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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 503
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Fort Du Quesne & a great many have Cabbins near & about
Venango. There are fifteen Cannon eight of them i 2 Lbrs
mounted at Du Quesne & Nine Cannon of a less Size are
mounted in Venango. This last place is not very defensible
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Letter Bk. I.
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at present but the Enemy have been busy all the Summer in
collecting Materials for building a very strong Fort there next
Spring. About 200 French Families & some Germans have
been setled between Venango & the Head of Buffeloe River to
raise Corn for the Garrisons, & a considerable Tract of Arable
Land is cleared also at a small Distance from Fort du Quesne
for the same purpose. The Description he gives of Fort Du
Quesne differs little from what we have heard from others but
I find they have built a Magazine just without the the Fort &
finished the Ditch & Covert Way that they were making on
this Side the Fort from One River to the other. This Iohnson
it seems was sent out the Beginning of last Month with a
Detachment of 160 French & Indians from Fort Du Quesne
to make a Descent on our Frontier Inhabitants, or if it should
be thought practicable to attempt the Reduction of Fort Cum-
berland; When the Detachment came near the Fort, Himself
& ten others were ordered to advance & make what Discoveries
they could & then to return to the Rest of the Detachment.
The fellow had accordingly concealed himself behind some
Logs that lay opposite to the Fort on the Bank of Wills Creek
& had remained there near three hours when he was discovered
by two Men & a Woman that came down from the Fort to the
Creek's Side. Apprehending the Soldiers would otherwise
fire at him he immediately crossed the Creek & pretended to
them that the Indians had contrary to his Inclination detained
him Prisoner & that he joyfully embraced that Opportunity of
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p. 240
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escaping from them. He said not a Word of the Detachment
or Officer that had ordered him thither, & by what I can learn
was received & treated by Colo Steven who commands there
as other persons have been that have made their Escape at
times & retired thither for Protection. It happened that a
party of Men from Fort Frederick were at that time at Colo
Cresap's Plantation & as the Fellow seemed to be pretty well
acquainted with the late Transactions of the French in this part
of the Continent & their Strength On the Ohio Colo Steven
delivered him up to them with a Letter acquainting me with
his reasons for sending him hither. On his Way to Fort
Frederick he acknowledged to the Officer of the Party that he
had been sent to Fort Cumberland by the Enemy on the Errand
abovementioned & upon being strictly examined by Capt Dag-
worthy on his Arrival at our Fort he confessed the several
particulars that I have been relating & I do not perceive that
he has on his Examination before us varied in any one Circum-
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p. 241
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