"This letter," Lieutenant Clark states, "was generally considered as a challenge."[1]
Nineteen miles was made the first day (August 16) and twelve the day following. As the road was "generally bad," as Boyer affirms, these tremendous marches must be considered remarkable, for each camp was heavily fortified and the enemy was just at hand. The spies in advance were unceasing in their vigilance and activity; and on the eighteenth poor May, who had lived with the Indians as a spy the preceding winter at Wayne's command, was entrapped and captured, suffering a most cruel death. This day the army encamped forty-one miles from Fort Defiance and made a strong entrenchment which was named Fort Deposit. Here the heavy baggage was stored that the troops might go into action unencumbered.
On the twentieth, at seven in the morning, the Legion advanced in fighting order. The Indian army, its left wing lying on
- ↑ Clark adds, in thoroughly hostile tone, that Wayne would have answered it but for the intervention of General Wilkinson.—Fol. 50.
