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A second story depicts an encounter where a combined group of British Torries and Chickasaw, led by James Colbert, attacked Arkansas Port. The attackers kidnapped a number of residents which included women, children and 3 black slaves. A counter-attack of Spanish Soldiers and Quapaw allowed for the escape of most of the hostages. A Spanish Commandant later wrote of a brave Quapaw who threw a tomahawk and then confronted Colbert. Colbert then surrendered his captives and was allowed to leave. The “Brave Quapaw” was thought to have been Saracen.

A letter between George Izard and William Keating of the American Philosophical Society dated January 10, 1827 describes the way Saracen himself recounted, in the presence of assembled Chiefs. 

“When he was a youth (correct dates are out of the question with these people) the Port of Arkansa was surprised by the Chickasaws. The Spanish Commandant, Villar or Villers, and his two infant daughters were carried off by the assailants. Sarrasin casually visited the Port a few hours after this event; he found Madame Villar in the deepest distress at the loss of her husband and children. Moved by her tears, he determined to attempt the rescue of the prisoners and immediately followed the trace of the Chickasaws. After a pursuit of several miles he overtook two of the latter, who were reprising under a tree, and to his joy & surprise beheld the two babes lying on the ground near them. He sprang forward without uttering a word, seized and threw the two latter over his shoulders and retraced his steps to the Port, unmolested by the Chickasaw who were either too much fatigued or astonished to intercept him. As he approached the little Spanish Fort, the mother flew to meet him; but when within a few steps shrieked with agony at seeing one of her infants, as she thought, dead on its Rescuer’s shoulder. The child had fallen asleep and its little head nodded with every step of the warrior. She was soon relieved from her fears, thanks to her benefactor.

Villar, the Father, was yet to be restored to the Family. Sarrasin undertook to bring him back or perish. “If I am killed” said he, “There will be but one Dog less on the Earth; but if I succeed, a whole family will be made happy”.

A brother of the Commandant gave him a sack of dollars as ransom for his relation; with this he set out, and made way towards the Chickasaws, who were encamped at some distance above the mouth of White River on the Mississippi, he called on an Uncle of his. The latter, when he had learned his destination, declared that the project was impracticable unless the demand for the captive were supported by a force from their Tribe. All of the latter who were in this neighborhood were immediately assembled; they approached the Chickasaw Camp and, after some negotiation, Villar was returned to liberty & his family”.

The notoriety that Saracen received by his rescue of the children prompted the first territorial Governor, James Miller, to award him a Presidential Medal. The Presidential Medal symbolized American recognition of his leadership and elevated him to a position of Chief. Saracen’s position as Chief permitted him to wear medals and assist at Councils, however, these honors were personal and did not pass to his eldest son as was the case with other Chiefs whose blood was purely Indian.

Saracen did other noteworthy deeds as a leader during his lifetime. He was one of the signors of the Treaty Of 1833 that ceded Quapaw land. He also led many of his people back to the Pine Bluff area after the disastrous experience of evacuation.

Saracen’s name and legacy lives on in Pine Bluff Arkansas. Several local spots currently bear his name; they include Saracen Street, Saracen Landing, a downtown mural, and The Saracen Casino. 

Saracen died sometime between 1833 and 1839; the exact date is not known.  Saracen was originally buried in Pine Bluff’s “Old Town” cemetery. His remains were moved to Bellwood cemetery in 1883 and finally to St. Joseph’s Cemetery in 1905. Saracen’s grave marker reads 1832 however, Saracen was a signor on the treaty of 1833 which proves the inaccuracy of the marker.