g pursuit, were then in ambush in the ravines; and he
advised that the force be divided into two equal parts, the one,
marching up the river, to cross it at the mouth of Elk creek, above
the upper ravine, while the other party should take a position below
for the purpose of co-operating whenever occasion might require; but
that neither party should by any means cross the river, until spies
were sent out to learn the position and strength of the enemy.[9] The
officers generally were inclined to follow the counsel of Boone, but
Major McGary, remarkable for impetuosity, exclaiming, "Let all who are
not cowards, follow me," spurred his horse into the river. The whole
party caught the contagious rashness,--all rushed across the river.
There was no order,--no arrangement--no unity or concert. None "paused
in their march of terror," lest "we should hover o'er the path," but
each, following his own counsel, moved madly towards the sheltered
ravines and wooded ground, where Boone had predicted the savages lay
hid. The event justified the prediction, and showed the wisdom of his
counsel.

At the head of a chosen band of warriors, Girty[10] advanced with
fierceness upon the whites, from the advantageous position which he
covertly occupied, and "madness, despair and death succeed, the
conflict's gathering wrath." The Indians had greatly the advantage in
numbers, as well as position, and the disorderly front of the
whites, gave them still greater superiority. The bravery of the troops
for a while withstood the onset, and the contest was fierce and
sanguinary 'till their right wing being turned, a retreat became
inevitable. All pressed towards the ford, but a division of the
savage army, foreseeing this, had been placed so as to interpose
between them and it; and they were driven to a point on the river,
where it could only be crossed by swimming. Here was indeed a
scene of blood and carnage. Many were killed on the bank; others
in swimming over, and some were tomahawked in the edge of the
water. Some of those who had been foremost in getting across the
river, wheeled and opened a steady fire upon the pursuers. Others,
animated by the example, as soon as they reached the bank discharged
their guns upon the savages, and checking them for a while enabled
many to escape death. But for this stand, the footmen would have
been much harrassed, and very many of them entirely cut off. As it
was, the loss in slain was great. Of one hundred an