Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-03-03
Written for the '.Raftsman's Journal"
ARANGER'S VENGEANCE.

W Written IOr tne "ikdItsfn JOuTnai
RANGERS VENGEANCE.
One of the most terrible aspects of the sswar
of independence" was presented in the muir
derous forays of the savages on the American
frontier settlements. These barbarous inroads
were either directly or indirectly the work of
the British or their Tory allies; and in many
of,their numbering and marauding expeditions
they were led, and even outdone in barbarity,
by British or Tory officers. The frontier set
Elements were chiefly composed of hardy and
daring class of but haif-civilized men, who,
lacking the education and refnements of more
civilized life, fell in very naturally with the
barbai Gus manners and practices of the sava-
ges. Especially was this true in regard to
sheir mode of warfare, which the Whites imi-
iated so closely as to provoke the Indians to
still greater cruelty, which in its turn caused
the Whitemen to endeavor to exceed them in
their helish barbarities. Thus did this sys-
TEN, practiced by both parties, mutually react
upon each other. True, there We're men of
intelligence and refinement in these settle
In-nts, but their number was small, com
pared with the mass of the settlers, that their
Influence was scarcely felt. In looking over
the scenes OF bloodshed and cruelty of those
times one scarcely knows which to blame most,
the Indians who had been trained to these a.
trocities from the first dawning of their intel
lsct, till it has become part OF their nature,
ss well as of their religion, or the White men
who, however ignorant, have had the advan-
tsee of better training in estly life, and who
have acquired the habit from imitation, and
from cherishing the passion Of revenge. Ger
tainly we can excuse neither, but there arc cir
cunstances which, in measure, appear to
mitigate the terrible aspects of a rengeGnce
such as am about to relate.
In childhood the writer became acquainted
with ssrelic of the Revolutionary war; in
the widow of Captain Edstone, of the s'JuniatG
Rangers and who furnished me with the de-
tail. of the life of one Of the rangers, few
incidents of which 1 intend to give
The vallies along the eastern slope of the
Alleghanies, and in which the Juniata River
takes its rise, were at the time of the Revo-
luton inhabited by number of petty tribes
Of Indians, who, though frequently at war
with each other, were easily induced to unite
in general war with the Whites. According
ly il became necessary early in the war for the
frontier settlers to form themselves into sort
of local Militia part of which acted as Rangers
or Scouts, while the remainder attended to
their farms. Among the companies thus
formed for self defence was the one above
named. The Capt. was one of the Pioneer
settlers in his part of the valley, and was a
young man of much boldness and daring, but
who scrupled not at artifice or even treachery
to gain his point, or to accomplish his purpose
Among his followers was one SolomonDucrow.
usually called by his comrades 'sSol Crow, y
which latter we shall use in speaking of him
He was a young man of herculean frame,
and corresponding strength, and OF agility
equal to that of the Indian, as many success
fuI race for his life proved He possessed
home in one of the loveliest valles that oper
on the Juniata, where his wife and four small
children. lived while he was acting as pro-
tector to the settlement. In times OF great
peril the women and children were all placed
in a slight stockade fort, and left under care
of the old men, and the boys who were too
Young to bear the fatigues of a wilderness:
campaign, while the men followed the Indians
through the forests, and generally succeeded
in driving them into the Alleghanies. In one
OF these campaigns, and when near the heae
waters of the Juniata, Capt. Edstone divided
his command, and sent Lieut.. and ten men
among whom was ssSol. Crow on a tran
some twenty Indians. They followed the lrai
till dark, and then encarnped in hollow an'
kindled fire, contrary to the advice OF ooi
who left the camp and went upon the nil sid'
to watch in order 10 avoid surprise. but th'
party was discovered by the savages, ana qui
etly surrounded. What was the surprise o
these reckless men, when at daybreak the.
were aroused by the war-whoop, and upol
springing to their feet they received q wolfe,
from both sides, which laid one half their mum
Der dead on the spot. The rest threw dow
their arms and called for quarter, whereupo
q dozen half-naked Indians sprang from th
thtekst, and seisipg the yretebed beings, de