WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 203 



from Winchester, ordered Charles S. Tod, a judge advocate in 

 the army, to reach Winchester, ascertain his position, and 

 what he was doing, to deliver, also, the orders of Harrison to 

 him. Tod, our late minister to Colombia, taking along with 

 him, two or three gentlemen of Michigan, and as many Wyan- 

 dot Indians, proceeded directly across the country, through 

 " the black swamp," with secrecy and despatch, eluding all 

 the scouts of the enemy, and reached Winchester in safety. 

 He then delivered his orders from General Harrison to Win- 

 chester: " that as soon as he had twenty days provisions, to 

 move forward to the rapids ; to erect block houses, as if he in- 

 tended to winter there ; to build sleds as if to bring on provi- 

 sions from the interior, for the support of his army, during the 

 winter." 



On the 10th of January, 1813, General Winchester, with 

 his little army arrived at the rapids, having previously sent for- 

 ward a detachment of six hundred and seventy men under 

 General Payne, to attack a body of troops belonging to the 

 enemy, which he understood were posted where Toledo now 

 stands on Swan creek. 



Having descended the Mauraee below the old British garri- 

 son, at the foot of the rapids. General Payne ordered some 

 spies forward to reconnoiter the ground where he understood 

 the enemy was posted, but finding no enemy there, these spies 

 returned to the detachment, to which they belonged. The 

 whole command under Payne now returned to Winchester, at a 

 place, opposite the middle of the rapids. On the northern bank 

 of the Maumee, Winchester, posted himself. His position was 

 just above Wayne's battle ground, and precisely opposite, the 

 spot where Hull's road struck the rapids. On an eminence 

 surrounded by woods, and beyond them, prairies, the encamp- 

 ment was of an oval form, and well chosen. A few Indians 

 were discovered by our army, routed and driven off, on the 

 tenth. On the 11th of January, Winchester sent a despatch, 

 to General Harrison, informing him, of all he had done, but, 

 being sent, by some men who were taking back some of Tup- 

 per's worn out horses, the message, went to Fort McArthur, 



