and are designed to proceed as far as the mouth of Red-stone Creek, which enters Monongialo about thirty-seven miles above the fort taken by the French, from whence we have a water-carriage down the river; and there is a stone house, built by the Ohio company, which may serve as a receptacle for our ammunition and provisions.

Besides these French that came from Weningo, we have credible accounts that another party are coming up Ohio. We also have intelligence that six hundred of the Chippeways and Ottoways are marching down Scioto Creek to join them.

I hope your Honor will excuse the freedom I have assumed in acquainting you with these advices. It was the warm zeal I owe my country that influenced me to it, and occasioned this express.

I am, with all due respect and regard,

Your Honor's most obedient and very humble servant,
GEO. WASHINGTON.

To Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania. A Summon, by order of Contrecœur, Captain of one of the companies of the detachment of the French Marine, Commander-in-chief of his most Christian Majesty's troops, now on the Beautiful River, to the Commander of those of the King of Great Britain, at the mouth of the River Monongialo:

SIR-Nothing can surprise me more than to see you attempt a settlement upon the lands of the King, my Master; which obliges me now, sir, to send you this gentleman, Chevalier Le Mercier, Captain of the Bombardiers, Commander of the Artillery of Canada, to know of you, Sir, by virtue of what authority you are to come to fortify yourself within the dominions of the King, my Master. This action seems so contrary to the last treaty of peace concluded at Aix La Chapelle, between his most Christian Majesty and the King of Great Britain, that I do not know to whom to impute such a usurpation, as it is incontestible that the lands situated along the Beautiful River belong to his Christian Majesty.

I am informed, Sir, that your undertaking has been concerted by none else than by a company who have more in view the advantage of the trade than to endeavor to keep the union of harmony which subsists between the crowns of France and Great Britain, although it is as much the interest, Sir, of your nation as ours to preserve it.

Let it be as it will, sir, if you come into this place charged with orders, I summon you in the name of the King, my Master, by virtue of orders which I got from my General, to retreat peaceably with your

1

troops from off the lands of the King (and not to return; or else I find myself obliged to fulfil my duty, and compel you to it. I hope, sir, you will not defer an instant, and that you will not force me to the last extremity). In that case, sir, you may be persuaded that I will give orders that there shall be no damage done by my detachment.

He

I prevent you, Sir, from the trouble of asking me one hour of delay, nor to wait for my consent to receive orders from your Governor. can give none within the dominions of the King, my master. Those I have received of my General, are my laws, so that I cannot depart from them.

If, on the contrary, Sir, you have not got orders, and only come to trade, I am sorry to tell you, that I cannot avoid seizing you, and to confiscate your effects to the use of the Indians, our children, allies, and friends; as you are not allowed to carry on a contraband trade. It is for this reason, Sir, that we stopped two Englishmen, last year, who were trading upou our lands; moreover, the King, my master, asks nothing but his right; he has not the least intention to trouble the good harmony and friendship which reigns between his Majesty and the King of Great Britain.

The Governor of Canada can give proof of having done his utmost endeavors to maintain the perfect union which reigns between the two friendly Princes; as he had learned that the Iroquois and Nepissingues of the Lake of the two mountains, had struck and destroyed an English family towards Carolina, he has barred up that road and forced them to give him a little boy belonging to that family, which was the only one alive, and which Mr. Welrich, a merchant of Montreal, has carried to Boston; and what is more, he has forbid his savages from exercising their accustomed cruelty upon the English and friends.

I could complain bitterly, sir, of the means taken all last winter to instigate the Indians to accept the hatchet, and to strike us, while we were striving to maintain the peace.

I am well persuaded, sir, of the polite manner you will receive Monsiear Le Mercier, as well out of regard to his business as his distinction and personal merit. I expect you will send him back with one of your officers, who will bring me a precise answer. As you have got some Indians with you, sir, I join with Monsieur Le Mercier an interpreter, that he may inform them of my intentions upon that subject.

I am with great regard, sir, your most humble and obedient servant, CONTRECOEUR.

FROM THE FORT ON OHIO, April 18, 1754.

A speech sent from Half King Scruneyattha, (an Indian chief,) and the Belt of Wampum to the Governors of Virginia and Penn'a. "Brothers, the English: The bearer is to let you know how we were used by the French. We have been waiting this long time for the French to strike us; now we see what they design to do with us; we are ready to strike them now, and wait for your assistance. Be strong and come as soon as possible you can, and you shall find us your true brothers, and shall find us ready to strike them as you are. We have sent these two young men to see when you are ready to come, and then they are to come to us, and let us know where you are that we may come and meet you, and would desire if you could, that the men from both provinces would meet at the forks of the road. And now if you do not come to our relief, we are gone entirely, and shall never meet I believe, which grieves my heart. To confirm this to be the truth here is my wampum I have sent." Gave a string of wampum.

The Half-King* made this speech to me, (Washington,) now I depend upon you to go with these two young men to both Governors yourself, for I have no dependance on those that are gone so long and have never returned, or sent any word.

Delivered to me by John Davidson, an interpreter.

This letter was immediately laid before the Assembly by Gov. Hamilton. A bill was then pending for a grant of £10,000 for the King's

*Half-King, of whom frequent mention is made by Washington, was a decided friend to the English. October 1st, 1754, he arrived sick at John Harris'. (now Harrisburg) where be shortly afterwards died, as appears from the fol. lowing letters.

PAXTON, Oct. 2, 1754.

May it please your Honor; At the earnest request of Monacatootha, one of the chiefs of the Six Nations, I take this opportunity to inform your Honor of the death of Half-King, who departed this life last night. There are about twenty Indians here, who wait to see him buried, and then intend for Augh wick immediately; he likewise desired that the melancholy news might be forwarded with all possible despatch, to his Honor, the Governor of Virginia. Those Indians that are here, blame the French for his death by bewitching him, as they had a conjurer to inquire into the cause a few days before he died; and it is his opinion, together with his relations, that the French had been the cause of this great man's death, by reason of his striking them lately for which they seem to threaten immediate revenge, and desired me to let it be known.

All the Indians that are here are in great trouble, especially his relations. I have sent an account to Conrad Weiser, at Shamokin, this day, who 1 expect will be down upon notice. I humbly presume that his is a very great loss, especially at this critical time. I am, &c.

To Governor HAMILTON.

JOHN HARRIS.

SIR:-On the first of this instant, Monacatootha, and several others, the

use; but it was obstructed in its progress by the opposition of the Governor to the plan proposed by the Assembly for raising the money, and no relief was obtained from Pennsylvania for the expedition.

chiefs of the Six Nations, came to my house, and brought the Half-King and his family along with them, who were, in general, in a very low condition, particularly himself, who died in a few days; after which I asked Monacatootha and others, where they chose to bury him and in what manner, or if they wanted any thing necessary for his funeral? Their answer was, that they looked upon him to be like one of ourselves, and as he died amongst us, we might bury him as we thought proper; that if he was buried well, it would be very good-which I did, much to their satisfaction.

Immediately after, Monacatootha and the chiefs set off for Aughwick, leaving the Half-King's family and relations under my care, saying that in some short time there should some horses and Indians come down for them, which they had not yet done, and I have been at expenses for their provisions and his funeral. My account I shall send down, which I hope you will be pleased to lay before the Assembly. I shall continue to give his family provisions till they remove, and should be satisfied how soon that might be. I conclude. Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

TO RICHARD PETERS, Secretary.

JOHN HARRIS.

CHAPTER IV.

WASHINGTON'S EXPEDITION ON THE MONONGAHELA.— THE SURPRISE AND CAPTURE OF THE FRENCH DETACHMENT UNDER JUMONVILLE.-HIS DEATH. ERECTION CF FORT NECESSITY-.BATTLE OF THE GREAT MEADOWS, AND SURRENDER OF THE FORT.-VOTE OF THANKS TO WASHINGTON AND THE ARMY, BY THE ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.-THE ERECTION OF FORT CUMBERLAND-MEASURES TO RAISE ADDITIONAL TROOPS.-RESIGNATION OF COL. WASHINGTON.

The news of the surrender of the unfinished fort at the confluence of the Allegheny and the Monongahela, to the French, by ensign Ward, having reached the camp of Washington, at Will's creek, a council of war was called, in which it was agreed to be impossible to march towards the fort, without reinforcements; but it was resolved to advance to the mouth of Redstone creek on the Monongahela, and raise a fortification. (1) Not yet joined by Col. Fry, and with only one hundred and fifty men under his command, Washington's situation was a critical one. To advance over the mountains where it was uncertain that succor would reach him, to a point only thirty-seven miles from the surrendered fort, might seem imprudent. However, on the twenty-fifth day of April, 1754, he sent a detachment of sixty men to open a road. (2) This detachment was joined by the main body on the first day of May. The road had to be cut out as they proceeded, trees felled, and rocks removed, in the route through the mountain passes, which rendered their progress very slow and toilsome. He reached a place called the Little Meadows, about half the distance to the Great Meadows, and about one-third of the distance to the mouth of Redstone creek, on the ninth of May. His intention was to reach the mouth of Redstone, there to wait for the arrival of the artillery and reinforcement under Col. Fry, and then keep down the Monongahela by water to the falls. Having, at length, effected a passage through the mountains, he reached the Youghiogeny, where he delayed to construct a bridge.

Learning that the French were coming out to meet him, Washington hastened forwards to the Great Meadows, and threw up a hasty entrenchment.

"Early in the morning of the 27th May, Mr. Gist arrived in camp from his residence, which is about thirteen miles distant, and informed Col. Washington that M. La Force, with fifty men, had been at his plantation the day before, and that on his way he had seen the tracks of (1)