CHAPTER XIV.
THE CANOE FIGHT.
Before going further with the story of what happened around the root fortress on that morning, it is necessary to explain how it came about that a battle was fought there.

I gather the facts from authentic history.
During all the time spent by the Hardwickes in their wanderings and in the root fortress, the war had been going on vigorously.

The occupants of Fort Sinquefield, when they abandoned that fort as described in the early chapters of this story, succeeded in making their way to Fort Glass, or Fort Madison, as it was properly named, though the people still used its original name Fort Glass in speaking of it, for which reason I have so called the place throughout this story.

In July General Floyd, who was in command of all the United States forces in the south-west, sent General Claiborne, with his twelve months' Mississippi volunteers to Fort Stoddart, with instructions to render such aid as he could to the forts in the surrounding country.

His force consisted of seven hundred men, and of them he took five hundred to Fort Stoddart, sending the remaining two hundred, under Col.