midnight
Ahead of him there was no break in the dark line of forest , but they approached it without apprehension , assured by other scouts that the Indian retreat had not ceased . They were landed on the northern bank and stating to the boatmen that they would be back in the morning , they plunged into the woods . There was some moonlight , and in a short time they picked up the trail of the main Indian force . They followed it until midnight and found that it maintained a steady course toward Chillicothe . Henry was satisfied that Timmendiquas meant to fall back on the town , and make a stand there where he could hope for victory , but he was not sure that smaller bands would not lurk in Clark 's path , and try to cut up and weaken his force as it advanced . Hence , he left the great trail and turned to the right . In a mile or so they heard sounds and peering through the woods saw Braxton Wyatt , Blackstaffe and about a dozen Shawnee warriors sitting about a small fire .