46 THE WAR ON THE BORDERS. [1763, June. 



been the reward he would expect, instead of the 

 honor he has obtained by his prudence, courage, 

 and resolution. . . . This is a most trying time. 

 . . . You may be sure that all the expedition 

 possible will be used for the relief of the few 

 remaining posts." ^ 



As for Blane, the following extracts from his let- 

 ters will show his position ; though, when his affairs 

 were at the worst, nothing was heard from him, as 

 all his messengers were killed. On the fourth of 

 June, he writes : " Thursday last my garrison was 

 attacked by a body of Indians, about fiYe in the 

 morning ; but as they only fired upon us from the 

 skirts of the woods, I contented myself with giving 

 them three cheers, without spending a single shot 

 upon them. But as they still continued their 

 popping upon the side next the town, I sent the 

 sergeant of the Royal Americans, with a proper 

 detachment, to fire the houses, which effectually 

 disappointed them in their plan." 



On the seventeenth, he writes to Bouquet : " I 

 hope soon to see yourself, and live in daily hopes 

 of a reinforcement. . . . Sunday last, a man strag- 

 gling out was killed by the Indians ; and Monday 



night three of them got under the n house, but 



were discovered. The darkness secured them their 

 retreat. ... I believe the communication between 

 Fort Pitt and this is entirely cut off, having heard 

 nothing from them since the thirtieth of May, 



1 Bouquet had the strongest reasons for wishing that Fort Ligonier 

 should hold out. As the event showed, its capture would probably have 

 entailed the defeat and destruction of his entire command. 



