s zeal and that of his
brother, who was called the Prophet, by promises of future success in
their schemes for confederating the tribes, and boasting of his ample
power to place Fort Meigs with its garrison and immense stores in the
hands of his Indian allies.

"Proctor was delighted with this response of the savages to his call,
and had fine visions of the victory he was going to gain, and the
glory and promotion it would bring him. He was more boastful than
ever, and treated the Americans at Detroit in a supercilious manner.
He ordered the Canadians to assemble at Sandwich on the 7th of April
and told them the campaign would be short, decisive, successful, and
profitable."

"How did he know!" exclaimed Lucilla scornfully.

"He did not," said her father; "events shortly following showed it to
have been but idle boasting. That boast was made on the 7th of April.
On the 23d his army and his savage allies embarked on a brig and
several smaller vessels, accompanied by two gunboats and some
artillery. On the 26th they were at the mouth of the Maumee, about
twelve miles below Fort Meigs, and two days later they landed on the
left bank of the river near old Fort Miami, and established their main
camp there.

"Captain Hamilton of the Ohio troops was reconnoitring down the river
with a small force on the 28th, when he discovered the enemy there in
force. They were first seen by Peter Navarre, one of Harrison's most
trusty scouts. Hamilton sent him in haste to Fort Meigs with the news,
and Harrison at once despatched him with three letters--one for
Governor Meigs at Urbana, one for Upper Sandusky, and one for Lower
Sandusky. Fort Meigs was quite strong--had intrenchments, pickets,
several blockhouses, and a good supply of field-pieces; but from the
account he had had of the character and strength of the enemy,
Harrison considered it in imminent peril. He knew that General Clay
was on his march with his Kentuckians, and immediately after
despatching Navarre with his letters, he sent Captain William Oliver,
the commissary of the fort, and a brave, judicious, and intelligent
officer, with a verbal message to Clay urging him to press forward by
forced marches.

"Oliver found General Clay at Defiance with 1200 Kentuckians. At St.
Mary's blockhouse Clay divided his brigade. He descended the St. Mary
himself with Colonel Boswell's corps, while Dudley went down the
Auglaize.

"The two divisions were to meet at Defiance. But bef