Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Relation Of A Captivity Among The Indians Of North America.
made it no easy matter to determine which was the most practicable plan ; but at length , after entertaining various projects , the following was decided on . In the evening fixed upon , he was to embark in a canoe , and give out publicly that he was going a-fishing as usual ; instead of which he was to proceed about two miles down the river , nearer to the fort ; and at a certain point of low land , which was covered with rusheshe was to push in there in the dusk of the eveand so conceal
, , himself from the Indians . I , on my part , was to make the best of my way to him in the night , when he would lie waiting for me . The next night was appointed to put this scheme in execution . On that evening , however , an alarm was raised in the camp , by a report which had been several days in circulation , that the Chipwas were positively to be attacked by the forces from the fort ; which , in fact , took place . The English garrison having received a reinforcement of troops under Captain
Dalziel , that officer sallied forth in the night with a strong body , in the hopes of surprising the Indian camp . But they had been too well warned by the French of his design , and lay prepared in ambush for him , attacking his party with great spirit . They did , upon this occasion , what savages were never known to do—they threw themselves into the houses , from whence , and from behind fences , they annoyed the British very much . The contest continued doubtful for some time . At last
, our soldiers were obliged to retreat , which they did in good order , into the fort , leaving Captain Dalziel and about sixty privates , dead upon the field . My master , Peewash , w-as not aware of the attack till the firing roused him from his slumbers . He arose in a great hurry , and put on his powder-horn and pouch , then lied my hands , in case , in the confusion , I should attempt to get off , and perhaps kill the rest of his family .
to secure my escape . He seized his gun and ran as hard as he could to join the rest ' of the army , being then about two miles distant . About two hours afterwards he returned , overjoyed with the success of the fight , giving to me a most painful account of what occurred , and making it out that vast numbers of the British soldiers were slain , while only six Indian warriors had fallen . He told me that our great Seegema , or great Chief , was killed—meaning Captain Dalziel .
I was now unbound again , and sent to another hut to procure a large wooden mortar to pound corn in . The Indian to whom I went for it , had been at the engagement , and boasted of his prodigious feats . He told me that he himself had taken out the heart of our great warrior , which he would soon make a feast of ; and he proceeded to show me poor Dalziel ' s heart roasting at a fire , pieces of the fat of which the young warriors took off , and in my presence rubbed the fat on the mouth of a
soldier of the GOth regiment , whom they had taken prisoner . This disgusting barbarity , and others committed upon prisoners taken in the action , shocked me so much , that , under pretence of bringing some bread to our hut , I went immediately to the Frenchman , Boileau , and agreed to meet him , at all risks , the very next night , at the place appointed ; taking care to repeat and enlarge my promises of reward to him . When the evening cameI lay down as usual bear ' s-skin to
, upon my sleep , putting off all my ornaments—wampum , silver bracelets , collar , & c . —and about the middle of the night , when I guessed all the family to be asleep , I crawled out of the hut upon all fours . When out , I stood at the door for five minutes to hear if they were stirring ; but as all was quiet , I thought then was the time to set off , which 1 did as fast as my feet could carry me , directly to the wood . I had no other clothes on but a shirt , not even daring to put on a pair of magussons to save my
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Relation Of A Captivity Among The Indians Of North America.
made it no easy matter to determine which was the most practicable plan ; but at length , after entertaining various projects , the following was decided on . In the evening fixed upon , he was to embark in a canoe , and give out publicly that he was going a-fishing as usual ; instead of which he was to proceed about two miles down the river , nearer to the fort ; and at a certain point of low land , which was covered with rusheshe was to push in there in the dusk of the eveand so conceal
, , himself from the Indians . I , on my part , was to make the best of my way to him in the night , when he would lie waiting for me . The next night was appointed to put this scheme in execution . On that evening , however , an alarm was raised in the camp , by a report which had been several days in circulation , that the Chipwas were positively to be attacked by the forces from the fort ; which , in fact , took place . The English garrison having received a reinforcement of troops under Captain
Dalziel , that officer sallied forth in the night with a strong body , in the hopes of surprising the Indian camp . But they had been too well warned by the French of his design , and lay prepared in ambush for him , attacking his party with great spirit . They did , upon this occasion , what savages were never known to do—they threw themselves into the houses , from whence , and from behind fences , they annoyed the British very much . The contest continued doubtful for some time . At last
, our soldiers were obliged to retreat , which they did in good order , into the fort , leaving Captain Dalziel and about sixty privates , dead upon the field . My master , Peewash , w-as not aware of the attack till the firing roused him from his slumbers . He arose in a great hurry , and put on his powder-horn and pouch , then lied my hands , in case , in the confusion , I should attempt to get off , and perhaps kill the rest of his family .
to secure my escape . He seized his gun and ran as hard as he could to join the rest ' of the army , being then about two miles distant . About two hours afterwards he returned , overjoyed with the success of the fight , giving to me a most painful account of what occurred , and making it out that vast numbers of the British soldiers were slain , while only six Indian warriors had fallen . He told me that our great Seegema , or great Chief , was killed—meaning Captain Dalziel .
I was now unbound again , and sent to another hut to procure a large wooden mortar to pound corn in . The Indian to whom I went for it , had been at the engagement , and boasted of his prodigious feats . He told me that he himself had taken out the heart of our great warrior , which he would soon make a feast of ; and he proceeded to show me poor Dalziel ' s heart roasting at a fire , pieces of the fat of which the young warriors took off , and in my presence rubbed the fat on the mouth of a
soldier of the GOth regiment , whom they had taken prisoner . This disgusting barbarity , and others committed upon prisoners taken in the action , shocked me so much , that , under pretence of bringing some bread to our hut , I went immediately to the Frenchman , Boileau , and agreed to meet him , at all risks , the very next night , at the place appointed ; taking care to repeat and enlarge my promises of reward to him . When the evening cameI lay down as usual bear ' s-skin to
, upon my sleep , putting off all my ornaments—wampum , silver bracelets , collar , & c . —and about the middle of the night , when I guessed all the family to be asleep , I crawled out of the hut upon all fours . When out , I stood at the door for five minutes to hear if they were stirring ; but as all was quiet , I thought then was the time to set off , which 1 did as fast as my feet could carry me , directly to the wood . I had no other clothes on but a shirt , not even daring to put on a pair of magussons to save my