about midnight
The regulars marched along the road , the Canadians and Indians pushed their way through the woods as best they could . When within three miles of the lake , their scout brought in a prisoner , who told them that an English column was approaching . The regulars were halted on the road , the Canadians and Indians moved on ahead , and hid themselves in ambush among the trees and bushes on either side of the road . The waggoners , who had escaped the evening before , had reached Johnson 's camp about midnight , and reported that there was a war party on the road near Fort Lyman . A council of war was held , and under an entire misconception of the force of the enemy , and the belief that they would speedily fall back from Fort Lyman , it was determined to send out two detachments , each 500 strong , one towards Fort Lyman , the other to catch the enemy in their retreat . Hendrick , the chief of the Mohawks , expressed his strong disapproval of this plan , and accordingly it was resolved that the thousand men should go as one body . Hendrick still disapproved of the plan , but nevertheless resolved to accompany the column , and , mounting on a gun carriage , he harangued his warriors with passionate eloquence , and they at once prepared to accompany them .