The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-08-26
A Tale of the Frontier.
BY EMERSON BENNETT.

BY EMERSON BENNETT.
In the spring of 1894, while General
Wayne, in command of the northwest.
ern army, was occupying Fort Green
vile, which he had constructed the
preceding winter, thenews was brought
to him that a party of Potawattomies
had surprised and destroyed the block
house of small settlement not far dis
tant, and massacred all the inmates
except girl, whom they had taken
prisoner, and were then supposed to be
conducting her towards their village.
This female, Miss Eggleston, was the
daughter of an officer of some note,
who was friend to Gen. Wayne, and
he determined to save her life if it was
in his power. At this time he had
some one or two little bands of heroic
scouts attached to his division, and he
knew if a rescue could be effected al
all, the men to entrust with that import
ant enterprise could be found amongst
them, and them only.
Now it happened that a small party
Of these scouts was at that moment in
the Fort, having come in the night pre-.
vious with important information, and
were preparing to set off Immediately.
Sending for one of the most daring OF
these, Robert Mcclellan by name, who
though not their regular appointed
leader, sometimes acted in that capacity
when their commander was absent.
The General briefly informed them
what had taken place, and asked him
if he thought there was hope of Miss
Eggleston being rescued.
"Can't say to that, General" replied
the scout, "but this / will say, that il
it kin be done, l kin do it."
"How many men do you want?''
asked General Wayne.
"How big is the party, Gineral p
inquired the other.
From the report, / should judge
there were about thirty of them.'
"Then it won't do for us to make a
regular stand up fight ont, Gineral,
unless we has the Capting and all the
others along, and as they won't come
before tomorrow, eff then, / reckon its
the best to operate by sarcumvention
and the two that's here with me
Hickman and Hart-will be just as
good for that there as a dozen more
Only put me whar / can get on their
trail, and eff the red niggers aren't too
far ahead, I'll soon fetch a good report
of them. eff / don't of the Young wO-
man."
"But you must bring good account
of her." responded Wayne, in posi-
tive tone. at is to save her that ]
send you; for she is the daughter OF
my friend, and her life and rescue are
above price," ass) ..a;sJ =
"Then we will save her, Gineral,' -
replied the scout; "that is, eff the
butchering vermints only save her
themselves till we can get whar she is.''
General Wayne gave McClellan some
further instructions, and then bade him
set out Immediately. The scout re-
turned to his temporary quarters in the
Fort, and informing his companions
what was required of them, they at
once set about preparing for their new
adventure; and In less than half an
hour, the three were treading the ma
zes of the great dark forest, which
stretched away unbrokenly for many a
league before them.
With long and rapid strides-Mc-
Clellan, the feetest footed hunter of his
time, in the lead-they got over some
twenty miles of ground, and reached
the ruins of the block house where the
massacre had taken place, just as the
sun was setting. There was light
enough to see the broad trail of the
retreating Indians; and with no un-
necessary delay they set out upon it,
and advanced some two or three miles
further when the gathering darkness
compelled them to encamp, and to
postpone further operations until morn
ing. - a
The night passed off without disturb
ance; ard at dawn of day arose and
resumed their journey. Ere the sun
set again they had travelled far upon
the broad trail of their foes in north.
erly direction. 81
1t is not our purpose to follow them
in detail. Suffice it to say, that near
the close of the second day they had
reached point where the trail forked,
and it became necessary to make care
ful examination, in order to determine
which party had taken the prisoner
with them. To the best of their judg-
ment the whole number of Indians was