The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-10
bless you, whoeter you are! Have no fear
I sill Il

l will do as you bid me-
sThen come as soon as cut your cords,
whispered Hart, in reply, 'git up and follow
me, but don't make bit Of noise; and il
the Injuns happen to rouse, don't git skeer.
ed, but run for the nearest thicket, and leave
me and my comrades to settle them"
lie then cut her bonds, and quietly, but
with trembling eagerness, she arose to com.
ply with his directions; but On the very frs,
step forward, her long corded and benumb-
ed limbs partially giving way under her.
she stumbled on dry branch, which snap
ped beneath her feet.
Instantly one of the Indians nearest the
tree, started up into sitting posture, when
Hart, feeling himself called upon to act,
suddenly presented his rifle at the breast oi
his foe, and lodged the contents in his body.
As he fell back, the scout with yell of tri-
umph and defiance, bounded over him to
attack the next, the whole party being
aroused and alarmed. Swapping his pistol
ut the breast of the second, and finding il
to miss fire, Hart struck out with his toma.
and missing the warrior, who was in the ac,
of rising, fell heavily against him. The
latter staggered, and was really much
alarmed and confused; but comprehending
withal, that he had an enemy within hls
reach, he quickly grappled him, whipped
out his knife and plunged it several times
into his body. He was in the very act Of
doing this, in fact, when a ball from the
rifle Of Mcclellan entered his brain, and he
fell dead over the expiring form of Hart
Hickman at the same instant shooting dowr
another-for, with loud and terrifying
yells, both had rushed upon them at tht
same moment with their unfortunate com.
panion.
There were now three unwounded Indians
to two whites, and had the former known Of
their advantage, the day might have beer
their own; but they were surprised, alarmed
and half paralyzed with thought that they
were attacked by overwhelming numbers
and before they had time to recover theil
senses, the smaller weapons of our heroes
had done their work upon two more Of them
the sixth one making his escape with vel
OF terror. The skirmish, from first to last
scarcely exceeded a minute; and probably
no regular battle in the world showed suct
a proportion of the killed to the number en-
gagged in so short time.
1t was dearly won contest to our two
surviving friends, and sad and gloomy were
their feelings as they lifted their poor com
rade from beneath his foe, and listened tc
the irregular breathings which were soon tc
cease in death. The girl, who had not fec
far, now returned and joined them in theil
grief, for she felt that the poor fellow haG
fallen in her rescue and defense. An houl
later, the dying man expired in the arms ol
Mcclellan, rousing little at the very las
moment, and speaking few words family:
"Good-bye, boys said he, sand remem
Der me whenever and wherever you see thu
red niggers.'
We'll do that, Hart, rest assured,' re-
piled Mcclellan, in an unsteady tone, ane
over his remains the two hardy scouts swor,
undying revenge against their savage foes.
Drawing the fair girl apart from tn,
bloody scene, and assuring her that they
were as ready to yield their lives in her de-
fense as the one who had so fallen, they
gave blanket, and persuaded her to lie
down and get what rest she could, that sh'
might be prepared for a long journey home
ward, which they would commence on tn
morrow. Then scalpling their slain, takin,
whatever they considered of any value, the,
sat down by their dead comrade, and passed
the night beside him, rehearsing tales of ad
venture, in which he had taken part, ant
renewed their oaths Of vengeance against tn
whole Indian race.
| At daylight the following morning, the,
dug rude grave with their hatchets AM
knives, and having shown their final respec
to their late companion, by interring his re
mains as we'll as circumstances would per
init, they set out on their return to the fort
| h;ph tLn,, L
and where they delivered their rescued cap
tive into the hands of Gen. Wayne.
1t may interest the reader to know tina
this same young lady, so providentially pre-
served at the general massacre of her friend
and so gallantly rescued at the expense o
the life of one Of those brave heroes of tn
wilderness-subsequently became the wifi
of an officer under Wayne. and the mothe
Of one who now holds a distinguished posi-
tion in the councils of the nation.