A BLOODLESS VICTORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 561, 8 March 1870, Page 3

A BLOODLESS VICTORY.

Those who have ever visited the city of Wheeling, the capital of the State of West Virginia, have not failed to be impressed with the romantic beauty of the surrounding scenery, a romance fully in keeping with fche wild and adventurous character of ita history. It is hard to believe that this fine city has grown up in the last half-century,, and that fifty years ago the place contained scarcely half a dozen log cabins, and that where now stands the handsome station of the great railroad which connects, the Ohio River with the Chesapeake Bay, then stood the rough fort which alone saved the settlers from the rifle or knife of the savage. The position of Fort Henry was very strong, as it was situated at the intersection of Wheeling Creek with the Ohio River, and completely commanded every approach to it. Thia fort was one of the lew frontier posts which never fell into the- hands of the savages ; and, as it was the object of their particular hatred from this, fact, it was called upon to withstand many attacks. Among the settlers who first built their cabins at Wheeling waa a young man named Amos Chapiine. He came from the eastern part of the Union, and declared that he meant to stay in the new settlement as long as he could keep his scalp on his head. He had left a sweetheart behind him in the East, he said, and as soon as he could succeed in securing a home of his own he was going back after her. His free and easy manner and his generosity made him' many friends ; and it was not long before he was one of the most popular men in the whole settlement. Whenever a scouting party was sent out, Amoft Chap'ine was sure to be one of the number ; and by the time he had been a year in tbe West be bad won the reputation of | being one of the most accomplished and cautious woodsmen on the Ohio. He seemed to catch Indian manners and habits by intuition, and, to the surprise of all his -friends, he could speak the dialects of the various tribes of the upper Ohio with the fluency of a red man. The result was that at the expiration of his second year in the West, Mr

: Chapiine was given a post in the garrison of ; Fort Henry next in rank to the commander 1 "of the post.

About this time the Indians became unusually troublesome, and it was determined to send an expedition against them. The command of the party, some forty in number, was given to Amos Cliapliue, and the men were provided with everything necessary to a thirty days' campaign. They left the fort in high spirits, and crossing the creek, moved down the river towards Grave Creek, intending, if necessary, to move down as low as the Renawha, where the Shawnees had some important towns, Chapiine was a very cautious leader, and he kept his men well in hand, never relaxing the rigid disci [.line so necessary to the success of such an expedition.

The party passed Grave Creek without meeting with anything of an adventurous nature; but the next day one of the men shot au ludian whom he had caught lurking in the woods, as if watching them. Ihe savage was at once recognised as a Shawnee ; and from tho fanfcissic manner in which he was painted it was evident that he was but the forerunner or scout of a large war party which could nofc be very far distant. Amos now determined to advance slowly and with the utmost caution.

That night his fears were realised, and he f ouud himself immediately in front of a large j number of Indians. They had made fires, and had gone into camp for the night, and thus far had not the remotest idea of the presence of the whites. Still, ifc was necessary to act with caution, for the snapping of a twig or the rustle of a branch might give warning to the red men of the proximity of their foes. Amos at first determined to attack the savages; but a closer examination showed him that they were far too numerous for such a venture to be successful. The best thing he could do would be to withdraw at once, and try to reach Fort Henry as soon as possible, and give the alarm, for he had no doubt that the forfc was the destination of the dusky army. Bufc when he came to attempt it, lie found withdrawing a much more difficult task than he had supposed; and finally, in order to make sure of a safe retreat, he divided his men into parties of five, with orders to make their way back to the settlement by different routes and with all speed. As for himself, he determined to gain more accurate information of the numbers and plans of the savages before he i set out on his return home.

He watched his men until the last of them had mo ved off with noiseless steps into the darkness; and then carefully examining his rifle to make sure that it was in readiness for instant use, and loosening his hunting-knife, he set out with his face towards the camp of the savages. Long experience, added to an unusual keenness of vision, had given him the power of discerning objects by night as plainly as by day; and he moved along now, rapidly bufc silently, scanning the dim woods with strained eyes. Every moment brought him nearer to the Indian camp, and increased his danger of stumbling across some of •.their scouts or sentinels. Fortune favoured him, however; and he succeeded in reaching the very verge of the camp without being discovered. Here he paused, and lying down in the undergrowth, peered anxiously through the bushes at the scene before him,

Four large fires had been made, and around these were collected a number . of., red-skins, amounting, as nearly as he could estimate them, to about three hundred. They were hideously decked out with war-paint and feathers, and were evidently prepared for a grand campaign. They were talking merrily over some subject, and frequently would burst into shouts of exultant laughter. In order to overhear their talk, the young man resolved to get up closer to them ; and after jconsiderable exertion, he managed to pass ■iato the camp unobserved,. and to climb into ,'a large tree, the branches of which were not .more than fifty feet from one of the fires.

As he settled himself noiselessly among the boughs, he thought for the first time of his foolishness in venturing so completely into the midsfc of the Indians; and ns he looked down he could not. help asking himself, how he should get away. The least sound might betray him now ;. and he knew that if he once fell into the hands of those below him, he could expect 110 mercy. He had been too dangerous to them to hope they would spare him. He listened to the talk of the savages, and then decided upon his plan of action, which was as singular as it was successful.

Carefully surveying the scene below, he crawled noiselessly out among the thick branches of a part of the tree which extended near to one of the fires. Among his accomplishments was the gift of ventriloquism, and this ho now determined to use. Throwing his voice down among the blazing faggots, he startled the Indians by asking, in a loud tone, why they dared to venture out upon such an expedition. T n © warriors started to their feet in astonishment, and Amos lay very still in the tree. Then began a confused jabber of tongues, and the dusky group gathered around the fire, in evident consternation, pointing to it and gesticulating energetically. At last a circle was formed, and the chief stepped out alone preparatory to addressing them. As he opened his lips, A mos threw his voice into the chieftain's mouth, and uttered a prolonged howl. The savage sprang back in dismay; and then the young man, with a remarkable facility, changed the voice from one painted brave to another, causing them to utter noises like cats and dogs, and all manner of insulting speeches. The medicine man was called by the affrighted heathen; but before he could speak, Amos shouted out, in good Shawnee, to return home at once, that the curse of the Great Spirit was upon the expedition. Then he made such a buzzing noise about the ears of the conjuror, that the man gave a yell of fear, and, starting off at full speed, plunged into the depths of the forest. The remainder of the band hesitated; but afresh imprecation

from' the=- ventriloquist- decided them, aiws they flgd in the utmost dismay.

As- soon as theyywere gone, Amos Chapiinedescended from the tree; and after watching; about' until- day light;- started back for Wheeling.: He reached'- the settlement in due time, and found- the place in readiness for an attack from? the Indians, his men haviEg; returned a few hours before him. The savages, however,- did not make their appearance; and thera- was every reason to believe that the fright Atoos had given them had so worked upon- their superstitious natures as to cause them; to abandon the attempt upon which tbey had started. Amos was congratulated by all' upon his victory, which was- the easiest gained of any upon record! .