334 HISTORY OF 



broke up his encampment, June 12th, and marched his 

 army to the fatal field, where, on the Pth of July, 1755^ 

 he met with an unparalleled discomfiture. He had five 

 horses shot under him, and received a ball through the 

 arms and lungs — he expired the ISth of July. Sixty- 

 four, out of eighty-four of his officers and one-half 

 of his privates, were killed or wounded. The issue 

 of this battle inspirited the enemy, and dispirited the 

 provincialists. Dismay and consternation brooded upon 

 the frontier settlers. "The enemy now roamed unmo- 

 lestedly and fearlessly along the western lines of Vir- 

 ginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, committing the most 

 appalling outrages, and wanton cruelties, that the cu- 

 pidity, and the ferocity of the savage could dictate. — 

 The first invasions were in Cumberland county, whence 

 they soon extended to the Susquehanna. The inhabi- 

 tants, dwelling at the distance of from one to three miles 

 apart, fell unresistingly, were captured, or fled in terror 

 to the interior settlement. The main body of the enemy 

 encamped on the Susquehanna, thirty miles above Harris^ 

 Ferry, whence they extended themselves on both sides 

 the river. The settlements at the great Cove in Cum- 

 berland county, were destroyed, and many of the inhabi- 

 tants slaughtered or made captives,* and the same fate 

 fell upon them at Tulpehocken."t 



*One Johnson, had been captured in Lancaster county — 

 Washington while being on a scouting party — 1758, took three 

 prisoners of the Indians among whom was Johnson. — Gor- 

 don's Fa. 367. 



fOn the 14th of December 1755, the savages attacked the 

 house of F. Reichclsderfer, in Albany township, Berks county, 

 R. was in the field, and escaped. The Indians murdered his 

 two children, set his buildings on fire, destroyed his grain, and 

 killed his cattle. At Jacob Gerhart's, neighbor of Mr. Reich- 



