272 FATE OF THE FOREST GARRISONS. [1763, June. 



Soon after these tidings of the loss of Sandusky, 

 Gladwyn's garrison heard the scarcely less unwel- 

 come news that the strength of their besiegers had 

 been re-enforced by two strong bands of Ojibwas. 

 Pontiac's forces in the vicinity of Detroit now 

 amounted, according to Canadian computation, to 

 about eight hundred and twenty warriors. Of 

 these, two hundred and fifty were Ottawas, com- 

 manded by himself in person ; one hundred and 

 fifty were Pottawattamies, under Ninivay ; fifty 

 were Wyandots, under Takee ; two hundred were 

 Ojibwas, under Wasson ; and added to these were 

 a hundred and seventy of the same tribe, under 

 their chief, Sekahos.^ As the warriors brought 

 their squaws and children with them, the whole 

 number of savages congregated about Detroit no 

 doubt exceeded three thousand ; and the neighbor- 

 ing fields and meadows must have presented a 

 picturesque and stirring scene. 



The sleepless garrison, worn by fatigue and ill 

 fare, and harassed by constant petty attacks, were 

 yet farther saddened by the news of disaster which 

 thickened from every quarter. Of all the small 

 posts scattered at intervals through the vast wilder- 

 ness to the westward of Niagara and Fort Pitt, it 

 soon appeared that Detroit alone had been able to 

 sustain itself. For the rest, there was but one 

 unvaried tale of calamity and ruin. On the fif- 

 teenth of June, a number of Pottawattamies were 

 seen approaching the gate of the fort, bringing 

 with them four English prisoners, who proved to 



1 Pontiac MS. 



