which he had taken with that chief, and
the others who accompanied him to the garrison.

Upon the receipt of this intelligence, it was resolved, if volunteers
could be had for this purpose, to march an army into the Indian
country and effectually accomplish the objects, which had been
proposed to be achieved in the campaign of Lord Dunmore in 1774. The
volunteers in Augusta and Bottetourt, were to rendezvous as early as
possible, at the mouth of the Big Kenhawa, where they would be joined
by [152] other troops under General Hand,[19] who would then assume
the command of the whole expedition.

In pursuance of this resolve, three or four companies only, were
raised in the counties of Bottetourt and Augusta; and these
immediately commenced their march, to the place of general rendezvous,
under the command of Colonel George Skillern. In the Greenbrier
country, great exertions were made by the militia officers there, to
obtain volunteers, but with little effect. One company only was
formed, consisting of thirty men, and the officers, laying aside all
distinctions of rank, placed themselves in the line as common
soldiers, and proceeded to Point Pleasant with the troops led on by
Colonel Skillern. Upon their arrival at that place, nothing had been
heard of General Hand, or of the forces which it was expected would
accompany him from Fort Pitt; and the volunteers halted, to await some
intelligence from him.

The provisions, for the support of the army in its projected invasion
of the Indian country, were expected to be brought down the river,
from Fort Pitt; and the troops under Colonel Skillern had only taken
with them, what was deemed sufficient for their subsistence on their
march to the place of rendezvous. This stock was nearly exhausted, and
the garrison was too illy supplied, to admit of their drawing on its
stores.--While thus situated, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of
General Hand with his army and provisions, the officers held frequent
conversations with Cornstalk, who seemed to take pleasure in
acquainting them with the geography of the country west of the Ohio
river generally, and more particularly with that section of it lying
between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. One afternoon while he
was engaged in delineating on the floor a map of that territory, with
the various water courses emptying into those two mighty streams, and
describing the face of the country, its soil and climate, a voice was
heard