Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-09-16

iuct.
Finally. after losing number of his fell
lows Butler finding be conId make no i'm.
preston upon our fearless defenders called
the saVages OH. and with threats of future
vengeance, moved up the valley, TO contirL
ne their hellish work of murder and ruin
there.
otiii' for two or three days, we could see
small parties Of marauders moving about
the ne'gbborhood, bearing of the pluuder
OF our homes, and gathering up the strap.
giing cattle and horses that the main BODY
had overlooked. But finally. after several
days more passed by, we could see nothing
OF them, and we congratulated ourselves
with the hope that they had all Withdrawn
from the valley.
However, seeing none Of our ueipbbors
abroad, we did not venture to leave cpr
shelter, and strict orders were given for no
person to quit the palisaded enclosure with
out permissien from Captain Van DJrne.
whom our people had made their leader 10
the fort.
What with Distress at our terrible losses.
the sight Of our burning home, the excite.
ment OF the attack. and anxiety for nv ia.
Their, whose wound assumed a dangerous
character after the fight, my mother was
thrown into fever which for some DAYS
threatened her life.
During the delerium she continually
complained of a burning thirst, and faccied
that nothing but milk could assuage it
But there was not COW in the enclosure
All We supposed had fallen into the hands
OF the thieving tories, and were now on
their way to feed our enemies in the British
camp.
My poor mothers constant rawlings for
milk was more than | could endure.
would gladly have risked my own life to
have obtained it for her.
begged Captain Van D1rne to let me 90
forth and search among the hills. | felt
c"nhdent | should tind somewhere what she
so earnestly desired. l was covineed that
my parent could not recover till that wear.
ming desire had been gratiHed. But to all
my entreaties the captain turned deaf
ear.
mo, no, my child" he would saw
There is not left in all the valley a four
footed animal Besides, who knows how
many of those murderous fiends are vet
prowliag about our fields, Watching for
more blood. You cannot venture from the
fort yet. After two days more have pass
ed, and we see no more of the tories, or
redskins. we still see what can be done for
your mother. But not now, child"
had been to the captain with my use
less prayer to leave the fort, when, on re,
turning to my mothers bedside, | was mot
by Margaret Burch, who beckoued me to
one of the loop holes.
See. there Mary" said she, "what is
that yonder in the edge OF the woodsY /.
it no; n Indian ?"-for every object was
then exaggerated into an enemy.
looked IN the direction she pointed and
to my great deli ht discovery it was one o,
cur favcrite cows, quietly grazing on the
margin of a little brook that ran through
my iather's farm
Thank Cad" l exclaimed, sit is old
Brownie and now mother shall have some
milk"
But how will you get ?" asked thu
girl.
Il will go myself. and drive the cow K
| the fort" | answered.
But they won't let you" replied Mar.
garet
They can't help it." I sail; vii
climb over the pickets, and when | com,
with the cow the sentinels will open thu
| gate to me-"
"D1n't you fear the Indians ?" asked
Margaret.
Indians" I repeated; 81 don't ca,
what Old Van DJrne says. | don't believe
there's one on the valley! Indians or n,
Indians l'm going for old Brownie"
And I'll 90 with you," said the brav,
girl; land here comes Catherine Doxta
tor, and she'll go too; won't you, Kate p
Yes" said Catherine, after the matte
had been explained to her, Eyes, I'll 90
I'D do anything to relieve poor Mrs. CIai
son."
Three minutes after this whispered con
versatIcn, we three girls had descended t.
the yard, and without being seen by tn
sentinels, dropped noiselessly to the ground
on the outside of the pickets, aud then star
ted off upon the run toward the woods
where we had discovered the cow.
We reached her. The creature, who's,
uddeI was bursting with milk was deligh
ted to see Us, and immedi itely staIt.t
ahead of US towards the foIt We ha,
reached within hundred rods ofth rlace
when we fell into a narrow path, which tn
cattle had made On their way from the hill
to the brook. Margaret Burch in the aG
vance, following up after old Brownie, | wa
directly behind her, while Catherine D0z
taies was close behind me.
We were thus Fastening along as fast a
1.-THE cow could be driven. when the sentine
upon the lookout on that part of the enclc
sure shouted to Us to run for our live
for there we're two indians in pursuit
: US.
Without waiting to look behind US, W
dashed past the cow, and endeavored {
reach within cover of the sentinel's rifle
But before we had broke the lin9 in whic
. we were moving. heard the report Of
musket, and at the same instant | felt
{ singing sensation upon my neck, as if
had been struck with a sharp knife TIL
force of the blow threw me forward. ard
fell upon Margaret Burcb, who was lying
the path before me.
, Partly recovering my feet, looked n
t and saw that the people Of the fort had bee
alarmed, and numbers were running I,
, wards US with their guns leveled at som
: thing apparently in eur rears.
: turned my head to look, and to N
, horror saw the body of Catherine Dcxtat,
, lying in the path, with the hot blood spou
ing in strong jet from her bosom. WI
I terrified at the sight, and essaying to RI
, towards oar friends, fell headlong over {!
motioness form o. Margaret. which vi
also bleeding from wound 10 the shou
, der.
These dreadful sights were more than
could endure, and finding that my own pc
son were covered with blood, | BEGAN
sick, and tainted. ! knew nothing mo-
, that happened till l found myself in Il
fort, aud surrounded by a crowd of anxiOl
and terror stricken faces.
, When 1 recovered. l learned the fat
truth that my two friends had been sh
, dead upon the spot, by the same bullet th
had wounded me. 1t seemed that the sa'
ages had still been lurking in the neighbo
, hood and had no doubt driven the COW wit
in sight of the blockhous for decay ar
when we had started her, two OF the Ind
ans followed US. When seeing that thu
had been perceived by the garrison. one
them. watching the opportunity when v
three girls were all in range o. his musks