254 The Winning of the West 



and good. 16 But the Indians had the advantage 

 in numbers, and were able to outflank the whites. 



In a minute the spies brought word that the 

 enemy were close in front. 17 The Kentuckians gal- 

 loped up at speed to within sixty yards of their foes, 

 leaped from their horses, and instantly gave and 

 received a heavy fire. 18 Boone was the first to open 

 the combat; and under his command the left wing 

 pushed the Indians opposite them back for a hun- 

 dred yards. The old hunter of course led in person ; 

 his men stoutly backed him up, and their resolute 

 bearing and skilful marksmanship gave to the whites 

 in this part of the line a momentary victory. But 

 on the right of the Kentucky advance, affairs went 

 badly from the start. The Indians were thrown 

 out so as to completely surround Trigg's wing. 

 Almost as soon as the firing became heavy in front, 

 crowds of painted warriors rose from some hollows 

 of long grass that lay on Trigg's right and poured 

 in a close and deadly volley. Rushing forward, 

 they took his men in rear and flank, and rolled them 



16 Levi Todd's letter, Aug. 26, 1782. 



17 It is absolutely erroneous to paint the battle as in' any 

 way a surprise. Boone says: "We discovered the enemy 

 lying in wait for us; on this discovery we formed our col- 

 umns into a single line, and marched up in their front." 

 There was no ambush, except that of course the Indians, as 

 usual, sheltered themselves behind trees or in the long grass. 

 From what Boone and Levi Todd say, it is evident that the 

 firing began on both sides at the same time. Call well says 

 the Indians fired one gun whereupon the Kentuckians fired a 

 volley. 



18 Levi Todd's letter. 



