Archives of Maryland, Volume 0009, Page 0057 - Correspondence of Governor Sharpe, 1757-1761

Correspondence of Governor Sharpe, 1757-1761

Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 57

Duty to detain the Vessels that were loaded with Grain for
Great Britain & Ireland as well as those that were laden with
other Commodities or bound to other Parts of His Majesty's
Dominions but if I should hereafter receive similar orders
from His Lordship I shall take Care to make such Distinction
between Vessels freighted with provisions for great Britain or
Ireland & them that may be bound to other Ports as Your
Ldp is pleased to direct, the Inhabitants of this Province
have not for a considerable time suffered at all from the Incur-
sions of the French or their Indian Allies but they were much
alarmed lately as well as the people of the two neighbouring
Colonies by a Report that a large Body of French & Indians
were actually on their march from Fort Du Quesne towards
our Frontiers with a great number of Waggons & some
Artillery. As the Accounts which we had received from
some Persons who had been captivated & afterwards escaped
from the Enemy gave us room to think that this Report which
was made by a party of Cherokee Indians that had made an
Excursion to Fort du Quesne was not entirely without Foun-
dation I thought it my Duty to repair towards the Frontiers
that I might be ready in Case Colo Stanwix should stand in
need of such Assistance to join him with about 500 of the
Militia of this Province whom I had drawn out on the Receit
of the abovementioned Intelligence. Immediately on my
Arrival there I advised Colo Stanwix of the Steps I had taken
& of my Intention to proceed agreeable to such Orders as he
should think proper to give me but before I was favoured
with his answer I received a Letter from Capt Dagworthy the
Commanding Officer at Fort Cumberland wherein he told me
that he was assured by a second party of Cherokees who were
just then returned with some Scalps which they had taken
within Sight of Fort Du Quesne that the Number of the
Enemy who had been represented as so formidable a Body
did not exceed 200 or 300 & that they brought neither
Waggons nor Artillery with them. As Capt Dagworthy
seemed to be convinced of the Truth of this Account & to
think that he had nothing to fear from such a Party I there-
upon dismissed the Militia being unwilling to put them to any
Expence or Inconvenience that could be prudently avoided.
Since my Return I have received another Letter from Fort
Cumberland wherein the Commandant tells me that a Soldier
who was taken Prisoner & carried off by the Enemy last Sum-
mer when they reduced Fort Granville in Pens^a is come
thither in 16 Days from Fort Du Quesne & declares that in
May last the Garrison of that place did not exceed 300 French
but that before he came off a Reinforcement of 200 French
had come up the Ohio & brought with them a considerable

Letter Bk. III

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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe, 1757-1761

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