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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 275
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was left to the Enemy & destroyed by Colonel Dunbar in
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Letter Bk. I.
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Obedience to General Braddock's Order I have not been able
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to procuic, but I have in general learnt that the Enemy have
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taken 52 Carriages including the Train, 18 Waggon Loads of
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Ammunition & 90 fat Oxen that were drove up two Days
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before the Engagement. We cannot yet learn how great was
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the Number of the Enemy that opposed the English but it is
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beleived twas pretty considerable tho no Body will assert that
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he saw a hundred during the Action wch continued more than
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3 hours, but it is not difficult to account for this when they
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inform us that the Attack was made principally by Indians &
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that they divided & posted themselves behind the Trees which
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grew on the Eminencies that were on the Right Flank & in the
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Front of our Men. Our Troops fired away all their Ammuni-
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tion before they left the field, but they did it (it is said) in a
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good deal of Confusion & fear so that many were destroyed by
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the hands of their Friends, about 800 or goo Stand of Arms
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are supposed to have fallen into the Enemy's hands with every
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individual thing that had been carried over the Monongahela
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River three quarters of a Mile from the Western Bank of
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which the Action happened. I have not lately received any
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Lettr from the Northwd but the Gazettes inform us that the
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Troops in Nova Scotia have succeeded to their wishes having
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dispossessed the French of all the Forts that they had built in
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that part of the Continent, & I entertain hopes that Colonel
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Johnson will reduce Crown Point, but indeed I am not without
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some Apprehensions on Governor Shirley's Account. The
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possession of the Lakes is of the greatest Importance to the
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French, the Well Being of their more Southern & Inland
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Settlements depends entirely thereon therefore I doubt not
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they will leave nothing unattempted to interrupt his Oppera-
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tions & if possible make themselves Masters of Oswego Fort :
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We are told that a great number of the Indians & French
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Troops that were at Fort Du Quesne are gone upward with
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that Design & the probability thereof inclines us to beleive the
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Report. The Ships of war that were at the Capes under the
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p. 151
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Command of Commodore Kepple are sailed to join Admiral
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Boscawen on the Coast of Nova Scotia. Our not receiving
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any farther Advices from that Quarter makes us fear that the
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Rest of the French Fleet have passed him & are gone up Sf
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Lawrence River. As soon as I receive any farther Intelligence
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I shall take the Liberty of addressing myself again to your Ldp
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& I hope I shall by the next opportunity have better news to
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communicate than what has been the Subject of this & my last
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Letf I am &c.
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