1763, July.] BRAVERY OF DALZELL. 313 



yell, and poured a volley among them. The men 

 had well-nigh fallen mto a panic. The river ran 

 close on their left, and the only avenue of escape 

 lay along the road in front. Breaking their ranks, 

 they crowded upon one another in blind eagerness 

 to escape the storm of bullets ; and but for the 

 presence of Dalzell, the retreat would have been 

 turned into a flight. " The enemy," writes an 

 officer who was in the tight, " marked him for 

 his extraordinary bravery ; " and he had already 

 received two severe wounds. Yet his exertions 

 did not slacken for a moment. Some of the 

 soldiers he rebuked, some he threatened, and 

 some he beat with the flat of his sword ; till at 

 length order was partially restored, and the fire of 

 the enemy returned with effect. Though it was near 

 daybreak, the dawn was obscured by a thick fog, 

 and little could be seen of the Indians, except the 

 incessant flashes of their guns amid the mist, while 

 hundreds of voices, mingled in one appalling yell, 

 confused the faculties of the men, and drowned the 

 shout of command. The enemy had taken posses- 

 sion of a house, from the wdndows of which they 

 fired down upon the English. Major Rogers, with 

 some of his provincial rangers, burst the door with 

 an axe, rushed in, and expelled them. Captain 

 Gray was ordered to dislodge a large party from 

 behind some neighboring fences. He charged 

 them with his company, but fell, mortally wounded, 

 in the attempt.^ They gave way, however ; and 

 now, the fire of the Indians being much diminished, 



1 Penn. Gaz. No. 1811. 



