notwithstanding all this there was a ray of hope yet existing in the minds of the people that the would render us assistance and whilst they people were waiting anxiously for deliverance, men women and children frightened, praying & weeping, we beheld at a distance crossing the prairies approaching the , a large army in military array brandishing their glittering swords in the sunshine & we could not but feel joyful for a moment thinking <​that​> probably that the had sent an armed force to our relief notwithstanding the awful forebodings that pervaded our breasts; but to our great surprise when they the army arrived they came up & formed a line in double file in one half mile from <​on the east of​> the city of and detached three messengers with a white Flag to come to the . They were met by with a few other individuals whose names I do not now recollect I was myself standing close by and could very distinctly hear what <​every word​> they said, feelin being filled with anxiety I rushed forward to the spot expecting to hear good news, but alas and heart thrilling through <​ti​> every soul that heard them, they demanded three persons to be brought out of the , before they should massacre the rest. The names of the persons they demanded were, , & his wife. Immediately the three persons were brought forth to hold an interview with the Officers, who had made the demand. And the officers told them they had now a chance to save their lives, for they calculated to destroy the people & lay the in Ashes. They replied to the officers, and said, “if the people must be destroyed & the burnt to ashes they would remain in the and die with them.” The officers immediately returned & the army retreated and encamped about a mile and half from the — A was immediately despatched <​with a white Flag​> from the of the Militia of , requesting an interview with & , but as the approached the Camp he was fired <​shot​> at by , the Methodist preacher— The name of the Messenger was , who is now Brigardier [p. 8]