[CRUIKSHANK] HARRISON AND PROCTER 123 
burg made up a body of about six hundred warriors. The announce- 
ment that the war would be continued put them all in the best humour 
and they seemed eager for active employment. Twenty artillerymen 
under Lieut. Troughton with a light howitzer and two small field guns, 
one hundred and fifty of the 41st Regiment and an equal number of the 
Essex militia and the whole of the Indians were accordingly detailed 
to march against Fort Wayne. Brevet Major Muir of the 41st was 
selected for the command as an officer of tried courage and discretion. 
Colonel Elliott and Captain Caldwell were placed in charge of the Indians. 
Forty-seven French Canadians from the River Raisin were engaged to 
drive a large herd of cattle and a train of pack-horses escorted by the 
Indians, many of whom were mounted on their own horses, while the 
artillery and infantry ascended the Miami in boats of light draught as 
far as they could go. The distance to be travelled exceeded two hun- 
dred miles, much of which would undoubtedly be difficult navigation 
owing to prolonged dry weather. These preparations detained Muir 
until the 16th of September, when he set sail from Amherstburg. The 
troops were landed at the foot of the rapids, where the tedious labour 
began of conveying the artillery and stores across a ten mile portage 
and of towing the boats up stream. Here they were joined by their 
supply train and a considerable body of Indians. The water in the 
river was unusually low and after surmounting the rapids their progress 
was slow and fatiguing. The Indians persistently lagged behind and 
gave little assistance of any kind. On the afternoon of September 26th, 
Muir arrived at the old Delaware town twelve miles above the site of 
Fort Defiance at the junction of the Au Glaize with the Miami and 
forty miles below Fort Wayne. Three days had been occupied in 
moving his boats a distance of only eight miles. The guns were landed 
and remounted on their carriages with the intention of advancing the 
remainder of the way by the Indian trail. The main body of the In- 
dians had remained behind at Fort Defiance; but for the first time a few 
of their scouts had that day been induced to precede the troops a few 
miles. About sunset this party discovered five white men forming 
their camp for the night, whom they quietly surrounded and approached, 
stating that they were hunters on their way home. Ensign Leggett, 
the officer in command, informed the Indians that his party were scouts 
for General Winchester’s army of five thousand men which had relieved 
Fort Wayne exactly two weeks before and was then encamped only 
four miles in their rear, while another body, three thousand strong, 
was advancing down the Au Glaize with the intention of joining Win- 
chester at Fort Defiance when the whole force would move forward to 
the rapids. The Indians then declared themselves as enemies and 
demanded his surrender. Seeing that he was outnumbered and that 
