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 1 
 
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 32X 
 
 ■ t . : 
 
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 6 
 
i. 
 
 THE 
 
 INDlxVN CAPTIVE; 
 
 OR A 
 
 NARRATIVE 
 
 
 OF THE 
 
 '. ■ > 
 
 Caj^tftJitp and c^uffettn0^ 
 
 iTi ! 
 
 ,' . ... : I 
 
 • 1 • ' '^ 
 
 HI' 
 
 OF 
 
 -.< •• 
 
 ZADOCK STEELE. 
 
 RELATED BY HIMSELF. 
 
 TO WHICH IS PREFIXED AfZ AOCUUKT 
 OF THE 
 
 BURNING OF ROYALTON. 
 
 Hath thU been in your days, or even in the days of your fath- 
 ers ? TtfA ye youi children of it, and let your children tcB 
 their chiiireu and lUEiRchildr-n another generation. 
 
 Job.1m. 
 
 MO.^rrpELiBR^ Vt. 
 
 PUBLISHED xry THF. AUTHOR. 
 
 £. P. Wa ton, Printeri 
 
 Itivs. 
 
 '■!%• 
 
 f '., 
 
0^ 
 
 \. 
 
 •>> 
 
 r,iM 
 
 J 
 
 l^s ■ M 
 
 DISTRICT OF V EllMONT, To wit : 
 
 (l. s.) Be it remembered , that on the twen- 
 ty-fifth (lay of January, in the forty-second 
 year of the Independence of the United States 
 of America, HOlMCtl STEELE, of the 
 said District, hath deposited in this office, the 
 title of a B()oli\ tlie right whereof, he claims as 
 Proprietor, in the words folloAving, to wit : 
 
 •^Tlie Indian Ca])tive ; or a narrative of the 
 captivity and sufterings of Zadock Steele, lie- 
 iated hy himself. To wliich is preiiv^'d, an ac- 
 count of the burning; of lloValton. Hath this 
 been in your days, or even in the days of your 
 fathers? Tell ye vour children of it, and let 
 yonr children tell their children, and their chil 
 dren, another generation.— Joel.'^ 
 
 In conformity to tlie act of Congress of the 
 United States, entitled, "An act for the en- 
 couragement cf learning, hy securing the cop- 
 ies tf Maps, Cliarts, and Books to the authors 
 and j)roprietors of such copies^ tluring the 
 times therein mentioned.'' ^ 
 
 JESSE GOVE/ lt!^,r^f^T 
 
 ^ J trict oj Vermont. 
 
 
 '%>.. 
 
 i«*M<$«f 
 
Mit' 
 
 
 > wit : 
 
 IC two 11- 
 
 r- second 
 
 d States 
 
 of the 
 
 ffice, the 
 
 laims as 
 
 irit : 
 
 :e of the 
 
 le. iie- 
 
 d, an ac" 
 
 [ath thin 
 
 of your 
 
 and let 
 
 eii* chil 
 
 J 
 
 .IJJVERTISEMEJS^T. 
 
 The Author of this worJc, neither seelcs^ 
 nor expects praise. To preserve in memory 
 the sufferini^s of our fathers^ is the princi- 
 pal ofjject of its piildication. As no particu- 
 lar account of the burning of Moyalton^ had 
 ever before been jmblishedy it ivas thought adr 
 visable that it should be prefixed to the '^ JSTar- 
 rative,^' which was about to be printed. 
 
 The great confusion ivhich prevailed on 
 tliat dreadful day: the long lapse of i'me 
 since the event ; the disadvantages resulting 
 from the frailty of human recollection^ andth^ 
 ivriter^s inexperience, is the only apology h^ 
 
 \ 1^ offers for the imperfections of the work, 
 ^^^ For the information respecting this tragic- 
 
 of the 
 the en- 
 
 |the cop- 
 autliors 
 
 ling the 
 
 le Bis' 
 
 \rmont. 
 
 %l scene, he is indebted to the goodness of 
 General Stevens, Colonel Edson^ and other^j 
 who were eye-witnesses, 
 
 
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BURNING OF ROYALTOX. 
 
 AS ail union of interest always strengthens 
 ilie bonds ofaflection; so a participation in 
 extreme suffering's will never fail to prodnca 
 a mutual sensibility. Prompted by a i:;encr- 
 ous glow of filial love and affection, we gen- 
 erally take delight in surveying whatever gav4 
 our forefathers joy; and are ready to drop =i 
 sympathetic tear, when we revievv the s^itWii- 
 lugs whicij they have undergone. iJut, con- 
 Irary to the laws of sympathy, and justice, 
 the attention of tbe public is often engrossed 
 witli accounts of the more dreadfid conflagra- 
 tions of populous cities in foreign countries, or 
 the defeat of armies in the field of carnage ; 
 while the destruction of small frontier settle- 
 ments, by the Indian tribes, in our own coun- 
 try, is, at the same time, little known, if not 
 entirely forgotten. Thus, tbe miseries of our 
 neighbors and friends around us, whoac bitter 
 cries have been heard in our stret\ts, arc tori 
 soften suffered % pass unnoticed dovwti the cur- 
 rent of time into the tomb of oblivion. 
 ^ The burning of Royaltou was an event 
 most inauspicious and distressh)^ to the jL'st 
 settlers of that town. Noi' is it a little strung 
 that, among the numerous auUiOFs, who hntf^ 
 recorded tbe events of the A*w5^5'i^^*i fevot^^ 
 tion. Slime ©f them have not giyetl '^^^^ffi 
 their works to a more full detail of !tliat l^il|^i 
 ih'p, scene. i ' 
 
 Laboring under all the difficulties rmd hai# 
 
 A S ■ ■ ■■ 
 
 '^«.■. 
 
 :tf 
 
 y'-,-' 
 
Mii^i 
 
 il 
 
 ^ 
 
 8 BURNING OF ' ; 
 
 sliips to which our infant settlements were gen- 
 erally subject ; and striving by persevering 
 industry to soar above every obstacle, wbicli 
 might present itself to obstruct tiieir progress; 
 they had filled their barns witb the fruits f)f 
 the land ; their store- houses were crowded 
 with the comforts of life^ and all nature seem- 
 ed to wear a propitious smile. All around 
 them promised prosperity. They were far 
 removed from the noise of war, and, though 
 conscious of their danger, ftmdly hoped they 
 should escape the ravages of a savage foe. 
 
 Royalton was chartered in the year 1779- 
 A considerable settlement, however, had ta- 
 ken place previous to that time ; and the town 
 v/as in a thriving condition. Large stocks of 
 cattle, which would confer honor upon the en- 
 terprise of farmers in old countries, wer« 
 here seen grazing in their fields. 
 
 United by common interest ; living on terms 
 of friendship, and manifesting that each one 
 in a good degree " loved his neighbor as hii 
 self,'^ harmony prevailed in their borders ; so 
 cial happiness was spread around their fire- 
 sides 5 and plenty crowned their labors. But, 
 alas ! the dreadful reverse remains to be told ! 
 While joys possessed, were turned to sor- 
 rows, their hopes for joys to come, were blast- 
 ed. And as the former strongly marked the 
 grievous coitrast between a state of prosperi- 
 and affliction ; the latter only showed the fal- 
 I lacy of premising ourselves the fvitiire. 
 
 On the morning of tli« 16tli of Octobferj, A 
 
 V 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 D. i780 — before the dawn ijft (Liy, the inhiibi- 
 tants of thi*; town were surprised hy the ap- 
 proach of about three hundred Indian*, of va- 
 rious tribes. Tiiey were UmI [»y thu Caghiiewa- 
 t:;a tribe, and had h\ft (!anada, intendin:^ t** 
 tlestroy Newbury, a town in the eastern pait 
 of Vermont, on Connecticut liiver. A lirit- 
 ish Lieutenant by the name of Uorton, was 
 their chief commander, and one LeMott, a 
 Frenchman, Avas Ids second. Tlieir pilot or 
 leader, was a de.«picable vilhiin, by tlie name 
 of Hamilton, who had been made prisoner, by 
 the Americans at the taking of Bur^oyn, in 
 1777. He had been at Newbury and Royal- 
 ton the preceding summer, on parole of hon- 
 or, left the latter place with several others un- 
 der pretence of going to survey land.*^ in the 
 northei'n part of this State, and went directly 
 to the enemy. He was doubtless the flrsV in- 
 stigator of those awful depredations which 
 were the bitter fmits of this expedition, and 
 ought to stam]^ his name with infamy Aud dii- 
 grace, -. * 
 
 On their way thither, ^tis said, they came 
 across several men from Newbury, who were 
 engaged m hunting,^ near the plrtce where 
 Montpelier Village now stands, and made 
 them prisoners. They made known their ob- 
 ject to these hunters^ and enquired of them 
 whether an armed force was stationed at New- 
 bury. Knowing the defenceless^ state of that 
 tow9, and hoping they sfaoald be able to in- 
 daee th^Iu^ans to relinquish tlieir object aiid 
 
BURNING OF 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 » 
 
 rotiirn to C'aiiaila, tliey ioUl them tlial such an 
 armiMl ^^arrisuii ^vas kept at Ncwhiiry, aa 
 would render it extrtmely fhtii:^pr()iiH for thcin 
 to approach. Thus nrtfully disseni!)liu2; by 
 ambiguity of expresson, the true condition of 
 their fellow townsmen, and liko Kahab the 
 liarlot, saved their fathers house from des- 
 truction. 
 
 Unwilling, however, that their cxpediiiou 
 ^-hould prove wholly fruitless, they turned 
 their course to Royalton. No arguments 
 uhich the prisoners could adduce, were suffi- 
 cient to persuade them from that determina- 
 tion. 
 
 Following up Onion River as far as the 
 mouth of Stevens' branch, wliich empties into 
 ilie river at JVIoutpelier, they steered their 
 course through Barre, at that time called AVil- 
 dersburgh ; proceeded up Gaol branch, which 
 fonns a part of Stevens' brancli, and travelled 
 over the mountains, through Orange and 
 Washington ; thence down the first branch of 
 White River, through Chelsea^and Tunbridgc 
 to Royalton. * They laid In their encampment 
 at Tunbridgc, not far distant from Royalton, 
 during the Sabbath, the jlay preceding their 
 attack upon the latter piace, for* the purpose- of 
 concerting measures, to carry into effect their 
 atrocious and malignant designs. Here were 
 matured those diaboiical seeds of depredation 
 and cruelty, from which sprang bitterness, sor- 
 row, and death ! 
 J As they en ored the town before day light 
 
 n 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 
 
 appcaritl, darkness covered their appro ncli^ 
 and tliey were not discovered till Monday 
 niorninj;, at dawn of day, when they entered 
 the house of Mr. John Hutchinson, who resi- 
 ded not far from the line, separating Royalton 
 from Tiinbridge. He was totally ignorant of 
 tkeli* approach, and wholly unsuspicious of 
 danger, till they burst the door upon him. 
 
 Here they took Mr. John Hutchinson, and 
 Al)ijah Hutchinson his brother, prisoncj*s, and 
 plundered the house ; crossed the first branch, 
 and went to the house of Mr. Robert Havens, 
 who lived at a small distance from Mr. Hutch- 
 inson's. Mr. Havens had gone out into his 
 pasture in pm^suit of his sheep ; and bavins: 
 ascended a hill about forty rods from his house, 
 hearing his neighbor Hutchinson's dog bark, 
 halted, and sLood in pensive silence. Here he 
 listened-^with deep anxiety to know the extent 
 of the evil he feared. But alas ! he little ex- 
 pected to find a herd of savage men. JEt 
 was his oaly fear that some voracious animal 
 WLs among his sheep, which so disturbed the 
 watchful dog. While he listened in silence, 
 with his thoughts suspended, he heard a noise, 
 as of sheep or cattle running, wifh full speed, 
 through the water. Casting his eye to the 
 west, towards his own dwelling, he beheld a 
 company of Indians, just entmng the door ! 
 Seeing his own danger, he immedifitely laid 
 down under a log, and hid himself from their 
 ^ht But he could not hide sorrow from his ., 
 
10 
 
 BURNING 
 
 
 mind. Here he wept ! Tears trickling down 
 his wiiliered cheeks, bespoke the anguish of 
 his soul, while he thought upon the distress of 
 his family. With groanings unutterable he 
 lay awliile ; heard the piercing shrieks of his 
 bcioved wife, and saw his sons escaping for 
 their lives. , ^ 
 
 Bath'd in tears the h'^nry sage r 
 
 In sorrow lay coriceal'd ; while death 
 
 In fri»hlfiiHorm. slood thick aroiihd him, 
 
 With bovr-bent rcndine««, and arruws dip'd 
 
 In venom, promii^uons fl^ingf. 
 
 Vigilenee with his ;ears had fltd, VT 
 
 And hope was almo«t ont of *ip;ht; 
 
 Safety quite gone, aj»d far beyond hie reach. 
 
 \4- 
 
 ' "■»; 
 
 f v.. • 
 
 ' '■ c 
 
 ■4 
 
 I 
 
 Laden with the weight of years, decripeil 
 and infirm, he was sensible if he appeared in 
 eight, it would prove his death. He therefore 
 resolved not to move until a favorable oppor- 
 tunity presented. His son, Daniel Havens, 
 and Thomas Pember, were in the house, and 
 made their appearance at the door, a little be- 
 fore the Indians came up. Beholding the foe 
 but few rods distant, they run for their lives, 
 Oauiel Havens made his escape by throwing 
 himself over a hedge fence, down the bank of 
 the branch, and crawling under a log ; al- 
 though a large number of the Indians passed 
 directly over it, in pursuit c^f him. Who ctci 
 tell the fears that agitated his bosom, while 
 these savage pursuers, stepped upon the log 
 under which he lay ! And wl o can tell ^^ 
 
<i» 
 
 PvOYALTON. 
 
 11 
 
 joys he fcltj when lie saw tlicm pass off, leav- 
 ing him in safety ! A quick transition from 
 painful fear, and iminent danger, to joyful 
 peace and calm retirement. They pursued 
 Thomas Pember, till they came so near as to 
 throw a spear at him, which pierced his body, 
 and put an end to his existence. He run some 
 time, however, after he was wounded, till by 
 loss of blood, he fainted, fell, and was unable 
 to proceed farther. The savage monsters came 
 up, several times thrust a spear through his 
 body, took off his scalp, and left him, food 
 f<^r worms ! While they were tearing his 
 scalp from his head, how did his dying groans 
 pierce the skies and call on Him, v/ho holds* 
 the scales of justice, to mark their crueliy, and 
 avenge his blood ! 
 
 He hud spent the night previous, at th« 
 house of Mr. Havens, engaged in amorous 
 conversation with a daughter of Mr. Havens, 
 who was his choice compajion, the intended 
 partner of his lifo. 
 
 W\ 
 
 (( 
 
 •What jealous eares 
 
 Hang on h'n parJing loul to think I is love 
 ExposM to v^ild oppre«isioD and a hvrd 
 Or savai^e men :" while himself by 
 With hi* eyes uplif(«fd. fainiing, dooiu'd 
 To vtait, ttiid iVel the fatal blow. t. 
 
 By imagination we view 
 
 _, the fair 9»n1vor, 
 
 surrounded by the savage tribe, whose %%ht- 
 ful aspect threatened ruin ; her soul oWwl^elm* 
 
ir 
 
 ! 
 
 w 
 
 itt 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 cd with fear, wnA stung with grief, bereft of! 
 her dearest friend. Hear her exclaimin$;i 
 with sorrowful actents, in the language of the 
 Poet: 
 
 r 
 
 *• You sacred mourners of a nobler mould, 
 Born for a i'riend whose dear embraces hold 
 Beyond all nature^s tieg ; you tbat bare known 
 Twe happy souls made intimately one, 
 And felt the parting stroke ; 'tis you must feel 
 The smart) the twinges, and the racks, 1 feel ; 
 This fonl of mine, that dreadful wound has borne 
 Otf from its side its dearest half is torn. 
 The rest lies bleeding, and but lives to mourn 
 
 9 
 
 >rne 1 
 
 " i 
 
 f <t 
 
 
 They made the house of Mr. Havens theirj 
 rallying point, or post of observation, and sta- 
 tioned a part of thieir company there to guard] 
 their baggage, and make preparations for re- 
 treat, when they had completed their work o^ 
 destruction. Like tlie messenger of death, si- 
 lent and merciless, they were scarcely seer 
 till felt. Or if seen, filled the mind with ter- 
 ror, nor often aiforded opportunity for escape] 
 Moving with violent steps, they proceeded 
 down the first branch to its mouth, while 
 number armed with spears, led the van, and] 
 were followed by others, armed with musket«| 
 and scalping knives. The former they callec 
 rmmerSf who were directed to kill all thos 
 who should be overtaken in an attempt to e( 
 cape, while the latter were denominated^? 
 Tiers, took charge of the prisoners; and scf 
 «d those who were killed. a 
 
 i:-i^r. 
 
 W-- '»*■"-- .^-,-1- :A.\*jU*fHH'7 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 13 
 
 ^S 
 
 They had not proceeclcd far before a yoiini 
 man by he name of Elias Button, being ignor- 
 ant of their approach, made liis appearance in 
 tlie road, but a few rods from them. Espying 
 his danger, he turned and ran with the great- 
 est possible speed in his pow er, to escape their 
 cruel hands. The savage tribe pursued him 
 with their usual agility; vSoon overtook the 
 trembling youth ; pierced his body with their 
 speani; took off his scalp, and left him welter- 
 ing in his gore! Young, vigorous, and healthy, 
 and blest w ith the brightest hopes of long life, 
 and good days ; he was overtaken by the mer- 
 ciless stroke of death, without having a min- 
 utes warning. Innocence and bravery were no 
 shield, nor did activity secure him a safe re- 
 treat. 
 
 That they might be enabled to fall upon the 
 inhabitants, unaw ares, and thereby secure a 
 gieater number of prisoners, as w ell as procure 
 a gi'eater quantity of plunder, they kept pro- 
 found silence till they had arrived at the mouth 
 of the branch. 
 
 After killing Pember and Button, and taking 
 such plunder as most pleased their fancy, they 
 proceeded to the house of Joseph Knecland, 
 who resided about half a mile distant from the 
 house of Mr. Havens. Here they found 
 Messrs. Simeon Belknap, Giles Gibbs, and 
 Jonathan Brown, together with Joseph Knee" 
 land and his aged father, all of whom they , 
 tnade prisoners. Tl cy ^"^n ver.t fe tfie liOTipe 
 
 S7 
 
\i>! 
 
 iii 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 of Mr. Elias Curtis, where they took Mr. Cur- 
 tis, Johu Keut and Peter Masou. Mr*^. Curtis 
 had just waked from theshinihcrs of the nighty 
 and was about dressing herself as she sat 
 upon her bed, when the savage monsters en- 
 tered the door, and one of them instantly flew 
 at her with a large knife in his hand, and 
 sci/.ed her by the neck, apparently intending 
 to cut her throat While in the very attitude 
 of mflrcting tlie fatal wound, the min-derous 
 wretch discovered a string of gold beads a- 
 round her neck, which attracted his attention 
 ^nd prevented the dreadful stroke of death. 
 ^IThiW his avidity for gold allayed his thirst for 
 luiman blood. Ilis raging passions were sud- 
 denly cooled; curiosity restrained his ven- 
 geance, and spared tlie life of the frightened 
 ol)j*'ct of his cruelty. He had put the knife 
 Lo licr throat, and eternity seemed open to her 
 view, but instead of taking her life, he only 
 took her beads, and left her rejoicing at her 
 d el iverance. Th e barbarous looks of the w ick- 
 ed cTew bespoke their malignant designs, and 
 caused horror and dismay to till the minds of 
 all who beheld them. But alas ! who can tell 
 what horror thrilled the bosom of this trem- 
 blhig woman! What feaiful pangs were made 
 to pierce her soul ! Behold the tawny wretch, 
 v»ith countenance wild, and a^vful grimaces, 
 standing by her bed-side, holding her ])y the 
 tliroat, with one hand, and the weapon of death 
 ^ in the other! See, standing around her a crowd 
 
 J' 
 'r 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 13 
 
 of brutal savages, Uie sons of violence ; foul 
 tormentors. In vain do 1 attempt to paint the 
 scene. Nor Avill I pretend to describe the feel- 
 ings of a kind and tender mother, who, repo- 
 sing in the arms of sleep, with her inftint at 
 her bosom, is roused from lier slumbers by the 
 approach of a tribe of savage Indians, at her 
 bed-side. 
 
 '• No Uaiisji^is seen ; no ft?ar to raise a si2;!i ; 
 No dani;ers fearM ; and yet was ruin ni^li. 
 Dark was the riij^lil, atid scarce a tremblint* breze 
 Was lieard lo wliisper thro' the neia;hbari»j«; tree:*, 
 When to sleep's arms the hoiis?Lohl was wiihdra\^n, 
 To rest in safety till the morrow's dawn ; 
 The morrow dawns and blushes at the >-i,2;ht 
 Of bloody icene«, that shun '^electing light; 
 Urg'd by a oameless thirst for human j^rey. 
 A savage band appioaeh'd where beauty lay ; 
 Where ion •ceMce, and youtli, and a^e recUu'd 
 In sleep, refreshisisf as the soiiihern wind. 
 The sire, thout^h bendiua; with a load of years, 
 To tiave his dan2;bler — every dansier dares ; 
 
 l)v «i>me rcui;h liaod this ancient hero dies 
 
 The tremblinu; inoiher for her husband si-.vhs ; 
 
 Si»bs and entreats to spare her infant's life. 
 
 Her siofhs they hear, and spare bim — with the knife. 
 
 Pleafi'd ^^i(h tlie charm of beaiity drench'd ia ttaiS, 
 
 The savac;^ tribe to {gloomy desarls bears 
 
 The we^^'jingf uioiher. void of all defence^ 
 
 Save what she hnped from Heav'n and innecence" 
 
 To prevent an alarm from being sounded a- 
 broad, they commanded the ]n*ispners to keep 
 8ilei ce, on pain of death. A^rile^ tbe afflicted 
 inhabitants beheld their propciato^ wa^i^^ and 
 their lives exposed to tlie arrmvS of fleath* it 
 caused their hearts to swell with giief. But 
 
1' I 
 
 16 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 they were debarred the privilege of making 
 known their suflering<? to their nearest friends, 
 or even to pour out their ciies of distress^ 
 while surrounded by the savage band^ whose 
 malevolent appearance could not fail to spread 
 fear and distress in every bosom. They plun- 
 dered eveyy house they found till they arrived 
 at the mouth of the branch. Here the com- 
 mander, a British officer, took his stand with a 
 small party cf Indians, while some went up, and 
 others down, on each side cf the river, to com- 
 plete the work of destruction. They had already 
 taken several horses^ wliich some of them rode, 
 to facilitate their march and enable them to o- 
 vertake those who attempted to make their es- 
 cape. Frightened at the horrible appearance 
 of their riders, who were in no way qualified 
 to manage them, the horses served rather to 
 impede, than hasten their progress. 
 
 Instigated by " the powers of darkncs ;'^ 
 fired with rage; eager to obtain that booty 
 which they acquired by the pillage of houses ; 
 and fearful at the same time, that they should 
 themselves fall a prey to the American forces, 
 they pursued their ravages with infuriated 
 zeal, and violence and horror attended their 
 movement. 
 
 ** Uproar, rei'eni^e. ant! rage, and hate appear 
 ]n all their mnrderous forms; and flamt and bloody 
 And sweat, and dust array the broad campaign 
 la horror ; hasty feet, and sparkling eyes, 
 And all the savage passions of the soul, 
 Engage in the warm business of the day.'* 
 
 4H 
 
 4- 
 
ilOYALTON. 
 
 ly 
 
 GrtvL. Elias Stevens, wlio resided in the first 
 house on the river above the mouth cf the 
 branch, had gone down the river about two 
 miles, and was engaged at work with his oxen 
 andca\-t. While busily employed in h)ading his 
 cart, casting his eye up the river, he beheld a 
 man approaching, bare-headed, with his horse 
 upon the run ; who, seeing Gen. Stevens, cri- 
 ed out " for God's sake, turn out your oxen, 
 for the Indians are at the mill/'* Gen. Stc- 
 ^ ens hastened to unyoke hi* oxen, turned tlicr.i 
 out, and immediately mounted his horse, aud 
 started tu return to his family, filled with fear- 
 ful apprehensions for the fate of his beloved 
 w ife, and tender oflspring ! He hHd left them 
 in apparent safety, reposing in t!i3 arms of 
 sleep. Having proceecled on his return, about 
 half way home, he met Capt. Joseph I'arkhurst, 
 M'ho informed him tliat the Indians were but a 
 few rods distant, in swift pursuit down ilit 
 river, and that unless he returned immediatelv 
 he would inevitably fall into their hands. 
 
 Apprized of his danger, he turned, and,^|ipcom 
 panied the Captain down thei^uer. Cijnjugal 
 andpaterntal affection alone cail: surest u> the 
 immagination of the reader, /W|i^< were the 
 feelings of Grtn. Stevens, when comi^lfed foi 
 his own safety, to leave the wife of^f^ btr^om^ 
 and their little ones, to the merc^i^pitavagc 
 
 •The mills, to wliich he referred* oWit^jLlUy ft Mr. 
 ^lorgan, wero si'uuted on the firsi lytll^Sl 
 
 mtiuih 
 
 wdSi- -':. 
 
 B» 
 
IS 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 "*:• 
 
 foe! Whjit pains dill he feel when he found 
 himself deprived of all possible means to aflbrd 
 them relief ! Nor could he expect a more favora- 
 ble event, than to find them all sacrificed at the 
 shrine of savage barbarity ! Who, not totally 
 devoid of sympathy, can refrain to drop a tear, 
 as he reflects upon those painful emotions, 
 which agitated the General's breast, when he 
 was forced to turn his back 4)on his beloved 
 family, while thus exposed to danger ! In- 
 deed, it was his only source of consolation, 
 that he might be able to aflbrd assistance to 
 liis defenceless neighbors. And as they soon 
 came to the house of Deacon Daniel Rix, he 
 there found opportunity to lend the hand of 
 pity. Gen. Stevens took Mrs. Rix and two 
 or three children with him upon his horse ; 
 Capt. Parkhur t took Mrs. Benton, and several 
 children upon his horse with him, and they all 
 rodaoffas fast as possible, accompanied by 
 Deacon Ilix and several others on foot, till 
 they arrived at the place where tlie General 
 first received the alarm. Filled with anxiety 
 for his family, and not having seen any In- 
 dians, Gen. Stevens, here concluded again to re- 
 turn, liopii)g he fehould be able to reach home in 
 time to secure his household from danger, be- 
 fore the Indians arriv^. Leaving Mrs. Rix 
 and children in the care of a Mr. BuiToughs, 
 he started forl|jdm0 aftd had proceeded about 
 half a mile, wten iie discovered the Indians 
 ill the road aheafl of him, but ft few rods dis- 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 19 
 
 iaiiL He quickly tiirnod about ; hastened liis 
 retreat ; soon overtook the rompany he !iad left^ 
 and entreated them imnu diately to leave the 
 road and take to the ^voods to prevent being 
 taken. TJiose who were on foot jumped over 
 the fence, hastened to tlie woods, out of sight 
 of the Indians, where tliey remained in safety, 
 undiscovere'd by the savage foe, who kept the 
 road in pursuit of General Stevens. Repass- 
 ed down the road about half a mile, and came 
 to the house of Mr. Tilly Parkhust, his fathr 
 er in law. Seeing his sister engaged in milk- 
 ing by the barn, he ^' told her to leave her 
 cow immediately or the Indians would have 
 her,'' and left her to secitre her own retreat. — 
 They were now in plain sight, not more than 
 eighty or an hundred rods oJQT. The road was 
 full of them, running like blood-hounds. — 
 The General rode to the house, told them to 
 nm for their lives, and proceeded to warn oth- 
 ers who lived contiguous. By this time the 
 way was filled with men, women and children, 
 and a large body of Indians in opetttv^iew, but 
 just behind them. The savage trib«^ now be- 
 gan to make the surrounding wild^nasS re- 
 echo with their frightful yells. Frigj^ned 
 and alarmed for their safety, cliildren ciaj^ii^ 
 their parents, and half distracted moth 
 ed with fearful apprehensions of appr* 
 destruction, were heard to make the air jre 
 with their cries of distress ! Gen Sterens^'J^- 
 ileavored to get them into the wopds^ quI 
 
M 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 si2;lit of tlie Indians. Fear had usui^ed the 
 poMcr of reason, and wiwdom'H voice was 
 di'Dwned in ihe torrent of distraction. There 
 was no lime for argument. All was at stake. "^ 
 The enemy hard by, and fast approacliing. — 
 Defenceless mothers, with helpless iiif mts in 
 their arms, fleeing for their lives ! Des])air 
 was spread hefMie them, while' the roarin;:; 
 •flood ( f destruction, seemed rolling behind 
 them ! Few could be persuaded to go into tlie 
 Moods, and most of them kept the road till 
 thejffarrived at the house of Capt. E. Parkhui'st, 
 in Sharon. Here they halted a moment to 
 take breath, hoping they should not be pursu- 
 ed any farther. Tlie Indians being taken up 
 in plundering the houses, had now fallen con- 
 siderably in the rear. But the unhappy vic- 
 tims of distress, had not long been here, when 
 the cruel pursuers again appeared in sight. 
 
 Screaming and crying, now witnessed the 
 horrors of that dreaxlful scene. Groans and 
 tears bespoke the feelings of a heart agita- 
 ted witli fear, and swollen with grief! There 
 was no time to be lost. While they waited, 
 they waited for desti^ction^ Childi*en hang- 
 in^Jto their mother^s clothes ; mothers enquir- 
 >3ng wliat they should do, and calling for as- 
 sistance ; floods of tears, and piercing shrieks, 
 all presented to view a most painful scene. — 
 Seeing the Indians appraoching with hedious 
 y^lls, that thrilled tiie heart cf every one, 
 'Gen. Stevengr jjui his mother and his sister 
 
 x; 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 «1 
 
 upon his own horse ; Capt. Josepli Parkhurst 
 put Mrs. Rix and three of her children upon 
 another horse, without a bridle, and ordered 
 them to hasten their flight. There yet remain- 
 ed the wife of Capt. E. Parkhurst, who stood 
 in the most critical situation, in which a woman 
 can be placed ; begging and crying for help ; 
 suiTounded by six small children, clinging to 
 her clothes, and pleading with her for pro- 
 tection ; Alas ! how awful was the spectacle, 
 how affecting the scene ! To see a woman in 
 this deplorable condition, pleading for succour, 
 when none could help ; when safety and sup-, 
 port had fled ; and dangers rushing upon lier ! 
 a heart not devoid of sympathy, could not fail 
 to weep ! Conscious of her wretched situation ; 
 feeling for her dear children ; being told there 
 w as no probability for her escape ; gathering 
 her little ones around her she wept in bitter- 
 ness of soul ; tears of pity ran down her cheeks, 
 while she waited the approach of the savage 
 tribe to inflict upon her, whatever malice could 
 invent, or inhumanity devise ! 
 
 Her husband, to whom she fain would have 
 looked for protection, was gone from home^ 
 wlien all her woes fell upon her ! Well i&ight 
 she say, ^^ Therefore are my loins filled Wi^h 
 pain ; pangs have taken hold upon me^ as^ l^c 
 pangs of a woman that travaileth,^' ^5W 
 heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me;>||io 
 ftight of my pleasure hath he turned into Wai 
 uutu mc.'^ Wlxile Mrs. Pavklmist saw hii 
 
 I 
 

 BUKXING OF 
 
 ^! 
 
 friends and nei4>;Iil)orH fleeini; from her ; and 
 * beheld the Indians nppnmrliini^ with impeiu- 
 «UH Htep; her bosom throbed with ans^iiish ; 
 lioiTor seized her soul ; and death ! imniediate 
 death, both to her and iirr children, '' stood 
 thick around her/^ threatening to thrust liis 
 dagger into lier aching heart. There was no 
 <ime to decide on the priority (»f claims to pity, 
 or the demands of justice. Those who were 
 nearest at hand iirst received assistance ; not 
 however, without regard to that affection which 
 arises from consanguinity or matiimonial con- 
 nexion. And these relations not only unite 
 the hearts, but connect the hands in scenes of 
 distress. 
 
 At the time Gen. Stevens put his mother and 
 his sister upon his horse, the Indians were not 
 eight rods fiom him. They, in company with 
 Mrs. Rix and her children, rode off as fast as 
 possible. The General followed with several 
 others on foot. Part of the Indians pursued them, 
 while others entered the house, and plunder- 
 ed it of its furniture. They took her eldest 
 sou fiom her, then ordered her, with the rest of 
 her children, to leave the house. She accord- 
 ingly repaired into the fields back of the house, 
 witli five of her children, and remained in 
 safety ti»l they had left, the place. Soon af- 
 ter Gen. Stevens started, his dog came in his 
 way, and caused him to stumble and fill \ 
 which so retarded his progress that he was ob- 
 liged to flco to the woods for safety, leaviag 
 
ROY ALTON, 
 
 «a 
 
 MS ob- 
 
 the women mkI rliildrcii to mate tlie best of 
 their retreat. The Indi.ins |inrsue<l down tli?e 
 road aftVT them, with fiiii;hlfiil yells, and schmi 
 overtook those who were on r.»ot. They took 
 (lardner Hix, «on of Deacon Jlix,ahoy about 
 nmrtecn years oh', just at the heels of liis 
 mother's horse ; wliile sb.c was compelled to 
 witness the painful sii-ht. Alas! what dis- 
 tress nnd horror filled iici* bosom, when she, 
 with three of lier children, no levs dear than 
 herself, fleeing f'oiii the sava$j;e foe, mounted 
 jnpon a horse, snorting with fear, ]javinf:;notli- 
 ini; but a pocket handkerchief in his mouth fur 
 a bridle, saw he^' wearied sou, f vint for want 
 |of breatli, fall ariptive to this bar1)arous crew ! 
 iCruel fate! Tlie trembling; youth, overwhelm- 
 ed witii fear, R«d bathed in tears, was now 
 torn fi'om his tender paiTuts, aiuliiompelled to 
 [roam ilie Avilderr^ess to unknown rei^iims l> Nor 
 was the disconsolate mother, with her other lit- 
 tle ones, left in a much* more safe condition. 
 
 Exposed, ard expectin;^; every step to fall to 
 
 he ground, which, if it proved not then* death, 
 
 would leave them a prey to the savjipji* niog^- 
 
 Hters ! No tongtie can tell the pains she hSk 
 
 !or pen descril)e the liorrors of her soulL |F6 
 
 ehold her little son, while fleeing fot^bif^ J^i|^ 
 
 ^d\\ into tlie bands of these sons of ^Mfelty^ 
 
 ^vliaf kind aiul tender mother, would mT feel 
 
 lor heart to bleed ! \^ ^ 
 
 May we not listen to the voice of imtnfl,j^-i 
 
 •ion, and hear her say : - 
 
/i 
 
 ^ u» '..'.m 
 
 •') 
 
 I > 
 
 \ m^ 
 
 il 
 
 ' (11 :i 
 
 ! I" 
 
 F! 1 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 - n 
 
 "Oh! irifiiiito distress ! gncli raQ;inaffifri«'f 
 Should command pitj and dtspwir relirf, 
 Passion, methiukH. should ris*» from all m.V jjroans, 
 Give sense lo rock«, uiid sympathy to siones.*' 
 
 The Indians pursued tlie womea and chil- 
 dren as fiar as the house tf Mr. Benedict, the 
 distance of about a mile. They eflected their 
 escape, though surrounded with dangers, and 
 pursued with impetuous and clamorous steps. 
 Here they discovered Mr. Benedict on the op- 
 posite side of a stream called broad-brook, 
 which ran near the house. They beckoned to 
 have him come over to them. Choosing, how- 
 ever, not to hazard the consequences of yield- 
 ing obedience to their request ; he turned and 
 ran a short distance and hid himself under a 
 log. He had not long been in this situation^ 
 when these blood-thirsty wretches, came, and I 
 stood upon the same log, and were heard by 
 him to exclaim in angry tone, ^' if they couldj 
 find him* he should feel the tomahawk.^' 
 
 After standing upon the log come time, and! 
 endeavoring to espy the concealed, trembling] 
 object of their pursuit ; they lef: him and re 
 tu|lied to the hcuse. Ah ! what joy filled hisl 
 bl^ni, when he saw these messengers of deatlij 
 {NUI8 away leaving him in safety ! How mustj 
 his lK»irt have glowed w ith gratitude toward?] 
 the '^ Great Preserver of men;i'' at this un- 
 expected deliverance from the most ijnineiii| 
 danger. 
 
 ^^ i^Th Iiowevcr, wert not unminglet 
 
 
ttOYALTON,^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 mih sorrow^ as the fell destroyers were still 
 at his houscj committiiJii; ravages and wastiiij; 
 liis property, lint no man can be supposed to 
 put his property in competition av ith his life. 
 
 The Indians pursued down the river about 
 forty rods farther^ where they made a youns; 
 man, by the name of Avery, prisoner, and then 
 concluded to return. 
 
 While they Aveie at the house of Tilly 
 Parkhurst, aforementioned, which was about 
 six miles from the place they entered Royal- 
 ton, his son, Phineas Parkhurst, who had 
 l)een to alarm the people on the east side of 
 the river, just as lie entered the stream on his 
 return, (liscovered the Indians at his father's 
 door. Finding himself in danger, he imme- 
 diately turned to go back, and the Indians just 
 at this time happened to see him, and fired up- 
 on liim. This was the fii-st gun they fir^J af- 
 ter they entered the town. The ball entered 
 his l)ack, went through his body, came out un- 
 der Ills ri])s. and lodi::ed in the skin. Not- 
 withstanding the Wunnd, he was, however, able 
 to ride, and conthiued Ms retreat to Lebanon, 
 in the State of New-Hampshire, the dktancc 
 of about sixteen miles, with ve^y little i^p, 
 su])porting t)ie ball between M» fitigers. Me 
 now resides in that town, and sus^|i^?tte 
 characte" of a useful physician, and^^^flb^as- 
 triojs, indepedent ftirmer. ^^^^ 
 
 nmin'^lei T^'^^ party of Indians, which weit ^wn 
 ^^>i the east side of the river, extendeH "Mtir 
 
26 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 '■I \u 
 
 ravages as far as the house of Capt. Gilbert, 
 m Sharon^ where a public house is now kept, 
 by Capt. Dana. Here they took a nepliew ot 
 Captain Gilbert^ by the name of Nathaniel 
 Gilbert, a boy about fifteen years of age. — 
 They now resolved to return, and commenced 
 that waste of property, which tracked their 
 progress. ' As they retraced their steps, 
 they set fire to all tlie buildings they found, of 
 every description. They spread desolation 
 and distress wherever they went. Houses fill 
 ed with furniture, and family supplies for the 
 winter ; barns stored with tlie fruits of indus- 
 try, and fields stocked with herds of cattle, 
 were all laid waste. 
 
 They shot and killed fourteen fat oxen in one 
 yard ; which, in consequence cf the inhabitant 
 being dispersed, were wholly lost. Cows, sheep, 
 and hogs; and indeed every creature design- 
 ed fey the God of nature, to su])ply tlie wants 
 cf man, which came within their sight, fell a 
 prey to these dreadful fepoilers. Parents torn 
 from their children ; husbands separated from 
 their wives ; and children siiatched from their 
 parfints, presentee? to view an indiscribable scene 
 of wretchedness and distress. Some were 
 driven from their once peaceful habitations, in 
 to the adjacent wilderness for sjif^ity ; there to 
 wait the destruction of their propeHy ; stung 
 with the painful reflection that theil" fi?icnds, 
 perhaps n kind father, and affectionate brother, 
 were made captives, and compelled to tranf ! 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 1^. 
 
 "I 
 
 SJT 
 
 
 with a tawny herd of savage men, into the 
 w ild regions of the north ; to be delivered into 
 the hands of enemies, and undergo the fatigues 
 land dangers of a wretched captivity: Or what 
 I was scarcely more to be deplored, learn with 
 pain that they liad fallen the unhappy victims, 
 to the relentless fury of the savage tribe, and 
 were weltering in their gore, where there was 
 no eye to pity, or friendly hand to admiuis- 
 Iter relief! 
 
 The third paiiy of Indians, who went up the 
 river, first came to the house of Gen. Stevens. 
 Daniel Havens, whose escape I have mention- 
 ed, went directly there, and warded the f am 
 ily cf their danger. Trembling with fearj 
 he only stepped into the house, told them that 
 " the Indians were as thick as the D — ^1 at their 
 Ihouse,'^ and turned and went directly oat^ 
 [leaving the family to secure their own retreat 
 
 Mrs. Stevens and the family were in bed, 
 excepting her husband, m ho, as before stated, 
 had gone down the river, about two miles ^'•om 
 home. She immediately arose from her bed, 
 flung some loose clothes over her ; took up. her 
 child, and had scarcely got to the fire, when u 
 large body of Indians rushed in at the door* 
 
 They immediately ransacked the Kouse in 
 [search of men ; and then took the beds and 
 'bedding, carried them out of doors, cut oj^en 
 the bed- ticks, and threw the feathers into %e 
 liiv Tliis made them sport enough. Nc^JJIi 
 
 ley ftdl to mq^nifest their infernal gmtifiica- 
 
 w-r 
 
38 
 
 BUENING OF 
 
 !-■ it 
 
 tioti by ihviY tartareaii shouts, and disingonu- 
 012S rend net. 
 
 Mrs. Stevens entreated them to let her have 
 some (lothes for herself and chihl ; but her 
 entreaties were in yain. Tiiey were deaf to 
 the calls (if the needy ; and disre:;arded the 
 demands (if justia*. Her cries reached their 
 ears, but nothing could excite one single glow 
 of sympathy. Her destitute and sulfering 
 condition ^vas plain before their eyes, but they 
 were blind to objects of compassion Alas!'| 
 -- what bitterness of soul ; what anguish ; what 
 Jieart rending pangs of fear, distressed her 
 tender bosom ! Surrounded by these pitiless, 
 terriffic monsters in human shape, with lier lit- 
 tle ofl"spring in her arms, whose piercing 
 shrieks and tender age called for compassion ; 
 exposed to the raging fire of savage jealousy, 
 unquenchable by a mother's tears ; anxious f jr 
 the safety, and mourning the absence of her 
 bosom friend, the husband of lier youth ; it is 
 beyond the powers of imagination to conceive, 
 or language to express the sorrows of her 
 heart 1 
 
 Ai|jrfjpf moment securely reposing in the 
 arms W^Bep, with her darling infant at her 
 breast ; tte next, amid a savage crew, whose 
 wicked ^^TOtids were employed in sprei^ding 
 desolation and mischief ; whose mortal rage, 
 exposed her to the arrows of death ! After 
 plundering the house, they told Mrs. Steveu«, 
 to ^^ begone or they would burn/' She had 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 JBb: 
 
 ^9 
 
 been afraid to make any attempt to escape ; 
 but now gladly embraced the opportunity.— 
 She hastened into tlie adjacent wilderness 
 carrying her child^ where she taWied till the 
 Indiiui^s had left tUe toAvn. - 
 
 *^ Slrana:er« to want ! can ye, presumptuous say, 
 
 Nu ciuud> shall rise to overcast your day ? 
 
 Time past hath prov'd how fleet in* riches are, •»* 
 
 I'iine future to thi« trafh may witnej*!* bear^ 
 
 Hy means no liuinau v^i^dotu can i'<^re!iee, 
 
 Or power prevent, a suddea chan?;e may be ; 
 
 War in iss route may pluarfer ail your store i 
 
 And leave you frieudless, desolate and poor." 
 
 NOYES. 
 
 A boy })y the name of Daniel Waller, a- 
 bout fourteen years old, who lived with Gen. 
 Stevens, hearing the alarm given by Mr. Ha- 
 vens, set out immediately to go to the Gener- 
 al, and give him the information. He had 
 proceeded about half a mihi, when lie met the 
 Indians, was takeia pri.^oner, and carried to 
 Canada. 
 
 They left the house and barn of Gen- 
 eral Stevens in flames, ami proceeded up the 
 river as far as Mr. Uurkee's, where they took 
 two of his boys prisoners^ Adan and Andrew, 
 and carried the former to Canada, who died 
 there in prison. ^ 
 
 Seeing a smoke arise abo,ve the trees in 
 the woods adjacent, the hostile luv4,(lfr« di- 
 Lfecied tiieir course to the sggt, wfeej^, they 
 * id a young man by tiie* name of \Priace 
 
f4 
 
 
 1 
 
 h 4 
 
 ■ 
 
 30 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 ,f , 
 
 Haskell, busily engaeied in chopping for the 
 commencement of 41 settlement. Haskell heard 
 a rustling among i\\.\ leaves behind him, and 
 turning around beheld two Indians, but a few 
 feet from liim. One stood with his gun point- 
 ed directly at him, and the other in the atti- 
 tude of throwing a tomaliawk. Finding lie 
 had no chance to escape, he delivered himself 
 up as a prisoner, and was also carried to Can- 
 ada. He returned in about one year, after en- 
 during the most extreme sufferings, in his wan- 
 derings through {\\Q wilderness, on his way 
 homo. 
 
 A Mr. Chafee, who lived at the house of 
 Mr. Hendee, started eai*ly in the morning to 
 go to the house of Mr. Elias Curtis to get his 
 horse shod. On liis way he saw Mr. John 
 Kent ahead of him, who was upon the same bu- 
 siness. Wishing to put in his claim before 
 Mr. Chafc^.e, he rode very fast, and arrived at 
 the house first. He had scarcely dismounted 
 fi'ora his horse, when the Indians came out of 
 the liouse, took him by tlie hair of his head, 
 and pulled him over backwards. Seeing this, 
 Mr. Chafee immediately dismounted, jumped 
 behind thg^op, hastened away, keeping such 
 a directiorf as would csiuse the shop to hide his 
 retreat. Thus he kept out (f sight of tlie In- 
 dians, effected his escape, and returned to' the 
 house if M;\ ilcndee. On receiving tho a- 
 larm given ])y Mr. Chafee, Mr. Hendee di- 
 rected his Aviie to take her little boy about 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 31 
 
 seven years old, tand her little daughter, who 
 was still younger, and hasten to one of their, 
 neighhors for safety, while he should go to 
 Iktiiel, tlic town west of Royalton, and give 
 the alarm at the fort. 
 
 Mrs. Hendee, had not proceeded far, when 
 slie was raet by several Indians upon the rnn, 
 wlio took her little l)oy from her. Feeling 
 anxious for tiie f ite of her child, she enquired 
 what they were going to-do with him. They 
 replied tliat they should niake a soldier of him^ 
 aiul theai hastened awaV, pulling him along by 
 the hand, leaving the weeping mother with 
 her little daughter, to witness the scene^ and 
 hear the piercing shrieks of her darling son. 
 
 This leads me to notice one instance of fe- 
 male heroism, blended with benevolence, dis- 
 played by Mrs. Ilcndee, whose name de- 
 serves ever lu be held in remembrance by ev^ 
 cry friend of liumanity. 
 
 She was noAV separated from her husband, 
 and placed in the midst of a savage crew, who 
 w ere committing the most horrid depredations, 
 and destroying every kind of property that 
 fell within their grasp. Defenceless, and ex- 
 posed to the shafts of envy, or the rage of a 
 company of despicable tories and brutal sav- 
 ages, the aiHicted mother, rol)hed of her only 
 son, 'proceeded down the river, with her ten- 
 der little daugliter hanging to her clothes, 
 jcreaming with fear, pleading with her moth* 
 er to keep away the Indian* ! 
 
t/ 
 
 ' : 
 
 -1 
 
 ■1(1' 
 
 I 
 
 f 
 
 S% 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 Irt tliis condition, posscssini!; nncornmon res- 
 olution, and ^Tcat presence of mind^ she deter- 
 mined a^-iiin to e;et possession of her son. As 
 she passed down the ri>er^ she met several to- 
 ries who Mere willi the Indians, of whom 
 she continued to inquire what they inten- 
 ded to do witii the children they had taken, 
 and received an answer that they should 
 kill them. Still determined not to part with 
 her son, she passed on, and soon discovered a 
 large body of Indians, stationed on the oppo- 
 site side of the river. Wishing to find the 
 commanding officer, and supposing him to be 
 there, she set out cross the river, and 
 fust as she arrived at the bank, an old 
 Indian si:eppe€l ashore. He could not talk 
 English, but requested by signs to know^ where 
 she was going. She siguititid that she was go- 
 ing to cross, when he, suj)posing she intended 
 to deliver herself up to tlieni as a prisoner, 
 kindly oifered to carry liev and her child across 
 on his back ; but she refased to be carried. — 
 He then insisted upon carrying her child, to 
 which she consented. The little girl cried, and 
 said, '^ she did^it want to ride the old Indian.'' 
 She was h. wever persuaded to ride the old 
 Indian, and they all set out to ford the river. 
 
 Having proceeded about half way across, 
 they came to deeper and swifter water, and 
 the old Indian, patting the mother upon the 
 shoulder, gave her to understand that if she 
 would tarry upon a rock near them; which was 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 S8: 
 
 )nsoner. 
 
 vM cov(M*e(l witli Wilder, till lio bad cnrried hor 
 ( liilil over, he v/oulil return and carry her al- 
 so. She tlieiof)rc stopped, and sat upon the 
 iogU till he had trlrrl^Ml her daughter and set 
 ife upon the opposite shore; when he returned 
 and took her upon his hack, lugi^ed her over, 
 and safely landed iver witii her cliild. 
 
 Hupported hy a consciousness (;f tl c justice 
 of her cause, braving every dani^er and haz- 
 arding the most drcadfal consequences, not ex- 
 cepting her own life and that of her children, 
 she now sat out to accomplish her ol)ject. 
 
 Slie hastened to tiie Commanding Officer, and 
 l)Oldly inquired of him what he intended to do 
 with her child. He told her that it was con- 
 tpary to orders to injure women or cliildren.— 
 ^^ Sucii boys as should be taken, he said, would 
 be trained for soldiers, and w^ould not be hiu't.'^ 
 
 You know said she, in reply, that these lit- 
 tle ones cannot endure the fatii^ues of a march 
 through tlie vast extent of wilderness, which 
 you are calculating to pass. And when their 
 trembling limbs shall fail to support their fee- 
 ble bodies, and they can no longer go, the 
 tomahawk and tlie scalping knife will be the 
 onfy relief you will afford them ! Insteatl of' 
 falling into a mother's arms, aud receiving a 
 mother's tender care, you will yield thcfti into 
 the arms of death, and earth m;ust Be Iheir 
 [>illow, where the howling wilderness shall be 
 shelter — trulv a shelter, from a moth- 
 
 Ay 
 
 i^'\ 
 
 efs tears, but not from the jaw^ qf wil4 
 
55» 
 
 M 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 bcnsls, nor a parentis gi*icf. And give mc 
 leave to tell you, added she, were you possess- 
 ed of a parent's love — could you feel the an- 
 guish of a mother's heart, at the loss ^f her 
 ^* first bom," her darling son, torn from her 
 bosom, by tlie wicked hands of savage men, 
 no entreaties would be required to obtain the 
 release of my dear child! 
 
 Ilorton replied that the Indians were an un- 
 governable race, and would not be persuaded 
 to give up any thing they should see fit to 
 take. 
 
 You are their commander, continued she, and 
 they must and will obey you. The curse will 
 fall upon you, for whatever crime they may com- 
 mit, and all the innocent blood they shall here 
 shed, will be found in your skirts " when the 
 secrets of men's hearts shall be made known 5" 
 and it will then cry for vengeance on your 
 head ! 
 
 Melted into tears at this generoiis display of 
 maternal affection, the infamous destroyer felt 
 a relenting in his bosom, bowed his head un- 
 der the weight of this powerful eloquence and 
 simple boldness of the brave heroine : and 
 assured her that he would deliver her child up, 
 w hen the Indians arrived w ith him. Tlie par- 
 ty who took him had not yet returned. V/hen 
 he arrived, Hoi'ton, w ith much difficulty, pre- 
 vailed on the Indians to deliver him up. iJ'ter 
 slie had gained possession of him, she set out, 
 l:iadin5 him and her little fi;irl, by the haad^ 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 89 
 
 and hastened away witli speed, while the min- 
 ^\ed sensations of fear, joy and ^^'atitude, lill- 
 cd her bosom. She had not ,£;one more than 
 ten rods, when Ilorton followed, and told her 
 to ^0 back, and stay till the scoulinc; parties 
 had returned, lest they should au;ain take her 
 boy from lier. She accovdin2;ly returned and 
 tarried with the Indians till tliey all arrived 
 and started for (*anft<la. While slie was there, 
 several (,f her neii^hbor's ci/ildren, about the 
 same ajrc of her own, were brousrlit there as 
 captives. Posstssin:^- benevolence equal to her 
 cuunia;e, she now made plIi f ^r the in, and, by 
 her v,arm and aftectionate ei!ireati?s. succeed- 
 ed in procuring their releare. While she 
 waited for their departure, sittin;^ v]wn a pile 
 cf bo<irds, Mith the little objects of charity a- 
 round her, holdin*^ fast to her clothes, Avith 
 tiietr clieeks wet with tears, an old Indian came 
 and t(mk her son by the hand R>nd endeavored 
 to i^et him away. Slve refused *to let him go, 
 and held him fast bv the other hand, till the 
 savage monster, violently waved his cu'lass 
 over her head, and the piercing shrieks tf her 
 beloved child filled the air. This exci- 
 ted the rage, of the barbarous crew, so much 
 as to endanger her own, and the life of the 
 children around her, and compelled her to 
 j4eld him into hisr hands. She again made^ 
 known hei* giievances to Horton, when, after 
 considerable altercittion with the Indians, he 
 obtained ber son and delivered him to her ^ 
 
 
i 
 
 r 
 I 
 
 
 I ' 
 
 |%<i l;i| 
 
 i.t 
 
 
 i 
 
 >! 
 
 •I 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 l^UllNINO OF 
 
 jsiecoiul tiinp ; tlioui:;h \ur mi^iit he said to <• tVi^i | 
 not Ood, iioi* itjl; ird niiin.'' Thus, liko thr 
 iin|)(H'tiinato widow uho •* tmnhled tlie u!iju«i| 
 iiidire,*' this vonnu; woinnir'^-. ohtiiiried tho, it- 
 loMse of ni!i(' small hoy\ tVoiiia wieUhed cap 
 tivity, which don!)th^ss would luive provrdi 
 thrir doath I Hlic led evj;ht of tiicm away^ to 
 f^elher with her danii;hter, all hauging to hcij 
 own clt)thes, and to each othti*, mutually rt- 
 joiidng at their deliverance. The other, whosel 
 name w.js Andrew Duikie, whom the Indians 
 liad carried to tht' house cf Mr. Havens, wr.sl 
 there released accoidinu; to the ai!;reement ofl 
 llorton with Mrs. llendee, and scut hack, m\ 
 account of his himencss* 
 
 Eeine: told t!iat the a;reat bone in his lesrhMl! 
 been taken out, iji con^ieciuence of a fever .soi'(\ 
 an old Indian examined it, and (tied out "' m 
 boon/ eVo ^'0 J*' and "Mvinij: him a blanket anil 
 a hatchet, sent him back* 
 
 Mrs. Ilendee carried tw o of the children a! 
 cross the river on her back, one at a time, anill 
 the others waded throus;ii the water, with theiij 
 arms around each other's neck. After cross] 
 
 ma; 
 
 the river, she traveled about three 
 
 miles w ith them, and encamped for the niglit 
 ^^ gathering; tliem around her as a hen gather] 
 
 eth her chickens under her wins'Si" Tk 
 
 ■ 
 
 names of the children who were indebted tq 
 her for their release from the saviage tnbej 
 
 *Mrs. Ilcndce naitat this tiiueoged^? jeitri* 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 37 
 
 were Mi<4iacl Iloiulce, Roswcll Parkhurst, 
 son of Capt. Elieiiezer ParkliursU Andrew 
 and Sheldon Durkee, Joseph Rix, Rufus and 
 
 Fish, Niitlianiel Evans, and Daniel 
 
 Downer. The latter ret eived such an affright 
 from the horrid crew, tliat he was ever after- 
 wards unahle to take care of himself, wholly 
 unfit for husiness : and lived for many years, 
 w andering from place to place, a solemn, tho* 
 silent witness of the distress and horror of 
 that dreadful scene. 
 
 Mrs. Hendce, now (1818) lives in Sharon, 
 where the autlior visited her, and received the 
 foregoing statement of this noble exploit from 
 her own month. It is also corroborated by sev- 
 eral gentlemen now living, who were eye- 
 witnesses. 
 
 She has buried her first, and second hus- 
 band ; and now lives a widow, by the name of 
 Moshier. Her daj's are alniovi goiie. ,May 
 her declining years be crowned w ith the re- 
 ward due to her youthful deeds of benevo- 
 lence. She has faced the most aw ful dangers 
 for the good of mankind, and rescued many 
 from the jaws of death ! 
 
 In view of the ex'^'^'^'^ing riches of that 
 
 jrcy which has protected her through such 
 ||1. of danger, may she devote her life to 
 "^l^ice of the Mighty Ood, and, ft last, 
 
 id a happy seat at the right hand of Blm^ 
 *^ who gave himself a rausom for all.'^ And 
 thus let the children, who are indebted to lier 
 
 D 
 
If 
 
 \\l 
 
 .1 . 
 
 ' ii'"i 
 M 
 
 
 I 
 
 ! 
 t 
 
 ri 
 
 
 I 
 
 (' 'I; 
 
 |) ft '' 
 
 38 
 
 buhning of 
 
 bravery urid benevolence, for theirlives, ^' iis« 
 up and call her blessed.^' Gratkude forbids 
 their silence. For, to materiml aflection and 
 female heroism alone, under God, they owe 
 their deliverance fiom savage cruelty. The 
 boldest hero of the other sex, could never 
 htive effected what she accomplished. His 
 approach tc the savage tribe to intercede in 
 behalf of those defenoiiess children, most 
 surely would have brought upon himself 
 a long and wretched captiviy. and perhaps 
 even death it:elf! 
 
 The Indians having accomplished their ne- 
 fariotis designs, returned to the house cf Mr. 
 Havens^ wUh their piisoner>2, and tlie plun- 
 der of houses whicli they had devoted to dc- 
 stmction^ Here was the place where they had 
 commenced their ravages. The old man, as 
 before observed, havij-j^ concealed himself un- 
 der a h>g, at the time he espied tlie Indians in j 
 the morning, while hunting for ]iis sheep, still 
 remained in sorro^\lal silence undiscovered. — 
 He had considered it unsafe to move, as a parity 
 01 the crew had coi^tinued there during the 
 dav, and had twice come and stood uplto the 
 log, under wliich he lay, without Jli^inj 
 
 After collecting the ir plunder toj 
 distributing it among them, tliff,y 
 li^use and barn of Mr. HaA^n%^' a3^ 
 for Canada. It w.'^s now about fe 
 th«j- sfternoon. 13bey earned life 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 39 
 
 prisoners from Royaltoii, who were all deliv- 
 ered up to ttie British, as prisoners of war. 
 
 They all obtained their release and returned 
 in about one year, excepting Adan Durkee, 
 who died in camp at Montreal. 
 
 Twenty one dwelling houses, and sixteen 
 good new barns, well filled with hay and grain, 
 the hard earnings of industrious young farmers, 
 were here laid in ashes, by the impioua crew. 
 They killed about one hundred and fifty head 
 of neat cattle, and all the sheep and sw ine they 
 found. Hogs, iii their pens, and cattle tied 
 in their st^s, were burnt aliye. They de3- 
 troyed all We household furniture, except what 
 they carried with them. They burnt the house 
 of Mr. John Hutchinson, and giving his wife 
 a hatchet, a,nd a flint, together with a quarter 
 of mutton, told her to ^^ go and cook for her 
 men.'^ This, they said to aggravate her feel^ 
 ings, and remind her of her forlorn condition. 
 
 Women and children w ere left entirely 
 destitute of food, and every kind of article 
 n^cea^ary for the comforts of life ; almost na^ 
 k^dj ilnd without a shelter. Wandering from 
 place to place, they beheld their cattle roiling 
 m ihw blood, groaning in the agonies of 
 c^eatht'and saw their hou 3s laid in ruins. — 
 ])i3cD^n$oIa|e mothers bnd w^inhs^^cS^han^i. 
 
 wcmleft 
 
 wtlameoti 
 
 comfortI< 
 
 through the drla^I waste, 
 \6m of their iieai'iBsf "friends, 
 ^'M^lorn. . / 
 
 away about thirty horses^ 
 
w 
 
 I 
 
 K 
 
 '1i 
 
 il I 
 
 I 
 
 
 ,;.. 
 
 40 
 
 BURNING OF 
 
 Avhidi were howcvev of little use to them, but 
 rather served to hinder their progress. Their 
 baggage was composed of almost every article 
 commonly found among farmers ; such as axes, 
 and hoes, pots, kettles, shovels and tongs, 
 sickles, scythes, and chains ; old side saddles, 
 and bed-ticks emptied of their feathers, warm- 
 ing pans, plates and looking-glasses, and in- 
 deed nearly all kitids of articles, necessary 
 for the various avocations of life. 
 
 On their return, they crossed the hills, in 
 Tunbridge, lying west of fir^ branch, and 
 proceeded to Randolph, where the{e?encamp- 
 cd for the first night, near the second branch, 
 a distance of about tan miles. Tliey had, 
 however, previously dispatched old Mr. Knee- 
 land, a prisoner whom they considered would 
 be oi the least service to them, with letters 
 to the militia, stating that, ^^ if they were not 
 followed, the prisoners should be used well — 
 but should they be pursued, every one of them 
 would be put to death,'' 
 
 The alarm had by this time spread thro' the 
 adjacent towns, and the scattering, undisciplin- 
 ed militia, shouldered their muskets, and has- 
 tened to pursue them. They collected dt th^ 
 house of Mr. Evans in Randolph, about tw^ ^ 
 miles south of the encampment of thelndiaui^r 
 Here they formed a company, cofksisting of a- 
 bout three hundred in number, and ma^^ 
 choice of Col. John House, «fHiiaLDver,N. 
 H. for their commander. They :i^ 
 
 V 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 41 
 
 thefndians had gone to Brookfield^ about tea 
 miles froia that place^ up the second branch* 
 With this expectation they took up their march 
 about twelve o'clock at night, hoping thev 
 should be able to reach Brookfteld/ before ligh^ 
 and make them prisoners. They had scarcer 
 ly started, when the American front guard, 
 to their utter surprise, were fired upon by the 
 rear guard of the enemy. Several fires were 
 exchanged, and one of the Americans 
 wounded, when Col. H j through coward- 
 ice, or waiit of skill, commanded them to halt, 
 and cease firing. He then ordered them to 
 make a stand, and kept them in suspense till 
 t^i. Indiaillniad made their escape. To has- 
 ! . i,heir flight, the savage tribe were compell- 
 ed to leave at their encampment a considera- 
 ble quantity of their plunder ; nearly all of the 
 horses, and made good their retreat. 
 
 Here they killed two of the prisoners, by 
 the name of Joseph Kneeland, and Giles Gibbs. 
 The former was found dead, with his scalp ta- 
 ken oif, v*«.n4 the latter with a tomahawk in 
 his he»?1. 
 
 I At 5*r -ight. Col. H^ courageously en- 
 tered tk^ '} jserted camp, and took poss6iision 
 of the spo;i, but alas, the enemy were gone, 
 he knew not where ! Urged by his Jrave sol- 
 diers, who were disgusted at his conduct, he 
 ^Icd up the second branch as far as 
 rkfield in pursuit of the enemy, and not 
 them; ^di^banded hU men and returne4. 
 
4S 
 
 BURNINft OF 
 
 1 *, i 
 
 Had Col. H-— possessed courage and skill 
 adequate to the duties of his station^ he might 
 have defeated the enemy^ it is thought, without 
 the least difficulty, t^nd made them all pris- 
 oners. His number was equal to that of the 
 enemy, well armed with muskets and furnish- 
 ed with ammunition. The enemy, though fur- 
 nished with muskets, had little ammunition, and 
 , were cumbered with the weight of much guilt, 
 and a load of plunder. Tiiey had encamped upon 
 a spot of ground which gave the Americans all 
 the advantage, and their only safety rested in 
 their flight. Ti. ' *^nerican force ^nsisted of 
 undisciplined militia , who promiscuously as- 
 sembled from diflFerent quarters, but were full 
 of courage, animated by the principles of jus- 
 tice^ and determined to obtain redress for the 
 injuries they had received from the barbarous 
 crew. ^ 
 
 Many of them likewise had friends and 
 connexions, then in possession of the Indians, 
 ♦o obtain whose freedom, they were stimulated 
 to action. But alas! their determination failed, 
 their hopes were blasted 1 They were forcef 
 to relinquish the object, and suffer their friend! 
 to pass on, and enditre a wretched captivity.— 
 They however forced the Indians to leave the 
 stream, and take their course over the hills, 
 between the second and third branch, which 
 brought them directly, and unexpectedly, to 
 the house of Zadock ^tede, whom they utaie 
 ^prisoner; and took to (^fda. 
 
ROYALTON. 
 
 14 
 
 To Ilia ^^eaptivity and sufferings/' as rela- 
 ted by himself^ in the following pages, the 
 reader is referred for a further account of the 
 expedition of the Indians^ and its dreadful 
 consequences. 
 
 V 
 
 « 
 
HP 
 
 i: I 
 
 Ws 
 
 W{< 
 
 
 **■• 
 
 ",■ v:-; 
 
 ■:V 
 
 «Pr: 
 
4-X •' 
 
 INDIAN CAPTIVE. 
 
 
 
 '; ti 
 
 > ;, 
 
 BEFORE the mind of the indulgent 
 [eader is engaged in a perusal of the suffer- 
 ugs of my maturer years, it may not be im- 
 proper to direct the attention to scenes of na- 
 pvity and youth. 
 
 The day of my birth, and the events which 
 
 ranspired to bring upon me the miseries I 
 
 lave undergone, will not be uninteresting, I 
 
 liink, to those who may feel disposed to read 
 
 le following pages. 
 
 As in the evening of a tempestuous day^ 
 
 ith solemn yet pleasing emotions, we look back 
 
 m the dangers through which we have been 
 
 ^reserved; so, when man has passed through 
 
 Icenes of fatigue ; endured the hardships 
 
 |f a savage captivity, as well as the pains of 
 
 prison, and again obtained his freedom } it 
 
 a source of pleasuve to cause those scenes 
 
 pass in review before his imaginatiottj and 
 
 [annot fail to excite his gratitude to the ^wer 
 
 "lat afforded him relief. ' t 
 
 I was born at Tolland, Connecticut, on tlie 
 [7th day of Decetnber, A. D. 1758. Itt f 77« 
 ly father, James Steele, Esq. moved froi^T 
 ^olland to Ellington, a town adjoining, yfh&ti 
 
'"''III' 
 
 I"; 
 
 I'lOn 
 
 'iii' 
 
 <:■* 
 
 i: \ 
 
 
 4« 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 
 he kept a house of entertainment several years. 
 During the years of my childhood, the Amer- 
 ican Colonies were put in commotion^ hy what 
 is generally termed the French war. 
 
 The colonies had hardly recovered from the 
 convulsions of that war, when tlie American 
 revolution commenced. My father had been 
 actively engaged in the former war, and 
 now received a Lieutenant's commission, in 
 the revolutionary army. The importance of 
 the contest, in which the colonies were enga- 
 ged, called upon every friend to the rights 
 of man, to be actively employed. Being in 
 my eighteenth year, in May 177^^ I enlisted 
 into the army for one year, as waiter to my fath- 
 er. Soon after I enlisted, he was visited with 
 a severe fit of sickness, which prevented him 
 from entering the army, and compelled me to 
 go into the ranks, leaving him behind. My 
 two older brothers, Aaron and James, also en- 
 listed the saine year. Aaron died in March 
 following, at Chatham, New-Jersey, in the 
 twenty tlurd year of liis age. Bereft of a 
 brother whom I held dear, after serving the 
 term of my enlistment, I j^eturiied to Elling- 
 ton. ^ 
 
 TJi^. next ycar^j^ I served one campaign in 
 the militia, and the year following as a team- 
 ster, which closed my services in the army.— 
 I was now about nineteen years of agf^* I 
 h^ been, favored with very, little oppcHrtunity, 
 SL§ yet| to acquire aji educatiim ; as r%^ inf^n- 
 
 
CAPTIVK. 
 
 47 
 
 lilc state ot the colonies, and the agitation of 
 public affairs, at that tinu^ aftbrdcd little en- 
 couragement to schools, and caused a univer- 
 sal depression of literature in general. 
 
 I however acquired an education, sufficient 
 to enable me to transact the business of a farm- 
 er, and regulate my own concerns, in my in- 
 tercourse with mankind. But long have I 
 deeply regretted tlie want of that knowledge 
 of letters, requisite to prepare lor the press, a 
 narrative i^f my own sulVerings, and those of 
 my fellow captives, which should be read 
 with interest, and rccei\ e the approbation of 
 an indulgent (ni];iic. 
 
 f !No hope of pecuniary gain^ or wish to 
 bring myself into public noiice, has induced 
 me to publish a narrative (f my suilerings. — 
 A desire that otJier?:, as Vv ( 11 as myself, might 
 learfi wisdom from i e things I have suflercd, 
 is the principal cause of its publication. The 
 repeated instances of my deliveraiice from 
 tlireatened death, in which the ilni!;er of God 
 was visible, call fur the deepest gratitute, and 
 have made an impression upon my mind, which, 
 I trust, will remain, as long as the powers cf 
 my recollectioti shall endure. 1 was sensible it 
 might also furnish a lesson of instruction to 
 my fellow men, and to future generations, du- 
 duly to prize the privileges, and blessings, 
 they may enjoy, by observing the dreadful con- 
 trast, which i^ brought to view jtn this narrative. 
 
 I^sirable, however, as it Mglit be, I had 
 
 . 
 
 ■y 
 
 ' /i 
 
i 
 
 \y< 
 
 •ri 
 
 I' 
 
 Ml 
 
 r 1 ■. 
 I'' I ' 
 
 i% 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 long since relinquished all idea of ever seeing 
 an account of my .suflerin2;s in print. But bjl 
 the earnest solicitations, and friendly, tliougl 
 feelde as.sistance of otiiers, I have thought lij 
 at this late period of my life, yet ^\m 
 humble defference to the good sense of an cnj 
 lightened public, to give a short narrative ol 
 what I have endured, in common with many oi 
 my fellow men, who were my fellow prison] 
 ■crs. 
 
 Among tlie evils resulting from the destruc] 
 lion of lloyalton, my own captivity was fail 
 from being the least. That event was tli 
 precursor of all my sorrows — the fountain froi 
 which sprang streams of Mietchednes an^ 
 want. Nor will the channel be forgot tei 
 though the imaging flood cease to roll. AJ 
 small streams are sw allowed up by larger ones] 
 so, many serious, and^ jre trials, are doubtlesj 
 lost in (hat dreadful current of distress, througl 
 which I was called to pass. 
 
 The attention of the reader, is, liowevei 
 requested to a simple statement of facts, as thej 
 occur to my mind, while I relate the circura] 
 stances of my captivity by the Indians ; tlJ 
 treatment I received from them ; my privation! 
 while a prisoner to the British ; my wonder! 
 ful escape from their hands, and extremj 
 suflerings in the wilderness on my way homelpj. 
 Truth will not easily peimit, nor have lanlgj^ 
 desire, to enlarge or exaggerate, upon the thins ^^ 
 I suffered. Guided by the piinciplcs of juslg^ 
 
 > \ 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 49 
 
 tice, and wisliin^ no ill to any man, or sot of 
 men, I hope I shall not be found disposed to 
 calumniate or reproarli. 
 
 It is not my intention to speak of any imli- 
 vidual or nation, with less respect than is due 
 to their true character and conduct. - 
 
 I shall, however, be under the necessity of 
 noticing many cruelties that were inflicted up- 
 on the prisoners, by men, who enjoyed the 
 advantages of civilization, which were suffi- 
 cient to put the rudest savage to the blush. 
 
 But the long lapse of time, and the eflect-i 
 of old age, have, no doubt, blotted from my 
 memory, incidents which would liave been no 
 less, and perhaps more interesting, and instruc- 
 tive, than many circumstances which I shall 
 ])e able to recollect. This, together with the 
 inexperience of the writer, must be the only 
 apology for the imperfections of the following 
 pages. 
 
 In April, 1780, being in my twenty second 
 year, I starred from my father's hjjf^ise, in El- 
 lington, leaving all my friends and relatives, 
 and came to Randolph, in the State of Vermont, 
 a town south of Brookfleld, a distance of near- 
 ly two hundred miles. I there purchased a 
 I right of ^land, lying in the north part^of the town, 
 on which was a log-house, and V little im- 
 provement. Suffering the privations and hard- 
 ships common to those who dwell in new coun- 
 im»y I spent the siipmer in dilligent labour, 
 subsi&rting npon ratlier coarse fere, and sup- 
 
 E 
 
 :^ 
 
 I 
 
'Ill 
 
 00 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 I 
 
 'l',^ i !. 
 
 ported by the fond hopes of soon experiencing 
 better days. 
 
 The young man who drove my team from 
 Connecticut, with provisions, farming utensils, 
 &c. labored witli me through tlie summe*-^ and 
 fall season, till October, m hen he returned to 
 Ellington, just in time to escape the danger of 
 being taken by the Indians. 
 
 A small settlement had commenced in the 
 south- Avesterly part of Uandolph. on the third 
 branch of White River, about six miles from 
 my own settlement. A little settlement had 
 also commenced on the second branch of the 
 same river, in Brook field, in the easterly part 
 of the town, and at about an equal distance 
 from my abode. As tliere were in Randolph 
 a number of families situated in di He rent parts 
 of the town, and our country being engaged 
 in a War, which rendered our frontier settle- 
 ments exposed to the ravages af an exaspera- 
 ted foe, we had taken the necessary precau- 
 tion to establish alarm posts, by Avhich we, 
 might announce to each other tlie appro:u.h of 
 an enemy. 
 
 But our Brookfield brethren, though in a 
 town adjoining, were beyond the hearing of 
 the report of our alarm guns. 
 
 On the Kith day cf October, Ave were ap- 
 prized of the arrival of the Indians at Royal- 
 ton, a town about ten miles south of Randolph. 
 They entered that town o|||(he moriiiiig of. the 
 
 takiag 
 
 
 I6th. and were committilig ravages. 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 51 
 
 And killing the inhabitants^ sparing the lives 
 of none whom they could overtake in an at- 
 tempt to esca^ie ; destroy in;;; property, hurning 
 all the huildin^H that they discovered , killing 
 the cattle^ pillaging the houtsen^ and taking 
 captives. 
 
 It waji expected they would follow up cither 
 the second or third branch, on their return to 
 Canada, as these two branches run to the 
 south, and nearly parallel to each other; the 
 former ijf which empties itself into the river at 
 lloyalton, and the latter a few miles west. 
 
 I was employed during the l(5fch day, till 
 nearly night, in assisting the settlers on tlic 
 third branch in Randjnlph, to move their fam- 
 ilies and ellV.cts into the woods, s oh a dis- 
 tance as was tliO'.i!i;ht would render them safe, 
 dhould the Itulians pursue that stream up^ on 
 their return. 
 
 I then requested that some one of them 
 should accompany me to go and notiify the 
 lirookfield settlers of their danger. * Being 
 unable to persuade any to go with me, I start- 
 ed alone. I had only time to arrive at my 
 own dwelling^ which was on my direct course, 
 before I was overtaken by the approach of 
 night. As there was no road, and nothing but 
 marked trees to guide ray way, I tarried all 
 m|^t. Having prepared some food for break- 
 fast,' I lay downjo sleep, little knowing what 
 awaited 
 
 my 
 
 dfgr» on the mo 
 
 
 At the dawn of 
 f the ITth, I set out to 
 
 y> 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
!''!!■ 
 
 5S 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 m 
 
 
 prosecute the object for which I started^ thou<;li 
 in a violent tempest, attended with snow. 
 I had not proceeded far, before the storm 
 greatly increased, Avhich I found would 
 not only much endani^er my life, but so 
 retard my proi;;ress, that 1 could not arrive in 
 time seasonably to warn my friends of their dan- 
 ger, or escape myeelf fiom the hands of the 
 enemy, should they fyllovv tiiG second branch, 
 instead of tlie thiro. I therefore returned to 
 my house. Soon after I arrived v/ithin doors, 
 filled with anxiety for the unsuspecting inhab- 
 itants oi Brookfield, I heard a shocking cry 
 in the surrounding woods ; and trembling for 
 my own safety — 1 ran to the door, when, to 
 my utter astonisliment, (and the reader may 
 judge my feelings) I belield n conipiiny of In- 
 dians, consisting of not less than three hun- 
 dred in number, not ten rods disttint, ap- 
 proaching with ^ hideous cries and frightful 
 yells ! 
 
 ^' O how unlike the chorus of the skies.'' 
 
 There was no way of escape. I had oiJy 
 to stand still, wait their approach, ami receive 
 my miserable destiny. Indeed I cmild now 
 «ay with David, ^^ the sorrows of death conx? 
 passed me, and the floods of ungodly men 
 made me afraid, '' I had ro where to flee but 
 to the ^* great F«'eservcr o^^en, who was my 
 only hiding-fiace^^^ ^^ m^P)odness, and my 
 
■wp 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 03 
 
 forti3ss; my liish tower, and my deliverer; 
 my shield, and he in whom I trust '' 
 
 ^^ They came upon me as a wide breaking of 
 waters : in the desolation tliey rolled them- 
 selves upon me.'^ 
 
 Their leader came up, and told me I musi 
 go y/Uh them. They asked me if any other 
 persons were to be found near that place ; I 
 i ♦Id them it was probable there were none to 
 be found. They then enquired if any cat- 
 tle were near, to which I answered in the 
 negative. But they seemed to choose rather to 
 take the tix)uble to search, than to confide in 
 what I told them. 
 
 After taking every thing they found worthy ta 
 carry with them, and destroying all that was 
 not iikely to suffer injury by Sre, they set the 
 house on fire, and marched on. One of them 
 took a bag of grass seed upon his back, and 
 cutting a hole in the bag, scattered the seed 
 as he marciicd, v* hich took root, stocked the 
 grouna, and was for many years a sad me- 
 mento of my long captivity^ 
 
 The chief, who came up to mc, could talk 
 English very well^ which was a circumstance 
 much in my favor, as he became my inaster, 
 under which name I shall have frequent occa- 
 sion to speak of hii^ in the course of this nar- 
 rative. 
 
 They took al^|^ clothes, not^^^o^pting 
 the best I hadaHKpiid distributed ti\em a* 
 mongst thcmselvei^jrhey however furnigJied 
 
 E? r 
 
'WT* '^' 
 
 94i 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 L;ii''l 
 
 M; 
 
 'I <i 
 
 me with blankets sufficient to defend against 
 the cold, but deprived me of my own proper- 
 ty ; the bitter consequences of which, I felt in 
 my subsequent confinement with the British, 
 and on my return to resume my settlement, at 
 Randolph. 
 
 The Indians had encamped, tlie night pre- 
 ceding, on the second branch in Randolph, on 
 whilih the Brookfield settlers lived, and npt 
 more than ten miles below them. But during 
 the night, had been put to route by a party of 
 Americans, consisting of about two hundred 
 and fifty in number, wbo wi>re commanded by 
 Col. John House, of Hanover, New-Hamp- 
 shire. To make their escape they left the 
 stream, and took a course which brought 
 them directly to my dwellin,^, 
 
 Hi^d they not been molested, but permitted 
 to pursue their intended course up tlic stream, 
 the defenceless iiiiiabitants of Brookfield, would 
 . doubtles have shared the miserable fate of the 
 inhabitiints of Royal ton; themselves taken 
 prisoners, and doomed to suffer a long and 
 wretchetl captivity ; and their property des- 
 troyed by the devouring element. This pre- 
 veiiition, which, however, was the cause of 
 my captivity, the subject of the following nar- 
 rative, was probr' ^y the only good that Col. 
 H effected ; and this he did unwittingly, 
 
 for which he can claim 
 Soon after we startetl 
 master, who was the p 
 
 nks. 
 my house, my 
 conductor, and 
 
^■"iMip^ 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 0d 
 
 chief of tlie whole tribe, discovered that I had 
 a pair of silver buckles in my shoes, and at- 
 tempted to take them from me, but by prom- 
 ising to let liim have them when wei arrived at • 
 our journey's end, I persuaded him to let me 
 keef) tliem. But we liad not travelled far, be- 
 fore another Indian espied them, and crying 
 oit "Wah stondomra,"' ah there'^s silver / took 
 tliem from me, and furnished me witli strings 
 for my shoes, as substitutes. 
 
 We travelled the first day to Berlin, and 
 encamped on Dog river, not many miles from 
 tilt*, plaqp where Montpelier Village now 
 stands. They built a fire of some rods in 
 length, to which opportunity was aflbrded for 
 all to approach. They then placed sentinels 
 around, wliich rendered it impossible for any 
 one to move unnoticed. But tuis precaution 
 was not sufficient to satis- fy their minds, to pre- 
 vent the escape of their captive prfsoners. — 
 Therefore^ to render oui* escape less t to be 
 effected, as we lay down upon the ground, 
 they tied a rope around our bodies, and ex- 
 tending i; each way, the Indians laid upon it 
 on our right, and on our left, not suffering a^ 
 two prisoners to li© nex,t each otiier. I coutd^ 
 however, crawl so fir out of the rQ§^ as to be 
 aUe to sit upright, but always {baudi^il>me of 
 the Indians sitting up, either to prepure their 
 clothing foilr the fd^^ing day's march, or in- 
 tentionally to se^^B^^^^^^^l guavdiS; imd I 
 
 fo^^ii] 
 
 K. 
 
^6 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 0^3 
 ft 
 
 never found the favored moment when all were 
 at rest. 
 
 As they had told me before we encamped, 
 that if they were overtaken by the Americans, 
 they should kill overy prisoner, I felt the 
 more anxious to make my escape 5 and they 
 seemed, in view pt their danger, more de- 
 sirous to keep us within reach of the toma- 
 hawk, and secure us against a flight, in case 
 fhe Americans should approach. I watched 
 with trembling fear and anxious expectation 
 during the night we lay at Berlin, seeking an 
 opportunity to escape, which I f jund utterly 
 impossible, and looking every moment for the 
 arrival of a company of Americans, whose 
 approach I was assured would be attended 
 with death to every prisoner. 
 
 They compelled many of the prisoners to 
 carry their packs, enormous in size, and ex- 
 tremely heavy, as they were filled with the 
 plunder of pillaged houses, and every thing 
 which attracted their cutiosity, or desire to 
 possess. Looking glasses, which by the inten- 
 tion or carelessness of the prisoners became 
 broken in a short time, \wi^ spiders, frying 
 pans, iHid old side saddles, wliich were sold 
 on their arrival at St. Johns for one dolliHri 
 composed a part of their invaluable baggagc^JJ 
 
 On the morning of the 18th they first orilef * 
 cd me to eat my brea!if^4||||^rging me to * 
 as much as I wanted, \|^^Pori accoi nt of Uk^I 
 loss of their provisionWtT Randolphj^ thjejrj 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 57 
 
 had scarce half an allowance for themselves, 
 I knew not whether to attribute this conduct' 
 to their feelings of charity and generosity, a 
 desire to secure my friendship, or a v/ish ta 
 preserve my life under a prospect of procur- 
 ing gain, or to some other cause. 
 
 Indeed they seemed at all times to be wil- 
 Ihig to " feed the hungry,'^ not even seeing 
 one of the prisoners lei surly to pick a berry 
 by the way, as they passed along, without ofc- 
 ferin^ them food 5 considering this as a token 
 of our hunger. 
 
 Their food, however, was very unsavory, 
 insomuch that nothing but extreme hunger 
 would liave induced me to eat of it, though I 
 always had a share of their best. 
 
 Habituated to a partial coverii>g tliemselves^ 
 land excited by curiosity, they took from me 
 all my best clothes, and g;n^e me blankets in 
 exchange. They of;.en travelled with the ut- 
 most celerity in their power, to try my activi- 
 ty, viewing me with looks of complaicency, 
 |to find me able to keep pace with them. ^ 
 
 We this day passed down Oog River, till 
 I we came to Onion River, into w liich the for- 
 mer empties itself, and then kept the coUFsik <rf 
 the latter during the day, steering near|Jrj^' 
 i()rtli-west direction. At night we came lil^f 
 ?ry steep mountain, wluch wa9;^^trem€3y 
 'ult of access, not far from tjie place, 
 called Bolton^|||the county of ^kitten- 
 IJpoQ the to^Pthis mountain the In* 
 
 'm( 
 
!il|! 
 
 ,'l . .M' 
 
 iU 
 
 ■n'. 
 
 "' 1 
 { i| 
 
 
 ii 
 
 iiii 
 
 1!^ 
 
 i 
 I 
 I 
 
 All 
 
 ll 
 
 
 r^ t 
 
 I' I: 'ill 
 
 % 
 
 I 
 
 58 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 111 
 
 to 
 m 
 
 CI 
 
 (lians^ on their way to Royal ton, bad secre- 
 ted a number of bags of fine fllour, which 
 they brought with them from Canada, and 
 now regained. This greatly replenished their 
 stores, and aflfbrded a full supply of whole- 
 some bread. The manner of making their 
 bread is curious, and exhibits useful instruc- 
 tion, to those who may be called to make their 
 bread in the wildernes, without enjoying the 
 privilege cf household furniture. 
 
 They took theiif dough, wound it around a 
 stick in the form of a screw, stuck it into 
 the ground by the fire, and thus baked 
 tlieir bread, without receiving injury by' t}ieB"\ 
 smoke, or rendering it moi*e filthy than it camel^^^ 
 from their hands. ■^*'i' 
 
 Their fear tliat they should be overtaken byP®^^ 
 the Americans had, by this time, greatly abat-l'^'^w 
 
 ed, and this was considered by the prisoners! ^ 
 gi*ounds for less apprehension of the danger ofi^it 
 being put to death by the Indians. Till now,l^^/< 
 however, it is beyond the power of language J^^^ 
 to express, nor can imagination paint the feel**^ 
 ings of my heart, when, torn from my friends,| 
 and all I held dear on earth, compelled t 
 roam tlie wilderness to unknown parts, ob- 
 Jiged toford rivers and then lie down at nighi| 
 upon the cold ground with scarcely a di 
 thread in my clothes ; having a rope fastenec 
 aiXHind my body ; surr^nded bj &• 6?i]&6 
 savage Indians, from v«fc very fri6||d^t}i 
 could expect nothing ^HilwretcUedaess 
 
 y 
 
 vol 
 
 f I 
 
 es 
 oat 
 t i 
 
 c 
 
 S 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 59 
 
 , 9CCVC- 
 
 wliich 
 la, and 
 eel their 
 ' wliole- 
 theirj 
 
 instruc- 
 ike their I 
 i>ying the] 
 
 around a 
 k it into 
 
 
 luisery ; and whose brutal rage would be sure 
 to prove my death ! 
 
 ]Sor was this rage only liable to be excited 
 by a sense of real danger ; but from conscious 
 guilt, equally liable to be put in .orce, by the 
 most slight, false, and trifling alarm. 
 
 'Tis a prime part of happiness (o know 
 Huw maeh iinhappinei^s must prove our lot ; 
 A part which few possiss ! 
 
 Young. 
 
 On the fourth day, we arrived at Lake 
 
 ^^]5_gjlChamplain, We here found some batteaux, 
 
 / bv* the!"* wliich the Indians had conveyed themselves 
 
 m it caiBel*^^^^^^^? ^^ **^^^*' ^^^ ^^ Royalton. On their 
 
 ■arrival at tlie Lake, and regaining their bat- 
 
 rtaken bvl*^*^^^? ^^^y S*^^ * shout of exultation, and 
 
 x^ g^jjj^Jlaughter, manifesting tlieir joy and triumph. 
 
 TirisoncrsI ^^y master, v/ho was about to take a differ- 
 
 dano*er Qm^^^ route from the rest of tlie tribe, took me 
 
 m'lj^jjQ^ laside, and in a dissembling tone, told me, 
 
 lanffuase^^^'^ great professions of friendship, with lit- 
 
 the feel*'^ credit, however, that I had better take off 
 
 V friendsM^y *^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^*^^ ^^^'® ^*? ^^i* which he 
 
 nellcd tol)^^^*^^^^ S^v^ ^^ **^ blanket in exchange, assur- 
 
 arts obJ^'S ^^ ^^^^ ^'*^ Indians would take it from me 
 
 n at ni^liw^ ^ ^^^ *^^^ ^^^ ^^' Dreading tfie eonsequen- 
 
 es of a refusal, more than the loss of the 
 
 oat, I let him have it, and received a blank* 
 
 t in return. We crossed over, and encamps 
 
 * on Grand Isle t^B night. The next morii- 
 
 S we re-embar^ffl in our batteaux, an«J 
 
 ly a di 
 fastener 
 
 m 
 
 'M 
 
»0 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 if'i 
 
 
 safely landed at the Isle-Aux-Noix before 
 niglit. Here the Indians found a supply of 
 rum, Avliich gave them an opportunity to make 
 market for a part of their plunder, and sa- 
 tiate their thirst. Nor indeed was the oppor- 
 tunity unimpro\'ed. Iritated by the force (>f| 
 intoxication, they were all in confusion ; sav- 
 nge yells, and shiill out-cries, filled the sur- 
 rounding atmosphere; and death seemed to 
 stare every captive full iu the face ! 
 
 " So suns; Pl.ilamler* as a friend went round 
 In the rieh ichor, in (hei^cnerouH Ij'o d 
 Of BucchuS; purple god of joyous nit." 
 
 At length, however, their senses became drown- 
 ed in the torrent of inehviety ; they sunk into I 
 u helpless state, and reposed in the arms of| 
 insensibility. As we had now arrived witli- 
 in the dominions of the JJritisli, and were not I 
 only guarded by a number of the Indians, who 
 were not under the power of intoxication, but 
 w atched by the enemy's subjects, resident at 
 that place, we could find no opportunity to| 
 make «ur escape. 
 
 The next morning, which was the sixtlil 
 day of our mai*ch, we started for St. JohnsJ 
 and arrived there that day. At this place 
 likewise, the Indians found a plenty of ardentj 
 spirits, by a too free use of which, they b< 
 came more enraged, if possible, than befor©. 
 
 They now began to tl^hiten the lives of all 
 
 w 
 
m 
 
 CAPTTVE. 
 
 6i 
 
 (he captivei, whose faces were not painted^ a« 
 the face being painted was a distinguishing 
 mark put upon those w bom they designed not 
 to kill. 
 
 As I was not painted^ one of the Indians^ 
 under the influence of intoxication^ and brutal 
 rage, like many white people, more sagacious 
 than humane, came up to me, and pointing a 
 gun directly at my head, cocked it, and was 
 about to fire, when another old Indian, who 
 was my new master, knocked it aside, push- 
 ed him backwards upon the ground, and took 
 a bottle of rum and putting it to his 
 mouth, turned down his throat a considerable 
 quantity, left him and went on. 
 
 The punishment seemed in no way to dis- 
 please the criminal, but wished he would con- 
 tinue to punish him through tho. day, in the 
 same manner ; regarding the momentary grat- 
 ification of appetite, more than all other bless- 
 ings of life, or even life itself. 
 
 They now procured some paint, and paint- 
 ed my face, which greatly appeased the rage 
 of those, who, before had been apparently 
 determined to take my life. I now received 
 their marks of friendship, nor felt myself in dan- 
 ger of becoming the subject of their fatal enmity. 
 Clothed with an Indian blanket, with my 
 hands and my face painted, and pvossessing 
 activity equal to any of them, they appeared 
 t<\be willing I should live with them; and be 
 accounted as one of ther number. 
 
 n 
 
62 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 .Ith 
 
 ill' i i 
 
 m\ 
 
 We arrived at Caglinewaga on the seven tli 
 day of our march. Thus, I found myself 
 within the space of seven days, removed from 
 my liome, and from all my relatives, the dis- 
 tance of ahont three hundred miles ; almost 
 destitute of clothing; entirely without money; 
 with no other associates, than a race of savage 
 Indians, whose language I could not under- 
 stand, whose diet was unsavory, and un- 
 whlflesome ; whose ^^ tender mercies are cru- 
 el;^' barbansra their civility ; no pardon to an 
 enemy, their established creed ; and pi'esent- 
 ed with no other prosjiect for the future, than 
 a captivity ^or life ; a final separation from all 
 earthly friends, and situated in an enemy's 
 country 1 
 
 In short, striped of eveiy comfoi*t that 
 sweetens life, except the ^' one thing needful," 
 *^ which the world can neitlH^r give, nor take 
 away," my temporal prospects weve. banished, 
 and lost forever. No earthly friends to ad- 
 minister consolation, or with whom to sympa- 
 thize, nor hope of escape to feed upon; truly^ 
 humble submii^sion to^the will of Heaven, and 
 an entire ^^ jtrust in the Lord," was the only 
 halm afforded me. 
 
 A soul prt>i^arM for sucli a state a« ihUy 
 is heir, cxb|»etfint, to immortal bii<4S. 
 
 Some days after we arrived at Caghuewaga, 
 an old man by the name of Pliilips, whose 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 63 
 
 silver locks bespoke the experience of many 
 winters ; whose visage indicated the trials^ 
 sorrows, and afflictions, of a long and wretch- 
 ed captivity; whose wrinkled face, and with- 
 ered hands^ witnessed the suflerings of many 
 hardships^ and presented to me a solemn and 
 awful token, of what I myself might expect 
 to suffer; cam^* and told me that I was about 
 to be adopted into one of the Indian families^ 
 to fill the place of one whom they had lost on 
 their expedition to Royalton. 
 
 Mr. Philips was taken prisoner in tlie wes- 
 tern part of the State of New -York, by the 
 Indians, in his youthful days, and having been 
 adopted into onej of their families, had always 
 lived with them. He had retained his knowl- 
 edge of the English language, and served as 
 an interpreter for the tribe. 
 
 The ceremony of my own adoption, -as well 
 as that of many other of the prisoners, afford- 
 ed no small degi*ee of diversion. The scene 
 presented to view a spectacle of an assemblage 
 cf barbarism, assuming the appearance of ci- 
 vilization. 
 
 All the Indians, both male and feiiui;!^/. to- 
 gether with the prisoners, assembled, and foriBL- 
 ed a circle, within which; one of their chiefe, 
 standing upon a stiigc, erected for tbf^ pur- 
 pose, harrangued the audience iu;%e ]||diaii 
 tongue. Although I could not un$(6t3(^(3:|H9 
 language, yet I could plainly discover i^gjrfeat 
 ^are of native eloquence. His speech iv&B of; 
 
 I 
 
 If 
 
 I 
 
01* 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 considerable lengtli, and its effect obviouslj 
 manifested weii^lit of argument, solemnity of 
 tkou^lit^ and at least human sensibility. I 
 was placed near by his side, an<l had a fair 
 view of the vvh(de circle. After he had ended 
 his speech^ an old squaw^ came and took me 
 by the hand, and led me to her wigwam, 
 where she dressed me in a red coat, with a 
 ruffle in my bosom, and ordered me to call 
 her mother. She could speak English toller- 
 ably well, but was very poor, and therefore 
 unable to furnish me with very sumptuous 
 fare. My food was rather beneath a savage 
 mediocrity, though, no doubt my new mother 
 endeavored as far as lay in her power to en- 
 dear the affections of her newly adopted^ yei 
 ill-natured son. 
 
 I found the appellation c f mother, highly 
 pleased the tawny jade, which proportionably 
 increased my disgust, already intollerable, 
 and instead of producing coQtehtmeniAf mind^ 
 added disquietude to affliction and sorrow. 
 
 As I was blest with an excellent voice for 
 singing, I was the mo?e beloved by, and on 
 tliat account received much better treatment 
 from my new mother, as well as from other 
 Indians. 
 
 I was allowed the privilege of visiting any 
 part of the village, in the day time, and was 
 received with marks of fraternal affecti^, and 
 treated with all the civility an Indian is capa- 
 ble to be«tow. 
 
CAPTIVE 
 
 Od 
 
 any 
 was 
 1^ and 
 Icapa- 
 
 A prisoner liy the name of Belknap, wag 
 get about hewiri<; some poles for a stable iloori 
 while his Indian master lieUl them for him.-^ 
 As he hewed, the Indian, sitting upon the 
 pole, suflered it gradually to turn over, though 
 unperceived by liim, whicli occasioned the 
 workman, who saw its opera (ion, laughing in 
 his sleeves, to hew quite round (he stick, in 
 hewing fiom end to end, Tiiiuiving that Bel- 
 knap knew no better, the Indian endeavored 
 to instruct him. After trying several poles, 
 with the same success, the Indian, filled with 
 impatience for this untractable pupil, with 
 his eyes on fire, left him, and called his inter- 
 preter, to make his wishes more distinctly 
 known; to whom Belknap declared that hci 
 did well understand the wishes of the IndloD^ 
 and was determined to avoid doin^ his Vi ill. 
 
 Ahc\' remaining in this condition a few 
 weeks, finding the prisonevft very incorrigible, 
 and wishing for the revvaixl they might obtain 
 for them, information was given the prisoners, 
 that they might be delivered over ta the Brit- 
 ish at Montreal as prisoners of war^ or contin- 
 ue with the Indians, as they should ehoose. 
 
 We sought the advice of an Engligih gen- 
 tleman, by the name of Stacy, resident ?n the 
 Village <€»f Caghnewaga^ who ]\^ married a 
 squaw for hi? wife, and was exfiSisively ac-* 
 quainted, not only with the affairs of th^ In- 
 dians> but with Uie citizens of Montreal. H^ 
 appeared to be a man of integrity and varaci- 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 li 
 
 
 I 
 
(1 'B: 
 
 ' ir 
 
 1 W' 
 
 m 
 
 (i il Mil 
 
 w'm 
 
 m 
 
 vH 
 
 'fl!l«! ?' 
 
 im 
 
 K 
 
 66 
 
 ■*:,• 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 ty ; Wfis employed in merchfindise, find nho 
 served as one of tlicir interpreters. 
 
 I was advised by Mr. Stacy to be delivered 
 into the hands of the British. lie said I 
 might doubtless obtain leave to dwell in some 
 ftimily of a private gentleman, until I should 
 be exclian2:ed. 
 
 Encouraged by the prospect of enjoying tlie 
 company of civilized people, and flattcr<^d 
 with the idea of being soon exchanged, and 
 thereby enabled to return, on<:c more to see 
 mv friends in Connecticut, I made choice to 
 be given up to the Britisli. All the captives 
 did likewi«^e. .^; 
 
 We M ere all conducted to Montreal by the 
 Indians; in the latter part of November, 
 A. B. 1780 —and there '^ sold for a half Joe,^' 
 each. M(»st of the captives were young, and 
 remprkably robust, healthy and vigorous. I 
 was now almost twenty two years of age. — 
 To be compelled to spend the vigour of my 
 days in useless confinement, was a source of 
 grief, and pain, to my mind. But I could 
 see no w y of escape. The wisdom of Grod, I 
 found to be unsearcliable indeed. I felt, how- 
 ever a good degree of submission to the Prov- 
 idence of tiie Most High, and a willingness 
 to " acceptnof tlie punishment of mine ini- 
 quities.'^ ^'^' ^ ■'■■' 
 
 We found at the city of Montreal^ about 
 170 prisoners, ycme of whom were made cap- 
 tives by the Indians in different parts of Amev- 
 
 i 
 
(I aUo 
 
 ivered 
 
 !»aid I 
 
 some 
 
 sliOlllll 
 
 ng tlie 
 attcied 
 I, and 
 to sec 
 Dice to 
 aptives 
 
 bv tlie 
 
 I. 
 
 ember, 
 \ Joe/' 
 , and 
 ms. I 
 age. — 
 of my 
 Urce (>f 
 could 
 God, I 
 t, hov- 
 Prov- 
 ingness 
 ne i^ii- 
 
 about 
 de cap- 
 '. Amev- 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 ;'>^ 
 
 67' 
 
 
 irji, and ot!\ers bad been taken prisoner:? of 
 war in forts, by capitulation, and by conquest. 
 Here we coubl see women and cliibh'en, wbo 
 had fallen the victims of savage captivity, weep- 
 ing and mourning their fa<e, whose tears 
 trickling down tlieir cheeks, bespoke the lan- 
 guage of their liearts ! It was enough to melt 
 the heart of stone, with grief, to heboid the 
 hosoni of the ^^poor widows'' heaving with 
 sighs, and to hear their groans ! While the 
 companioni^ of their youth, their bosom friends, 
 nnd partners in life, were no more; hav- 
 ing spilt their blood, and laid down their 
 lives in defence of their country, their fami- 
 lies, and their fire-sides. 
 
 Here I beheld the orphan, fatherless and 
 motherless, whose tender age called for com- 
 passion, and recpiired the kind protection of 
 an affectionate mother ; whose infantile mind, 
 endered it incapable of telling his name, the 
 lace of his birtii ; or giving any iiiibrmation 
 respecting himself or his parents. 
 
 This led me to consider my own sufferings 
 comparatively small ; and a sense of my 
 own wretched condition, became lost in the 
 feelings of compassion, for these unhappy 
 widows a^d orplians ! 
 
 We Wiiire put into a large building called 
 ^^ The old regal Church,'' Avith the other prison- 
 ers, in which we were kept several days, when 
 e were removed into a large stone building 
 tted up for the purpose, ia the suburbs of the 
 
 
 m: .-■■''19 
 
 i^l-l 
 
 '^1 
 
 Ail 
 
 >.^ ^ 
 
 \*- 
 
 t 
 
 mi 
 
 ■^i 
 
68 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 ("S 'ill 
 
 m 
 
 .iih!i 
 
 r § 
 
 city, oupoQ the shore of the river St. Law- 
 rence. 
 
 I often made application for liberty to take 
 quarters in tiie family of some private gentle- 
 man, Wliere I might enjoy the advantages of a 
 common slave, until I should be al|le to pro- 
 cure a ransom, or be exchanged ; urging the 
 manner of my being taken, and my destitute 
 situ'ionas arguments in my favor, having 
 been stripped of all my property by the In- 
 dians, and deprived of all my change of 
 clothes. But all my efforts proved only a 
 witness to myself, and my fellow sufferers, of 
 that deafness to the calls of humanity, which 
 is always the characteristic of tyranny and 
 despotism. ., 
 
 Many of the prisoners, as well as myself, 
 had only one shirt, and w ere obliged to go 
 without any, while we washed that. Indo- 
 lence and disregard for cleanliness, preve^ited 
 many from doing this, which may be reeoned 
 among the many causes^ that brought our sub- 
 sequent evils upon us. We were allowed^ or 
 rather said to be allowed, one pound of bread, 
 and one pound of fresh beef per day. But 
 through the injustice and dishonesty of the 
 person who delt out our allowance, we were 
 robbed even of apart of this humble pittance. 
 Had we been able to obtain our full allowance, 
 in provisions of good quality, we should have 
 been able to Imve furnished ourselves with oth- 
 er necessary articles ; but now we werej de-|| 
 
 ■ ■'^L 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 6§ 
 
 piivcd of the privilege, by the curtailment of 
 our rations. We were obliged by the calls of 
 hunger to pound up the beef bones, (which 
 composed no small share of our rations of 
 I meat) and boil them for broth. We had no 
 butter, cheese, flour, nor any kind of sauce, 
 (luring the winter. We were kept almost to- 
 tally without fire-wood, having scarcely e- 
 nough to enable us to cook our meat. Our 
 [beds consisted principally of blankets, which 
 they brought from the hospital, in all their 
 
 ilih. This was an apparent manifestation of 
 their disregard at least, for the prisoners, if 
 
 lot a malevolent design to introduce that con- 
 
 igion, which should spread disease, desola- 
 tion and death throughout our camp. 
 
 Pinched with hunger, half naked, and 
 jhilled with the cold, we were forced to have 
 [ecourse to our beds, and occupy them a great 
 >art of the time ; though they were the habi- 
 [ations of filthy vermin, tainted with the in- 
 jections of mortal distempers, and scented 
 
 4th the nausceous smell of the dying and the 
 
 lead. 
 
 The complicated collection of people of differ- 
 lat habits, comprising almost every kind of foul 
 Ind vicious char *cter ; and the combination of so 
 
 lany events, either of which should seem a- 
 
 >ae sufficient to create disease, caused a 
 
 meral, and universal prevalence of the itch. 
 Oui close confinement was, to some of the 
 
 v\souers, a source of grief 5 to others, a cloak 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■•■>V/f 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 'fi 
 
 'J ' 
 
 :f- .ii 
 
 wn 
 
 \ 
 
 .:\ 
 
70 
 
 INDIA^V 
 
 ln.!t,l 
 
 ii^'^l'. 
 
 
 t^m 
 
 ^*-;.,- 
 
 of indulgence in laziness ; wliile to all it w as 
 the motiier of (lisiase^ the harbinger of pain. 
 
 We suffered so much ^vith hunger, that we 
 should have thankfully '' fed upon the crumbs 
 that fell from the rich man's table ;'^ and so 
 great Avere our afflictions, tliat we should have 
 gladly caressed tlie '• dog tliat had come and 
 licked our sores.'^ > : . 
 
 While I was a captive with the Indians, II 
 was in sorrow^, r^nd ^^ desired a better couii-' 
 try.'^ And I had not experienced the ^' trial 
 of cruel mockingsand scourgings--of bonds anil 
 imprisonment,'* sufficiently to enable me to say 
 with Paul, " I have learned in wlmtsoever state 
 I am, therewith to be content/'^ When we 
 were j)ut into the hands of tlie British, ^* we 
 looked for peace, but no good came; and for 
 a time of health, and beheld trouble!'^ In- 
 deed it may justly be said of them, ^^they 
 turned the needy out of the way — ^they caused 
 the naked to lodge without clothing, that they 
 have no covering in the cold — ^they pluck the 
 fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge] 
 of the poor, they cause him to go naked with' 
 oat cl<Hhing, and they take away the sheef froiii| 
 the hungry.* I plead that they would ^^mak( 
 me as one oi their hired servants,'^ but they| 
 would not. 
 
 In the spring, after being ^^ brought low,j 
 t^'ough oppression, affliction, and sor?oW>" w« 
 
 •Jib 3*Jh.— I,— 7, ^ U). 
 
 ^,jijii«** 
 
 / 
 
v^ 
 
 CAPTIVE, 
 
 71 
 
 it was 
 pain, 
 bat we 
 crambs 
 and so 
 lid have 
 )nie and 
 
 Tvero. ^ipplied with saU-pork, bread, oat-meal^ 
 and pease, in abundance. As wc had long been 
 abnost siarvetl, *«ar avi<IHy for the food, which 
 >vas now before us, may more easily be im- 
 agined than described. Let it suffice us to say, 
 that none ate sparingly, but all greedily. In- 
 deed some seem<Hl, not only anxious to satis- 
 fy hunger, but detemin^^ to revenge for their 
 past sufferings. TMs .siiiiliBn repletion of our 
 wants, produced the s^p^ among the prison- 
 rs, which threatened death to every one. — 
 eiterated sighs and dying groiins, now filled 
 ur camp. 
 
 To such an alarming degree, did this drcad- 
 al disease prevail, that many were obliged to 
 )e removed to the hos|)ital for relief; distress 
 nd anguish pervaded the whole body of the 
 iiisoners ; and the citizens of Monti'eal, a- 
 ^"^yiarmed, perhaps for tlieir own safety, seemed 
 y causeam^ f^.^l anxious f(jr our relief. But justice re- 
 hat *heymyj^.^,j^ j shouhl state, that we received, at this 
 luclt tnWj^^^ ^jj ^jj^^ j^jj^j attention, which was due 
 
 diatts, I 
 ier coutt- 
 e "trial 
 onds anil 
 leto say 
 5ver state 
 lien we 
 jh, "we 
 I and for 
 \'^ In. I 
 
 ? 
 
 pledge 
 :ed with' 
 lieef froml 
 
 a 
 
 XSL?Xi 
 
 |but theyl 
 ight low 
 
 >W^ 
 
 \\' 
 
 our wretched condition, and every fa\'or in 
 he power of our keepers to bestow ; while 
 he inhabitants! manifested a humane disposi- 
 lon, and displayed the generous feelings of 
 |ity, and tender compassicm. In short, con- 
 mis that they in truth, had all partially con- 
 I'ihutedtp increase our miseries, they seemed 
 feel a relenting for their past misconthict, 
 bich excited them to use their utmost exer- 
 
 
 i^4 
 
 wi' 
 
 
 H 
 
 ;: Ml 
 
 ■■111 
 
 'I 1-^ 
 
 ^s 
 
 
 
 W- , ; 
 
fl 
 
 !!■ .\ 
 
 'A 
 
 m :i< 
 
 t 
 
 72 
 
 Ai>i 
 
 lion, to exonerate themselves from guilt, by 
 tiieir subsequent good offices for our relief. 
 
 They furnished us with green hefbs, and 
 .every thing which was adapted to our disor- 
 ders, or calculated for our comfort, and recov- 
 ery. By these means, our health was fully 
 restored ; gratitude and joy set smiling on ev- 
 ery countenance; and songs of deliverance 
 dwel* in every tongue. Pfiin now gave place 
 to pleasure, son'ow fled as happiness ap- 
 proached; murmurs and complaints, which 
 had long been the universal cry, now were| 
 heard no more ; and v^juietude was felt in ev 
 •ry breast. 
 
 After our recovery we were allowed th 
 privilege of a yard of some rods square, in ex 
 tent, by which we weie enabled to exercisi 
 for the preservation of our health. But 
 length, some of the prisoners made their es 
 cape, wliicli occasioned all the rest to be pu 
 into close confinement, and kept under loc 
 and key. We were supplied however, witl 
 all the comforts of life, so ftir as our jploi 
 confinement would permit. 
 
 In October, A. D. 1781, all the prisonei 
 w ere removed to an Island in the river Si 
 Lawrence, called ^^ Prison-Island,^' about fo 
 ty-five miles above tlie city of Montreal, aw 
 opposite to a place called Cateau du Lac. 
 
 Here we were fumiBhed v^ith a full supp 
 
 of wholesome food during our coij£nemeat 
 the kland. 
 
 arti 
 pri 
 chf 
 to 
 
 int( 
 
 day 
 
 -l^nt 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 73 
 
 Tliis Island is situated a little below the 
 lake St. Francis, which is formed by a large 
 swell in the river St. Lawrence, and was con- 
 sidered a very eligible place for the confine- 
 ment of the prisoners. Indeed it wfts thought 
 iHipossible that any person, destitute of boats, 
 should be able to escape w ithout being drown- 
 ed, as tlie water rurt with the utmost ve- 
 locity, on each side of the Island. We were, 
 therefore, allowed the liberty of traversing 
 the whole Island, which contained about twen- 
 ty acres. 
 
 Guarded by a company of refugees and to- 
 ries, possessing as little humanity as patriot- 
 ism ; and having long been the miserable suf- 
 ferers of a wretched captivity, and painful 
 imprisonment, many of the prisoners atteii^<^t- 
 ed to make their escape by swimming down 
 the current the distance of three miles. But 
 few succeeded, while some were drowned in 
 the hazardous rrttempt. Tlie captain of the 
 guard, whose name was Mc'Danitl, was a 
 tory, and as totally devoid of iiumanity and 
 generosity, as the Arab who traverses the des- 
 arts of Africa. His conduct towards the 
 prisoners, was such as ought to stamp his 
 character with infamy and di.^gi'ace. ' Ci'R^liiy^ 
 to the prisoners, seemed to be his greatest de- 
 light. I once saw one of the prisoners phiuge 
 iato the river, in the-day time, and swim 
 down the current the distance of three miles, 
 
 it was discovered by Mc'Daniel, soon af- 
 
 G 
 
 |h •''#'!' 
 
 I 
 
 S 
 
 1. 
 
 ,';l 
 
 kM 
 
 
 li'" 
 
 m 
 
 mi i 
 
 , '111 
 
 m 
 
 
I 
 
 7* 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 B|u;;-+ 
 
 
 tw lie started, who ordered him shot before 
 he should ever reach shore; but a British 
 soldier, possessing more luimanity than hl^ 
 commander, iVaded into the river, and took 
 hold of the trembling prisoner, almost ex- 
 hausted, declaring ^^ if the prisoner was shot, 
 he would be likewise.^^ 
 
 Tlie malignant disposition of Mc^Daniel, 
 and the invidious character of the guard, in- 
 duced the prisoners to seek opportunity, and 
 confront almost every danger, to eflect their 
 escape. But time soon rolled away, till win- 
 ter approached, without bringing to our view 
 that propitious moment, which could afford 
 the slightest hope of success in the attempt. — 
 On the one hand, the eye of an implacable 
 foe was upon us, with rancour, malice and re- 
 venge in his bosom, and the implements of 
 destruction in his hand ; and on the other, the 
 rapid current of the stream, threatened us 
 with death if we approached, while the foam- 
 ing billows, roaring in a voice like thunder, 
 bid us beware ! 
 
 Desperate, indeed, must be the attempt, for 
 any one, knowingly to plunge himself into 
 the ja>\ s of deatli, to escape from trouble. 
 
 At the approach of winter, the ice below 
 the Island, rendered it visibly and utterly im- 
 possible to escape alive. We were, therefore, 
 now forced into submission, and had only to 
 consult together upon those measures, wliich 
 
 tl 
 
 to 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 75 
 
 should be most likely to promote our own hap- 
 piness, while we waited the return of spring. 
 
 In January, we were ordered hy Mc'Uan- 
 iel to shovel tiip snow for a patli, in which 
 the guard v/ere to travel, while on their duty. 
 
 Regarding the proverb of Soloman, as wor- 
 thy of our notice, that '' it is an hotioar for a 
 man to cease from strife,'^ we complied with 
 the demand ; thus sacrificing our rights on th« 
 altar of peace. But now fituling by occular 
 demonstration, the verity of a like proverb of 
 the same wise man, that " every fool will be 
 meddling/' we unanimously agreed to diso- 
 bey all similar orders, and every command 
 whicli should be afterwards given, contrary to 
 right. Wc were not insnesible that the pris- 
 oaer, tho u^h unable to d'*fend, w^as possessed 
 of certain inaeli uiabla rightSj, which we resolv- 
 ed to assert, and refuse obedience to the ty- 
 rant wlio should attempt to encroach upoa 
 tliem. Tiie time soon arrived, wlien duty 
 called us boldly to assert our rights ; and man- 
 ly firmness forbid submission. 
 
 Wc were again commanded by Mc'Daniel 
 to shovel the snow to make a path for the 
 guard to travel in ; while they themselves ha(1:*f j 
 nothing to do, but to wait our toil. Disdain- * 
 ing to become slaves, we had universally de- 
 termined to reject their unauthorised servitude, 
 ~ therefore informed the infamous Sic'E^titel, 
 was our unanimous resolution, a,nd' Ip^d 
 I feared lees what he should dare ta 35, 
 
 'U 
 
 •1/1 
 
 
 I'l 
 
 JM 
 
 ifi: l 
 
 
 
u 
 
 ¥1 
 
 1: 
 
 vl !'! 
 
 mM"\ 
 
 ill 
 
 > !;i; 
 
 78 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 thft/i 1 (lifl the conscqiieriC6«j of yieldiu*j; to tUt 
 lawless roquinitioni^ of a petty tyrant. En- 
 raged at iiw opposition of tliv, prisoners, to 
 his arliilrary commaiHls, and more highly e\- 
 asper:j(ed ng;iinst me as the organ, he direct- 
 ed iiic to be put in irons, and carried to the 
 puptrd-honse. After uttering the most dread- 
 ful tlireat^, and horrid imprecation;^, and find- 
 ing I was nnt easily terrified, nor readily 
 faced to ahaiiclon my right-:!, he carried his or- 
 der into execution, took mctothe guard-house, 
 put me in irous, and kept me tlierc daring the 
 whole day, till niglit, when he came and re- 
 peated his tlin-al!-., (if torture and death, iu 
 c.ise I cn!5«:i!i led to r.fdsi* com;diaui'e. ii'.d 
 tllW fi Kll;:g ine uuuiuvrtl in my deierminaUo.j, 
 and that "hatred stireth up sti! s," he order- 
 ed me to be kept in irons till nine o'clock at 
 night, without food, and then sent back to my 
 barrack. 
 
 This was accordingly done, tho' some 
 Dutchmen, terrified at my fate, consented to 
 his requirements, and performed the service, 
 while I was confined in the guard-house. In 
 consequence of our refusal to comply with his 
 unjust and illegal demands, the most severe 
 punishments and barbarous cruelties were in- 
 flicted upon the prisoners. 
 
 ^*To revenge upon,'^ he said, "no prisoner 
 should be allowed to have a fire another ^night 
 while they remained on the Island.'^ 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 77 
 
 Accordingly tlie guard came into our bar- 
 Mcks (»very nii;lit, witli large quiutiticd of 
 snow, aud put out all the tires, usiug as iu:irli 
 caution not to leave a spark untjiiouched, as 
 (liough the lives of thousands, and the >> ealth 
 of a metropolis were at stake. 
 
 *• fho* Been, we lalnur to believe it true." 
 
 What malice is manifest in the breasts of 
 Iho^e, who labour with diligence, and toil 
 \vitli pains, to increase the misery of those 
 who are already wretched, and groaning in 
 sorrow ! 
 
 Here we beheld the depravity of man.—- * 
 Here we could see the faltllment of that pas- 
 sage of Holy Vv rit, which declares, that " be- 
 cause sentence a"'ainst an evil work is not ex- 
 ccuted speedily, therefore the heart (if the 
 sons of man is fidly set in him to do evil/' 
 
 Here we could behold a fidl display of the 
 seven abominations in the sight of God ; " a 
 proud look ; a lying tongue, and hands that 
 shed innocent blood ; an heart that deviseth 
 wicked immaginations ; feet that be swift ia 
 running to mischief; a false witness that 
 speaketh lies, and him that sowetli discord a- 
 mong brethren.' '* 
 
 Here we could see monsters in human sh?ipe, 
 feeding upon revenge. For the labojur wliich 
 they unjui^tiy required of us, was w^ a tenth 
 
 PiOY. — 6, — IG, &c. 
 
 '■ r 
 
 V . !. n 
 
 
 ": '1 
 
 
 iif 
 
 ll 
 
 G § 
 
 1 ■;! :t 
 
 
 -^: 
 
TB 
 
 INDU:^ 
 
 ! ." 
 
 CM 
 
 
 part (,f whai tliry poiTormefl every iii;;]it hy 
 puttitiji^ out our fires to ponisli us lor noticoni- 
 pliance with their tyrannical demanils. Kiit 
 posscssini; the spirit of freemen, we ^^ rhost* 
 rather to .suffer aiBiction," than to become tlie. 
 ftlaves of a set of clespic«hlc refugees and to- 
 vies, feeling assured that our affliction wowld 
 afford us more consolation in the hour of re- 
 flection^ than could be fountl in a servitude 
 imposed upon us by an infamous rcnois;ado. 
 
 As our l^arrncks were very cold, and o[ien ; 
 aiid beiui; sc«niily clothed, we suffered greatly 
 for want of Hre, to support which we were 
 willing io get wood ourselves. But our 
 keepers ch(»se rntlicr to suffer pain themselves, 
 than to permit us to enjoy comfort. 
 
 Mc'lJarnel, however, was called away, and 
 succeeded by one Mc'Kelpin, in command. — 
 He was also a refugee, the scui of a tory, and 
 had the appearance of a raw boy, not more 
 Hian eiglUeen or nineteen years old, whose 
 very vissngc portended evil^ and bid the pris- 
 oners prepare for trouble. 
 
 His father, he said, had received very ill 
 treatment from the American army, and be 
 had also shared with his father in the abuse, 
 for not engaging in the rebellion against the 
 British government. As '' the rod is for the 
 back of him that is void of understanding,'^ 
 we doubted not the truth of his statement, nor 
 felt disposed to question, but that he received ve- 
 ij severe treatment. And more especially; whtn 
 
CAI'TIVE. 
 
 79 
 
 ;lit ».y 
 )iicom- 
 
 ne tlH»> 
 ind tn- 
 wowld 
 of re- 
 rvilndft 
 ulo. 
 I o[»en ; 
 givatly 
 B were 
 iiit our 
 IS elves, 
 
 ay^ and 
 land. — 
 ry, and 
 »t more 
 whose 
 le pris- 
 
 ery ill 
 jid lie 
 abuse. 
 
 tor tne 
 iding/^ 
 Int, nor 
 Ived ve- 
 vyIiw 
 
 (lie station in wliich he was found, was taken 
 into consideration ; for tlii^, together with tlie 
 littleness (if his mind, and the malignity of 
 his temper, will fiU'ever prove his want of pat- 
 riotism, and stamp his indignant character 
 witli infancy and disgrace, as long as cvilfchaU 
 !)e had in rememhrance. 
 
 His immature age can be no pnlliation of 
 liis crimes, nor admit of niuc!i hope of liis re- 
 .ormation, by repentance ; for like all other 
 fools, '' he hated knowledge, and was wise iu 
 his own conceit. '^ Inheriting from his f.ith- 
 e-, all tlie qualities of a knave, and t!ie coW" 
 nnlice of a M'estern Savage, who l(K)ks for sc- 
 (urity from danger, in his own flight only, or 
 in the strength of his allies, he per\erted the 
 power put into his hands to do gi)od, used it 
 tis a weapon of revenge, and an instrument of 
 cruelty. His paternal educati(m, was, at the 
 ])cst, toryism, perfectly congenial to his natu- 
 ral disposition. In short, " he was wise to 
 do evil, but to do good, he had no knowl- 
 edge." His first steps towards tyranny and 
 oppression met no opposition, as we wished 
 to enjoy peace, and were willing to yield a 
 portion of our rights to the enjoyment of so 
 invaluable a blessing. But our indulgence 
 served only to stimulate him in the course of 
 revengeful tyranny, and he seemed the more 
 angry, as if ^^ coals of fire were heaped upon 
 his head." 
 
 d} 
 
 ,.l;„ 
 
 ;. m, 
 

 i-,i 1'', 
 
 W»PP 
 
 INDIA]S 
 
 lify 
 
 **' 
 
 Lliiii 
 
 ■,:■' t 
 
 li 
 
 Ml' 
 
 5fa!\ifestiiig a tlcsirc to meet with opp«..). 
 tioti, by using every exertion to provoke to 
 rage, be ordered the prisoners to shovel the 
 f^iKAV from the door of his ov/ii house. As the 
 prisoners discovered in him a fettled deler- 
 jninatioii to pursue compliance with greater 
 find more grievous burden?,, until he could 
 meet a refusal to comply, we resolved to re- 
 j'^ct all farther enrroachnienis upon our riglitp. 
 We therefore refased to obey his ar])itrary 
 commands any lousier. As t!iere was a for: 
 directly opposite the Island, where a coji^pany 
 of soldiers were stationed, Ave feared the con- 
 seqiiences of a revolt, and could only refuse 
 our obedience, without making any actual re- 
 sistance- Tiie prisoner to whom he address- 1 
 ed himsell^, possessed courage equal to t!ic| 
 most trying scene ; and choosing rather to suf- 
 fer an honorable diath in defence of his right* J 
 than to endure an igiiominioas life of captive 
 felavery, he met' the infamous Mc'ivelpin 
 with firmness and intrepidity, altho' he ha(l| 
 no prospects of any thing but to endure ex 
 treme torture, if not death itself. Arid this he! 
 was the more inclined to do, since it was the 
 avowed object of the infamous \illain, '" to| 
 wreak his vengeance upon the unliappy priv 
 oners, for injuries,'^ wiuch he said he had re 
 ceived fiom men, w'no were entire strangers! 
 to us, and in which abuse he >veU knew wej 
 iook no agency^ or even had any knowledge. 
 
 'i^mr' 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 61 
 
 ovcl the 
 
 As iiic 
 
 il tlelev- 
 
 fie coiilci 
 d to re- 
 ir 1 igliip. 
 ar])itravv 
 IS a fort 
 
 the con- 
 [y refuse 
 ictual n- 
 
 address- 
 
 l1 to tllC 
 cr to suf- 
 is rh^ht*; 
 f capilvc 
 x'lvelpiu 
 lie had 
 (Ijre ex 
 il this he 
 was the 
 aiii, ^*to 
 >py prl^ 
 had re 
 itrangers 
 new we 
 w ledge. 
 
 When the prisv/^ev refused compliance, Mc'- 
 Kelpin came up with a bayonet, pointing di- 
 rectly at him, and thrust it within a few inch- 
 es of his breast, threatening to run him through 
 the heart if he did not immediately comply. — 
 But the prisoner, continuing firm in his obati- 
 uacy, replied with dauntless coui'age and delib- 
 erate cooln?ss, '* run me through if you dare, 
 I fear you not.'' Enrai^ed at this reply, Mc'- 
 Kelpin repeated his ilircais with redoubled 
 Aehemence, and inf iriated madness, and a*" 
 ij;aiji rushed at the prisoner with the greatest 
 violence; tiiu^ endeavgri'ig to terrify him into 
 8?]hmission to hi'* wiiL Bii the prisoner, with 
 all tiie appearance of a fall M.nise of d'*ath, 
 and sapp >i ted by ti»**. rectitude of his nlotives, 
 met Mc'Kelpin with manly firmness, and true 
 heroism ; puttiog hi* hand upon his breast, and 
 telling; the impertinent fugitive that '^ he had re- 
 solved to die, f>ef(>re he should yield obedience, 
 tu the arbitrary commands of one whose nam« 
 was synonymous with disgrace, and whose very - 
 vissa5^e bespoke the corruptions of a h(5tirt, 
 loaded with every thing that is requisite to fit 
 a soul to become an inhabitant of the re- 
 gions of blac' 'less and darkness forever." Af- 
 ter repeating his threats and menaces, several 
 times, and each time receiving the most un- 
 qualified denials from the prisoner, he proceed- 
 ed to punish all such as refused compliance 
 with his request lie associated witli threatsji 
 tke most daring oaths, and awf.d imprecaticas j 
 
 •H 
 
 "'■i'' ' 
 
 
8S 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 ■\:- 
 
 :W\' 
 
 ■■'I 
 
 !!!■' 
 
 •Ill 
 
 !'':•' ?"'! 
 
 
 
 as if he would endeavor to establish his owu 
 authority by manifesting to the world his want 
 of the fear of God, and a disregard of every 
 thing that is good. 
 
 Like many cf the present day, he appeared 
 to imagine that he should be thought to pos- 
 sess uncommon courage, and power unlimited, 
 if he dared, openly, and without fear, to blas- 
 pheme the name of Him, who is the ruler of all 
 people, of every language, tongue and nation. 
 Finding all bis threatenings in vain, and dis- 
 covering that no one would yield obedience to 
 his requirements, forgetting or disregarding 
 the injustice of his claim, and lost in the tor- 
 rent of an2;er and revenue, he came with a 
 guard of sohUers, possessing feelings in per- 
 fect coincidence with his own, and took the 
 defen''ek^.ss, yet dauntless prisoner, whom he 
 had threatened to rim through with his bayo- 
 net, conveved him to tlie barrack, which was 
 used for an ash-house, put hhn in irons and 
 left him to suifei- in the cold, the maiicL»u« 
 gratification of his malignant and revengeful 
 disposition, telling the innocent and unfortu- 
 nate victim cf his relenthss fury tliat " he 
 was glad h<*. refsised to comply with his de- 
 mands, because be had lojig v/anted, and had 
 anxiously sought opportunity to wreak his ven- 
 geance on Iihn, and gave the order to shovel 
 the snow fi-cm his own door, for no other pur- 
 pose but to excite the opposition of the 
 prisoners, and tlius find occasion to pun 
 
 ::''^^l 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 83 
 
 3 own 
 
 s want 
 
 every 
 
 peared 
 to pos- 
 imited, 
 :o blas- 
 ir of all 
 nation, 
 nd dls- 
 ence to 
 yarding 
 the tor- 
 with a 
 ill per- 
 ook tl>e 
 Hoin iici 
 bayo- 
 ich was 
 HIS and 
 licl.ta^ 
 leni^ef il 
 infovtu- 
 it ^-he 
 Ills de- 
 [nd had 
 [lis vcn- 
 shovel 
 ler pur- 
 lof tho 
 pun- 
 
 ish tlicm, and at tlie same time take revenge 
 oa them, for tlie abuse he had received from 
 the Americans/' He then proceeded to order 
 others to shovel the snow, and being still re- 
 fused compliance, he threatened and confined, 
 in the same manner as he did the first, until 
 he had collected together, and confined in that 
 cold barrack, the number of twenty one, who, 
 I were all hand-cufled, and cliained to the posts^ 
 of the Barrack. This was 5n January, 178%-. 
 I when the cold Mas exceeding severe, and 
 hardly permitted a comfortable seat by the fire- 
 side, or admitted of a lodging free from snfler- 
 ing in our closed barracks, with a large quan- . 
 Itity of blankets. 
 
 Here they were ordered to be kept, in this 
 [harrack, with the windows and doors open to 
 llie wind and snoW, all that day and the next 
 iight. But most of tliem made their escape 
 to their own barracks before the next morning, 
 ►ome witli fi'ozen hands and feet, others with 
 \htiY ears and faces frozen ; and indeed all 
 laving 8ome part of their bodies frozen, and 
 be^rini^ the miserable tokens of their wretch- 
 fd r^/ufteriugs. 
 
 Hut their escape, notwithstanding the visi- 
 ble and abiding marks of their pain and dis- 
 jre^s, only exasperated the mind of the unfeel- 
 ing Mc'Kelpin, and so eia^aged the desperate 
 [illain, that he, the next day morning, se- 
 icted the same prisoners, and with a heart 
 iaider thou adamant, and hands more cruel 
 
 •I ■1 
 
 m 
 
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 illl 
 
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i^, .. 
 
 !!^i: :; 1*' 
 
 m ' » 
 
 ^ 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 tlian tlic £;ravc 5 agjun conflfned tliem all ii» 
 irons, and ordered them put into the chairi' 
 her cf one of the barracks, there to be 
 kept during that day, the next night, and tlic 
 folh wing day, witiiout provision, any food, or 
 even a quid of tobacco ! 
 
 Destitute of any clothing, excepting' their 
 rearing apparrel, which was poor ; coiifined 
 in irons, in a small cold room, having no food 
 cf any kind ; deprived of a luxury which liab- 
 it had rendered necessary to preserve health, 
 and groaning under the severe pains of their 
 frozen bodies^ their sufieriags can not easily 
 be immagined, far less described ! 
 y It was my happy lot, however, not to fall 
 '<*into this number of miserable sufferers of 
 liuman depravity, who were put into the 
 ash-house, and in the chamber. But the 
 Buflerings whiih I have mentioned, were 
 only a prelude to more painful torments, and 
 g^reater [)arbarities- Thoy were taken from 
 the barrack cham])er, one by one, carried to 
 the guard-house, and tortured in the most cm 
 el manner. Home wei«* surrounded with sol 
 tlierM, iirmed with guns and b/iyoneis, point 
 ing directly at them, and so near as to render 
 the priHomTH unnble U) move without being 
 
 1)iened \\\i\\ t lie bayonets ; while the infamous 
 Vlc'Kelpin, w biped the prisoners, and cane 
 them, till he had glutted his vengeance. Wh 
 cnit describe the inhuman ecene ! to sec a piiF 
 oner, the victim of cruelty and wretchedness 
 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 85 
 
 all \u 
 B cham- 
 
 to be 
 and tlic 
 food; or 
 
 
 their 
 
 Goiifined 
 
 no food 
 
 licli liab- 
 
 health, 
 
 of their 
 
 at easily 
 
 )t to fall 
 lerers oi'| 
 1 into the 
 But the 
 d, were 
 nts, ami 
 on from I 
 anied to| 
 Imost era- 
 vvllh sol 
 s, point] 
 ,0 render 
 |)nt heind 
 infcimouiil 
 Ind canei 
 e. Whj 
 ec a piiH 
 hednes^ 
 
 e;»iiUle9s and defenceless; confined in irons 
 With his hands behind him ; ready to faint for 
 want of food ; ^oaning jiinder the excrucia- 
 ting pains of his frozen limbs ; bathed in 
 blood which gushed from his mangled body ; 
 tears flowing from his eyes, in streams which 
 l)espoke, in latigua^e more forcible Ihan a 
 voice like thunder, as they trickled down his 
 frozen checks, the sorrows of a heart s^vollen 
 with grief and racked with pain ; I could say 
 with Job, ^^ mine eye is also dim, by reason of 
 isorrow, and all my members arc as ashadow\'^ 
 Others of this unhappy number were hung 
 up by the neck till nearly dead, while their 
 hands were confined in irons, and their faces 
 black with death; when tliey were taken 
 down, and the irons, w hich had bound their 
 hands, jamed into tljeir mouths till they were 
 filled with blood ! Who could behold this, and 
 not weep and mourn for the depravity of 
 man left to himself! Who csn witness a 
 scene like this, without acknowledging, with 
 self application, the truth of those v»rds 
 which fell from our Saviour's lips, to the u»i- 
 believing Jews, "ye are of your father the 
 Devil, and the lusts of ;your father \i will 
 do.'^ After enduring these horrid barbarities, 
 and inhuman tortures, inflicted bj men, pro- 
 fessing the principles of humanity, the unhap- 
 py suUerers were sent back to their barracks, 
 there to weep and bewail their miserable fate. 
 Often have my cheeks been wet with tears of 
 
 H 
 
86 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 ^'UJ 
 
 i! 'ii.iji 
 
 w 
 
 m 
 
 if! 
 
 iii' 
 
 commisseration, while my heart ached withiis 
 me, for these unfortunate suflerers of the unre- 
 strained vengeance of a depraved villain. — 
 Nor was I left to be reminded of their tor- 
 ture and distress, only by a recollection of the 
 past ; but my eyes ceuld witness the scars of 
 wounds ; and behold the pale-faced visage of 
 death, abiding on the countenance of many, 
 which were received by the cruelties of this 
 horrid scene. And, alas ! I needed only to 
 look at myself, and all around me, to remind 
 mt of the woeful case of those, whose lot it is, 
 to fall into the hands, and become the victims 
 9f a revengeful tyrant ; and suffer the wrath 
 of a man totally devoid of mercy ; unrestrain- 
 ed either by the autliority of a superior, the 
 
 laws of his country, or the fear of God. 
 
 Doubtless, many will \a ear tlte marks, and 
 thus bear witness of his cruelty to their 
 graves. 
 
 Emaciated countenances, scars, and imped- 
 iment of speech, were the visible marks of 
 the savage and inhuman treatment, which 
 they received from the hand of Mc'Kelpin. — 
 Let detestation be written ii])on his character, 
 as legibly as the marks of de])ravity are to be 
 seen in his visage, and it shall be a lesson to 
 his posterity to flee frcm iuifjuity, and fv)11ow 
 the path cf virtue. He excelled in nothing 
 but cruelty and inhumanity; and was superi- 
 01' to none, excopt in the most nefarious acts cf 
 iniquity, tyranny and oppresj^ion. His higk- 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 9r 
 
 iihm 
 imre- 
 in. — 
 tor- 
 if the 
 ars of 
 igc of 
 nany, 
 f this 
 ily to 
 jmind 
 li it i?, 
 ictims 
 wrath 
 jtrain- 
 r, the 
 
 u and 
 their 
 
 which 
 
 est ambition appeared to be, to "heap up 
 wrath against the day of wrath/^ and prepare 
 himself to receive " vengeance due to them 
 that know not God^ and obey not tlie gospel 
 of oiir Lord Jesus Chrfst, who shall be pun- 
 ished with everlasting destruction.'^ He ap- 
 peared, involuntarily, to verify the truth of 
 the proverb, " lie that i-^ soon angry, dealeth 
 foolishly, and a man of wicked devices is ha- 
 ted/^ Out of the abundance of the heart, he 
 publicly declared, " that he had taken more 
 comfort in afflicting the prisoners four days, 
 than he had four years time previous/^ This 
 declaration requires no additional proof to 
 convince every mind vsuscoptible of the least 
 sympathetic allection, that he was possessed of 
 no better (fisposition than the infernal spirits ; 
 and must be sufficient to stamp his name with 
 infamy; and at the same time, excite cora- 
 misseratiou, in the heart of every person who 
 realizes it is by grace, and not by works, that 
 he i-; saved from falling into the like wicked- 
 ness. Nor let any man boast of his good 
 works, knowing it is the gift of God to pos- 
 sess chority. 
 
 When we review this awful, though faint 
 description of the conduct of Mc^ Kelpin, who 
 enjoyed the advantages of civilization, and 
 was favored with the joyful tidings of "peace 
 on earth, and good will tow irds men ;'' filled 
 with anger and revenge, nature cries within us 
 "curse the wreich.-' But when the meekness 
 
 
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SB 
 
 INDIAN 
 
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 fci 
 
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 ••I 
 
 
 ;l 
 
 and pity of the Saviour, iu liia dying agouies 
 iipou the shameful and accnrsed tree, are 
 s^uffered to find a place iu oar bosoms, ue are 
 led to cry N>ith him ^•Father for^ive.'^ Aud 
 though the conflict between revenge and for- 
 giving mercy, be strong; yet the latter will 
 surely prevail, whenever slie is properly eom- 
 njanded, and led by the spirit of truth. 
 
 I would not intimate that I have the power 
 of n^crotiaury ; nor pret:^n:l to possess a spir- 
 it of divination ; but from the authority of 
 Holy writ, " this is the portion of a wicked 
 man with God, and the heritage of opprei^- 
 sors, which they shall receive of the Al- 
 mighty. If his children be multiplied, it is 
 for the sword ; and his offspring shall not be 
 satisfied with bread. Those that remain of him 
 shall be buried in death ; and his widows shall 
 not weep. Though he heap up silver as the 
 dust, and prepare raiment as the clay ; he 
 may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, 
 and the innocent shall divide the silver.^' I 
 shall therefore leave this great disturber of 
 peace, and oppressor of the afflicted, to re- 
 ceive from the hand of ^^ Him, who does all 
 things well,'' the punishment due to his wick- 
 edness ; or share in the mercy offered to the 
 truly penitent ; hoping that he may have al- 
 ready, by deep repentance, found forgiveness ; 
 tw will before his death, if he is yet living, 
 taste the sweetness of redeeming grace, 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 89 
 
 e, are 
 >ve aw 
 Ami 
 (1 for- 
 ir will 
 y eom- 
 
 power 
 a spir- 
 rity of 
 wicked 
 [)ppre«- 
 he A), 
 tl, it is 
 not be 
 
 of him 
 ^^s shall 
 
 as the 
 
 y; i»e 
 it oa, 
 ." I 
 ber of 
 to re- 
 oes all 
 wick- 
 to thtt 
 ,ve al- 
 ^eness ; 
 living, 
 
 He tarried not long on the Island, though 
 iii«ch longer than he was desired, when an- 
 other took his oflBce, whose name I do not rec- 
 ollect, who manifested a disposition for peace ; 
 established good order ; appeared to have a 
 regard to the laws of justice, humanity, and 
 l>enevolence ; restored tranquility among the 
 prisoners, and reconciliation between them 
 and the guard. 
 
 Could I recollect the name of this person, I 
 would present him to the public as a charac- 
 ter worthy of imitation ; and as ^' peace-ma- 
 kers shall be called the children of God,^' I 
 tliink I am authorisied by the Hcly scriptarea 
 to call him by that dignified and honorable ti- 
 tle. 
 
 In the spring, complaint was made to the 
 British provincial government, against the base 
 Mc'Kelpiti, which resulted oaly in his exclu- 
 sion from the service of the army, with dis- 
 grace. The long and successful rebellion of 
 the Colonies, had greatly exasperated the Brit- 
 ish ; and Mc'Kelpin being a strong adher- 
 ent to tlieir government, loyal to his majesty ; 
 and having been harshly treated for his tory- 
 ism, doubtless the Court, by which he was tri- 
 ed, was strongly, though unjustly biased in 
 his favor, v/hich greatly ameliorated his pun^ 
 ishment. 
 
 In seed time, we were allowed the privilege 
 to sow garden seeds, and plant corn. This 
 gave us a prospect of being furnished with qqI 
 
 i* m 
 
 I'.' 
 

 V 
 
 mf' 
 
 1 y : ' i 
 
 «0 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 only a more full supply, but a p'oater variety 
 of food, if it should prove our unhappy lot to 
 
 be kept in confinement another winter. 
 
 It also gave the prisoners an opportunity to 
 use proper exercise to preserve health, and 
 prevent disease, a consideration of no small 
 importance. But, disaffected by our former 
 treatment, and fearing that the afflictions we 
 had once received, would again be laid upon 
 us, many chose to hazard their lives by an at- 
 tempt to swim down the rapids. Some thus 
 succeeded in making their escape, while others 
 only plunged themselves into the jaws of 
 detitli ! 
 
 This caused the confinement of all who 
 were left behind. The British now set about 
 encompassing our barracks m ith pickets, or 
 barricades, by setting posts in the ground ad- 
 joining each other, and fastening them togeth- 
 er. 
 
 Discovering what they were about to do, 
 several of tKe prisoners, among whom I was 
 myself one, resolved to make our endeavors to 
 effect our escipe, before they had completed 
 the barricade, and encircled our camp, which 
 would deprive ujs of the liberty of th^ Island. 
 We accordingly collected some logs together 
 on the lower part of the Island for a raft ; car- 
 ried some provisions for our sustenance on the 
 way home ; secreted it near Uie logs ; and at 
 an hour when we supposed all were at rest, 
 we started, but had not gone far^ when we ea^ 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 «t 
 
 ariely 
 lot to 
 
 r. 
 
 ity to 
 9 and 
 small 
 former 
 ns wo 
 I upon 
 an at- 
 B thus 
 1 others 
 
 LWS of 
 
 1 who 
 t about 
 
 pts, or 
 nd ad- 
 to2:eth- 
 
 to do, 
 I was 
 -vor« to 
 apleted 
 which 
 sland. 
 )gether 
 ; ear- 
 on the 
 and at 
 rest, 
 we ea^ 
 
 t 
 
 pied one of the sohliers upon the bank of the 
 river, employed in dressing; some fish. We 
 then returned to our barracks. Our attempt 
 to escape now became known to some of our 
 fellow prisoners, by discovering^ our absence, 
 who ])etrayed our olyect to our keepers ; thus 
 
 rouiling favor by the deeds of treachery. 
 
 Having these suspicions, we improved an op- 
 portunity to bring back our provisions ; and 
 the next day gave proof that our suspicions 
 were well founded ; as they then w ent and 
 rolled all the logs off that part of the Island. 
 
 AVc still were determined to use every ex- 
 ertion, and watch for an opportunity to effect our 
 escape from confinement, while we saw their la- 
 bors to prevent u#. We sought, but sought iu 
 rain. Time rolled away till we found our- 
 selves inclosed with pickets, which rendered 
 it almost impossible to make our escape ; as 
 we were not allowed to go without this inclo- 
 surc, unattended by the guard, and that too 
 in the day lime only. 
 
 We were jt! lowed to go in the day time, at- 
 tended by one or two oJF tlie guard, and hoe 
 our corn and garden roots. But this af- 
 forded us no opportunit;y for escape, as it was 
 impossible to swim the current on ei- 
 ther side of the Island, undiscovere*] by the 
 g'lard or the soldiers stationed in the fort op- 
 posite the Island, ^he prisoners, as may well 
 be sup]>osed, hacL 1 »ig been very uneasy, and 
 discontented; but ^s is usually the case, li 
 
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 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WRtiiTER.N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
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 sense of being confined caused still more dis- 
 quietude in their minds^ and excited an eager 
 desire to be freed from bondage. 
 
 The yard, wliich was surrounded by the 
 pickets, was about ten or fifteen rods wide, 
 and nearly forty rods long, extending length- 
 ways of the stream. They completed the 
 yard, some time in the month of July, A. D. 
 J782 — Having encouragement of receiving our 
 discharge, by exchange, often held out to us ; 
 and seeing little prospect of succeeding in the 
 hazardous attempt to escape from our confine- 
 ment, we long waited with great impatience 
 for the approach of that desirable event, and 
 wholly neglected to use any exertion to gain 
 our liberty by flight. But w^ at length per- 
 ceived that tlieir object in giving us repeated 
 encouragement of being exchanged, was only 
 to dally us Avith the fond hopes of soon seeing 
 better days, and thus amuse our minds with 
 fancied prospects!, while they should be ena- 
 bled to rivet our chains, i>r privately assassin- 
 ate some undistinguished number of us. Of 
 this design, we . had abundant proof, or at 
 least, of a disposition to abuse their power, by 
 rendering it subservient to the most despica- 
 ble actions, aiul wicked purposes. For find- 
 ing one of the prisoners alone in the evening, 
 a gang of them took him, put a rope around 
 his neck, threatening to stab him to the heart 
 if he made any noise, and were about to hang 
 bim, when one pf the company, staling him 
 
..t 
 
 re (lis- 
 ti eagev 
 
 by the 
 wide, 
 length- 
 led the 
 , A. D. 
 ing our 
 tto us ; 
 ; in the 
 ionfine- 
 ►atiencc 
 itf and 
 to gain 
 th per- 
 ppeated 
 as only 
 seeing 
 s with 
 e ena- 
 sassin* 
 s. Of 
 or at 
 ^er, by 
 espica- 
 >r find- 
 ,ening, 
 around 
 \ heart 
 3 bang 
 
 .■^■' 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 m 
 
 in th efkce, with a tone of disappoiutmeut, cried 
 out, ^ O this is not the one.^^ They then took 
 the ro|>e ofl' his neck, and let him go. 
 
 Thit!f manifested to the prisoners, either a 
 determination among tlic guard ^o waylay some 
 of us, or a wish to tritte with their authority, 
 by creating fiar in our minds, and thus tor- 
 ment the afflicted. 
 
 As we were sensible that the guard, if dis- 
 polled, (which avc little doubted) might assas- 
 diiate one or more of the prisoners, and con- 
 signing the body to the waters of the river, 
 keep the transaction hid from the knowledge 
 of any person who should not be engaged in 
 the horrid deed, we were led ever afterwards 
 to take the precaution, never to be found alone 
 in the dark, unarmed with a large scalping 
 kaife, which we kept in our camp, and which 
 served as a dagger and weapon of defence a- 
 gainst a violent attack of nocturnal enemies. 
 Having long been flattei'ed with the prospect 
 of soon being set at liberty ; and discovering 
 an intention among the guard privately to as- 
 sassinate some unknown numbe'* of us ; we re- 
 solved to make another attempt to effect our 
 escape, aud thus free ourselves from ther bru- 
 tal tyranny and unhallowed pretences. 
 
 We had once paid several dollars- to one of 
 the guard to suffer us to pass through the gate^ 
 should he find an opportunity : but never hM 
 the good fortune, even to see himi again. 
 
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 INDIAN 
 
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 The plan we adopted was in itsdf extreme- 
 ly precarious as to its success^ and afibrded so 
 little encouragement even to those wlio seem- 
 ed to be most anxious to obtain tlieir freedom, 
 that few would engage in the enterprise ; be- 
 ■ lieving it would be a fruitless attempt to ob- 
 tain our object, which would only cost us paiu, 
 and bring upon us more sore trials, and far 
 greater afflictions. 
 
 Had we been confined upon the main land, 
 where liberty from the prison, would haves 
 afforded us a chance to retreat from danger, 
 though we should be obliged even to pass 
 the gates of a city surrounded with enemies, 
 having our hands bound in irons, and our feet 
 fettered with chains, yet, our prospects of suc- 
 cess in our attempt to escape, had still been 
 Imghter tlian now presented to our view. — 
 For, then, our deliverance from prison might 
 have given us a passport to the wilderness, 
 free from danger ; but now, our freedom from 
 those Avails of wretchedness, incurred the pe- 
 nalty of death, which was annexed to our es- 
 cape if overtaken; and brought us to ^Uroub- 
 led waters," which seemed to promise death 
 inevitable to all who should attempt to pass 
 the current, even with well fitted boats, while 
 we had nothing in our power but logs, fasten- 
 ed together with ropes. 
 
 Our plan was to dig a passage under ground 
 that should extend bevond the pickets, whidi 
 
 •stood about tweutv feet from the barracks, 
 
CAPTR^E. 
 
 ■k'i^^' 
 
 95 
 
 xtrcmo- 
 »rded so 
 D seem- 
 Veedom, 
 se ; be- 
 i to ob- 
 U8 paiU) 
 
 It had been our practice during the jamnnicr to 
 hang; up blankets around the bunks in which 
 jwe slept, to prevent the flies from troubling us, 
 while we reposed upon our couch in the day 
 Itime. 
 
 We now again hung up the blankets around 
 lone of our bunks in a corner of the room, tho' 
 
 A} 
 
 If W^^ ^^^ prevent being disturbed by flies, but to 
 Ihidc ourselves from the face of ^^ serpents that 
 
 in land, 
 Id havci 
 danger, 
 to pass 
 enemies, 
 I our feet 
 ts of sue 
 
 pents 
 jwill bite without enchantment 5 and a bablcr 
 yhich is no better.'^ 
 
 Fearing the conseqtience of makipg our 
 ibject known to the prisoners generally, we 
 etermined to keep it a profound secret to all, 
 xcept the number who belonged to our 
 00m, consisting of twelve. 
 
 firr"enl A^<^^r^"*^^y? \ye took up the floor, both of 
 
 ■he bunk and barrack, and commenced die;- 
 view """" I • • 
 
 -\ 1 king. If any of our fellow prisoners, or the 
 
 ^ ard, happened to come'in while one was at 
 
 ork, others would drown the noise of his 
 
 iggiiig, by making some noise with a stick, 
 
 with their feet, which was easily done — 
 
 fithout being suspected of the design. 
 
 T^'ttil 1F^ dug in a perpendicular direction, deep 
 
 lOugh to have a horizontal course leave the 
 
 vth !)ctween the barracks and the pickets, of 
 
 fficient depth to render it safe for the guard 
 
 travel over the hole, w ithout breaking 
 
 rou^h. 
 
 As they had dug a ditch along the back 
 c of the barracks between them and the 
 
 )U i"*«5 
 
 Iderness, 
 Icm from 
 the pe- 
 our es- 
 ^' troub- 
 
 e 
 
 to pass 
 s, while 
 , fasten- 
 
 Ir ground 
 , whidi 
 racks. — 
 
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 ■f 
 
 
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 .M 
 
OS 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 Hii 
 
 
 fictetfa, in order to bank up the walls of ttic 
 barracks, it became necessary for us to dig a 
 perpendicular course of considerable deptb, 
 btfjce we could dig horizontally, to prevent 
 any person who might chance to travel in the 
 ditch, from breaking in, and discover our plan. 
 
 We had no other tool to dig with, except 
 a large Jack-knife ; tior indeed could we use 
 any other iiistiniment with any advantage when 
 we come to dig in a horizontal line. Aiid like 
 the animal that makes his abode in the bosom 
 of the earth, by digging a subterraneous pas- 
 sage to his gloomy cell, after we had dug a 
 quantity of earth loose, so that we had no 
 room to dig more, We returned backwards, 
 drawing or scraping the dirt we had dug, with 
 our hands and Jirms^ Which we put under the 
 floor of the barracksf* 
 
 Our progress, as must readily be perceived, 
 tV as very slow ; though some one of us kept con- 
 stantly digging, except in the hours of sleep^ 
 and time of taking refreshment ; alternately fol 
 lowing each othefr in ourturtis ; having a dress 
 prepared for the purpose, which each om 
 Wore, while at woyk in this dreary cavejrn, 
 where we were groping iii darkness at ndon 
 day. 
 
 Here we had an opportunity to reflect upon 
 our wretched condition, while our labour itj 
 self witnessed our sufl^erings and discontent! 
 ment. Here we could perceive the compamJ 
 tive state of him, who spiritually ^^walkottii 
 
 to 
 W 
 Ihd 
 of 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 97 
 
 of tlic 
 ) dig a 
 
 deptli, 
 
 prevent 
 
 I in tlie 
 
 mr plan. 
 
 except 
 
 we use 
 Lge wlicn 
 Aiul like 
 le bosom 
 pons pas- 
 d dug a 
 
 had no 
 .ckwards, 
 dug, with I 
 under the I 
 
 )crceived,| 
 kept con- 
 of «leep,| 
 ately fol- 
 g a dressl 
 each on^j 
 cavern, 
 iS at nbon 
 
 jflect upon 
 llabour it 
 
 [iscontcnt 
 c^mparaj 
 rftlkethii 
 
 darkness and liatli no light." Here it might 
 indeed, with propriety be said, that silence 
 wept ! We succeeded, however, in the prose- 
 cution of our design extremely well, finding 
 no obstacle in our way till we had dug under 
 the ditch, before mentioned, when a heavy 
 rain fell, and filled the diteh full of water, 
 which soaked through the ground into our 
 subterraneous way, and filled the hole we had 
 dug completely full. This was truly a great 
 misfortune^ which dampened the feelings of 
 every one who had been engaged in the ardu- 
 ous undertaking. 
 
 As Me had dug considerable distance, and 
 advanced nearly to the pickets; had toiled 
 with diligence, and expended much labour, 
 we were unwilling to relinquish the task, and 
 submit to the idea of continuing in bondage 
 another winter. And Ave were the more anx- 
 ious to pursue the undertaking, and effect our 
 escape, because the infamous McDaniel, of 
 whom I have spoken, had now returned and re-, 
 sumed his commmid over us, which gave us 
 greater reason to fear that we should again be 
 compelled to undergo those tortures, wluch he 
 had once inflicted. 
 
 But it now became impossible, any longer 
 to keep the matter secret, as we had done. 
 We therefore made known our object to all 
 the prisoners, who were stationed in our line 
 of barracks, and receiving their universal, and 
 respective promises, not to divulge the secret 
 
 !i 
 'If 
 
 il'iw 
 
 '^IMii 
 
 'ii'iii' 
 
 t: 
 
 |!;".i! 
 
 
 l'''f^ 
 
 ■jra 
 
 « 
 
INDLVN 
 
 to any cf the prisoners, ai ho \\ ere stationed 
 in the other line of barracks ; although few 
 would assist us, considering it labour in vain, 
 we resolved to persevere in the plai, and, if 
 possible, effect our escape. 
 
 AVe now commenced dipping cut the waier 
 into a barrel, v> hicli we emptied into a ditch 
 that was made to convey our wash- water from 
 the barracks Into the river. We dipped six 
 barrel's full, and emptied it into the ditch ; 
 besides a considerable quantity which we put 
 into a clay-pit, under the barracks, where they^ 
 dug clay for their chiinnies, and still there 
 w as mucii left in our w ay. 
 
 The guard, no doubt, supposed we were 
 washing, or they would ha^e suspected us. 
 Nor yet can I account for their stupidity, 
 while tliey saw we w ere in possession of such 
 a quantity cf water, m hich we brought out 
 of, without carrying into, our barracks. 
 
 We were now cbliged to lie half buried in 
 mud and water, while digging, which chilled 
 our bodies, benumbed our senses, and depress- 
 ed our spirits. 
 
 To prevent being discovered, when we re- 
 turned from our toil we were under the 
 necessity of v^ aching; ourselves in a larere tub 
 cf water, which we had also placed behind 
 our , blankets, that Avere hung up around our 
 bunk, as we now were forced on accouat of 
 the mud, to enter upon our subterraneous la; 
 bour, entirely naked. . 
 
 iiiiN 
 
m 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 09 
 
 uned 
 few 
 
 vain, 
 
 I, if 
 
 A'aicr 
 ditch 
 from 
 [I six 
 litch ; 
 e put 
 t tliey^ 
 there 
 
 were 
 'd us. 
 ndity/ 
 sucli 
 out 
 
 it 
 
 icd in 
 hilled 
 
 press - 
 
 ^ve rc- 
 the 
 ;e tub 
 )ebiDd 
 d our 
 lut of 
 s la- 
 
 Vain would be the attempt to give a descrip- 
 tion of ray feelings, while at work in this 
 dreary cavern, twenty feet under ground, 
 wholly without clothing, half buried in mud, 
 and stragling for liberty. 
 
 I was removed from all my friends and rel- 
 atives, the distance of more than three Inn- 
 dred miles, and placed upon an Island in tha 
 river, on both sides of wiiicli, the water 
 mjved ov^v^'.r the ra^'^ei rojks, with such ve- 
 *locity, as to appear white to the eye, like a 
 foaming billow, not less than three miles in 
 length. Htire I was confined within the pow- 
 er, and exp )sed to tlie envy, malice, and re- 
 geiitaient of an implicable enemy. Shrouded 
 in darkness, in the heart of the earth, where 
 ligiit was unapproachable, my body lay in the 
 mire, and my mind was overwhelmed with 
 sorrow ! If wc refrained from digging, we 
 seemed to be threatened with death on every 
 side ; and if we continued to dig, our pros- 
 pect appeared as melancholly as the grave! 
 Fear and trouble were before us, w hile our 
 absence from the barracks, exposed us to the 
 danger of having our plan discovered, which 
 would be sure to bring upon us th(i most aw- 
 ful tortures, and perhaps even dei^ itself. 
 We chose, however, to hazard our liveMu an 
 attempt te escape, though doubtful of suc- 
 cess, than to risk the consequences of remain- 
 ing in confinement. 
 
 m 
 
 i ii t, 
 
 
 Jill 
 
 
Ik^f^ 
 
 100 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 W 
 
 m.: 
 
 v\ < 
 
 if ft'W 
 
 <h' •' 
 
 I ■■ 
 
 When we arrived to tlic picket, we 'found 
 it was placed upon a large stone. We 
 then daij; to the right, where we found anoth- 
 er, whicli formed an angle with the first — ^Then 
 turning to the left, we also found a third. All 
 ivhich, seemed to discourage my fellow la- 
 bourers, and led tliem entirely to give up the 
 ohject. But, being in perfect health, and in 
 good spirits, myself, I went in with a deter- 
 mination to remove one of these obstacles, if 
 possible, before I returned. We had, by this 
 time, made quite a large cavern near the pick- 
 ets; which gave me considerable chance to 
 work. After labouring in this cold, dismal 
 place, during the space of two hours, I suc- 
 ceeded in removing one of the stones out of 
 the Way, and to my great joy, I found, that 
 the picket was hollow up a few inches above 
 the ground, which emmitted light into this, 
 before gloomy, but now delightful place. I 
 could verily say with Solomon, ^Uruly the 
 light is sAveet, and a pleasant thing it is to 
 behold the sun.'' 
 
 I then returned, and iiformed my fellow 
 prisoners cf my success, wjucIi occasioned 
 transports of joy ; raised the desponding ; en- 
 couraged the f.iithlcss ; confirmed the doubt- 
 ing ; and put new vigour in every breast. 
 
 The Avork was now prosecuted m earnest, 
 and soon completed. Animated at the pros- 
 pect of gaining our liberty, the one who dug 
 lastj undesignedly, broke through the grouad 
 
mmmm 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 101 
 
 toun(\ 
 We 
 
 notli- 
 Then 
 All 
 ^v la- 
 ip the 
 11(1 in 
 leter- 
 es, if 
 y this 
 pick- 
 ice to 
 lismal 
 
 [ 8UC- 
 
 )ut of 
 that 
 
 above 
 this^ 
 
 e. I 
 
 y the 
 is to 
 
 ■ellow 
 
 ioned 
 
 ; en- 
 
 loubt'i 
 
 rnest, 
 pros- 
 o dug 
 ;rouiid 
 
 aiiil roiulercd the hole visible to any pprson, 
 who should liappen to pass on the oiitside of 
 tlie pickets. It now b('C!\me necessary to 
 <levi.se a plan to secrete the hole fioni the ob- ' 
 scrvation of the guard. To efiVct t!iis, Mr. ' 
 lielknap, one of our fellow prisoner^y went to 
 the ,j;uara, and in a disscmbiing tone, repre- 
 sented to McDaniel, the liUld prospect wo . 
 had of heing exrhan2;ed ; that we had ionij; 
 heen flattered, and as lon^' wailed with anx- 
 ious expectation, for the ai)proach of such a 
 happy event; but fiudiu^ ourselves disap- 
 j)ointed, we were forced to ahandou all hopes, 
 of delicerance hy ea'chav.i^e that fall ; that, 
 under these considerations, the prisoners were 
 resolved to be contented, duriiii^ their conSnc- 
 loent on the Island, till they sliould find them- 
 selves actually set at liberty; when all their 
 hopes? would be SAvallowed up in the full frui- 
 tion of the object we had so lon^ sought. Con- 
 sequently we dcsirerl the indulgence of an op- 
 portunity to secure all our garden seeds, some 
 of which, such as lettuce and mustard, were 
 then ripe, and fit to harvest, that we might be 
 enaljled to supply ourselves with the like ar- 
 ticles, the ensuing year, should it be our un- 
 happy case, to remain on the Island another 
 season. 
 
 Pleased with the idea that tlie prisoners 
 were resolved to be submissive to his require- 
 ments, he readily ordered one of the guard to 
 to go and attend us w hile we gathered our let- 
 
 I S 
 
 .^:^ 
 
 ' , 'ill 
 
 if 
 
 ('v! 
 
 
//i'^ 
 
 102 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 iii.i'< 
 
 min 
 
 v\ 
 
 , ■> 
 
 ';v^i. 
 
 tuce and mustard, wlioso, duty it was to see that 
 no one ahsconded. Having cut, and tied up, 
 in small bundles, these vegetahles, we pro- 
 ceeded to hang them up, so as to fill the space 
 between the pickets, and also place them over 
 the hole we had dug, to hide our escape from 
 the sight of the sentinel, who walked over the 
 hole, between the pickets and the barracks, 
 in whicli we were stationed. This, we ac- 
 complished, while our unsuspecting attendant 
 was lounging aboul, at a distance from us. 
 
 Here we beheld an example of selfishness, 
 discontentment, fear and deception, .actually 
 assuming the appearance of honesty, content- 
 ment, and submission. 
 
 Knowing that we must seperate ourselves in- 
 to small companies, and take different rafts, 
 in order to render our passage down the rap- 
 ids more safe ; we now made choice of our 
 associates, to pass the dangerous scene before 
 us. I associated myself with WilliamClark, 
 of Yirginia, John Sprague, of Ballston New- 
 York, and Simeon Belknap, of Randolph, 
 Vermont. We had prepared somf^ food for 
 our sustenance on the way, by takiui, a quan- 
 tity of flour, and mixing it with melted butter, 
 which we put into a small bag, made for the 
 purpose. We also had a little salt-pork, and 
 bread, together with some parched com, and 
 black pepper. 
 
 Those of us who had been engaged in dig- 
 ging, had ^)reviously furnished ourselves with 
 
 m 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 103 
 
 Uiat 
 
 up, 
 pro- 
 ipace 
 over 
 from 
 r the 
 ackn, 
 c ac- 
 iidant 
 s. 
 
 mcsSy 
 :ually 
 ft tent- 
 
 cs in- 
 I rafts, 
 5 rap- 
 >f our 
 lefove 
 lark, 
 ^eW" 
 olph, 
 d for 
 quan- 
 utter, 
 or the 
 and 
 and 
 
 ? 
 
 dig- 
 
 wilh 
 
 rope«, by cutiin;^ our hlankets into stnnj^^, 
 Aiiii twistiuj; them t( ;5ether; while those who 
 had believed our atienipt to he vain, and tool- 
 Ish, had neither provided themselves with 
 provisions, ropes, or materials for a raft, and 
 were, therefore, unahlc to inipro\e the oppor- 
 tunity wiiicli now presented to ellVxt their es- 
 cape. 
 
 J5ut they c(»uld not forhcar collccling in 
 kuimU com[):inies, and whiJ^poring together, to 
 dcvir^e plans for escape, widch raised suspi- 
 cions in tlic mind^ of the- guard* that the pris- 
 (mere were entering into sotne plot, either to 
 make their escape, or to raise a mutiny in the 
 camp. Under these appiidieu.sions, which / 
 took rise, from no other s<^urce, hut from the 
 conduct of those who had been made privy to 
 our undertaking, and would neit!ier assist us 
 in the work, nor prepare themselves to make 
 their escape, McUaniel ordered that ^' if any 
 prisoner should be found attempting to make 
 las escape, or be guilty of any misconduct, 
 that night, he should not be spared alive.^' 
 
 We commenced digging on the twenty 
 fourth day of August, A. 1). 1782, and hav- 
 ing dug a passage under ground, the distance 
 of twenty two feet and a half; with no other 
 tool but a Jack-knife; on the night of th© 
 tenth of September following, after waiting 
 till nine o'clock, when the roll was called, and 
 all was still, we tied our ropes to our packs, 
 uid crawled out, drawing our packs after us. 
 
 I 
 
 i 9*4 
 
 i , I, 
 
 .!<;' 
 
 ii . 
 
 -ill 
 
 m\ 
 
 -111 
 
 

 lOi 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 
 • I ■■ I 
 
 .,', ■: 
 
 I was preceded by six of my fellow pris- 
 ouer.-3, who, after crawling through the hole, 
 wliich was nearly half filled witli mud, made a 
 path in the grass, as they crawled down the 
 banks of tlie liver, which resembled that of a 
 log having been drawn through the mud. 
 
 The moon shone bright. The sentinel was 
 walking dii'ectly across the hole, just as I was 
 about to crawl out, when he cried ort, " aWs 
 icelL^^ Thought I, ^^ be it so, continue the 
 cry if you please,'' Mjf head at this time 
 Mas not more than a .yard from his feet. I 
 crawled on, and was followed by about twen- 
 ty more, who were our fellow labourers. 
 
 As we had been allowed to go out of our 
 inclosure, in the day time, to hoe our corn, 
 and garden roots, and get our wood, attended 
 by ohe of the guard, we had improved the op- 
 j)ortunity, and selected some logs for a raft, to 
 which we could go with(mt difficulty. Clark, 
 Belkuap, Sprague and myself new separated 
 ourselves fiom the rest of the prisoners, and 
 remained together, sharing equally in all the suf- 
 ferings through which wc were called to pass. 
 
 We took a large scalping knife with us, and 
 a pocket compass, together with a tinder-box 
 and fire-works. W^e rolled a large log into 
 the ri^ er, on the upper part of the north side 
 of the Island, on e;.ch side cf which, we pla- 
 ced another, then putting sticks across both 
 ends of them, underneath, and on the upper 
 side, opposite each other, we tied all of them 
 
CAPTIVE* 
 
 109 
 
 J pris- 
 i hole, 
 nade a 
 \i\ fclie 
 at of a 
 1. 
 
 lel was 
 ;I was 
 
 " alVs 
 ue the 
 s time 
 eet. I 
 t twen- 
 s. 
 
 of our 
 r corn, 
 Uended 
 the op- 
 raft, to 
 
 Clark, 
 )arated 
 
 , and 
 
 he suf- 
 
 s 
 
 pas«. 
 IS, and 
 ler-hox 
 g into 
 th side 
 vc pla- 
 is both 
 upper 
 f them 
 
 together with wir bla nket-ropes ; and fasten- 
 ing our packs thereon, which contained our 
 provision, &c. we then sat, one on each cor- 
 ner, and set sail down the rapids. 
 
 Death in her most* fi-ightful form, now 
 seemed to threaten us, and the foaming bil- 
 lows, pointed us to a watery grave ! Guided 
 only by the current; sometimes floating o- 
 voi* rocks, sometimes buried in the water, 
 with little hope of again being carried out 
 alive ; we passed down the raging stream, 
 with the greatest rapidity imaginable ; cling- 
 ing to our logs respectively ; sensible that, un- 
 der the guidance of Divine Providence, our 
 only ground of hope rested in our adhesion to 
 the raft. 
 
 We passed down the river about uine 
 miles, when we were enabled to reach shore. 
 We landed on the north side cf the river, 
 about two hours before day, with not a . dry 
 thread in our clothes, chilled with the cold, 
 and trembling with fear. Our bread had all 
 washed to a jelly and rendered wholly unfit 
 to eat. None of our pro^ ision remained fit to 
 carry with us, except a little parched corn, 
 which was in a small wooden bottle, some 
 salt-pork, and our buttered flour, whir^.i wo 
 found to be water-proof. Our compass> wasj 
 also rendered useless, which was indeed a 
 great misfortune to us, as the want of it pro- 
 tracted our journey through the woods, many 
 days. We marched up the river till day- 
 
 il: ., 
 
 If 
 
 1: 
 
 Ml' 
 
 I 
 
 ;;!:, 
 
, y .. 
 
 108 
 
 INDLVN 
 
 V- 
 
 HWJi 
 
 ,' S' 1,. 
 
 break, when we discovered that we were nciir 
 the fort oppo^^itc the Island. We then turn- 
 ed north into the woods, whicli led U9 into a 
 swamp, wh.ere we encamped under vsaine old 
 tree-tops, that had fillen to^^ether, about one 
 mile from the fort, which formed no shelter 
 from rain, but merely hid us from our expect- 
 ed pursuers. We plainly heard the report of 
 Uie alarm guns, on the morning of the 11th Gf 
 September, which announced to us tlie discov- 
 ery of what had cost us great pains, and evin- 
 ced, to all who should beliold the place, our 
 love of liberty, and resolution to obtaiii it. 
 
 We remained under these tree-tops, three 
 days and two nights ; without going ten 
 rods from the place. Having nothing to eat but 
 salt pork, parched corn, and our buttered 
 flour, toii;et]ier with a f^w kernels of black 
 pepper, fjr the want of which last, Itliinkwe 
 must have perished ; as it rained w ith a mix- 
 ture of snow, every day and night, sufficient- 
 ly to keep us completely wet all the time. 
 
 Having been so harshly treated by the Brit- 
 ish, and knowing that ^^ confidence in an un- 
 faithful man in time of trouble, is like a bro- 
 ben tooth, and a foot out of joint ;'^ we resolv- 
 ed to make ourselves known to no one. And 
 like the Ishmaelites of old, while we had rea- 
 son to suppose that every man^s hand was 
 against us, we wore determined to put our 
 own hands againt every nifln who should 
 «ome in our wsy. 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 i07 
 
 \ neiir 
 turn- 
 ato a 
 e old 
 it one 
 heltcr 
 cpect- 
 >ort of 
 1th of 
 liscov- 
 l evin- 
 e, our 
 it. 
 
 three 
 
 g ten 
 
 at bat 
 
 ittered 
 
 black 
 
 nkwe 
 
 mix- 
 
 'lent- 
 
 Brit- 
 
 m un- 
 la bro- 
 [esolv- 
 
 And 
 Id rea- 
 
 was 
 lut our 
 Ihoald 
 
 Destitute of food sufficient to supply U9 
 through the long woods we were to pass^ to 
 reach our homes ; we were determined to re- 
 plenish our stores, before we crossed the river 
 St. Lawrence ; as there were but few settle- 
 ments on the scuth side of the river, in that part 
 of the country. We were, there fv)re, under 
 the necessity (^f staying about there, till they 
 had done searching for us. 
 
 On the night of the third day after our es- 
 cape, we ventured to take up our march, and 
 travelled till \^ e came to a stream, which we 
 supposed emptied into the river St. Lav/rcnce 
 at the fort; but we afterwards found it to le 
 only a branch of that stream. I waded into 
 it, and found it was so deep, that we could 
 not ford it. 1 therefore returned, and wc en- 
 camped for the night. Our sufferings this 
 niglit were almoF^t insupportable ; as it Mas a 
 cold frosty night, and we were wiujlly expos- 
 ed, having nothing about us, except what was 
 completely wet; without a shelter, and desti- 
 tute of fire. 
 
 On the morning of the 14tli, benumbed, and 
 chilled with the cold, we found t place where 
 we forded the stream, and travelled till w© 
 came to another, and by mistaking i\\^ former, 
 we supposed this to empty itself into the river, 
 above the fort. We followed the current of thia 
 feiream, till about dark, ^hen we came insight of 
 a settlement. After waitins: till about nine o'- 
 clock iu night, we ventured to approach a lit- 
 
 S 
 
 xm 
 
 "1 K 
 
INDIAN 
 
 ile nearer, when to our utter astonishment, we 
 heard the drum beat, which gave us assurance, 
 that we were near the fort. Finding ourselves 
 80 near, we concluded to cross the stream at the 
 nearest fording ]ilace. In passing off, wc 
 went through the commanding officer's garden, 
 and I pulled up a hill of his potatoes^ and 
 carried them along with me. 
 
 We then went into the road, and followed 
 up the river St Lawrence about four miles. 
 We had not proceeded far, however, before 
 we came to a boat; lying at anchor, in the riv- 
 er, near the shore. I waded in towards it till 
 I heard men in it, snoring in their sleep, when 
 I quickly made my retreat. We then went 
 on, till we came to the house of a Frenchman, 
 as we supposed by his speech, who, just as 
 we came up, opened the door, and hailed us. 
 Turning into Iiis lot, we went to his barn, 
 and endeavored to find some creature to kill. 
 We found one cow. As we were approach- 
 ing towards her, two large dogs came at us 
 with great rage, and barking most furiously, 
 appeared to be determined to bite us. The 
 old Frenchman again er.me to the door, and 
 hailed us. Fearing that soldiers might be 
 qi» altered there, we retreated as fast as we 
 could, keeping an eye upon the dogs, and 
 sw inging our staves at them, to keep them 
 from biting us, while the old Frenchman, 
 was trying to set them on. The ground was 
 descending as we retreated, aad while we 
 
mt, we 
 arance, 
 rselves 
 A at the 
 off, wc 
 garden, 
 s, and 
 
 allowed 
 • miles. 
 
 before 
 the riv- 
 Is it till 
 )y when 
 lu went 
 ichman, 
 just as 
 iled us. 
 us barn, 
 
 to kill, 
 proach- 
 at us 
 riously, 
 The 
 and 
 be 
 
 as we 
 gs, and 
 
 p them 
 
 ichman; 
 Lttd was 
 hile wc 
 
 iOY 
 
 1 
 
 ght 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 \ 
 
 were all moving together very fast, having our 
 eyes partially turned upon the dogs', we ran 
 against a fence, slightly laid up, and threw 
 (lowii many longtlis, wliich made such a rat- 
 iling, that it terrified the dogs^ and imraedi- 
 aiely put /Aem upon their retreat; as much 
 aliVigted as they had ])cen outrageous. 
 
 Trembling for oiu^ safety, we kept in the 
 fields, backs of the street, while the dogs con- 
 tinued their l)arking, as if determined to a- 
 rouse our enemies fmm their slumbers, and 
 cause us to be taken. They succeeded, at 
 least, in exciting all the dogs in the neighbor- 
 hood, to engage in the general alarm ; and 
 seemed anxious to maintiiin a constant echo, 
 in the surrounding atmo^nliere. They were 
 busily employed, at e"\ cry house, and some- 
 times in great earnest, as we passed along, 
 the distance of several miles. 
 
 At length, we came to a number of cattle, 
 in a field, not far from the road ; among widcii, 
 we found a two year i>ld heifer, very tame, 
 and in good flesh. 
 
 We had long been lurking about, waiting 
 for the agitation of the public mind to abate; 
 that we might have opportunity, to obtrdn 
 some provision, before we entered into ^he 
 wide wilderness, through which we v/ere ex- 
 pecting to pass ; and as the favored moment bad 
 now arrived, we agreed, that Belknap shonlJ go 
 in search of a boat, to convey us over tiie 
 Lake St. Francis, near which we found the 
 
 K 
 
 
 '3. 
 
 LM 
 
 111 
 
 ill J 
 
 11 
 
 /^J 
 
110 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 if 
 
 r* I 
 
 •t , 
 
 U^f^ 
 
 Pit 
 
 ;■*,; 
 
 ¥: 
 
 lit?' I'i 
 :-at--is^' " 
 
 \-p.: 
 
 cattle-; that Spragiic should stand Mith tjur 
 scalpii^u, knife, to defend against every foe; 
 while Clirk and myself should kill the heif- 
 er, and procure a quantity of meat. By the 
 help of a little salt, I soon succeeded in catch- 
 ing the heifer ; and taking her by the horns 
 and p/^^se, 1 instantly flung her down, when 
 Clark cut her throat with a large jack-knife ; 
 and not waiting for her to die, or even spend- 
 ing time to skin her; we took ofiFa gammon, 
 and left her bleeding. Belknap had now re- 
 turned, and informed us, that he had found a 
 boat, to which we immediately resorted, car- 
 rying with us our unskinned beef, the booty 
 we had desired for many days ; leaving the 
 owner of the lieifer to seek his recompense, 
 where he could find it; willing, however, he 
 should share with us, in his beef, by takin 
 what we left. 
 
 We were not insensible, tliat if he was a 
 British suljject, we had abundantly compen- 
 sated his lo'is, to liis government, by our omu 
 starvation ; or if he were a friend to the unfor- 
 tunate, he could not lament liis loss, since he 
 had thus far contrilmted to feed the hungry, 
 without even knowins: what his ridit hand 
 did. Nor, indeed, did we trouble ourselves^ 
 while we ruminated upon the affair, ccncern- 
 ning what might be the cogitations of theow^i- 
 cr, since v/e had obtained the meat; and 
 thus answered our own purpos?.. 
 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 3k. 
 
 Hi 
 
 f foe; 
 hcif- 
 y the 
 cai-ch- 
 horris 
 when 
 knife ; 
 5pencl- 
 nmou, 
 r>\v re- . 
 mnd a 
 Ij car- 
 booty 
 ig the 
 peiisc, 
 er, he 
 takinj 
 
 was a 
 mpen- 
 r own 
 unfov- 
 ice he 
 uigry. 
 hand 
 selves^ 
 ncern- 
 e 0W41- 
 
 Haying entered the boat, with all onr bag- 
 gage ; tlie moon sliining bright ; we set out 
 upon the Lake, steering for the soutk shore. 
 We had advanced but littk>. distance, when a 
 breezcj arose from the north- west, and drifted 
 US' ahead with great violence; every wav« 
 dashing the water into our boat. 
 
 It now became necessary that two of us 
 should dip the water from the boat witli our 
 hats, as fast as possible; while the oUier two, 
 rowed for the shore with the greiiiest exertion. 
 The wind increased. The boat wis fast filling, 
 in spite of all we could do. Every w ave, to 
 human view, brought us by rapid strides to 
 the arms of death, and presented to us a Ava- 
 tery grave. But, through the wonderful good- 
 ness of the Great Preserver of men, we suc- 
 ceeded in landing, just as our boat had filled 
 with water. Having fastened it to the shore, 
 we went into the woods, struck up a fire, 
 skinned our beef, and cut it into thin slices, 
 which we partially roasted on slicks by the 
 fire, and then lay down to sleep. This was 
 the first time we had been to any fire, after we 
 left Prison Island. We had lain secreted in 
 bushes, and old tree-tops ; wandered in the 
 darkness of the night, exposed to the inclem- 
 ency of the weather ; forded streams of \ a- 
 ter up to our necks; constantly, and complete- 
 ly wet ; hungry, and chilled with cold ; filled 
 with fear and anxiety foi? our safety, du- 
 jinj the space of four days, and five niglil», 
 
 f 
 
(13 
 
 IND1A.M 
 
 I. 
 
 K 
 
 including the uiglit in wliicli W€ made our es- 
 cape. 
 
 Destimction and misery, ofien appeareil in 
 our way. Death frequently stared us in tlic 
 face, tlu'catening to make us his prey, but 
 seemed to be held from falling upon us, by 
 the finger of God. 
 
 On the morning of the 15th day of Sep- 
 tember, (the 5th after ;e escaped;) suppo- 
 sing we had landed upon an Island, we began 
 to seek how % c should £;et off, without beins: 
 discovered By the inhabitants on the northern 
 shores of the Lake, or by tliose who might 
 happen to be upon the waters. Happily, we 
 found, by travelling into the woods, that we 
 were upon a peninsula, joined to the main 
 land, by an isthmus, not more tiian eight or 
 ten feet vide. This was a circumstance, 
 {^rr^atly in our favor ; as we should otherwise 
 biiv»3 been under the necessity of exposing 
 ourselves to the view of our enemies ; or wait- 
 eu fir the night to cover our escape. 
 
 We now set out, directing our course near- 
 ly south-east, for the American fort, at Pitts- 
 ford, a town situated on Otter Creek, in the 
 western part of the State of Vermont. 
 
 Our companion, Mr. Clark, had been much 
 4iccustomed to traveling in the woods ; having 
 been engaged in the business of surveying, in 
 the w estern part of the United States, at the 
 time he w as taken by the Lulians. We there- 
 fore, chose him to be our leader througili the 
 
ireil in 
 in the 
 
 r, but 
 us, by 
 
 f Sep. 
 suppo- 
 5 began 
 
 belns; 
 )rthern 
 
 might 
 ily, we 
 !iat we 
 5 main 
 ight or 
 stance, 
 erwiso 
 posing 
 V wait- 
 
 5 near- 
 Pitts- 
 in the 
 
 1 rauchi 
 
 laving 
 
 |ing, in 
 
 at the 
 
 there- 
 
 gli th€r 
 
 ^w^ 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 li» 
 
 wilderness, anil our pilot to a more favored 
 country. 
 
 We travelled all the first day, over low, 
 marshy land, timbered with cedar, ; but wer* 
 unable to find any water to drink, either in 
 running brooks, or by digging; for the wknt 
 of wliich we suffered much, being thirsty, as 
 well as hungry, and greatly fatigued. Wislring 
 to escape the vigilance of our expected pur- 
 suers, we travelled with great speed ; which, 
 together with our living on flesh alone, doubt- 
 less occasioned a f^ir greater degi'ee of thirst, 
 than we should have felt, bad we been sup- 
 plied with bread. Tiie next day, we found 
 water in great plenty. We crossed many 
 streams of considerable size ; some by fording, 
 although of such depth as to reach to our 
 shoulders ; others we crossed by -making a 
 small raft, sufficient to bear one of us, with 
 our baggage ; while the other three stripped^ 
 and, hanging by one hand to the raft, swam 
 by her side. 
 
 After wandering in the wilderness, during 
 the space of tQn days ; sometimes progressing 
 on our journey ; sometimes lounging iii sus- 
 pense, doubting which course to ti|.ke, and 
 waiting ftn* the clouds to be dispelled, that the 
 J5un might appear to enlighten our path, and 
 guide our way; we arrived at Lake Chauji- 
 plain^ with our clothes nearly torn from our 
 bodies ; emaciated with hunger, sind fatigued 
 vvith the daily toil, and long deprivation <rff 
 
 m 
 
 
 I 
 
 !lf!l 
 
 : 
 
114i 
 
 iXDlAN 
 
 the comforts of civilized life. During tlicsc 
 ten days, \vc saw no other human being; nor 
 heard his* voice, beheld his foot-steps, or 
 the works of his hand. We lived almost whol- 
 ly on flesh, like the carniverous race^ and lika 
 them reposed upon the ground ; equally fear- 
 ing the face of man; suspicious of his design^, 
 and dreading his approach, as we did the in- 
 strument of death. 
 
 While we one day, lay encamped by the 
 fire, waiting for the appearance of the sun, 
 we Avere aroused from our sleep, by the sup- 
 posed report of a musket. Ignorant of the 
 source whence it came, and fearing to make 
 immediate fiiglit, lest we should flee into the 
 hands of our enemies, we prepared ourselves 
 to march, and were endeavoring to espy the 
 foe, when a siiailar nois^e, proceeding from 
 the ])ursiing cf a stone, heated by the lire, re- 
 lieved our minds from fear, and filled our bo- 
 som-} wUh joy, at the happy disappointment 
 cf expected danger. 
 
 Soon after we arrived at Lake Champlaiu, 
 we found a part of an old flat-bottom boat, 
 which we fitted up for the purpose of convey- 
 ing us acrcfis the Lake, by lashing a log on 
 each side, with bark and withes. 
 
 At about sunset we went aboard, and set 
 sail to cross the Lake. We had proceeded 
 nearly half way across, when the Avind arose 
 ap^inst us, and baffled all our exertions to 
 proceed ftirther. After labouring till about 
 
CAPTIVK. 
 
 115 
 
 tllCSiJ 
 
 ; nor 
 i^ or 
 vhol- 
 I lika 
 fear- 
 
 iii- 
 
 j the 
 sun, 
 sup- 
 f the 
 make 
 the 
 selves 
 
 "f 
 
 tlie 
 from 
 •e, re- 
 ir bo- 
 tmcnt 
 
 plain, 
 
 boat; 
 
 nvey- 
 
 og on 
 
 (I set 
 
 eedert 
 
 arose 
 
 )ns to 
 
 about 
 
 ni'hlui'^bl vvithont success, ;iii<l faariiiu; wc 
 slioiilil be taken by the British, if we remain- 
 ed on the water till lig^it, we concbuled to row 
 back to the shore we left, and rellnqaish the 
 idea of crossing the Lake that night. Wc 
 bad continued upon the water, till a tempest 
 arose, and the wind blew from various direc- 
 tions, shifling its course every few minutes ; 
 and our strength had become silmost exhaust- 
 ed, being faint for M^ant of food, insomuch 
 that we could bardly move. We laboured 
 V itli diligence, and with ail our might, till 
 day-break, having nothing to use for oars ex- 
 cept such sticks as we found in the woods, and 
 prepared for the purpose, with a jack-knife. 
 We were now enabled to reacb the same shore 
 from which we started, though several miles 
 farther nortli. Our clothes were completely 
 wet, and our strength so far gone, that neither 
 of us could scarcely go. 
 
 In this wretched state, stupified and chilled 
 with the cold ; so faint and tired that we could 
 hardly move, Ave crept a few rods into the 
 woods ; built a fire, and laid down upon the 
 ground. 
 
 I never suffered so much fatigue, in the name 
 space of time, in my life, a* I did this night ; nor 
 woifld I have believed I could endure as much^ 
 with so.little strength, without perishing. Lan- 
 guage is too feeble to express, nor can ima* 
 gination conceive the sufferings we utiderwent» 
 
 If,. 
 
 Ill-::) 
 
 'III' 
 
 '-V 
 
INDIAN 
 
 We had now hni little provision loft, and 
 Avere com|M»ll(Ml to curtail our lonniT allow- 
 ance, so that wc slioulil he euahled to siihsi«»t, 
 and continue our journey, till wc could reach 
 the desired country. 
 
 Having rested from the wearisome and 
 fruitless labors of thcni;;ht, till nearly sun-set 
 the next day, we reiolvcd to travel on the 
 west side of the Lake, till we should come (o 
 a narrow place, where we could m ell hope for 
 success in an attempt to cross. We resumed 
 our march and travelled a few miles tlhit night, 
 then camped down, and waited for the mora- 
 ing. 
 
 Th«» next day, we came to the river Sara- 
 nac, which empties into Lake Champlain, at 
 a place, now called Plattsburgh, in the State 
 of New-York. We heard the noise of the 
 British, engaged in chopping, a fcw rods up 
 the liver, while we crossed it between them 
 and the Lake, not far from its mouth. 
 
 After we crossed the river, we travel- 
 led a small distance, and encamped for the 
 night, in a valley^ Avhich was in the form of a 
 bason. AVe followed up the Lake, npon the 
 w estern shore, crossed Duck Creek, River-au- 
 Sable, Salmon River, and (xilliland^s Creek ; 
 when we came to a place, called Split Bock, 
 where the Lake is narrow, which afforded u«f 
 a prospect of succeeding if we attempted to 
 . cross. We then w ent to work to build a raft, 
 and while engaged; a little before sun- set, e$- 
 
lAPTlVE. 
 
 iir 
 
 ft, and 
 allow - 
 
 il read I 
 
 le and 
 sun- sot 
 on the 
 uome (u 
 liopc for 
 •esuined 
 it night, 
 morn- 
 
 r Sara- 
 ilain, at 
 le State 
 
 of tlie 
 rods up 
 
 n them 
 
 travel- 
 for the 
 rm of a 
 pon tlie 
 ver-au- 
 Crcelc ; 
 Bock, 
 rded us 
 pted to 
 L a raft^ 
 set, es- 
 
 piei! a British armed vessel, making toward 
 us f.om the south. We went into the busheiiy 
 and lay secreted fiom their view, though they 
 were si) visible to us, that we could see their 
 red coats and even count the buttons upon 
 them, v/hile they saild around at a smaU di«- 
 tance from us, apparently f )r amuHement, and 
 then returned as^ain to the fiouth, out of our 
 fe;ii;ht, without discovering us* 
 
 We tlien went to work, completed our raft, 
 ftt dirk, set sail acro-is the L?\ke ; and safel j 
 landed in a few hours at a place now called 
 Charlotte, in the State cf Vermont. Wo 
 were, however, ignorant, at that time, both 
 of the name of the place, and of its local sit- 
 uation. Being yet in a strange wilderness, wo 
 knew not which way to direct our course to 
 reach inhabitants. Indeed, all that prompted 
 us to go forward, was the information we had re- 
 ceived, that there wxre settlements near some 
 part of this Lake. But we were wholly ig- 
 norant, what way to take, that sliould enable us 
 to find them. Supposing ourselves to be between 
 the mouth of Onion River and Otter ('reek, we 
 concluded to steer a south east direction, which 
 we supposed would bring us to Pittsford fjvt. 
 We travelled into the woods a few rods, and 
 lay down for the night. In the morning w«e 
 resumed our march, and had not gone far, be- 
 fore we came to an old log house, which had 
 long been abandoned, and by the long contin- 
 uance of the war, had become greatly decajxdj^ 
 
 
 
 W'\ 
 
 
 
 J 
 
[if 
 
 T 
 
 i 
 I'f:, 
 
 i if ■iS;' w 
 
 a'l'i 
 
 ■Ja 
 
 
 
 INIBIAN 
 
 We, however, foand a few beans, which 
 jbad probably been there a number of years, 
 iind were covered with moulck As our pro- 
 vision was mostly gone, and we were extremely 
 hungry, we took, and parched them as we 
 would corn by the fire, which gave some rel- 
 ish to th« twigs, roots and berries, that had 
 already, for «ome days, composed our princi*- 
 pal food. 
 
 Our clothes t\ 3re almost torn from our raaft- 
 gled bodies, by the bushes, logs, and trees j 
 and the blood that gushed from our naked, 
 and worn out feet, witnessed, in every track 
 we made, the pains we suflfered. 
 
 Parts of our stockings still remained about 
 our feet ; and having a needle, but no thread 
 with us, we ravelled off the tops of them and 
 sewed our tattered rags together as much as 
 possible, to defend our bodies from the inclem- 
 ency of tlie weathet. 
 
 Oar daUy allowance of the f jod we brought 
 with us from Prison Island, was now reduced 
 to about an inch square of salt pork, and as 
 Wicli of our buttered flour, as we could twice 
 put upon the point of a large jack-knife. We 
 had eaten all our beef and parched corn. 
 
 We dug roots, of various kinds, and eat 
 them, together with birch and other twigs. 
 Spikenard roots, which we roasted by the fii*e, 
 comprised the greatest part of our subsistance. 
 We found several small frogs, which we kill- 
 ed and eat, with great delight. But we could 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 iig 
 
 rhicM 
 cars, 
 pro- 
 jmcly 
 A we 
 i rel- 
 t had 
 
 maR- 
 trees ; 
 laked, 
 
 track 
 
 about 
 thread 
 ta and 
 ich as 
 
 clem- 
 
 •ought 
 ,duccd 
 Lud as 
 twice 
 We 
 
 id eat 
 twigs. 
 itt fire, 
 starAce. 
 
 [e kill- 
 cofuU 
 
 find only a fjw cf them, though wc searched 
 diligently. Their meat tasted exceedingly 
 sweet and delicious* Wc also found meaufi 
 to catch several small fish, from a little rivu- 
 let, which we crossed; but coidd not obtain 
 more than two or three, although we spent 
 much time, and used every exertion in ©ur 
 power. 
 
 Some time after we had dressed our fish, 
 and had advanced considerable distance, wc 
 espied a bear upon a tree, a few ^^4s ahead 
 of us. We hastened to the foot of the tree 
 in view of killing her as she descended, by 
 stabbing her with our large scalping knife. 
 But on examination, we found the knife was 
 hft^ at the place of dressing the fi^h, which 
 fiustrated eur plan, and Idighted our hopes of 
 obtaining any meat. 
 
 Disappointment was now added to hunger 
 and distress, and oui* faint, and wearied bod- 
 ies, \^'ere hardly able to support the dreadful 
 ^vei«;ht < f sorroAV, which hung over our minds. 
 
 We, hoM'ev^r, ( ontinucd to keep a south 
 east course, till we reached the top of the 
 mountains, lying between Onion River, and 
 Otter Creek ; wlien, looking back, we could 
 seethe Lake, in fair view. Ileins: so faint 
 I for want of food, that we could hardly step ; 
 m\d scein"; nj prospect of obtaining any, it 
 seemed as if death must be. our inevitable fate. 
 I Wc had travelled seven or eight days, and 
 jStbsisted the whole time^ mostly upon thg 
 
 fl 
 
 m 
 
 n ■•■ / 
 
 <\m 
 
 I 
 
 * 
 
 M 
 
1«0 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 m 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 IP: I 
 
 r 11 
 
 spontaiiPon.q proiluctions of the country. Tli« 
 season fur berries was nearly gone, thoui^h 
 we M ere able to find some. 
 
 Our natures v^ccmed to waste away ; and 
 leave n Hhini; but fleatli, to stare us in the 
 face. Winter was fist approacliini:, wliile Ave 
 were almost naked;, destitute, and forlorn. O 
 the wrckhed condition of those whose lot it is 
 to be cast into the wilderness, and left to wan- 
 der upon the dark mouritains cf despair ! I 
 couhl feelinscly adopt the language of Job, and 
 say " Terrors are turned upoa me ; they 
 pursue my soul as the wind ; and my welfare 
 passeth away as as a cloud. When I looked 
 for g(5od, then evil came unto me ; and when 
 1 waited for light, then came darkness. I am 
 a hrother to draggons, and a companion to 
 ow Is 5 for I have eaten ashes like bread, and 
 mingled my drink with weeping.^' 
 
 Had. we seen any prospect of soon finding 
 the house of a friend, or of obtaining provis- 
 ion, in any other way, before we should ar- 
 rive among inhabitants, we could not have 
 denied ourselves, at once to eat the little pro- 
 vision we had in our packs, while we sufler- 
 ed so much by hunger on our way. 
 
 The barren mountains, and rocky cliffs ^f 
 Uristol, llipton and Hancock; the dismal 
 plain (,f Chataugua, and the waters of Cham« 
 plain, witnessed the cries of our sufferings; 
 w hile our step» tiaced g^in blood the distress 
 we endured. 
 
 'I 
 
 I i 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 Itl 
 
 Tb« 
 
 ; and 
 in the 
 die Ave 
 •n. O 
 ot it is 
 3 wan- 
 air ! I 
 ^b^ and 
 ; they 
 kvelfare 
 looked 
 L wli^n 
 I am 
 rtion to 
 id, and 
 
 finding 
 proyis- 
 iilA ar- 
 liave 
 tie pro- 
 sufl'er- 
 
 :liffs (if 
 dismal 
 Cham- 
 
 mngs ; 
 
 distress 
 
 We wandered from mountain to mountain, 
 und from valley to valley, keeping at a dis- 
 tance from the Lake, lest we should fall into 
 the hands of the British, who had command of 
 the Lake at that time. Sorrow, hunger, and 
 bitterness of soul, Avere our constant attend- 
 ants through the day ; and the approach of 
 the night only increased our miseries, and 
 multiplied our sighs and groanings ! 
 
 Though we slept, ife was fur trouble ; and 
 if we continued to roam the wilderness, wc 
 found no comfort, and our strength failed. If 
 we slumbered, it was upon the brink of the 
 grave, and it weuld not feed us. While our 
 hunger increased, our hopes of relief grew 
 dim. 
 
 Seeing no prospect of ever fintling the hab- 
 itations of friends, our companions, Clark and 
 Spraguc, like the lepers of old, " said one to 
 another, Why sit we here until we die V^ If 
 we say we will pursue our journey, " we shall 
 die, and if we sit still here, we die also.^^ 
 They therefore resolved to return to the I ke, 
 if they could get there, and deliver theni- 
 selves up into the hands of the British, 
 
 *They were both possessed of true couiS^^ 
 and a noble, generous spirit. But they %ere 
 wholly ignorant of the country, east o?|||^jfe» 
 Champlain, and consequently had less ttt:i|iir: 
 courage them, than Belknap and myself. *W)$^ 
 "were unwilling,*^ said they, *^ that we sliould 
 either return, or remain with them, if we 
 
 ■\% 
 
 I 
 
 ■i! 
 
133 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 
 ti ' 
 
 I. , 
 '■> * 
 
 ■'1 
 f ■ 
 
 
 J.f 
 
 " K.« 
 
 ' 1 
 
 1 
 
 iff 1' I 
 
 could ever reach inliabitants. But to go for- 
 ward, was apparent death, even if inhab- 
 itants might be found by two or tliree day't 
 travel ; as we are so weak we can hardly go, 
 and still groM ing weaker.'^ They requested 
 us to leave them to be food for wild beasts, or 
 a prey to an exasperated foe. But the ten- 
 der feelings of human sensibility forbid us to 
 leave them ; and Belknap and myself, per- 
 suaded them to persevere, and remain with u^ 
 to the end, by dealing out to tLem, an extra al- 
 lowance of provision, on condition that I 
 should take the lead, and be iheir pilot, to 
 which I consented. 
 
 It being nearly night we encamped till morn- 
 ing ; when we concluded to change our course, 
 and steer nearly a south southwesterly direc- 
 tion. Yv^c travelled on moderately, feaiful of 
 the event, till about noon, wJien^ being some 
 rods forward of my companions, I was so for- 
 tunate as to come to a ro?id. Of this 1 noafied my 
 languishing companions, famishing Vviih hun- 
 ger, and groani?ig under the weight of their 
 wretchedness, Avhieli occasioned tmnsports of 
 joy, gladdened their hearts, and invigorated 
 their bodies ; yea it " shed happiness around 
 us, and banislied miserv before us.'' For we 
 could sav* Vr 1th David, that we had " Avander- 
 ed in the v, ihlerness, in a solitary way 5 and 
 foui^d no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty 
 our souls fainted within us. Then we cried 
 u«k> the Lord, in our trouble, aud he deliver- 
 
 'J 
 
for- 
 iliab- 
 
 y go, 
 
 lested 
 its, or 
 i ten- 
 US to 
 per- 
 ith u^ 
 :ra al- 
 Imt I 
 ot, to 
 
 morn- 
 ourscj 
 (lirec- 
 ful of 
 
 sonic 
 o for- 
 }d my 
 { liun- 
 
 tlicir 
 Dris of 
 
 vated 
 round 
 or we 
 mder- 
 and 
 hirsty 
 
 cried 
 liver- 
 
 CAPTITE. 
 
 1^3 
 
 ed us out of our distresses, and he led us forth 
 by the right way that we might go to a city of 
 habitation.'^ 
 
 Animated with the prospect of soon finding 
 inhabitants, we travelled on the road with joy 
 Jind delight. Our hopes of again seeing our 
 friends, became briglitened, and our expecta- 
 tions greatly strengthened onr weak and trem- 
 bling limbs. We soon came in sight of au 
 old horse, and an old mare with a sucking 
 colt by her side. As they were in a valley, 
 some distance from the road, we concluded 
 not to go after them, hoping soon to find in- 
 habitants, where we shouhl be enabled also to 
 find friends, who would lend the hand of charity. 
 We therefore travelled on, and soon came to 
 a stream, but could not determine whether it 
 was Otter Creek, or only a branch pf it. If. 
 it were a branch, wa knew w^e ought to fol- 
 low the currentp till we came to the Creek. 
 But to follow the current of the Creek itself, 
 w ould lead tis directly to the Lake, where w# 
 ftliould be exposed to the British. 
 
 We however, thought it most prudent to 
 follow down the stream, soon came to its mouth 
 and still were left in doubt, whether the 
 etream, into which the first we discovered, 
 emptied itself, was Otter Creek, or some 
 ether branch. 
 
 As it began to draw near sun- set, and see- 
 ing no prospect of finding inhabitants that 
 iiisht 3 we resolved to return to the place 
 
 i 
 
 It 
 
 If* ' 
 
lS4f 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 lh'[ 
 
 I 
 
 '■(^ 1 
 
 m^' 
 
 Ml 
 
 /Mr 
 
 If fe 
 
 J* »' I, , i 
 
 ill 
 
 where we came lo the first stream : bavins; there 
 lonnd the walls of an old log house. Clark 
 and niyselfj went and procured the horses and 
 colt; while l^cll^nap and Spragiie struck up 
 a fire, and built a camp. 
 
 Having returned with tlie horse«; and confin* 
 ed them in the old log house, we killed and 
 dressed the colt ; and roaisted some of the meat, 
 upon sticks by the fire, and eat it, and surely 
 ^^it was pleasant to the taste. ^^ Indeed I 
 never aic any meat of so delicious a flavor, al- 
 though without bread, salt,* or sauce, of any 
 kind. 
 
 The next morning we started with our old 
 horse, and coltless mare, and travelled till af- 
 ter the middle of the day, when we came to 
 tho place we passed about noon, the day prcr 
 cecding. We were confident it was the sam® 
 place, by finding some spikenard roots, which 
 we had thrown away soon after we fjuad tha 
 road. 
 
 Being lost, and knowing not whether to 
 turn to the right hand, or to tire left ; having 
 obtained a new supply of meat, by which we 
 had been much refreshed ; and as the sun had 
 been invisible to us for several days, we con- 
 cluded to tarry there through the day, and en- 
 camp for the night ; hoping the sun would rise 
 
 ♦Webrons;ht a small quantity «f salt from Prison 
 Island, bur lost the priacipal ptwt of it, in pa'sing; 
 down the rapids. The remaiMder, we gave to the heif- 
 er we killed; and took her gaaimoo in exthange. 
 
 I 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 iU 
 
 , al- 
 any 
 
 to 
 
 heif" 
 
 ©Icfir thft next morning, wliicli would enable 
 Hs tho better to determine what course to take. 
 
 While we Avere patrolini^ about the fields^ 
 which appeared to liave been unoccupied, and 
 but partially cultivated during the long war j 
 Ave found a large yard of turnipSo 
 
 We then prepared our camp, built a fire, 
 and haviug procured some turnips, kept con* 
 tinually roasting tbem successively, during tli« 
 night; first sleeping a little, and then eatiui;;; 
 thus alternately refreshing ourselves by sleep, 
 and eating colt-meat with roasted turnips, till 
 the approach of day. As we had long lived 
 upon the spontaneous growth of the wilder- 
 ness, and had not only been almost entirely 
 destitute of bread and meat ; but wholly de- 
 prived •f every cultivated vegitable ; we wera 
 conscious that it would be injurious, and even 
 dangerous, to eat immediately all we might 
 crave for the night. 
 
 We therefore chose to satiate our hunger ia 
 a measure, by piecemeals, while we truly 
 feasted upon that kind of fare, which was un- 
 doubtedly, of all kinds of food, the best a- 
 dap ted to our wretched condition, and craving 
 appetites. In the morning, the sky Avas clear, 
 and the sun rose to every one of us, directly 
 in the west. We now discovered the cause of 
 becoming lost; and feeling much refreshed 
 and strengthened, we took our horses, and di- 
 rected our coarse according to the sun, diamet- 
 rically against oar own ideas of the true point cf 
 
 L 2 
 
ISfi 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 m 
 
 61' 
 
 t!. 
 
 l^.-v: 1i 
 
 
 compasia. \Vc had not procsedeil Tir, wlieu we 
 came to three other liorncs, which Me took, 
 leaviui^ tlic old mare for the benefit of the own- 
 er. 
 
 After travelling till about noon^ we came to 
 a man, choppin!; in the woodn. Seeing us all 
 on horse back, with bark bridles, and no sad- 
 dles ; having on coats made of Indian blank- 
 ets, which were all in rags ; with beards aji 
 inch long, and each one of us armed with a 
 cudgel ; the trembling wood-cutter, stood in 
 dreadful awe, with his axe raised above his 
 •boulders; dreading our approach, but fear- 
 ing to try his success in an attempt to escape ; 
 wliile we drew near, rejoicing that we .had 
 ©nee more arrived where we could behold th« 
 f.ice of one wliose hand should not be against 
 us ; and against whom we w ere not compelled, 
 for our safety to put our own hands. 
 
 We were not much surprised, though very 
 sorry to find our fi lend so grievously alarmed ; 
 while we only desired his friendship. W« 
 informed him of our wretched condition ; and 
 besought him to be our fiiend, with tears of 
 joy and tenderness, trickling down our ema- 
 ciated c' c»eks. I iriding we were not his ene- 
 mles, but tlie su]gects ef his pity and tender 
 compassion, bursting into tears of sympathy, 
 fit the short relation we £;ave him of our si;f- 
 ferings ; he invited us to go with him and he 
 w ould load us to Pittsford fort, which was on- 
 ly about one mile distiiiit 5 where we should 
 
t 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 12T 
 
 i^u we 
 
 took, 
 
 1 ovvu- 
 
 LiTie to 
 us all 
 [> sad- 
 alank- 
 ds an 
 vith a 
 3od in 
 vc his 
 ; fear- 
 scape ; 
 e .had 
 [)ld the 
 igainst 
 pelled, 
 
 1 very 
 irined ; 
 W« 
 
 i; and 
 
 iars of 
 
 r ema- 
 
 is eiie- 
 
 iendtr 
 
 pathy, 
 
 iir si;f- 
 
 iiid he 
 
 vas on- 
 
 sliauld 
 
 te made welcome to every thing necessary foi* 
 our comfort. 
 
 We soon ariivcd at the fort. It was now 
 al)oiit one o'clock in the afternoon. We w(»rc 
 received with the greatest marks of sympathy 
 and coramisseration ; and treated with every 
 respect due to our m retchedness and want. 
 And though justice demands, that I should 
 acknowledge the generous display of philan- 
 thropic zeal, as well as selfish curiosity, com- 
 mon on such occasions ; yet I could not f jr- 
 bear to notice, with pain, that cold indiflcr- 
 ence for the miseries of others, commonly oh- 
 servable in those who have long been famil- 
 iar with scenes of wretchedness and wo ; 
 which was manifested by some, and especially 
 by the commander of the fort, on our arrival 
 at that place. 
 
 Not long after we arrived at the foft, tlte 
 owners of the horses came up, carrying their 
 saddles upon their backs. They had been 
 out for the purpose of surveying land, and 
 hid turned out their horses to f^ed. After 
 hearing a short account of our sufferings, and 
 being made acquainted with our deplorable con- 
 dition, they readily replied, with seeming 
 compassion, that they were only sorry we had 
 not been so fortunate; as to find their saddles 
 likewise. r 
 
 After wandering in the wilderness twenty 
 two days, we arrived at the fort on the ^d day 
 cf October l/SS — having fjrded rivers of wa- 
 
 ii^ 
 
 If 
 
 M 
 
 111 i 
 
 % 
 
 « 
 
ISS 
 
 BSTDIAX 
 
 ".1 
 
 iJh 
 
 ter up to our shoulders; traversing through 
 dismal swauips, the hahitations of heasU of 
 prey ; and climhiui; mouritaius of rocks^ where 
 no human eye couhl pity, or friends censoio 
 us 5 making the earth our hed of roposc for 
 the night, and extreme anxiety our constant 
 companion through the day ; nearly starved, 
 and almost naked; little expecting ever again 
 to see the faces of our f jiends, or to behold 
 those habitations which witnessed our juve- 
 nile years ; wliere we enjoyed the kind em- 
 brac«b of a tender and affectionate mother, and 
 the paternal care of an indulgent father ; ex- 
 pecting every day to see the approach of that 
 hour, when our spirits should be called to 
 leave our bodies in a howling wildernes, 
 lo become food for wild beasts, and our 
 friends to lament our absence, ignorant of our 
 end. After enduring all this, yea, more 
 than pen can describe, or language express ; 
 who can tell our joy and gratitude, when we 
 came to behold a *^ city of habitation,^' and 
 the abodes of plenty ! What heart would not 
 palpitate for exceeding great joy, at such an 
 event ! Who could forbear^ to speak forth 
 praise to the Great Preserver of men on 
 such an occasion ? Would not every heart, 
 susceptible of the least impression, acknowl- 
 edge the hand of the Almighty in so great a 
 deliverance? 
 
 Instead of making our bed upon the cold 
 grouwli with our clothes wet; and our bodie« 
 
 If ,,ii 
 
 a; 
 
CAPTR^E. 
 
 itt 
 
 henumtcd ; wc could now enjoy sweet repose 
 by the fii'O side, sheltered from storms, and 
 surrounded wUh friends. Instead of feeding 
 upon froi;s, and the spontaneous growth of 
 uncultivated nature ; subsisting on rowts ; twigs, 
 and bark ; we could now taste the fniits of 
 labour and indi%try ; and feast upon the boun- 
 ties of heaven. Instead of wandering through 
 a lonely wilderness, with our cheeks wet witR 
 tears of sorrow, almost overwhelmed with 
 despair ; we could now travel through a coun- 
 try of civilization, free from enemies, and 
 receive support from the hand of cliarity. 
 
 After sharing in the benevolence of many 
 individuals, aud receiving every token of 
 friendship from the garrison at the fort; as 
 they were expecting soon to be attacked by tha 
 British, we were advised to travel on still far- 
 ther that night, that we might be the more' 
 safe from the grasp of the enemy. 
 
 We therefore proceeded on towards Rut- 
 land, several miles, wlien we obtained lodg- 
 ing in the house of a ^^poor widow,^^ who 
 furnished us with the best food her house af- 
 forded; of which we ate heartily. Having 
 long been without bread of any kind, and be- 
 ing now furnished with a full supply of good 
 wheat bread ; it seemed as if we should di» 
 with the eifect of eating it. it lay like lead 
 in our stomachs, and caused us the most ago- 
 nizing distress, for some hours ; while we roll- 
 ed upon the floor, with bitter groaning* ; al- 
 
 \U 
 
 i 
 
130 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 E 
 
 K 
 
 ' '•'' ■ ilk 
 
 viM 
 
 ■ r-( : 
 
 Kir* 
 
 though Avc had denied oursolvw the saiUfiit- 
 tion of eating the half of what onv appetites 
 craved. But our extreme hunger prevented 
 the exercise of prudence, and economy, in 
 the choice of that kind of f(»o<i whicli was hest 
 adapted to our wretched condition. Nor did 
 we wait long to consult ahAut the propri- 
 ety, or iiaproimety of eatinr any thing we 
 found witliin our reach. Our avidity for food, 
 however soon ahatcd, when we found no inju- 
 ry to result from eating all we desired. 
 
 We made our escape on the night of the 
 10th of Septemher; amved at Lake Cham- 
 plain in ahout ten days ; and came to the fort 
 on the night of tlie 3d day of Octoher follow- 
 ing 5 having been in the wilderness twenty 
 two days, without speaking k) any oth«r per- 
 son, excepting our own company.* 'Tis true, 
 we had se«n some of our species, at a distance 
 from us, tho' w ith terror and dismay ; fearing 
 their approach as wc should have done, that of 
 9L voracious animal, ready to devour us. 
 
 In a few days, we arrived at Bennington, in 
 Bennington County, Vt. where we were eia- 
 
 •Whrti (lip 8iin was invisiMp, having lost oar cora- 
 jiais*. ue directed our course by ihe moss u\)on trees, 
 vliieli IK found only upon I lie north sido. In |)Assi t'j^ o- 
 verland (imhyred with c«fdar, which has n» moa upuri 
 it, we M'ore compellf>d to lipsiill, and wait the appear- 
 ance of tho Sim ; vrhi( U prolraolid our journt'jr maay 
 ila.y«. 
 
tit«8 
 nied 
 , ill 
 best 
 (lid 
 i>pvi- 
 2; wc 
 food, 
 injii- 
 
 ' the 
 ham- 
 B fort 
 llow- 
 venty 
 per- 
 true, 
 tance 
 ariiig 
 latof 
 
 >n^ in 
 
 eia- 
 
 com** 
 
 trees, 
 
 >i 1 2; o- 
 
 ppear- 
 oiaay 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 131 
 
 ployed, till wo had acquirrd, by our own la- 
 bor, and the benevolence of otbevH, some mo-? 
 ney, siiiBcient to enable ua to prosecute our 
 jotirney to Connecticut. 
 
 Ilaviui:; travelled many days, through th« 
 woods, almost destitnlc of any covering f§r 
 our feel, they h^d become very sore, which 
 prevented our g(»ing fir in a day. 
 
 Assisted by the jjand of charity, and by 
 means of occasional labour on the way, we 
 were enabled to reach our fi icnds. Being des- 
 tined to diflerent places, o^ • companions, Clark 
 and Sprague, j^eparated from us at Bennin'^ton. 
 By a mutual ])articipation of suflerings, we 
 had ac(piired that affeclifm for each other, 
 which will remain I trust till death. Having 
 suffered many hardships, and endured many 
 trials together ; having been rescued from ma- 
 ny dangers and delivered out of many troub- 
 les : sharing equally in hunger, pains and dis- 
 tress, as well as in the j'^ys resulting from 
 our deliverance; we now reluctantly parted, 
 affectionately taking our leave, perhaps never 
 again to see each other, till we shall meet in 
 that world, where " the weary be at rest. 
 There the imsoners rest together, they hear 
 not the ^ oice of the oppressor. Th« small 
 and the great are tlieio, and the servant i« 
 free from Ids roaster!'' 
 
 And may it not be the unspeakable infelidr 
 ty of either of us, to fail of '' entering into that 
 rest because of unbelief.'^ 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
ise 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 Belknap and I continued our course togeth- 
 er to Ellington, in Connecticut^ where our 
 friends resided. We arrived there on the 
 iTth day of October 1/82 — being just two 
 years, from the day I was taken by the In- 
 dian$ at Randolph. W)iat pen can des- 
 cribe the mutual joy which w^s felt by pa- 
 rents and childrei. on our arrnal ! Truly our 
 fathers, ^"^ seeing us, while yet a great fVay 
 off, ran and fell upon otir necks, and kissed 
 us.'^ Behold now the afTection of a father ! 
 See him shed the tear of compassion. Hear 
 him say '^ this my son was de? d^ and is alive 
 again. He was 'ost and is found.'^ See him 
 *^ begin to be merry ;'^ nor think it strange 
 that the fatted calf should be killed. 
 
 Beheld a kind father in tears of joy, and 
 a tender step -mother,* kindly embracing th« 
 feubject of her husband's former grief, but pre- 
 sent delight, bee '' the best robe'' cast around 
 him with ^^ the ring upon his hand, and the 
 shoes upon his feet." See brothers and sis- 
 ters suiTounding the returned brother. Heai* 
 their acclamations of joy and gladness •. embra- 
 cing their o?ice lost, but now living brother ! 
 What heart would not melt atthe sight of *?ach 
 fL joyful scene ! And what can I say to express 
 my own feelings on this delightful interview ! 
 
 *My o^^(\ mother died ^hile I was quite foung, an^ 
 my fa'har had married a^ain. to a woraau poysessing 
 Che ki)}d€St actuations; a^d the uxoitt eadearing Uve. 
 
■>* 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 i83 
 
 and 
 ; th« 
 
 pre- 
 oimcl 
 tl the 
 
 sis- 
 Heai' 
 
 bra- 
 
 her I 
 
 ^uch 
 press 
 
 iew ! 
 
 Ma\ine; endured the ^.ardship9 of an Indian 
 Captivity, and tlic pains of the Prison ; the 
 gnawings of hunger ; the tortures of the rack^ 
 and the still more dreadful distress of 22 day'« 
 wandering in the wilderness ; filled with des- 
 pair, anxiety and fear ; almost starved, and 
 nearly naked ; full of wounds, and constant- 
 ly chilled with the cold ; imagine, kind read- 
 er, the feelings of ray heart, ^vhen I came to 
 behold the face of affectionate parents, and 
 rer.eive the tender embraces of beloved brothers 
 and St loving sister ! Think of tlie festivities 
 of that evening, when I could again enjoy a seat 
 in a social circle of friends and acquaint- 
 ance, around the fireside in my ftither's house \ 
 
 Vain is the attempt to describe my own feel- 
 ings on that joyful occasion. Fruitless, in- 
 deed, must be all my endeavers, to express 
 the mutual congratulations, manifested by all, 
 on my return. 
 
 My loi?3 absence from my friends, together 
 with a sense of the numerous, and awful 
 dangers through which I have been preserved, 
 increaseed our gratitude, and caused wonder 
 and astonishment to dwell in every l)ipeast. 
 W3 could now heartily unite in nscri|ii(}g 
 praise and adoration to Him, who granted Itie 
 protection, while expose*! to tlie shafts of ha- 
 tred and rftvenge. I was treated with all tkat 
 friendship, which pity could excite, or sympa- 
 thy dictate ; and saluted by every person I 
 m«it, whether old or you»s« witk a heartY 
 
 M 
 
 
'Ift4 
 
 INDIAK 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 *<4 
 
 ?:i I'i' 
 
 
 welcome. Every one seemed to be in a good 
 degree conscious of the extreme sufferings I 
 had undergone. In short, my return afforded 
 me an opportunity to witness a diplay of all 
 the tender passions of th(i soul. 
 
 Knowing the deplorable wretchedness of 
 tliose who had the misfortune to ])ecome pris- 
 oners to the British, and consequently expect- 
 ing every day> to hear of my dfeath, my friends 
 were little le«s astonished at ray return, than 
 they wouhl have been, had they witnessed the 
 resurrection of one from the dead. 
 
 The extreme hunger and distress I had felt, 
 were clearly manifested, to those who beheld 
 my emaciated countenance and mangled feet ; 
 and no cue was disposed to Aoubt the truth of 
 .my words, who heard me relate the affecting 
 tale of my sore afflictions. For " by reason of 
 the voice of my groanings, my bones'' it might 
 verily be said ('id ^* cleave to my skin.'' I 
 however had the satisfaction to find my deep 
 anxiety to be delivered ftom bondage, and Es- 
 cape from the enemy ; my ardent wishes to 
 see my friends, and my hungry, craving appe- 
 tite, W^holly satisfied, in the full fruition of all 
 my toils. The munificence of the wealthy 
 was offered for my I'elief, and ti>e poor ap- 
 proached me, with looks of tenderness and 
 pity. All things around me, wore a propi 
 tious smili?. From morning till night, instead 
 of being ;^uarded by a company of i^efugees 
 *n«l tories, or wandering in a lonesome wii 
 
 
»fin m i » pi 
 
 CAPTIVE. 
 
 139 
 
 -l^'; 
 
 good 
 ngs I 
 brdcd 
 of all 
 
 iSS of 
 
 i pris- 
 icpect- 
 riends 
 , than 
 ed the 
 
 d felt, 
 )eheld 
 feet; 
 uth of 
 ectihg 
 isonof 
 might 
 '' I 
 deep 
 nd ^s- 
 lies to 
 appe- 
 of all 
 ealthy 
 or ap- 
 is and 
 propi 
 nstead 
 jfugees 
 
 derness, hungry and defititutc, I could now 
 behold the face of friend;^, and at the ap- 
 proach of night, repose my head upon a downy 
 pillow, under the hospitable covert of my fath- 
 er's roof. Instesd of being made a compan- 
 ion of the wretched, I could now ©njoy the 
 sweet conversation of a beloved sister, and af- 
 fectionatc brothers. 
 
 Having for more than two years been de- 
 prived of hearing th® Gospel sound ; surely 
 " I was glad when they said unto me, let us 
 go into the house of the Lord.'' For, unto 
 Gt)d, I rould say " Thou art my hiding place, 
 thou shalt preserve me from trouble, thou 
 I T*«lt compass m© about v» ith songs of deliver- 
 ance. I will Jtii^giad and rejoice in thy name, 
 for thou hast coT^'^idcred *^iy trouble, thou has^ 
 known my soul in adversity." This, I hoped 
 would be the language of every one, who 
 made their escape with me. For myself, t 
 trust it was the sincere language of my heait. 
 
 Notwithstanding the prisoners, whom we 
 left on the Island, were set at liberty, shortly 
 after aur escape, and although our sufferings 
 in th r iMerness, were exceeding great ; yet, 
 I nevex i jund cause to lament, that I improv- 
 ed the opportunity to free myself from the 
 Lands of those cruel tormenters, and oppress- 
 ors of the afflicted. For ^^the spirit of a man 
 will sustain liis infirmity." And under this 
 mi ideration, we chose rather to hazard the con- 
 ies;;. ince& of an escape, though it might prove 
 
 \i 
 
ISS 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 IV] 
 
 m 
 
 m\ 
 
 '.* 
 
 W: 
 
 
 M. 
 
 i:f 
 
 H, ' 
 
 i> *' 
 
 % H 
 
 
 it i 
 
 m 
 
 ■ii- 
 
 U I'' jF 
 
 our deaths than t^} becorae tlie menial servants^ 
 and thus gratify the infernal desires of a pctiy 
 tyrant. 
 
 (4 
 
 •Now I fee! by proftf, 
 
 That fpll(»whhip in pain dirides not sri^art, 
 Nor iishiena ought each man's peculiar ioad/» 
 
 T have never had the satisfaction to hear 
 from either of my friends and fellow- suiferers^ 
 Clark and Spraguc, since I parted with thenv 
 Sii Bennincton. 
 
 Mr. Belknap, now lives in Randolph, YU 
 and from iht sad e-*T>erience of the like suffer- 
 ings himself, and h*!. -rticipation in my own, 
 can witness to the truta of my statement. 
 
 Let not the preservation of mp life, through 
 luch a train of dangers, be attributed to mere 
 chance. But let the praij^e be given to '^ God 
 02ir Rock, and the High God, our Reedeemer.^^ 
 
 In September, previous to my escape, a 
 treaty of peace was concluded between Great 
 Britain and the United States, ^t Paris ; the 
 glad news of which reached America, not long 
 after my return, which occasioned the release 
 of the remainder of the prisoners, whot were 
 confined wpon Prison-Island. 
 
 As the war had now terminated, my return 
 to Randolph, would not be attended with the>,^ 
 danger of being again made captive by the 
 Indians ; which induced me, the spring fol- • 
 lowing, to go to that place, and resum^e my s(^t- 
 tleiKient, 
 
 . 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 isr 
 
 Oft my arrival there, I found my house was 
 demolished, which recalled to mind, the con- 
 fusion and horror of that dreadful morning, 
 when the savage trihe approached with awful 
 aspect, ray lonely dwelling. I went to worl: and 
 erected a house, upon the saiiic spot, intc 
 which, my father shortly after moved his ftim- 
 ily. The grass seed, which the Indiatis Lail 
 scattered for some distance from the. h(>u!»e, ;iji 
 hefore observed, had taken root, stocUtd the 
 ground, and remained entire, for many years a 
 fresh memento of that woeful event, which 
 proved but a f^int prelude of all my direful 
 suflerings. 
 
 Here my ftitiicr lived by cultivating that 
 feoil, v/hich had borne the brutal band to my 
 unwelcome door; till April 181:?^ when he 
 died, at the good old age of Seventy' Six, 
 Here he has spent many a win^r's evening, 
 in rchearsing^tlie mournful tal^^ of my *• cap- 
 tivity and sufferings,^^ to his *jfi'ieads and ac- 
 nuaintauce. ' .* 
 
 Generous and hospitalilo by nature, ancj 
 having been taught b^^y sufferings to ftiel 
 far the needy, he waj^f^ver ready to e^^tend th^ 
 hand of charity^ l^elieva their distresses — His 
 Jiouse, alwgy-j^* the abode of plenty, was an 
 asylumjw the naked and forlorn, an accepta^ 
 bl^r^kobic to the poor and the wretched. 
 ^ Always exhibiting a sense of what suffer- 
 ings I had undergone, for want of food ; h© 
 ^eeiued in nothing; to be mere delighted, t|^iva 
 
 M 2 
 
 
138 
 
 INDIAN 
 
 It ' . 
 \v i 
 
 I' ■)''■.'■ 
 
 it y 
 
 '|?^K 
 
 ii 
 
 ^^to feed the huiiffrv, aail clothe the uaked/^ 
 IJy loviDg iuul ae;e(l step-mother, with one of 
 her sons (a half biother of mine) now lives ou 
 the same farm. 
 
 In the winter of lySi'i — I w^is married to 
 Hannah Bhnrtlifl*, of Tolland, Connecticut, 
 and settled at Randolph, not far from ray fath- 
 ers lionse, Avhere I resided ci^ht years, when 
 I purchased a farm ; and removed to Brook- 
 field, a town adjoinini;, 
 
 Here I have resided, nutil the present timt 
 (1816,) and obtained my own subsistance, and. 
 that of my numerous family, by means of cultiva^ 
 ting the soil. By a steady cmirse of industry, 
 r.nd eccncmy, I have been enabled, nndor the 
 Divine blesj^ing, to acqvrire a comfortable sup-, 
 port, and enjoy the fi*uits of my labors, in 
 quietude and peace. As my occupation wai^ 
 that tf a farmer, my opportunities for infor-r 
 mation, like those of many others of my class, 
 have been limited, 
 
 jVIy family, not unlike Job's, coRsists of 
 seveu gons and three daughters ; nor have I 
 reason to think my'afflijCtipu* much inferior to 
 his. Although death has never beeii permited 
 V> enter my dwelling and take any of my fainily> 
 vet, my substance has once been destroyed, by 
 worse than Chg,ldean hands, and that too at the 
 yery outset of my adventures in life. Not on- 
 ly were my house and effects destroyed, but 
 jnyself, at a most unpropitious hour, when far 
 jrenjoved from all my friends, coinpelle4 to 
 
CAPl'IVB. 
 
 139 
 
 J^ave my employment; relinquish all those 
 objects of enterprise, peculiar to the juvenile 
 nge, and forced to enter the ranks of a savaga 
 band, and travel into an cneray^s country. 
 Thus were all my expectations cut off. My 
 hopes were blasted, and my youthful pros- 
 pects darkened ! ••• £ was not in sitfety, ijeither 
 had 1 rest, neither was I qui^t'; yet troubltt 
 came. O that my grief were thoroughly weigh- 
 ed, an<l my calamity laid ia the balances tQ» 
 gether.'^ 
 
 When I survey my m'^'rifts o'ej% 
 
 'VUe lec )llf'ctio/i v%fMirid<* my heart: 
 \V}»(_n i\\\ my sh p«j were irac'd in gire^ 
 
 Aud i \vt»i ijuoni'd tM feel ibe sHiurt. 
 
 V/hi^n sore ofjpresfcM by v.icked bri'Mlis. 
 
 AnnoyM will 1»inia:»r, rackM ^^Ulipaio, 
 Hlv li .lbs G i!;i\ t*(] wiiii irou bAn,l«!, 
 
 'Jo die, 1 vitil might c(»uiil ir.y g^,'n\. 
 
 When fil hy vermirj broke my rest, 
 
 Aiid ltd up Ml my languid iVaDi?; 
 Wii.il pains \>ere feh within my breast! 
 
 Bw nieii were deaf lo pity's elaiin. 
 
 When I was btirifd in the deep^ 
 
 Aud wafers o^er my head did roll. 
 My b' pe was ftrong lUtki Christ v>oo!J keep, 
 
 And kindly save my guilty suul. 
 
 Notwithstanding that inhumanity and cruelr 
 ty wiiich characterized the conduct of the sar- 
 age«, yet^ I think that the barbarous treatmfint 
 «ye ireceivedi from the impioi^s commander^ of 
 
 
■ap 
 
 ^p 
 
 1^ 
 
 mDIAN 
 
 
 
 
 the British fort, in who<«e charge we were 
 kept^ might put to the blush, the rudest sav- 
 age, who traverses the western wild. Their 
 coHduct illy comported with what might be 
 expected from men, wlio are favored with the 
 light of revelation. 
 
 The savage, when lie does a deed of char- 
 ity towards hi#j prisoner, is no doubt, less liable 
 to be actuated by a selfish principle, and in- 
 fluenced by the hope of reward, or by a fear of 
 loosing his reputiition, than he is, wiio has 
 been made acquainted with the gracious re- 
 ward offered to those who ^^ do unto others as 
 they w ould that others should do unto thcu^/' 
 and knows the bitter consequences of the con- 
 trary-practice. 
 
 And, I think, the destruction of RoyaltoH, 
 and all its evil consequences, may, with less 
 propriety, be attributed to the brutal malevo- 
 ienee, of the savage tribe, than to the ignoble 
 treaehery, and despicable fanaticism of certain 
 individuals of our own nation. 
 
 Scarce can that man be fi)und in this en- 
 lightened country, who would treat his enemy 
 with as much tenderness and compassion, as I 
 was treated by the savage tribe 5 though I had 
 abundant cause to say, that the " tender mercies 
 of the wicked, are cruel.'^ 
 
 Who would not shudder at the ' idea of be- 
 ing compelled to take up their abode with a 
 herd of tawny savages? Yet, alas! when I 
 c<mtrasted the sufferings I endured, while witH 
 
 ■■-.., "^v 
 
 #JM«9.# 
 
CAPTIVE. 
 
 141 
 
 en- 
 
 my 
 
 las I 
 
 had 
 
 kies 
 
 be- 
 lib a 
 in I 
 
 viiH 
 
 ihft Indians, with tkosc afflictions, that were 
 laid ujion me, hy men, who had been from 
 their youth favored with tlie advantages of cir- 
 ilization, clothed with authority, and distin- 
 guished with a badge of honor ; X couhl truly 
 say, the former chastisad me with whips, but 
 the latter Avitli scorpions. 
 
 An Indian captivity, will hardly admtt of a 
 comparison with my wretched condition, while 
 in the hands of the British, and under the 
 domineering power of a company of refugees; 
 and tories. 
 
 While with the IndiaMS, my food was un- 
 savory and unwholesome, my clothing, like 
 their own, was scant, and covered with filthy 
 vermin ; and my life was always exposed tor 
 the danger of their implacable hatred and re- 
 venge. This was a most perilous condition^ 
 indeed, for any one to be placed in. But my 
 cottfinL»,meiat with the British, multiplied my 
 compiaintji, added to my aflBictious, rendered 
 me more exposed to the danger of loosing my 
 life, increased my sorrows, and apparently 
 brought me near the grave^ My food wtts lesft 
 fiilthy,* but I was not allowed the half of what 
 my appetite craved, and my nature required, 
 to render me comfortable. 
 
 By these, and my subsequent afflictions, I 
 have been taught a iQason, thiit has made au 
 impression upon my mind, which t trust wiU 
 f emain as long as life ihall last, r 
 
 -Su... 
 
14^ 
 
 INDIAN CAPTIVE. 
 
 M 
 ..,| 
 
 M 
 
 w.. 
 
 I have been taught by ocular demons iratio% 
 and sad experience, the depravity of man; 
 aiwl the fallacy of looking for durable happi- 
 ness in terrestrial things. 
 
 My own suftering«, have implanted within; 
 my breast, that i^ijipathy for the distressed, 
 which is better felt than described. Naked- 
 ness and poverty have once, been my compan- 
 ions, and I shall not readily forget to lend a 
 listening ear to the cries of the needy. 
 
 And I would exhort myself, and all my fel- 
 low men, by the extreme suflFerings I hav^ 
 endured, to be rea,(ly at all times to ^^feed the 
 hungry, and clothe the naked ;^^ nor ever fail 
 to extend the hand of charity for the assistai^qe 
 i)t the unfortunate. 
 
 ■^M 
 
 ■ .>-■■. 
 
 -r 
 
 -i ■i.-.-a.,J:.r.4 
 
 'ikS 
 
Barnes of a fart of the persons killed and h^ 
 ken at the liiirning of Rojfalton, 
 
 Zadock Steele, taken at Randolph. 
 
 Experience Davif, 
 
 Elias Curtis, 
 
 J. Parks, 
 
 Mo«cs Parsons, 
 
 Simeon Belknap, now living in lian- 
 dolp. 
 
 Samuel Pember, 
 
 Thomas Pember, killed at Royalton. 
 
 Gardner Rix> now living in Royalton. 
 
 Daniel Downer, 
 
 Joseph Kneeland, killed at the encamp- 
 ment at Randolph. 
 
 Jonathan Brown, now i^esiding in Wilh 
 iamstown. 
 
 Adan Durkee, died at Montreal. 
 
 Joseph Uavens, 
 
 Abijah Hutchinson, 
 
 John Hutchinson, now living in Bethel, 
 
 . — — ^ Avery, 
 
 John Kent, 
 
 Peter Mason, 
 
 Giles Gibbs, killed at Randolph. 
 
 Elias Button, killed at Royalton, 
 
 Nathaniel Gilbert. 
 
 -/.? 
 
 The foil owing persons tvere released by thf 
 intercession of Mrs, Hendee. 
 
 Daniel Downer, jr. 
 Andrew Durkee, 
 
 4\ 
 
mm 
 
 fm 
 
 iiw" 
 
 !!l 
 
 Michael Hcndee^ 
 ttoswcl Parkhurgt, 
 Shelden Durkee, 
 Joseph Rix, 
 Rufu9 Fish, 
 •^— — Fish, 
 Naikaniel £vanf. 
 
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 t**ijw. 
 
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