1763, Sept.] FARTHER HOSTILITY. 79 



fearful interest to a scene whose native horrors 

 need no aid from the imagination.^ 



The Seneca warriors, aided probably by some of 

 the western Indians, were the authors of this un- 

 expected attack. Their hostility did not end here. 

 Several weeks afterwards. Major Wilkins, with a 

 force of six hundred regulars, collected with great 

 effort throughout the provinces, was advancing to 



1 MS. Letter — Amherst to Egremont, October 13. Two anonymous 

 letters from oflBcers at Fort Niagara, September 16 and 17. Life of Mary 

 Jemison, Appendix. MS. Johnson Papers. 



One of the actors in the tragedy, a Seneca warrior, named Blacksnake, 

 was living a few years since at a very advanced age. He described the 

 scene with great animation to a friend of the writer ; and, as he related how 

 the English were forced over the precipice, his small eyes glittered like 

 those of the serpent whose name he bore. 



Extract from a Letter — Niagara, September 16 (Penn. Gaz. No. 1815) : 

 " On the first hearing of the Firing by the Convoy, Capt. Johnston, 

 and three Subalterns, marched with about 80 Men, mostly of Gage's Light 

 Infantry, who were in a little Camp adjacent ; they had scarce Time to 

 form when the Indians appeared at the above Pass ; our People fired 

 briskly upon them, but was instantly surrounded, and the Captain who 

 commanded mortally wounded the first Fire ; the 3 Subalterns also were 

 soon after killed, on which a general Confusion ensued. The Indians 

 rushed in on all Sides and cut about 60 or 70 Men in Pieces, including the 

 Convoy : Ten of our Men are all we can yet learn have made their 

 Escape ; they came here through the Woods Yesterday. From many 

 Circumstances, it is believed the Senecas have a chief Hand in this 

 Affair." 



Extract from a Letter — Niagara, September 17 {Penn. Gaz. No. 1815) : 

 " Wednesday the 14th Inst, a large Body of Indians, some say 300, 

 others 4 or 500, came down upon the Carrying-Place, attacked the Wag- 

 gon Escort, which consisted of a Serjeant and 24 Men. This small Body 

 immediately became a Sacrifice, only two Waggoners escaped. Two 

 Companies of Light Infantry (the General's and La Hunt's), that were 

 encamped at the Lower Landing, hearing the Fire, instantly rushed out 

 to tlieir Eelief, headed by Lieuts. George Campbell, and Frazier, Lieu- 

 tenant Rosco, of the Artillery, and Lieutenant Deaton, of the Provincials ; 

 this Party had not marched above a Mile and Half when they were 

 attacked, surrounded, and almost every Man cut to Pieces ; the Officers 

 were all killed, it is reported, on the Enemy's first Fire ; the Savages 

 rushed down upon them in three Columns." 



