The roll of the drums from the hill was answered by a burst of war-whoops, and the French came swarming out like hornets, many of them in their shirts, having just leaped from their beds.  They all rushed upon Macdonald and his men, who met them with a volley that checked their advance; on which they surrounded him at a distance, and tried to cut off his retreat.  The Highlanders broke through, and gained the woods, with the loss of their commander, who was shot dead.  A crowd of French followed close, and soon put them to rout, driving them and Mackenzie’s party back to the hill where Grant was posted.  Here there was a hot fight in the forest, lasting about three quarters of an hour.  At length the force of numbers, the novelty of the situation, and the appalling yells of the Canadians and Indians, completely overcame the Highlanders, so intrepid in the ordinary situations of war.  They broke away in a wild and disorderly retreat.  “Fear,” says Grant, “got the better of every other passion; and I trust I shall never again see such a panic among troops.”

[Footnote 659:  Grant to Forbes, no date. “Les rapports sur le nombre des Francais varient de 3,000 a 1,200.” Bouquet a Forbes, 17 Sept. 1758. Bigot says that 3,500 daily rations were delivered at Fort Duquesne throughout the summer. Bigot au Ministre, 22 Nov. 1758. In October the number had fallen to 1,180, which included Indians. Ligneris a Vaudreuil, 18 Oct. 1758.]

His only hope was in the detachment he had sent to the rear under Lewis to guard the baggage.  But Lewis and his men, when they heard the firing in front, had left their post and pushed forward to help their comrades, taking a straight course through the forest; while Grant was retreating along the path by which he had advanced the night before.  Thus they missed each other; and when Grant reached the spot where he expected to find Lewis, he saw to his dismay that nobody was there but Captain Bullitt and his company.  He cried in despair that he was a ruined man; not without reason, for the whole body of French and Indians was upon him.  Such of his men as held together were forced towards the Alleghany, and, writes Bouquet, “would probably have been cut to pieces but for Captain Bullitt and his Virginians, who kept up the fight against the whole French force till two thirds of them were killed.”  They were offered quarter, but refused it; and the survivors were driven at last into the Alleghany, where some were drowned, and others swam over and escaped.  Grant was surrounded and captured, and Lewis, who presently came up, was also made prisoner, along with some of his men, after a stiff resistance.  Thus ended this mismanaged affair, which cost the English two hundred and seventy three killed, wounded, and taken.  The rest got back safe to Loyalhannon.[660]