1763, June.] SURKENDEK OF THE BLOCKHOUSE. 285 



When morning came, Christie sent out two sol- 

 diers as if to treat with the enemy, but, in reality, 

 as he says, to learn the truth of what they had 

 told him respecting their preparations to burn 

 the blockhouse. On reaching the breastwork, the 

 soldiers made a signal, by which their officer saw 

 that his worst fears were well founded. In pur- 

 suance of their orders, they then demanded that 

 two of the principal chiefs should meet with 

 Christie midway between the breastwork and the 

 blockhouse. The chiefs appeared accordingly ; and 

 Christie, going out, yielded up the blockhouse ; hav- 

 ing first stipulated that the lives of all the garrison 

 should be spared, and that they might retire unmo- 

 lested to the nearest post. The soldiers, pale and 

 haggard, like men who had passed through a fiery 

 ordeal, now issued from their scorched and bullet- 

 pierced stronghold. A scene of plunder instantly 

 began. Benjamin Gray, a Scotch soldier, who had 

 just been employed, on Christie's order, in carrying 

 presents to the Indians, seeing the confusion, and 

 hearing a scream from a sergeant's wife, the only 

 woman in the garrison, sprang off into the woods 

 and succeeded in making his way to Fort Pitt with 

 news of the disaster. It is needless to say that no 

 faith was kept with the rest, and they had good cause 

 to be thankful that they were not butchered on the 

 spot. After being detained for some time in the 

 neighborhood, they were carried prisoners to De- 

 troit, where Christie soon after made his escape, 

 and gained the fort in safety.^ 



1 Loss of the Posts, MS. Pontiac MS. Report of Ensign Christie, MS. 

 Testimony of Edward Smyth, MS. This last evidence was taken by order 



