Elsie on the Hudson Part 13

"And I think history says a successful mission was established there,"

remarked Grandma Elsie, as the captain paused, as if at the end of his story.

"Yes," he replied, "and it was continued until a war between the Shawnees and the Delawares destroyed the peace of the valley."

"What was that war about, papa?" asked Ned.

"Like many others it was about a very foolish thing," replied the captain. "The Shawnees were a not very powerful tribe, and lived by permission of the Delawares on the western bank of the Susquehanna.

One day the warriors of both tribes were hunting upon the mountains when a party of women and children of the Shawnees crossed to the Delaware side to gather fruit, and were joined by some of the Delaware squaws and children. After a while two of the children--a Shawnee and a Delaware--got into a quarrel over a gra.s.shopper. Then the mothers took part,--the Shawnees on one side, the Delawares on the other,--and the Delawares, who were the more numerous, drove the Shawnees home, killing several on the way. When the Shawnee hunters came home, saw their dead women, and heard the sad story, they were very angry, crossed the river, and attacked the Delawares. A b.l.o.o.d.y battle followed; the Shawnees were beaten, and retreated to the banks of the Ohio, where lived a larger portion of their tribe."

"There are not many more historic scenes in this State that we will care to visit at this time, are there, papa?" asked Grace.

"I think not," he said; "we are going west, and most of them are already east of us."

"But, father," said Lucilla, "we have hardly touched upon the history of Wyoming."

"True," he returned; "but it is so very sad that I fear its recital would rather detract from the enjoyment of this lovely scenery.

However, I will give you a brief account of what took place here during the Revolutionary War.

"Early in the summer of 1778 the movements of Brant and his warriors, the Johnsons and Butlers and their Tory legions, upon the upper waters of the Susquehanna, and the actions of the Tories in the Wyoming Valley, greatly alarmed the people. Nearly all their able-bodied men were away in the Continental Army; none was left to defend the valley but old men, boys, and women. Afraid of the savages, they were building six forts, going through all the labor required in that work without payment except the hope of self-defence.

"Such was their condition when in June, 1778, an expedition of Tories and Indians was ready to come down upon them. All this was told to Congress. Wyoming men in the army besought protection for their wives and little ones, and General Schuyler wrote a touching letter in their behalf. But all Congress did was to pa.s.s resolutions to let the people take measures for self-defence by raising troops among themselves, and finding their own arms, accoutrements, and blankets.

"The people--poor creatures!--did their best; but, attacked by overwhelming numbers of the most savage foes, they went through terrible scenes and sufferings. I will not dwell further upon the horrors of that dreadful time. The Tories and Indians acted like fiends. Lossing, speaking of what occurred after the fight and surrender, says: 'The terms of capitulation were respected by the invaders, particularly the Indians, for a few hours only. Before night they spread through the valley, plundering and burning.'"

"Did the women and children run away, papa?" asked Ned.

"Yes; they fled to the mountains, and many of them perished in the Pocono Mountain swamp, known as the Shades of Death, and along the wilderness paths by the way of the Wind Gap and Water Gap. They were flying to the settlements on the Lehigh and Delaware. They were not travelling like ourselves--in an easy carriage, with abundance of food and clothing; and many died from hunger and exhaustion."

"Some of their clothes had been taken by the Indians," remarked Violet. "I remember reading that many squaws had on from four to six dresses of silk or chintz, one over the other; and some four or five bonnets, one over another."

"Papa, are we going to visit any more places in this State where they had fights?" asked Ned.

"Where there were battles fought, son? No, I think not at this time.

We will probably go on into Ohio now without any more delays."

"There were some fights there--weren't there, papa?" asked Elsie.

"Yes; between the whites and the Indians, and between the Americans and the British and Indians, in the war of 1812-14."

"Yes, children," said Lucilla; "don't you remember papa's telling us about some of the fights near Lake Erie, and Perry's victory on the lake?"

"Oh, yes!" exclaimed both the little ones; "and his letter to General Harrison--'We have met the enemy and they are ours.' And you'll tell us about the land fights, won't you, papa?"

"Yes," he said; "one of these days; probably while we are in Ohio."

"Are we going right on now to the islands in Lake Erie, papa?" asked Grace.

"Unless some one or more of us should desire to stop by the way,"

returned the captain pleasantly.

"Perhaps it would be more restful to pa.s.s a night at Pittsburg or Cincinnati," suggested Grandma Elsie; and that was what was decided upon, after a little discussion of the question.

They rested in Cleveland for another night; then, on a bright morning, pa.s.sed over to the islands in a steamer. A pleasant surprise awaited them on landing; their cousin Ronald Lilburn was there with his wife Annis and her grandnephew, Percy Landreth. The last-named was one whom Captain Raymond would have preferred not to have in the company,--but merely on Lucilla's account,--and he greeted him with cordial kindness.

"We have given you a surprise, haven't we?" asked Mrs. Lilburn of her cousin Elsie.

"Yes; a most pleasant one," replied Mrs. Travilla. "I can truly say I think your presence here will double our enjoyment. How long since you arrived?"

"Only about twenty-four hours. We came straight from home, where we left all your dear ones well."

"Ah, that is good news! It is a new thing for me to be so far away from my dear father; and he is growing old; so I have been feeling a little anxious about him."

"He evidently misses you, but is glad that you are enjoying yourself,"

said Annis.

"Yes! so unselfish as he is--my dear father! Ah, how lovely it is here!" glancing about as she spoke. "No doubt we can pa.s.s some days or weeks here very delightfully."

"I am quite sure of it, mother," said the captain, who had overheard the remark, made as they all were on their way from the landing to the hotel. "We will have the yacht here in a day or two, I think; and it will afford us some pleasant trips here and there on the lake."

"And carry us to some historical scenes, won't it, papa?" asked Grace in a tone of satisfaction.

"Yes," he replied; "and we will live on it, unless the majority of our company should prefer the hotel."

"No danger of that, I think," said Grandma Elsie; "we all feel so much at home and find ourselves so comfortable on the yacht."

"I don't wonder that you prefer it," said Annis; "but I was hoping you would all be at the hotel with us."

"Are you not willing to be on the _Dolphin_ with us?" asked the captain, giving her a cordial look and smile.

"Indeed, sir, I should like nothing better--except for the fear of crowding you."

"I think that is beyond your ability," laughed the captain. "Even joined by all three of you, we should have more room than we have had in some of our trips which we found very enjoyable."

"Then we accept your kind invitation with the greatest pleasure," said Mr. Lilburn; and there the conversation ended, as they were already at the entrance to the hotel.

They spent a pleasant day in and about there, but early in the evening the _Dolphin_ made her appearance, and they all went aboard of her--a blithe and happy company.

The morning found them all in good health and good spirits, and as they sat about the breakfast table the captain asked: "Where shall we go to-day? I think it would be well to take the little trips we contemplate while the weather is so favorable. Then when a storm comes we can shut ourselves in and enjoy books, work, and each other's company."

"I think that is a good suggestion, captain," said Grandma Elsie.

"Suppose you take us to-day to Fremont, to view the ground where Fort Stephenson stood."

Everyone present seemed pleased with the proposition, and it was decided to make the little excursion that morning. They could go nearly all the way in their yacht, by lake and river, and shortly after breakfast found themselves in motion--the _Dolphin_ having lain quietly at anchor during the night.

"I, for one, should like to refresh my memory in regard to Fort Stephenson: when it was built, by whom attacked, and how defended,"

remarked Annis, as they sat together on the deck while sailing toward Sandusky Bay. "Captain Raymond, you are usually the story teller, I believe."

"Ah, Cousin Annis, that is a fine character you give me," he returned with a smile. "But perhaps I deserve it. Do all the company feel the same desire that Mrs. Lilburn has just expressed?"