In the Current of the Revolution 351 



before daylight on one of the forts. 55 The attack- 

 ing party was some two hundred strong, half of 

 them being white men, naked and painted like the 

 Indians; but after dark, on the evening before the 

 attack, a band of one hundred and fifty American 

 militia, on their way to join Williamson, entered 

 the fort. The assault was made before dawn; it 

 was promptly repulsed, and at daybreak the enemy 

 fled, having suffered some loss ; thirteen of the tories 

 were captured, but the more nimble Indians escaped. 

 By the end of July, Williamson had gathered 

 over eleven hundred militia 56 (including two small 

 rifle companies, and advanced against the Indian 

 towns, sending his spies and scouts before him. 

 On the last day of the month he made a rapid night 

 march, with three hundred and fifty horsemen, to 

 surprise Cameron, who lay with a party of tories 

 and Indians, encamped at Oconoree Creek, beyond 

 the Cherokee town of Eseneka, which commanded 

 the ford of the river Keowee. The cabins and 

 fenced gardens of the town lay on both sides of 

 the river. Williamson had been told by his pris- 

 oners that the hither bank was deserted, and ad- 

 vanced heedlessly, without scouts or flankers. In 

 consequence he fell into an ambush, for when he 

 reached the first houses, hidden Indians suddenly 

 fired on him from front and flank. Many horses, 

 including that of the commander, were shot down, 



55 Lyndley's Fort, on Rayborn Creek. 



56 Eleven hundred and fifty-one, of whom one hundred and 

 thirty were riflemen. He was camped at Twenty-three Mile 

 Creek. 



