Trip to the West and Texas: comprising a journey of eight thousand miles, through New-York, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana and Texas, in the autumn and winter of 1834-5.Parker, A. A. (Amos Andrew)
History
Trip to the West and Texas: comprising a journey of eight thousand miles, through New-York, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana and Texas, in the autumn and winter of 1834-5.
Parker, A. A. (Amos Andrew)
Frontier and pioneer life -- Mississippi River Valley; Frontier and pioneer life -- Texas; Mississippi River Valley -- Description and travel; Texas -- Description and travel; Texas -- History -- Revolution, 1835-1836
They now felt relieved from immediate danger. They knew there was a
company of horse at Hennipen, fifteen miles distant; and their only
safe course seemed to be, to send for them if they could. They had a
horse with them, and he was feeding on the prairie about thirty rods
from the house, nearly on the opposite side from the spot where the
Indians entered the woods; but as they could not know where they might
be, none deemed it prudent to go out to catch him. They called the
horse, however, and although he was one generally hard to catch, he now
started at once, came to the door, thrust in his head and stood still
while the bridle was put on. One of their number mounted, and rode
express to Hennipen.
In the afternoon, the troop arrived; reconnoitered the neighborhood;
found the Indian trail; followed it a number of miles; but they had
gone beyond their reach. On a further examination of the woods, it was
apparent, the Indians had been hovering around them all the day before
while at work; but were too cowardly to attack them, although they knew
the smallness of their number.
The situation of affairs at night they also knew full well. They truly
supposed that _all_ would pass the spot where they lay in ambush, in
the morning. But accidentally, _one_ passed alone, and discovered them,
and was undoubtedly the cause of saving the lives of all the rest.
But had the other young man passed on instead of returning, and why
he did not, he never could tell, although the question was asked him
immediately after the transaction, he also would have been killed; and
in that event, probably all the others would have been sacrificed; for
it was quite early in the morning, and they had not risen.
On examining Philips, they discovered that two musket balls had entered
his body--one in the region of the heart, so that he must have died
immediately. His remains were carried to Hennipen for interment; and
when I passed that way, I stopped at his grave to show, what I felt,
respect to his memory. On a small eminence in the open prairie, half
a mile east of the village, repose the remains of Elijah Philips. And
although no monumental inscription tells the spot where he so suddenly
started for eternity, or "storied urn" adorns his grave; although of
humble birth, yet he was a young man of much vigor and enterprise, and
bid fair to become a useful member of society. Let his memory live "in
story and in song," and be handed down to posterity with that of the
other victims of savage cruelty.
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