The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-03-10

branch of the Black river, and crossing
the trail to the south, he turned to fol
low the Indians, hoping to fall in with
some party of white men, and be ena-
bled to give the savages battle. He fol-
lowed them day by day for nearly one
hundred miles, but met with no friends
to assist him in the recovery of his wife
and child. His hope grew faint as he
approached Lake Champlain, for he
knew that he could not safely follow
them further.
As the Indians reached the lake, and
found that the boats they had left were
safe, they filled the air with yells of joy
and triumph. Before .embarking they
determined to have another war-dance
and building fire, they danced around
it, singing as they went. Their prison
ers, to each of whom they taught few
words, were forced to dance and sing
with them. Mrs. johnson with the rest
took part in the dance, and the song they
taught her and which she sang till she
was hoarse, ran thus: ''Danna witchee
natehepung,"
The dance concluded, they entered the
boats and shot out into the lake. With
tears in his eyes Johnson saw them start
to cross over to Crown Point, where was
then French garrison. Watching them
ont of sight he turned back with deter
mination to join his old companions in
arms, and wage bitter war against
those who had despoiled him of the
treasures of his life.
He returned to Charleston and offered
his services as scout. His well known
skill and courage caused him to be quick
ly accepted, and thenceforward he was
engaged in many skirmishes with the
Indians, and his rifle took frequent ven
geance for the wrong which he had suf-
fered from them.
At Crown Point the prisoners were
we'll entertained by the French, and the
little Captive was handsomely dressed.
But after four days of rest they took
boat again with the Savages down the
lake and river to Sorel. Thence they
went to the Indian village of st. Francis,
where there was much rejoicing over the
return of the successful war party. The
prisoners wore kindly treated, and Mrs.
Johnson's master and his brother, each
presented her with string of wampum,
to express their generosity and hospital
ity. In few days, however, she and her
infant were traded of to another Indian,
for boy captive and a number of blank
cts. In this new family she was received
as a sister and had no reason to COM
plain of her savage brothers and sisters.
After some months of this life the pris-
oners were delivered to the French, who
paid fer them at the rate of eight dollars
per head.
Mrs. johnson and Captive were taken
into the family of French officer in
Montreal, with whom they spent the rest
of their captivity. After about three
years their master was ordered to Fort
Frontenac (now Kingstown) and thither,
together with his family they accompan-
led him.
In the summer of 1853, Gen. Aber-
crombie dispatched Col. Bradstreet with
hree thousand men, mostly proVincials
to attack Fort Frontenac. Capt. John
son was in this force and glad of any
service on Canadion soil for the chance
it gave him of meeting with, or hearing
from his wife and child. Col. Bradstreet
landed his men within mile of the fort
before the enemy was aware of his ap-
proach. The garrison, which consisted
of only one hundred and ten Frenchmen
and Indians, made no attempt at defence
but surrendered at discretion.
As the victorious English poured into
the fort, Capt. johnson came face to
face with his long lost wife.
Susanna! is it possible? Can this be
youp" cried the astonished and delighted
soldier as he saw his wife before him.
She gazed at him moment in equal
surprise, but quickly recognized him and
sank sobbing with joy on his shoulder.
"Oh James, you have come at lastl"
she said, while smiles and tears strove
for the mastery.
A little girl of four years of age came
running toward them. 1t was Captive,
and she was soon gathered in her fathers
arms.
But little remains to be told. Capt.
johnson returned with his wife and child
to Charlestown, and there Mrs. johnson
had the pleasure, later, of welcoming one
of her Indian brothers, Sabotis, who was
brought there prisoner by Maj. Rogers.
All the Charlestown prisoners found
their way home at the close of the war in
1760. Captive johnson lived to an adj
vsnced age. She married Col. George
Kimball an officer in our Revolutionary
war, and many of her descendants still
reside in the Connecticut valley.
Just before you enter the village of
Felchville, Vt, coming from the south,
you cross small plank bridge, over a
narrow stream. There on the right
hand, near to the bridge, and but foot
or two from the stone wall which bounds
the road, stands, and for nearly a hun
bred years has stood, slateStone monu-
ment 1t is mere slab scarcely four