“I’m of the same opinion,” rejoined Major Levi Todd.

“And I,” said Captain Patterson.

“And I,” rejoined several other voices.

“But I’m opposed to waiting for Logan,” said Colonel Trigg; “as delays on the point of a battle are rarely ever beneficial.  I think we had better take up with Colonel Boone’s second proposition—­divide our forces, and proceed at once to action; though, for the matter of prudence, it may be advisable to send a couple of scouts ahead, before deciding upon any thing positive.”

Majors Harlan and McBride, with two or three others of inferior rank, took sides with Trigg; and the discussion seemed likely to be protracted for some considerable time; when Major Hugh McGary, who had been listening to the proceedings with the utmost impatience, suddenly startled and broke up the council by a loud whoop, resembling that of an Indian; and spurring his high mettled charger forward, he waved his hat over his head, and shouted, in a voice that reached the whole length of the line, these ever memorable words: 

“Those among you who are not d—­d cowards, follow me!  I’ll soon show you where the Indians are!”

As he spoke he rushed his fiery steed into the river, with all the rash impetuosity of a desperate soldier charging at the cannon’s mouth.

The effect of McGary’s words and actions were electrical.  The troops, mounted and on foot, officers and privates, suddenly became animated with a wild enthusiasm.  Whooping and yelling like Indians, more than a hundred of them now sprung forward, and in a tumultuous body rushed into the stream and struggled for the opposite shore.  A few lingered around Boone, Todd, and Twigg, to await their orders.  But the pause of these commanders was only momentary.  They saw their ranks in confusion, and more than two-thirds of their soldiers in the water, struggling after the hot-headed McGary, and most of the other officers.  The mischief was already done.  To delay was but to doom their enthusiastic comrades to certain destruction; and shouting to those who yet remained to follow, Todd put spurs to his horse, and, together with Trigg and Boone dashed after the main body.  It was a wild scene of excitement.  Horsemen and footmen, officers and privates, all mixed up together in confusion, and pushing forward in one “rolling and irregular mass.”

By violent threats and repeated exertions, with their swords drawn and flashing in the sunlight, Colonels Todd, Trigg and Boone at length succeeded, after reaching the opposite bank, in restoring something like order to the half-crazed troops.  On gaining the brow of the buffalo ridge, Todd commanded a halt; then drawing a pistol from the holster of his saddle, he rode to the front of the lines, and, with eyes flashing fire, exclaimed: 

“Men! we must have order!  Without order we are lost.  I command a halt; and the first man that moves from the ranks, officer or private, until so commanded, I swear to scatter his brains on the land he disgraces!”