ed themselves on Col. Reid's regiment in
greatly superior numbers. They swarmed about him in a semi-circle, and
for a few moments made the forest ring with their exultant shouts, but
for a few minutes only; for Col. Dearborn having reached the summit of
the hill, and missing Col. Reid on his left, on his own
responsibility, faced his regiment to the rear and moved to his
assistance. At the same moment the two regiments on the left of
Clinton's brigade by a left oblique movement, came up from the rear to
Reid's support, and the enemy soon found themselves dangerously
threatened. The conflict was short, sharp and decisive, and the war
whoop soon gave place to the retreat halloo. Poor with the remainder
of his brigade, followed by the two regiments on the right of Clinton,
had pushed rapidly for the defile. In the meantime Hand had advanced
in front, and the left flanking division under Col. Ogden had worked
its way along the river on the enemy's flank, when, the enemy
admirably commanded, and wisely discreet, sounded the signal for
retreat just in time to escape. A British account says: "In this
action Col. Butler and all his people was surrounded, and very near
being taken prisoners. On the same day a few miles from this he
attempted again to stop them, but in vain. The Colonel lost four
rangers killed, two taken prisoners and seven wounded." Twelve Indians
were found dead on the field, the number of wounded unknown. The enemy
were pursued for two or three miles above Newtown by the light troops,
where Salmon says they made another stand, which appears to be
confirmed by the account above quoted, but no details are given, and
the matter is not alluded to in Gen. Sullivan's official report. The
loss in killed according to the Indian official account, found four
days after, near Catharine's town is as follows: "Sept. 3d.--This day
found a tree marked 1779, Thandagana, the English of which is Brant,
12 men marked on it with arrows pierced through them, signifying the
number they had lost in the action of the 29th ultimo. A small tree
was twisted round like a rope and bent down which signified that if we
drove and distressed them, yet we would not conquer them."

[76] The loss of our army is variously given in different accounts of
the action. Major Livermore (Journal Aug. 29) says that "but four or
five" were killed and three officers and about "thirty others" were
wounded. Lieut. Barton (Journal) that two or three of ours