404 Transactions of the Canadian Institute. [Vol. VII. 



Brant appears to have remained at Sandusky for several weeks until 

 it was definitely known that a considerable body of the enemy was 

 descending the Ohio in boats with the design, it was supposed, of 

 attacking the Shawanese villages near Chillicothe and thence advancing 

 upon Detroit. Captain Thompson with his company of rangers and 

 Brant and McKee at the head of a body of Mingos and Hurons 

 hastened to the assistance of the Shawanese. From Chillicothe Brant 

 and George Girty went forward with a small party to the confluence of 

 the Big Miami and the Ohio, to watch the movements of the enemy. 



Their initial success was reported by Brant in a letter to McKee 

 dated " about ten mile below the mouth of the Big Miami river, 

 August 2 1st, 1 78 1." 



" Three nights ago we layed at the mouth of the Miamies river. 

 We heard a number of boats pass but we could not tell how many for it 

 was dark. When they go past the mouth [they] fired cannon. We 

 was going to attack them but we could not. We suppose [them] to be 

 Clark's army. I [have] been at the Bone Lick yesterday to see whether 

 he was there, but I could see no sign of it. 



" This morning we saw a boat coming down the river and got ready 

 ourselves and took the boat with seven men, one major amongst them, 

 of militia, Cracrath, who was following Clark as he is gone down sure 

 enough and has about three hundred and fifty men with him. They 

 [are] deserting from him very fast. The prisoners do not know who 

 far Clark is gone down the river. They suppose [him] to be' at the 

 Falls. Likewise the prisoners says there is one hundred and fifty men 

 coming down the river with ten small boats, one large one and one still 

 larger horse boat [with a] number of them in it, which is expected to be 

 here next day after to-morrow the longest. They was at the Three 

 Islands five days ago. We are about ninety strong at present with 

 different tribes. These Indians and chiefs particular desires you and 

 the Indians that is with you to come on as fast as possibly you can to 

 join this party. Whilst the enemy are scattered we can easy manage 

 them. And further desires [an] express should be sent to different 

 Indian villages, for every man of them should come immediately to this 

 place for there is no signs, any other party can go against the Indians 

 except Clark as the prisoners say there is no other can be sent. No 

 more at present, please to excuse my writing, I wrote in a hurry. 



" Please let all the Indians know if they don't come to assist us we 

 [are] determined to attack the enemy as well as we can." (Haldimand 

 Papers, B. 182, p. 424.) 



