The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-04-06
An Incident Of the War Of 1912.

The following incident, which we do
not recall as having been made matter
Of record, is related by the venerable Levi
Gaylord, of this town, who was in the
volunteer service. When Gen. Hull sur
rendered the post of Detroit great fears
were felt of an Indian invasion in this
section of Ohio and along the sparsely-
settled frontier. The pioneers brushed up
the old Revolutionary muskets, and, in
companies and regiments, reported for
duty. Mr.. Gaylord, then a young man of
some nineteen years Of age, was one OF
the company that reported at Cleveland
from this and other towns Of the north
western part of the county. This intro
ductory brings us to the incident in point.
Among the prisoners who fell into British
hands at the surrender of Detroit were
certain officers and men living in Eastern
Ohio. On the parole of these men at the
post certain numbers, perhaps some sixty,
were furnished with the means of reach
ing Cleveland by the lake in the shape of
alarge, roughly constructed boat capable of
carrying about the number indicated. One
of the conditions Of the parole signed by
these men was that so soon rs they reached
their destination, Cleveland, the boat
should be destroyed. The boat put into
the Cuyahoga safely but a short time be-
fore or about the time our, informant
reached there, aud the paroled officer in
command reported his arrival and Obliga-
tons to headquarters. For some reason
the boat was allowed to remain at its
moorings for few days, and knowledge
that it was to be destroyed became gen.
eral, and the fact was very distasteful to
many, not at all friendly to the British
I, 49, 81
honor in matter of obligation to an ene-
my. OF this class were quite number
of sailors fellows-and other citi-
zens of the place. They determined to
rescue the boat and prevent its destruc-
ton; and knowledge of the conspiracy
reaching those in authority, it was deter
mined to burn the boat at once. The re.
lator is not certain as to the exact location
of the boat in the river, but remembers
that it was tied 70 the bank in thicket of
alder bushes Lieut.. Van Horn, who, our
informant thinks, was from Steubenville,
and who was physically noble specimen
of manhood, standing some "six feet
four" and as straight as an arrow, was
detailed, with squad of men, of which
Mr.. G. was one, tn see the boat destroyed.
They were none too soon, for the conspir-
ators were on hand when they arrived,
and fight for the possession of the craft
was imminent. Van Horn jumped upon
the bow-deck with drawn sword, and the
leader of the assailants called on his com.
rades, all armed with sticks and stones, to
board her also. Van Horn fourished his
sword and said, firmly: "l'll roll three
heads off myself first, and then hand you
over to nv men," The determined bear
ing of Van Horn and the presence of his
armed squad effectually covered the rough
assailants, and they skunk out Of sight in
the alder thicket. A fire was at once
kindled at either end of the boat, and the
men stood guard over its burning till the
blackened wreck settled into the waters of
the Cuyahoga.-GeSeoa (Ohio) Times.