Brant now returned to the border country and, together with Sir John Johnson, drew up a plan of defence.  It was resolved that they should fortify a position on the Chemung river, to resist the advance of the Americans into the Indian country.  The place selected was not far from the village of Newtown.  A breastwork was built, half a mile in length, and this was protected on one side by the river and on the other by two stretches of elevated ground.  Upon these ridges battalions were placed.  But the defenders were able to muster only a comparatively small force, vastly inferior to the foe in numbers.  In all, the garrison consisted of about eight hundred men, two-thirds of whom were Indians.

It was barely four weeks after the battle on the Delaware that Generals Sullivan and Clinton joined forces at Tioga.  They had a very powerful army, consisting altogether of some five thousand men, including a strong brigade of experienced riflemen and an artillery corps with a number of heavy guns.  They had sent out corps of light infantry in advance and were now moving slowly against the defences occupied by the king’s forces.

The War Chief was in charge of the Indians, and despite the strength of the opposing force he had resolved to make a determined stand.  As the foe came on, he sent out his men in small parties from the works to annoy them and retard their advance.  The Indians attacked the invaders after the manner of bush-fighters, firing and then seeking cover while they reloaded their muskets.  The conflict that ensued was desperate beyond description.  Every bit of cover—­bush, tree, or boulder—­held its man.  With dogged valour the savages stood their ground, till driven back by the very impetus of the onset.  The enemy were massed deep in front and but little impression could be made on their compact ranks.  More distressing still, the Americans had brought their heavy artillery into play, and it began to thunder against the defences.  On this day Brant was an inspiring figure to his thin line of warriors.  His resolute countenance gave them hope; his resonant voice rang out strong and clear amid the clamour and spurred them to resist.  Wherever the fight was fiercest he made his way, issuing his orders with care, speaking words of cheer, and, in the face of death, striving to stem the current of certain defeat.

Meanwhile General Sullivan had caught sight of the troops that infested the rising ground.  A detachment was immediately told off under Major Poor with orders to storm the slopes and drive the defenders from their position.  The War Chief grasped the situation in an instant.  In a last attempt to save the day, he rallied his warriors and, with the aid of a battalion of Rangers, threw himself with renewed energy into the struggle.  But though Brant hurried from place to place with the utmost energy, it soon became evident that the day was lost.  The Americans climbed the ascent and, in the teeth of a brave opposition, turned the loyalists’ flank.  The troops of the enemy began to fold about the garrison.