| Citation |
BEP(F.754.020
29 Jul 1754:12,21 (987)
New-York, July 22. Copy of a letter from Paxton, about 90
miles back of Philadelphia. Sir,
I here met with Mr. Robert Callender, who was just arrived
from Winchester, and brings the confirmation of the
disagreeable news of Major Washington's defeat, at his camp
at the Big Meadows, 64 miles above Coesaps, on the 3d
instant. At Winchester he met Col. Innes, who now commands
the whole troops, who had the following intelligence from
Major Washington, viz.
That two days before the attack, he had advice of the
march of the French from their fort, by Monagatooth, and
made the necessary preparations for their reception. The
French and Indians marched up within a small distance of the
camp, and beat their drums in such a manner, that Washington
judged them to be a good distance off; and then he ordered
to beat arms. Upon his beating to arms, they marched up in
sight, and beat their drums as usual, and immediately fired;
which the English returned very warmly for above three
hours: The French then beat a parley, and sent the English
a summons, of which the enclosed is a copy, and to which
they agreed: But no sooner had they delivered up the camp,
than the Indians got in, and pillaged them of all their
baggage and provisions, and shot down all their cows and
horses, and, in short, took every thing from them but their
p[o]wder, which they themselves destroyed, by throwing it in
the ditch that surrounds the camp; they also killed two of
the wounded, and scalp'd them, and three of the soldiers,
unhappy mortals !. . . [21, 2nd full para.]
The terms of capitulation granted by Monsieur De Villier,
Captain and Commander of the infantry of his most Christian
Majesty, to those English troops actually in Fort-Necessity,
which is built on te land of the King's Dominions. . . [4th
para.]
Article III. That we will allow the English all the
honours of War, and that they march out with drums beating,
and with a swivel gun, that we are willing to shew that we
treat them as friends. [2 more articles] July 3. 1754.
Boston. [7/8ths col in all.]
|