Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-03-20
KENEN'S LAST WAR PATH.
BY w. A. DEVON.


and the last living member Of distin-
guished family among the Delawares.
He was somewhat above the ordinary
run of the sons Of the forest-ho was So
ber, honest and truthful, and a distin-
guished brave, as his namo indicates -
He had sided with the Colonists in the
Revolutionary War, and rendered them
many a good service as runner but his
days for such work were well nigh spent.
Yet his aid was still sought when service
of that kind was required which called
for more than ordinary test OF courage.
had known and loved him from my
boyhood indeed he bad taught me ev-
erything l knew of woodcraft. i had
hunted and trapped with him for months,
and he had even permitted me to accom-.
pany him on one or two of his less dan
gerous expeditions when carrying dis
patches. 1t was with him | 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 trucr redskin
never entered the happy hunting grounds.
Kenen and marched with Gen. IS
army into Canada, where you better be-
lieve we saw some service. AT length
the General seemed to have picked up
some news, which he thought would be
of some Importance at home, and the
Great War Eagle was to be the bearer of
dispatches. required and obtained
leave to accompany him.
Some idea of our position may be
formed when the reader remembers that
we were in an encmy's country, and sur
rounded by crowds of hostile Indians
who would have desired nothing better
than to smoke dry both our top knots in
their wigwam.
But somehow or other liked the Job,
and as for the Great War Eagle it seemed
to give him new lite. We had to
group our way, as Imay say, for the In
dians were as thick in the woods as mus
quitocs in the month Of August and about
as thirsty for human blood. We had been
out for two days, and were approaching
the lines, where more than usual precau-
tion was required, on account of the num-
Der of 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, but all at once he disap-
peared. This did not cause me any un-
easiness, as he had often done the same
thing before. | pushed forward and at
night | came to deep and rapid stream,
with high shelving banks where | Iresoived
to camp for the night.
collected some dry wood with which
| lightcd a fire and cooked my supper
When it was about ready, the Great War
Eagle made his appearance and sat down
by the fire without a word, the same as if
he had never been from my side. ! looked
at his belt and there | saw a fresh scalp
hanging. After supper ! venturcd to re-
mark,
81 think Kenen has been on the war
path"
"Ugh, a dog of a Mohawk
Al the same time tossing the still wet
skin and hair at my feet with the utmost
contempt.
| learned that he had seen the fresh
trail Of the savage, and had started in
pursuit, having overtaken him, he had
killed and alped him and returned in
time to have supper.
After he had let me know the particu
lars, he arose and scattered the fire vita
his feet, and telling me it would not do
to let it burn. or we might find ourselves
minus Of bair in the morning. We then
rolled ourselves in our blankets and lay
down to sleep.
Kenen never seemed to sleep with both
eyes shut, he seemed to change guard with
them, the one doing duty one half, and
the other the other half of the night
And it was well for me that it was so,
for about midnight he was startled from
sleep by the swapping of small twig.-
He listened for moment, then turning
he awoke me saying,
"Ihe dogs are on our trail
We arose and sought cover in clump
of trees few yards from where we had
slept. We were just in time, for not a
minute later we saw the forms of half
dozen savagcs stealing up to the spot we
had Just left.
"We'll make their number less" he
whispered. "You take the first and III
take the second"
Crack went both our rifles at once, and
two savagcs leaped almost their own
height into the air and fell dead while
their comrades sought cover instantly
But we found we were in hornets nest,
for perfect shower Of bullets whistled
past us on every side, even from the 9TH
er side Of the river.
We were surrounded, and it would be
impossible for us to escape, so we re-
solved to sell our lives as dearly as we
could. We loaded our rifles and waited
for another shot at them, but the night
was so dark that it was next to impossible
to see one of the imps. At length we
got another crack, which sent two more
on their last journey. We found that
they were drawing their circles closer,
and in a short time we would have to
give them our hair.
"The great War Eagle is getting very
old, and his wigwam's lonely; there arc
none of his family left on earth, they have
all gone to the happy hunting grounds,
and their spirits arc calling. Kenen to
join them, and he must go. My young
friend you will take the word of the
white chief, and he will become bearer
and carry them under the water to the
| l. A & II L i