Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-08-09
RecolIections of A Pioneer.

ihe biin"lng rec"ilectipn from tie lips OF
Pe,sr Navarro, the celebrated scau, and pioaeer
tf -lns Valley, cannot but be of in crest TO all
Mr., Navarro has attained the ripe age Of Sc
years, sixty six Of which have been spent in this
immediate vicinity. and is still hale and hearty,
walking, on the 3Olh Of May, from the River
Raisin to this city, distance of 26 miles. lie
states that he was born in Detroit Mich, in 1856,
and after a short residence at Monroe came TO
the Maumee Valley in the fall Of 1905 with his
parents and five brothers, settling at Pressure
Isle, at the mouth OF the river. lie thinks the
family were the first white settlers on the river
below the rapids. with the exception of John
Bcaugrand. who had established a fur trading
post at PerrvsburQ Between the Bay and Tur-
key Rock, l 900 Indians made their home, at
game and fur-bcaring animals for which the vi
cinty was celebrated. We give the substance
Of his own language:
In the spring of 1912, rumors Of trouble
reaching us, myself and two brothers proceeded
10 Detroit. enlisted under Gen. Hull and were
parolled at his surrender. Returning as far as
FrenchtOwn, on the Rasin, we learned of the
danger Of the inhabitants os thnt place and
their anxiety for protection by The American
forces, and carried information to Gen. Winches-
ter at Fort Defiance, that determined the ah-
vance TO Frenchtown. resulting in the terrible
ueIcAt ana massacre OF january ~, 1873,
After the fight and surrender, the Navarre's
fearing death If found in the American camp
while on parole. jumped IN the ice m the river
and Ted across the lake 10 PresQue Isle, escap-
ing amidst a shower of balls Arriving at
home. aud momen'arilv expecting an att ,ck. we
| quickly attached couple Of ponies to sleigh
and abandoning every thing continued our fight
to Fort Stevenson, (the present site of Fremant)
on the ice. dstance Of about ninety miles.
We Travelled it without rest in about thirty hours
and in the midst az the severe snow storm that
followed the battle. After seeing the family again
in safety. Robert, Francis and mvsslf joined
Gen. Harrisoa. ut Portage, whS shortly after ad.
vanced to the Rapids and commenced tho erec-
tion Of Fort Meigs. During the seige of April
2Sth, by the British and Indians under Proctor
| and Tecumseh. Gen. Harrison was exceedingly
anxious to communicate with Gov. Meigs at Ur-
bAna. Three couriers had been dispatched in
succession and killed. and at this junctre Rob-
ert and myself solicited PEI mission to MIKE the
attempt, and our request being seconded bv
Joseph Berdeau, the interpreter who declared If
the "NaxarTes were unable to pass the lines
with their knowledge of wood craft, the case
was hopeless" reluctant consent was obtain
ed, the OeaefR keii,ving it but useless sacri-
Gee # Gt~- A. he bade me adieu. a tear drop
p'd IN my hand. assuring us in tho stronges,
manner Of tie aPrrecidtiun Of the old hero Of
our risks in their behalf Being favored with
dark night, We pierced the lines. re lching Upper
SandNskr GR thk aiiernuon Of the following day,
Three hours after nar arrival. an expedition was
raised for ths relief at Fort Neigs. under COM
maud nf Ca MrCarty hut the early raising ~
the seige Fsad'F-h their services unnece ssary
ReturTkGK I" the Fart we ln0k art 10 the bat
lie.
Early in 9ane. r"ionel Johnsnn with a small
0mmant, under the pilolIpe If the volunteer
scouts. ChaR Chaine Jack aud William Canau
and mrseif Pt'soeeded Ia Il scene Of the Raisin
massacre, and satisfied himself by personal OBJ.
seryatiOn Of the rnsOrs of the non. burial of the
dead BY The Brilish scldiery, My dutirs 10 car
rying dispatches bsamRht me IN Perry's aeet on
the 9Th Of Septemker, and after the Victnry on
the lakes. pr'eeeded TO Detroit with Jnhuson's
command, I" jsda the remainder OF the trOopa
proceeding by lake.
At the battle d tho Thames, on the Ia, OF
October, Navarro ERs under JohnsOn, in the i'm.
mediate viciNay Of Tecumssh, Of whose death
he s.'eaks as follows: "Hs was standing be-
hind a large tree that had blown down. sns
c'uraRng his warriers, aud was killed By 4
VI that passed daRmGlIy through bic chest
After death he was Shat several tiuAes, but 9th
erwise his boeV wAa not nutiiated iu the least
b ing buried in his rsRimentals, ms thu old
lief desired, by myself and a coaspAnion. ut
t'at he was scalped or skinned, are absolutely
false J."
While At Maiden. Gen. Proctor of tie British
army, offered tho Indians 81 900 for tic scalp Of
Y v"rre, nd WAS informed that II he wanted II
he must secure IL himself as In time Of rene
they b taught him all their knowledge n
w'0d-craft aud now il was almost Impossible %
CAP ure him Mr. Nsvarre receives q pprsi n
OF sS per month bv late act OF Congress, d
sides at Big Ditch With hi, fs and mil
'o"ut SIX miles east o. "e CITY - Oted0 Bud