." The main part of the army was immediately
ordered out under Colonels Charles Lewis,[12] and William Fleming; and
having formed into two lines, [127] they proceeded about four hundred
yards, when they met the Indians, and the action commenced.

At the first onset, Colonel Charles Lewis having fallen, and Colonel
Fleming being wounded, both lines gave way and were retreating briskly
towards the camp, when they were met by a reinforcement under Colonel
Field,[13] and rallied. The engagement then became general, and was
sustained with the most obstinate fury on both sides. The Indians
perceiving that the "tug of war" had come, and determined on affording
the Colonial army no chance of escape, if victory should declare for
them, formed a line extending across the point, from the Ohio to the
Kenhawa, and protected in front, by logs and fallen timber. In this
situation they maintained the contest with unabated vigor, from
sunrise 'till towards the close of evening; bravely and successfully
resisting every charge which was made on them; and withstanding the
impetuosity of every onset, with the most invincible firmness, until a
fortunate movement on the part of the Virginia troops, decided the
day.

Some short distance above the entrance of the Kenhawa river into Ohio,
there is a stream, called Crooked creek, emptying into the former
of these, from the North east,[14] whose banks are tolerably high,
and were then covered with a thick and luxuriant growth of weeds.
Seeing the impracticability of dislodging the Indians, by the most
vigorous attack, and sensible of the great danger, which must
arise to his army, if the contest were not decided before night,
General Lewis detached the three companies which were commanded by
Captains Isaac Shelby, George Matthews, and John Stuart, with orders
to proceed up the Kenhawa river, and Crooked creek under cover of
the banks and weeds, 'till they should [128] pass some distance
beyond the enemy; when they were to emerge from their covert,
march downward towards the point and attack the Indians in their
rear.[15] The manoeuvre thus planned, was promptly executed, and gave
a decided victory to the Colonial army. The Indians finding themselves
suddenly and unexpectedly encompassed between two armies, & not
doubting but that in their rear, was the looked for reinforcement
under Colonel Christian, soon gave way, and about sun down,
commenced a precipitate retreat across the Ohio, to their to