Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-04-26
Isaac Haden's Hounds.

The dogs OF war, as we know them TO-
day, are employed to succor, not to harm.
They are noncombatants-gallant four
footed wearers of the Red Cross. But
once at least in American history dogs
played a different part on the fighting
line.
The incident occurred during the Creek
war in Alabama. There had been a num-
Der OF Indian massacres, and the scattered
farmers and their families had gathered
for protection in strong little stockade
forts scattered here and there. From one
OF these. Fort Sinquefield, on September
2. 1913, no Indians being supposed TO be
at that time in the vicinity, the defenders
and their families came forth 10 bury the
bodies OF murdered family who had
been slain at distance, discovered and
brought in for interment.
The funeral procession wound across
the open ground 10 little valley not very
far away; left their arms behind and the
gate OF the stockade open. Their every
step was watched by ambushed Indians,
who waited until all were gathered about
the graves, then dashed out OF hiding and
made directly for the fort. Ii they could
capture it, the unarmed whites would be
at their mercy.
Their purpose was instantly clear, and
the white men, running at converging
angle to the enemy, strove desperately to
reach the gate first. They succeeded,
but only TO perceive with horror that the
woman and children were left outside.
They had fallen behind, unable 10 main
tain the pace With whoop, the saw
ages, having missed their first object,
bore downupo their nelplessprey. The
men, even if armed, were not enough 10
overcome them; and by the time they
could get their rifles and rush TO the rescue
it would be too late.
AT that moment Isaac Haden and his
dogs came upon the scene. He was a
notable hunter, who kept pack OF sixty
fierce hounds, trained to pull down any
living creature their master chose to
pursue. He took in the situation at a
glance, and squirting his horse forward,
with cry OF encouragement to the pack,
he led his sixty believing hounds in a
wild charge upon the flank ofthe Indians.
The dogs seized and bit right and left;
confusion reigned the women seized
their chance and fled TO safety. The men
from the fort met them, hurried them
forward, hustled them in, followed, and
barricaded the gates, One woman only
was killed. All the rest, and the children,
were safe within.
But Isaac Haden yet remained outside
and between him and the fort were the
Indians. In his mad charge he had rid
ded straight through them; now it SEEM
ed his only chance was to break through
again. With blast on his hunting horn
he rallied the remainder OF his pack, and
with pistol blazing in each hand and
his dogs about him he charged once more.
His horse fell dead, and his emptied
weapons were useless by the time he had
cleared their ranks, and there was still
race with death to the gate beyond, held
open crack TO let him in. Five bullets
went through his clothes, but he reached
it and slipped through unhurt, although
so closely pursued that il slammed shut
in the very face of the foremost foe.
Whether any of his gallant dogs sur
vived also history has forgotten TO record.