The New Hampshire Gazette

B O S T O N. October 16.

Postscript of a Letter from a Gentleman in Philadelphia to one in this Town dated Sept. 28, 1758.

SINCE sealing my Letter we have an Account from Loyal Hannon, of the Defeat of the Party I mention'd being gone out under Major Grant.-- What Accounts are yet come in seem to be very imperfect, and we are in Hopes the Affair is not so bad as some Letters represent it, as they differ one from another ; but the Substance, as near as I have been able to collect. you have below.--

Major Grant with 38 Officers and 800 Men set out from Loyal Hannon (I think the 9th Instant)and on the 13th encamped or halted within 8 Miles of Fort Du Quesne, from thence he sent an Engineer with a Party to a Hill which commands a View of the Fort, to reconnoitre, who, on their Return, informed him of a Piquet Guard at some Distance from the Fort ; whereupon he immediately set forward with Design to cut off that Guard, and to draw the Enemy out of the Fort, that he might observe their Numbers and Strength : But having Notice of his coming, the Guard retired into the Fort ; upon which, being disappointed in that Enterprize, he
Posted Major Lewis of the Virginians at some distance behind, with about 300 or 400 Men to lay in Ambush, and went with the Remainder of his small Army, and set Fire to their Out Houses, and lay all Night within about 300 Yards of the Fort, thinking the Enemy would attack him in the Night, when he intended to have retreated to the Ambuscade; but, instead of that, they only reconnoitred his Strength in the Night, and made no Shew of a Sally 'til half an Hour after Sunrise, when they open'd the Gates and rushed out upwards of 1000 Men, chiefly Indians, on which the Skirmish soon became too hot for our People to stand it, and they suffered very much in their Retreat, having lost, by the Returns, Major Grant, Major Lewis, and other Officers to the Amount of 22, out of 38, and 273 private Men; but many of them we hope are made Prisoners.

The whole Attempt was very bold and daring, and had they had Men enough to repulse the Sally, they would, in all Probability, have carried the Fort, as it is not (as is said) capable of holding above 400 or 500 Men for any Continuance.

The Provincials all behaved extremely well, and one Company of Virginians, commanded by an Ensign, distinguished themselves by an uncommon Piece of Conduct and Bravery. The Ensign, it is said, on seeing our People were getting into Confusion drew off his Company, and posted it in such a Manner as to cover the Retreat of the Rest, and give them Time to carry off their Baggage.

You will excuse Incorrectness, I have added at Foot an Account of the Distances from Ray's Town to Fort DuQuene.

The Head-Quarters are now at Loyal Hannon.

From Ray's-Town to Shanaw's Cabins 9 Miles -- to Edmond Swamp 13 -- to Stoney Creek 6 1/2 -- to Drowning Creek 5 -- to Clear Field 7 -- to Loyal Hannon 8 -- to Big Bottom 8 -- Beaver Dams 9 -- Lockinge Cabins 15 -- to Four Mill Run 6 -- to Fort Du Quesne 6.

In all 92 Miles.