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On August 6, 1777, General Herkimer with 800 men started to relieve Fort Stanwix, now besieged by St. Leger and his Indians. At Oriskany, ten miles away, he halted and attempted to concert an attack and a sortie. The plan miscarried. Herkimer advanced and was attacked by the Indians and Tories in a deep ravine. The battle raged furiously for hours, despite a terrific thunder-storm, and was one of the most cruel and bloody of the war. Each side lost a third of its number. The Americans remained masters of the field, although badly disabled. The sortie from the fort was a success, and badly crippled the enemy.