“We located their camp, which looks almost like a permanent settlement. We saw two fires about burned out but didn’t see nobody movin’ around. They’re on this side of a pretty good-sized creek that won’t be easy to cross. We’ll divide up into three groups. I’m puttin’ Aaron Hart in charge of eight men, who’ll go to the right. Micajah Williamson here will take the same number to the left side. We’ve already worked out where everyone will be lined up. I’ll be with all of the rest of you to make the first and main attack in the middle. I figure there’ll be twelve with me, and I’ll want two to keep the horses quiet and close together. It’s not a big place, so we ought to be able to see each other after we line up. When I think we’re all ready, which’ll be about first light, I’ll signal by shootin’ my gun. Then everybody goes in as fast as hell. If anything moves, shoot it, but be damned sure you don’t kill me! Be careful not to waste your first shot, because after that you may have to depend on your knives and hatchets. I don’t want anybody to get away.”

Ethan asked, “What about the ones that give up?”

Clarke responded sharply, “I’ve already told you there won’t be any, but you can capture one if you want to take a murderer back home to live in your cabin.”

Ethan decided not to respond. It was a sober and somewhat frightened band of men who then moved down the trail together, until Clarke stopped and pointed to his left and right. They were still three hundred yards from the Indians. Ethan was one of those who went with Hart. As his group moved away, they could hear Clarke quietly directing the remaining men to their places.

Hart seemed to know what to do. When they were close enough to the creek to hear the water running, he stopped and motioned the men to come close to him. He whispered their instructions: to form a line almost perpendicular to the stream, size up the Indian camp, and make sure they all had their guns, knives, and hatchets ready for the attack.

Ethan found his place, checked the positions of his nearest companions, and decided that he would go straight for the lean-to nearest him. There was no immediate response from among the shelters when the signal shot sounded, but before the settlers could reach their destinations, the sleepy Indians were rising from their pallets and reaching for weapons. There was scattered gunfire around the periphery of the camp, screams from the victims, and then the grunts and curses as men closed in mortal hand-to-hand combat, all knowing that their lives were at stake.