[Illustration: 9254]
N the early part of the revolutionary war, a sergeant and twelve armed
men, undertook a journey through the wilderness of New Hampshire. Their
situation was remote from any settlements, and they were under the
necessity of encamping over night in the woods. In the early part of the
struggle for independence, the Indians were numerous, and did not stand
idle spectators to a conflict carried on with so much zeal and ardour by
the whites. Some tribes were friendly to our cause, while many upon our
borders took part with the enemy, and were very troublesome in
their savage manner of warfare,--as was often learned from the woful
experience of their midnight depredations. The leader of the above
mentioned party was well acquainted with the different tribes, and--from
much intercourse with them, previous to the war--was not ignorant of
the idiom, physiognomy, and dress, of each; and, at the commencement of
hostilities, was informed for which party they had raised the hatchet.
Nothing material happened, the first day of their excursion; but early
in the afternoon of the second, they from an eminence, discovered a body
of armed Indians advancing towards them, whose number rather exceeded
their own. As soon as the whites were perceived by their red brethren,
the latter made signals, and the two parties approached each, other
in an amicable manner. The Indians appeared to be much gratified with
meeting the sergeant and his men, whom, they observed, they considered
as their protectors; said they belonged to a tribe which had raised the
hatchet with zeal, in the cause of liberty, and were determined to
do all in their power to injure the common enemy. They shook hands
in friendship, and it was, “How d’ye do, _pro?_” that being their
pronunciation of the word brother. When they had conversed with each
other for some time, and exchanged mutual good wishes, they separated,
and each party travelled in different directions. After proceeding a
mile or more, the sergeant halted his men, and addressed them in the
following words:
“My brave companions! we must use the utmost caution, or this night may
be our last. Should we not make some extraordinary exertion to defend
ourselves, to-morrow’s sun may find us sleeping, never to wake. You are
surprised, comrades, at my words, and your anxiety will not be lessened,
when I inform you, that we have just passed our inveterate foe, who,
under the mask of pretended friendship you have witnessed, would lull us
into fancied security, and, by such means, in the unguarded moments of
our midnight slumber, without resistance, seal out fate!” The men
were astonished at this harangue, for they supposed the party they had
encountered were friends. They resolved for their own preservation to
adopt the following scheme: Their night’s encampment was near a stream.
They felled a large tree, before which a brilliant fire was made, and
each individual cut a log of wood the size of his body, rolled it into
his blanket, and placed it before the fire, that the enemy might take
it for a man. The fire was kept burning until near midnight, when it was
expected an attack would be made. Soon a tall Indian was seen through
the glimmering fire, cautiously moving towards them. His actions showed
that he was suspicious of a guard being posted to give an alarm; but
finding all quiet, he moved forward, and was seen to move his finger
as he numbered each log, or, what he supposed to be a man asleep. To
satisfy himself as to the number, he recounted them, and retired. A
second Indian went through the same movements.
The whole party, sixteen in number, now cautiously advanced, and eagerly
eyeing their supposed victims. The sergeant’s party could scarcely be
restrained from firing upon them; but the plan was to remain silent
until the guns of the savages were discharged, so that their own might
be more effectual.
Their suspense was short. The Indians approached, till within a short
distance; they then halted, took deliberate aim, fired upon the logs,
and rushed forward with scalping knife, to take the scalps of the dead.
As soon as they were collected in a close body, more effectually
to execute their horrid intentions, the party of the sergeant, with
unerring aim, discharged their muskets upon the savages; not one of whom
escaped destruction.
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[Illustration: 0261]