Thrilling adventures among the Indians: comprising the most remarkable personal narratives of events in the early Indian wars, as well as of incidents in the recent Indian hostilities in Mexico and Texas . lakes with which his THE RIFLEMAN OF CHIPPEWA. 245 country abounds, he should fall short of provision, hehas only to cut a hole in the ice, when he seldomfails of taking a black-fish, or a bass, which he broilsover his Httle wood fire with as much skill as aFrench cook. At the time of the French and Indian wars, theAmerican army was encamped on the Plains of Chip-pewa. Colonel St. Clair, the
Thrilling adventures among the Indians: comprising the most remarkable personal narratives of events in the early Indian wars, as well as of incidents in the recent Indian hostilities in Mexico and Texas . lakes with which his THE RIFLEMAN OF CHIPPEWA. 245 country abounds, he should fall short of provision, hehas only to cut a hole in the ice, when he seldomfails of taking a black-fish, or a bass, which he broilsover his Httle wood fire with as much skill as aFrench cook. At the time of the French and Indian wars, theAmerican army was encamped on the Plains of Chip-pewa. Colonel St. Clair, the commander, was a brave and meritorious officer, but his bravery sometimesamounted to rashness, and his enemies have accusedhim of indiscretion. In the present instance perhapshe may have merited the accusation, for the plain onwhich he had encamped was bordered by a denseforest, from which the Indian scoots could easily pickoff his sentinels without in the least exposing them-selves to danger. Five nights had passed, and every night the sen-tinel who stood at a lonely out-post in the vicinity ofthe forest had been shot; and these repeated disastersstruck such dread among the remaining soldiers, x2. COLONEL, AFTEETVARDS GENERAL ST. CLAIR. 246 THRILLING ADVENTURES. that no one would come forward to offer to take thtpost, and the commander, knowing it was only throwing away mens lives, let it stand for a few nights unoccupied. At length a rifleman of the Virginian corps vo-lunteered his services for this dangerous duty; helaughed at the fears of his companions, and told themhe meant to return safe and drink his commandershealth in the morning. The guard marched up soonafter, and he shouldered his rifle and fell in. Hearrived at the place which had been so fatal to hiscomrades, and bidding his fellow soldiers ^goodnight, assumed the duties of his post. The nightwas dark, thick clouds overspread the firmament, andhardly a star could be seen by the sentinel as he pacedhis lonely wal
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectindian, booksubjectindiancaptivities
