Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-26
Written fer the Sunday Register.
SEIGE OF FORT HENRY.
BY L NJ y.

Written for he Sunday Register.
SEIGE OF FORT HENRY.
BY L N. y.
As Wheeling stands, In bright array,
And does her choicest gems display,
She scarce reminds you Of the day,
One hundred years ago.,
When, here, instead of stately towers,
Of brilliant homes and sunny bowers,
Fort Henry stood, in darkest hours,
Surrounded by the foe.
The autumn morn dawned bright and clear,
And, some, who'd just begun 10 fear
The enemy was lurking near,
Had preparations made.
What course were they then 70 pursue?
The savage band was large, they knew,
And Girty was commander, too
The dreaded renegade.
And soon the dusky foe drew near;
Just half a dozen did appear,
But such a. they they did not fear,
But thought to slay them all.
For, stationed at the fort just then,
Were daring, noble minded men,
And fourteen armed to meet them, when
They heard their savage call.
But soon the ruthless crew had fed,
And, in pursuit, the soldiers sped,
Nor dreamed Of danger then ahead,
But chased them in their light.
At last they reached the bushy HELD,
In which the army lay concealed,
And, in their midst, they were revealed
At once upon their sight
They did not see nor hear their foes,
Until from ambush they arose.,
And did, at once upon them close,
And beat them down like rain.
The rifle shot and savage yell
Was echoed up and down the dell,
While meath the tomakawk they fell,
Never 10 rise again.
And when they heard the savage shout,
Just fourteen more again set out,
And with great swiftness. o o their route
Toward the battle-plain.
stu on they flew at fearful rate
Alas They shared the others fate
Just four from out those twenty-eight,
Ere reached that fort again.
The foe upon the fort then flew.
And tried to force the fort gates thro'
While, all around, still tiercer grew .
The dreadful battle-tight.
But, all, they found, To their dismay,
The strong barred-gates would not give way,
Still, with undaunted courage, they
Fought through the day and night.
About four hundred formed the band;
With tOmakawk and Cuu in hand,
Each warrior there did boldly stand,
Demanding to surrender.
While Just Il dozen men or so,
Inside the fort, did courage show,
And facing the revengeful foe
Thus stood each brave defender.
The news was soon spread far and near,
And every sturdy pioneer,
Who holds his neighbor's safety dear,
Wa willing then 10 go.
For il was ever Natures plan
That each shall aid his fellow-man,
And do whatever good he cam
His best respects ~ show.
McCollo"! was a hero bold;
When lighting with the foe, we're told,
He would his ground then firmly hold,
And stay the ruthless crew.
This crowned him with a worldwide fame,
The enemy feared him, and the same
Vowed s~lecpleSs vengeance on his name,
And would his course pursue.
The news had scarcely reached him, when
He, with his forty daring men,.
Sped onward through the woodland glen.
Toward the scene OF woe.
They reached the fort at break Of day,
Amid the dreadful battlG-tray,
While all around i'll ambush lay
The unrelenting foe.
The gates were then thrown open wide,
and safely in the men did ride,
But odd MCCollOCh stood aside
Till ul had entered in.
When, To his great dismay, he found
His enemies had crowded round.
The air then with wurhoopS did SOUND
Ills life they though To win.
Then, with the swiftness of a deer,
His charger toward the hill did steer,
While closely followed, in the rear,
The fierce, revengeful foe.
'TVaS certain death, IL seemed, indeed,
But onward still. with lightning speed,
McCollOch, on his gallant steed,
Wa gaining sure but slow.
A joyful thought flashed thro' his mind,
For, leaving them 50 far behind,
He feared no danger of the kind,
But thought he'd won the race.
But, to his horror and surprise,
He then beheld before his eyes,
Another band from ambush rise,
And met them face to face.
He paused a moment then did hear
The foe, who followed in the rear
With hOrrid cries, were drawing near
To cut oil bis retreat.
Not oft they caught such noble game,
To take him prisoner was their aim,
That he at gauntlet, stake and dame
Might grace their savage fete.
He knew his sad, but certain fate,
As victim of their savage hate,
Should he one moment hesitate
Or yield unto his foes.
Upon his right the rugged steep
Looked down at least three hundred feet;
sIn try" he though, 1.-The desperate leap
And DER the rocks he goes.
A plunge a crash Then oil was still:
A Shout of wonder, loud and shrill,
ReSouudcd DER the echoing hill.
They'd spared the shot too long
What disappointment they had met!
Upon his capture they were set,
But nothing now but sore regret
Was felt throughout the thronS.
"But. then" they thought, "his life is DER;
He now will trouble us no more;
He's been cur terror heretofore
His scalp we 10 can show.
His warfare days are Of the past;
That daring leap will be his last;
His mangled form is dying fast
Upon the rocks below
But much chagrined were they,-when 10?
Swift as an arrow from the bow,
McColloch DER the glen did 90,
Still onward in his flight.
A shout was heard, both loud and clear,
One of defiance, not OF fear, a
And, with his hat raised high in air,
lie galloped out of sight.
Meanwhile, from off the battle plain
They bore the hundred, which were slalh-
No longer then would they remain,
Aware of their defeat.
Thus ended there that dreadful day,
Thus did their savage hopes decay:
But, with regret, at nee did they
Reluctantly retreat.
Found In q Tramp's Pockets.
omaha Bee.
Among the numerous human curiositi'
vho from, time In time find n tempOraI