The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

PHILADELPHIA, August 4.

On Sunday last Sermons were preached in most of the Congregations of this City, in Favour of the distressed Back Inhabitants, and Collections are now making for them from House to House. -- It is hoped that this truly good and Christian Example will be followed by the Ministers and Congregations in the County, and that in all the Counties every One, according to his Ability, will contribute liberally to this much wanted Charity: And that what shall be collected, will be put into such Hands as will be careful to have it distributed justly and impartially, for the Benefit of the unhappy Sufferers.

Our Accounts from the Westward are as follow, viz.

Lancaster, July 28. There are certain Accounts that Indians have passed the South Mountain, and gone into York County; and that some of them have assuredly been seen near Carlisle -- The Want of distressed Refugees have been greatly relieved, by Sums of Money collected in the different Congregations in this County -- The Quakers and Mennonists have been very liberal on this Occasion, having raised a considerable Sum, and hired Men to assist the poor People in gathering in as much of their Harvest as possible -- And we are told, that several large Parties have again attempted to go over the Mountains, for this necessary and laudable Purpose; but the Risk they run is so great that we cannot think of them without Dread.

Carlisle, July 25. Two Indians were seen at Cannedogwynuoh Creek, about 4 Miles from Shippensburg, on Thursday or Friday last, who attempted taking the Man that saw them, but he escaped -- The People of Shearman's Valley are to go over this Day, and endeavour to save some of their Harvest. -- They write from Virginia, that great Numbers of People are reduced to the Utmost Distress by the Savages; but that several Parties of them had been repulsed by our Men, who had taken to the Forts.

July 30. On the 25th a considerable Number of the Inhabitants of Shearman's Valley went over (with a Party of Soldiers to guard them) to attempt Saving as much of their Grain as might be standing, and it is hoped a considerable Quantity will yet be preserved. -- A Party of Volunteers, between Twenty and Thirty went to the farther Side of the Valley, next the Tuscarora Mountain, to see What Appearance there might be of Indians, as it was thought they would most probably be there, if any where in the Settlement, to search for, and bury, the Dead at Buffalo Creek; and to assist the Inhabitants that lived along, or near the Foot of the Mountain, in bringing off what they could; which Service they accordingly performed, burying the Remains of three Persons; but saw no Marks of Indians having lately been there, excepting one Track, supposed about two or three days old, near the Narrows of Buffalo Creek Hill; and heard some Hallooting, and firing of a Gun at another Place. -- A Number of the Inhabitants of Tuscarora Valley go over To-morrow, with a Party of Soldiers, to endeavour to save Part of the Crops. -- Five Indians were seen last Sunday, about 16 or 17 Miles from this Place up the Valley, towards the North Mountain; and two the Day before Yesterday, about five or six Miles from Shippensburg, who fired at a young Man, but missed him. The eight Companies allowed for the Defence of this Frontier, are now very near, if not quite compleat.

On the 15th of July there were in Shippensburg 1384 of our poor distressed Back Inhabitants, viz. Men 301; Women 345; Children 758; many of whom were obliged to lie in Barns, Stables, Cellars, and under old leaky Sheds, the Dwelling houses being all crowded.

From Fort Bedford we learn, that Col. Bouquet, with the Army under his Command, were well at that Place the 27th ult. having met with no Interruption from the Enemy; and that he was to proceed on his March the next Day. -- That no Mischief had been done in that neighbourhood for three Weeks; and that the Number in all killed thereabouts is fifteen: But they had received Advice there from Fort Cumberland, that on Sunday, the 24 of last Month, as a Number of People were assembled at a Place of Worship, at the Calf Pasture, in Augusta County, Virginia, they were attacked by a Party of Indians, who killed 20, or upwards, of them.