a small supply of provisions, and that he
would accompany the messenger to camp. When Mr. Heckewelder came,
the commander enquired of him, if any christian Indians were
engaged in hunting or other business, in the direction of their
march,--stating, that if they were, they might be exposed to
danger, as it would be impracticable to distinguish between them and
other Indians, and that he should greatly regret the happening to
them, of any unpleasant occurrence, through ignorance or mistake. On
hearing there were not, the army was ordered to resume its march,
and proceeded towards the forks of the river.

At White Eyes plain, near to the place of destination, an Indian was
discovered and made prisoner. Two others were seen near there, and
fired at; and notwithstanding one of them was wounded, yet both
succeeded in effecting their escape. Apprehensive that they would
hasten to the Indian towns, and communicate the fact that an army of
whites was near at hand, Col. Broadhead moved rapidly forward with the
[220] troops, notwithstanding a heavy fall of rain, to reach
Coshocton, (the nearest village,)[11] and take it by surprise. His
expectations were not disappointed. Approaching the town, the right
wing of the army was directed to occupy a position above it, on the
river; the left to assume a stand below, while the centre marched
directly upon it. The Indian villages, ignorant of the fact that an
enemy was in their country, were all made prisoners without the firing
of a single gun. So rapid, and yet so secret, had been the advance of
the army, that every part of the town was occupied by the troops,
before the Indians knew of its approach.

Successful as they thus far were, yet the expedition accomplished but
a portion of what had been contemplated. The other towns were situated
on the opposite side of the river, and this was so swollen by the
excessive rains which had fallen and continued yet to deluge the
earth, that it was impracticable to cross over to them; and Col.
Broadhead, seeing the impossibility of achieving any thing farther,
commenced laying waste the crops about Coshocton. This measure was not
dictated by a spirit of revenge, naturally enkindled by the
exterminating warfare, waged against the whites by the savages, but
was a politic expedient, to prevent the accomplishment of their horrid
purposes and to lessen the frequency of their incursions. When they
fail to derive sustenance from their crops of corn and