"Sam": or The history of mystery./ By C. W. Webber.

"SAM:" OR, THE HISTORY OF MYSTERY.
I can not reflect upon this dreadful scene, without great
sorrow. A zeal for the defense of their country, led these
heroes to the scene of action, though with few men, to attack
a powerful army of experienced warriors. When we gave
way, they pursued us with the utmost eagerness, and in
every quarter spread destruction. The river was difficult to
cross, and many were killed in the fight, some just entering
the river, some in the water, others after crossing, in ascending the cliffs. Some escaped on horseback, a few on foot;
and being dispersed everywhere, in a few hours brought the
melancholy news of this unfortunate battle to Lexington.
Mlany widows were now made. The reader may guess what
sorrow filled the hearts of the inhabitants, exceeding any
thing that I am able to describe. Being reinforced, we
returned to bury the dead, and found their bodies strewed
everywhere, cut and mangled in a dreadful manner. This
mournful scene exhibited a horror almost unparalleled; some
torn and eaten by wild beasts; those in the river by fishes;
all in such a putrid condition that one could not be distinguished from another.
When General Clarke, at the falls of the Ohio, heard of our
disaster, he ordered an expedition to pursue the savages.
We overtook them within two miles of their town, and we
should have obtained a great victory, had not some of them
met us when about two hundred poles from their camp. The
savages fled in the utmost disorder, and evacuated all their
towns. We burned to ashes Old Chilicothe, Peccaway, New
Chilicothe, and Willstown; entirely destroyed their corn and
other fruits, and spread desolation through their country.
We took seven prisoners and fifteen scalps, and lost only
four men, two of whom were accidentally killed by ourselves.
This campaign damped the enemy, yet they made secret
incursions.
In October, a party attacked Crab Orchard, and one of
them, being a good way before the others, boldly entered a
house, in which were only a woman and her children, and a
negro man. The savage used no violence, but attempted to
carry off the negro, who happily proved too strong for him,
and threw him on the ground, and in the struggle, the woman
cut off his head with an ax, while her little daughter shut
the door. The savages instantly came up, and applied their
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