Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-06-22
Pioneer Life and History Of
WyandOt County.
By A. w. BRINKERuoTT
CHAPTER IV-No. 0.

i'm about the same condition as when the
| scene of that bloody contest. At that
time the trees bore count SIS marks OF
the tOmahawk made y the Indians ia
extracting bullets and TO this day the
same can be seen where trees have been
spared from the TX of the at last conquer
or. not only Of the Indian. but OF the
forest. Tie land. on which this battle
was fought is now owned by Mr.. G.
| Mace. and the spot is known. as it ever
| will lie. as BATTLE Island" because it was
"A small low, ridge covered with timber
and not because it was surrounded hy
water. hut by open prairie. The Old
| State road from the present site of Upper
Sandusky to Tifiin and Fremont, in the
days when the Indians held the Reserva-
ton passed directly through it. but now
it is east of the new road one-half mile
The Indian forces being increased, the
action became fierce and serious; Craw-
tord holding his ground and the Indians
| making every effort to regain the wood
from which they were driven.
From four in the evening until dusk
the contest was severe and determined
ana the loss was cOnsiderable-Crawfo ford
and his men contending for sclf.preserva
tion. through victory. and the Indian fol
the preservation of his home from the
bold invader of his rights.
The numbers of Crawford's foe could
only be ascertaincd by wreatiis of smok,
! arising from every tree. bush, or tuft OI
grass within view. At night the enemy
| withdrew. and Crawford's men SLEPT
upon their arms on the field of battle and
of blood, but with the sun of the mornin.
they were again In view. but more dis
tant. and Sc med determined TO await
| reinforcements. From the few shots ex
changed during the day. but little injury
| ,xnS hv f.it her al
When the shades OF evening had again
fallen over the plain-ove- heroes dea,
| and living, the officers of Crlw ford's lit
tie band again met IN council and unan-
| imOusly agreed. in view of the fact thai
| the enemies numbers were increasing &,
| retreat as hastily. by night. as the cir
| cuni>tances would aliow-Inany wounde,,
| delaying speed and safety. The decision
| neing communicated to the troops. ali
| necessary arrangements We're soon com
| pltted, and the retreat was about to COM
mence. The outposts. from the vicinity
of the enemy. were quietly withdrawn
| the troops formed in three parallel lines
with the wounded borne upon bierS. by
| comrades, in the center. and at nine
! O'Clock 1T night the retreat began in gooG
| order.
Full of lite. and eager for the tray.
| with ''ea'y >ictory" written upon every
brow. this little army of brave men.
| though. may he. not iustihstble in thi>
crusade against even this barharous IA, e
| LETT home, friends and families, amid til.
tears of sorrow. the prayers for safety
and return and penetrated far and deep
| into the dark forests, entered again into
sunshine on the plains of Sandusky
where they met the foe they sought to
meet on the field of strife. blood and
death. but acknowledged his superior
power by deciding TO flee from his grasl,
| in the darkness OF night. and again de-
cided to seek safety among friend, at
home, but far away! Wounded in body,
| in spirit and pride, under the cover o.
darkeDed skies. from which locked forth
ten thousand golden eyes-bright dia-
monds in the skies--to direct their way
or the sad. uncertain journey before
| them. those brave men, surrounded by
| almost uubroken solitude. turned their
| faces toward home and their backs to the
| toe, with tie hope that all would be well
when another sun should shed his rayS
OF glorious light upon their pathway.
| But such was not to be! Scarcely had
| they moved forward on their way when
| the sharp report of the rifle WAS heard
! in the rear. All knew its meaning. The
| iines wavered-every soul trembled at
the sound. A voice in tie front rank
| called ont that their deSi IN was discov-
| cred and that the Indians would soon be
| upon them, Horror and diSmay ruled
| the hOur-cach man seeking his own
safety as best he could The uproar
| communicated to the enemy the fact that
| all was confusion and weakness with
| their foe and that tine tomahawk and
scalping knife need now allne be used
| in lie work OF death. The suffering
shrieking wounded were first to feel the
keen edge OF those weapons of barbarous
| warfare. and they soon slept. and breath
ed no more, on Inc verdant carpet of the
plain. made red. here and there. with the
warm blood, which, with its leaving.
brought suffering. through death, to an
end.
DIR. Knight. the surgeon. was in the
rear, when tliis last attack was made.
but spurring his morse he galioped
! through the woods as fast as the dark
ness would allow, and before riding
three hundred yards Ire heard the voice
| of Col. Crawford, q short distance in
| front, calling aloud for his son, John
Craw ford; for his son-in-law. Major
Harrison, and for his TWO nephews, Ma
| jor Rose and William Crawford. DR..
Knight replied. in the same loud tonr.
that lie believed the young men were in
front. is that you. Doctor?" asked
| Crawford. eagerly; for no features could
| be recognized i'll the darkness. "Ye ;.
| Colonel; 1 am the hindmost man, he
| lieve." NO. no, replied Crawford. anX-
| iOusly. my son is in the rear yet: have
not been able to hear of hIm in front
DO not leave me, Doctor; my horse has
almost given out; L cannot keep up witt.
the troops, and L wish few OF my best
friends to stay with me-" Knight as
Sured him that he might rely upon his
/ support in any extremity. ami drew up
his horse by his side. Colonel Craw ford
still remained upon the same spot, call
ing loudly for his son. until the last stray
yler had passed. He then. in strong Ian
Suaye. reprobated the conduct of the
militia. in breaking ranks and abandon
ing the wounded, but quickly returned
to the suIjrct of his son and appeared
deeplg agitated at the uncertainty of his
fate. PeTceiving that further delay must
| terminate in death or captivity, the party
set spurs to their horses and followed
the route of the troops. Presently an
old man and lad joined them, OF whom
Crawford eagerly asked if they had seen
his son or nephews? Being assured that
they had not. he sighed deeply, but made
no Other reply.
Just at this instanta heavy fire wa:
heard at least a mile in front. accompa
MED with yells. screams, and all the
usual attendants of battle. Hope then
bade the world farewell, for it was plain.
ly evident that the main body of the re-
treating army must be s.ain or ca ptured,
and then tile StragglerS would be picked
up and despatched with ease. Having
lost all confidence IL his men. Craw fOrd
declined to press forward TO their aid
and changed his course to the northward
and so us to leave those engaged to hi:
right lii this direction he continued foI
nearly an hour. and supposed himsel
out the line of the enemy's operations
when he again changed to the eastward
moved as rapidly as possible, being
guided by the north star, in company
still With the Dr., cid main and boy.
The boy was active, but tile old MAI
being unable to keep up was constantly
shouting for them to tarry Tor him. OfteI
did they warn him or tine danger t.
which his cries eXDosed them all at sIIcl