Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/62

40 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS and at the same time the garrison made a sortie and spiked the enemy s guns. Three days later Proctor raised the siege. He renewed his attack in July with 5,000 men, but after a few days again withdrew. On September 10 Com. Oliver H. Perry gained his victory on Lake Erie, and on September 16 Harrison embarked his artillery and supplies for a descent on Canada. The troops followed be tween the 20th and 24th, and on the 27th the army landed on the enemy s territory. Proctor burned the fort and navy-yard at Maiden and retreated, and Harrison followed on the next day. Proctor was overtaken on October 5, and took position wdth his left flanked by the Thames, arid a swamp cov ering his right, which was still further protected by Tecumseh and his Indians. He had made the mistake of forming his men in open order, which was the plan that was adopted in Indian fighting, and Harrison, taking advantage of the error, ordered Col. Richard M. Johnson to lead a cavalry charge, which broke through the British lines, and virtually ended the battle. Within five minutes almost the entire British force was captured, and Proctor escaped only by abandoning his carriage and taking to the woods. Another band of cavalry charged the Indians, who lost their leader, Tecum seh, in the beginning of the fight, and after ward made no great resistance. This battle, which,