WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 205 



ly expected there with a force, with which, he intended to at- 

 tack Winchester on the Maumee. Despatcliing a messenger 

 with this news, to the head quarters at the rapids, he early 

 next morning, marched for Freiichtown, intending to reach 

 that place before Elliot's arrival. The village which he was 

 marching to defend, was located precisely half way between 

 Presque Isle and Maiden, eighteen miles, from each place. 

 Lewis's march was either on the ice of Maumee bay, or on that 

 of lake Erie. Six miles from Frenchtown he was discovered 

 by a few Indians who gave the alarm to the main body of the 

 enemy. Our army now halted and prepared to leave the lake 

 and march to the town. They took some refreshments, then 

 forming three lines, they passed through a piece of woods and 

 moved forward through an open prairie, in order of battle. 

 Colonel Allen commanded the right line composed of the com- 

 panies under captains McCracken, Bledsoe and Matson. 

 The left line, composed of the companies under captains Ham- 

 ilton, Williams and Kelly was commanded by major Graves. 

 The centre consisted of the companies of captains Hightower, 

 Collier and Sebree, commanded by major Madison, nephew of 

 the then President of the United States. In front of these 

 three lines, as a guard, marched the coiflpanies of Hickman, 

 Graves and James, commanded by Captain Ballard, acting as 

 major. Thus marching forward, they reached Frenchtown. 

 When within eighty rods of the town they saw the enemy in 

 motion among the houses, and behind the fences around the 

 gardens. Him they drove thence, from all his coverts and 

 hiding places, into a wood. Here he made a stand with his 

 howitzer and small arms, but all in vain. Our troops drove 

 him out of the woods, a distance of two miles, every step un- 

 der a charge, for the last hour. It was now dark. The ac- 

 tion had commenced at three o'clock in the afternoon. Return- 

 ing to the village, of which they took peaceable possession, 

 and occupied it unmolested, until morning. In this warmly 

 contested action, every officer, and every soldier did his duty. 

 Our loss was twelve killed and fifty-five wounded. Among 

 the latter, were captains Hickman, Matson and Ballard. 



