The Virginia Gazette

BOSTON, October 29.

Saturday last two Deserters from St. John's were brought to this Town: they were taken up near No IV. one of them is named Thomas Shiennit, and was a Serjeant in the Battalion of Bern, which was stationed at Quebec, but himself with a Detachment of said Battalion were ordered some Time ago to St. John's. The other is named John Iflor, and says he is a Native of Geneva, and a Protestant, and came over to Canada about four Years and an Half ago, with a new raised Company, in which he was a Serjeant. They report, that they left St. John's the 22d of September, at which Place there were 2500 Men, who were working upon an Intrenchment there, under the Command of Monsieur Bourlamarque: That at about six Leagues Distance from St. John's, the French had an advanced Post upon the Island Boileau, and Nut-Island, guarded by about 1000 Men: That they had but about 40 Pieces of Cannon in all, from Six to Twelve and Eighteen-Pounders, at St. John's and the Meadows; about 18 of which were at St. John's: That they had seven Barks upon the Lake, mounting from six to eight Guns: That they had been very well supplied with Provisions; that of the 3500 Men at the aforesaid Posts, 900 were Regulars, the rest Canadians; and that at Montreal there were no Troops at all.

Iflor Says, That he was at General Braddock's Fight, and at that wherein Major Grant was defeated, and has been all along upon the Ohio, and the Parts adjacent, and had arrived at St. John's but seven Days before he deserted.

Shiennit also says, That he was at Fort Du Quesne at the Time of Braddock's Defeat, and was also there when General Forbes came near it, on which they blew up the Fort, and sent down the Cannon, 14 in Number, six Six-Pounders to Orleans, and the other eight to Fort Cherokee; most of the latter were Four-Pounders: This is an Indian Fort, and has Barracks for 40 or 50 Men, is made of Logs, and has four Bastions: Shiennit was also at the Action before the Fort at Niagara, and escaped after they were defeated, with 600 others and seven Officers, and retreated to Presque-Isle. from thence the People belonging to the several Parts of Louisiana dispersed to their respective Posts: That he, in Company with 350 others, came across Lakes Erie and Huron, crossed the Carrying-Place for 30 Miles, and came into the River St. Lawrence, opposite to La Galette, by the little River Miamis, and arrived at Montreal about the Beginning of September: That he was at Montreal three Days, and that there were no Troops at that Place, no Works made, nor Guns mounted; there were some Guns, but no Carriages.