Eight with Indians.
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3forbearance and mercy"


A Eight with Indians.


lam Naval Officers Journal, from the last Southern


Literary Messenger.


iardin, my informant, was a sergeant in what
Irsk he termed the raised volunteers of Ohio, du.
ln,ihe late war. He had heea sent with twelve
nspo escort wagon, laden with supplies for


msd the smaller posts, about twenty miles dis
,.n. 1t was considered possible, but not proba-
ste hat the Indians had penetrated within the adj
Sarosd posts. Besides the detachment Of soldiers,
gi. mrty consisted Of two friendly Indians for


,out,; the driver, an uthetc, swarthy hat-breed,
samed Butler, and the wife and ye8ng child OF u
E,Idier belonging to the post to which they were
9,und.


They left the fort about three F. NJ. and accom-
sished ten miles by dark, when they encamped,
bcep,ing TO reach the post early on the morrow.
&ey again started at sunrise; but in consequence
ia heavy rain during the night, Travelled slowly.
Il ncon however, they had made twelve miles,
HI stopped to refresh themselves and horses
Heir rude dinner was just spread before them,
nen the scouts came in and reported that there
IRE no marks of Indians in the woods. Cheered


the intelligence, they prepared to make a hearty
isa, in the confident expectation OF rcachlng their
~
lining over, helping the woman, when he heard
jwhiz by his ear, followed in quick succession by
sharp report and scream from the child, which
Jpraug wounded from its mothers arms.


"The'wagon, men-make for the wagon, shout
ID Hardin. But where are the scouts
/ Shoot them down, the traitors" and several
inuskess were discharged. One of the scout. fell
Ihe other, evidently woaaded, limping as he fled,
escaped.


While they sought cover behind the wagon, the
woman remained gazing, hsrror-stricken, upon her
lchild as it lay bleeding. Suddenly she seized a
3kns which lay upon the gras. beside the untasted
food, and with furious speed needless of their call,
rushed toward the quarter whence the fatal ball had
sped As she passed tree short distance from
the other side of the road, and in full view from
their position, an Indian stepped out and Drained
hsr with his tomahawk; but before he could retreat
10 cover, soldier leveled his musket and fired ;
a the savage, bounding upwards several feet, fell
. the earth corpse.


Butler had been throughout the journey, silent
and dull companion; but at the first alarm, he had
run to the wagon, and commenced searching tor
his rife He found it just as the Indian fell; when,
with loud and exultng laugh, he exclaimed,
"Wel done soldier" then jumping dewn beside





not be safe place for you long-these Indian de-
1ls havnt shown their usual cunning, or they would
have begun the attack from mere points than one
take to the trees if you wish to preserve single
Eie'


Sergeant" here cried several of the soldiers
tho Indians are running across the road.
"To the trees, each man tree for your lives,
| houtcd Hardin and the whole party rushed into
ne woods.


After the death of the warrior, save few incl
ectual shots at some of the Indians as they sue
Icessvey ran across .he road, the time was passet
In silent preparation Each soldier behind the
tree he had selected fixed his bayonet picked hi
flint, and drew his cartouch box more in front 3.
the advice of Butler. who seemed more familiar
with the Indian mede of warfare, the sergeant lie
hin take the lead, with five men on each side gra
1ually spreading out in the form of wedge, while
ne sergeant himself brought up the rear with the
TWO remaining soldiers, faced the opposite way t,
guard against surprise. Their arrangements com
pleted, as the whole party anxicusiy watched the
Indians fitting frssl the shelter of one tree to thai
Oiano,her, they were startled BY the cry of the
child, which had raised itself upon its lirte hand
aud called for its mother. They saw it struggle
ior few feet, then fall upon its face and die.


>' The devils! the incarnate devils exclaimee
the halEbreed-" Oh that they would but show
themselves"


Very soon after, and quick as light, ne brough
bis rifle to his shoulder and fred; and an Indian
who had jus, peered from behind o tree, fell besd
I. His fall drew shout from the soldiers, which
vas answered by fierce whGop and general vol
.cy from the Indians. With the exception of en'
or two slight flesh wounds, the discharge was harm
ess bu, i, served to convince the whites that thei
toes more than trebled their number.


The action now became general, and the wood
rang with the sharp crack of the rife, and III
louder but less deadly report of the musket. Tn
lRd!ans spreading as they advanced, soon outank
ed the whites and then gradually closlngin, almos
completely cncircled them. Already three OF IN
'oldiers had fallen. and the two others were :
badly wounded to be unable to use their weapons
The only hope left in retreat, and the survivor
rashed to the place where the horses were secured
Oae OF the horses lay bleeding, wounded perhaps
fandom shot. Casting them loese the white
strove to mount, while the Indians rushed torwar
to prevent them. The sergeant succeeded in mount
Ing one OF the horses with soldier behind him.
Butler had gained the back of another, when a
Indian sprung forward, and, seizing the headstal
threw his tomahawk. 1t struck Butler on the sid
OF the temple, peeing !, TO the bone. ns in.tnu
he jumped down and clutched his opponent Fo
some moments, they struggled desperately; bu
fleeing his right arm, Butler drew knife an
plunged it into the savage. As he turned to noun
again, he was pierced by bullet from behind
when, seeming TO abandon all hopes of escape, h
staggered forward, brandishing the bloody knife
and endeayored 10 close with the nearest Inlial