The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-04-04
kENNEN,s LAST wARPATH.

henen, the great war Eagle, as
he WAS called by his people, was an
Indian, and the last living member
of distinguished family among the
Delawares.
He was somewhat above the or
dinary run of the sons OF the forest
he WIS sober, honest and truthful
and Il distinguished brave, as his
name indicates. He had sided with
the Colonists in the Revolutionary
War, and rendered item many a
good service as q runner. But his
days for such work were well nigh
spent. Yet his aid was still sought
when service ofthat kind was requi.
red which called for more than ordi
nary test and courage.
| bad known and loved him from
my boyhood, indeed he h ID taught
me everything | knew Of woodcraft.
| had hunted and trapped with
him for months, aud lie had even
permitted me to accompany him on
one or two of less dangerous expe-
ditions when carrying dispatches. -
1t was with him 1 had first seen
blood drawn in mortal strife, and
many hot brush did we pass
through after that; and | was with
him on his last war path, before he
passed over into the land OF spirits,
and braver or truer redekin never
entered the happy hunting grounds,
Keren and marched with Gen.
-'s army into Canada, where
you better believe we saw some SER
vice. At length the General seem
ed to have picked up some news,
which he thought would be o. i'm
portance at home, and the Great
War Eagle was 10 be the bearer Of
dispatches, | required and obtaiaed
leave to accompany him.
Some idea of our position may be
formed when the reader remembers
that We were in au enemy's country;
and surrounded 5y crowds Of hostile
Indians who would have desired
nothing better than TO smoke dry
both or our top knots in their wig
wan.
But somehow or other liked the
job, and as for the Great War Eagle.
it seemed to give him new life. -
We had to grope our way, IA | NAV
say for The Indians were as thick in
the woods as mosquitoes in the
month Of Augnst, and about as thrs
ty Tor human blood We had been
out for two days. and were approach
ing the lin ., wh re more than the
usual pr.cau'ion was necessary, on
account OF the numbrr o scouts
AT length we passed over and were
in the United States once more.
Early in the afternoon | missed
Kenen.
had taken the lead, while he
followed in my tracks; bnt all at
once he disappeared. This did not
cause me any urcnsincss, ~ he had
q ten done the same thing before -
| pnshel forward and AZ night came
to deep. rapid stream, with hi.i
shelving banks where | resolved ;C
camp for the night.
collected some dry wool. with
which lighted fire and cooked my
supper. When it WAS about ready
the Great War Eagle made his NJ
pearance and sat down at the fir,
without word, the same as il he ha,
never been absent from my side.
looked at his helt and there | saw
fresh scalp hanging After sup
ler venturrd TO remark.
Il think Kenen has been on tn,
war path
Tn! dog Of a Mohawk
At the same time tossing the still
wet skin an | hair at my ieet with
The utmost contempt.
learned that he had seen the
fre Ii trail OF the savage, and ha,
started in pursuit., hsvin, overt ken
him, he had killed and scalped hin
and returned in time to have supper
After he lad let me know th,
particulars, he arose and scattered
the fire with his feet, and telling m,
it would not do to let it burn, or w
might find ourselves minus of hi
in the morning. We then role,
ourselves in our Blankets ani la,
down to sleep.
Kenen never seemed to sleel
with both eyes shut, he seemed I,
change guard with them, the on,
doing duty the one half, and the 9th
cr the other half OF the night. An,
it was so, for about midnight he wa
startled from sleep by the snappin!
ofa small twig. He listened for I
moment, then turning eawoke me
saying:
The dogs are on our trail
j, We arose and sought cover in
clump Of trees a few steps frou
where we had slept. We wera jus
in time, for not a minute alter, W,
cav the forms of half a dozen sava
ges stealing up to the spot we haC
just left.
'We'll make their numbers less
; he whispered. You take the frs
, and I'll take the second
~~." oui iil~s - -...
and two savages leaped alaost thei
own heightinto the air and bill dead
whiie their comrades sought cove
Instantly. Rnt wa c,,,d