The lieutenant-colonels heard of Armand's approach,
and immediately prepared an ambuscade. Simcoe and
Cathcart drew off their infantry into the woods, on the
right and left, and so placed themselves as to
command a defile through which the Americans and
Indians had to pass. Emmerich's infantry was drawn
up to await the attack, with orders to fall back before
the enemy. Emmerich posted himself with the
cavalry behind a hill, ready to charge on the attacking
party as soon as it should have been drawn into the
open. Captain Ewald, with two companies of
chasseurs, was sent by Lieutenant-colonel von Wurmb to
the support of Emmerich's infantry.
The plan of the lieutenant-colonels was successfully carried out. About four in the afternoon the Americans and Indians appeared on the field of battle. Emmerich's skirmishers retreated before them, and drew them into a field of Indian corn, where they were suddenly attacked in front and rear and upon both flanks. All the Indians were killed except one, who was left to tell the tale. They belonged to the Stockbridge tribe, and were led by Sachem Neham. About fifty Americans were taken prisoners, but Armand and some others escaped through the bushes.
Eelking remarks on this story that it is a proof that the Americans did not disdain to use Indian allies in this war, as well as the British. A distinction is surely to be drawn between leading Indians against British and German soldiers, as was here done by the Americans, and sending them against the inmates of lonely farm-houses and unprotected hamlets, as was constantly done by the king's servants. The Stockbridge tribe
