The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-09-06
AN INCIDENT OF FORT LlGONIER,

The following historical "reminiscences of
Old Fort Ligonier has been furnished us,
says the Indiana Messenger, through the
kindness of friend. 1t is we'll to revive
the incidents of the days gone by OCCASION
ally, and thinking this article will be of
general interest we publish it. 1t is as
follows
Fort Ligonier was erected as early as
1853, and for many years afterward was
the only military post between Carlisle and
Fort Pitt. 1t was the home of the gallant
tho unfortunate St. Clair, and served as a
depot for such military stores as were then
essential for the protection of the settle
ments against theaaborgines of the west
and northwest, generally known as the
six Nations" After the general treaty
of peace between France, England and
Spain, in 1862, the Indians became more
pacific than they had previously been, and
continued SO until the following year, when
they again renewed hOstilities at various
points along the frontier, and from certain
indications the Commandaut at Fort Pitt
concluded that a general attack of the
tribes inhabiIing the country between the
Alleghenies and the Lakes was meditated
upon that post.
He therefore made a requisition on the
Government for an additional force, and
carly in June, 1863, Colonel Bouqet, with
500 regulars, set out from Carlisle on their
march toward Fort Pitt with view to re-
lieviIg its garrison. AS the Indians had
mostly withdrawn to the west of the Allie
ghenies, the troops bad nothing to fear
from them east of the great dividing ridge,
but suffered much on account of bad roads
and the difficultynf crossing the intervening
streams, then altogether destitute of
bridges. At and for quite while previous
to that period, Fort LIgonier was occupied
by company of forty men, under the COM
mand of Blaine, a gallant young officer
who had been called to that post 10y Gen,
ST. Ciair, and who was, i'll every way,
worthy of the confidence reposed in him
by his superior.
Ina spring of 1853 several small par
ties of Indians, feigning great love and
friendship for the sett lers, visited the fort
under various pretences, aud were always
treated kindly while they remained, and
furnished with provisions when they de
parted. They were generally accompanied
by young warrior named Maidenfoot, a
son of the celebrated chief, Cornstalk. 1t
so happened on one of these occasional Wis
its, that Mr.. NJ, with his wife and
daughter, the latter girl of eleven years
of age, were also at the fort. MaideHfoot,
who could speak English, soon found
means to engage the young girl III CONVEX
sation, and to his inquiry in regard to her
place of residence was told that she resided
with her father about mile from tho fort
up the little valley. Having gained this
information he sank into profound silence,
nor did he speak to any one while he re-
manned. When the party were about leav-
ing hc approached Miss M. and presented
her with a string of beads, without, how
ever, uttering a syllable, and then turned
on his heel and strobe a way. The beads
were highly priced both by the girl and
her parents, more, perhaps, OH account of
their being an Indians present, than from
any intrinsic value they possessed, and
were worn with girlish pride by the former,
whenever she wished to ''show Off TO ad-
vantage. This continued for some time.
until the novelty of the thing had worn off,
and then the beads were laid by in an old
chest drawer, and were not disturbed again
and perhaps not thought of for several
weeks. One day in July of the same year,
Mrs. M. proposed to visit, in company with
her daughter, the lady of q gentleman liv-
ing a short distance Oh the opposite side
of the Portland either by chance or from
desire to appear in ''full dress" the
young girl got hold Of the mislaid beads
and strung them around her neck. The
two set out together early in the day aud
walked along leisurely, as the weather was
warm and sultry. Arriving within several
hundred yards of the Fort, they were sud
denly arrested in their progress by two tall
Indians who sprapg out of the bushes into
the path with uplifted tomahawks, which
they kept brandishing over their heads, at
the same tins commanding them to keep
silent if thoy wished To save their lives.
Neither Mrs. NJ. or her daughter uttered a
word, for they were too well acquainted
with the Indian character to suppose that
anything they could say would be of the
least avail Each was seized by an Indian,
and led some distance in the direction they
had come, when they were bid to sit down,
and were then tied to a sapling with buffa-
10 thongs, and in that condition left to the
care of one of their captors, while the other
hastily withdrew in the direction of the
Fort-and few moments afterward the
report of at least fifty pifles broke upon
their ears. The Indians, to the number oil
several hundred, had lain in ambush around
the Fort, and had only been waiting ia
vorable opportunity TO commences an ATTACK
upon it. But apprehending that the fe
males whom they had captured might have
| been expected there, and that their non
| arrival might cause Lieutenant Blaine Il
send out a scouting party, whereby thei
| presence must necessarily be discovered
| aud their object defeated, they resolved
/ upon immediate action, aud made furiou
| onset in the expectation of being able Z.