Admiral Holborne were arrived at Hallifax & that the Troops
would reembark & the Fleet sail thence toward the latter End
of Iuly. A Gentn of this Place is told in a Letter wch he has
received from the Northward that as the Earl of Loudoun was
lately reviewing the second Battalion of the Royal Americans
he narrowly escaped being killed by a Ball from one of the
mens pieces which wounded the person that stood next His
Ldp at the time when 'twas fired &c.
[Sharpe to Denny.]
August the 14th 1757.
Sir
Your Favour of the 10th Inst inclosing Copies of three Let-
ters from General Webbs Aid de Camp, Capt Christie &
Mr Kennedy was delivered to me last Night & I have this
morning agreeable to Your Desire dispatched an Express to
Govr Dinwiddie with a Letter advising him of Fort William
Henry's being besieged & of the other particulars that You
mention. I am sorry to learn that all the Troops which are
at present under the Command of General Webb do not
much exceed 4000 after having heard it said that the Gar-
rison of Fort William Henry alone amounted to almost that
number. Unless the Militia of the Northern Colonies do
instantly reinforce General Webb I suppose the Fort must be
reduced for as the Enemy could not want Intelligence after
the success that they met with the other Day, they are cer-
tainly well informed of the General's Strength & confident
that it is impossible for the Garrison to hold out long against
them. I am at a Loss to account for the continued fire of
small Arms that was heard from the Beginning to the End of
the Day that the Enemy landed for I can scarcely think that
they could approach so nigh as to annoy the Garrison or to
be themselves disturbed by Musquetry from the Fort in so
short a time after they appeared. I do not know what vigorous
measures your people may be induced to take by such a Loss
as that of Fort William Henry would be but I am persuaded
that I do the Assembly of this Province no Injustice in beleiv-
ing that they look on all advanced Posts in the light that they
do Fort Cumberland & that they would not be very sorry at
any Accident which would releive from the Charge of sup-
porting that place, if the Enemy should march any consider-
able Body to attack that Fort as the Prisoners that have
escaped from them say they will I am afraid we shall make
but an indifferent Figure here also, for tho I am apt to think
that a Number of men may be prevailed on to march out of
Virga & this Province on such an Emergency yet they would
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Letter Bk. III
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