ey gained
the plain on which Maumee City now stands, unseen by the enemy, formed
for marching in three parallel columns, one led by Dudley, one by
Major Shelby, the other by Acting-Major Morrison. Captain Combs with
30 riflemen, including 7 friendly Indians, flanked in front fully a
hundred yards distant. Thus they moved through the woods a mile and a
half toward the British batteries, which were still firing upon Fort
Meigs.

"There was a prospect of capturing the whole force, but Dudley had
unfortunately failed to inform his men of his exact plans, and that
was a fatal mistake. Shelby's column, according to his orders, moved
on to a point between the British batteries and their camp below, when
the right column, led by Dudley in person, raised the horrid Indian
yell, rushed forward, charged with vehemence upon the enemy, captured
the heavy guns, and spiked eleven of them without losing a man.

"At the same time the riflemen had been attacked by the Indians, and,
not having been told that they were to fall back upon the main body,
thought it their duty to fight. That was a fatal mistake, as the main
object of the expedition was already fully accomplished, although the
batteries were not destroyed. The British flag was pulled down, and as
it reached the earth loud huzzahs went up from Fort Meigs. Harrison,
who was watching from his chief battery, with intense interest, now
signaled Dudley to fall back to the boats and cross the river
according to his former orders.

"Probably Dudley did not see it, but he did see the Indians in ambush
attacking Combs and his riflemen, and with a quick and generous
impulse ordered them to be re-enforced. In response to that a great
part of the right and centre columns rushed into the woods in
considerable disorder, their colonel with them. It did not matter much
at first, for, though they were undisciplined and disorderly, they
soon put the Indians to flight, thus relieving Combs and his men;
but, forgetting prudence, they pursued the flying savages almost to
the British camp.

"When they started on that pursuit Shelby's men still had possession
of the batteries, but the British artillerists, largely re-enforced,
soon returned and recaptured them, taking some of the Kentuckians
prisoners and driving the others toward their boats. The Indians, too,
were re-enforced, came back, and fiercely attacked Dudley and his men,
who were in such utter confusion that it was impossible to command