stronghold, the more effectually to defend themselves.  The scheme was formed by Logan, and adopted by his men in the cabins, of making a movable breastwork out of the doors and floors—­and of pushing it forward as a battery against the cabin in which the Indians had taken post; others of them had taken shelter from the fire of the enemy behind stumps, or logs, or the vacant cabins, and were waiting orders; when the Colonel finding that the Indians were on their defense, dispatched orders for a retreat.  This order, received with astonishment, was obeyed with reluctance; and what rendered it the more distressing, was the unavoidable exposure which the men must encounter in the open field, or prairie, which surrounded the town:  for they were apprized that from the moment they left their cover, the Indians would fire on them, until they were beyond the reach of their balls.  A retreat, however, was deemed necessary, and every man was to shift for himself.  Then, instead of one that was orderly, commanding, or supported—­a scene of disorder, unmilitary and mortifying, took place:  here a little squad would rush out of, or break from behind a cabin—­there individuals would rise from a log, or start up from a stump, and run with all speed to gain the neighboring wood.

At length, after the loss of several lives, the remnant of the invading force was reunited, and the retreat continued in tolerable order, under the painful reflection that the expedition had failed, without any adequate cause being known.  This was, however, but the introduction to disgrace, if not of misfortune still more extraordinary and distressing.  The Indian warriors, commanded by Blackfish, sallied from the town, and commenced a pursuit of the discomfited invaders of their forests and firesides, which they continued for some miles, harassing and galling the rear of the fugitives without being checked, notwithstanding the disparity of numbers.  There not being more than thirty of the savages in pursuit.  Bowman, finding himself thus pressed, at length halted his men in a low piece of ground covered with brush; as if he sought shelter from the enemy behind or among them.  A situation more injudiciously chosen, if chosen at all, cannot be easily imagined—­since of all others, it most favored the purposes of the Indians.  In other respects the commander seems also to have lost his understanding—­he gave no orders to fire—­made no detachment to repulse the enemy, who, in a few minutes, by the whoops, yells, and firing, were heard on all sides—­but stood as a mark to be shot at, or one panic struck.  Some of the men fired, but without any precise object, for the Indians were scattered, and hid by the grass and bushes.  What would have been the final result it is difficult to conjecture, if Logan, Harrod, Bulger, and a few others, had not mounted some of the pack-horses and scoured the woods, first in one direction then in another; rushing on the Indians wherever they could