A few miles below Detroit lay Fighting Island; between it and the east shore, Turkey Island.
Here the savages had erected a breastwork, so carefully concealed that it would be difficult even for the keenest eyes to detect its presence.

The vessel would have to pass within easy range of this barricade; and it was the plan of the Indians to dart out in their canoes as the schooner worked up-stream, seize her, and slay her crew.
On learning this news Gladwyn ordered cannon to be fired to notify the captain that the fort still held out, and sent a messenger to meet the vessel with word of the plot.

It happened that the _Gladwyn_ was well manned and prepared for battle.

On board was Cuyler with twenty-two survivors of the ill-starred convoy, besides twenty-eight men of Captain Hopkins's company.

To deceive the Indians as to the number of men, all the crew and soldiers, save ten or twelve, were concealed in the hold; to invite attack, the vessel advanced boldly up-stream, and at nightfall cast anchor in the narrow channel in front of Turkey Island.