The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-06-11

satisfaction, ana raising IL above his blrcl
bark canoe, padded out into the river
and with its gallant folds streaming be-
hind him, and followed by his warriors
he soon disappeared from sight around q
bend of the bank.
After The war had progressed for some
time, and the enemy had obtained pos.
session of all the North west frontier, in
cluding The city of Detroit, and the i'm
portanl post of Mackinac, Ne-gwa-g a-gon
with his family and band of faithful
warriors, retired to his old hunting ground
on the main land near this last named
fort. Here, devoting his time to the
chase, he resided in comfortable wig
wan', above the top of which, day and
night, waved the stars and stripes pre-.
sented 10 him by the Governor at DE.
troit
Word soon reached the British officer
in command of Fort Macinac, that the
American flag had been hoisted almost
under the very guns of the Fort; and a
party of soldiers were sent TO investigate
the matter.
These men returned to the Fort, saying
The flag had been hoisted by an Indian,
who refused TO take it down. On hear
ing this report, the commanding officer,
after reprimandug his men for not tear
ing the offending bunting from its staff,
moupted his horse and rode out to the
camp Of the Chippewa chief.
On arriving there, the first sight that
greeted his eyes, was the hated "red,
white and blue" Haunting amid the trees
Of the forest, while seated in circle be-
meath it, were the old chief and his lami-
ly par!aking of their evening meal.
As the Englishman approached, the
chief rose to his feet, and invited his Wis
itor to join them. But the latter scorn-
ing the Indians hospitality, pointed
haughlily to the American flag, and de-
manded:
"Wbo erected that vile banner there T.
"AI did," replied Ne-gwa-gon,
while he raised his manly figure to his
greatest height and measured The little
officer before him with his keen eyes,
from head to foot. 81 did it, .SoginoSh r'
"Tear il away, them cried the Eng
lshman, provoked TO passion by what he
termed the cool impudence Of the Indian.
at is the flag of the Chemo ke nun, and
must not fly here"
"Why not~ demanded the old chief,
without removing his gaze from the off.
cer-"i'ts my flag
say it's the flag Of the Chemo-ke-
num-" returned the other, send | shall
not permit it TO fly here. King George
is master, and lie now owns the country.
| repeat it, that flag shall not wave!"
"And who'll prevent itw exclaimed
the Indian, advancing to the Englishman ;
aud assuming all the hauteur aud dignity
that brave warrior can at times assume,
he continued: "See here, Sagna~h r'
and he pointed proudly to the dear old
emblem of liberty" that is Ne-gwa-
gon's flag! And when my good friend,
the Chemo-ke-mun Governor, gave il in
to my keeping, promised, upon the word
of brave, that it should not be insulted
and an Indian chief is no split-tongue
he cannot liew
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 turn
ed his horses head and galloped back to
the fort.
True to his threat, on the following
morning, the British captain, with guard
Of soldiers, sailed out of the old fortress
and directed his march toward the camp
of the "obstinate savage" rs he termed
the brave Chippewa, determined to wrest
from his hands the hated banner, and drag
it at his horses tail in triumph to the
post.
But Ne-gwagon was prepared for his
visitors, and ordering his wife and children
to withdraw to the woods, he placed him
self alone Mt the foot of the flagstaff,
aud awaited their arrival. Soon their
footsteps upon the dry forest-leaves were
heard; and then the officer, mounted ms
before, came in sight, followed by halfa-
score of red-coais. 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 advance Of the men,
and with threatening motion of his
sword, demanded that il should be deliv-
cred TO him instanter.
In q moment the old chief, who possess
ed the resolution and courage of lion,
cast his eyes upward to the object of his
pride, and laid his hand upon the hilt OF
his knife. His eyes flashed fire, and he
was about 10 give expression to his indig-
nation. But, restraining himself he
reached upward TO the slight cord which
confined the flag to its place at the end
of the pole, and slowly lowering the bunt-
ing, caught it in his hands, and without
detacbinp il from its halliards. wound il