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

English, in 1850, there were no settle
Connecticut river, in the southeast cor.
ner of the territory. The Green Noun.
tain State was a wild country and used
only as a military highway by war-par-
ties of French or English cOlonists who
always went to war with each other
whenever France and England were en-
gagged in hostilities. Before the days of
our Revolution these countries were fire.
Quently at war, and, consequently their
colonies here were frequently engaged in
attempts to destroy each other. But
previous to the landing of white men on
this continent, Vermont was quite as
destitute of Inhabitants as for many
years afterward. 1t was not occupied as
home by the Indians, but was left as a
hunting-ground and battle ground by
the warlike tribes which lived around it,
and were almost constantly At war with
each other. Well-known war-paths led
through its valleys, along its rivers and
brooks and over its mountains, from
Canada on the north to Massachusetts, on
the south. 1t is the story of one war
party of Canadian Indians, whose trail
through the State is still well. known,
that have set out to tell.
About l744, the fort called Number
Four, was built at what is now known
as CharlestOwn, N. Ii. 1t was on the
Connecticut river, and just opposite the
present town of Rockingham, vt. In
course of time, little settlement Of log
houses grew up around the fort. which
was the most Northern point then occu-
pied by English settlers, being about
forty miles beyond the Massachusetts
line.
Captain James Johnson settled here
with his young wife, in l749, and began
to build home on the frontier of civil
zatisn. Peace prevailed for five years
after this, and the young settlement was
prosperous and happy. The johnson
family was comfortably housed, and
their well cultivated land produced all
the necessaries OF life.
But this state OF happiness was to be
rudely disturbed. On the morning of
the Both of August, 1854, just before
light, the wild whoOp of the savages was
heard, and the few inhabitants were
awakened from their slumbers. The
Indians, some fifty in all, had divided in
to small parties, and three or four were
stationed before every house. There
was no military force at this time in the
fort, but the reused settlers hastily
dressed and seized their arms to defend
their homes and families. The Indians,
yelling in triumph at the success of their
surprise, fred through the doors and
killed some of the whites in this manner.
Then with logs Of wood, used as batter
ing rams, they burst open the doors and
either rushed in to slaughter their vic
tins, or waited till the latter darted out
in the vain hope to join their friends
and make a united stand against the
enemy. Several hand-to-hand conflicts
ensued, and number of the warriors
fell before the blows of the sturdy
settlers.
Capt. Johnson's brave heart trembled
fer an instant, as he realized the nature
of the attack. He had been one Of Maj.
Rogers rangers and was not easily fright
ened, but more than his own life was
now at stake. How to save his wife's
life was the uppermost thought in his
mind. Accommodating through a loop
hole, he saw an opportunity to make q
beginning; and, raising his gun, he shot
dead, the Indian nearest to him.
"Crouch down on the floor, Susanna"
he said, as he seized his two loaded
pist lis TO continue the fight. Before he
could use them, however, the door was
burst open. Without giving tho enemy
time to recover from the shock of the
blow, he sprang like tiger through the
opening, pistol in each hand, and two
more Indians fell dead at the almost sim
ultaneous discharge of his weapons.
Rushing upon the fourth Indian with
the empted pistols uplifted, the savage
fed, whooping for assistance. johnson
pursued hin for a few rods, but sooa
saw his mistake. A crowd of dusky
warriors had gotten between him and his
own door, and advanced upon him with
leVeled guns. Others were all around
him and he saw that there was no fur
ther hope of successful resistance. He
dropped his arms and was quickly seized
and bound by his captors.
EThe Indians next entered the house
and dragged out Susanna to where her
husband stood. Two other men, Mr.
Labaree and Mr.. Farnsworth, were also
led up as prisoners. A few of the in
habitants had escaped as the Indians
tried to take them as prisoners for the
purpose of selling them to the French,
but the many bleeding scalps fastened in
the girdles Of the savages, showed what
had been the fate of most
The victors now plundered the houses
of food and of anything portable which
took their fancy, and then urged the
prisoners to the river bank without stop
ping to burn up the buildings. They fol-