23^d of August 1756 —

S^r
I embrace this Opportunity by Col^o Ludwell to thank you
for your Letter of the 10^th of Iune & the Treaty therein con-
tained, while I was on our Frontiers at Fort Frederick Col^o
Washington paid me a Visit & informed me that he was also
by your Orders raising a strong Fort at Winchester to which
as soon as it should be compleated the Stores were to be
removed from Fort Cumberland this Step is in my Opinion
very expedient as there is no probability of our carrying on an
Expedition to the westward this Season & lest such a Bait
should before next Spring allure the Enemy & induce them to
attack that Fort the Reduction of which a large Body of them
may not think impracticable. This morning I have received a
Letter from Governor Morris wherein he informs me that Fort
Granville (which the Pensil^a Commissioners had constructed
last year on the Western Frontiers of that Province was on
the 30^th ult attacked & burnt by a Body of French assisted by
a Number of Indians all under the Command of a French
Officer. There were but a Lieut^t & 24 Men in the Fort when
it was attacked the Rest of the Garrison & Officers being out
to cover some people who were reaping & securing their
Grain. The Lieut^t & a few men being killed the Rest of the
Garrison surrendered & were all except him who brings this
Account carried away prisoners the young Men & the Women
by the French & the older Men & Children by the Indians On