266 ROUT OF CUTLER'S DETACHMENT. [1763, Mat. 



Indians broke out of the woods in a body, and 

 rushed fiercely upon the centre of the line, which 

 gave way in every part ; the men flinging down 

 their guns, running in a blind panic to the boats, 

 and struggling with ill-directed efl'orts to shove 

 them into the water. Five were set afloat, and 

 pushed off from the shore, crowded with the terri- 

 fied soldiers. Cuyler, seeing himself, as he says, 

 deserted by his men, waded up to his neck in the 

 lake, and climbed into one of the retreating boats. 

 The Indians, on their part, pushing two more afloat, 

 went in pursuit of the fugitives, three boat-loads of 

 whom allowed themselves to be recaptured without 

 resistance ; but the remaining two, in one of which 

 was Cuyler himself, made their escape.^ They 

 rowed all night, and landed in the morning upon 

 a small island. Between thirty and forty men, 

 some of whom were wounded, were crowded in 

 these two boats ; the rest, about sixty in number, 

 being killed or taken. Cuyler now made for 

 Sandusky, which, on his arrival, he found burnt 

 to the ground. Immediately leaving the spot, 

 he rowed along the south shore to Presqu' Isle, 

 from whence he proceeded to Niagara and re- 



1 " Being abandoned by my men, I was Forced to Retreat in the best 

 manner I could. I was left with 6 men on the Beecli, Endeavoring to get 

 off a Boat, which not being able to Etfect, was Obliged to Run up to my 

 Neck, in the Lake, to get to a Boat that had pushed off, without my 

 Knowledge. — When I was in the Lake I saw Five Boats manned, and 

 the Indians having manned two Boats, pursued and Brought back Three 

 of the Five, keeping a continual Fire from off the Shore, and from the two 

 Boats that followed us, about a Mile on the Lake; the Wind springing up 

 fair, I and the other Remaining Boat Hoisted sail and escaped." — Cuyler's 

 Report, MS. 



