s, sixty of the
militia deserted in a body. To prevent the evil influence of this
example, General St. Clair despatched Major Hamtrack at the head of a
regiment, to overtake and bring them back; and the rest of the army
moved forward.

On the night of the third of November, General St. Clair encamped near
the Great Miami village, and notwithstanding the reduced state of the
forces under his command, (by reason of the detachment of so large a
body in pursuit of the deserters,) he proposed to march in the morning
directly to its attack.[22] Having understood that the Indians were
collected in great force, and apprehensive of a night attack, his men
were drawn up in a square, and kept under arms until the return of
day, when they were dismissed from parade for [298] the purpose of
refreshment. Directly after, and about half an hour before sun rise,
an attack was begun by the Indians on the rear line, and the militia
there immediately gave way, and retreated,--rushing through a
battalion of regulars, to the very centre of the camp. The confusion
was great. Thrown into disorder by the tumultuous flight of the
militia, the utmost exertion of the officers could not entirely
compose the regulars, so as to render them as effective as they would
otherwise have been.

After the first fire, the Indians rushed forward, tomahawk in hand,
until they were checked by the well directed aim of the front line;
which being almost simultaneously attacked by another body of the
enemy, had to direct their attention to their own assailants, and the
action became general. The weight of the enemy being brought to bear
on the centre of each line where the artillery had been placed, the
men were driven with great slaughter from the guns and these rendered
useless by the killing of the matrosses. The enemy taking advantage of
this state of things, pushed forward upon the lines, and confusion
began to spread itself in every quarter. A charge was ordered, and
Lieutenant Colonel Drake succeeded in driving back the Indians three
or four hundred yards at the point of the bayonet; but rallying, they
returned to the attack, and the troops in turn gave way. At this
moment the camp was entered by the left flank: and, another charge was
directed. This was made by Butler and Clark's battalions with great
effect, and repeated several times with success; but in each of these
charges, many being killed, and particularly the officers, it was
impossible longer t