The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

PHILADELPHIA, July 21.

On Friday last an Express arrived here from Carlisle, by whom we received the following Advices, viz.

Extract of a Letter from Carlisle, dated July 12 1763.

"I embrace this first Leisure, since Yesterday Morning to transmit you a brief Account of our present State of Affairs here, which indeed is very distressing; every Day almost affording some fresh Object to waken the Compassion, alarm the Fears, or kindle into Resentment and Vengeance every sensible Breast, while flying Families, obliged to abandon House and Possession, to save their Lives by a hasty Escape: mourning Widows, bewailing their Husbands surprised and massacred by savage Rage; tender Parents, lamenting the Fruit of their own Bodies, cropt in the very Bloom of Life by a barbarous Hand; with Relations and Acquaintances, pouring out Sorrow for murdered Neighbours and Friends, present a varied Scene of mingled Distresses.

When for some time, after striking at Bedford, the Indians appeared quiet, nor struck any other Part of our Frontiers, it became the prevailing Opinion, that our Forts and the Communication, were so peculiarly the Object of their Attention, that, till at least Harvest, there was little Prospect of Danger to our Inhabitants over the Hills; and to dissent from this generally received sentiment, was political Heresy, and attributed to Timidity rather than Judgment, till too early Conviction has decided the Point in the following Manner.

On Sunday Morning, the 10th Instant, about Nine or Ten o'Clock, at the House of one William White, on Juniata between 30 and 40 Miles hence, there being in said House four Men, and a Lad, the Indians come rushing upon them, and shot White at the Door, just stepping out to see what the Noise meant. Our People then pulled in White, and shut the Door; but observing thro' a Window, the Indians setting Fire to the House, they attempted to force their Way out at the Door; but the first that stepped out was shot down, they drew him in, and again shut the Door: After which, one attempting an Escape out of a Window on the Loft, was shot thro' the Head, and the Lad wounded in the Arm. The only one now remaining (William Riddle) broke a Hole thro' the Roof of the House, and an Indian, who saw him looking out, alleging he was about to fire on him, withdrew, which afforded Riddle an Opportunity of making his Escape. The House with the other four in it, was burnt down, as M'Machen informs, who was coming to it, not suspecting Indians, and was by them fired at, and shot thro' the Shoulder, but made his Escape.

The same Day, about Dinner-time, at about a Mile and an Half from said White's, at the House of Robert Campbell, six Men being in the House, as they were dining, three Indians rushed in at the Door, and after firing among them, and wounding some, they tomahawked, in an instant, one of the Men; where upon one George Dodds (one of the Company) sprung back into a Room, and taking down a Rifle, shot an Indian through the Body, who was just presenting his Piece to shoot him: The Indian, being mortally wounded, staggered, and letting his Gun fall was carried off by three more. Dodds, with one or two more, getting upon the Loft, broke the Roof, in order to escape, and looking out, saw one of the Company (Stephen Jefferies) running, but very slow, by Reason of a Wound in the Breast, and an Indian pursuing; and it is thought he could not escape, nor have we heard of him since, so that it is past Dispute he is also murdered.--The first that attempted getting out of the Loft was fired at, and drew back; another attempting, was shot dead; and of the six Dodds only made his Escape.--The same day, about Dusk, about five or six Miles up Tuscarora, and about 28 or 30 Miles hence they murdered one Anderson, together with a Boy and Girl, all in one House.--At White's were seen at least five, some say eight or ten Indians; and at Campbells the same Number. On Monday the 11th, a Party of about 24 went over from the lower Part of Sherman's Valley, to see how Matters were. Another Party of 12 or 13, went over from the lower Part of said Valley: And Col. John Armstrong, with Thomas Wilson, Esq; and a Party of between 30 and 40, from this Town, to reconnoitre, and assist in burying the Dead.

Of the first and third Parties we have heard nothing yet, but of the Party of 12, six are come in, and inform, that they passed through several Places of Tuscarora, and saw the Houses in Flames or burnt entirely down; That the Grain that had been reaped the Indians burnt in the Shocks, and had set the Fences on Fire where the Grain was unreaped: That the Hogs had fallen upon and mangled several of the dead Bodies: That the said Company of 12, suspecting Danger, durst not stay to bury the Dead: That after they had returned over the Tuscarora Mountain, about one or two Miles on this Side of it, and about 18 or 20 from hence, they were fired on by a large Party of Indians, supposed about 20, and were obliged to fly: That two, viz. John Graham, and William Robinson, are certainly killed, and four more missing, who it is thought, have fallen into the Hands of the Enemy, as they appeared slow in Flight, most probably wounded, and the Savages pursued with Violence. - What further Mischief have been done, we have not heard, but expect every Day and Hour, some more Messages of Melancholy News. On hearing of the above Defeat, we sent out this Morning another Party of Thirty, or upwards, commanded by our High Sheriff, Mr. Dunlap, and Mr. William Lyon, to go in Quest of the Enemy, or fall in with, and reinforce our other Parties. --There are also a Number gone out from about three or four Miles below this, so that we now have over the Hills upwards of 80 or 90 Volunteers scouring the Woods. The Inhabitants of Sherman's Valley, Tuscarora, &c. are all come over, and the People of this Valley, near the Mountain, are beginning to move in, so that in a few Days there will be scarcely an House inhabited North of Carlisle. Many of our People are greatly distressed through want of Arms and Ammunition, and Numbers of those beat off their Places, have hardly Money enough to purchase a Pound of Powder.

Our Women and Children, I apprehend, must move downwards, if the Enemy proceed. To day a British Vengeance begins to rise in the Breasts of our Men. One of them that fell from among the 12, as he was just expiring, said to one of his Fellows, Here; take my Gun, and kill the first Indian you see, and all shall be well."

Extract of another Letter from Carlisle, July 13.

"Last Night Col. Armstrong returned. He left the Party, who pursued further, and found several dead, whom they buried in the best Manner they could, and are now all returned in.- From what appears, the Indians are travelling
Going from one Place to another, along the Valley, burning the Farms, and destroying all the People they meet with.

This Day gives an Account of six more being killed in the Valley, so that, since last Sunday to this Day, Twelve o'Clock, we have had a pretty authentic Account of the Number slain, being Twenty-five, and four or five wounded.

The Colonel, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Alricks, are now on the Parade, endeavouring to raise another Party, to go out and succor the Sheriff and his Party, consisting of Fifty Men, which marched Yesterday, and hope they will be able to send off immediately Twenty good Men.

The People here, I assure you, want nothing but a good Leader, and a little Encouragement, to make a very good Defence.

And our Advices, received since the above, say, That the Sheriff's Party had returned: That about 18 or 20 Miles from Carlisle, they fell in with a Number of Indians at a House, and shot down one of them; upon which the others took to the Fields, when our People pursued, and knocked down two or three more of the Enemy. but tho' they followed for some Time, they could not come up with them, nor find one of those that were wounded. Two Of the Sheriff's Men it is said, were likewise wounded, One of which, we hear, is since dead of his Wounds.