The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-02

AS we started we saw through tne
mists to the north, four horsemen.
Boyd now gave orders for concealment
and later sent eight of our force TO
capture or kill the new corners. They
We're Senecas and while one was killed
and another wounded, the three es-
+ capped across the country to the west
of the trail we had come. now urged
haste in returning, and at last realiz-
ing our danger, he agreed with me,
still insisting, however, that there were
no foes between us and our army.
Still, he was wise enough to send out
the two Indians in advance; and,
keeping well together, the rest Of us
hurried after. We travelled In this
way four or five miles and then halted
for rest and a bite to eat, sending
four men through the woods in direct
line to the army to report; also post
ing two out a half mile beyond at the
bend of the TRAIL to there watch, While
we ate. These had hardly reached
their destination, when Boyd changed
his mind, declared he was not afraid
and ordered a third to go after the two
and tell them to go to camp and report
our whereabouts. He further sent word
that we would await the arrival of the
army there. He then gave orders for
us to cook breakfast and with much
misgiving, we began to prepare it.
Not five minutes from that time Hon
Very came running back, saying he
had seen five Indians skulking along
the trail examining the footprints of
the four messengers that had gone
along. 1t was plain to me that we were
being quietly surrounded, and l ad-
vised that we get onto a knoll some
distance nearer the Canaseraga, cut
Z 41,,.T.rN
up some slight fortifications; but Boyd
ordered q march instead. We went
east about two miles, when we saw the
five Indians our men had reported.
They seemed awaiting our approach.
These were Senecas, as were all others
We had seen, and as we came towards
them, to the distance of a long rifle
shot, they retreated,
Chase them!" shouted Boyd. "Give
them volley for luck!" The eight
regulars did this, but the IA rifemen
and Indians to a man, sought shelter
behind tree trunks. Come on, you
cowardly curs!" shouted Boyd in a fury
and spurred by his harsh words we
followed the regulars, who were now
some distance ahead pushing sharp
ly after the retreating Senecas. Look
out for an ambush" shouted one of
Jul liICAls Jul IDOydt Win q LCb e1AA5 ,
face ran back, threatened US with his
sword and ordered US ahead.
This be a dom fool caper!" declared
Murphy in a low voice as we hurried
along. We had chased them in this
way for quarter of a mile or less and
were running fast down a slope, when
suddenly from behind knobs and trees
we had already passed, 50 or 60 Indians
ran in behind, and before we could
check our down-hill charge, had cut
us off. We looked back over the way
We had come, and there, to the south
west, lodging from tree to tree and
all the time drawing nearer, were the
rangers of Walter Butler. We turned
from them to look ahead, and saw the
woods literally swarming with rangers
and Indians. Every tree and bush had
seemingly given shelter. Our situation
was most desperate. Boyd's bull-head
ed bravery had led us into a trap that
no backwOodsman should ever have
stuck his head into. Twenty-four men
surrounded by at least 500 foes, thirst
ing for their blood, and others coming.
Boyds nerve did not forsake him,
however. He was a brave man, and
capable leader in any but an occa-
sion like this. My brave lads, follow
mel" he shouted, and dashed toward
the lLiIleSL pOTllOn OIL the ClO5luS CIT
Gle, toward the fiat below.
mot a man of yeez!" roared Muir
ply and every man, even Sergeant
Parker, Boyds second in command,
stopped.
What means this?" demanded Boyd
running back to Murphy.
Il name that I'm commander now"
yelled the little freshman as he whirled
and started to run in an opposite di-
rection. livery mothers son O We
folly me to higher ground. Kape off
that fat There's not tree for shelter
there-nothin3 but scattherin' brush.
There's the very place the divils 'ud
drive us"
We all, including Boyd, followed Muir
ply some so yards to a thick clump of
large-bolled scrubby beeches, standing
thickly on a round knoll or ridge, be-
tween two wide ravines or swales. The
enemy must come across an open of
at least 100 Yards on three sides to
get at us. l prayed God that it might
prove wider as l ran. However, it did
not. 1t was a good rife shot across
and the slope of the rise gave the enc
my poor cover from our shots. Shell
tered by these trees, we stood a chance
Of keeping them off for time unless
they were desperate enough to charge
could get twice as many lives as we
lost. Each of us sought a tree trunk
as We gained the knoll, and the last
fight Of many of us began.
On came the enemy, slowly closing
In. Their fierce, menacing yells seemed
now to come from all sides. We fired,
reloaded. and fired again as fast as
we could. Their loss must have been
severe, for they fell on all sides OF
us, yet on they came, still yelling ex-
ultantly. We were as yet practically
unframed, when the bullets began sing
ing across the knoll and a man at
the tree next mine grunted, doubled
up and fell. A ball had broken his
spine. l looked beyond him and saw
three others writing on the ground
The enemy saw that we were deter
mined not to surrender, and would
fight to the last. They preferred cap
tives for torture, but if we would not
surrender they could shoot us down.
On all sides now came quick puffs of
smoke and the spiteful ping" of bull
lets was all about our ears. We We're
shooting fast, and with deadly accur-
acy, but under such an attack could
not hope to hold out long. Our main
army we had momentarily seen as we
foolishly followed BOYD over the high