The New Hampshire Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 23.

Saturday last arrived an Express from Col. Armstrong, of Cumberland County, with Advice, that he marched from Fort Shirley on the 30th past, with about 300 of our Provincial Forces, on an Expedition against Kittanning, a Town of our Indian Enemies on the Ohio, about 25 Miles above Fort Duquesne. On the 3d Inst. he joined the advanced Party at the Beaver-Dams, near Franks-Town; and on the 7th in the Evening, being within six Miles of Kittanning, the Scout discovered a Fire in the Road, and reported that there were but 3, or at most 4 Indians at it. It was not thought proper to
in an attempt surprising those Indians at that Time, lest if one should escape the Town might be alarmed: so Lieut. Hogg with twelve Men. was left to watch them, with Orders not to fall upon them till Day break: and our Forces turned out of the Path, and passed by without disturbing them. About three in the Morning, having been guided by the Whooping of the Indian Warriors at a Dance in the Town, they reached the River, 100 Perches below the Body of the Town, near a Corn Field, in which a Number of the Enemy lodged, as it was a warm Night. As soon as Day appear'd, and the Town could be seen, the Attack began in the Cornfield, through which our People charged, killing several of the Enemy, and entered the Town. Capt. Jacobs, Chief of the Indians, gave the War Whoop, and defended his House bravely. thro' Loop-holes in the Logs. And the Indians generally refusing Quarters, which were offered them, declaring they were Men, and would not be Prisoners. Col. Armstrong (who received a Wound in his Shoulder) ordered their Houses to be set on Fire, which was immediately done. When the Indians were told they would be burnt if they did not surrender, one of them reply'd, he did not care, as he could kill four or five before he died; and as the Heat approached, some began to sing, some however burst out of the Houses, and attempted to reach the River, but were shot down - Capt. Jacobs in getting out of a Window was shot, and scalped, as also his Squaw, and a Lad called the King's Son. The Indians had a Number of spare Arms in their Houses, loaded, which went off as the Fire came to them; and Quantities of Gun powder which had been stored in every House, blew up from time to time, throwing some of their Bodies a great Height into the Air. A Body of the Enemy on the opposite Side of the River, fired on our People, and being seen to cross the River at a Distance, as if to surround our Men, they collected some Indian Horses that were near the Town, to carry off the wounded, and then retreated without going back to the Cornfield to pick up the Scalps of those killed there in the Beginning of the Action. Several of the Enemy were also killed in the River as they were attempting to escape: And it was computed that in all between thirty and forty were destroyed though we brought off but 12 Scalps- Eleven English Prisoners were released and brought away, who informed the Col. that besides the Powder (of which the Indians boasted they had enough-for ten Years War with the English) there was a great Quantity of Goods burnt, which the French had made them a Present of but ten Days before. The Prisoners also informed, that that very Day, two Battoes of French Men, with a large Party of Delaware and French Indians were to join Capt. Jacobs, to march and take Fort Shirley; and that 25 Warriors had set out before them the preceding Evening, which proved to be the Party that had kindled the Fire Night before; for our People returning, found Lieut. Hogg wounded in 3 Places, and learnt he had in the Morning attacked the suppos'd Party of 3 or 4 at the Fire, according to Order, but found them too numerous for him. He kill'd 3 of them however at the first Fire, and fought them an Hour, when having lost 3 of his best Men, the rest, as he lay wounded, abandoned him and fled, the Enemy pursuing them. Lieut. Hogg died soon after of his Wounds. Capt. Mercer being wounded in the Action, was carried off by his Ensign and 11 Men, who left the main Body in their Return to take another Road, and were not come in when the Express came away. He had 4 of the recovered Prisoners with him, and some of the Scalps. On the whole, it is allowed to be the greatest Blow the Enemy have received since the War began, and if well followed may soon make them weary of continuing it. The Conduct of Col. Armstrong in marching so large a Body thro' the Enemy's Country, without being discovered, is deservedly admired and applauded, as well as the Bravery of both Officers and Men in the Action. And we hope their Example may have all the good Effects that are naturally to be expected from it. In the whole we had 17 killed, 13 wounded, and 19 missing. Since receiving the above Return from Fort Littleton, we are informed Capt. Mercer, and 23 Persons, are returned safe, which makes up the Number of the Missing, and the four released Prisoners.