OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 157 



A Letter to the Governor from Mr, John Harris at Paxton : 



"Paxton, Oct. 28tb, 1755. 



"May it please your Honor: This is to acquaint you that on the 

 24:th day of October I arrived at Shamokin in order to protect our fron- 

 tiers up that way till they might make their escape from their cruel ene- 

 mies, and to learn the best intelligences I could. The Indians on the 

 West Branch of Sasquehannah certainly killed our inhabitants on Mr. 

 Penn's creek, and there is a hatchet and two English scalps sent by them 

 up the North Branch to desire them to strike with them if they are men. 

 The Indians are all assembling themselves at Shamokin to Council; a 

 large body of them was there four days ago. I can't learn their inten- 

 tions, but it seems Andrew Montour and Monacatootha is to bring down 

 news from them ; there is not a sufficient number of them to oppose the 

 enemy, and perhaps they will join the enemy against us; there is no de- 

 pendence on Indians, and we are in imminent danger. I got certain 

 information from Andrew Montour and others that there is a body of 

 French with 1,500 Indians coming against us. Picks, Otto ways, Orandox, 

 Delawares, Shawonese, and a number of the Six Nations, and are now 

 not many days' march from this Province and Virginia, which is appoint- 

 ed to be attacked at the same time; some of the Shawmokin Indians 

 seemed friendly and others appeared like enemies. Montour knew many 

 days of the enemy's being on their march against us before he informed 

 me, for which I said as much to him as I thought prudent, considering 

 the place I was in. On the 25th of this instant, in my return, with about 

 forty men, at Mr. Penn's creek, we were attacked by about twenty or 

 thirty Indians, received their fire, and about fifteen of our men and 

 myself took to trees and attacked the villains, killed four of them on the 

 spot, and lost but three men retreating about half a mile through woods 

 and crossing Sasquehanna, one of which was shot from oft' an horse riding 

 behind myself through the river. My horse before was wounded, and 

 falling in the river, I was obliged to quit him and swim part of the way. 

 Four or five of our men were drowned crossing the river. I hope our 

 journey, though with fatigue and the loss of our substance, and some of 

 our lives, will be of service to our country by discovering our enemy, 

 who will be our ruin if not timely prevented. I just now received in- 

 formation that there was a French oflicer, supposed a Captain, with a 

 party of Shawonese, Delawares, &c., within six miles of Shamokin, two 

 days ago, and no doubt intends to take possessiori of it, which will be of 

 dreadful consequence to us if suft'ered; therefore I thought proper to 

 dispatch this messenger to inform your honor. The Indians here I hope 

 your honor will be pleased to cause them to be removed to some place, 

 as I don't like their company ; and as the men of those here was not 

 against us, yet did them no harm or else I would had them all cut oft". 



