The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-09-15

staggered back, reeled, aud fell to the

4 staggered back, reeled, aud fell to tn
1 floor .groaning out: -Lj Ei.1l1
'Oh, God the fiends have killed. me
Some two or three of his companion
Immediately lifted the poor fellow, an
placed him upon bed, while the tw
officers hurried up to exa mine The wound
which with deep regret they discovered
to be mortal. AS they turned sorrow
fully away, the firing and yelling of th,
Indians, which up to this time had beel
almost continually, suddenly ceased.
iAh=i ti'ey are about to depart. sait
Captain Kirkwood joyfully; probably
they fear a reinforcement
More likely they have stopped tt
plot some new deviltry,' said Captain
Biggs, who was more familiar with the
Indian mode of warfare. e- t-
All kept silent for few minutes
waiting, hoping aud fearing-so that the
suspense itself vas not little painful
Suddenly one of the men uttered an ex-
clamation of alarm; and on being ques
toned as to the cause, replied:
Listen! Don't you hear the devils
riling brush around the house ? They're
going to burn US out.'
In that case we may be compelled to
make a sortie,' returned Captain Biggs.
1T must be at the last moment, then,
said Captain Kirkwood ':or ouce be.
yond these walls, my wife and children
would staud but little chance of escape
If they set fire to US, we must endearor
to put it out. We have considerable
water in the house, thank Heaven and
before they can burn through those
hick logs, trust assistance will arrive
from the Fort
Almost as he said this, bright sheet
of fame shot up around the cabin, she'd
ding a lurid light upon those within, and
was accompanied by series of terrific
and triumphant yells, and general dis
charge Of fire arms on the part of the
savages. .- .a.
There was not sufficient water in the
house to justify the inmates iu throwing
it over the roof; and all they could do,
therefore, was to wait in gloomy sus
pense, till so0e presence of the fire
could be seen between tho crevices of
the logs, aud then attempt to check it's
Roadway within.
Some half an hour was passed iu his
nanDer- the Indians continually fetch
ug and piling on more brush, until the
appiug had assembled to the very roof
leeping up the while their yells of tri-
lmph, occasional shots of muskctry !;
which, com bined with the lurid and |
hast light in which each saw the 9TH
r, the loud aud awful roaring of the |
lames, aud the groaus of the wounded,
aade most terrible scene for the im-
risoned inmates-a scene that cannot |
'e fully described, and the horrors of |
7hich can only partially b. comprehen-
ed by the most vivid imagina tion.
At leugth the fire began to dislodge
he heated clay-which had beeu used
o stop the ehinks and craunies between
be logs-anG the furious flames to seud
heir devourihg tongues iu search of
cw material for desti uction: and then
Il who were able set eagerly to work,
ashirg on water, aud SO checking in
ome degree the progress of the con-
luing elem ut.
This was continued until the water
acume entirely exhausted; and then
source was had to what milk there
as in the house; and, after this, to
,me fresh earth, which they dug up
ON beneath the fJor-tbe Indians still
.eplng up their wells, and firing through /
ysry crevice, by which some more of
e Inmates were wounded, though not
ORAL y; and Captains Kirkwood AID
lggs moving about from point to point,
i'd auimating all parties with their own
.roism aud the hope of speedy deliver
ice. - al.
The attack began about three o'clock /,
the morning, aud lasted till dawn; I
zen the Indians Guding they could not 4
successful in the fell purpose without
rryiug the seige far into the day, and J
obabIy fearing they might suddenly I
surprised by large party from the
,rt, uttered, another series of wild, s
scordant whoops, poured in upon the /
Hiding one regular volleJ, and then $
ddenly retreated-the men inside call )
2 after them in the most taunting 6
auner, the voice of the poor fellow i
,rtaIly wounded being heard among |
e oudest c
About an hour after sunrise the whole t
rty, having succeede3 in subduing the a
mes, ventured forth, cautiously, and t
mediately crossed the river to Fort
snry-Walker, the only one who lost i
J life, expiring on the way. Here all v
. living were properly cared for, and a
: gallant soldier was buried with mil S
ry houors. ...s.-.-. -... -a j
A few days after, Captain Kirkwood .
out with his family for his native g
ate; but meeting on the way some Il
laware troops, who were marching to |
, Indian country. and who offered him I
, command of their body, he then f
K leave of his family and turned t
ck In the November following, he a
k part in the bloody actio7 known as 6
Clair's Defeat, where he fell, says
chronicler, 'in brave attempt to re- a
the enemy with the bayonet, and C
sed career as honorable as it was o
rewarded s
mast this season, says