Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-03-03


soon induced them to give credit to his state |
part of the nature of the Indian they turned
out near fifty warriors, to escort the deserters
into the village. 1t was evident that they did |
not intend to be caught in a snare, if care in |
preparing their arms, and in placing their
bravest men in front on the march would pre- |
vent it. Sol and Lucas were ordered to walk |
a few PAGES in advance. They thus proceed |
ed until they came in sight of the Rangers,
who were drawn up in line with their rifles at
a shoulner, and a sheet of white paper affixed |
to the muzzle of each gun. The Indians ad-
vanced to within fifty yards of the Rangers |
when they ordered Sol, who was some eight or
ten PAGES in advance, to halt. He did so, and
instantly twenty rifles crashed their reports on
the morning air, and as many Indians fell dead
or mortally wounded. Sol made bound for
ward, and fell as if shot, while Lucas, forget
ting his instructions, started to run. at the
same moment the thirteen deserters fired and
fell fiat on the ground. The Indians fired to-
ward where the deserters stood, and then
throwing down their rifles rushed upon them,
tomahawk in hand. Lucas had only run few
PAGES when a tomahawk was thrown, ard bu-
ried in the back part of his head, and he fell
dead Scarcely had Sol waited for the fire of
friends and foes to pass over him ere he was
again on his feet, and with yell he met the
advancing savages, with double barrel pistol
in his left hand and hunting knife in his
right. On the instant of delivering their fire
the rangers sprang from their coverts, and
with terrible shout rushed upon their victims.
Sol was Immediately attacked by two Indians,
one of whom he dispatched with his pistol,
and the other he wounded so badly that he let
fall his tomahawk. Sol instantly closed with
him and soon finished him with his knife. He
| then snatched up the tomahawk Of one of his
fallen foes and dashed into the thickest of the
fight, dealing death ON every side. Meanwhile
the Rangers hrd surrounded their enemies and
were beating them down with their rifles club
| bed, with their tomahawks, and sometimes E.
ven dealing blows with their fists, or feet.
The savages fought with the stubborn brave
ry of despair, and would not fly even if they
had been in situation to do so, which was
not the case; for one half of their number
had fallen by the first fire, and in ten minutes
afterward not more than dozen survived.
These fought on however, yelling like demons,
| but they were warning at fearful odds. as the
heavy rifles of the Rangers came crashing on
their shaven and painted heads, scattering the
brains over their companions. a few minutes
more and the last of the band fell, beneath the
sturdy arm of Sol, who had ragged like wild
beast robbed Of her whelps through the fight,
and had slain five of the Redskins with his
own hands. The Rangers then started for the
village, where they found some twenty war
riors, chiefly old men, with the women and
children, busily engaged in fortifying 'sthe
Council house, and preparing for spirited
defense. The Rangers who had only two men
killed in the battle. now prepared to storrSthe
house, which being built in the usual form OF
their Lodges, (by setting up poles and fasten-
ing them at the top, and then covering with
skins,) did not afford any serious obstacle to
their attack. They received the fire of the
Indians, and then delivering their own rushed
into the house, each cutting his way with his
! knife or hatchet, and then commenced an in
discriminate slaughter of men, women, and
children, which equalled in ferocity and cru.
city anything perpetrated by the Tories and
Indians. In short time not an Indian of any
age or sex survived, except the old man and
his daughter, who. waited upon Sol when a
prisoner, and to the latter of whom he owed
his freedom and his life. He had sought them
Il ont as soon as he had effected an entrance into
the lodge, and though the old man resisted
I bravely he succeeded in making prisoners OF
of them both, and conveying them outside.
where he left them in charge of two wounded
/ Rangers who were still able to use their rifles
while he returned to help complete the butch
cry in the lodge. In short time the work
was complete, and the Rangers after scalping
the warriors, and piling all the conlbustible
material which they could collect in the vii
Iage around the Council house set it on fire
and taking up the bodies of three of their
comrades, who had fallen in the attack and
massacre, they returned to the battle-ground
of the morning. Here they buried those who
had been killed in both engagements, which
reduced their number to thirty, nearly half OF
whom were wounded, though none so severely
rs to prevent their return the same evening te
the spot where they had secreted their KNAPP
sacks and provision. Here they encamped til
1 HorhinS,Wheh ool caheu up HIS prisoners, anc
telling them that they had saved his life, ant
now he would do as much for them, he looset
the cords that bound them, and told them they
were free. He offered to take them home will
him, and take care of them during life, bu
the old man declined, stating that on the sids
of the Alleghanies towards the setting SUI
there was branch of his tribe who had never
warred with the whitemen, and he would gf
!, To them and Law his bones with his fathers