be easy otherwise to account for the circumstance, that even when
signally vanquished, the list of their slain does not, frequently,
appear more than half as great, as that of the victors. In this
particular instance, many of the dead were certainly thrown into the
river.

Nor could the number of the enemy engaged, be ever ascertained. Their
army is known to have been composed of warriors from the different
nations, north of the Ohio; and to have comprised the flower of the
Shawanee, Delaware, Mingo, Wyandotte and Cayuga tribes; led on by men,
whose names were not unknown to fame,[18] and at the head of whom was
Cornstalk, Sachem of the Shawanees, and King of the Northern
Confederacy.[19]

This distinguished chief and consummate warrior, proved himself on
that day, to be justly entitled to the prominent station which he
occupied. His plan of alternate retreat & attack, was well conceived,
and occasioned the principal loss sustained by the writes. If at any
time his warriors were believed to waver, his voice could be heard
above the din of arms, exclaiming in his native tongue, "Be strong! Be
strong;" and when one near him, by trepidation and reluctance to
proceed to the charge, evinced a dastardly disposition, fearing the
example might have a pernicious influence, with one blow of the
tomahawk he severed his skull. It was perhaps a solitary instance in
which terror predominated. Never did men exhibit a more conclusive
evidence of bravery, in making a charge, and fortitude in withstanding
an onset, than did these undisciplined soldiers of the forest, in the
[130] field at Point Pleasant. Such too was the good conduct of those
who composed the army of Virginia, on that occasion; and such the
noble bravery of many, that high expectations were entertained of
their future distinction. Nor were those expectations disappointed. In
the various scenes through which they subsequently passed, the pledge
of after eminence then given, was fully redeemed; and the names of
Shelby, Campbell, Matthews, Fleming, Moore, and others, their
compatriots in arms on the memorable tenth of October, 1774, have been
inscribed in brilliant characters on the roll of fame.[20]

Having buried the dead, and made every arrangement of which their
situation admitted, for the comfort of the wounded, entrenchments were
thrown up, and the army commenced its march to form a junction with
the northern division, under Lord Dunmore. Proceeding by the way of