Turtle did not want to engage the Legion without artillery, and dissuaded most of the Miami from joining this expedition. Blue Jacket did not intend to strike Fort Recovery specifically, using scouts to locate the best opportunity. By 25 June, the combined force had encamped within 20 miles of Fort Recovery, and moved towards the fort in a mass formation that was so large that the warriors outnumbered the available firearms. This army hunted as it traveled, using up available ammunition along the way. Reconnaissance patrols were sent to find the locations of United States forces. On 27 June, a scout detachment of Odawas and Ojibwe met a U.S. detachment of Choctaws and rangers from the Legion. Captain Bobb Sallad of the rangers was killed, while the rest escaped. They arrived at Fort Greenville the next day and reported a "great force" of Native Americans advancing with "a great number of white men." Wayne received a follow-up report that a large hostile force was about to attack the Legion's supply lines, and that Fort Recovery had only three days of provisions. On 28 June, the confederation force encamped along the road between Fort Recovery and Fort Greenville. Here a debate arose on their next move. Blue Jacket wanted to attack the Legion's road south of Fort Greenville, cutting off supplies and reinforcements to the Legion's forts. Reconnaissance had noted movement near Fort Recovery, however, and the majority argued that it would be easier to attack the fort at the farthest reaches of the supply line. According to William Wells, the head of the Legion's reconnaissance companies, the entire Native American army was placed under the nominal command of Odawa leader Egushawa, perhaps due to the large numbers of northern tribes who had journeyed south to join the campaign. An estimated 1,200 warriors of the confederacy encamped just south of Fort Recovery and prepared an ambush. Battle Early on 30 June, a company of Choctaws and Chickasaws arrived at Fort Recovery, headed by Chickasaw leader Jimmy Underwood. Although Underwood could not speak English, he was able to communicate a large enemy presence and many shots fired. Captain Gibson sent a reconnaissance patrol around Fort Recovery, but finding nothing abnormal, the fort resumed normal operations and the farm animals were released to graze freely. Later that morning, a supply column left Fort Recovery for Fort Greenville, while the security detail finished breakfast