1763, Aug.] SUCCESSFUL STRATAGEM. 67 



on all sides, from behind the trees and bushes, and, 

 with infernal screeches, rushed headlong towards 

 the spot, pouring in a heavy and galling fire. The 

 shock was too violent to be long endured. The 

 men struggled to maintain their posts ; but the 

 Indians seemed on the point of breaking into the 

 heart of the camp, when the aspect of affairs was 

 suddenly reversed. The two companies, who had 

 apparently abandoned their position, were in fact 

 destined to begin the attack ; and they now sallied 

 out from the circle at a point where a depression 

 in the ground, joined to the thick growth of trees, 

 concealed them from the eyes of the Indians. Mak- 

 ing a short detour through the woods, they came 

 round upon the flank of the furious assailants, and 

 fired a close volley into the midst of the crowd. 

 Numbers were seen to fall ; yet though completely 

 surprised, and utterly at a loss to understand the 

 nature of the attack, the Indians faced about with 

 the greatest intrepidity, and returned the fire. But 

 the Highlanders, with yells as wild as their own, 

 fell on them with the bayonet. The shock was 

 irresistible, and they fied before the charging ranks 

 in a tumultuous throng. Orders had been given 

 to two other companies, occupying a contiguous 

 part of the circle, to support the attack whenever 

 a favorable moment should occur ; and they had 

 therefore advanced a little from their position, and 

 lay close crouched in ambush. The fugitives, 

 pressed by the Highland bayonets, passed directly 

 across their front ; upon which they rose, and poured 

 among them a second volley, no less destructive 



