384 The Winning of the West 



Darke's letter is worth quoting in full. Its spell- 

 ing and punctuation are extraordinary ; and some of 

 the words can not be deciphered. 



Letter from Col. Darke to George Washington, President 

 of the U. S., dated at Fort Washington, Nineth of Novr. 1791, 

 (Knox- Papers, Vol. XXX, p. 12.) 



I take the liberty to Communicate to your Ex- 

 cellency the disagreeable News of our defeat. 



We left fort Washington the Begining of Septr 

 a Jornel of our march to the place of action and the 

 whole proseeding on our march I hoped to have had 

 the honour to inclose to you but that and all other 

 papers cloathing & &c., was Taken by the Indians, 

 this Jornel I know would have gave you pain but 

 thought it not amis to Give you a State of facts and 

 Give you every Information in my power and had 

 it Ready to Send to you the Very Morning we were 

 actacked. 



We advanced 24 miles from fort Washington and 

 bult a Small fort which we I thought were long 

 about from thence we advanced along the banks of 

 the Meamme River where the fort was arected 44^2 

 Miles on a Streight Line by the Compass west J4 

 north though farther the way the Road went and 

 bult another fort, which we Left on the 23 October 

 and from that time to the 3d Novr Got 31 Miles 

 where we incamped in two Lines about 60 yards 

 apart the Right whing in frunt Commanded by Gen- 

 eral Butler, the Left in the Rear which I com- 

 manded, our piccquets Decovered Some Sculking 



