404 The Winning of the West 



an hour without a leader. Apparently satisfied with 

 this feat, Trotter marched home, having accom 

 plished nothing. 



Much angered, Harmar gave the command to 

 Hardin, who left the camp next morning with two 

 hundred men, including thirty regulars. But the 

 militia had turned sulky. They did not wish to go, 

 and they began to desert and return to camp imme 

 diately after leaving it. At least half of them had 

 thus left him, when he stumbled on a body of about 

 a hundred Indians. The Indians advanced firing, 

 and the militia fled with abject cowardice, many not 

 even discharging their guns. The thirty regulars 

 stood to their work, and about ten of the militia 

 stayed with them. This small detachment fought 

 bravely, and was cut to pieces, but six or seven men 

 escaping. Their captain, after valiant fighting, 

 broke through the savages, and got into a swamp 

 near by. Here he hid, and returned to camp next 

 day; he was so near the place of the fight that he 

 had seen the victory dance of the Indians over their 

 slain and mutilated foes. 



This defeat took the heart out of the militia. The 

 army left the Miami towns, and moved back a couple 

 of miles to the Shawnee town of Chillicothe. A few 

 Indians began to lurk about, stealing horses, and 

 two of the militia captains determined to try to kill 

 one of the thieves. Accordingly, at nightfall, they 

 hobbled a horse with a bell, near a hazel thicket in 

 which they hid. Soon an Indian stalked up to the 

 horse, whereupon they killed him, and brought his 



