82 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

To the Duplicate was added.
P. S. Sept^r 8^t I am just informed that Lord Loudoun is
actually returned to N. York with 10 Reg^ts Admiral Hoi-
borne is cruizing off Louisburg with 15 ships of the Line in
hopes that the French will be tempted to give him Battle, but
it is generally thought that notwithstanding the superiority of
their Fleet they will avoid coming to an Action so it will be
absolutely out of our Power to act offensively either by Land
or Sea in America this year & I am afraid our Affairs will

never assume a better Face unless some method can be fallen
upon to oblige the Colonies to exert their united Strength.

To Governor Dinwiddie the 6^th of Sept^r 1757 —
Sir
A Gentⁿ of this Province having intimated to me that he
intends to proceed to Hampton to Morrow if the Weather
permits I embrace the Opportunity to acknowledge the Receit
of your two Letters dated the 18^th & 26^th of Aug^st & also to
inclose you a Copy of the Contract that Doctor Ross entered
into when he engaged to victual our Troops. I send you also
the last Pens^a Gazette wherein you will find a Translation of
the Summons that the Marquis of Montcalm sent to Lieut^t
Col^o Monro when he invested Fort William Henry & also a
Copy of the Capitulation. Notwithstanding the Engagement
that all our Officers & Men should be permitted to carry off
their Baggage & that the Sick & wounded should be taken
Care of the Indians were suffered to scalp all the latter before
the Garrison marched out of the Fort & to plunder both the
Officers & Men many of whom they stripped entirely naked
as I am informed by a Young Gentⁿ that was so unfortunate
as to be treated after that manner, he also tells me that the
Army under the Command of General Montcalm consisted of
near 12000 Men among whom were six Regiments of Regular
Troops from Europe 2500 Indians, the Rest were Canadians
& they brought with them 20 Pieces of Cannon & 12 Mortars
During the Siege two 32 Lbrs, two 18 Lbrs, one 12 Lbr a 6
Lbr, & two Mortars burst in the Fort so that at the time it
surrendered there remained fit for Service no more than one
12 Lbr one 9 Lbr two 4 Lbrs, & one Howitzer & not above
8 Rounds of Ammunition. The Enemy came from Ticon-
deroga in about 300 Boats & as soon as they had destroyed
the Fort they returned the same way. What number of Men