Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-11-21

O0gtyt05N! q. ..-. - -
sTear it awaT, thent" cried the Ehg1ishman
provoked to passion by what he termed tn,
cool impudence of the Indian. at is the flag
Of the Chemo-ke-mun. and must not fly here.
"Why nbtf" demanded the old chief, withou
removing his gaze from the ofieerA"its my fagi'
IL say it's the flag Of the Chemo- nun.
returned the other, ssand 1 shall not permit i
to fly here. King George is master. and be
now owns the country. l repeat it that fas
shall not wave!' -1-.- -.-.'. -
"And who'll prevent itl'' exclaimed the In
dian. advancing to the Englishman; and assum.
ing all the hauteur and dignity that q brave
warrior can at times assume, he continued; "See
here, Saginashl' and he pointed prouply to
gwa-gons flag! And when my good friend, the
Chemo- ke-mun governor, gave it into my keep
ing. promised. upon the word of q brave. that
| it should not be insulted-and m Indian CHIEF
| il no split-topgue-he cannot lief" -.,..-..
These words were accompanied with certain
demonstrations on the part of the brave old
warrior, that convinced the British captain, that
single handed he was no match for him, and
giving vent to his excessive anger-in threats of
what he would do on the morrOw-the officer
turned his horses head and galloped back to
the fort.
True to his threat, on the following morning.
,,
sailed out of the old fortress and directed his
march toward the camp of the obstinate saw
age" as he termed the brave Chippewa, determ.
ined to wrest from his hands the hated banner.
and drag it at bis horses tail in triumph TO the
post.
But Ne-gwa-goa was prepared for his visi-
tors, and ordering his wife and children to with
draw TO the woods, he placed himself alone at
the foot OF the flagstaff, and awaited their arri-
val. Soon their footsteps upon the dry forest
leaves were heard; and then the officer mounted
as before, came in sight, followed by half-a-score
Of red-coats. carrying their muskets upon their
shoulders
Still that beautiful flag continued to throw its
folds against the breeze; and the captain, again
angered by the sight, spurred his horse in ad-
vance OF the men, and with threatening mo-
tion Of the sword, demanded that it should be
delivered to him instanter.
In a moment the old chief, who possessed the
resolution and courage of lion, cast his eyes
upward 10 the object of his pride, and laid his
hand upon the hilt of his knife. His eyes
flashed fire, and he was about TO give expression
to his indignation. But restraining himself
he reached upward to the slight cord which
coufned the flag to it's place at the end of the
pole, and slowly lowering the bunting. caught
it in his lands. and without detaching it from
its halliards, wound it round his lett arm.
Seeing this motion of The old Indian, the
British captain; misinterpreting its meaning in
to an act of submission, laughed contemptuous
ly, exc1aiming:
"Ha! hal hal my old red-skin. I thought the
sight of red-coat or two would bring you to
termsl Come, now, hand that Yankee rag TO
me, that may do with it as it deservesI''
But casting look of defiance at the officer,
the brave old sachem looseped his iomahaw |
fror hfc hoI Low fha toll nft
the flag he had promised to defend, sternly re-
piled: .--F -. -.
"Saginashl Ne-gwa-gon is the friend of the
Chemo-ke-mun. He has but one flag and one |
hearti If you take one, you shall take the other
alsol'' ...,.....lr
.sThen be it sol" shouted the Englishman,
chatting with passion. 'sIf necessary, your
blood shall pay for your obstinacyl"' And turn
ing in his saddle. he ordered his men to advance
upon the brave old man, and cutting him
down, tear the object of his devotion from his
hands.
The soldiers were fastening forward, in obe-
dience TO this cruel and cowardly order. when,
as if by precopcerted signal, Ne-gwa- gon un-
folded the flag from his arm. and waving it
over his head, gave out long. piercing war
whoop, that rang sharply upon the ears of the |
English, and was answered by fifty |
Others in all directions about them. At the
same instant band of the Saehem's braves, |
sprang from the thickets, and with appraised
knives and war-clubs enclosed the red-coats and
their officer.
Finding that they were completely at the
mercy of the Indians, and deeming "discretion
the better part Of valor." the captain. whose
instructions had been not to provoke them to
hostilities. withdrew. crestfallen, to the fort.
The gallant old chief, calling for three cheers
for his darling fag-as he had heard from his
Chemo ke-mun nfriends-immediately rehoisted
it to the forest breeze, and kept it flying till
the end Of the war. -. ,s.-
This gallant defender of the stars and stripes !
eontrived to visit Detroit every year, bringing |
his family with him, and his beloved flag at
all times flying over his canoe. General Cass, |
his good old friend, never failed TO reward his
integrity with presents of supplies for his peo-
pie; and, among other things, with two new
flags. which fioated in triumph over his wig
wan in the wilderness, till the brave spirit of
the noble old warrior joined his fathers in the
happy hunting grounds, when one Of them was
planted over his grave. where it waved till the
summer breezcs and the storms of winter frifted |
it away TO shreds, and its bare pole at length |
eol al,