National Gazette

Copy of a letter from Lieut. Jeffers, dated Fort Franklin, the 26th December, 1791. By express to the commanding officer at Pittsburgh, or Maj. J. Irwin, of the militia.

SIR,

I HAVE this moment received authentic accounts from the Cornplanter, that an attack on this garrison will almost immediately take place; for the Indians from below declare that they are determined to reduce this place, shake the Cornplanter by the head, and sweep the river from end to end.

You are most earnestly requested, and if I have any authority positively ordered, to send me without loss of time, one subaltern and thirty men as a reinforcement, together with my men who have been left sick at Fort Pitt. Under this convoy, send me provisions to make five months rations for seventy men. This news is not fictitious; nor this letter to be trifled with. I have written to the minister of war; but his orders will come too late.

I am, &c.

J. JEFFERS.

Another letter from Lieut. Jeffers of the same date, to Mr. E. Williams, contractor.

"I am happy to inform you that the salt arrived safe: the danger in this country is so great, that I sent soldiers and Indians to escort them. I am astonished Mr. Bond arrived safe: I have every reason to expect that nine times out of ten so small a party will be cut off.—No time to be lost in sending five months provision, as one escort will answer for the whole."

From Col. George McCully, dated Fort-Franklin, 26th Dec. 1791.

"By express this moment received from the Cornplanter, he advises, that the women at this garrison be immediately sent to Pittsburgh for safety."

The express who was the bearer of these extracts, says, that a council of hostile Indians was then sitting at Buffalo Creek, and that the Cornplanter was summoned to it. How far this information may be depended on, can only be judged from our late disaster.

N. B. These extracts arrived here the 28th, at 3 o'clock, P. M. by express.