The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1865-01-18
81 8

clubbing his rifle in turn became the assaiant; |
but the agile savage darted behind u tree which
ne dexterously kept between himself and the
whirling rifle, when unfortunately, by some mis-
hap, the weapon slipped from Logston's graep
and few far beyond his reach. Instantly the
savage was upon him. Both were unarmed.-
The indian was superior in point of frame, but
his antagonist excelled him in strength and ac-
tivity. Logston, graphing with his foe, at once
raised him from his feet, swung him round and
threw him heavily to the ground, at the same
time falling upon him with his entire weight
But writhng in his embrace and turning over
upon his face, the savage arose again in spite of
all opposition seemingly not in the least dscon
certed by the shock of his fall. Logston seized
him around the waist and by an almost super
human exertion lifted him up and with tremen-
dous force threw him violently second time,
bringing his head in contact with the roots of a
tree; but the Indian turned over and got up
before. These severe exertions caused the blood
to flow profusely from Logston's wound, and he
sensibly felt his strength giving way, while the
Indian apparently in spite of his rough usage,
was as fresh as ever. Logston resolved to change
his tactics. Grasping the Indian, once more he
threw him to the earth, then breaking from him
gave him heavy blow with his fist upon the
side of the head as he attempted to rise, and this
he repeated until the tawny giant seemed to be
bewildered and could scarcely rise at all. Logs
ton was now quite certain of victory, but in at
tempting to strike blow he stumbled and fell,
when the crafty Indian quickly laid hold of him !;
having feigned in part, the stupor the other sup
posed to be the result of his blows. In the strug
gle, LOgston by sheer strength got uppermost,
and planting his knee upon his breast, COM
menced the attempt to choke him to death. The
savage lay perfectly quiet in submission to
Cot &c incto ont ipO
more difficult, and his tongue protruding from
his mouth But just at this instant Logston,
happe nng to cast his eye down, observed that
his foe endeavOrng to quietly draw his
knife from its sheath but anticipating the move
ment, he laid hold of the Indians hands, wrench
ed the unsheathed blade from their grasp, and,
drawing it forth, plunged it into the naked side
of his enemy with such force that portion of the
handle entered the quivering wound with the
blade. The Indian sank back and was dead.
Logston, looking around him, observed the
other Indian with his back against fallen tree,
but unable to use his rifle. Without pausing to
despatch him he fastened to the fort, where he
arrived faint and weary and announced his ex-
ploit The next morning party set out for the
scene of the rencounter. The body of the big
Indian concealed in the leaves, and near the
spot the knife was discovered driven into the
ground almost out of sight. Upon searching far
Their the dead form of the other Indian was
found several hundred yards away. He had
plunged his knife into his own heart. 1t was he
who had covered his dead comrade with leaves
and forced the knife into the ground; which
r, work he performed with his back broken, and
then crawled away where he doubtless hoped
his body would not be discovered, and stabbed
himself. This exhibits that peculiar trait of the
~ wild natives of this continent to always conceal
the bodies of those killed in battle from their en-
ernies; and this poor wretch performed this last
duty before surrendering up his own existence,
2 In compliance with the long honored custom OF