enough to excite the liveliest apprehensions for the event of the
expedition. He had volunteered to go on the campaign, only in
compliance with the general wish of the troops that he should head
them, and when chosen commander in chief of the forces assembled at
the Mingo towns, he is said to have accepted the office with
reluctance, not only sensible of the impracticability of controlling
men unused to restraint, but opposed to some of the objects of the
expedition, and the frequently expressed determination of the troops,
to spare no Indian whom accident or the fortune of war should place in
their power.

From Shoenbrun the army proceeded as expeditiously as was practicable
to the site of the Moravian village, near the Upper Sandusky; but
instead of meeting with this oppressed and persecuted tribe, or having
gained an opportunity of plundering their property, they saw nothing
which manifested that it had been the residence of man, save a few
desolate and deserted huts,--the people, whom it was their intention
to destroy, had some time before, most fortunately for themselves,
moved to the Scioto.

Discontent and dissatisfaction ensued upon the disappointment. The
guides were ignorant of there being any Indian towns nearer than those
on Lower Sandusky, and the men became impatient to return home. In
this posture of affairs, a council of war, consisting of the field
officers and captains, was held, and it was resolved to move forward,
and if no enemy appeared that day, to retrace their steps. Just after
this determination was made known, an express arrived, from a
detachment of mounted men, which had been sent forward to reconnoitre,
with information that about three miles in advance a large body of
Indians had been discovered hastening [241] rapidly to meet them. The
fact was, that Indian spies had watched and reported the progress of
the expedition, ever after it left the Mingo towns; and when satisfied
of its destination, every arrangement which they could make to defeat
its object, and involve the troops in the destruction to which it was
their purpose to consign others, was begun by the savages. Having
perfected these, they were marching on to give battle to the whites.

Immediately upon the reception of this intelligence, the army moved
forward, and meeting the reconnoitreing party coming in, had proceeded
but a short distance farther, when they came in view of the Indians
hastening to occupy a small body of woo