Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-19
Isaac Haden's Hounds

The dogs of war, as we know them
today, are employed to succor, not to
harm. They are noncombatants-ga
liant four footed wearefs of the Red
Cross. But once at least in American
history dogs played different part on
! the fighting line.
The incident occurred during the
Creek war in Alabama. There had been
number 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 Sin
quefield, on September 2, 1913, no In
dams being supposed to be at that
time in the vicinity, the defenders and
their families came forth to bury the
bodies Of murdered family who had
been slain at a distance, discovered
and brought in for interment.
The funeral procession wound across
the open ground to a little valley not
very far away; the men, with an in
credible lack of precaution, left their
arms behind and the gate of the stock
ade open. Their every step was
watched by ambushed Indians, who
waited until all We're gathered about
the graves, then dashed out Of hiding
and made directly for the fort. If they
could capture it, the unarmed white
would be at their mercy.
Their purpose was instantly clear,
and the white men, running at a con-
verging angle to the enemy strove des-
perately to reach the gate first. They
succeeded. but only to perceive with
horror that the women and children
We're left outside. They had fallen be-
hind, unable to maintain the pace. With
a whoop, the savages, having missed
their first object, bore down upon their
helpless prey. The men, even if armed
were not enough to overcome them
and by the time they could get their
rifles and rush to the rescue it would
be too CITE.
/ At that moment Isaac Haden and his
dogs came upon the scene. He was a
notable hunter, who kept a pack of 60
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
/
pack, he led bis so believing hounds
III wild charge upon the flank of the
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. hur-
ried them forward hustled them in.
followed. and harricaded the gates. One
woman only was killed All the rest.
and the children. were safe within.
But Isaac Haden vet remained out
side; and between him and the fort
We're the Indians. In his mad charge he
had ridden straight through them; now
II seemed his only chance was to
break through again. With a blast on
his hunting horn he rallied the re
mainder of his pack, and with a pistol
blazing in each hand and his dogs
about him he charged once more. His
horse fell dead. and his emptied wean.
ons were useless by the time he had
cleared their ranks, and there was still
race with death to the gate beyond.
held open a crack to let him in. Five
bullets went through his clothes. but
he reached it and slipped through I'M
hurt, although so closely pursued that
It slammed shut in the very face of the
foremost foe.
Whether any Of his gallant dogs
survived also history has forgotten to
record.-Youth's Companion.