Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 27

His Excellency is pleased to lay before this Board the fol-
lowing Letter

WilliamsBurgh Virg^a Jan^ry 29^th 1754
Sir
Your kind Assurance of Co operating with me in the Com-
mon Cause for his Majestys Service gave me so much pleas-
ure as a Zeal like that which inspired them ought to give and
I now Address your Excellency the more chearfully as I am
persuaded of your Promptitude to contribute effectively to it
The Progress of the French and their avowed designs make

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

it necessary for me to Apply for your Assistance and that the
men you can furnish may join our People as early as Pos-
sible in March, at a place called Wills Creek on the head of
Potowmack which I have Chosen for the Rendezvous, believ-
ing it to be the most Convenient to all the Colonies of any that
is near the Scene of Action. The French have fortifyed
themselves on Lake Erie and on a Branch of the Ohio & have
220 Canoes ready made and a great many more blocked out,
and every thing in readiness to execute their designs of fall-
ing down the River when the Waters Serve in the Spring,
and building Forts at every Place of Consequence, The Fort
my Messenger was at mounted eight Pieces of Cannon Six
pounders and was garrisoned with 150 Men and they have
already engaged the Chippoways, Attoways and Oreendacks
to take up the Hatchet against the English, and themselves
have Seized the Effects of his Majestys Subjects who were
Settled there & made Prisoners of their Persons, How they
Justify this Conduct your Excellency will See by the Inclosed
Letter from their Commandant to me.
I think it would very much conduce to the Success of the
Service that the command should be undivided and therefore
I should be very glad of your concurrance with my Senti-
ments and that the men you furnish might be put under the
command of my General Officer I expect to meet our As-
sembly the I4th of next Month when I hope to be enabled to
enter on more Vigorous Measures; at Present I have Or-
dered out a Detachment from the Militia to cover the works
that are carrying on at our Fort on the Ohio and shall with
all dispatch furnish them with the Stores and Other neces-
saries for its Completion. But ae the French intend to be
upon the Ohio early in the Spring with a Greater Force than
they had in the fall which then consisted of 1500 Men it will
be of the last Consequence to have a Sufficient Strength there
early to oppose them and the present Temper of the Indians
increases the necessity as they seem to defer coming to Ac-
tion till they See us at their Backs to Support 'em and I am

p. 23