Nothing could have been more complete than the panic of the soldiers. General Butler, second in command, was killed; the camp and artillery were abandoned, because not a horse was left alive to draw off the cannon, and the panting fugitives continued to throw away their guns and accoutrements long after the pursuit ceased. They did not halt until they reached Fort Jefferson, twenty-nine miles from the scene of the massacre. Personally no one could have shown more bravery than General St. Clair. His clothing was pierced eight times by bullets, three horses were killed under him, and he strove with all the power and authority at his command to check the flight and rally the troops; but terrified men are as uncontrollable as so many thirsting buffaloes in their rush for water. Washington was of a serene temperament, and very rarely did he give way to anger. We know, however, of two occasions in which his rage overmastered him. One of these was at Monmouth Court House, on that flaming day in June, 1778, when he came face to face with General Charles Lee, leading a retreat of a part of the patriot forces, and the other was when the news reached him of the disaster to St. Clair and his army. He stormed up and down his room, his passion so terrible, that none of his attendants dare address him. "_Right there!_" he thundered, pointing at a chair, "he sat, and the last words I said to him were a warning against the very thing that has happened; _there can be no excuse_ for such atrocious, horrible blundering." One of the noblest attributes of the noblest of men was his disposition to do right, and to be just to every one. When the tempest of emotion had passed, and his natural calm returned, he added: "I will not condemn him too harshly until I have heard his story from his own lips." In due time, St. Clair presented himself before Washington, timid and fearful as to his reception. He was quickly set at ease, however, and the President kindly but earnestly questioned him. Despite the bad light in which the officer appeared, he had something to say in his own defence, and was entitled to a hearing. The regulars in his command were reliable, but most of the militia proved themselves worse than useless, for the example of their panic, which no one could check, had its disastrous effect upon their braver comrades as well. Washington, however, made sure that the next general sent to the West was one who would not repeat the blunders of the others. He named that daring veteran "Mad Anthony" Wayne, and no officer could surpass him in the qualities required to overcome the hostiles, who had grown bolder than ever.