The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-09-20


of my wife, "was not the tinkle Of bell
upon the neck of a cow. It is deeoy
from some Indian who desires to draw me
into ambush"
Believing this to be the case, L took
down my musket, q had no rife and see.
ing that it was properly loaded, I stole
cautiously around the field toward the point
from which the sound seemed to proceed.
AS had suspected, there, in a cluster of
of bushes crouched an Indian waiting for
me to appear in answer to his decoy bell,
that he might send the fatal bullet to my
heart. I approached without discovering
myself to him, until within shooting dis
lance, then raised my piece and fred
The bullet sped true to its mark, and the
Indian fell dead.
Not knowing but that he might be &C.
companied by Others, 1 returned with all
speed to my cabin, and having firmly bar
ricaded the door, I watched all day from
the port hole, in anticipation Of an attack
from the companions Of the Indian [ had
killed. To add to the danger and seeming
hopelessness of my situation, | discovered
that | had but one charge of powder left.
I could make but one shot and then, if at
tackled by numbers, [ should be entirely
in their power. Determined to do the
best with what had, poured in my last
charge Of powder, and put into my musket
fifteen slugs, and then waited for the ap-
proach Of night, feeling confident Of an at
tack.
Night came on at length. A beautiful
moonlight night it was too, and this favor
ed me greatly, as I would be able to OBJ
serve the movement of the enemy as they
approached my cabin. 1t was two hours
after nightfall, and as yet I had neither
seen or heard sign Of the Indians, when
suddenly was startled by the barking Of
my dog at the stable. l knew that the
Indians were coming. The stable stood a
little west of the cabin, and between the
two was a patch of clear ground upon
which the light of the full moon fell unob-
structed. Judging from the noise at the
stable that they would advance from that
direction, I posted myself at the port hole
on that side of the cabin. .u
had previously placed my wife upon
the cross-pole in the chimney, SO that in
case our enemies effected an entrance to
the cabin she might climb out through the
low chimney and effect her escape. For
myself | determined not to be taken alive,
and resolved to sell my life dearly.
With breathless anxiety I watched at
the port hole. At length l saw them en-
erge from the shadow of the stable and ad-
vance across the vacant ground toward the
cabin. Observation-Disclosures heav-
ems six stalwart Indians, armed to the
teeth, and urged on by the hope of re.
venge. And I alone to oppose them with
but one charge of powder. My case was
desperate indeed. With quick but steal
thy step in close single file they approach
ed, and were already within few yards Of
the house, when slight change or diver
gence in the movement of the forward In
dian, changed the position of the entire six;
so that o portion of the left side of each
was uncovered. They were all in range
--one aim would cover all. Quick as
thought, / aimed and fired. AS the smoke
cleared away, | could hardly credit what
my senses showed me as the result of my
shot. The fifteen slugs with which I had
loaded my musket had done their work
well--Fiye Of the six Indians lay dead
upon the ground and the sixth had disap-
peared..
Although no enemy was now in sight,
I did not venture forth until morning.
There lay the bodies Of the FIVE Indians,
undisturbed, together with the rife of the
other. Securing the arms and ammuni-
ton Of the fallen Indians, / followed up
the trail Of the missing one, until it reach
ed the river, beyond which point / could
discover no traces whatever. From the
amount Of blood which marked the trail,
together with the unmistakable evidence
that he had picked his way with difficulty,
/ was led to believe that he had been NOR.
tally wounded, and in order to prevent his
body from falling into the hands of his
white foe, had CROPPED his way to the river
and thrown himself into the current, which
had borne'him away. ssss.E ssaS sbT
The Indians had killed my COW, and
that you may be assured was no ttifling
loss, yet in my gratitude for my escape
from the fnerciless sayages, 4 would have
been entirely willing to have made much
greater sacrifices. I was well provided
(by means Of arms and ammunition taken
from the slain Indians) in case Of secoad
attack, but this fortunately proved to be