The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-09-28

age laws Of exacting land lords. Being un
willing to endure what he could not anne
liorate, he determined to bid farewell for
ever to his suffering country, and emigrate
to the North American colonies. Dispos-
ing of his household effects, he, with his
wife and children, embarked for the New
World. Jane was just entering in her
teens when her father settled down in his
new home at Newcastle, in the present
State of Delaware. Here they renamed
for ten years engaged in agricultural pur-
suits. He then, with his family, penetra-
! ted the wilderness to the central part of
the State of New York, and fixed his home
in the extreme frontier settlement, within
the limits of the present county Of Oswego.
and aoout seven miles from the village Of
Cherry Valley.
Foremost among the settlers in this re-
gion was an Irish family named Campbell,
and from the same part Of Ireland as the
| Cannons. An intimacy sprang up between
| the two neighbors, and the result was that
Jane Cannon was married to Samuel Camp
bell, then young man twenty five years
of age, and distinguished for his energy of
character and bold spirit of enterprise.
The settled down in their new home to en-
Joy i'll peace the blessings which were de-
MED them III their own land, and for years
prosperity smiled upon their efforts aud re-
warded their untiring energy and industry.
!
happy settlement, storm clouds were gath
ering over it and casting their illomened
shadows between it and the sun the sane
| tity Of the hearth was destined to be viola
ted, and the peace which they had S" long
enjoyed changed into bloody and relentless
warfare. The Revolution was about to
| burst upon them.
1t came, but found them prepared
Captain Matthew Cannon aud Samuel
Campbell, the father and husband of Jane,
were the first to declare for the Colonies.
| There was scau. love in the hearts of these
two Ir;shmen for the red cross flag of King
George. The wrongs inflicted ou their IA
tive iaud 10y him and his predecessors were
still ranking in their breasts, and with all
! the ardor and energy Of their hatures they
engaged in tie cause of liberty and indie
! peudence. AS soon as the news of the
battle Of Lexington arrived. both com
menc d to enrol the militia both were on
| the Committee of Safety, and pledged
| themselves to the achievement of National
| Independence. Samuel Campbell was ear
| ly chosen to the command Of the militia i'll
I that region; aud at the general request,
I converted his own Eouse into a garrison.
| where for two yeaIs, and until fort was
| erected in the settlement, the inhabitants
of that exposed frontier were gathered for
| protection. In all his patriotic efforts, he
! not only had the sympathy of his wife, but
tor. Her feelings were ardently enlisted i'll
| behalf Of her adopted country. and she was
| ready to give her own eXertions to the
| cause as well as to urge forward those who
| had risen against the oppressor.*
! In the month of August, 1171, Colonel
/ Campbell, with his regiment. were engaged
| in the disastrous battle of Oriskany, the
| bloodiest in proportion to the number en-
gagged, Of any of the battles of The Revolu
| ton His brother was killed by his side,
! and he hiu,setf narrowly escaped. In the
! July following occurred the massacre of
| Wyoming, aud III November, 171S, part
| of tue same {, ice, composed principally of
! Iud ans aud Tories, invaded and utterly
| destroyed the settlement at Cherry Valley.
| The dreadful tragedy here :enacted says
! DuuIap '.next to the destruction of W yom
/ ing. siauds ou: ia history conspicuous for
| All ocity." The horrors Of tue massacre.
| and the fiioht, indeed likcned the scene to
| that
Whose baptism was the weight of blood tina,
| From kindred hearts"
| Sune extraordinary instances Of iudivid-
! nal suffering are recorded. One young
girl, Jane Wells, was barbarously murder
| eG by an Indian ,.ear pile of wouo, oehind
| which she had endeavored to screen her
! self The wife of Colonel Clyde fled with
her children into the woods, where she lay
| concealed under a large log duI ing cold
| rainy day and night, hearing the yeils "f
! tue savages as they triumphed III then
| work of death, and seeing them pass so
! hear that one of them trailed his gun upon
| the log that covered her. Colonel camp
! bell who was in her house, attempted al
| mos, single handed TO oppose the advance
| of the enemy, and notwithstanding that
| resistance was madness, the brave old
! Irishman refused to Yield till he was
wounded and overpowered. Imagination
| alone can deIict the terror and anguish oi
the mother trembling for her children i'll
! the midst Of this scene OF strife aud carii-
| age. the shrieks of sau2 Uttered victims, aud
| the wells of their savage foes. They we're
dragged away as pI iscHuers by the triumph
| ant Indians and the house was soon III
aames. The husband and fatber-who
| had has eued homeward on the alarm of
| cannon fired at the fort, arrived ohiy 10
| witness the destruction OF his property,
and was unable To learn What oeSahe VI
his wife and children.
Leaving behind them scene OF desoia-
tion. the enemy departed that night with
! their prisoners, of whom there were between
thirty aud forty. That night of wretched-
ness was passed in il valley few miles
from the fort. large fire was kindled,
| ,round which they were collected, with no
shelter, not even, in most cases, an ou'e'
| garment { protect them from the storm.
| There might be seen the old and iniirm,
and the middle aged of both sexes, and
..sbivering childhood, houseless but Tor a
mothers arms, couches but for other
breast.'' Around shem on every side
cleaned the watch fires OF the savages'
Sho we're engaged i'm examining and dis
tributino their plunder Along up the
valley they caught occasional glimpses 1f
the ruins Of their dwellings as some sudden
gust of wind or falling timber awoke into
new life the decaying flame. What were
the thoughts of the poor Irish captives
when they awokc next morning TO a sense
their painful and hopeless Situations, we
can ha, div venture to describe. In an ag-
ony of feeling they knel, upon the ground,
and in silence, with uplifted hands I'M
plored that mercy Of their God which they