At daybreak Williamson destroyed the houses near by, and started to cross the ford.

But his men, in true militia style, had become sulky and mutinous, and refused to cross, until Col.

Hammond swore he would go alone, and plunged into the river, followed by three volunteers, whereupon the whole army crowded after.

The revulsions in their feelings was instantaneous; once across they seemed to have left all fear as well as all prudence behind.
On the hither side there had been no getting them to advance; on the farther there was no keeping them together, and they scattered everywhere.

Luckily the Indians were too few to retaliate; and besides the Cherokees were not good marksmen, using so little powder in their guns that they made very ineffective weapons.