The Portland daily press., 1862-11-22
MISCELLANY.
THREE AT A SHOT.
STORY BY A MOTHER OF THE REvoLUTIo,


ming her snow-white neckerchief, and calling
attention to a broad scar reaching one third
round the right side of her neck have ear
red almost seventy years. 1t is the trackof
musket ball from British soldiers gun. You
young folks have all heard of the dreadful
times we experienced down in the Mohawk
country, when the bloodthirsty miscreant,
John Butler, with his Tories and indians,
made those beautiful valleys scenes of blood
shed and desolation. / was quite girl then
lin my twelfth year-and can recall them
with distinctness. They were well calculated
TO make lasting impression upon the tender
and susceptible heart of child like me.
When those wretches commenced their
work of death and rapine in the upper settle
ments of the Mohawk, the people living along
the valley of Socharie Greek, expecting that
their own neighborhood would not be exempt
ed from their visitation, Immediately assem-
bled and erected picl1eted enclosures and
block houses for the protection of their faIni-
lies, and their most valuable stock. There
were several OF those log forts at convenient
distances, on each side of the stream.
The block-house in our immediate neigh
borhood was the last that was buit and
scarcely had it been completed, and small
store of provisions conveyed to IT, than the
valley was alarmed by mounted messengers,
who galloped up to the creek, with the terri
BILE report that the tories and their Indian al
lies were approaching down the Mohawk,
numbering the settlers, destroying their build
ings and crops. and driving off their stock for
the use of the British army i'm New York.
Our fort was the lowest on the creek. aud
about two or three miles from the nearest one
which was on the other bank 1t was situated
on rising ground, and overlooked good por-
tion of the valley for considerable distance.
The enemy was reported close at hand, and
the people collecting their most valuable goods
mala GOOD ,ha;r refrsat IN the shelter of the
strong bnildinqs. There were about a dozen
families of ms n our fort. and all being safely
housea 4. marty of vonno men and NV father
started 10 The hills. To drive in As many sheen
and cows as eould he tound. They had col
lected n humber. and were on their way 10 The
block house with them when thew were
startled by a sudden burst of Indian wells
close in their rear FEARING for tbe safety Of
the people left at the fort they made no at
temnt 10 save the cattle. but came as fast ms
they could run to the place. 1t was well they
did so for scarcely were the gates of the outer
nickets closed after the admission. than we
were surrounded by Tories and Brlnt's saya-
pes. who apuroaehino As near as they thouqht
prudent. raised their wild war whoop and
with threatening gestures and signs. called at
tention to the smoke and flames that began to
rise from every part of our beautiful valley.
scenes nor how. in one short day. our people
fnnnd Themselves sudd,e,lv dsnrived ri the
daar homes thsy had baan far yasrs in nra,,ar-
,sri,, ho,, o,r s.ous of ,,r,;,, aud ba - ,bSoh
had inst heen secured melted a,yaysin an
:. honr snd svsr artig,s ,f yai,,s ,,ay d.s,,o,,
while we were obliged 10 loo,, on witbont
r,ai;n,r an atfer, =, - tI,,n, T. ,..s 80.
r;hIs ,Tv;no ,,,amsnt ,rhen lool-ed from ,ha
Loon holes Of NV shelter down ,,,,on the snot
whsrs s,ood NV ou,a,l ona Tia mo-, lo,al,
and ralnahla ii ,le whole y.liar-and say ,hs
r.d DANES lssning from ,y;,,lows and doors
and rnnfs rhila : f,area rahhle 'ot Ind;ans ana
r;is phi,a man were ,ll;aa ,ba a;r with their
exr,,ant vaIls and daneing ;ts eemds ahont
,ha h,,.n;,,, h,;id;nrs NJ, ,ho ,,os, ,,a;,,c,i
" on - ,. 80 ~, ID. - -; p''..a. ~.
,noshas,s sc,, :. III ,,,o ~ ,t,a ny
ton of whs, She loysd moro o. ,ban aII o,her
things next to her husband and children
wni,a ,.e ,ara 80 -, ,h,.r,,,,s,s 80
this dss,r,c,io, ths a,a,,,, haa eal,ao,.,d e.,
rar,s ~ he vsila, I'D ,sra
,na stsa,,h;lv rndor oo,ar ~ ,ta rno,,s Ia
trees mnon ns and saon Are ne n',s,,e,rr and ar,
riae shots was onened ,noa o,r hni,d;ng Gu
arsI sho,s ..,e.ed ,ho ftoa,, 49, - ~ 80.
rnom and nv c,,har was wonndpd il the ! RI,
inst ~ hs was IN the oct Of f,;ne HE 'iaa ., -
painted a. wage who was creenins fI,rona oh tbe
qrsss nm The s;da IF ths hin I baa no;,,,ad ,a.d
ont the annroacb4of the Indian. and was watch
inc the effect Of his shot and M mv satisfsstion.
saw him suddenly throw up his body and then
roll like log liieless to the bottom of the hill
We afterwards ascertained that this man was
one of the nearest neighbors named Van Time
who had Joined Buffers cut throats, and lest
be might he recognized. had disguised himself
az a Mohawk,
Ny father was severely wounded, so that he
could no longer use his rife, but still encour-
aged the others with his voice, and continued
during the attack TO be of seryive to tie Young
men who so bravely defended the place. For
tunately we were well supplied with ammuni-
ton, and remember some of the women were
busy reloading the rifles as fast as the men
could discharge them. @
Finally. after losing number of his fellows.
Butler finding ne could make no impression
upon our fearless defenders, called the sayages
off, and with threats of future vengeance.
moved IN the valley. TO continue THAR haIiish
work of murder and and ruin there.
Still, for two or three days, we could see
small parties of maruders moving about the
neghborhood, bearing off the plunder OF our
homes, and gathering up the Struggling cattle
and horses that the main body had overlooked.
But finally after several days more passe, nv.
we could see nothing Of them. and conqrst9,
lated ourselves with the hope that thew had all
withdrawn from the VALLEY.
However, seeing none of our neighbors
abroad we did not venture to leave our. sheltrr
and strict orders were given tor no nersnn to
Quit the t,alisadsd enclosures withont ner,nis.
sion from Cant. Van Rorne whom onr yaorIa
had made their leader In the fort
What with distress AZ our terr;hle Iossas tho
sight of o,,r bnrnino boma the ayc;tsrant ~
az y :. ~. Va