Robert McAfee's Company Memorandum Book, 1813-1814

to this which we repaired as fast as they could tare up as they only had time to throw off the planks or logs and have the (ills which we soon could repair. we discovered the smoke rising from the last mill before we we approached it and pushed on to save it but could not we expected a fight at this place, in two miles from this place we came to a large farm where 8 or 10 Coke ovens had been erected very lately to supply the British with lead, and the owner of the place was the contractor and expected the British to make a stand & that his place was to be laid off in a [tower?], he met us and said that the Indians had almost ruined him by camping in his farm last night. but his duplicity was soon discovered by one view of his bake ovens; from several carts being left in the road we strongly suspected him of concealing the Indians plunder and from the number of canon left we generally believed that they did not mean to fight us as some our spies had [ran?] some of the British dragoons for two or three miles. we from the place pushed on in in a fast trot close in the rear

of our spies in a [five?] line making a solid column all in the great road and had gone near three miles all in close pursuit not expecting to see an enemy until we got to Moravian town five miles in advance when our spies discovered a British horseman before them and soon caught by a fair race and the Regt soon came up in the order before named. when the prisoners informed us that the British army with twelve hundred Indians were ready formed in order of Battle not three hundred yards before us in thick woods with a swamp on their right. this information was not believed by many but upon my suggesting to the COl. that We were considerably in advance of the foot men I thought it prudent that we should form the line of Battle and send on our spies to see the truth of the story and dispatch a messenger to give Harrison for orders. we immediately formed the line of Battle. my company on the right from the river out when it was discovered that their was a swamp at the distance of two hundred and fifty yards from the river & parallel with the river, which could

scarcely be crossed, my company [extended?] beyond it with Matson & Elliston on horseback in the rear on the right Capt [Stucker?] was formed adjoining my my company on the left and the other companies formed as laid down in Col. Johnsons Genl order. I directed My company to tie their horses and advance fifty Steps in front and take trees. in a few minutes our spies sent us a messenger that the British were actually in sight. that they had formed their line and wishd a reinforcement, an [?] which [Wm?] Thomas carried was sent to give Harrison and in the course of a quarter of an hour Genl. Harrison came riding up and sent Majr. Wood. The commander of the artillery with a spy-glass to view the situation of the nemy which when he had returned. Genl. Harrison directed us to form our lines on the extreme left with two companies at right angles on the extreme left in the form of an L. but in a few minutes and after some Conversation with Col. Johnson, the Fenl. directed each Battalion to form a charging column on each side of the swamp our Battalion on the right next the river and the 2nd Battalion beyond the swamp on one

left, which we immediately did by countermarching while the foot army formed in our rear. we then came up, my company in three lines with [Just?], Cardwell, Sharp & Adams at the head of each line & myself between the head of the Divisions with Col, James Johnson, & Majr Payne in front, Capt Elliston & Matson in two lines each on my right and Capt Hamilton on my left, making sight lines with Capt Church & Berrys companys in line of battle in front, Maj Thompsons Battalion composed of Capt Stuckers Davision, Combs, Rice and Coleman formed in like order on the left beyond the swamp with orders to charge thro the enemies lines and form in the rear at the first fire, when thus foormed the two Battalions were not in sight. Col Richard commanded on the Left and at a signal of the trumpet from our wing when ordered both battallions were to charge. it was now about two and a half hours by sun, when Genl Harrison came riding up and inform'd, me, that the infantry were ready and to charge and ifwe would follow it up close we would not lose any men scarcely ( Col. R. Johnson when informed that there was four Hundred British & twelve hundred Indians, told Genl. Harrison that his Regt could whip them) the trumpet then sounded and we charged on horse back about fifty yards when the spys fired and were fired upon by the British, they nearly all dismounted and began to fire from behind trees which gave us a [check?] and we had to halt our [danger?] thus on Horseback in column was immediately [seen?]. the spy

were ordered to mount and charge every officer [existed?] himself and Genl. Harrison exclaimed, charge them my brave Kentuckians and the Indian yell was raised and we rushed up on them like a storm and received a heavy fire by the whole British line when at the distance of twenty steps, but it only inspired us with fresh coiurage and before they coould reload we broke their lines & one half of the Battalion wheel,d to the left and the others to the right & completely surrounded the British who immediately surrendered as fast as they could thrown down their arms. I wheel,d to the right and pursued the road in full chase after a few horse men who were making off with Genl. Proctor at their head we continued on two miles to the Moravian town (a large Indian village of Delawares with Moravian Missionarys with them) and in full view of six pieces of their Artillery where about twenty Dragoons were on the wings spiking their Cannon, orders then came to return & the firing still contuining on the left wing & only at the time having nine of my men with me I returned & soon ,et Capt Riddings & [Berry?] and they suggestd with small parties, when we were