However, the sport commenced, and suddenly the ball was struck over the pickets of the fort.

At once the Ojibwes, pretending great ardour in their game, came leaping, struggling and shouting over the defences into the fort as though "in the unrestrained pursuit of a rude, athletic exercise".

Once inside the fortifications, they attacked the unsuspicious and unarmed soldiers and officers, of whom they killed seventy out of ninety.
Henry had not gone with the others, but had stayed in his room writing letters.

Suddenly he heard the Indian warcry and a noise of general confusion.

Looking out of his window he saw a crowd of Indians inside the fort furiously cutting down and scalping every Englishman they could reach.