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274 Correspondence of Governor Sharp e.
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Letter Bk. I.
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ceeding towards Wills-Creek principally with a view of Encour-
aging the distant Inhabitants to remain on their Plantations
which the Terror of the Indian's Incursions & the alarming
News of the General's ill Success inclined them to relinquish
& desert, those that I met flying from the Frontiers I pre-
vailed on to return back & by ordering some small Forts to be
built at proper Distances from each other in the Western Part
of Frederick County whereunto the People may resort in case
of Alarms, I hope I have made & left them pretty well
satisfied & contented. Each of those Forts I have garrisoned
with a few men who have my Orders to patroll from one to the
other & keep the Communication free & open. These Men
I am enabled to support by a subscription that has been made
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p. 149
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by the Gentlemen of this & some of the other Counties & from
the same Fund I subsist the Maryland Company commanded
by Capt Dagworthy that marched with the General but which
is now left with the Virga & N Carolina Troops at Fort Cum-
berland under the Command of Governor Innes. Colo Dunbar
with the Remains of the two Regiments & the 3 Independant
Companies is on his march to Phila where I suppose he will
receive some Lett" from General Shirley & Instructions for the
Disposition of the Troops. The Loss of the greatest part of
the Artillery Ammunition & Camp Equipage which cannot be
replaced but from Europe the Death of the General & Loss of
all his Papers & Instructions together with the want of Officers
for the Regiments & the weakness & Terror of the Men that
survive have determined Colonel Dunbar against attempting
any thing till he can receive Instructions & Directions for his
Conduct, indeed I beleive 'twould be impossible to prevail on
the Troops at present to advance towards the Enemy or their
Fort, was the Colonel supplied with every thing necessary for
pursuing the General's plan. I see by the Pensila Gazette that
Governor Morris has convened the Assembly of that Province
on this unhappy turn of our Affairs & that by their Address
they give him room to expect £50000 for his Majesty's Service
but I am told that they propose to raise the money by a Land
Tax to which all the Proprietarys Mannours & even unappro-
priated unsettled & uncultivated Lands are to be subjected
if such be their Views I presume the Issue of their present
Meeting will be pretty similar to that of their last but if they
prepare such a Bill as will be agreeable to the Governor I
shall also meet our Assembly on the same Occasion in hopes
that they may notwithstanding their late Resolves be persuaded
to wave the Points they have contended for & imitate the
Quakers Example. Inclosed your Ldp has a Regimental Return
of the Officers & private Men that were killed or wounded in
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p. 150
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the Battle of the Monongahela, a particular Account of what
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