Ella Barnwell: A historical romance of border lifeBennett, Emerson
General
Ella Barnwell: A historical romance of border life
Bennett, Emerson
Frontier and pioneer life -- Fiction; Girty, Simon, 1741-1818 -- Fiction; Kentucky -- Fiction
Notwithstanding the quiet which had succeeded the sounds of warfare, the
garrison were still on the lookout, fearful of being surprised. In this
manner an hour or two passed away, without any event occurring worth
being recorded, when a voice shouted joyfully:
"The Lexington reinforcements are at hand!"
In a moment the whole station was in commotion--men, women, and children
rushing to the block-houses and pallisades nearest to and overlooking
the long lane just mentioned. The force in question numbered some
sixteen horsemen, and about twice as many foot; who, not having heard
any firing, nor seen any savages thus far, were somewhat carelessly
approaching the fort at a leisure pace, thinking, as was not uncommon in
those times of danger, when such things were often exaggerated, that
perhaps the alarm had been unfounded, or, at the most, based only on
slight grounds. They had been overtaken on the road between Lexington
and Hoy's station, for which place they had marched on receiving the
news of Holder's defeat, and had been informed by Tomlinson and Bell
that Bryan's station was surrounded by a large body of Indians, of whose
numbers they knew nothing. On hearing this, and knowing the unguarded
condition of Lexington, they had instantly turned back, and pressed
forward at what speed they could to the assistance of their neighbors,
of whom they were now in sight.
"Great Heaven!" cried the voice of the look-out, at this moment, in
consternation. "See!--see!--they are ambushed, and will all be cut off!"
As he spoke, a long rolling line of fire could he discerned; and
presently was heard the report of a tremendous volley of musketry,
followed by a cloud of dust and smoke, which for a time completely hid
them from view. In a few minutes, however, the horsemen were seen close
at hand, spurring forward with lightning speed. Some three or four
individuals instantly sprung to and threw open the eastern gate, and in
less than two minutes they reined in their panting steeds in the court
of the station. At the first shot of the savages, they had put spurs to
their horses, and, as the ground was very dry, a cloud of dust had
instantly enveloped them, by which means, fortunately, every one of them
had escaped unharmed, although on their way they had drawn the fire of
more than three hundred Indian rifles, successively discharged at them
while passing the lines of the ambuscade. Not thus easily, however,
escaped their companions on foot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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