]^58 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



The old Belt of Wampum promised me at Shamokin to send out spies 

 to view the enemy, and upon his hearing of our skirmish was in a rage, 

 fathered up thirty Indians immediately and went in pursuit of the enemy, 

 I am this day informed. I expect Montour and Monocatootha down 

 here this week with the determination of their Skamokin Council. The 

 inhabitants is abandoning their plantations, and we are in a dreadful 

 situation. 



"I am your Honour's most obedient and humble Servant, 



" John Harris. 



"P. S. — The night ensuing our attack the Indians burnt all Geo. Ga- 

 briel's House, danced round them, &c." 



A letter to Edward Shippen, Esqr., of Lancaster, from Mr. John Harris, 



of Paxton. 



"Paxton, October 29th, 1755. 



" Sir : We expect the enemy upon us every day, and the inhabitants 

 are abandoning their Plantations, being greatly discouraged at the ap- 

 proach of such a number of cruel savages, and no siga of assistance. The 

 Indians are cutting us off every day, and I had a certain account of about 

 1,600 Indians beside French being on their march against us and Vir- 

 ginia, and now close on our borders, their Scouts scalping our Families 

 on our Frontiers daily. Andrew Montour and others at Shamokin de- 

 sired me to take care that there was forty Indians out many days, and 

 intended to burn my house and destroy myself and family. I have this 

 day cut holes in my house, and is determined to hold out to the last ex- 

 tremity if I can get some men to stand by me, few of which I yet can at 

 present, every one being in fear of their own families being cut off every 

 hour (such is our situation.) I am informed that a French officer was 

 expected at Shamokin this week with a party of Delawares and Shawo- 

 nese, no doubt to take possession of our river ; and as to the state of the 

 Sasquehannah Indians, a great part of them are actually in the French 

 interest ; but if we should raise a number of men immediately as will be 

 able to take possession of some convenient place up Sasquehannah and 

 build a strong Fort in spite of French or Indians, perhaps some In- 

 dians may join us, but it is trusting to uncertainty to depend upon them 

 in my opinion. We ought to insist on the Indians declaring either for 

 or against us. As soon as we are prepared for them we must bid up for 

 scalps and keep the woods full of our people hunting them or they will 

 ruin our Province, for they are a dreadful enemy. We impatiently look 

 for assistance. I have sent out two Indian spies to Shamokin, they are 

 Mohawks, and I expect they will return in a day or two. Consider our 

 situation and rouse your people downwards and not let about 1,500 vil- 

 lains distress such a number of inhabitants as is in Pennsylvania, which 

 actually they will if they possess our provisions and frontiers long, as 



