stood within pistol shot of the enemy's breastworks, in a shower of balls from the regular troops in his front, who shewed themselves after the first fire, and set up the Indian yell. When the first line appeared before the breastwork, they received the fire of the whole front and a part of the flanks at this instant Colonel Miller discovered that the enemy outflanked him, when the second line and flank guards were brought upon the flanks of the front line, and extended to meet the whole line of the enemy. The savages, in unison with the British troops, set up a horrid yell, and a severe conflict ensued. The incessant firing in the centre ran diverging to the flanks: from the cracking of individual pieces, it changed to alternate vollies; and at length to one continued sound: and, while every thing seemed hushed amidst the wavering roll, the discharge of the six pounder burst upon the ear. The Americans stood At this instant Colonel Miller was thrown from his horse which took fright at the discharge of the artillery; he was supposed to be shot, those near him flew to his aid. The savages who saw him fall sprang over the breast work to take his scalp, but were driven back. Colonel Miller instantly remounted and returned to continue his orders. The fire from the Indians who were screened by their breastworks, was deadly. The soldiers saw the advantage it gave them, and Colonel Miller, throwing his eye along the line, discovered one or two, edging to place themselves behind a tree. He saw the instant must be improved, and ordered "charge !" which instantly ran through the line: the men whom he saw edging, with every other, brought down their pieces, struck up a huzza! and marched directly into the breastworks. The effect of the grape from the six-pounder, and the approach of the bayonet, caused the British line to yield, and then to break, and the troops fled in disorder! at nearly the same instant the Indians and militia. on their right flank, being charged in their work, by the Michigan legion, under Captain De Cant, and a part of the Ohio riflemen, turning this flank by the river, fled in confusion. Tecumseh, on the enemy's left flank, stood longer; some of the Indians under his command, near the

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extremity of the line, had jumped over the breast-works, in the full assurance of victory: they were driven back, by the point of the bayonet. Tecumseh endeavoured to outflank the American line, and turn their right; but from the skill and gallantry of the officers, and firmness of the men on that flank, he was foiled in every attempt, and was finally forced to fall back, and take new positions, and fight on the retreat. The British and Indians on their right flank, fled directly down the river, and were pursued by Colonel Miller, with that part of his troops which had opposed them; and Tecumseh, with his Indians, fled directly from the river, westwardly, into the wilderness, and were pursued by that part of the troops which had opposed them, overtaking them who were wounded, and otherwise unable to escape.

After the British had retreated about one mile, they came into an opening, of about half a mile in diameter; here they endeavoured to form again, but on the precipitate approach of the Americans, they again broke and fled into the woods down the river. They were pursued to the edge of these woods, when Colonel Miller received information from Major Van Horne, whom he had left in command of the right flank, that Tecumseh had retreated westwardly, that he successively took new positions with his Indians, that they were still fighting, and that it was still doubtful how the conflict would finally terminate in that quarter. On the receipt of this information, Colonel Miller ordered the troops under his immediate command, to halt, and form the line. He informed the officers, that it would not do to pursue the enemy any farther, until he had heard again from the right flank. That as Tecumseh had retreated in another direction, the army was now divided, and the two divisions, already out of hearing of each other's musquetry. That if Tecumseh was likely to overpower that division, he must send back a reinforcement to their relief, or the Indians would otherwise immediately advance upon the field of battle, and massacre the wounded, destroy the rear guard, and take the ammunition and stores; and finally fall upon his rear. Information was at length brought that Tecumseh had

finally fled, and that the troops were returning to join that division as soon as possible.

Colonel Miller immediately ordered the troops to march in further pursuit of the British. They entered the woods, and the cavalry moved a-head at full speed. When they arrived through these woods, which was about half a mile, they came upon the beach of Lake Erie, and discovered the enemy all in boats, steering towards Malden, and out of reach of their shot. They had concealed their boats at this point, when they came over, for this purpose, if they should be defeated. This circumstance however could not have been known to Colonel Miller before. He now ordered the troops to return upon the field from whence they had last marched, which was done; and on their arrival, they were joined by the other division which had returned from the pursuit of Tecumseh and his Indians.

The cause is now shewn, which has not been generally understood heretofore, why the British were not all captured, when they had been so totally defeated.

The troops were then formed in line, fronting the field of battle; when Colonel Miller rode in front of the centre, and addressed them in the following words:

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My brave fellows! you have done well! every man has done his duty. I give you my hearty thanks for your conduct on this day; you have gained my highest esteem; you have gained fresh honor to yourselves, and to the American arms: your fellow soldiers in arms will love you, and your country will reward you. You will return to the field of battle to collect those who have gloriously fallen; your friendly attentions to your wounded companions is required." After which, detachments were sent out with waggons, to search the woods, and collect all the wounded and dead, and to bring them to the ground then occupied by the troops. After this was completed, all the Indian houses were prepared, amounting to 3 or 4, and the wounded moved into them, as it began to rain, and the surgeons were industriously employed with them, during the whole night. The troops then encamped in order of battle, about dusk, on the bank of the river, fronting

the woods, forming three sides of a parallelogram, the river forming the other side.

The time from the attack on the van guard, to the time of forming the line on the Indian fields, after the pursuit was finally ended, was two and a half hours. During this sharp conflict, the conduct of each individual, officer and soldier, was so uniformly and strictly military, that the commander was scarcely able to make distinctions in his brief and modest official report to General Hull. The physical powers of almost every man, were called to action, and severely tried. The names of some officers only, will be mentioned, whose conduct was, from concommitant circumstances, most deeply impressed on the mind of the writer. In doing this, however, he wishes to be distinctly understood, that the conduct of many others, was equally meritorious. As he writes entirely from recollection, the impossibility at this time, of giving the names, and much more, the actions of every individual, will readily be conceived. Major Van Horne, who had the mortification to be defeated on nearly the same ground, on the 5th, had sought and obtained a command under Colonel Miller. He behaved during the whole action, in a gallant and soldierly manner. Major Morrison, of the Ohio volunteers, also obtained a command in the detachment, of whose meritorious conduct, Colonel Miller always spoke with the greatest warmth of feeling; his horse was shot under him at nearly the same time Colonel Miller was dismounted, being at that moment near together. Lieutenant Johnson, of the Michigan dragoons, (a small number of which corps, formed a part of the cavalry,) behaved in a most gallant manner-he had his horse shot under him. At the moment the charge was ordered, being near Colonel Miller, he discovered one of his men shrink from the attack, at which he presented his pistol to his breast, and was on the point of blowing him through, when Colonel Miller desired him not to kill him, as he considered the battle was going in their favor. Captain De Cant, and his Ensign M'Comb, of the Michigan legion, behaved in a manner, which would have done honor to veterans, particularly, when charging the Indians in their works, on the river

flank; Captain De Cant was the first man, who jumped the breast work at that point, thereby encouraging his men to follow him. Captain Brown, of the Ohio volunteers, who was on the flank opposed to Tecumseh, with his company, fought hard and stubborn! his conduct was admired by Colonel Miller-as was the conduct of all the volunteers, both officers and men on that flank. Captain Daniel Baker, of the first regiment U. S. Infantry, had requested and obtained a command; he was on the flank opposed to the Indians under Tecumseh. His gallantry, and the effect of his experience, contributed greatly to the foiling of Tecumseh, in his manoeuvreing to turn that flank of the American line. He was shot through the thigh, in the warmest part of the engagement, but did not quit his command, till the enemy finally fled, nor the ground until the wounded were all brought off. Lieutenant Eastman, with the six pounder, did good execution, and contributed greatly to the defeat of the British troops. The fourth regiment behaved generally in that chivalrous manner, which ought to render the individuals then composing it, the objects of their country's warmest affections and unceasing patronage.

These sentiments, it is believed, must be acknowledged by all those who are acquainted with their conduct, fa- tigues and hardships, during this, and the preceding campaign on the Wabash. They had been for eighteen months, almost continually traversing those wild regions of the north west, where perils and dangers awaited them through every succeeding day and night, where they were necessarily deprived of almost all the enjoyments and comforts of life, and during some portion of the time, of the necessary means of subsistence. They had marched during successive weeks, in mud and water, and during successive days, without having dried their feet. They had now fought during this time, two of the severest battles that had ever been fought under the government of the United States, larger numbers had been engaged, but an equal number had never fought more desperate. These battles were as much more perilous than usual, as the enemy were more terrible: capture was massacre, and defeat was annihilation.