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410 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. I.
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been expended in building Forts & keeping Troops on the
Frontiers of that Province the Sellers have for many Score
Miles deserted their Houses & retired to the more populous
parts of that Colony. Several of the small Forts that were
built in Virga & Pensa have been attacked by large Parties of
Indians, & some reduced; Capt. Mercier of the Virga Regi-
ment with a Detachment of 60 Men from Fort Cumberland
was fallen upon & defeated about a fortnight ago many Miles
on this Side Fort Cumberland; the Captain, His Lieutenant &
15 Men were killed & left to the Enemy the Rest of the
Detachment retired to a little Stoccado Fort near Cacapetion
which runs into Potowmack. two of Capt Dagworthy's Com-
pany that were with the abovementioned Detachment were
found tied to Trees & their Bodies most horribly mangled,
it is supposed that they were tied while living & put to the
most cruel Death. Ensign Bacon of Capt Dagworthy's Com-
pany was scalped as he was returning from Colo Cresap's to
the Fort; & one of Colo Cresap's Sons who put himself at the
head of a party of Voluntiers & went in pursuit of the Indians
is also killed. At present the Garrison at Fort Cumberland
consists of no more than 150 Men, 30 of the Carolina Com-
pany & the Rest of the Virga Regiment which consists of
about 450. I cannot learn that the Pensa Assembly have as yet
come to any Resolution neither can I hear certainly whether
the Virginians have determined to raise any more Troops.
Governor Dinwiddie has informed me that the Commis-
sioners which he had sent to the Cherokee Nation advise him
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p. 199
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that those Indians make strong professions of Friendship but
will not take up the Hatchet against the French or join any of
the English Troops till we have built a strong Fort among
them for the Protection & Security of their Wives & Children;
in this Governor Dinwiddie has promised to gratify them &
sent a Command of 60 Men to build such a Fort. The French
it seems have made a Settlement within a few Days March
of their Town & been tampering with them to declare agst
Us; I hope this Step however will prevent that for the
present, tho unless His Majesty's Arms are successful this Cam-
paign I am afraid these people will not be long kept firm in our
Interest. We have for some time past been in pain for
Oswego which the French it was said were preparing to attack
before the Garrison could be reinforced or receive fresh Sup-
plies of Provisions, of which they were in want, but as we have
not received any late News from that Quarter I hope the
Danger is over for the present, & I hear that the Regiments
are now on their march thither. Lord Loudon we are told
is coming over with some more Regiments, their speedy
Arrival is prayed for by all His Majesty's American Subjects.
&c.
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