The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-12-19
THRILLING INCIDENT N BORDER
LIFE.

Fhe old settlers of Kentucky are familiar
with the name of Capt. Christopher Miller. He
was one of thUse bold and dauutless shirts IN
whom We arc indebted for the rescue of the
Stale from the domiRion of the bold and blood
thirsty savage. History has recorded many of
MS heroic deeds; but one of the most thrilling
and mysterious incidents in his eventful life
mas never before met our eyes until we found
1t IN Finley's Autobiography; and as MANY of
our readers may never have seen it. We will
give a 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 until they had learned many of the GUS
toms of these wild iahabitants of the Forest
They were adopted into an Indian family. and
1t seemed indeed they were much attached to
their mode of life, hunting and fishing being
their chief and almost only employment Fl
nally, Henry began, when abou. twenty-four,
to think about returning to the white settle
ments; and he mentioned his thoughts to
Christopher, but he would not think of return
ing with him so Henry set off alone, and after
much suffering and privation he reached Ken
lucky, where he lived for several years; when,
In 1874, the Indians becoming troublesome,
an expedition was gotten up under Gen. Wayne
to chastise them. Henry Joined this expedi-
ton, and set out with it On the mar III, Gen.
Wayne, in order to avoid the possibility of an
ambuscade, ordered Capt. Wells to select four
rangers to keep in advance and reconnoitre the
country.
The keen judgment of Capt. Wells did not
fail to detect in Henry Miller the very man for
such On expedition, and he was accordingly Sc
lected. During the march, Henry found little
to do, no Indians being found on the route
On reaching Greenvilie, Gen. Wayne, having
no intimation as to the future intentions of the
subtle foe, determined to send out Capt. Wells
and his daring comrades to capture an Indian,
in order that through him the plans of the In
dams might be discovered. They accordingly
set out across the country: crossing st. Mary's
and proceeding to the Augalaize, they turned
up the river for several miles, when the keen
eyes of the rangers discovered a smoke. Hitch
ing 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 elevated piece
of open ground, surrounded by three Indians
engaged in roasting venison over the fire.
They were now far out of gunshot, and our
gallant rangers discovered a fallen tree, behind
which they thought they could approach to
within gunshot of the Indians undiscovered
Ietraced their steps and going around, got to
the fallen tree-the top Of which was covered
with leayes-between them and the enemy.
They then stole along noiselessly, until they
reached the point desired. Here there plan
was quickly arranged. It was agreed that Mil
Ter and one of his comrades should shoot his
man, leaving the third, who was swifter than
an Indian on foot, to give chase to, and cap
tpre 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 ifeless on
the ground.
Before the smoke cleared away, the reserve
one, McClelland, was far in the direction of
the Indian who was doomed to be captured.
The Indian observed him as he came bound
ing towards him, and he set off at the top of
his speed. McClelland was rapidly coming up
with the retreating Indian, when coming to "a
bend in the river, the latter saw he must be
overtaken, and he leaped off the bank into the
river, a distance of twenty feet, where he sank
up to his middle in the mud. McClelland
made a leap on to him, and sank down in like
manner, when the Indian drew his knife, and
McClelland his tomahawk. A barley ensued,
and the Indian threw down his knife. In the
meantime, Henry ard his companion came up,
the two were rescued from the mud, and the
prisoner bound securely. He appeared sullen,
and refused to answer any question asked him.
He was then washed to rid him OF his coating
of mud, when it was discovered that they had
taken a white man instead of an Indian. The
party returned to their horses, and began at
once to rotrace their steps toward their camp a:
Greenville. On the journey the prisoner con-
tinued moody aud silent, until Henry knowing
that be had a brother with the Indians, and
thinking this might possibly be him, he ap-
preached and called him by his Indian name,
when he answered with seeming surprise, the
two brothers Immediately recognized each 9th
er, for the prisoner was none other than Chris
topher Miller. He returned to Greenville
with his captors determined to remain; and
afterwards rendered the white settlers the
most important aid in their future contests
with the wild savage. Many of his descend
ants still live in Kentucky, and enjoy the
fruits of his well spent and e~ventful life, and
to enjoy the reputation of his name.