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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 341
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[Morris to Sharpe.]
Sir
The Letter herewith, I intended by a Messenger that went
away yesterday, without giving me the notice he promised, and
I now send it by the return of the Express, who brought me
your favour of the 24th Instant.
I have mentioned in that letter, the Chain of Forts and Block
houses, from Deleware towards Potomack along the Kitectiny
hills, those to the West of Susquehannah, are about 20 miles
assunder, those between Susquehannah and Deleware, about
ten, the Garrisons in the former, are seventy five men each,
in the Latter from Fifty to Twenty, according to their scituation
and importance. I also propose to build a Fort at Shamokin,
at the Forks of Susquehana, as soon as the season will admit
a passage up that River, for the mountains north of the
Kitectiny, are quite impassable for Carriages, This is what
our Freindly Indians requested of me, at the late interview, and
say they will collect themselves together, under the protection
of such a Fort, and readily assist us in the defence of our
Frontier, or in any attempts that We shall make upon the
French incroachments. The building these Forts and Block
houses, paying, Arming and Victualing their several Garrisons,
relieving the distress'd Inhabitants that are drove from their
plantations, and other Charges, swallow up the greatest part,
if not the whole of the sixty Thousand pounds granted by the
Assembly.
The operations of the next summer, will therefore require a
new Grant, and I am apt to think my Assembly, would con-
tribute Largely towards an Enterprise to the Westward, if they
could be excused, bearing a part in the Northern Expedition,
but a few days will shew what their Resolutions are, as I have
summon'd them to meet the day after to morrow —
It gives me great pleasure to hear of Governor Dinwiddies
success with the Chirokees, and Catawba's, a thousand of
their Warriours will give our Western affairs another face,
if they are properly employed, especially if those already gone
against the Shawanese Town, should prove Victorious, which
I heartily wish they may.
The Indians that met me, gave me very warm assurances of
their Attachment to the English, and offer'd to serve us in any
Capacity, either as Warriors, or as Messengers, their number
indeed was small, the greatest part of those in our Interest,
having returnd to the Country of the Six Nations, that they
might be out of danger, either from the French, their Indians,
or from us, & from whence they have sent me a Message,
assuring me of their Friendship, and giving the Reason of
their Retreat.
Having been inform'd, that the Enemy Indians had taken up
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