312 THE FIGHT OF BLOODY BRIDGE. [1763, July. 



wounded were placed on board the two bateaux 

 which had rowed up to the bridge during the action. 

 This task was commenced amid a sharp fii'e from 

 both sides ; and before it was completed, heavy 

 volleys were heard from the rear, where Captain 

 Grant was stationed. A great force of Indians 

 had fired upon him from the house of Meloche 

 and the neighboring orchards. Grant pushed up 

 the hill, and drove them from the orchards at the 

 point of the bayonet — drove them, also, from the 

 house, and, entering it, found two Canadians within. 

 These men told him that the Indians were bent on 

 cutting off the English from the fort, and that they 

 had gone in great numbers to occupy the houses 

 which commanded the road below. ^ It was now 

 evident that instant retreat was necessary ; and the 

 command being issued to that effect, the men fell 

 back into marching order, and slowly began their 

 retrograde movement. Grant was now in the van, 

 and Dalzell at the rear. Some of the Indians fol- 

 lowed, keeping up a scattering and distant fire ; 

 and from time to time the rear faced about, to 

 throw back a volley of musketry at the pursuers. 

 Having proceeded in this manner for half a mile, 

 they reached a point where, close upon the right, 

 were many barns and outhouses, with strong picket 

 fences. Behind these, and in a newly dug cellar 

 close at hand, lay concealed a great multitude of 

 Indians. They suffered the advanced party to pass 

 unmolested ; but when the centre and rear came 

 opposite their ambuscade, they raised a frightful 



1 Detail of the Action of the 2,1st of July. See Gent. Mag. XXXIII. 486. 



