Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-04-07


thing to eat, informed me that there could
be nothing had until the men got sober,
who would then either kill provisions, or
draw from Detroit. On the fourth day,
when l had given up to perish, they
brought me a piece Of dog cooked with
out salt, and although you may feel squam-
ish, when | mention it, yet it was the
sweetest morsel that ever recoliected 10
have eaten. 9t@,l
During my stay with them saw them
take number Of scalps to Maiden, for
which they said they received from four to
six dollars each, either in whiskey or store
goods. They said they got 81 scalps at
the battle of the 18th, and upward. of four
hundred at that of the 22d January. l
replied, ,ha: there were only ten scalped
on the 18th. They said yankee Id
lie:" and they further stated that they had
only two killed on the 18th. replied
Indian ID lie, for saw myself IL
dead on the field. / asked them how
many British and Indians were at the river
Raisin. on the 22d January. They. repii-
ed, that there were two thousand five hun
dred Indians and one thousand British.
They would frequently make motions
initiating the Americans when they were
scalping them, by turning twisting, mourn
ing, DC. This was done TO aggravate Inc.
They once gave me jug Of whisky re-
questing me TO drink. drank what sat
isfied me and offered them the jug agaip-
they insisted ON me TO drink more; | put
the jug to my head but did not drink,
they discovered the cheat, and cried out,
yankee no good man, d-d lie;" they
then made me drink until they could hear
it gurgIe in my throat.
Abou. three weeks before the battle a:
the Rapids, the squa~s and boys were EN-.
ployed in dressing deer skins, which were
to equip the warriors for their march thith-
er. During this time the warriors were
collecting and dancing the WAR DANCE
They informed me that they were going
to Quo by -ghaw. which l learned from The
French was the Rapids. l further learned
that the British had promised them The
possession of Fort Meigs, as well as the
disposal of Gen. Harrison. They then
calculated on Fort Meigs as their chief
place of deposit, from which they could
make incursions into the state of Ohio, xiii
a vast number Of the inhabitants and salts
fy themselves with plunder. They calcu-
lated on having three days frolic in the
burning of Gen Harrison. =
Two weeks before their march for Fort
Meigs, Tecumseh, was with them. He
was busily employed rallying those vino
were indifferent about going 10 the battle,
and encouraging those who had volunteer
ed, amongst other persuasive arguments to
volunteer, be made use of these, viz that
Fort Meigs was badly constructed and lily
defended. Asserting that they could take
it without the loss of man. But if this
could not be effected, he would then lead
them on 70 Fort Wayne, which would cel-
tainly fall an easy prey TO them. He then
left them and went TO the Wabash, 10 bring
his warriors, who were stationed at that
place. .e-','- Ha
Previous to the march of the Indians
they took bark of swamp willow and TO-
bacco. mixed them together and pulverized
them. They then formed circle around
a fire, which had been prepared for that
purpose; and one rose and delivered a
speech, | understood, relative to the war.
At the conclusion of the speech, they pass
ed this powder around the circle-each in
dividual taking pinch as it passed; each
then snuffed part of his portion, and threw
the remaining part in the fire. After this
had been performed with the greatest SOL
emnity one took the snuff which yet re-
manned in the vessel and threw it in the
fire. They then took up their, packs,
raised the scalp balloo, waved their tona-
hawks over their beads and marched for
battle.
There were 5000 who drew four days
rations at Detroit. When they left US they
told us to be good boys and stay there till
they came bacs, and they would bring
some mors Yankees, who should cook, and
do all the hard work, and we might go
with them hunting.
They left us in care of the squaws and
a few old men.
We had no other way by which to get
freed from this unpleasant situation, but
by deserving them; for they had been Of
fered 500 each. for four of US, by the citi-
zens of Detroit, but refused it. These four
were Major Graves, Samuel Canoe, John
Davenport and myself.
Thinking this as ia ,orable an opportu-
nifty as We could get, l requested Samuel
Canoe, to set off with me; he readily con-
sented, and we set off just at dark, aud ran
to Detroit which was miles, and got to
the house of Mr.. H. who concealed US in
his cellar. He had hole dug in the bot
tom Of his cellar or 8 feet deep for the
purpose of keeping potatoes; in this We
were put, and he laid planks over if, and
threw dirt on the planks which caused it
TO bear SO nice a resemblance to the other
part of the cellar, that the Indians could
not distinguish il from the common bottom.
This dismal dungeon was our abode for
half day, during which time the Indians
came and searched carefully for us, but in
vain. After they were gone, Mr.. H. asked
a British officer if be would take care Of US.
He replied 10 the affirmative, and then sent
us Immediately TO the Fort at Detroit,
where We were kept two days--the Indi-
aus still searching for us. On the I'd night,
about midnight, We were sent 10 Sandwich.
and Kept there two days with but little to
eat' and then sent to Maiden. We found
the force at Maiden to consist of so Can
adlan French, besides 80 who had received