This division of forces very soon proved to be an unwise and unfortunate thing.
The fortunes of war are proverbial for changes.
Strongly intrenched in the hills, Cliff’s gang gave the soldiers a disastrous battle.
In vain the plucky young colonel tried to dislodge them.
They fought like tigers, and having the advantage of location, actually decimated the cavalry one half in number.
Until nightfall, Col. Clark kept persistently waging the battle.
Then he began to think of retreat.
But, to his horror, he found that this was by no means as easy a matter as he had fancied.
The foe had actually closed in upon him, and nearly every avenue of retreat was closed.
He was literally surrounded by the foe.