The New Hampshire Gazette

CHARLESTOWN, South Carolina, July 12.

On Thursday Afternoon arrived the negro Abraham, express from the army commanded by the hon. col Montgomery, with an account of the return thereof to fort Prince George on the 1st instant, and of its setting out from thence on the 4th, and marching down into the settlements.--The following extracts from two letters dated the 2d instant, at the fort, contain as full an account of the Transactions of that army, since our last accounts, as any we have seen.

Extract of a Letter from Fort Prince George, dated July 2, 1760.

We marched from Fort Prince George the 24th of June, as I informed you in my last we should, and encamped at Ocunih, a deserted Indian town about 12 miles from Keowee. 25th marched 15 miles, and encamped at the War Woman's creek. 26th, marched 10 miles to Estatoe, an old settlement, distant 18 miles from Keowee, the lowest town of the Middle Settlements. 27th, we marched very early, expecting this morning to have a brush, nor were we mistaken: On the march we surprised four Indians, and took one of them Prisoner, who told us, the Indians of the Middle Settlements were all at home, and desirous of a Peace: but we had not faith to believe him. Within five miles of Estatoe, in very advantageous ground for the enemy, we were attacked from a swamp through which they were to march; whilst the front of our small army were driving them from the swamp (which they soon did, for the Cherokees, I dare say, never felt so heavy a fire) our centre and rear were busy in taking possession of the most advantageous ground, on the right and left, which soon cost the Cherokees dear, and obliged them to retire: In short we drove them from height and hollow all the way to their town, which we destroyed and encamped there that night. During the action they endeavoured to frighten us with their yelling, but we returned the cheer upon them, with three hurras and three waves of our bonnets and hats, which they did not seem to relish. They made a strong attempt on our provisions, but by the good conduct of capt. Peter Gordon, of the Royals, who commanded the Piquet, every thing was saved, and they repulsed with great loss. 28th, we remained all day at Estatoe, taking the best care of the wounded possible. 29th, we marched very early in the morning, and returned to the War Woman's creek, without their daring to come near us. 30th, during our march to Ocunih, lieut. Montgomery, of the Highlanders, who commanded our flankers on the left, surprised a party of the enemy on the top of a very high hill; he gave them a fire, and brought down several of them, which the rest carried off: They were in such a hurry, that they left all their blankets, several large bags of meal, one ball, and about 30 weight of powder, besides Tomahawks, pipes, &c. This day lieut. Donald Mc Donald fell in with a party of them, and killed five. 1st of July we returned to fort Prince George, after a very fatiguing scout of 8 days, through a country strongly fortified by nature, through which no body of men can march, against an enemy, without building posts at proper distances, for the security of provisions and wounded men. This is a short detail of the last week of June seventeen hundred and sixty.

OFFICERS killed and wounded:

Of the Royals

Capt. Williams killed.

Capt. Peter Gordon, wounded

Ensign Eddington, ditto.

Of the Highlanders.

Lieutenant Mc. Marton, wounded.

Mc Kennon, ditto.

Surg. M. J. Monro, ditto.

PRIVATES of both regiments.

About 20 killed and 60 wounded.

Extract of a Letter from Fort Prince George of the same date.

The 24th of June we marched from hence, and continued marching the 25th, and the 26th, without any interruption from the Indians; but on Friday the 27th, about six miles from Estatoe, the first town in the Middle Settlements, the advanced party, under Capt. Morrison; discovered 3 Indians, one of whom he made prisoner. who pretended that the middle Settlements were for peace, and knew nothing of the army's coming up. The colonel did not give much credit to what the prisoner said, but marched forward with the greatest precaution; when marched near a mile further, the advanced party, under capt. Morrison aforesaid. were fired upon by the Indians from a thicket: He nevertheless went forward 'till his party retreated. and he himself was unfortunately kill'd.--The colonel on hearing the fire, ordered the light infantry and grenadiers to advance, which they did. and met with some of capt. Morrison's party, who told them, that there were above 200 Indians lying in ambush; they however still advanced, but could see nothing, altho' they were often fired upon: Coming to a rising Ground, they at length discovered a body of the enemy. whom they immediately fired upon, and obliged them to retire into a swamp. The colonel then ordered the whole to advance, himself at the head of the Royals,and lieut. col Grant at the head of the Highlanders. The Indians still continued firing whenever they had an opportunity, and the army always pushed forward and firing, but at too great a distance to do execution. When they got as near the Indians as possible, several platoons were discharged amongst them, which must have done execution. for they retired and left off firing. In this affair the Colonel was struck with two spent balls. on the shoulder and ancle. The army was then ordered into the path, and go for the Indian town, a flanking party being out on the left, and a deep river on the right: this path was so narrow that the army was obliged to move thro'it in an Indian file. The Indians observing this motion, went off, and came round upon the rear of the army, fired frequently and wounded several men. but several platoons being fired among them, they ran off, some dragging others away by the feet, arms and legs. The front was fired upon two different times before the army reach'd the town, but little damage done: the inhabitants were all gone when we arrived there, and their doors lock'd: we found nothing there but some Indian corn. The army encamped on a plain surrounded with hills,and made huts of boards from the indian houses. The Colonel had his little tent pitched in the center, as we formed a square.-- Several shots were fired on our camp from the hills around, some of the balls falling within three yards of the Colonel's tent, but were quite spent.. About five in the afternoon an express came to the camp, with advice, that the picquet, and guard with provisions were warmly attacked by the Indians, but that they defended themselves bravely, and killed several of the enemy. The Colonel immediately ordered Capt. Sinclair with 200 men to their assistance, and they all return'd to camp about 12 at night, the enemy having been beat off by the picquet and guard, before Capt. Sinclair's party got up to them. The fore part of the 28th was taken up in dressing the wounded,and putting every thing in a proper posture of defence; and all was quiet till about four in the afternoon, when a shot was fired from a hill at a small distance from us, which was followed by vollies from a body of Indians, for the space of half an hour without ceasing. Capt. Sutherland was immediately ordered to the river's side with the Colonel's company; but when he arrived there, thinking he was at too great a distance to do execution, he crossed the river,and fired several platoons upon the enemy, which obliged them to run off. We received little damage from the enemy; they wounded only two or three of our people slightly. Several of our horses being killed and others wounded, it was hard to determine what should be done. for if we proceeded further, either provisions or sick must be left; the first we could not go without, and the sick could not be left in a place of no defence, to become a prey to the Savages: It was therefore resolved that the whole should return, and carriages were immediately made for those who could not go on horseback.--- The whole marched about 12 at night, the Colonel thinking it was the safest way from being disturbed by the Indians. We accordingly marched about 25 miles that night and the next day, without hearing any thing of them. till on the 30th, when several shots being fired off which could not be drawn, having been wet by rain in the night, at assembly beating, a party of the enemy, who had come thro' the woods by a near path ( imagining the camp was attacked by some other of their parties ) advanced and fired upon the centre of our picquet, who were posted at some distance in the Woods: but they were soon made sensible of their mistake, and obliged to go off in great haste. After our flanking parties were placed. and every thing got in readiness, we began our march, and before the rear had come off the ground of encampment, lieut. Montgomery, who was on the flanking party of the front, came upon a body of about 60 Indians, who were lying in wait for us, drying their baggage, blankets, &c. in the sun, which had been wet the night before. Upon giving them a fire they all ran off, those that were wounded they threw on horses and carried away with them: before all lieut. Montgomery's party could come up, it being on a hill, and the men walking in an Indian file, the Indians had left every thing ( except their fire-locks ) which our party seized, and what they could not bring away, they cut to pieces and destroyed. Another party of the enemy attacked our rear, but were beat off. and several of them killed. We encamped that night about 9 miles from hence. and arrived here the 1st current,whence we shall proceed in a day or two down the country. Capt. Williams of the Royal light infantry and 8 of the Royals rank and file were killed, and Capt. Peter Gordon, Ensign Eddington one sergeant, and 32 rank and file wounded: Of the Highlanders, two sergeants and 6 rank and file were killed; Lieuts. McMarton, and M'Kennon surgeon's mate J. Monro, one sergeant, one piper, and 25 rank and file wounded, some slightly. No Indians have been seen or heard of since they were beat off on the 30th in the morning.

The following Particulars are mentioned in other Letters, viz.

That the action between the army and the Cherokees on the 27th ult. began at 8 or 9 in the morning, and continued between 4 and 5 hours, with little intermission. That some of capt. Morrison's company supposed the number of Indians in the thicket that day, to be about 200. That there were some Men killed of the provincials and rangers, and two of Morrison's company slightly wounded. That Morrison behaved like a gallant good officer till he fell; and his company returned with the regulars to Fort Prince George, who offer to continue in the service, under the command of lieutenant Patrick Calhoun. That Capts. Grimman and O'Neal of the Rangers,and some other of our officers behaved with great spirit. That there was at least 200 bushels of Indian corn found in the town of Estatoe. That some of the army's flour was thrown into the river, in order to get horses for the wounded. That cap. Williams, (who is much regretted in every letter) lost his life in going to support capt. Morrison. That the number of Indians killed may be about 50; and that having many rifles among them,they did more execution at a greater distance than our people could. That many more men must have been lost in the difficult passes on the return to Keowee, had not the Indians been deceived by lights left in the houses at Estatoe when the army came away from that town, whence the enemy supposed them to be still there, till they had stole near a day's march. And that, when the army set out for Ninety Six, good stores of provisions was left with the garrison at Fort Prince George.

There is no news whatever from Fort Loudoun; but we hope col. Byrd has before now marched from Virginia, to relieve that distressed and unfortunate garrison.

The General Assembly of this province have voted 5000l. at the disposal of his honour the Lieutenant Governor, towards the relief of such helpless people as have suffered by the present Indian war, and taken refuge in the several forts on our frontiers. They have likewise voted One thousand pounds as a reward to Mr. Thomas Mellichamp for his ingenious discoveries in making of Indigo.