|
Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 9
|
|
6000) were embarked last Thursday but no Advice has been
yet received of the Arrival of the Fleet that is expected from
Europe. The Troops that are left under the Command of
General Webb for the Defence of the Northern Colonies are,
Otway's Regiment, a Battalion of the Royal Americans, His
Majesty's four Independant Companies & as many Provincials
as will make up the Number 8000. Colo Stanwix with five
Companies of the Royal Americans is marched towards Car-
lyle on the Frontiers of Pens3 & Lieutt Colo Bouquet is sailed
with the five other Companies of the first Battalion for South
|
Letter Bk. I.
|
Carolina. Two hundred of the Pensilva Troops were also by
Lord Loudoun's order to have embarked for that Province
but the Assembly have refused to pay them there, & we are
told that the 400 that were ordered thither from Virginia have
refused to go on board till they have received the Arrears of
Pay that are due to them & which are pretty considerable. I
presume however that this Obstacle will be soon removed as
the Assembly of Virginia is now met & have resolved to grant
the Sum of £50000 to payoff their Forces & to support them
for another Campaign. The Beginning of this Month a Ser-
geant of the Virginia Regiment & a Catawba Indian who
were taken Prisoners & carried to Fort du Quesne in Novemr
last returned to Fort Cumberland & declare that when they
left Fort Du Quesne (which they did some Months since) the
Garrison there did not amount to more than 150 Men tho it
was given out that a large Body of Regular Troops & a great
Number of Indians from different Nations were to join them
early in the Spring & that then some Expedition would be un-
dertaken agst Fort Cumberland or one of these Colonies. Tho
I hope that the French will not find themselves strong enough
to make such an Attempt I have on receiving this Advice &
in pursuance of a Letter from Lord Loudoun sent Instructions
to the Commanding Officers of the Militia in Frederick & Bal-
timore Counties ordering them to have their Men in readi-
ness to march on the first Notice & to repair to Fort Fred-
erick with the utmost Expedition in case they should receive
certain Intelligence of the Approach of any considerable Body
of the Enemy towards either of these Provinces. I have also
sent a Copy of the Instructions to Colo Stanwix who is ap-
|
p. 272
|
pointed to command all the Troops that shall be employed in
these Parts & have informed him who he might apply to in
case he should stand in need of the Assistance of our Militia
or of the Troops that are posted at Fort Frederick. At
present we have about 90 Men in that place & 150 at Fort
Cumberland; the Officers intended for the two new Compa-
nies are all employed in Recruiting, to make them more alert
I have promised the highest Commissions to those that
|
p. 273
|
