The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from Niagara, July 21.

"By Letters from Detroit, of the 8th Instant, we learn that the Savages were in greater Numbers than ever about that Place: That the Garrison was in high Spirits, and had made a Sortie, in which an Indian Chief, and two others, were killed: on which the Father of the former took out Capt. Campbell of the 60th Regiment; and after having given him Time to pray (on Condition he kneeled on the Body of the slain Chief) they killed him, taking his Heart, and eating it reeking from the Body, and then cut him to Pieces with their Tomahawks. - Sir Robert Davers they boiled and eat; and an Officer who was taken at Sandusky, but since escaped, saw the Skin of Lieut. Robinson's Arm made into a Tobacco Pouch; he belonged to Montgomery's Regiment, and commanded the Vessels on Lake Erie.--One Nation of Indians (who took Presque-Isle after a three Days Attack, the Garrison then being out of Ammunition) have brought in their Prisoners, made Peace, and retired to their Habitations.--All the Out-Posts are taken and destroyed, mostly by Surprize; but as an Officer, and 18 Men, was the Number of each of those Posts but one, and all in Want of Provisions, a Charles of Sweden could not have sav'd them.-- They took Michillimackinac by having two Parties of Indians playing with a Ball; one Party driving it to, the other driving it from the Fort, the Cheat succeeded, and having drove the Ball into the Fort, they ran after it without Opposition, and massacred most of the Garrison, saving few besides Capt. Etherington, and Leslie, of the 60th Regiment, they being the only Officers there; had that not happened, they must have been starved out; and it is feared they are not now living. as they were in the Hands of the most barbarous Nation. The Names of the destroyed Places are, Ouatinon, St. Joseph's. St. Mary's, Miamis, Michillimackinac, Sandusky, and Presque-Isle. It is not known whether Le-Baye is destroyed or not.--The Vessels on Lake Erie have been the Means of saving Detroit, with the Gallant Behaviour of Major Gladwin, the Commandant. who was almost single in his Opinion of maintaining the Place.--When the Schooner returned from Niagara, with a Reinforcement of Men and Ammunition. she was attacked in the River of Detroit by the Savages, who had entrenched themselves; but on the Firing of six or seven Guns they abandoned their Works, and the Vessels got in. They sent down Fire Rafts to burn the Vessels, and, by their whole Proceedings, it may be presumed they were assisted by some of the French Inhabitants. However, since the Reinforcement arrived, the French have acted more for the English, having heard the Proclamation of Peace; and as Capt. Dalzell, and Major Rogers, with near 300 brave Fellows, left this fourteen Days ago, it is hoped they will be confirmed in their Faith to our glorious King: especially as from the Excellence of the Officers and Men gone there, every thing that Courage and Conduct can effect may be expected: and now the same Schooner is leaving the Mouth of Lake Erie for Detroit, with about 40 Men. Ammunition and Provision. The Indians have been before Detroit ever since the sixth of May, to the Time the Schooner left it last; during which Time every One has lain on the Ramparts, nor have they had their Cloaths off.

"Since writing the above, an Express is arrived from Capt. Dalzell, with an account, that as he had discovered very large Indian Encampments, he thought it most advisable to wait till the Vessel arrives to convoy him: a Method that will be of the greatest Service to him, as thereby he will effectually secure his Passage up the River of Detroit, which is not so wide, but that the Savages might do Execution on naked Boats, from each Side of it. He has also with him an Officer, and some Men of the Artillery, with Swivels. and Cohorn Mortars, fixed on a strong Boat in such a Manner, that they will be of the greatest Service, in driving the enemy from the opposite Shores of the River.

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I must beg Leave also to inform you, that the good Behaviour of Captain Hopkins, and the Officers and Men under his Command, in the Sally made, to level an Entrenchment the Enemy had made too near the Fort, has greatly contributed to strike a Panic in the Hearts of those Copper-headed Gentry. Several Merchants were in the Sortie, and fought like Men who had their All at Stake, as well as the Interest of their Country.

"The Fort is nothing more than a square Stockade, fortified with four Bastions, and large enough for 2000 Troops, and in which all the English Merchants have chiefly resided with their Effects.

"At the Beginning of this Affair, there were not above Eighty Men that carried Arms in the Fort, and about Thirty four onboard both Vessels. The Vessels enfiladed three Sides of the Square towards the Fields and River, and the Men defended the other Polygon. The Savages were always in great Fear of the Vessels, and when they saw them beat to the Windward, thought they did it by the Power of Conjuration. Captain Hopkins, since their investing the Place, sailed up in the Sloop, towards an Island above the Town, and fired several Shot at them, on which they scampered off, with their Effects, as fast as possible.

Many of the Traders taken going to Detroit are Prisoners, and will, when Affairs are settled, be released from the Hands of those merciless Barbarians.

Three Men, who were taken in Lieut. Cuyler's Affair, of May 28, being in one of their own Batteries and going up the River with two Indians, and the Provision taken in her, seeing the Sloop cruising in the River, laid Hold of the Savages, and flung them overboard, and notwithstanding there were above 50 Indians on Shore, that kept a constant Fire on them, they arrived safe at the Vessel; a living Monument, That Fortune favours the Bold."