he male inhabitants, capable of bearing arms, and that they
should speedily assemble at the mouth of Licking, and proceed from
thence to Chilicothe. He ordered the building of a number of
transport boats, and directed such other preparations to be made, as
would facilitate the expedition, and ensure success to its object.
When all was ready, the boats with the provisions and stores on board,
were ordered up the Ohio, under the command of Col. Slaughter.

In ascending the river, such was the rapidity of the current, that the
boats were compelled to keep near to the banks, and were worked up, in
two divisions--one near each shore. While thus forcing their way
slowly up the stream, one of the boats, being some distance in
advance of the others and close under the north western bank, was
fired into by a party of Indians. The fire was promptly returned; but
before the other boats could draw nigh to her aid, a number of those
on [223] board of her, was killed and wounded. As soon however, as
they approached and opened a fire upon the assailants, the savages
withdrew, and the boats proceeded to the place of rendezvous, without
farther interruption.

On the second of August, General Clarke took up the line of march from
the place where Cincinnati now stands, at the head of nine hundred and
seventy men. They proceeded without any delay, to the point of
destination, where they arrived on the sixth of the month. The town
was abandoned, and many of the houses were yet burning, having been
fired on the preceding day. There were however, several hundred acres
of luxuriant corn growing about it, every stalk of which was cut down
and destroyed.

The army then moved in the direction of the Piqua Towns, twelve miles
farther, and with a view to lay waste every thing around it, and with
the hope of meeting there an enemy, with whom to engage in battle; but
before they had got far, a heavy shower of rain, accompanied with loud
thunder and high winds, forced them to encamp. Every care which could
be taken to keep the guns dry, was found to be of no avail, and
General Clarke, with prudent precaution, had them all fired and
re-loaded--continuing to pursue this plan, to preserve them fit for
use, whenever occasion required, and keeping the troops on the alert
and prepared to repel any attack which might be made on them--during
the night.

In the afternoon of the next day, they arrived in sight of Piqua, and
as they advanced upon the town,