Many more were asking the same questions and the answers were not long in forthcoming. The spies had discovered that the main trail was farther down the river than the course of the Indians pursued by the center and right wing. Evidently the Sacs first encountered were merely decoys who were purposely attempting to lead the army astray.
“What luck!” cried Robert joyously. “They tried to leave us out but we stumbled into the main affair after all.”
Down the steep sides of the bluff General Henry led his troops. Arriving at the base, the men found themselves on a wooded plateau which stretched between the bluff and the shore. On the other side of the timber, Black Hawk was stationed.
A bullet tore some leaves from a tree close to Joseph’s head. A second bullet followed the first and soon a perfect hail of lead was cutting its way through the forest. The trooper next to Deerfoot had his horse shot from under him. The bugle sounded and with a shout the men dashed forward. Over dead logs, under low hanging branches and through thick clumps of bushes they forced their way. A galling fire raked their lines from end to end but not a man faltered.
As yet no sight of the Indians appeared. That they were present was testified to, however, by the energetic fusillade they kept up. Suddenly the woods thinned and the brigade found itself in the midst of about three hundred warriors. The numbers on each side consequently were even.
Savage yells and whoops rent the air. Mixed with these were the cheers and shouts of the troops who urged one another forward. No man needed much urging, however, for everyone was there to do his duty and it was done with no thought of flinching.
“Dismount!” came the order from the bugle.
Instantly every man sprang from his horse’s back, and quickly tethering his mount to some nearby tree, continued the attack on foot. Every tree seemed to shelter a hostile Indian, and the Whites themselves took advantage of every bit of cover that offered itself.
“Keep close together, boys!” urged John Mason, as, rifle in hand, he started forward with Deerfoot and the two brothers. “Watch every tree and don’t let yourselves be taken by surprise.”
“Look out!” warned Joseph suddenly. “There’s an Indian.” He pointed to a large tree in front of them and as he spoke a shaved head appeared on one side, a rifle was quickly raised and a bullet sang close above the heads of the four troopers.