He told the commander of Bradford’s suspicious words and actions, concluding:
“It’s not for me to offer you advice, governor; but if you’ll pardon my boldness, I would suggest that you keep an eye on Bradford and the negro ox-driver, Ben.”
A worried look rested upon Harrison’s rugged countenance, as he murmured slowly:
“I thank you for your information—for your watchful loyalty to your commander and your country. You did well to tell me. Appearances are against Bradford, but I can’t believe him a traitor. As to keeping an eye on the two—it’s easier said than done. I don’t know the negro. And it seems impossible to get an eye on Bradford to-day—to say nothing of keeping it on him. However, I’ll be watchful. If you learn anything more definite, come to me at once.”
Then turning to an aide, he commanded:
“Find Bradford, the scout, and bring him to me.”
In a few minutes the young officer returned to report that the man could not be found. The governor looked grave, but gave the order for the column to move forward.
By mid-afternoon the advance guard was within three miles of the Prophet’s Town. Here the ground was broken by ravines and covered with scrub timber. It became necessary to exercise the utmost precaution, to avoid an ambuscade. Scouts and interpreters were pushed to the extreme front, and every pass was reconnoitered by mounted riflemen before the main column entered it. Harrison kept changing the relative positions of the various corps, as he advanced, that each might have the ground best suited to its maneuvers.
Within about two miles of the town, the trail descended a steep hill, at the bottom of which was a small creek running through a narrow strip of swampy prairie. Beyond this was a level plain covered with oak forest without underbrush. Near the ford, the woods were very thick—an admirable place for the Indians to practice their mode of warfare.
The governor apprehended that the savages would fall upon him at the crossing—if they meant to give him battle at all—and arranged his troops accordingly. Indians were seen hovering around the front and flanks of the army, but they made no move to attack. The long column crossed the creek unmolested and formed on the other side. The redmen retreated toward their village, a mile and a half away.