The Winning of the West, Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 472 pages of information about The Winning of the West, Volume 2.

The Winning of the West, Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 472 pages of information about The Winning of the West, Volume 2.

    Attack on Nashborough.

On the 2d day of April another effort was made by a formidable war party to get possession of one of the two remaining stations—­Freeland’s and Nashborough—­and thus, at a stroke, drive the whites from the Cumberland district.  This time Nashborough was the point aimed at.

A large body [Footnote:  How large it is impossible to say.  One or two recent accounts make wild guesses, calling it 1,000; but this is sheer nonsense; it is more likely to have been 100.] of Cherokees approached the fort in the night, lying hid in the bushes, divided into two parties.  In the morning three of them came near, fired at the fort, and ran off towards where the smaller party lay ambushed, in a thicket through which ran a little “branch.”  Instantly twenty men mounted their horses and galloped after the decoys.  As they overtook the fugitives they saw the Indians hid in the creek-bottom, and dismounted to fight, turning their horses loose.  A smart interchange of shots followed, the whites having, if any thing, rather the best of it, when the other and larger body of Indians rose from their hiding-place, in a clump of cedars, and running down, formed between the combatants and the fort, intending to run into the latter, mixed with the fleeing riflemen.  The only chance of the hemmed-in whites was to turn and try to force their way back through their far more numerous foes.  This was a desperate venture, for their pieces were all discharged, and there was no time to reload them; but they were helped by two unexpected circumstances.  Their horses had taken flight at the firing, and ran off towards the fort, passing to one side of the intervening line of Indians; and many of the latter, eager for such booty, ran off to catch them.  Meanwhile, the remaining men in the fort saw what had happened, and made ready for defense, while all the women likewise snatched up guns or axes, and stood by loopholes and gate.  The dogs in the fort were also taking a keen interest in what was going on.  They were stout, powerful animals, some being hounds and others watch dogs, but all accustomed to contests with wild beasts; and by instinct and training they mortally hated Indians.  Seeing the line of savages drawn up between the fort and their masters, they promptly sallied out and made a most furious onset upon their astonished foes.  Taking advantage of this most opportune diversion, the whites ran through the lines and got into the fort, the Indians being completely occupied in defending themselves from the dogs.  Five of the whites were killed, and they carried two wounded men into the fort.  Another man, when almost in safety, was shot, and fell with a broken thigh; but he had reloaded his gun as he ran, and he killed his assailant as the latter ran up to scalp him.  The people from the fort then, by firing their rifles, kept his foes at bay until he could be rescued; and he soon recovered from his hurt.  Yet another man was overtaken almost under the walls, the Indian punching

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The Winning of the West, Volume 2 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.