Intervals the greater part of the night.' Fort Stanwix

was soon in dire straits. The news of the investment had

sent a thrill through the whole of the Mohawk valley.

The colonials came together in haste, and soon about a

thousand of them, led by Nicholas Herkimer, were ascending

the river in straggling array. They hurried on their

course with such zeal that they did not even send out

scouting parties to warn them of danger and prevent

surprise. On August 5 this relief force was close to

Oriskany, and only eight miles distant from St Leger's

position. Herkimer now matured a clever plan, the success

of which he confidently expected would bring him victory.

He chose three men and sent them forward to gain entrance

to the fort and to tell Gansevoort that help was coming.

The moment they arrived the besieged were to fire three

guns in rapid succession. This was to be Herkimer's

signal; he would speed at once along the road to the

British position and fling himself on its rear, while,

at the same time, Gansevoort must issue forth and attack

it in front. St Leger's army, it was hoped, would crumble

in hopeless defeat between two shattering fires.

As fortune would have it, this ruse was doomed to complete

failure. The messengers set out at eleven o'clock at

night, and Herkimer thought they would surely reach the

fort by three in the morning. But he waited in vain the

whole night through; no sound of cannonade disturbed the

quiet air. As the hours crept by his officers became

fretful and impatient; in the end they declared for an

immediate advance, denouncing Herkimer as a faltering

coward. At length the old man, sorely against his will,

gave the order to march. The relief party streamed through

the forest with disordered ranks. In the meantime Brant's

Indians had not been idle. They had carefully watched

the manoeuvres of the hostile force, and had given timely

warning. St Leger at once took steps to bar the road to

attack. For this purpose a division of the Royal Greens

was detailed, as well as the Tory Rangers, with Butler

in command. The bulk of the contingent, however, were

Indians, and it fell to the lot of Joseph Brant to fasten

Herkimer in the strong meshes of his net.

The ground over which the Americans had to pass was

uneven, and this had not escaped the watchful eye of

Brant. He was an adept in the tactics of Indian warfare,

and now used his knowledge to good effect. Herkimer had

not gone far along the narrow trail before he found

himself in difficulties. The road slanted down into a

boggy hollow some six or seven miles below Fort Stanwix.

This hollow had a winding course in the form of a crescent,

and across its march a causeway of heavy logs had been

built. Between the ends of the encircling ravine there

was an elevated position, thickly wooded and dry. Upon

this Brant had laid his ambush, having posted his men

with only a slight opening in their ranks towards the

Incline of the road.

Down into the gully came the colonials, their wagons and

a small guard bringing up the rear. As they toiled up

the opposing ascent, the gap was closed upon them, and

they were surrounded on every side. The rear-guard were

left behind with the wagons and fled in a tumult, with

a throng of Indians in close pursuit. From the sheltering

trees a deadly fusillade swept the hapless files of those

who were hemmed about on the rising ground. Darting from

their cover, the Indians sprang upon such as lay wounded

and dispatched them with knife and tomahawk.

The first onslaught had resulted in a carnival of blood.

Now the colonials, owing to their numbers, were able to

get together and to place themselves on the defensive.

The fight soon became hand to hand and there ensued one

of the most gruesome melees of the whole War of the

Revolution. The men were able to look into one another's

faces; they fought at quarters too close for bullets,

and relied upon gun-stock, knife-blade, and bayonet.

There was slashing and cutting, clubbing and throttling,

and often in their frenzy they grappled tight and died