On the 22d of August, these two divisions united, and the whole army, amounting to five thousand men, marched up the Tyoga, which led into the heart of the Indian country.
Such extensive and tedious preparations could not be made unobserved.
The plan of operations contemplated by Sullivan seems to have been completely understood; and, notwithstanding the vast superiority of his force, the Indians determined to defend their country.

They resolved to risk a general action for its preservation, and selected the ground for the conflict with judgment.
About a mile in front of Newtown, they collected their whole force, estimated by General Sullivan at fifteen hundred men, but by themselves at only eight hundred, commanded by the two Butlers, Grey, Johnson, M'Donald, and Brandt.

Five companies of whites, calculated at two hundred men, were united with them.

They had constructed a breast-work about half a mile in length, on a piece of rising ground.
The right flank of this work was covered by the river, which, bending to the right, and winding round their rear, exposed only their front and left to an attack.

On the left, was a high ridge nearly parallel to the general course of the river, terminating somewhat below the breast-work; and still farther to the left, was another ridge running in the same direction, and leading to the rear of the American army.
The ground was covered with pine interspersed with low shrub-oaks, many of which, for the purpose of concealing their works, had been cut up and stuck in front of them, so as to exhibit the appearance of being still growing.