Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-11-21


had been concealed, and closing in
upon the assailants. shouted aloud,
'Dismount and throw down your arms.
or you will be shot down in moment
This sudden and unexpected change in
the programme seemed for a moment
to hewilder the assailants, and To
throw them into n panic, for the order
to ground their arms was Instantly
obeyed by the infantry, when the
cavalry, realizing the condition of
things. began to think, like Falstaf.
that discretion was the better part of
valor, and applying their spurs ener-
getically 10 their steeds, turned and
fled ingloriou-ly, leaving their friends
TO get out Of the scrape as best they
could. These latter were all but one
taken prisoners by Browns party.
This one, seeing the black soldiers
about to surround him, and finding
that he was in peril Of being deserted
hy his friends. made n sudden spring
at the caudal extremity OF one OF the
flying horses, and actually seized the
appendagc aforesaid, and there he
chung, like Tam O'Shantcr's witch, and
SO escaped.
Soon after this disastrous aud blood
less defeat Of the assailing party,
Brown. securing his prisoners. struck
his tents aud moved into Nebraska.
carrying. his prisoners with him. Here
a council OF war was held, and some OF
the party were Tor shooting or hang
ing the prisoners but Brown. whose
philanthrOpic feelings would not per-
NIT him 10 she'd human blood, prevail
ed on his comrades to spare their lives,
rcmarkiuL that although they were
scarcely fit To live. that thcN were not
tit To die, and 10 spare their lives, they
would have time 70 repent hereafter.
One Of the party captur,ai was 4 young
physician from Atchison. u wild, rat
Ting, dcyi-mav care Kind of fellow,
| always ready for an adventure that
promised either excitement Or sport.
but who really had nothin. very bad
IN his composition Brown took him
under his especial care. a, La, been
/ hiutcd heretofore, Brown was OF
/ religious turn, and, whether q, his
! own home or encamped On the wide
/ prairie. had always an altar erected
! Ia his house or tent, TT which it was
/ -I-.---, .t --.--- ------. a..s..,-~.
/ III worship. One evening, when about
to retire. he called upon the doctor to
oiicr up prayer. by C. said the
doctor, III language more proIanc than
polite, Il cant pray. 'Di! Your ln,sh,r
never teach you TO pray| inquired
! Brown. @. yes. said the doctor. but
that was q long time ago. .But YOU
| still! remember the prayer she taught
| YOU, SAID Brown. Yes Well in
the absence Of any better one, say
that. said Brown; anu the doctor
actually repeated. before black and
white Of the camp that night the very
| familiar nursery invocation Of Now !
lay Inc down 10 sirep, ETC., 70 the
great amusement Of bis fellow prison
crs and all others present. On la, re-
turn home he related all the cream
stances. and many others OF an inter
csting nature now forgotten. He
stated ia MS usual strong language
! that John Drown was the best man ne
had ever known, and knew more about
religion than any one he ever saw.
When asked If Brown had ever used
them badly. or used any harsh IAN
guage towards tkem while they were
with him, he said, No that they
were all treated like gentlemen had
the same fare rs the eshers. hut i did
- /, httlc hard and ug~.n~t thr ~ m
To eat with AMI he sus.,>icd ~ lie
/ ID niggcrs.'
Aflcr OBTAINING his prisoners for
several days, during which lie taught
them some round lessons in mors!s, he
was about to send them home er foot
aud detain their horses As ARTICLES
contraband of war, but on the Gact
being made known that the animals
upon which they had ridden we're not
their own, but belonged to other
parties in Atchison. Brown gave them
their horses and dismissed them with
the sage admonition that they should
never undertake to do anything until
they had first learned how to do it, and
never try TO perform an action without
calculating the exact amount Of oppo-
sition to be overcome.