into the fort, bringing the glad tidings that
General Clay and 1100 Kentuckians would probably reach the post before
morning, being but eighteen miles distant.

"The cannonading at Fort Meigs was distinctly heard at Fort
Winchester, where Oliver had found Clay on the 3d, and Clay was
hastening as fast as possible to Harrison's aid, moving down the river
in eighteen flat scows, with sides furnished with shields against the
bullets of the Indians who might be infesting the shores of the river.

"The head of the rapids was eighteen miles from Fort Meigs; it was
late in the evening when the flotilla arrived there; the moon had gone
down, and the sky was overcast with clouds, making a night so
intensely dark that the pilot refused to go on before daylight.
Trimble and the 15 others then immediately offered their services to
go with Oliver to cheer Harrison and his men with the news that
re-enforcements were almost at hand.

"It was joyful news to them. Harrison at once despatched Captain
Hamilton and a subaltern in a canoe with an order to Clay bidding him
detach about 800 men from his brigade and land them at a point about a
mile or a mile and a half above Fort Meigs. The detachment was then to
be conducted to the British batteries on the left bank of the river.
These batteries were to be taken, the cannon spiked, and carriages cut
down. The troops must then return to the boats and cross over to the
fort.

"The rest of his men were to land on the fort side of the river,
opposite the first landing, and fight their way into the fort through
the Indians. Harrison knew that the British force at the batteries was
not large, the main body being still near the old Fort Miami, and that
the bulk of the Indians with Tecumseh were on the eastern side of the
river. His object was to strike effective blows on both sides of the
stream at the same time.

"While these orders of his were being carried out, he intended to make
a sally from the fort, destroy the batteries in the rear, and disperse
or capture the whole British force on that side of the river.

"Clay came down the river early the next morning, and about five miles
above the fort Hamilton met him with Harrison's order. Clay then
directed Dudley to take the twelve front boats and carry out
Harrison's commands in regard to the British batteries, while he
should hasten forward and perform the part assigned to him.

"Colonel Dudley landed his detachment in fine order, and th