The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1872-03-21
AVANT COURIER.
4 rHrf1lsng EndiaIl story u the
old French War.

U1u ~ ELAGA vvAIs
,sohn Kibnrn was one OF the early settler
Of WMpole. N. III. When Col.t BepjatHi
Bellows eaf-grandfathero Of the Rev. ssDl
Il. w. Bellows Of New York came to III
town 10 settle, he found Kilburn in a CARR
soned house about two miles north of tn
town. IL the summer Of 1855. the year 9
the breaking out Of tie old French war, tw'
men were shot by indians. Shortly befor
this, an Indian named Philip had visited Xii
burns house in friendly way. pretendin,
to bein want provisions. Heswas supplied
win fiints and fiour, and was dismissed. I
was ascertained that this same Indian hae
visited all the settlements on the river,doubt
less TO procure information of the state y
their defanses. Word came from Gov. Shir
ley that 10 Indians were collecting In Can
ada. whose aim was the bntchery and execu
ton Of The whole Of the white population on
the upper part of the Connecticut river.
Col. Bellows had at this time ABOUT thirty
men at i strong fort which he had button q
hill overlooking the Connecticut. about hall
mile south OF Kilburn's, but too distant to
afford any aid. About noon on the 18th Of
August. 1855, Kilburn and his son John, in
his eighteenth year. IN also man named
Peak and his son, were returning home from
the field to dinner, when one of them discov-
cred the red legs of the Indians among the
alder as thick az grxssh0ppers." The white
men immediately. mad for the house, fasi en-
cd the doors. and prepared for an obstinate
defense. Kllburn's wife Ruth d his daugh-
ter Hetty, were alrea ~ in the house. In
about fifteen minutes the Indians were seen
crawling UP the bank east OF the house, and
rs they crossed foot-path. one by one. 1877
were counted; about the saine number, it at
forwards proved, had remained in ambush,
but Joined the attacking party soon.
The sayages appeared to have learned that
Col. Bellows and his men were at work at his
grist mill. about mile east, aud they in
tended to waylayk ;snd murder them before
attacking Kilburn's house. The Colonel and
his men were no,v, returning home. each with
bag Of meal on his back. and unsnsplclous
of danger. when the dogs began to growl,
snd betrayed zhe neigh borho0d OF an enemy.
The Colonel, knowing the language OF the
dogs, and the wiles Of the Indians, instantly
adopted his policy. He directed his men,
throwing off the meal, to crawl carefully to
the rise of land and reaching the top to
spring to their feet together, give one whoop
and instantly drop into the sweet fern. Inc
movement had the desired effect--tc' draw
the Indians from their ambush. AT the
sound. OF the whoop. sancying themselves
discovered. the whole body Of savages rose
from the bushes in semi-circle around lie
path Col. Bellows wassto have followed. His
men fired upon the Indians. who were so dis
concerted that they darted into the, bushes |
and disappeared. The Colonel. sensible Of
his unequal force. hurried his III off ny the
shortest cut to the fort, and prepared for its
defence.
The Indians. finding their plans defeated.
then determined to- take vengeance on /
weaker party, and soon appeared on the emf
nence east Of Kilburn's house. Here the
seIf-same rreacherous Philip who had visited
him and partaken of his hospitality 50 short
1 time before. came forward under the shell
ter of tree and summoned the little Rxrri-
son to surrender. sold John, young john"
cried he Isl knowsse; eaIne5out here. We
give$you good quarter" Quarter !" vocif-
Grated old Kilburn, in voice of thunder. !.
you. black rascals BECOME. or we'll quarter
you - II was brave reply for four men to
make to. four hundred. Philip returned, and
after short consultation the war-whoDp
rang out, as it, to use the language of an ear
~, hall had hroI ..ant
eOse.v AKilbarn was lucky and prudent
enough to get the first fire before the smoke
II battle perplexed bis aim, and was conf
lent he saw Philip fall. The IRE from the
little garrison was returned by shower OF
balls from fbe savages. who rushed forward
10 the attack. The roof mex. the eminence
rom which the attack was made was q per-
ect ..riddlc-sieve." Same OF the Indians at
,nee fell to hutchering the cattle; Others to
W .ntoil destruction of the grain, while thu
anger part kept up an inceysant fire at the
house Meanwhile Kilburn and his mem
I'VE. aud his wnfnen-werc all busiiy at ork.
Their powder they poured into their hats for
greater convenience; the women loaded the
gnns. of which they had several spare ones
Ill Of them KEEP. bot by gincessant use. AS
heir STOCK sof lead grew short, they sus-
pended blankets to catch the balls
Of the ene;ny, which penetrated one
,ide of The roof and fell short Of the other.
These were run by those Spartan women into
bullets. and before ely had time to cool were
sent back to the enemy from whence they
came. Several attempts were made to force
he door, but the unerrihg am Of the marks
men within sent such certain death to their
that they soon desisted from their
Efforts. Most,ot The time the Indians kept
behind trees and stumps, and avoided as best
hey could the fire Of the little Gibraltar.
The whole afternoon venstill SUI down. the
,astle continued, until.a thr sun set. the 7,
a,ages, unable TO- conquer so small a fort
ess. discouraged and baffled, forsOpk the
round. and, as was supposed, returned to
lanada. abandoning the expedition upon ,
which they had set out. In it not reasonable
0 suppose that their fatal experience here.
Trough the matehless defense OF these he |
oes aud hsroines, was instrumental in saw (
ne hundreds ofthe dwellers oil the frontier {
rom the horrors of an Indian massacre? $
Seldom did it fall to the l-t~ef the early
ettlcrs to wilma more s5riliant crown than Il
I. /