Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-09-10

otO0uuounu on tnelr track, was Obliged
TO submit to delay that was a perfect
torture of mind. We rode few miles
further that day. and .encamped upon the
bank sof small stream, whose bed was
nearly dry. but which. winding through a
parched- looking prsirie. left a line OF
gresnish grass. sfew wild flowers. and here
and theressome bushes and trees, to mark
its devious course.
5 One thing was nour favor. The mo on
was approaching its full, and the weather
had signs OF being dry for several days TO
come. which would enable us to follow the
trail in the night. by which means we
would run less risk Of being discovered on
drawing near the foe.
A consultation with my scouts resulted
in deciding me TO take the right hand trail
W. IA my whole party. instead of dividing
it and taking both. Their opinion was
that both trails would eventually end in
one. and they were almost certain from
signs which they interpreted to my salts
faction, that the Indians not only had two
female prisoners with them. bur that these
captives had gone over the route proposed.
which would have been sufficient to deter
miae me upon the course, had all other
reasons been wanting.
For the first two days nothing of impor-
lance occurred. Our third camp was at
the junction of the two trails. which came
together in the manner the scouts had con-
jectured. Up to this time we had seen no
Indians. but the signs were becoming more
fresh. which showed us We were gaining
upon them, and warned us to be more
carsful in our future movements. 1t was
now decided that we should pursue by
night and rest by day. Our hope was tina;
we might be able surprise them before. they
should be able to reach the mountains,
and by q sudden dash into their camp sue
coed in routing them. rescue their prison
ers. and retaking what they had stolen,
without much risk to ourselves.
That night. after resting till the moon
was well up toward the zenith. we noun
ted and pushed forward till sunrise. when
we discovered in the dim distance, looking
like fleecy cloud, one of the snow cover
ed peaks of the great Rocky Chain. The
air was clear and the distance was compu-
ted to be from seventy to eighty miles,
Should the Indians reach these mountains
before being overtaken. we feared the at
tack would be. more difficult and uncertain
in its results. and in consequence our anx-
iety and Impotence became much increas-
ed. If could have consulted only my
own feelings, should have pressed for
ri Il e., q
courss the others had not my mental ex-
element to sustain them, AID our animals
certainly needed rest. ilsl - ~ -
A little before sunset we were again in
our saddles, and that night we did our ut
most. When we halted again, the scouts
gave it as their opinion that anor her night's
tide would bring us upon our foes, and the
very thought made me tremble with hope
and fear. Should find Adina living? and
should 1 be able to rescue aud save herr
Oh. the torture of thinking hoping and
fearing! was unable to sleep--unable
even to rest-but walked about the camp
nearly all day, with burning fever Of ex-
element in my veins.
This time it was thought best to wait
for the raising of the moon. keep the scouts
ont in advance, and move with more eau
ton than ever. The face of the country
had changed. the land was more uneven
and rolling. and there was possibility oil
being seen'from some swell or elevation by
the lookouts Of the enemy.
1t seemed TO me as If the moon would
never rise tina, night; and until saw il
slowly creeping above the horizon, and
found myself once more in the saddle,
felt as though l was fairly sitting in an
oppressive atmosphere. About midnigh,
we were stopped by two of the scouts. who
stated that we were close upon the Indians,
who were eneamDed in little valley about
three miles distant. . Their advice wa.
that we should secure our horses in q
neighboring wood. creep around to the
camp, divide our forces into three parties
and make sudden attack on foot from
three different quarters. The other scouts
coming in and agreeing with the first, in
duced me to adopt this plan. which
forthwith proceeded to carry out. rn-
2 1t was perhaps three hours after mid
night that, as most of the Indians lay
asleep in their camp. and they were sud
denly aroused by yells as terrific as thei
own; and as they sprung to their feet. il
the widest commission and alarm, three dis
tinct rifle volleys poured death among them
creating for the moment paralyzing con.
sternation. With renewed yells we rushe,
forward, closing in toward the centre. ant
firing our reyolvers at every stem. till eyer,
barrel was discharged. by which time ,hos.
of the sassges who were not killed or Sc
verely wounded were bounding away il
every direction, shrieking with terror. Ii
less than FIVE minutes from the opening
FIRE we were masters Of the field, with thir
ty dead and dying savages around us. and
not a single one Of our party was injured
But where were the csptives? In til,
very centre Of the encampment. at the foo
of tree. stretched out on the earth. ant
so bound down that they could not rise Il
welcome their deliverers. we found tn,
two maidens. "A dozen balls had whistles
near them-but fortunately they were boil
unharmed-and when assrred of their de
liverancs by those who cut the cords anG
assisted them to their feet, they both burs
into tears. aud wept and sobbed for severa
minutes, unable to articulate a syllable.
As for myself i was deeply affected, bu
in different way. l did not weep. bu
could not speak; and as | drew near ant
gazed npon them, for 1thad been powerles'
to assist in their release, it seemed as if
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