Five or six of the soldiers, as well as Major Arms, were wounded, and several of the horses were shot.

The Indians seemed to grow thicker and thicker, as if receiving reinforcements from some large party.

The colored troops, who had been bragging all the way that if they could only see some Indians "dey would blow 'em off de farm,"-- which was a favorite expression of theirs,--were now singing a different tune.

Every time the Indians would make a charge at us, the darkeys would cry out: "Heah dey cum;" "Dey must be ten thousand ob 'em;" "De whole country is alive wid 'em;" "Massa Bill, does you tink we is eber agoin' to get out o' heah ?" and many other similar expressions.
Major Arms, who was wounded and lying under the cannon--which, by the way, had become useless,--called me up and asked if I thought there was any show of getting back to the fort.

I replied that there was.
Orders were accordingly given by Major Arms for a retreat, the cannon being left behind.