154 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
deployed into three lines in extended order on a very wide front before 
crossing the cleared ground, with the evident intention of enveloping 
his position. The field gun was brought into action, but after firing 
three rounds with no apparent result, it was seen that a party was cross- 
ing the river with the object of cutting off his retreat by the road. 
Reynolds then gave orders for the removal of the gun and retired from 
the village, which was occupied by the Americans with the loss of only 
three men wounded. Some of the inhabitants instantly armed them- 
selves and began firing upon the retreating Indians. The pursuit was 
continued, with loud shouts, across a ravine and through an orchard 
and some cleared fields into the woods, which were obstructed with 
much undergrowth, furnishinz excellent cover. [Kitson made his 
escape by the road under cover of the fire of an escort of Indians. On 
entering the woods the foremost pursuers were soon checked, with 
material loss. Their eagerness and haste exposed them to the fire of 
unseen foes, who instantly retired and took up a fresh position, where 
they reloaded and again awaited their approach until close upon them, 
when they delivered their fire and retired again.! The action con- 
tinued in this way until dark, when Lewis assembled his men and 
retired to the village. He found that he had lost twelve killed and 
forty-five wounded, among the latter being three captains. He ac- 
knowledged that he had made a serious mistake in allowing his troops 
to enter the woods at all.’ 
During the night Reynolds fell back to Brownstown. He reported 
the loss of one militiaman and three Indians killed, but did not state 
the number of wounded and missing. The Kentuckians asserted that 
they had taken twelve scalps besides one Indian and two militia pris- 
oners. The Indians accused them of barbarously hacking to pieces 
one of their wounded warriors with their knives and tomahawks and of 
cutting strips of skin from the bodies of the slain to use as razor strops.* 
Lewis sent off a despatch rider to announce his success and ask 
for a reinforcement to maintain his position, who travelled with such 
speed that he reached Winchester’s camp before morning. On the 
17th Winchester had written to Harrison stating that he was sending 
forward a force to Frenchtown to secure the flour and grain at that 
place and desiring support in this movement from the right wing of 
his army. This letter was despatched to Lower Sandusky. He now 
wrote again, relating the success of his movement and declaring his 


1 Atherton, 39-40. 
2 Lewis to Winchester, 20 January, 1813; Procter to Sheaffe; Armstrong : 
Atherton, 39-40; Darnell; McAfee. 
3 John Strachan, Letter to Thomas Jefferson; Blackbird to Claus, July 15, 1813. 
Palmer, Travels. 
