80 AMBUSCADE OF THE DEVIL'S HOLE. [1763, Sept. 



the relief of Detroit. As the boats were slowly 

 forcing their way upwards against the swift current 

 above the falls of Niagara, they were assailed by 

 a mere handful of Indians, thrown into confusion, 

 and driven back to Fort Schlosser with serious loss. 

 The next attempt was more fortunate, the boats 

 reaching Lake Erie without farther attack ; but 

 the inauspicious opening of the expedition was 

 followed by results yet more disastrous. As they 

 approached their destination, a violent storm over- 

 took them in the night. The frail bateaux, tossing 

 upon the merciless waves of Lake Erie, were over- 

 set, driven ashore, and many of them dashed to 

 pieces. About seventy men perished, all the am- 

 munition and stores were destroyed, and the shat- 

 tered flotilla was forced back to Niagara.^ 



1 MS. Diary of an officer in Wilkins's Expedition against the Indians at 

 Detroit. 



