1763, July.] ELATION OF THE INDIANS. 317 



could not be ascertained, but it certainly did not 

 exceed fifteen or twenty. At the beginning of the 

 fight, their numbers were probably much inferior 

 to those of the English ; but fresh parties were 

 continually joining them, until seven or eight hun- 

 dred warriors must have been present. 



The Ojibwas and Ottawas alone formed the 

 ambuscade at the bridge, under Pontiac's com- 

 mand ; for the Wyandots and Pottawattamies came 

 later to the scene of action, crossing the river in 

 their canoes, or passing round through the woods 

 behind the fort, to take part in the fray.^ 



In speaking of the fight of Bloody Bridge, an 

 able writer in the Annual E-egister for the year 

 1763 observes, with justice, that although in Euro- 

 pean warfare it w^ould be deemed a mere skirmish, 

 yet in a conflict with the American savages, it rises 

 to the importance of a pitched battle ; since these 

 people, being thinly scattered over a great extent of 

 country, are accustomed to conduct their warfare 

 by detail, and never take the field in any great 

 force. 



The Indians were greatly elated by their success. 

 Runners were sent out for several hundred miles, 

 through the surrounding woods, to spread tidings 



IMS. Letters — MacDonald to Dr. Campbell, Aug. 8. Gage to Lord 

 HaUfax, Oct. 1 2. Amherst to Lord Egremont, Sept. 3. Meloche's Account, 

 MS. Gouin's Account, MS. St. Aubin's Account, MS. Peltier's Account, 

 MS. MarweWs Account, MS., etc. In the Diary of the Siege is the fol- 

 lowing, under date of August 1st : "Young Mr. Carapo (Campau) brought 

 in the Body of poor Capt, Daly el (Dalzell) about three o'clock to-day, 

 which was mangled in such a horrid Manner that it was shocking to 

 human nature; the Indians wip'd his Heart about the Faces of our 

 Prisoners." 



