Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-01-24
Mi5ttllantous.
From the Working Farmer and L. : Journal.
CASTOR Glencoe;
An ISCInENT.
Intho Siege of Fort Meigs.
nY MAJOR MAXWELL.

The defence of Fort Meig-, most I'M
portant frontier post, had been ohstinately
maintained against British prowess and
Indian etratagcm, and overwhelming odd,
of relocated BrItons. sustained by red
skinned warriors, until the crisis came
when other STEPS, than sinPly dentcn,ve
ones, became an absolute necessity, to save
the garrison from defeat, and the whole
frontier from desolation.
It was necessary that Gen. Harrison
should bccome informed, not only OF Gen.
Prescotts nameria force, but also of his
immediate desi ign, aud contemplated move
snentS.
To obtain this inform ton seemed an
catire iaPossibliiy, for the British Cen
erals headquarters we're half mile
back from the north bank Of the Maumec
River, and the whole space in front liter
ally swarmel with hostile Indians, whose
keen vigilance never relaxed, aud whose
cunni.s forbade the hope Of a passage
through their line BY any ordinary strata
gen.
Daily the strength of the garrison was
bcccming weaker from chiils aud fever,
want OF pure water, and unwholesonc
food. large bodies of hostile Indians
had crossed the Maumee and surrounded
the fort; a general assault might any
hour be expected, and the position OF
Gen. Harrison, with his little army, was
becoming critical in the extreme. \
knowledge Of the British Generals move
mcnts and intentions. would very probably
insure the safety Of the garrison and the
integrity of the North.W frontier.
But, although it was currently known
that such intelligence would be worth a
colonel's commission to him who should
bring it to Gen. Harrison, the danger was
too imminent, the impossibility Of evad-
ing Tecumseh's eternal vigilance, too OBJ
vous, and no volunteer stepped forward
10 undertake the dangerous enterprise
Days passed, desperation ensued, despair
was apparent everywhere, and in many
quarters unconditional capitulation was
whispered.
In the midst of this state of affairs,
one day at high noon, Castor Glencoe,
ihe borderer of Anglaize, entered the
fort. How Castor had passed the Gordon
of outlying British Indians, was not ap-
parent, aud as the stout borderer was in
no communicative mood, nothing was
learned from him on that score. Striding
unbidden into the presence Of the COM
mander, CASTOR addressed him after the
bluff, hearty fashion of the frontier:
"Gineral, ther Major overt Lower
Sandusky war tellin ther bsys yer war in
trouble yer, and so I've come over thro'
ther swamp ter see if carnt help yer
circumwent these barsted red niggers and
Britishers."
Thank you, Glencoe If any man
living can bring me the intelligence
need, that man is yourself. But the risk
is so great that while | tell you that your
reward in case of success will be COM
mission, and two thousand dollars, | can
not solicit your acceptance of an cfice
equivalent to your death warrant"
"Nonsense, Ginral; yer needn't be a
mite afeerd of my gittin bagoneted or
tomahawked by any OF ther thievin red
scamps around yer and as fur ther COM
missions and rewards, as yer calls 'em |
don't want none of them yer things ;
much obeeged to yer, though, Gineral.--
And now if yer'l jist tell me what yer
want me ter do, fG all ready ter 60
ahead with ther thing derectly."
Thank you again, sir. and now for
your mission, ! am anxious TO obtsl1