22 FRONTIER FORTS AND SETTLEMENTS. [1763, Jdly. 



and sufferings endured, which defy all attempt at 

 description. 



At Fort Pitt, every preparation was made to repel 

 the attack which was hourly expected. A part of 

 the rampart, undermined by the spring floods, had 

 fallen into the ditch ; but, by dint of great labor, 

 this injury was repaired. A line of palisades was 

 erected along the ramparts ; the barracks were made 

 shot-proof, to protect the women and children ; and, 

 as the interior buildings were all of wood, a rude 

 fire-engine was constructed, to extinguish any flames 

 which might be kindled by the burning arrows of 

 the Indians. Several weeks, however, elapsed 

 without any determined attack from the enemy, 

 who were engaged in their bloody work among the 

 settlements and smaller posts. From the beginning 

 of July until towards its close, nothing occurred 

 except a series of petty and futile attacks, by which 

 the Indians abundantly exhibited their malicious 

 intentions, without doing harm to the garrison. 

 During the whole of this time, the communication 

 with the settlements was completely cut off, so that 

 no letters were written from the fort, or, at all 

 events, none reached their destination ; and we are 

 therefore left to depend upon a few meagre official 

 reports, as our only sources of information. 



On the twenty-sixth of July, a small party of 

 Indians was seen approaching the gate, displaying 

 a flag, which one of them had some time before 

 received as a present from the EngHsh commander. 

 On the strength of this token, they were admitted, 

 and proved to be chiefs of distinction; among 



