same time shouting:
For shame! for shamel who dares re-
treat Thy any orderly any command
and leave our wounded comrades to the
vengeance of our foes! Bear back, men
If you be men-and let us bring off our
our companions with honor, or perish
with them!"
But his %valient call was UNDECIDED by
those who thought only Of saving their
own lives; and the moment the youth re
leased his hold Of their brides, they dash
ed swiftly away.
MY curses go with you, for pusillani-
nous cowards!' he shouted after them:
and then discovering another party on
foot, as eagerly retreating also, he threw
himself in before them, and exclaimed:
Hold ! command you, by every feel
ing OF honor, turn back and save the lives
of our wounded friends!"
"Out Of my way, boyl" said a tall,
strapping fellow, as he pushed eagerly
forward to pass the youth: 9 You're not
our captainl Haven't you heard the order
for retreat? and don't you know, if you
stand here a minute, you'll be butchered
and .scalped by the bloody varnints
around, who've hemmed US in?"
Yesl yes!7 cried most of the rest; Joe
Hinkins says right!''
We'll all be killed If we stop herel'
said one.
Turn back, Bill, and don't make 9
fool of yourself!" cried another.
| IF we'd attempt to save the wounded