h his
brigade and a corps of artillery, was ordered to advance toward
Chippewa, and be governed by circumstances; taking care to secure
a good military position for the night. After some skirmishing
with the enemy, he selected this plain with the eye of a soldier,
his right resting on the river, and a ravine being in front. At
11 at night I joined him with the reserve, under General Ripley,
our field and battering train, and corps of artillery under Major
Hindman. General Porter arrived the next morning with a part of
the New York and Pennsylvania volunteers, and some of the
warriors of the Six Nations.

Early in the morning of the 5th, the enemy commenced a petty war
upon our pickets, and, as he was indulged, his presumption
increased; by noon he showed himself on the left of our extensive
line, and attacked one of our pickets as it was returning to
camp. Captain Treat, who commanded it, retired disgracefully,
leaving a wounded man on the ground. Captain Biddle, of the
artillery, who was near the scene, impelled by feelings highly
honourable to him as a soldier and officer, promptly assumed the
command of this picket, led it back to the wounded man and
brought him off the field. I ordered Captain Treat, on the post,
to retire from the army, as I am anxious that no officer (p. 206)
shall remain under my command who can be suspected of cowardice.
I advise that Captain Treat[96] be struck from the rolls of the
army.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, agreeably to a plan I had given
General Porter, he advanced from the rear of our camp, with the
volunteers and Indians (taking the woods in order to keep out of
view of the enemy), with the hope of bringing his pickets and
scouting parties between his (Porter's) line of march, and our
camp. As Porter moved, I ordered the parties advanced in front of
our camp to fall back gradually, under the enemy's fire, in order
to draw him, if possible, up to our line. About half past 4, the
advance of General Porter's command met the light parties of the
enemy in the woods, upon our extreme left. The enemy were driven,
and Porter advancing near to Chippewa, met their whole column in
order of battle. From the cloud of dust rising, and the heavy
firing, I was led to conclude that the entire force of the e