The New Hampshire Gazette

From the BOSTON GAZETTE, of last Monday.

Wawenockeag, or Pumpkin Land, in Penobscot River,
May 26, 1759.

To the PRINTER.

Inclosed you have a few Extracts from my Journal,
which may possibly be agreeable to some of your
Readers.

The 13th Instant his Excellency sailed from
George's Fort in the Province Ship King
George. -- 14th, Anchored in a fine Harbour
called Pahagawwkeag, there waited one
Day for the Troops commanded by Brigadier General
Prebble, who marched from George's Fort for
Pahagawwkeag, by Order of his Excellency.
Brigadier Prebble took a Survey of the Country he
marched through, measured it with a Chain, and
found it to be but little more than 30 Miles, though
often reckoned from 70 to 80 before. -- From the
14th to the 16th, as the Wind was small and the
Current set down at the Rate of 3 Knots, his Excel-
lency spent the whole Time in sounding the River,
taking the Bearings of all the Land, and reconnoi-
tring as far up the River as the first Falls. The 17th at
Noon, came to an Anchor in Colvil Harbour, 7 Miles
above an old Fort of the Enemy's at Pentagoet; when
his Excellency ordered Capt. Bean with 100 Men to
be landed on a Point, and march to the Indian Carry-
ing-Place; opposite to which his Excellency intend-
ed to land. The Troops landed in two Divisions
under Cover of the King George. His Excellency,
attended with Brigadier General Waldo and Capt.
Hallowell, was in the Centre upon the Right, and
were the first that landed. The left Division was
commanded by Brigadier Prebble, who landed about
half a Mile from the Carrying Place. His Excellency
took a Survey of the place for about 7 Miles round,
and finally fixed upon a fine Neck of Land, where he
ordered a Road to be immediately cut, upon the
Main that runs across the River three Quarters of a
Mile, which contains about 2500 Acres of good
Land. -- Never was a place better fortified by Na-
ture for a Fort than this; full three Quarters of the
Neck is surrounded with Rocks 30 Feet Diameter,
which makes it almost inaccessible; the Land about
the Rocks is 30 Feet more; so that the Fort is fixed
upon an Eminence 60 Feet above high Water. From
the Fort, the Ground falls every Way gradually;
and there is no Eminence that can command it, as it
is the highest Land for several Miles round; it has
many fine Springs, and some very nigh the Fort.
Though there is from 7 to 8 Fathom of Water in the
Harbour, sufficient for large Vessels, I don't imagine
any Vessel could bring their Guns to bear upon the
Fort, so as to do any considerable Execution -- With-
out the Fort there is to be a Parapet, 10 high as to
secure the first Story of the Fort from any Shot, a
Banquet to fire over the Parapet into a Ditch near
40 Feet in Width, in the Centre of which there is
to be Stockades and Bridges to secure a Retreat from
the Parapet that is to be without the Ditch, should
there be Occasion. As I have a little Knowledge of
Fortification, I look upon the Profile of the Fort as
well constructed as any in America.
As the Cellar which serves for a Foundation to the
whole of the Curtain is already done, and the first
Floor on the Foundation complete, and his Excellency
has this Morning laid out all the diagonal and pa-
rallel Lines for the Parapet, Ditch, &c. I imagine the
Fort will be complete in a Month.
We have a fine Road made from the Landing up
to the Fort; a Breast-Work all round our Encamp-
ment; a Road cut across the Neck; the Ground all
cleared at the Carrying place, and a Redoubt built
there to secure that pass; many Acres of Land cleared
round the Fort; a Hospital, Store Houses, &c. built;
and all done in 10 Days; Though much of the Time
was raw, cold and rainy, it did not prevent his Excel-
lency from attending and overseeing the Labourers
of all Denominations, both late and early.

Yours, &c.

N. B. When the Indians that I gave you an Ac-
count of in my last, (with whom his Excellency had
a Conference) went off, his Excellency spoke to them
by an Interpreter, in the following Manner, viz.
"At George's Fort you were under my protection;
you could not have got safe home, had not I brought
you here; you may now go safe. Take this Flag
[viz. a Union Flag] as a passport to Penobscot, and
return to your Town. [Gave them a Union Flag.]
Tell your people that I am come to build a Fort at
Penobscot, and will make the Land English. I am
able to do it, and I will do it. If they say I shall not,
let them come and defend their Land now in Time
of War. Take this [a red] Flag to remember what I
say. When I have built my Fort, and set down at
Penobscot, if ever there be an English Man killed by
your Indians, you must all from that Hour fly from
your Country; for I will send a Number of Men on
all sides the River, and sweep it from one End to the
other, and hunt you all out. [Gave them a red Flag.]
As to the people of Penobscot, I seek not their
Favour nor fear them; for they can do me neither
Harm or Good. I am sorry for their Distreses, and
would do them Good. Let them become English,
they, their Wives and Families, and come and live
under the protection of the Fort, and I will protect
them; they shall have Wigwams and planting Ground
round the Fort, and may hunt as usual; but the Eng-
lish shall hunt also: They shall not interfere with one
another's Hunt when they hunt separate; and they
may hunt together when they choose it. If they
will live under the English Laws, I will make such
of their Sagamores, as they shall choose, Justices, to do
Justice; to right what may be wrong, and to keep
peace among your selves; and when any Thing hap-
pens wrong between the English and Indians, the
English Justice and Indian Justice shall meet and do
Right between them; they shall have a free Market
for their Furs and Skins, and the price set by Agree-
ment. Take this [white] Flag, and remember this.
[Gave them a white Flag.]
If you mean to bring me an Answer, come before
the next new Moon.

P. S. The whole of what is called the Penobscot
Tribe of Indians, contain at this Time but about 40
Men, 34 of which are capable to bear Arms. The
Machimoods contain about 20, and the Passamaquaggies
about 20 or 30 fighting Men; but these are all united
under the Penobscots, and may really be considered
as one Tribe.