In the Current of the Revolution 341 



and, as the day was drawing to a close, it was de- 

 cided to a return to the fort. Some of the men were 

 dissatisfied with the decision, and there followed 

 an incident as characteristic in its way as was the 

 bravery with which the battle was subsequently 

 fought. The discontented soldiers expressed their 

 feelings freely, commenting especially upon the sup- 

 posed lack of courage on the part of one of the cap- 

 tains. The latter, after brooding over the matter 

 until the men had begun to march off the ground 

 toward home, suddenly halted the line in which he 

 was walking, and proceeded to harangue the troops 

 in defence of his own reputation. Apparently no 

 one interfered to prevent this remarkable piece of 

 military self-justification; the soldiers were evident- 

 ly accustomed openly to criticise the conduct of their 

 commanders, while the latter responded in any man- 

 ner they saw fit. As soon as the address was over, 

 and the lines once more straightened out, the march 

 was renewed in the original order; and immediately 

 afterward the scouts brought news that a consider- 

 able body of Indians, misled by their retreat, was 

 running rapidly up to assail their rear. 35 



The right file was promptly wheeled to the right 

 and the left to the left, forming a line of battle a 

 quarter of a mile long, the men taking advantage of 

 the cover when possible. There was at first some 



35 Among the later Campbell MSS. are a number of copies 

 of papers containing traditional accounts of this battle. They 

 are mostly very incorrect, both as to the numbers and losses 

 of the Indians and whites, and as to the battle itself very little 

 help can be derived from them. 



