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"I had risen at a quarter after four o'clock, and the signal for calling out the men would have been given
in two minutes, when the attack commenced. It began on the left flank; but a single gun was fired by the
sentinels, or by the guard in that direction, which made not the least resistance, but abandoned their officer
and fled into camp; and the first notice which the troops of that flank had of the danger, was from the yells
of the savages a short distance from the line; but, even under these circumstances, the men were not
wanting to themselves or to the occasion. Such of them as were awake, or were easily awakened, seized
their arms and took their stations; others, which were more tardy, had to contend with the enemy in the
doors of their tents. The storm first fell upon Captain Barton's company, of the Fourth United States
Regiment, and Captain Guiger's company of mounted riflemen, which formed the left angle of the rear
line. The fire upon these was excessively severe, and they suffered considerably before relief could be
brought to them. Some few Indians passed into the encampment near the angle, and one or two penetrated
to some distance before they were killed. I believe all the other companies were under arms, and tolerably
formed, before they were fired on. The morning was dark and cloudy. Our fires afforded a partial light,
which, if it gave us some opportunity of taking our position, was still more advantageous to the enemy,
affording them the means of taking a surer aim. They were, therefore, extinguished as soon as possible.
"Under these discouraging circumstances, the troops (nineteen-twentieths of whom had never been in an
action before) behaved in a manner that can never be too much applauded. They took their places without
noise, and with less confusion than could have been expected from veterans placed in a similar situation.
As soon as I could mount my horse, I rode to the angle that was attacked. I found that Barton's company
had suffered severely, and the left of Guiger's entirely broken. I immediately ordered Cook's company,
and the late Captain Wentworth's, under Lieutenant Peters, to be brought up from the center of the rear
line, where the ground was much more defensible, and formed across the angle, in support of Barton's and
Guiger's. My attention was then engaged by a heavy firing upon the left of the front line, where were
stationed the small company of United States riflemen (then, however, armed with muskets), and the
companies of Baen, Snelling and Prescott, of the Forth Regiment.
"I found Major Daveiss forming the dragoons in the rear of those companies, and understanding that the
heaviest part of the enemy's fire proceeded from some trees about fifteen or twenty paces in front of those
companies, I directed the major to dislodge them with a part of the dragoons. Unfortunately, the major's
gallantry determined him to execute the order with a smaller force than was sufficient, which enabled the
enemy to avoid him in the front and attack his flanks. The major was mortally wounded, and his party
driven back. The Indians were, however, immediately and gallantly dislodged from their advantageous
position, by Captain Snelling, at the head of his company.
"In the course of a few minutes after the commencement of the attack, the fire extended along the left
flank, the whole of the front, the right flank and part of the rear line. Upon Spencer's mounted riflemen,
and the right of Warrick's company, which was posted on the right of the rear line, it was excessively
severe. Captain Spencer, and his first and second lieutenants, were killed, and Captain Warrick mortally
wounded. Those companies, however, still bravely maintained their posts; but Spencer's having suffered
so severely, and having originally too much ground to occupy, I reinforced them with Robb's company of
riflemen, which had been driven, or, by mistake, ordered from their position in the left flank, toward the
center of the camp, and filled the vacancy that had been occupied by Robb with Prescott's company of the
Fourth United States Regiment. My great object was to keep the lines entire -- to prevent the enemy from
breaking into the camp, until daylight should enable me to make a general and effectual charge. With this
view I had reinforced every part of the line that had suffered much; and as soon as the approach of morning
discovered itself, I withdrew from the front line Snelling's, Posey's (under Lieutenant Allbright) and
Scott's, and from the rear line Wilson's companies, and drew them up upon the left flank; and, at the same
time, I ordered Cook's and Baen's companies -- the former from the rear, and the latter from the front line
-- to reinforce the right flank, forseeing [sic] that, at these points, the enemy would make their last efforts.
Major Wells, who commanded on the left flank, not knowing my intentions precisely, had taken the
command of these companies -- had charged the enemy before I had formed the body of dragoons with
which I meant to support the infantry; a small detachment of these were, however, ready, and proved
amply sufficient, for the purpose. The Indians were driven by the infantry at the point of the bayonet, and
the dragoons pursued and forced them into a marsh, where they could not be followed. Captain Cook and
Lieutenant Larrabee had, agreeably to my order, marched their companies to the right flank and formed
them under fire of the enemy; and, being then joined by the riflemen of that flank, had charged the Indians,
killed a number, and put the rest to precipitate flight.
"The whole of the infantry formed a brigade, under the immediate orders of Colonel Boyd. The
colonel, throughout the action, manifested equal zeal and bravery in carrying into execution my orders -- in
keeping the men to their posts, and exhorting them to fight with valor. His brigade-major, Clarke, and his
aid-de-camp, George Croghan, Esq., were also very serviceably employed. Colonel Joseph
Bartholomew, a very valuable officer, commanded, under Colonel Boyd, the militia infantry. He was
wounded early in the action, and his services lost to me. Maj. G. R. C. Floyd, the senior officer, of the
Fourth United States Regiment, commanded immediately the battalion of that regiment, which was in the
front line. His conduct, during the action, was entirely to my satisfaction. Lieutenant-colonel Decker, who
commanded the battalion of militia on the right of the rear line, preserved his command in good order. He
was however, but partially attacked. I have before mentioned to you that Major-general Wells, of the
Fourth Division of Kentucky Militia, acted, under my command, as a major, at the head of two companies
of mounted volunteers. The general retained the fame which he had already acquired in almost every
campaign, and in almost every battle which has been fought with the Indians since the settlement of
Kentucky. Of the several corps, the Fourth United States Regiment, and the two small companies attached
to it, were certainly the most conspicuous for undaunted valor. The companies commanded by Captains
Cook, Snelling and Barton; Lieutenants Larrabee, Peters and Hawkins, were placed in situations where
they could render most service, and encounter most danger; and those officers eminently distinguished
themselves. Captains Prescott and Brown performed their duty, also, entirely to my satisfaction, as did
Posey's company of the Seventh Regiment, headed by Lieutenant Allbright. In short, sir, they supported
the fame of American regulars; and I have never heard that a single individual was found out of line of his
duty.
"Several of the militia companies were in no wise inferior to the regulars. Spencer's, Guiger's and
Warrick's maintained their posts amid a monstrous carnage -- as, indeed, did Robb's, after it was posted
on the right flank. Its loss of men (seventeen killed and wounded), and keeping its ground, is sufficient
evidence of its firmness. Wilson's and Scott's companies charged with the regular troops, and proved
themselves worthy of doing so. Norris' company also behaved well. Hargrove's and Wilkin's
companies were placed in a situation where they had no opportunity of distinguishing themselves, or, I am
satisfied, they would have done it. This was the case with the squadron of dragoons also. After Major
Daveiss received his wound, knowing it to be mortal, I promoted Captain Parke to the majority, than
whom there is no better officer. My two aids-de-camp, Majors Hurst and Taylor, with Lieutenant Adams,
of the Fourth Regiment, the adjutant of the troops, afforded me the most essential aid, as well in the action
as throughout the campaign.
"The arrangements of Captain Piatt, in the quartermaster's department, were highly judicious; and his
exertions on all occasions -- particularly in bringing off the wounded -- deserve my warmest thanks. But,
in giving merited praise to the living, let me not forget the gallant dead. Col. Abraham Owen,
commandant of the Eighteenth Kentucky Regiment, joined me, a few days before the action, as a private in
Captain Guiger's company. He accepted the appointment of volunteer aid-de-camp to me. He fell early in
the action. The Representative of his State will inform you that she possessed not a better citizen, nor a
braver man. Maj. J. H. Daveiss was known as an able lawyer and a great orator. He joined me as a private
volunteer; and, on the recommendations of the officers of that corps, was appointed to command the three
troops of dragoons. His conduct, in that capacity, justified their choice. Never was there an officer
possessed of more ardor and zeal to discharge his duties with propriety, and never one who would have
encountered greater danger to purchase military fame. Captain Baen, of the Fourth United States
Regiment, was killed early in the action. He was unquestionably a good officer and a valiant soldier.
Captains Spencer and Warrick, and Lieutenants McMahan and Berry, were all my particular friends. I
have ever had the utmost confidence in their valor, and I was not deceived. Spencer was wounded in the
head. He exhorted his men to fight valiantly. He was shot through both thighs and fell; still continuing to
encourage them, he was raised up, and received a ball through his body, which put an immediate end to his
existence. Warrick was shot immediately through the body. Being taken to the surgery to be dressed, as
soon as it was over (being a man of great bodily vigor and able to walk) he insisted on going back to the
head of his company, although it was evident that he had but few hours to live."
William Henry Harrison
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