Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-07-22

|
weak and innocent. For this purpose
he collected four hundred British ant
tories and seven hundred Indians
descended the Susquehanna and cap
tured or took possession of couple o
forts at the head of the valley.
| Never shall I forget the terrors ex
cited by the appearance of this armed
body of white men and savages, fol
We knew ourselves tefenceless, anC
that we could not expect mercy from
such an enemy. Here were severa
hundred women and children, a few
hoary.b.aded and trembling grand
srcs, too old to bear arms, few
stripping youths, too young for war
with a sprinkling Of men in the prime
of life, the remnants of the train
bands which had gone to join Wash
ington. OF old aud young that
could bear a musket to the field, VIC
could scarcely raise force Of four
hundred to oppose eleven hundred
and not a single fort, out Of several
in the valley that could withstand for
an hour the assaults Of the enemy.
What could we expect therefore; but
horrible and scriminate butch.
cry, or still more horrible captivity
among brutal savages.
Oil the agony that almost burst
my young heart, as my poor, dear
mother with glaring eyes and palld
features threw her fond arms around
myself and Younger sister, and strain,
ed us to her bosom. praying amid
choking sobs, that God in HIS Proyl-
dence would preserve us and suffer us
to escape the impending doom. Sac
was now our only hope, and We her
only solace-for my father was away
with the army, and had not been
heard from for several months.
There chancel at this time to be in
the valley several experienced officers
the most prominent Of whom was Col.
Zebulon Butler; and by unanimous
desire he took command Of our devo.
ted band Of defenders, and lead them
forth to the sacrifice. Young as
was, being only between nine and
ten years of age, | asked to 90 with
them and meet my fate with the rest
bat my poor mother would not permit
me from her sight for moment,
Along with great many other wom-
en- and children, she had taken refuge
in one of the several stockade forts,
and there, trembling, covering, and
praying together, we all awaited the
terrible result.
The sounds Of the conflict began be,
tween four and FIVE o'clock in the af,
ternoon; and from that time till near
dusk, when the wild yells Of our say
ia-e enemies announced that they had
gained the victory, We all stood cling,
ing to one another in breathless hope
and iear,-the silence with US only
broken by smothered groans or short
calculations; but now, when We felt
that all WAS over and lost, every
breath seemed to be sent forth with
the most indescribable anguish.
A few minutes later man almost
naked and covered with blood, burst
in through the gate, and groaned out
as he fell dying to the ground:
All is lost All is lost Fly tc
the mountains and save yourselves!
With Wild cry Of terror and an
guish my mother caught up my little
sister in her arms, seized me by th'
hand and darted forth through th'
rear gate and toward some trees tina
grew on the river bank.
It was not vet dark, and in the din
light we could see figures running II
every direction, some in fight an'
some in pursuit.
One man, who was only few pace
before us, was pursued by fleet foot
ed savage who soon overlook him an'
thrust his spear through his back; ane
as wo altered our course to avoid th'
latter | saw him bending over hi
victim for the purpose Of taking hi
scalp,
A woman was on our right, with a,
in nfant in her arms and who was evi
IDENTITY making for tie same nc,@. a
Yourselves was caught by savage on'
both wero Drained within twenty fee
Of ua. The monster stopped to 8ecur