The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from Kentucky, dated Aug 5.

Since my last giving an account of the loss of Captain Renfrew and fourteen of his company near the French Lick on Cumberland, Col. Clarke has set out from Louisville for the Shawanese towns with his artillery, regulars, and the militia of Jefferson county, amounting to about six hundred men; those from the other two counties are between four and five hundred, the whole rendezvous at the mouth of Licking the latter part of July. From Licking Captain M'Geary's company was detached over the Ohio to reconnoitre, and on their return was attacked at the bank of the river and had four of the company killed, and six wounded, this event will announce to the enemy our approach, consequently a battle with the Indians, or the desertion of their towns will happen in a few days after our main body cross the river. This country now looks like deserted villages in fact. Four men out of five was a heavy draft, but so great was the zeal of some stations, that they exceeded the number demanded, so that some were ordered back for the defence of the families. Did you ever hear of so great a proportion of the fighting men of a country so suddenly called into action under so many disadvantages; but our situation is become critical and nothing but a bold effort can save us.