Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-11-08

He might have delayed a few mo-
ments longer had he not seen, or fancied,
a pair of large, round eyes like balls of
fire, glaring fercely upon him. But
this, once observed, there was no time
to waste in the consideration of conse-
quences. 1t was matter of life and
death.
He raised his rife quickly to his
shoulder, took deliberate aim at the
glittering orbs before him, and touched
the trigger. Immediately, there was a
deafening charge, and the stiffness of
the forest was broken. The sharp,
startling report reaches the other senti-
ne4s, some of whom also fired their
weapons, and retired to, camp.
| Joe also retreated, for such were his
orders. But whether his shot had been
s1ccessfnE he was unable to say, though
he believed it had. Itwas eqaally out
of his power to say what it was he had
aimed although in his own mind sat
isfed that it was skulking savage.
In the camp some thought he had
been frightened by an owl, or by
phantom of his own imagination.-
Many wished it might be so-for they
envied him the notice he had already
received, and the distinction that must
ensue should the dead body of lurk.
ing foe be found near his post.
But this was almost more than he
himself expected. AS the Indians al
ways carry their dead from the field of
battle, unless driven away before the
fury of a sudden desperate charge, there
was little likelihood of finding the dead
carcase of skulking scout more than
two miles from the camp.
Conscious that he had discharged his
duty faithfully, he took no notice of the
gibes and sneers of his envious fellows,
but went directly to his quarters, rolled
himself up in his blanket, and slept
soundly until reused for onward march.
Meanwhile the camp was in an up
roar of excitement, an attack of the en-
emy was momentarily apprehended.-
Wayne drew up his men in battle array,
and waited for the onset. An hour
elapsed, and it was open day; but there
was no appearance Of the enemy.
The genaral shook his head, dubi-
ously
"a coward, apprehend!' suggested
one of his staff.
"No," replied his superior. "He is
made Of sterner stuff than cowardice!'
"Perhaps more courage than forti
tude, suggested another.
II am at a loss," said the general.
"Call Captain Smelling
In few moments, Captain Smelling
made his appearance.
"Where is the young pickett in
quired the commandant.
ale has gone to sleep in his blanket,
being greatly fatigued from his long,
tedious, exciting watch. Shall L call
him?"
"No-let him sleep" replied the Cen
eral "He could not, if he were "a cow
ard!'' %5*z
What immediately followed is matter
of history, and need scarcely be repeated.
Wayne advanced upon the enemy,
whom he had resolved to attack in their
position.
After march of FIVE miles, his ad.
vanced guards was briskly attacked from
thieket of tall grass and underground,
similar to that near which the outmost
picket had been stationed the night be-
fore. Immediately his force was dis
posed for the flight, and the front line
of infantry ordered "to rouse the sava-
ges from their lair with the point of the
bayonet, and when up, to deliver close
and we'll directed fire on their backs"
The orders Of Wayne were often pc
culiar, as the above, usually the best
that could have been issued under the
circumstances. In this instance they
were promptly obeyed; and so irresisti-
BILE was the bayonet-charge, that both
the Indians and the allies were driven
from their position and completely
routed, with only loss to our army of
one hundred and seven men, while that
of the enemy was much greater-as the
field of battle strewn with dead bodies,
red and white, which, from the precip-
itancy of their fight, had not been re-
moved.
On the march, Captain Smelling, with
small party of men, by permission of
the general, deviated slightly from the
line, and passed by the thicket whence
danger on the night before had been ap-
pretended, and near to which the out
most picket had been stationed
When within short distance of the
post, cry of joyful surprise escaped the
lips of one of the soldiers, and all has
tened forward to the spot to ascertain
the cause.
There, within few yards of the tree
against which the faithful sentinel had
leaned, half concealed in the tall, rank
grass, dead and cold lay the victim at
his unerring aim. 1t was not, however,
as he supposed, an Indian scout or spy,
but gaunt, gray wolf, of enormous
proportions and most ferocious appear
ance. 1t was shot directly between the
eyes.
! 1t was ascertained, afterwards, from
some of the prisoners, chat at the very
moment when the gun of the picket dis
turbed the funeral stiffness of the for
est, the enemy were preparing to steal
upon the camp of Wayne in the hope
of his easy overthrow; but that the pur-
pose was Immediately abandoned, under
the impression that it had been in some
way discovered.
Thus, by one Of those inscrutably CO.
medicines which we usually, and per
haps not unreasonably attribute to Prov
idenee, was the American army saved
from that most fearful consequence Of "a
stealthy night attack-an indiss rimipata
slaughter.
After the battle, General Wayae or
dered one of his servants to fay the
wolf and dress the skin; and subse-
quently, to the great qualification Of
him and his friends, presented it to Joe,
as trophy Of his valor and fartitude.