Of those now assembled, Colonel Todd, as senior officer, was allowed to take command—­though, from the tumultuous council of war which was held in the afternoon, it appears that each had a voice, and that but little order was observed.  It was well known that Colonel Benjamin Logan was then in the act of raising a large force in Lincoln county; and at the furthest would join them in twenty-four hours; which would render them safe in pursuing the savages; and for this purpose the more prudent, among whom was our old friend, Colonel Boone, advised their delay; stating, as a reason, that the Indians were known to outnumber them all, as three to one; and that to pursue them with a force so small, could only result, should they be overtaken, in a total defeat of the whites.  Besides which, Boone stated that the scouts who had been sent out to examine the Indian trail, had reported that it was very broad, and that the trees on either side had been marked with their tomahawks; thereby showing a willingness on the part of the enemy to be pursued, and a design to draw the whites into an ambuscade, the consequences of which must necessarily be terrible.  In this view of the case, Colonel Boone was strongly seconded by Major McGary, who, though a hot-headed young officer, eager on almost all occasions for a fight, now gave his voice on the side of prudence.

But these prudent measures were combatted and overruled by Todd; who, being an ambitious man, forsaw that, in waiting for Logan, he would be deprived of his authority as commander-in-chief of the expedition, and the glory which a successful battle would now cast upon him.  By him it was urged, in opposition to Boone and McGary, that to await the arrival of Colonel Logan, was only to act the part of cowards, and allow the Indians a safe retreat; that in case they were overtaken and their numbers found to be double their own—­which report he believed to be false—­the ardor and superior skill of the Kentuckians would more than make them equal, and the victory and glory would be their own.  Whereas, should the Indians be allowed to escape without an effort to harass them, the Kentuckians would be held eternally disgraced in the minds of their countrymen.

The dispute on the matter waxed warm, high words ensued, and the discussion was in a fair way of being drawn out to great extent; when Boone, becoming tired and disgusted with the whole proceedings, replied: 

“Well, I’ve given my conscientious opinion about the affair, and now you can do as you please.  Of course I shall go with the majority, and my seniors in command; and ef the decision’s for a fight, why a fight we must venter, though every man o’ Kaintuck be laid on his back for the risking.  Ef we fail—­and its my opine we shall—­let them as takes the responsibility bear the blame.  I’ll give my voice, though, to the last, that we’d better wait the reinforcements o’ Colonel Logan.”

“Sir!” exclaimed Colonel Todd, turning fiercely to Boone; “if you are not a coward, you talk like one!  Don’t you know, sir, that if we wait for Logan, he will gain all the laurels?—­and that if we press forward, we shall gain all the glory?”