[F] The French, who were looking at us when we started, were heard to say, we were not men enough.
[G] A Frenchman who lived in this village said when the word came the Americans were in sight, there was an old Indian smoking at his fireside; the Indian exclaimed, “Ho, de Mericans come; I suppose Ohio men come, we give them another chase:� (alluding to the time they chased Gen. Tapper from the Rapids.) He walked to the door smoking, apparently very unconcerned, and looked at us till we formed the line of battle, and rushed on them with a mighty shout! he then called out “Kentuck, by God!� and picked up his gun and ran to the woods like a wild beast.
[H] It would have been better for us if we had been contented with the possession of the village, without pursuing them to the woods.
[I] This want of precaution was a great cause of our mournful defeat!
[J] When the right wing began to retreat, it is said orders were given by some of the officers to the men in the eastern end of the picketing to march out to their assistance. Capt. Price and a number of men sallied out. Capt. Price was killed, and most of the men.
[K] Col. Proctor had informed Gen. Winchester he would afford him an opportunity of surrendering his troops, and if not accepted he would let loose the Indians on us, who would burn the town, and he would not be accountable for their conduct. Gen. Winchester, not knowing how we had resisted their efforts, thought probably it would be the case.
But why did not Col. Proctor make this proposition before he had exerted all his skill in trying to burn the town and to set the Indians on us? Proctor knew very well he had done all that was in his power with the force he had then, and he was then less able to rout us from the town than he was at first.
The British informed us afterwards that Col. Proctor had ordered a general retreat to Malden, and that they had spiked four pieces of their cannon! but he thought he would demand a surrender, according to custom.
Our officers, knowing that we had but little ammunition, and the troops being still exposed to the fire of the cannon, thought proper to surrender.
[L] I was since informed that Col. Elliott instructed the interpreters to leave the wounded, after dark, to the mercy of the savages. They all went off, except one half-Indian.