1763, June.] FORT PRESQU' ISLE. 279 



Had detachments of Rogers's Eangers garrisoned 

 these posts, or had they been held by such men as 

 the Eocky Mountain trappers of the present day, 

 wary, skilful, and almost ignorant of fear, some of 

 them might, perhaps, have been saved ; but the 

 soldiers of the 60th Eegiment, though many of 

 them were of provincial birth, were not suited by 

 habits and discipline for this kind of service. 



The loss of Presqu Isle will close this catalogue 

 of calamity. Rumors of it first reached Detroit on 

 the twentieth of June, and, two days after, the gar- 

 rison heard those dismal cries announcing scalps 

 and prisoners, which, of late, had grown mourn- 

 fully familiar to their ears. Indians were seen pass- 

 ing in numbers along the opposite bank of the river, 

 leading several English prisoners, who proved to be 

 Ensign Christie, the commanding officer at Presqu' 

 Isle, with those of his soldiers who survived. 



On the third of June, Christie, then safely 

 ensconced in the fort which he commanded, had 

 written as follows to his superior officer. Lieutenant 

 Gordon, at Venango : " This morning Lieutenant 

 Cuyler of Queen's Company of Rangers came here, 

 and gave me the following melancholy account of 

 his whole party being cut off by a large body of 

 Indians at the mouth of the Detroit River." Here 

 follows the story of Cuyler's disaster, and Christie 



designs. At the mouth of the Mauraee they met John Welsh, an English 

 trader, with two canoes, bound for Detroit. They seized him, and divided 

 his furs among themselves and a party of Indians who were with them. 

 They then proceeded to Fort Miami, and aided the Indians to capture it. 

 Welsh was afterwards carried to Detroit, where the Ottawas murdered 

 him. 



