and other well-wishers of the people, in order to defend your lives and others; for God's sake let us stand together and do what we can, and trust to the hand of Providence; perhaps we must in this Neighbourhood come to Reading, but I will send armed men to Susquehannah, or as far as they can go, for Intelligence. Pray let Sammy have a copy of this, or this draft for his Honour the Governor. I have sent him about 3 hours ago Express to Philadelphia, and he lodges at my son Peter's. Dispatch him as early as you can. I pray beware of Confusion, be calm, you and Mr. Seely, and act the part as fathers of the people. I know you are both able, but excuse me for giving this caution, time requires it. "I am, Dear Sir, Your very good friend and humble Servant, A Letter to Governor Morris from James Read, Esq"" wrote on the same sheet of the foregoing Letter from Mr. Weiser. "Sir: "I must not detain the Bearer a moment; I have sent the original Letter from Mr. Weiser, that no mistakes may arise by any Doubts of the justness of a Copy. "I shall raise our Town in an hour, and use all prudent measures for our Defence. I could wish your Honour could order us two or three swivel Guns and Blunderbusses, with a few Muskets and some Powder, Swan Shot. Nothing shall be wanting in me, who have the misfortune of being Major of two associated Companies; but I know not how my people will behave, as they are under an Infatuation of an Extraordinary Sort. "I am, May it please your Honour, Your Honours most Obedient and most humble Servant, "JAMES READ. "Many wagons that are got thus far are bound back again immediately upon hearing the news. 'Reading, October 27th, 1755, 6 A. M." On the 29th the Governor wrote the following Letter to Governor Dinwiddie: "Sir: "I have received Intelligence that a large body of French and Indians were seen to pass the Allegheny Mountains, moving towards the Inhabitants of this Province, and that a party of them have since passed the Susquehannah and killed all before them, and were within five Miles of Harris' Ferry. They may from the defenceless state of this unhappy Province do infinite mischief and penetrate very far into it. The people are mostly without Arms, little and struck with such a Panick that they flee as fast as they can from their Habitations. The accounts were brought me to this place & will oblige me to leave the Assembly in the midst of their Sessions, and to hasten to Philad in order to do as much service as my power will enable me. If that Assembly which I have called by Writ to meet me on Monday next shall strengthen my hands and do what is incumbent on them, We may be able to make some Resistance, But if they shall still be deaf to the Calls of their bleeding Country, I know not what Lengths the Enemy may proceed. "I think it my Duty to give you the earliest Intelligence that you may not be put upon your own Guard, but afford that assistance which the progress of the Enemy and the safety of the Colonies may require. "If you have any Arms or Ammunition belonging to the Crown not immediately necessary for the Defence of your Province, it would greatly assist his Majestie's service if I could be favoured with the use of them, and on your being so kind as to let me have immediate advice of this I will send for them. "I am, Sir, Your most humble servant, "Newcastle, 29th October, 1755." "ROBERT H. MORRIS. Letters of the same Tenor were wrote to Governor of Maryland, Jersey, & New York. The following Letter was dispatched to Conrad Weiser by Express: A Letter from Governor Morris to Conrad Weiser, Esquire. "NEW CASTLE, October 29th, 1755. "Sir: "I have your two Letters of the 26th Instant, that to Mr. Read being sent forward to me with the other, and I am heartily concerned at the melancholy situation of the Inhabitants in the remoter parts of the Province. If the Assembly had paid any the least regard to my Recommendations, as every thing that has hap pened was reasonably to be expected, the people would not at this time have remained without protection or such a quantity of innocent Blood have been spilt. However, I have upon this occasion summoned them to meet on Monday next, and hope they will now (tho' late) make some Provision for the safety of the Province, and in the mean time must commend your care and diligence, and recommend it to you and the people in your neighborhood to do every thing for their defence that their Circumstances and situation will admit of. Let me know from time to time what is done and the motion of the Enemy, and you may assure the people that whenever the Assembly enables me to act vigorously in their defence I shall most readily do it, and if they do not my best advice and assistance shall be employed in their Protection. I have neither Arms nor Ammunition at my disposal or I should have sent you some of both before now. "I shall set out for Philadelphia this day or to-morrow, "CONRAD WEISER, Esq"" "ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS. At a Council held at Philadelphia, Friday 31st October, 1755, A. M. PRESENT: The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &c. The Minutes of Council held at Newcastle on Tuesday last were read, together with the Papers there entered. The Governor laid before the Council a Letter from Dr. Bowde, of Lancaster, containing a Letter sent by Express from Mr Elder, Minister at Paxton, giving an account of a large Body of French and Indians were coming against this Province and had already passed the Allegheny Hills, which was read in these words: A letter from Dr. Bowde, of Lancaster, forwarding one from the Rev Mr. Elder, of Paxton, to William Allen, Esq "Sir: “LANCASTER, 26th October, 1755. "As Mr. Shippen and his son are out of Town I thought it my Duty to transmit you a Copy of a letter just came to Town, is as follows: "Mr. Shippen : "PAXTON, 25 October, 1755. "Mr. John Harris and Thomas Forster, Esq" they went up the River last Thursday with a company of men to bury the Dead murdered there lately, and sent a Letter to Mr. Carson, the Copy of which is as follows: Mr. Carson-We have an account from our Indians that there is a large body of French and Indians coming down against us on this side of the Allegheny Mountains. We are going this day to Shamokin, where there is a Body of Indians assembled, to know their minds and to send out Spies to view the Enemy & know their numbers. The running Indians that came down and saw them says that there is a great number, and compares them to the Trees. I and our Neighbours desire you'l send our families word that we expect to be down, God willing, on Sabbath night next, and it would be well done to send notice of this News to Virginia and through this Province, that they might prepare themselves for the worst Event. S please to disperse Copys of this thro' the Province as soon as possible, and you'l oblige "Your humble Servant, "JOHN ELDER. "P. S.-The Letter to Carson is dated the 21st inst "To WILLIAM ALLEN, Esq" "SAM BOUDE. Sundry other Letters of the same import were likewise read, and the following ones ordered to be entered : A Letter to the Governor from Mr. John Harris at Paxton. "May it please your Honour: "PAXTON, Oct 28th, 1755. "This is to acquaint you that on the 24th day of October I arrived at Shamokin in order to protect our Frontiers up that way till they might make their escape from their cruel Enemys, and to learn the best Intelligences I could. The Indians on the West Branch of Susquehannah certainly killed our Inhabitants on Mr. Penn's Creek, and there is a hatchet and two English Scalps sent by them up the North Branch to desire them to strike with them if they are men. The Indians are all assembling themselves at Shamokin to Council; a large Body of them was there four days ago. I can't learn their Intentions, but it seems Andrew Montour and Monacatootha is to bring down news from them; there is not a sufficient number of them to oppose the Enemy, and perhaps they will join the Enemy against us; there is no dependance on Indians, and we are in emminent Danger. I got certain Information from Andrew Montour and others that there is a body of French with 1,500 Indians coming against us, Picks, Ottaways, Orandox, Delawares, Shawonese, and a number of the Six Nations, & are now not many days' march from this Province and Virginia, which is appointed to be attacked at the same time; some of the Shawmokin Indians seemed Friendly & others appeared like Enemys Montour knew many days of the Enemy's being on their March against us before he informed me, for which I said as much to him as I thought prudent, considering the place I was in. On the 25th day of this Instant, in my return, with about 40 Men, at Mr. Penn's Creek, we were attacked by about 20 or ca., thirty Indians, received their fire, and about 15 of our men and myself took to Trees and attacked the Villains, killed four of them on the spot, and lost but three men retreating about half a mile thro' woods and crossing Sasquehanna, one of which was shot from off an horse riding behind Myself thro' the River. My horse before was wounded, & failing in the River I was obliged to Quit him and swim part of the way. 4 or 5 of our men was drowned crossing the River. I hope our Journey, tho' with Fatigue and the loss of our substance and some of our Lives, will be of service to our Country by discovering our Enemy, who will be our ruin if not timely prevented. I just now received information that there was a French Officer, supposed a Captain with a party of Shawonese, Delawares, & within six miles of Shamokin two days ago, & no doubt intends to take possession of it, which will be of dreadful consequence to us if suffered; Therefore I thought proper to dispatch this Messenger to inform your Honour. The Indians here I hope your honour will be pleased to cause them to be removed to some place, as I don't like their Company; and as the men of those here was not against us, yet did them no harm or else I would had them all cut off. The old Belt of Wampum promised me at Shamokin to send out Spies to view the Enemy, and upon his hearing of our Skirmish was in a rage, gathered up 30 Indians immediately, and went in pursuit of the Enemy I am this day informed. I expect Montour & Monocatootha down here this week with the determination of their Shamokin Council. The Inhabitants is abandoning their plantations, and we are in a dreadful situation. "I am your Honour's most obedient & humble Servant, "JOHN HARRIS. "P. S.-The night ensuing our attack the Indians burnt all Geo. Gabriel's Houses, danced round them, &" A Letter to Edward Shippen, Esqr., of Lancaster from Mr. Jno. Harris of Paxton. "Sir: "PAXTON, October 29th, 1755. "We expect the Enemy upon us every day, and the Inhabitants is abandoning their Plantations, being greatly discouraged at the approach of such a number of Cruel Savages, and no sign of Assistance. The Indians is cutting us off every day, & I had a certain account of about 1,500 Indians beside French being on their march against us & Virginia, and now close on our borders, their Scouts Scalping our Families on our Frontiers daily. Andrew Montour and others at Shamokin desired me to take care that there was forty Indians out many days, and intended to burn my House & destroy myself and Family. I have this day out |