The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-10-16
HOW THE SETTLERS OF WALPOLE
DEFENDED THEMSELVES.

lyLE i A/NJO
BEAUTIFUL the green meadows, the
surrounding hills and the distant noun
tains forming the landscape in Walpolc,
n. H., which Colonel Benjamin Bellows
and John Kilburn gazed upon on the
banks of the Connecticut River in l7i9.
They had built their log houses with
loop-boles in the walls through which
they could fire upon the Indians in case
they were attacked. Though peace
had been agreed upon between France
and England, the people who lived
along the frontier felt no security, for
the French in Canada were continually
urging the Indians to commit dcpreda-
tons on the English. 1t was short
and easy journey from Crown Point, on
Lake Champlain, to the valley of the
Connecticut, and the Indians who sold
their furs to the French were frequent
visitors to the settlements along the
Connecticut.
One of the Indians who visited John
Kilburn was called Captain Philip. He
had been baptized and christcned by
the Jesuit priests at the Indian village
OF St. Francis, on the banks Of the
St. Lawrence, halfway from Montreal
to Quebec. The St. Francis tribe were
called Christian Indians. There were
rumors that war would break out again
between England and France. Before
war was declared hostilities began.
1t was in the spring of l7j5 that Cap.
tain Philip made a visit to John Nil
burns house with some beaver skins
for sale. He wanted powder, bullets
and tiints for pay. While he was trad
ing, Captain Philip was running his
eyes over the house, looking at the
thick timbers, the loOp-hOles in the
walls. When he had finished his trade
he visited the other houses in the settle
ment. He was kindly treated. The
settlers never mistrustcd that he va
taking observations for future use.
August came. The settlers heard tina
war had begun, and knew that tn
} French and Indians might be upol
! them at any moment. They strength
cucd their block-houses. No one wen
into the field to work alone. The.
always carried their guns with them
They had some faithful Watchdog
which always growled when Indian
were about. There were nearly fort,
! men in the settlement. They wer
, stout-heartcd, and were determine,
not to be driven out by the Frenc
, and Indians. They appointed Colonc
' Bellows to be their leader He had
: suspician that Indians were about.
!. I'VE must have supply Of meal, s
a that in case we are attacked we sha
q nave something to eat" he said.
\ The settlers filled each q bag wit
a corn. shouldered them, and then, in 81,
\ Gle file, each man carrying his gur
n they marched to the grist-mill whic
a they had erected, ground the corn int
II meal, shouldered the sacks once NOR
n and started homeward, their faithf'
:: watch. dogs trott;ng in advance, payin
i no attention to squirrels or partrid &c
a or game of that sort.
n Suddenly the dogs came back, grow
Il ing, the hair on their backs in a ruiz.
''There are Indians about. Thro
down your sacks" said Colonel BE
lows.
The men threw their sacks on Il
+. ground, dropped into the ferns. al
:; looked to the printing of their gun
. The ferns were tall, and complete
q concealed them. Colonel Bellows ST.
h pccted that the Indians had laid ;
re- ambuscade at a narrow place in Il
10 path which they must pass. He ere
re slowly forward to see what he cot1
er discover. careful not to break twig
N make any noise. He crept to the tt
h. of little hill, peeped throug h the ferl
q and discovered great number Of
hit dams, nearly two hundred, crouchi
er behind trees, or lying on the groun
ny waiting for the white men to enter t
is trap. He made his way back to
or men, issued his orders in a whisper. Al
h. all crawlcd through the ferns iowa
Id the Indians till they were only q II
he rods from them.
w All were ready. Every man spra
m- to his feet. and yelled as loud as
n; could, "Hi-ya hi-ya" it was a terri
he howl.
OF The next moment not settler was
no seen; all had dropped upon the groul
IT. and were concealed by the ferns.
lly In an instant every Indian was on
his feet, firing his gun, but hitting nobot
cts There was an answering flash from
ny ferns, each settler taking aim. and
in Indians sprang into the air, or fell he'
mt long before the bullets.
ct; The red men ou:numbered the s
I'd, tiers FIVE to one, but were SO astound
Of by the surprise that, picking up
70. wounded, they made . hasty retr
nts into swamp, and the settlers made
Das haste to their block-house, anticipate
rse an attack. Not one Of them had b.
Db. injured.
lily This body of Indians was part 0
re- band of more than three hundred
ty; BY Captain Philip, who had come IF
wn Canada with the expectation OF w'p