The New Hampshire Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, July 28,

Since our last came to Town One Peter Lewney, who for about a Year past, has been among the French and Indians at Fort Detroit, and informed us as follows, viz. That he was Ensign of a Company of Rangers in the Back Parts of Virginia, consisting of 70 Men, commanded by Capt. John Smith: That last summer the Frontier Inhabitants being greatly distressed by the Incursions of the Enemy, their whole Company went out, in different Parties, to their Assistance, except the Captain, himself. and nine private Men, who were in a Block house, and had six Women, and five Children: That on the 25th of June 1756, they were attacked by a Body of Indians, and some French, when they defended themselves the best part of the Day, in which time, he says, they killed 32 Indians, and 3 Frenchmen, lost two of their own People, and another Man and himself wounded; but obliged to surrender at last, the House they were in being set on Fire: That they were then carried off, and after travelling some Time, the Indians belonging to four different Tribes. divided the Prisoners. and parted: That before they came to the Lower Shawana Town (where he supposes there were about 300 Indians) the Shawanese made a Sacrifice of one Cole, whom they roasted alive, and tormented for a whole Night before he expired, cutting Pieces of his Flesh off of his Body, and eating it; and this they did in sight of the French. who seemed unconcerned at their horrid Barbarity, and did not endeavour to restrain them, notwithstanding the moving Intreaties and bitter Complaints of the poor Man: That they also killed and scalped another Man on the Road, he being old and not able to travel: That he (Lewney) was the only one that was carried to Detroit, where there are about 200 French Families settled, and in what is called the Town, they have about 100 Houses: That they have plenty of Fish: the Land rich, on which they raise Wheat and Peas, and have very good Crops; and the Indians, of two or three different Nations, very numerous: That while he was at Detroit, an Indian King adopted him for his Brother, on which Account he was very well used, and was often with them at their Councils with the French, being dressed and painted as the Indians were, and not known by the French but as an Indian, living in every respect as they did; and that one Time in particular, at a Conference, he heard the French Commander order the Indians to go first to Fort Duquesne, then to Port Cumberland. and afterwards to destroy all the English Inhabitants: That some Time about the Beginning of April, a great Body of Indians set off for Duquesne in Parties, each Party having some Frenchmen with them: That about the Middle of June he left Detroit, in Company with a small Party of Indians, who were going to Niagara with some Furs, in order to purchase Indian Goods: That from Detroit to Niagara it is about 280 Miles; and that on the Falls of the latter the French have a Small Fort, in which they keep 30 Men; and at Niagara, there is a Fort of 24 Guns, six, nine and twelve Pounders, and in it about 300 Men: That while he was at Niagara, he met with one William Philips. of New York, who was taken at Oswego, and they agreed to make their Escape together; That the Night before they left it, 280 French arrived there from Cadaraqui, destined, it was said, for Fort Du Quesne, who encamped that Night, and were to set out the next Day: but he and Philips went off before them: That they travelled about 200 Miles (the Land bad, and mostly drowned) when they came to Oswego, without seeing an Indian; which Place, and Fort Ontario, they found entirely destroyed: That they then came to the Mohawk River, where they were kindly received by the Indians, who gave them Victuals, of which they were in great Want: And that they got to Albany the 12th Instant; from whence he proceeded to this City, and is now gone to Virginia, where his Parents live. He was born in this Town, and is about 23 Years of Age.--Capt. Smith, he said, was given to the French, and sent to Canada in the spring.