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

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

His Excellency is pleased to lay before this Board the two
following Letters
Sir
I have this moment received the Melancholy Account of
the Defeat of our Troops, The General kill'd and numbers
of our officers, our whole Artillery taken; In short the Ac-
count I have Received is so very bad, that as please God I
intend to make a Stand here, its highly necessary to raise
the Militia every where to defend the Frontiers.
Your humble Serv^t
To all to whom this may Concern James Innes
Fort Cumberland July 11^th 1755.
A True Copy of Col Innes's Letter
Signed Fairfax

I have Sent an Express with the Original Letter to the
Governor

Sir
I herewith Send your Excellency a Copy of my Letter to
Governor Dinwiddie which is the fullest Accounts I am able
to get I am this Instant getting another Person and another
horse to Send out to the Army with directions not to return
without some Accounts.
Your Excell encys Most Obed^t Hble Serv^t
Fort Cumberland 13^th July 1755 James Innes
P. S. the Action is said to be on the 8th Current & within
four miles of the French Fort.
To the Honb^le Hor^o Sharpe Esq^r

p. 58

Hono^r Sir
My Letter of the 18^th June brought you the Defenceless
Situation that I was left in here notwithstanding in all this
time I have not seen the face of one Single Person come
here as Militia from either Virginia or Maryland either to
Strengthen the Defence of the Place or to be ready as Es-
corts for Sending out with Provisions. Depending upon
some Succers I have from time to time detached party after
party to the Army so that I have now very few real healthy
men to do the duty
The Dismall news brought down here on the Eleventh
Current Friday at Noon, obliged me to send it as it came to
my Ears from Waggoners and such People
I was surprised not to have some Messanger Sent me from
the Army with Accounts that I might depend upon which
obliged me to Send a Boy on purpose next day and gave him