The War in the Northwest 261 



At last the news of repeated disaster roused Clark 

 into his old-time energy. He sent out runners 

 through the settlements, summoning all the able- 

 bodied men to make ready for a blow at the In- 

 dians. The pioneers turned with eager relief 

 toward the man who had so often led them to suc- 

 cess. They answered his call with quick enthusi- 

 asm; beeves, pack-horses, and supplies were of- 

 fered in abundance, and every man who could shoot 

 and ride marched to the appointed meeting-places. 

 The men from the eastern stations gathered at 

 Bryan's, under Logan; those from the western, at 

 the Falls, under Floyd. The two divisions met 

 at the mouth of the Licking, where Clark took 

 supreme command. On the 4th of November, he 

 left the banks of the Ohio and struck off northward 

 through the forest, at the head of one thousand 

 and fifty mounted riflemen. On the loth he at- 

 tacked the Miami towns. His approach was dis- 

 covered just in time to prevent a surprise. The 

 Indians hurriedly fled to the woods, those first dis- 

 covered raising the alarm-cry, which could be heard 

 an incredible distance, and thus warning their fel- 

 lows. In consequence no fight followed, though 



people and the men good soldiers. But they were unaccus- 

 tomed to Indian warfare, and the consequence was that of 

 some ten or twelve men all were killed but two or three." 

 This incident illustrates the folly of the hope, at one time en- 

 tertained, that the Continental troops, by settling in the West 

 on lands granted them, would prove a good barrier against 

 the Indians; the best Continentals in Washington's army 

 would have been almost as helpless as British grenadiers in 

 the woods. 



