The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

N E W-Y O R K. October 3.

On Friday last the Albany Post came to Town in Manner of an Express, bringing the Mail, and riding extraordinary on the following doleful Occasion. Viz.

Extract of a Letter from Niagara, dated September 16, 1763.

"I have just Time to tell you we arrived safe at Niagara the 17th Inst. delayed much on Lake Ontario, by hard Gales and Storms of Rain: next Day had an Express from Little Niagara, (a Post above the Falls) that our Convoy, with the Teams employed in carrying Provisions to Lake Erie, was attacked; we sent off from our Fort a Reinforcement immediately, consisting of a Major and about 70 Men, which was followed by a Captain and 50 Men, an Hour after, to support them. The whole of the Indians, by the best Account, amounted to about Three Hundred, divided into two Bodies, (i. e.) the most inconsiderable, was that which attacked the Convoy; the other lay in Ambush, about 2 or 3 Miles nigher our Post, near the carrying Place, and possessed themselves of a most advantageous Piece of rising Ground near the Road, to intercept Succours: On the first hearing of the firing by the Convoy, Capt. Johnson, and 3 Subalterns, marched with about 80 Men, most Gage's Light Infantry, who were in a little Camp adjacent; they had scarce Time to form, when the Indians appeared at the above Pass; our People fired briskly on them, but was instantly surrounded, and the Captain, who commanded, mortally wounded the first Fire; the 3 Subalterns were soon after killed, on which a general Confusion ensued; the Indians rushed in on all Sides, and cut between Sixty and Seventy Men in Pieces, including the Convoy: Ten of our Men is all we yet can learn has escaped: They came through the Woods Yesterday. From the many Circumstances, 'tis believed the Senecas, has a chief Hand in this Affair: I wish our Affairs at Detroit may not suffer by this; as all the Oxen and Teams on the Carrying Place is destroyed, and the Horses missing, which 'tis thought are drove off by the Indians; our Reinforcement came up too late to save them, so returned that Night, and next Day march'd and buried all they could find: most of those who came in are wounded; we are in a pretty situation, having a weakly Garrison; if Detroit shou'd fall, which God forbid. Our People had a Brush too, at the Wreck in Lake Erie, with a small Body of Indians, who we beat off, but lost about four or five Men; they promised when Reinforcements should join them, they'd pay us a second Visit there, but we have little to fear from that Quarter, as we have 170 Men there, strongly intrenched, to guard the Provisions saved from the Wreck."

Extract of another Letter from Niagara, dated September 17.

WEDNESDAY the 14th Instant, a large Body of Indians, some say 300, others 400 or 500, came down upon the Carrying-Place, attacked the Waggon Escort, which consisted of a Serjeant and 24 Men,--this small Body immediately became a Sacrifice, only two Waggoners escaped. Two Companies of Light Infantry (the General's and La Hunt's,) that were encamped at the Lower Landing, hearing the Fire, instantly rushed out to their Relief, headed by Lieutenant George Campbell, and Frazier, Lieutenant Rosco, of the Artillery, and Lieutenant Deaton, of the Provincials; this Party had not marched above a Mile and Half when they were attacked, surrounded, and almost every Man cut to Pieces; the Officers were all killed, 'tis reported, on the Enemy's first Fire; the Savages rush'd down in two Columns. The Officers being killed, the Men fell into Confusion: Of both our Parties only 24 are come in, Waggoners included, eight of which are wounded. Lieut. Campbell, Frazier, Rosco and Deaton, killed, and about 75 Rank and File killed, Lieut. Johnson of the Jersey Blues, who was coming down on Some Business with the Waggon Escort, killed. The Savages killed 16 Oxen on the Spot, destroyed most of the Carriages: The Horses in Number 20, they carried off loaded with their Plunder. As soon as the Alarm reached this Post, Major Wilkes marched out on the main Part of this Garrison to the Lower Landing, but Night coming on, were obliged to return back; the next Day he march'd out again to the Place of Action, buried the Dead, which were every one scalped, and striped naked, brought off four or five Waggons, and three Fire-locks, the Enemy having carried off all the rest of the Arms, Cartouch Boxes, &c. The Bodies Were So mangled, they could not discover either Rosco or Deaton; we don't imagine here they carried off any Prisoners: The Consequence of this Blow is better imagined than described; 'tis what we have long been, apprehensive of: This, together with the Loss of the Sloop on Lake Erie, will render it very difficult to Support Detroit this Winter, unless a large Reinforcement is soon sent up." -Make our Compliments to