Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-09-02
9tliseellanp.
BRADY LEAP.
Dx EMERSON BENNETT

During the early settlements in the west
ern part of Pennsylvania and the north
western potion of Virginia, the hardy ad-
venturers into those then wilderness soli-
tudes AT times suffered severely from the
incursions of the Indians. As early as II
80, quiet large body of warriors, from
the vicinity of the Cuyahoga Falls, came
suddenly down upon the unprotected from
tier, and, before any check could be put 10
their ravages, succeeded IN numbering aud
plundering quiet number of the whites,
and effecting their retreat in safety.
At this time there was well known Iu-
dian hunter in that vicinity, one Captain
Samuel Brady, whose many daring ex-
pIoits and hair-breadth escapes had render
ed him as famous throughout that region
as his contemporary, the celebrated Daniel
Boone, was in Kentucky; and having un-
der his leadershipa goodly number of as
brave and daring spirits as himself, he at
once called them together, selected ser
tain number for the expedition, and set
out on the trail of the savages, hoping to
overtake them and inflict severe chastise-
ment before they should reach their villa
ges,
In this respect, however the captain and
his friends were disappointed, for the In.
dians had gained a start which enabled
them 10 reach their towns in advance Of
their pursuers; but as they belonged to
different tribes, it was discovered that they
had separated on the bank of the Cuyaho-
ga, one part crossing it and going to the
northward, and the other turning off to the
westward, as it was supposed, to the Falls
where it was known there was village
This division of the Indians rendered il
necessary for the whites, if they would fol
low each trail, to divide their force also
which would weaken it materially, and rem
der their further pursuit still more hazard
ous; and in view of this new danger, Cap
tain Brady stated the whole matter fairl..
to his companions, aud inquired of then
what they were disposed to do under tn
circumstances.
Should they follow either one Of th
trails, he said, the other half Of the Ind
ans would escape; should they follow Meth
er one, all would escape, and should the
divide, each division would be compara
lively small, and they might all be cut o
in detail; therefore it was for them t
choose whether they would 60 forward ]
one party or two, or return as they wei
without striking blow.
The men were not long in deciding
they were unanimous in their desire I
push forward and take vengeance upon th
enemy; they also preferred a division {
the party, and accordingly about one-haIf
them immediately crossed the river and s,
off to the northward, while the remaiude
under Captain Brady, followed the ives
ward trail to the Cuyahoga Falls.
It was the design and expectation of Il
gallant captain to take the Indians by su
prise; but the latter, expecting to be pr
sued by the whites, were prepared to
ceive them, and it was only by mere
cident that the borders were saved fro
falling into an ambuscade which VOL
have proved fatal to all.
Seeing that the Indians were fully pl
pared for them-that there was no chan
Of taking them by surprise-that tb
numbers were al least four times as ma
as their ewn-our friends judiciously q