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Page 90
The effect of McGary's words and actions were electrical. The troops,
mounted and on foot, officers and privates, suddenly became animated
with a wild enthusiasm. Whooping and yelling like Indians, more than a
hundred of them now sprung forward, and in a tumultuous body rushed into
the stream and struggled for the opposite shore. A few lingered around
Boone, Todd, and Twigg, to await their orders. But the pause of these
commanders was only momentary. They saw their ranks in confusion, and
more than two-thirds of their soldiers in the water, struggling after
the hot-headed McGary, and most of the other officers. The mischief was
already done. To delay was but to doom their enthusiastic comrades to
certain destruction; and shouting to those who yet remained to follow,
Todd put spurs to his horse, and, together with Trigg and Boone dashed
after the main body. It was a wild scene of excitement. Horsemen and
footmen, officers and privates, all mixed up together in confusion, and
pushing forward in one "rolling and irregular mass."
By violent threats and repeated exertions, with their swords drawn and
flashing in the sunlight, Colonels Todd, Trigg and Boone at length
succeeded, after reaching the opposite bank, in restoring something like
order to the half-crazed troops. On gaining the brow of the buffalo
ridge, Todd commanded a halt; then drawing a pistol from the holster of
his saddle, he rode to the front of the lines, and, with eyes flashing
fire, exclaimed:
"Men! we must have order! Without order we are lost. I command a halt;
and the first man that moves from the ranks, officer or private, until
so commanded, I swear to scatter his brains on the land he disgraces!"
His speech produced the desired effect; not a man ventured, by
disobeying, to put his threat to the test; and after gazing on them
sternly a few moments in silence, he turned to McGary, who was sitting
his horse a few paces distant, and said:
"Sir! you have acted unbecoming, both as an officer and a gentleman; and
if we two live through an engagement which I fear is near at hand, and
which your rashness will have brought about, I will have you put under
arrest and tried by court martial."
"As you please, Colonel Todd," replied McGary, with a fierce look. "But
you will bear in mind, sir, that at the council yesterday, you scouted
at the proposition advanced by Colonel Boone, and seconded by myself
and others, of waiting for the reinforcements of Colonel Logan, and
insinuated that we were cowards. As _you_, sir, were so _very_ brave,
and so eager for a fight when at a distance, I swore that, if we came
where a fight could be had, I would either draw you into action, or
forever damn you as a coward in the eyes of your soldiers. If I have
succeeded, I rest satisfied to let you do your worst."
"Resume your place, sir! and break an order this day at your peril!"
cried Todd, sharply, his face flushed with indignation.
As McGary slowly obeyed, Todd called to Boone, Trigg, and one or two
others, with whom he held a short consultation as to the propriety of
sending forward scouts before advancing with the main army. This being
decided in the affirmative, Isaac Younker and another individual were
selected from the ranks, and appointed to go on the dangerous mission;
with orders to follow the buffalo trace and examine it carefully on both
sides--particularly round about the ravines--and if they saw any traces
of Indians, to hasten back with all speed; but if not, to continue their
examination for a half mile further on, where the great trace gradually
became lost in lesser paths, which branched off in every direction.
Immediately on the departure of these two scouts, the troops were drawn
up in a long line, ready for action at a moment's notice. Colonel Trigg
commanded the Harrodsburgh forces on the right; Colonel Boone the
Boonesborough soldiers on the left; and Colonel Todd, assisted by Majors
McGary and McBride, the Lexington militia in the center. Major Harlan
led the van, and Major Levi Todd brought up the rear. This was the order
in which they went into battle.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS
In less than an hour, Isaac and his companions returned, and reported
that they had seen no signs of Indians whatever. On the receipt of this
intelligence, the order to march was immediately given, and the whole
body of soldiers, under the scorching rays of an August sun, moved
rapidly forward. Nothing occurred to interrupt their progress, until the
van had reached within a few yards of the ravines before mentioned, when
the appalling truth of a tremendous ambuscade of the savages suddenly
became known, by the pouring therefrom, into their ranks, a terrible
volley, which carried with it death, terror and confusion. Never were
soldiers taken more by surprise, and at greater disadvantage to
themselves, both as to numbers and position. They had relied upon the
report of the scouts, who had themselves been deceived by the quiet of
everything about the ravines; and now here they were, less than two
hundred in number, on an open spot, exposed to the deadly rifles of more
than five hundred Indian warriors, who were lying concealed among the
dark cedars of the ravines.
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