Scott, with the body of the mounted volunteers, was thrown out on the left with instructions to turn the flank of the Indians, thus effectually preventing them from performing a similar feat at the expense of the Americans.

There could be no greater contrast than that between Wayne's carefully trained troops, marching in open order to the attack, and St.Clair's huddled mass of raw soldiers receiving an assault they were powerless to repel.
Heavy Skirmishing, The Indians stretched in a line nearly two miles long at right angles to the river, and began the battle confidently enough.

They attacked and drove in the volunteers who were in advance and the firing then began along the entire front.

But their success was momentary.

Wayne ordered the first line of the infantry to advance with trailed arms, so as to rouse the savages from their cover, then to fire into their backs at close range, and to follow them hard with the bayonet, so as to give them no time to load.