Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-20
Jntuesting Storg,
tn A N e r..
AN ADVENTURE OF THE BAcKwooDs.

AN ADVENTURE OF THE BACKWOODS.
During hardihood, readiness of resour.
ces, and patience in overcoming di6ical-
ties, are nowhere so we'll or so frequently
exemplihed as among the hunters and
backwoodsmen of America. The follow
ing account Of one of these enterprising
and r~esolute men appeared upwards of
twenty years ago in a periodical in Illinois
and its truth is vouched for by the writer.
Tom Higgins, as he was usually called,
is a native of Kentucky, and is one Of the
best examples extant of the genuine back.
woodsman. During the last war, at the
age of nineteen, he enlisted in the Ran
gers-a corps of mounted men, raised OK
pressly for the projection of the western
frontiers. On the Both of August, 1914,
he was one of the party of twelve men,
under the command of Lieut.. journey,
who were posted at Hills station, a small
stockade about three miles south of the
present village of Greenville. and some
thing more than twenty miles from Van
dalia. These towns were not then in ex-
%istence, and the surrounding country was
then one vast wilderness. During the
last day mentioned, Indian signs" were
seen about a half a mile from the station.
and atsnight the sayages were seen..prow-
ling near the fort, but no alarm wa given.
On the following morning, early, Mr..
Journey moved out with his party in pur-
suit of the Indians. Passing around the
fence Of a corn6eld adjoining the fort,
they struck across the prairie, and had
not proceeded more than a quarter of a
mile, when in crossing a small ridge,
which was covered with a hazel thicket
in full view OF the station, they fell into
an ambuscade of Indians, who rose sud.
denly around them, to the number Of &c
or 80, and fired. -Four of our party were
killed, among whom was Lieut.. Journey.
One other fell badly wounded, aud the
rest fed, except Higgins.
1t was an uncommon sultry morning.
The day was dawning, a heavy dew had
fallen the preceding night, the air was
still and humid, and the smoke from the
guns hung in a cloud ever the spot. I'm.
der the cover Of this cloud, Higgin's sur,
viving companion had escaped, supposing
all who were left were dead, Or that, al
all events, it would be rashness to at
tempt to rescue them from so overwheln.
ing a force. Higgins horse having been
shot through the neck, fell to his knees
and rose again several times. Believing
the animal mortally wounded, he dismoun
ted, but finding the wound had not great
ly disabled him, he continued to held the
bride, for, as he now felt confident o.
being able to make good his retreat. he
determined to fire off his gun before he re
tired. He looked around for O tree
There was but one, a small elm, and ht
made for this, intending to shoot from be
hind it; but at this nj the cloud o.
smoke arose partially from before him
disclosing to his view q number of Ind
ians, lone of whom discovered him. One
of them stood within q few PAGES, loading
his gun, and at him Higgins took a delib
crate aim, fred, and the Indian FELL
Higgins, still concealed by the smoke, re
loaded his rifle, mounted, and turned tc
hy, when a low voice near by, hailed him
with Tom you won't leave me?"
On looking around, he discovered the
speaker to be one of his comrades, named
Burgess, who was lying wounded on the
ground, and he replied instantly: mo
III not leave you. Come along, and II
take care of you."
Il can't come" replied Burgess, my
leg is all smashed to pieces.p
Higgins sprang from the saddle, ane
picking up his comrade-whose ancls
bone was broken-in his arms, he pro
ceeded 20 lift him on his horse, tellins
him to fly, that he would make his wa,
en- foot. But the horse taking fright a
this instant, darted of, leaving Higgin,
with his wounded friend on foot. Still
the cool bravery of the former was sufi
cient for every emergency; and setting
Burgess down gently, be told him, " Nov
my good fellow, you must hop off on thre,
legs, while I stay between you and th,
Indians, to keep them of'-instructins
him at the same time, to get into the high
est grass, and crawlas close to the grount
as possible. Burgess followed his advic,
and escaped unnoticed. History does no
relate a more dlsinterested act of heroisn
than this of Higgins, who having in hi
hands the certain means of escape from
such imminent peril, voluntarily CAV,
them up, by offering his horse to a woun
ded companion, and who, when that gen
erous intention was defeated, and his owl
retreat still practicable, remained at thu
hazard Of his life, to protect his crippled
friend.
The cloud of smoke-which had par
TALLY opened before him, as he faced ths
ene1,y-still lay thick behind him; ant
as he plunged through this, he left it, to
gether with the ridge and the hazel thick
ct between him and the main body of th'
Indians, and was retiring, unobseryed b,
them.