Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-05-27
A Veteran or 1872.
From the st. Thomas, Ont, JournaD

Il (from the st. Thomas, Ont, JournaD.
| THE subject of the following sketch
is an uncle of Thomas Dudley, of Bee
town, a well-known pioneer of Grant
County:1
A remarkable old man passed through
st. Thomas last Friday over the Canada
Southern railway. His home is in Lex
ington, KY; he is in the eighty-eighth
year of his age; his mind is as bright as
mirror, and his life is part of his coun-
try history. This man is Thomas p
| Dudley. He is a Baptist preacher of the
Old School, still in the active ministry;
he serves four churches, to one of which
he drives % miles; and over one church
his father and himself have presided as
pastors for an uninterrupted period of
almost one hundred years. His father
was soldier of the Revolution, and it
was his uncle who commanded the
American troops at Dudley's defeat.
Six of the seven brothers took part in
the war of 1812-15. Two of them
fought at River Raisin, two at Fort
Meiggs, two at Moraviantown and two
at New Orleans. Thomas P. Dudley
was at the first and last They had a
two days engagement at River Raisin,
and on the second day he was wounded
and taken prisoner. Himself and three
comrades were confined in room of the
Red tavern in charge of three interpre-
ters. Nearly the whole British force
MARCHED OFF TO FORT DETROIT,
leaving only small guard over the
prisoners. Two days after the battle
January %, -1S13-the Indians, freed
from civilized restraint, began the butch
cry of the prisoners. They entered the
room in which Mr.. Dudley was confined
and struck their tomahawks into the
skulls of his comrades. No hand was
raised against him, but he was stripped
of coats and boots and let out into the
street, to stand stocking-footed in the
snow. The tomahawking and |
scalping went on around me,n he |
said, land | soon concluded that they |
were reserving me for torture Two |
savages came up, pointed to the blood |
stain on his shoulder, and walked away. |
A third one-a young brave-did the |
same thing, smiled a friendly smile and |
said '.Me save you" And he did. He |
returned in few minutes, accompanied |
by his father, and after giving his pris-
oner a blanket, pair of moceasins, a |
red apple and daub of war paint,
marched him off in the direction of TT. |
Detroit. They walked thirty-six miles,
and halted for the night by the British
camp fires of the previous night. The
evening was spent in dressing six or
seven
sCALPs OF BUTCHERED KENTUCKIANs,
which were stretched on small hoops |
and strung on a stick. In the morning |
Mr. Dudley was given another daub of |
war-paint, and his head was copiously |
adorned with eagles feathers. Thus |
disguised, and made to carry the scalps |
of his comrades at ''shoulder-arms' or
der, he was marched to the fort. Il
tell you it was hard trial, and my tenn
per almost got the mastery over me as |
reflected upon what my mother might
say to see me bearing such a trophy. |
The sight OF the strong fort which our
General had surrendered only intensi-
fled my feelings; but was helpless, and
with strong effort Icontrolled myself -
In the fort his wound was dressed by a |
British surgeon, and next day he was re-
moved
ACROSS THE RIVER TO SANDWICH.
Thence he was taken over Longwoods
road to Fort George, at the mouth ofthe
Niagara River, and parolled after few
weeks confinement. Subsequently he
was included in an exchange of prison.
ers, and joined the army of the South
He was quartermaster-genera at New
Orleans, and took part in the great bat
tie fought there. Il surveyed the field
after the battle, and felt that the butch
cry of the River Raisin was avenged"
Elder Dudley must have been man
of prepossessing appearances in his prime.
Though somewhat bent, he is still fully
6 feet in stature. His face is intellec-
tual and finely cast, and he has the
bearing and manner of gentleman
His memory is wonderfully retentive.
He has read no book for the last six
years, owing to failing vision; but the
Bible is as familiar to him as household
words, and in sermons of an hours time
he quotes book, chapter and verse with
out q single lapse. In discourse he is
vigorous, fluent and logical he is never
involved or obscure; and he says what he
intends in polished Anglo-Saxon. He
has been steady and extensive con-
tributor to the publications of his church
for almost half a century, and his writ
ings are marked by the same strong in
dividuality as his sermons. He writes
and speaks what he feels and believes.
Mr. Blaine's declaration of the Amer
lean fishery policy was needed to brace
up the weak backs of Bayard and the
President in their negotiation with the
British Minister, who, if all reports are
true, is more than match for them in
diplomacy. If they will plant them
selves firmly on Mr.. Blaine's platform,
and make their demand vigorously and
manfully, they will settle the question in
cLa,.t t;s..1. .,..I -......