he marched from Fort Bedford, the 28th of July, and as soon as he reached Fort Ligonier, he determined, prudently, to leave his wagons at that post, and to proceed only with packhorses. Thus disburdened, the army continued their route. Before them lay a dangerous defile at Turtle creek, several miles in length, bounded the whole way by high craggy hills. This defile he intended to have passed the ensuing night, by a double or forced march; thereby, if possible, to elude the vigilance of so alert an enemy, proposing only to make a short halt in his way, to refresh the troops at Bushy Run.*

When they came within half a mile of that place, about one in the afternoon, August 5th, 1763, after a harassing march of seventeen miles, and just as they were expecting to relax from their fatigue, they were suddenly attacked by the Indians, on their advanced guard; which being speedily and firmly supported, the enemy was beaten off, and even pursued to a considerable distance.

But the flight of these barbarians must often be considered as a part of the engagement, rather than an abandonment of the field. The moment the pursuit ended, they returned with renewed vigor to the attack, Several other parties, who had been in ambush in some high grounds which lay along the flanks of the army, now started up at once, and falling upon the troops with a resolution equal to that of their ions, galled them with a most obstinate fire.

compan

It was necessary to make a general charge with the whole line, to dislodge them from the heights. This charge succeeded; but still the success produced no decisive advantage; for as soon as the savages were driven from one post, they still appeared on another, till by constant reinforcements they were at length able to surround the whole detachment, and attack the convoy which had been left in the rear,

This manœuver enabled the main body to fall back in order to protect it. The action, which grew every moment hotter, now became general. Our troops were attacked on every side; the savages supported their spirit throughout; but the steady behavior of the English troops, who were not thrown into the least confusion by the very dicouraging nature of this service, in the end prevailed; they repulsed the enemy, and drove them from all the posts with fixed bayonets. The engagement ended only with the day, having continued from one o'clock without intermission.

The ground on which the action ended, was not altogether inconven

Bushy Run is tributery to Brush Run, and the latter a branch of Turtle creek, in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county 21 miles from Pittsburg.

ient for an encampment. The convoy and the wounded were in the middle, and the troops, disposed in a circle, encompassed the whole.In this manner, and with little repose, they passed an anxious night, obliged to observe the strictest vigilance by an enterprising enemy who had surrounded them.

Those who have only experienced the severities and dangers of a campaign now, can scarcely form an idea of what was to be endured in an Indian war. To act in a country cultivated and inhabited, where roads are made, magazines are established, and hospitals provided; where there are good towns to retreat to in case of misfortune; or, at the worst, a generous enemy to yield to, from whom no consolation, but the honor of victory, can be wanting; this may be considered as the exercise of a spirited and adventurous mind, rather than a rigid contest where all is at stake, and mutual destruction the object; and as a contention between rivals for glory, rather than a real struggle between sanguinary enemies. But in an Indian campaign every thing is perilous; the face of the country, the climate, the enemy. There was no refreshment for the healthy, nor relief for the sick. A vast inhospitable desert, unsafe and treacherous, surrounded them, where victories were not decisive, but defeats ruinous; and simple was the death and fatal was the least misfortune which happened to them. This formed a service truly critical, in which all the firmness of the body and mind was put to the severest trial; and all the exertions of courage and address were called out. If the actions of these rude campaigns were of less dignity, the adventures in them are more interesting to the heart, and more amusing to the imagination, than the events of a regular war.

But to return to the party of English, who were left in the woods.At the first dawn of light the savages began to show themselves all about the camp, at the distance of about five hundred yards; and by shouting and yelling in the most horrid manner, quite around the extensive circumferance, endeavored to strike terror by an ostentation of their numbers and their ferocity.

After this alarming preparation, they attacked the forces, and under the favor of an incessant fire, made several bold efforts to penetrate into the camp. They were repulsed in every attempt, but by no means discouraged from new ones. The troops, continually victorious, were constantly in danger. They were besides extremely fatigued with a long march, and with the equally long action of the preceding day; and they were distressed to the last degree by a total want of water, much more

Tied to their convoy, they could not lose sight of it for a moment, without exposing, not only that interesting object, but their wounded men, to fall a prey to the savages, who pressed them on every side.To move was impracticable. Many of the horses were lost, and many of the drivers, stupified by their fears, hid themselves in bushes, and were incapable of hearing or obeying orders.

Their situation became extremely critical and perplexing, having experienced that the most lively efforts made no impressions upon an enemy who always gave way when pressed; but who, the moment the pursuit was over, returned with as much alacrity as ever to the attack. Besieged rather than engaged; attacked without interruption, and without decision; able neither to advance nor retreat, they saw before them the most melancholy prospect of crumbling away by degrees, and entirely perishing without revenge or honor, in the midst of those dreadful deserts. The fate of Braddock was every moment before their eyes; but they were more ably conducted. The commander was sensible that every thing depended upon bringing the savages to a close engagement, and to stand their ground when attacked. Their audaciousness, which was increased with their success, seemed favorable to this design. He endeavored, therefore, to increase their confidence as much as possible.

For that purpose he contrived the following stratagem. Our troops were posted on an eminence, and formed a circle round their convoy from the preceding night, which order they still retained. Colonel Bouquet gave directions that two companies of troops, who had been posted in the most advanced situations, should fall within the circle; the troops on the right and left immediately opened their files, and filled up the vacant space, that they might seem to cover their retreat. Another company of light infantry, with one of grenadiers, were ordered to lie in an ambuscade, to support the two first companies of grenadiers, who moved on the feigned retreat, and were intended to begin the real attack. The dispositions were well made, and the plan executed without the least confusion. (1)

The thin line of

The savages were led completely into the snare. troops which took possession of the ground which the two companies of light troops had left, being brought nearer to the centre of the circle, the barbarians mistook those motions for a retreat, abandoned the wood which covered them, hurried headlong on,-advancing with the most daring

(1)See plan of the engagement.

intrepidity, and galled the Eaglish troops with their heavy fire. But at the moment when, certain of success, they thought themselves masters of the camp, the two first companies made a sudden turn, and sallying out from a part of the hill which could not be observed, fell furiously upon their right flank.

The savages, though they found themselves disappointed and exposed, preserved their recollection, and resolutely returned the fire which they had received. Then it was the superiority of combined strength and discipline appeared. On the second charge they could no longer sustain the irresistible shock of regular troops, who rushing upon them, killed many, and put the rest to flight.

At the instant when the savages betook themselves to flight, the other two companies, which had been ordered to support the first, rose from the ambuscade, marched to the enemy, and gave them their full fire. This accomplished their defeat. The four companies now united, did not give the enemy time to look behind them, but pursued them till they were totally dispersed.

The other bodies of the savages attempted nothing. They were kept in awe during the engagement by the rest of the British troops, who were so posted, as to be ready to fall on them upon the least motion. Having been witness to the defeat of their companions, without any effort to support or assist them, they at length followed their example, and fled.

This judicious and successful manœuvre, rescued the party from the most immediate danger. The victory secured the field, and cleared all the adjacent woods. But still the march was so difficult, and the army had suffered so much, and so many horses were lost, that before they were able to proceed, they were reluctantly obliged to destroy such part of their convoy of provisions as they could not carry with them, for want of horses. Being lightened by this sacrifice, they proceeded to Bushy Run, where finding water, they encamped.

The enemy lost about sixty men on this occasion, some of them their chief warriors; which they reputed a very severe stroke. They likewise had many wounded in the pursuit. The English lost about fifty men, and had about sixty wounded.

The savages thus signally defeated in all their attempts to cut off this reinforcement upon its march, began to retreat with the utmost precipitation to their remote settlements, wholly giving up their designs against Fort Pitt, at which place Col. Bouquet arrived safe with his convoy, four days after the action; receiving no further molestation on the road,

except a few scattered shot from a disheartened and flying enemy. Here the Colonel was obliged to put an end to the operations of this campaign, not having a sufficient force to pursue the enemy beyond the Ohio, and take advantage of the victory obtained over them; nor having any reason to expect a timely reinforcement from the provinces in their distressed situation. He was therefore, forced to content himself with supplying Fort Pitt, and other places on the communication, with provissions, ammunition and stores; stationing his small army to the best advantage he could against the approach of winter.(1)

Thus terminated the successful campaign of 1763. The signal victory gained over the Indians by Col. Bouquet, at Brush creek, had so dismayed them, that they not only gave up all designs against Fort Pitt, but withdrew from the frontiers, "retreating far beyond the Ohio, and abandoning all the country between Presque Isle and Sandusky; not thinking themselves safe till they arrived at the Muskingum."

(1) Hutchinson's Account of Bouquet's Expedition of 1763.