Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-02
A Leaf from the Past-Exciting Incident
in Border Life.


Leaf from the Past-Exciting Incident
in Border Life.
The old settlers of Kentucky are familiar
with the name Of Captain Christopher Miller.
He was one of those bold and dauntess
spirits to whom we are indebted for the res
cue of our State from the dominion of the
bold and blood-thirsty savage. History has
recorded many of his heroic deeds and mel
ancholy privations; but one of the most
thrilling and mysterious incidents in his
eventful life has never met our eyes until we
found it in Finley's Autobiography; and as
many of our readers may have never seen it,
we will give q short account of it:
Christopher Miller and his brother Henry,
were taken prisoners by the Indians when
they were quite young, and remained with
them unil they had learned many of the Gus
toms of these wild inhabitants of the forest
They were expert hunters, and had learned
to love the savage freedom of their captors
They were adopted into an Indian family,
and it seemed they were indeed much at
tached to their mode of life, hunting and
fishing being thicr chief and almost only em-
ployment. Finally, Henry began, when
about twenty-four, to think of returning to
the white settlements; and he mentioned his
thought to Christopher, but he would not
think of returning with him, so Henry set
tion he reached Kentucky, where he lived for
several years, whenin l794 the Indians becom-
ing troublesome an expedition was gotten up
under General Wayne to chastise them.
Henry Joined this expedition and set out with
it. On the march, General Wayne in order
to avoid the possibility of an ambuscade, or
dcred Captain Wells to select four rangers to
keep in advance and reconnoitre the country
The keen Judgment of Captain Wells did
not fail to detect in Henry Miller the very
man for such an expedition, and he was ac-
cordingly selected During the march Henry
found little to do, no Indians being found on
the route. On reaching Greenville, General
Wayne, having no intimation as to the future
intentions of the subtle foe, determined to
send out Captain Wells and his daring COM
rades to capture an Indian, in order that
through him the plans of the Indians might
be discovered. They accordingly set out
across the country, crossing st. Mary's and
proceeding to the Auglaize, they turned up
the river for several miles, when the keen
eyes of the rangers discovered a smoke.
Hitching their horses, the gallant little band
left two of their party to guard them, while
the other three, Henry Miller being one of
them, crept along in the direction of the
smoke, which they found to be on an ele-
waited piece of open ground, surrounded by
three Indians engaged in roasting venison
over the fire.
They were now far out of gun-shot, and
our gallant rangers discovering a fallen tree
behind which they thought they could ap-
proach in gun-shot of the Indians undiscoy-
cred, retraced their steps, and going around
got to the fallen tree (the top of which was
covered with leaves,) between them and the
enemy.
They then stole along as lightly and noise
lessly as panthers until they reached the
point desired. Here their plans were quickly
arranged. 1t was agreed that Miller and one
of his comrades should shoot each his man,
leaving the third, who was swifter than an
Indian on foot, to give chase to and capture
the remaining Indian. Miller was to shoot
the one on the right, and his comrade the
one on the left.
The sharp, piercing crack of two rifles was
heard, and the fated red men lay lifeless on
the ground.
Before the smoke had cleared away, the re-
serve one (McClelland) was far in the direc-
ton of the Indian who was doomed to be
captured. The Indian observed him as he
came bounding toward him with the swift
ness of roebuck, and he set off at the top of
his speed McClelland was rapidly coming
up with the retreating Indian, when coming
to bend in the river, the latter saw he must
soon be overtaken, and leaped off the bank
into the river, distance oftwenty feet, where
he sank up to his middle in the mud. Nc
Clelland made leap on to him, and sunk
down in like manner, when the Indian drew
his knife and McClelland his tomahawk. A
parley ensued, and the Indian threw down
his knife.
In the meantime, Henry and his compan-
ion came up, the two were rescued from the
mud, and the prisoner bound securely. He
appeared sullen, and refused to answer any
questions asked him. He was then washed
to rid him of his coating of mud, when il
was discovered that they had taken white
man instead of an Indian. The party re
turned to their horses, and began at once Il
retrace their steps toward the camp at Green
vile. On the journey the prisoner continued
moody and silent, until Henry recollectinl
that he had brother with the Indians, anC
thinking this might possibly be him, he ap
preached and called him by his Indian name
when he answered with seeming surprise
when the two brothers Immediately recog
nized each other for the prisoner was nont
other than Christopher Miller. He had beer
in the middle when the fatal messenger o
death had overtaken his associates, and by
this trfiing circumstance was saved to an
swer the wise ends of an All-wise Providence
He returned to Greenville with his captors
determined to remain; and afterward rem
dered the white settlers the most important
aid in their future contests with the willy
savage. Many of his defendants still live ii
our midst, and enjoy the fruits of his wei
spent and eventful life, and to enjoy the rep
utation of his name.