Letter Bk. II.
p. 54
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[Sharpe to Sir Thos. Robinson.]
Annapolis lanuary 12. 1755.
Right Honourable
In Obedience to His Majesty's pleasure which you had done
me the honour to signify to me, very soon after my Return
from Virginia I proceeded to the place called Wills Creek
where Governor Dinwiddie had ordered the three Independant
Companies with that of Maryland to Encamp, at my Arrival
there I learnt that the French on the Ohio had been Reinforced
by some Regular Troops from Canada & by a considerable
number of the Arundack, Ottoway & Canuaga Indians which
Tribes are & have been many years attached to & entirely
devoted to the French Interest. The Confirmation of this
Intelligence & Account, the Inconsiderable Number of the
Troops that we had at that time been able to Levy & the sur-
prizing Backwardness of the people to enter into the Service
soon convinced me of the Vanity of the hopes I had entertained
of being enabled to attempt something successfully this' winter,
wherefore I tarried there only about a fortnight while the Men
were employed in finishing some Barracks which they had
before my Arrival begun, & I gave Orders as the weather
should permit to build some Store Houses for the Reception
& preservation of such provisions as it was necessary &
expedient to lay in immediately lest a severe Season should
set in & deprive the Troops of all means of getting any kind
of Supplies, the Situation of the Camp in a distant & almost
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