248 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

This Dismall news brought down here on the Eleventh
Curr^lt Fryday att Noon, oblig^d me to send it as it came to my
Ears from Waggoners & such people
I was surpris^d not to have some Messenger sent me from the
Armie with accountt that I might depend upon which Oblig^d
me to send a Boey on purpose next day and gave him one of
the best & freshest horses I hade here & this moment he is
return^d with much the same Accounts.
His Horse giving Out he could proceed no forrder then the
Little Meadows 25 miles from this all the Accounts I gett
from him is relaited by the Waggoners & much to the same
purport as att first, that the Gener^ll & maney officers are
kill^d & halfe of our Soldiers, with most of the Artilery Taken
by the Indeens. But not in this time having aney Accountts
from the Armie gives me hope things cannot be so verey Bad
with us.
However I think it is hily requsite and full time that the
Militia in the three Neighbouring Provinces should be imediately
Draughted & Sent out to there Assistance Horses & Wag-
gons will be absolutly needfull Three or Four Thowsand
Men will absolutely carrie Victuary before us, when five times
the number in a litle time hence will not do. All which I most
Humbly Submitt, you may depn'd as soon as I receive aney
Accounts I shall forward them. You may leakways Depent
Pleas God. I live I will do my best to maintain this Post.
I Am Your
Hon^rs Most Obed^t Hu^ll Ser^tt
Fort Cumberland James Innes
13^th July 1755

To the Hon^ble Gov^r Dinwiddie.

[Innes to Sharpe.]
Sir
Herewith I send your Exell^cy a Coppie of my letter to Gov-
ernor Dinwiddie which is the fullest accountts I am able to gett
I am this instant getting another Person & another horse to
send out to the Armie with directions not to returne without
some Acc^tts
Your Ex^cy Mos^tt Obed^t Hu^ble Serv^t
Fort Cumberland James Innes
13^th July 1755

P. S. the Action is said to be on
the 8^th Curr^tt & within four miles
of the French Fort.

To The Hon^ble Hor^o Sharp Esq^r