n," says Dr. Andrews, "was now taken by Congress to
destroy this Indian nation. * * The intelligence of the preparations
that were making against them was received by the Indians with great
courage and firmness. * * They took a strong position in the most woody
and mountainous part of the country, which they fortified with great
judgment. * * General Sullivan attacked them in this encampment on the
29th of August. They stood a hot cannonade for more than two hours; but
the breastwork of logs being almost destroyed, and the Americans having
reached the top of the hill on their left, they were apprehensive of
being surrounded, and retreated immediately with the utmost speed. * *
The behaviour of the Indians on this day was very courageous; they
returned the fire of the Americans with great spirit and regularity; and
would, it was thought, have maintained their ground had not the
Americans been provided with a train of artillery, to which the defeat
of the Indians was principally owing. * * This engagement proved
decisive. After their trenches were forced, they fled without making any
further endeavour to rally. They were pursued two or three miles; but
their flight was so swift that they could not be overtaken. Their loss
in slain and wounded was very considerable, though few prisoners were
made.

"The consternation occasioned among the Indians by this defeat was such,
that they lost all hope of retrieving their fortunes, and dropped all
idea of further resistance. As the Americans advanced, they retreated
before them with the utmost precipitation, and suffered them to proceed,
without any obstruction, in the destructive operations they were
commissioned to perform.

"In pursuance of the orders he had received, General Sullivan penetrated
into the heart of the country inhabited by the Five Nations, spreading
everywhere the most extensive desolation. His letter to the Congress,
giving an account of the progress and proceedings of the army under his
command, was as complete a journal of destruction as ever was penned. No
less than forty towns and settlements were destroyed, besides detached
habitations. All their fields of corn and all their orchards and
plantations; whatever, in short, was in a state of cultivation,
underwent the same fate. The devastation was such, that on the American
army's leaving that country not a house was left standing to their
knowledge, nor an Indian to be seen.

"Such was the issue of this ce