The New Hampshire Gazette

Fort Cumberland (Chebucto) July 4, 1758.

Wednesday the 28th of June at Night, the Enemy carried off from Mr. Allen Suttler, 9 Bullocks, and on Thursday Morning Col. James ordered out Lieut. Meech of the Ranging Company, with 55 Rangers, and 5 Whale Boats, to sail up the River Pithaquajack, in Order to intercept the Enemy's crossing the River with the Bullocks at low Water that Night. On Thursday Night Mr. Meech parted with 2 of his Boats in a Gale of Wind; a Friday Morning he went up the River with 3 of his Boats, and landed with 36 Men on the North East Shore. and marched along the River 'till he discovered a Body of about Forty of the Enemy, and advanced to attack them, upon which they made a great Cry and run off. Mr. Meech pursued them some time but not being able to come up with them, he returned in quest of the Boats that parted with him the Night before. As he was coming down the River he met the Boats, Capt. Danks, Lieut. Walker, of the Ranging Company, with a Serjeant, Corporal and 12 Men of the 43d Regiment, and 40 Rangers in an armed sloop, which Col. James Sent out on Friday Morning in Order to cover and Support Lieut. Meech and his Party. When Capt. Danks had joined his Party, he sailed up the River and came to an Anchor that Night ; on Saturday Morning Capt. Danks, Lieuts. Walker and Meech with 75 Men landed and went into the Woods and ordered the sloop to sail up the River, close to the North East shore with some Regulars and Rangers in order to decoy the Enemy to attack them, which answered their Expectations ; for about 12 o'Clock the same Day 300 of the Enemy fired upon the sloop Capt. Danks, &c. who were with them on the shore hearing the Fire marched down with his Party and Surrounded them, took nine Prisoners, one scalp drove fourteen in the River. ten of whom were drowned, four swam across the River, and the rest made their Escape under the Cover of a large Dike in the Marsh. As soon as Capt. Danks had secured his Prisoners and nineteen stand of Arms belonging to them, he returned with his Party aboard the sloop and lay at Anchor that Night; next Day he sailed up the River and was fired upon from both sides Lieuts. Walker and Meech about ten o'Clock landed with 60 Men, upon their Landing the Enemy run off, and the Party marched to a Village which they burnt, with several Barrels of Wheat and Pork, &c. destroyed their Gardens, brought off their Household Furniture, forty sheep and Lambs, twenty two Pigs killed three Bullocks and five Horses ; after which the Party went aboard with their plunder ; the Afternoon of the same Day Capt. Danks and Lieut Meech with 70 Men landed on the south west shore went up the River three Miles, took a Tour in the Country, but could not discover any Thing, upon which they returned on board the sloop, and got to Fort Cumberland on Tuesday the 4th Instant, with all his Party and Prisoners, and not one of the Party even wounded.