Bouquet surveyed the field.

He saw his men weakening under the terrible strain, and realized that something must be done promptly.

The Indians were each moment becoming bolder, pressing ever nearer and nearer.
Then he conceived one of the most brilliant movements known in Indian warfare.

He ordered two companies, which were in the most exposed part of the field, to fall back as though retreating within the circle that defended the hill.

At the same time the troops on the right and left opened their files, and, as if to cover the retreat, occupied the space vacated in a thinly extended line.
The strategy worked even better than Bouquet had expected.
The yelling Indians, eager for slaughter and believing that the entire command was at their mercy, rushed pell-mell from their shelter, firing sharp volleys into the protecting files.