L panions passed through a scene of savage barbarity and cruelty which will probably never occur again in the United States. They were made to run the gauntlet. This was done in the following manner. The Indians formed a line to the left of the road or trace running along the river bank, which was nearly perpendicular, and extending from the dilapidated walls of the fort, about one hundred and fifty yards up the river, leaving a space of some forty or fifty feet between their line and the bank of the river. Through this defile, the prisoners were compelled to pass, in order to reach the gateway that led into the fort. They were informed by the British soldiers, that it was the intention of the Indians to whip, to wound, or to kill, just as their malevolence and vindictiveness should prompt, and that each from the starting point, at the head of the line, should make his way into the fort in the best way he could, and with all possible speed. The prisoners were told, that when within the walls they would be safe, but this promise was violated. As the prisoners ran between the Indian line and the river bank, many were maimed and killed with tomahawks, war clubs and rifles. Those braves in whom all feelings of humanity were not totally extinct, only beat the prisoners over their heads and shoulders, as they passed, with ramrods and wiping sticks. Lieut. Underwood, on Lieut. Underwood, on reaching the head of the line, perceived that it was concave or circular, and that those who ran next to the river bank were more frequently shot down than those nearer the Indian line. He, therefore, determined to pass by the ends of the muzzles of their guns, knowing that if he escaped being shot, when immediately in front, the gun would not be turned upon him, because the ball, after killing him, might also hit those standing further on in the curved line. This policy of the Lieutenant, although it gave him a better chance to escape the bullets, brought him in closer contact with ramrods and wiping sticks, and he received many severe blows. Between forty and fifty prisoners were killed in thus running the gauntlet; among them the brave Captain Lewis, who commanded a company from Jessamine county. As the prisoners passed into the old fort, they were ordered to sit down, and did so npon the wet ground. Lieut. Underwood asked permission to lay his head in the lap of a fellow soldier named Gilpin, which being readily granted, he stretched himself upon the ground, the better to enable the blood to escape from his wound. In this situation an Indian of the Potowattamie tribe from the embankment of the old fort, which was elevated about four feet above the ground on which the prisoners were sitting, presented his rifle, and shot a prisoner near the base of the embankment. He then deliberately loaded his gun and shot another. After this he laid down the gun, drew his tomahawk, jumped off the embankment, and drove it to the helve in the heads of two others. He then scalped and stripped his four victims, and departed with his trophies. The ball which passed through one of them, penetrated the hips of a soldier near by, inflicting a wound which afterwards occasioned his death. So that it may be said, that five prisoners were murdered by this infuriated savage after safety had been promised them. It is believed, however, that the British officers and soldiers were sincerely desirous to prevent the massacre which occurred in the fort. Whilst the Potowattamie was engaged in his work of death, hundreds of savage warriors dressed in their war costumes and hideously painted, were stationed upon and about the embankment which encircled the prisoners. Among them rage and fury were manifested by every sort of ejaculation. The British guard incessantly uttered the expression, "Oh nitchee wah, oh nitchee wah." It can never be forgotten by those who heard it on that occasion. It was the language of mercy addressed to the infuriated Indian, and those who surrounded him, and as afterwards interpreted to the Kentuckians, signified, "Oh! brother, quit, go away." This appeal may have prevented the massacre of all the prisoners. When the Potowattamie began the butchery, the prisoners in danger, and who, up to that moment, had retained their seats upon the ground, now rose to their feet and endeavored to get out of the way and save themselves, by jumping over the heads of those who remained sitting. In this melee of horror, while those on the outside were receiving the tomahawk, those lies, during the continuation of the war, unless regularly exchanged. Upon the presentation of the paper, inquiry was made whether, by the term “allies," it was intended to embrace the Indians. The reply was, "His Majesty's allies are known," with an intimation that the prisoners must act at their peril. Upon the execution of the paper, those officers and men capable of marching, were landed and discharged on parole. Lieutenant Underwood and James E. Davis, Esq., of Lexington, were landed at the mouth of Huron river, and found quarters in the cabin of a recent settler named Sharrott, where they were treated with all kindness until they were able to travel home. About the first of July, the Lieutenant reached the house of his uncle in Barren county. a little removed were, in their efforts to ' against the King of Great Britain or his alescape, trampling the wounded and prostrate Lieutenant under their feet in his own blood. When the Potowattamie had glutted his vengeance and retired, when the uproar was calmed and order restored, he presented an appearance more readily conceived than described. Having been previously stripped to his shirt and pantaloons, he now appeared as if plastered with a compost of mud and blood. In this situation, he was an object of one of the most disinterested acts of benevolence ever performed. A generous soldier, named James Boston, of Clark county, Kentucky, took off his hunting shirt, the uniform of his company, and insisted on clothing the Lieutenant with it, which was done, thereby concealing the blood and wound. This circumstance may have saved the Lieutenant's life, for it is believed that the Indians are disposed to put to death all those who are wounded, and who fall into their hands. After many other interesting and thrilling incidents, Lieutenant Underwood reached the prison ship lying in the Maumee river, eight or nine miles below the rapids, about nine o'clock at night. He was put on board, and being announced as a wounded officer, was taken to the cabin of the vessel and permitted to lie upon the floor, where he spent the night without a blanket or covering of any kind. Midshipman Parsons was kind enough on the next day to surrender his berth to the Lieutenant, who thereafter, during his stay on board, received every attention from Captain Stewart and the other officers in command. Captain Stewart and Midshipman Parsons were captured by Commodore Perry in the naval battle on Lake Erie, and with other officers, were sent to Frankfort, Kentucky, and there confined in the penitentiary to answer as hostages for the treatment American prisoners might receive in England. This was a measure of retaliation, in consequence of the outrage perpetrated at Dartmouth, in England. Lieutenant Underwood visited the captain and midshipman in the penitentary with a view to return the kindness they had shown him when a prisoner. the day after the battle, the Ame- This short but disastrous campaign having terminated, Mr. Underwood resumed his legal studies, and in the fall of 1813 obtained license to practice law. He opened an office in Glasgow in the winter, and attended the first court in Bowling Green in February, 1814. He was fortunate in obtaining fees and money enough to pay his expenses, the more necessary because his good uncle had now determined to throw him upon his own resources. Well did he meet his uncle's confidence in his success. He rose rapidly, and in a few years stood high in his profession. The Hon. John J. Crittenden, now his colleague in the Senate, and Solomon P. Sharp, a distinguished member of Congress, and subsequently Attorney-general of the State, were his associates at the bar, in the beginning of his professional career. These eminent lawyers then lived in that part of Kentucky where Mr. Underwood has always resided. He was elected in the year 1816, being just eligible, to represent Barren county in the legislature, and was annually returned for four years. He then voluntarily withdrew from the political arena, that all of his energies might be devoted to the payment of heavy debts, incurred by the insolvency of those for whom he was bound as surety. He was greatly harassed, but by severe struggles freed himself. His books were even surrendered to satisfy ereditors, but he never was sued at any time of his life except as surety for others. He pune tually complied with his own contracts during his great difficulties, and the confidence of his clients and the public was never withdrawn. He has often been heard to say that he lost the best ten years of his life in working to pay the debts of others. Having extricated himself from these embarrassments, he is now in easy circum stances. In November, 1823, Mr. Underwood removed to Bowling Green, where he still resides. He became one of the actors in the memorable contest between what was called the new and old court parties, growing out of the intense agitation of great constitutional questions, that had nearly resulted in a civil war. The legislature had violated the obligation of contracts, by the passage of relief laws, as they were termed. The judges declared them to be unconstitutional, and the legislature attempted to remove them from office by re-organizing the court, and there were then two sets of men claiming to be judges of the appellate court. Although Mr. Underwood's pecuniary affairs seemed naturally to throw him on the side of the new court, yet his convictions and principles sustained the old court, and their decisions against the relief laws. He was selected by the members of that party as their candidate for the legislature, and was elected in 1825, after a most animated contest. The controversy was not decided until the next year, when he again represented the county; and upon the settlement of this exciting question that had convulsed Kentucky, he retired and labored most earnestly to relieve his pecuniary pressure. But he was not permitted to remain in private life. In 1828, he was selected by the anti-Jackson party, as their candidate for the office of LieutenantGovernor, and was placed on the ticket with the Hon. Thomas Metcalfe, who was the Gubernatorial candidate. Although General Metcalfe succeeded and was elected by a few hundred votes over Major Barry, subsequently appointed postmaster general, Mr. Breathitt, (late Governor of Kentucky,) obtained a small majority over Mr. Underwood. This result was partly in consequence of votes given by Major Barry and Mr. Underwood when members of the legislature, against a bill, in the provisions of which the occupants of lands felt a deep interest. Time, however, demonstrated the correctness of their course, and the act, which had passed contrary to their votes, was repealed. In December, 1828, Governor Metcalfe commissioned Mr. Underwood as one of the judges of the court of appeals. He and Judge Robertson, who were schoolmates at Lancaster, were united as the only judges of the court. Never did two officers perform more labor than during the first year, when they discharged the whole business of the court without the aid of a chief justice. It had greatly accumulated during the struggle between the new and old court. Each refrained from doing business, from the uncertainty which hung over the ultimate validity of its acts. Judge Robertson was commissioned as chief justice in December, 1829, and Hon. Richard A. Buckner appointed as one of the associate justices of the court. Judge Underwood remained upon the bench until 1835, when he resigned, and was elected to represent the third congressional district. He served as a representative in Congress for eight successive years. He notified his constituents of his intention to retire at the end of the third term, and left Washington with his family, intending to execute his design. But at Louisville, on his way homeward, he was informed of his unanimous nomination in convention, by the people of his district, for a fourth term. He did not think proper to resist the flattering call, and was again elected. At the end of eight years he was permitted to retire, when he diligently resumed the practice of his profession. In 1845, he consented to serve his county-men, who had nominated him without his knowledge, when from home, in the State legislature. He was elected by a very large majority, many of his political opponents voting for him. He was elected Speaker of the House in December, and presided over that body so much to their satisfaction, as to merit and receive a unanimous vote of thanks. At the next session, he was elected to the Senate of the United States for the term of six years, commencing on the 4th of March, 1847. In enumerating the offices which Senator Underwood has filled, it should not ho overlooked that he was twice a presid elector, voting first, in 1824, for Henry Clay as President, and John C. Calhoun as Vice President, and in 1844, for Mr. Clay and Mr. Frelinghuysen. The college of electors visited Mr. Clay in 1844, after their votes had been given, and Mr. Underwood delivered to him an address, having been selected for that purpose. In a sketch like this, the different productions of Judge Underwood's mental labor cannot be noticed. To do so would extend this article far beyond the limits prescribed. It may be said, however, there is not an important political topic that has agitated Kentucky, or the people of the United States, since he entered public life, upon which he has not fully and freely delivered his opinions. The collection of his speeches and various addresses to his constituents, would, of themselves, form a large volume. His judicial opin ions run through nine volumes of Reports, published by authority of the State of Kentucky. Mr. Underwood has been twice married. First to Miss Eliza M. Trotter, of Glasgow, daughter of Mr. John Trotter, and granddaughter of the Rev. David Rice, a Presbyterian minister, who emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky in 1783. This lady died in 1835. During his Congressional service in the House of Representatives he was married the second time to Miss Elizabeth Cox, daughter of Colonel John Cox, of Georgetown, D. C. In person, Judge Underwood is almost six feet high and well proportioned. He retains, to a remarkable degree, the vigor and elasticity of early manhood, and is one of the youngest looking men of his age in the United States. ADVENTURES AND CONQUESTS OF THE NORMANS IN ITALY, DURING THE DARK AGES.* THE narrative of the Icelandic historian, Snorro, in the Heimskringla, of the visit of King Sigurd the Palmer (Jorsala-far) to King Roger in Sicily, proves, that the Northmen at an early period had accustomed themselves to consider the Italian Normans as descendants of their own Scandinavian race. On that account the attention and researches of the Scandinavian historians have, during the last century and down to the present day, been directed to the achievements and conquests of the Normans in the South, although both those who participated in the emigrations to Italy, as well as those who followed William the Conqueror to England had already long ago adopted the Romanic, or French, language and manners. Ralph Ganger, who in the year 912 was invested with Neustria, and his companions, had married French women, and in the interval of two or three generations the Romanic, or French, element had nearly entirely superseded the Scandinavian. Even the Danish language, which certainly was the strongest memorial of the Scandinavial origin of the Normans, had already at the time of William Longsword, (932-943,) been so effectually supplanted by the French, that Benedict of More made the Duke of Normandy thus express himself in regard to the education of his son : "Se à Roem le faz garder Se ne serent neient forz romanz, Ki ne sevent parler se non Daneis The great bulk of the Normans in France may thus be considered already at that time to have been essentially Romanized, yet it cannot be regarded as an accident, that Normandy happened to be that province of France from which the expeditions to Italy and England were undertaken. These expeditions were eminently called forth by the same ardent desire to acquire renown and dominion, which at an earlier period had inspired the roving Sea-kings of Scandinavia to brave the dangers of the ocean; they were the last undulations of that immense swell, which burst forth from the low shores of Denmark and the rocky coasts of Norway and Sweden. These wars, too, were undertaken by heroes, who fought in the true spirit of Old Scandinavia, and, as a Danish poet says, "who cleared the battle-field and terrified the dwarfs." It is particularly the expeditions of the Normans to Italy, and their early conquests in Naples and Sicily, which so strongly remind us of their genuine Scandinavian spirit. This part of their history will perhaps the more attract our attention, as the chroniclers of Italy, who wrote their conquests and settlements, have chiefly dwelt upon the relations into which they soon entered with the Roman Pontiffs, and the wars which they carried on beyond the Adriatic against the Emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire." Finally may be added, that many new and interesting features, highly illustrative of Views on the Emigrations from Normandy to Italy, and on the earliest Conquests of the Normans Naples and Sicily, from the Danish of F. Schiern. For this and the succeeding notes see the end of the article. |