Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-01-17
BAFFLED REDSKINS.
A ThriIling Indian story OF the
IOId French war.

John .Kilburn was one of the early
settlers of Walpole, N. II. When Col.
Benz, Bellows (great-grandfather Of the
Rev. a. W. Bellows, of New York,
came to the town to settle, he found
Kilburn in garrisoned house abonttWo
miles north of the town. In the sum
mer of 1855 (the year of the breaking
out of the old French war; two men
were shot by Indians, Shortly before
this an Indian named Philip had visited
Kilburn's house in q friendly way, pre-
tending to be in want of provisions. He
was supplied with hints and -four, and
dismissed It was ascertained that this
same Indian had visited all the settle
ments on the river, doubtless to procure
information of the state of their de-
fenses. Word came from Governor
Shirley that FIVE hundred Indians were
collecting in Canada, whose aim was
the butchery and execution of the
whole of the white population on the
upper part of the Connecticut river.
Colonel Bellows had at this time about
thirty men at strong fort which he had
built ON a hill overlooking the Connecti-
cut, about half mile south Of Kilburn' 8
but too distant to afford him any aid.
About noon on. the 18th of August, lI65,
Kilburn and his son John, in his eight
eenth year, and also man named Peak,
and his son, were returning home to
dinner from the field, when one of them
discovered the red flags of the Indians
among the alders as thick as grass
hoppers." The white men instantly
made for the house, fastened the doors
and prepared for an obstinate defense.
Kilburn' S wife Ruth and his daughter
Hetty were already in the house. In
about fifteen minutes the savages were
seen crawling up the bank east OF the
house, and as they crossed footpath one
by ole, one hundred and ninety-seven
were counted; about the same number,
it asterward proved, had remained in
ambush, but Joined the attacking party
soon.
The savages appeared to have learned
that Colonel Bellows and his men were
at work at his grist mill, about mile
east, and they intended to waylay and
murder them before attacking Kilburn s
house. The colonel and his men were
now returning home, each with bag of
meal on his back, and unsuspicious Of
danger, when the dogs began to growl
and betray the neighborhood of an
enemy. The colonel, knowing the Ian
guage Of the dogs aid the wiles of the
Indians, instantly adopted his policy
He directed his men, throwing OF the
neal, to crawl carefully to the rise OF
q land, and on reaching the top of the
n, ' 70 spring together to their feet,
'anA e whooD and instantly drop into
Jive OIL fern. The movement had the
he sweet ct TO draw the Indians from
leslred ehe \. At the sound of the
heir ambusc ' themselves discovered
yhoop, tancyln1 the sayages rose from
he whole body oi us-ciFcle around the
,ath Colonel Bellows - tbs inSiaSs.
owed. His men fred u "a that thew
Who were SO disconcert, ssanpeared.
larted into the bushes and q, nneoual
rhe colonel, sensible Of his short-
orce, hurried his men off by the v lis
st cut 70 the. fort, and prepared 70,
Is defense.
The Indians, finding their plan de- /
Gated, then determined to take yea
.eance upon the weaker party, and soon
on the eminence east OF Nil |
,urns house. Here the same treacherous
Philip, who had visited and paltaken OF
,is hospitality SO short a time before,
,ame forward under the shelter Of a tree
md summoned the little garrison TO sur
.ender. " Old John, young john cried
le, al know ye, come out here. w
live YOU good quarter" QuarterF vo-
old Kilburn, in a voice Of thun,
ler. " YOU red .rascals, begone, or we IL
luarter your 1t was brave reply Tor
our men to make to nearly four hum
lred. PhiHp returned, and after a short
the war-whoop rang out as
{, to use the language Of an ear-wltness,
all the devils in hell had broke loose,
Kilburn was lucky and prudent enough
% get the first fire, before the smoke oi
,attle perplexed his aim, and was conn
lent he saw Philip fall. The hre
rom the little garrison was return-
d by a shower of balls from the iaY-I
sges, who rushed forward TO attack. ne
-oof next 10 the eminence from which tie
attack was made was a perfect riddle
,ieve. Some Of the Indians fell at once
% butchering cattle, others 10 wauton
destruction Of the grain, while the larger
part kept up an incessanf FIRE at the
house. Meanwhile, Kilburn and his
und his women-vsre AL
,usily at work Their powder they