Spirit of the age., 1861-06-12

j
ting in, they came within view of the camp
Gre Of their foes. Waiting some two or three
hours, until they thought the venture per-
fectly safe, they carefully proceeded to recon
noitre the Indian camp, which was in a small,
pleasant, but heavily wooded valley, through
which flowed branch of the Wabash
Creeping up cautiously, under cover of some
bushes, they beheld six Indians carelessiy
disposed around the fire, three of them lying
down as if asleep, and the others sitting near
together conversing in low tones, occasional
ly laughing and evidently totally unsuspi-
cious Of danger. A little apart, and bound to
a tree, was the~poor captive young and
beautiful femse-whose now pale and de-
heart, and, c0nl5fdeaL n tlhe aesnailE Qf, her
hair and torn and disarranged garments, rem
dpfed her an object of pity even to men har-
dened to almost every scene of suffering and
distress.
Having fully ascer ertained the number and
position of their enemies and the fact that
the prisoner, whom they had come to rescue
was still alive, the scouts drew stealthily back
to safe distance, and held whispered con-
sultation upon the manner of their future
procedure.
i don't exactly like either of your plans
said Mcclellan, who had quietly listened to
the propositions of the Others It's our bu-
siness to git the gal away-that's the Ginerars
orders land the way that we can do that
the best, is the best way. Now, instead of
trying to steal thar guns, one of you Jest
creep up and cut her cords and start her off
towards US as easy as you kin; but eff thar's
any alarm, tell her to break for the nearest
thcket, and We'll stand atween her and harm.
don't think tharll be any trouble bout our
coming out all right, for we've fought bigger
odds atore to.1ay, without the vantage Of a
surprise, and licked 'em too
After some further discussion, the plan OF
Mcclellan was acceded to as the best, and
Hart was selected to enter the camp and re-
lease the girl-the others to be in readiness
| to pour in their fire in case of an alarm-which
to say the least, would be likely to throw the
Indians into confusion, and give our friends So
much the advantage the girl would be
almost certain to escape, and her escape was
what they now sought rather than the lives
of the savages.
Having thus arranged the matter, the three
scouts kept perfectly quiet and silent some
two or three hours longer, and then begar
the execution of their final scheme. The
fire, which the Indians had fed while astir
had now gone down to merely embers bu
this only the better served McClellan's idea
as it would render Hart less liable to be seer
in his approach to the prisoner
Some quarter Of an hour more was spen
in arranging every thing for perfect action
and getting into position, which he finall,
did in that stealthy and noiSless manner pc
cuiar to men of their profession. Thei
wourrEoe
ly and steathily. y.drew back, and glided aroun
to the captive. He reached her without caus
ing any alarm, but found her fast asleep, sit
ting on the ground, her back braceI agans
the tree to which she was bound. To wax
her. and warn her, and assure her that de
liverance was at hand-without causing be
to start, or cry out, and SO arouse her cal
tors--was a delicate task. He began, how
ever, sby whispering in her ear, and so cor
tinued till she gradually awoke, and heart
and comprehended his words, when her raj
presence of mind came to his aid, and he W;
greatly reioiced and relieved a. her whisper
ed reply:
I understand you-I thank you-Gc
bless you, whoever you are Have no feal
| am soldiers daughter, and will do wha
ever you bid me-
Then just as soon as / cut your cords
whispered Hart, in reply, git up and folio
ME, and don't make bit of noise; but
the Injnns do happen to rouse, don't get t.
skeered, but run for the nearest thicket, al
leave me and my comrades to settle them.
He then cut her bonds; and quietly, b
with trembling eagerness, she arose to col
ply with his directions but the first st
forward, her long-corded and benum
limbs partially giving way under her, s
stumbled apon dry branch, which snapp
beneath her feet.
Instantly one of the Indians nearest t
- tree startedsup into sitting posture-wh
Hart, feeling himself called upon to act, su
denly presented the rifle at the breast
his foe, and lodged the contents in his boo
AS he fell back, the scout with. yell
] triumph and defiance, bounded over him
attack the next, the whole party being n
fully aroused and alarmed. Swapping
pistolat the breast of the second, and I'll
ing it miss fire, Hart struck out with
romahawk but Stumbled at the same N
ment and, missing the warrior in the act
rising, fell heavily against him. The lat
Staggered, and was really much alarmed !
confused; but comprehending, withal, t
he had an enemy within his reach, he qui
ly grappled him, whipped out his knife, ;
plunged it several times into his body.
was in the very act of doing this, in e
when bail from the rife of McClel
pierced his brain, and he fell dead over
dying form of Hart-Hickman at The 81
instant shooting down another-for "
loud, terrifying ayells,. both had rushed u
8 the Indians at the same moment with tt
unfortunate Companion.
There were now three unwounded Ind
: to two whites and had the former kn'
of their advantage, the day might have
: their own; but they were surprised, ala
!, ed, and half paralyzed with the thought
they were attacked by Overwhelming n,
bers and before they had time to reco
the smaller weapons of our heroes had {
= their work upon two more of them,
sixth nemonly making his escape wi
: yell of terror. The skirmish, from frs
!. last, scarcely exceeded minute and p
:. e ably To regular battle in the world
= showed ssueha proportion of the kile
8 the number engaged, in so short time
- 1t was dearly won contest to our
ylving friends, and sad and gloomy
their feelings as they lifted their poor
e rade from beneath his foe, and listened Il
1irreg Jar breathings which were sooI
.5a cease in death: The girl, who had not
= = hr, now returned and joined them in
IL sfief,. for she felt the poor fellow had
- W der.feSeue and defence. An hour
oe tue dyizIg man expired in the arms OF
~ ClehsR, rensing little at the last MOI
and speaking few words, faintingly ::
- Good bye, boys he said, ''and rene
II me wherever you see the red niggers. y
nd Well do that, Hart, you may rest assu
II replied Mcclellan, in an unsteady tone
in over his mortal remains those two /
scouts SWore nndVinp revenpa AGAINST