Ardent hostilities between the French and English-Thirteen persons murdered near Will's creek--James Smith waylaid; his companion killed and scalped by the Indians-Forts and Block-houses erected along the Frontiers--A fort commenced at Shippensburg---Braddock's defeat encourages the French and their Indian allies--Frontier settlers again petition government for protection---Plans for defence of the Frontiers--Governor Morris's language in relation to Braddock's defeat---Twenty-five persons carried off at Penn's creek; buildings burnt; several persons killed and scalped, viz: Jacques Le Roy, or Jacob King and others---Four men killed by the Indians, who were returning from Shamokin to Harris's ferry--Extensive settlements deserted---Harris's letters touching the above massacre--Weiser's letters--Harris's letter---Anecdote from Hecke welder's narrative-Frontier settlers abandon their homes--Murders committed in the Great Cove-Chambers's letter; Potter's letter; Armstrong's letter; Burd's letter; Hoop's letter, touching the murder committed in Big Cove---Five persons killed near Tullyhoes gap---Murders committed in Shearman's valley---Weiser's letter alluding thereto.

Clonds of portentous indication were fast gathering, and excited general alarm; for actual hostilities between the French, aided by their Indian allies, and the English in America, had commenced. Reinforcements, by poth parties, to strike the decisive blow most fatally, were effected. The crisis was an eventful one. The inhabitants of the frontiers were all in a panic-the Indians, true to their character, when enemies, struck whenever an opportunity presented itself— neither sex nor age was spared. Sometime in the latter part of June, 1755, they killed thirteen men, women and children, about four miles from Wills' creek, on the borders of Penn

sylvania. The following extract of a letter is submitted in proof:

William Allen, Esq.
Dear Cousin:

SHIPPENSBURG, 30 June, 1755.

[Mr. Shippen speaking of the recovery of his son Joseph, who had been dangerously ill]-adds-" But the reason of my sending this letter is to acquaint you that Mr. Joseph Simons is just come from the Little Meadows, and assures me that last Monday, the Indians killed six men, women and children; and on Wednesday killed seven more. He saw one man who made his escape, who was shot in the mouth and thigh, and a boy was knocked down and thought to be dead, and scalped, and afterwards coming to himself and ran into the Potomack, and in a short time called aloud for assistance. The boy saw the Indian scalping his mother as he was coming to. [These were killed four miles from Wills' creek. I. D. R.]

The General (Braddock) it is supposed is by this time a few miles beyond the Great Meadows. He has but thirty days provisions with him his dependance is upon having continental supplies from this Province; but there is still a good quantity at Wills' creek; but I doubt without a guard of a hundred men at least, they will be intercepted on the road.

Captain Hogg, with his company, is with the Road-cutters; and while Mr. Burd was absent last week riding about Conococheague with me, last Monday, to get wagons to carry provisions to feed the men and the soldiers; for those people had but a day and a half provision when he came away. I say, in his absence, there were fourteen of Hogg's men deserted, as Justice Allison, of Lancaster county says, and more were expected to go every day-a melancholy story, indeed.

I am exceedingly sorry that it has not been practicable to send two hundred fusees for the Road-cutters. John Potter, the sheriff, tells me that his son and a few more ought to set off to-morrow with forty head of cattle to support the Road-cutters and Captain Hogg's men; but that the people are so alarmed about the Indians that he cannot think it safe to venture them out unless he can intercede with twenty or thirty of his neighbors to guard them. If money could be raised to pay a hundred men for three months, it would be a most extraordinary thing. A subscription might do a great deal towards it. It is important to keep the cutters in good spirits; for if Capt. Hogg's men should incline to desert, I am apprehensive, that unless Mr. Burd's workmen can be put in a posture of defence, they will run away homewards. But I hope this can be prevented. EDWARD SHIPPEN.

The following letter from John Harris to Conrad Weiser, dated June 30, 1754, at Paxton, confirms the above, as to those murdered at Wills creek.

"I am sorry that I have occasion to inform you of such melancholy news. On Monday, the 22d inst. were killed and scalped three

persons by Indians, near our fort, at Wills creek. And within three days after, upwards of twenty of our inhabitants have been killed or taken, near Fort Cumberland. William Chesney is come home, who saw a little boy in our fort who was scalped last week, and likely to live. In short, there seems to be nothing but desolation on the Potomac. There was scarce an hour since the army marched, but news of alarm comes down the road, that it will probably be stopped by the enemy; one soldier was fired upon and killed. Our own Indians are strongly suspected, for several reasons: first, their deserting our army, all except about six men; and also, by English goods or arms found on one Indian killed last week by one Williams, which articles were delivered but lately out of our forts to Indians then there. I think it is advisable that you should use endeavors to find out if our Indians are concerned, so that we might, with the least delay, lay some scheme for revenge before they find time to use us as they have done our fellow subjects and acquaintances. We need men to be directly raised for our defence, and to guard provisions, &c., to our camp and army."

In June, 1755, the Indians had waylaid James Smith and another man in company with him, in the northwestern part of Cumberland county, (now Bedford,) shot his partner, took him captive-carried him to Fort Duquesne-after ending many hardships for several years, he was exchanged with other prisoners-returned home in 1760.

Smith afterwards published an interesting narrative of his captivity, in which he notices the murder of his companion and his abduction, as follows:

"In May, 1755, the province of Pennsylvania, agreed to send out three hundred men, in order to cut a wagon road from Fort Loudon, to join Braddock's road, near the Turkey Foot, or three forks of Youghiogeny. My brother-in-law, William Smith, Esq., of Conococheague, was appointed commissioner, to have the oversight of these road-cutters.

Though I was at that time only eighteen years of age, I had fallen violently in love with a young lady, whom I apprehended was possessed of a large share of both beauty and virtue; but being born between Venus and Mars, I concluded I must also leave my dear fair one, and go out with this company of road-cutters, to see the event of this campaign; but still expecting that some time in the course of this summer, I should again return to the arms of my beloved.

We went on with the road, without interruption, until near the Allegheny mountain; when I was sent back, in order to hurry up some provision wagons that were on the way after us. I proceeded down the road as far as the crossings of Juniata, where, finding the wagons were coming on as fast as

possible, I returned up the road again towards the Allegheny mountain, in company with one Arnold Vigoras. About four or five miles above Bedford, three Indians had made a blind of bushes, stuck in the ground, as though they grew naturally, where they concealed themselves, about fifteen yards from the road. When we came opposite to them, they fired upon us, at this short distance, and killed my fellow traveller, yet their bullets did not touch me; but my horse making a violent start, threw me, and the Indians immediately ran up, and took me prisoner. The one that laid hold on me was a Canasatauga, the other two were Delawares. One of them could speak English, and asked me if there were any more white men coming after? I told them not any near, that I knew of. Two of these Indians stood by me whilst the other scalped my comrade: they then set off and ran at a smart rate, through the woods, for about fifteen miles, and that night we slept on the Allegheny mountain, without fire."

To protect themselves against the incursions of the Indians and consequent destruction of the settlements, the inhabitants, encouraged by government, began to erect forts and blockhouses in various parts along the frontiers-now within the limits of Bedford, Franklin, Cumberland and Dauphin counties. Some time in July, 1755, preparations were made to erect a fort in Shippensburg, which was completed in the fall of the same year.

Charles Swain wrote to Governor Morris, from Shippensburg, July 30th, 1755, and mentioned that a piece of ground had been pitched on to erect a fort upon.

"I have first to inform you that two Indians came here, one named Chiregea, and the other called the Song, to see if they could have any assistance and provision, is their message. They have left behind five Wyandots, and two others of the Five Nations, who did not choose to come along with these, who were to return to them in two days, to the place where they left them, fourteen or fifteen miies beyond the Hills of Tuscarora Path. I have given them entertainment, also a pass, and forwarded them to Conrad Weiser. I sent enelosed an affidavit from three persons come from the road. A defeat, I believe is beyond doubt. Mr. Burd is gone to Fort Cumberland. I suppose the people will now come fast into these parts; and shall use all expedition in forwarding a Fort. I have pitched on a piece of ground of Mr. Shippen's, and the timber about here is all his, therefore should be glad he was to write about it-if your Honor thought proper, that there may be no afterclaps on his part."

Shortly after Gen. E. Braddock's defeat, July 9, 1755,

the French and their Indian allies, encourged by their success, pushed their incursions into the interior parts of the frontier settlements-into York, Cumberland, Lancaster, Berks and Northampton counties. These counties were scenes of murder, burning of houses, &c., for a period of about ten years. The apprehensions of those who feared the direful consequences of Braddock's defeat were sadly realized. The massacres which followed this defeat were horrible beyond description. Shinges* and Captain Jacobs were supposed to have been the principal instigators of them, and a reward of seven hundred dollars was offered for their heads. It was at this period, that the dead bodies of some of the murdered and mangled were sent from the frontiers to Philadelphia, and hauled about the streets, to inflame the people against the Indians, and also against the Quakers, to whose mild forbearance was attributed a laxity in sending out troops. The mob surrounded the house of Assembly, having placed the dead bodies at its entrance, and demanded immediate succor. At this time the above reward was offered.-Drake's Ind. His. v. 22.

The inhabitants, as they had done the previous years, again renewed their petitions to government; and also united to resist, if possible, the French and their savage allies, as will appear from the following:

The humble petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of Lurgan township, in Cumberland county, amicably unite as a company, under the care and command of Mr. Alexander Culbertson :-Showeth, that inasmuch as we dwell upon the frontiers our case is lamentably dangerous, we being in such imminent peril of being inhumanly butchered by our savage neighbors, whose tender mercies are cruelty; and if they should come upon us now, we are naked and defenceless; being in a great measure destitute of arms and ammunition. What would be the event?

• King Shingas, as he was called by the whites, but whose proper name was Shingask, which is interpreted, Bogmeadow, was the greatest Delaware warrior at that time. Heckewelder, who knew him personally, says, Were his war exploits all on record, they would form an interesting document, though a shocking one. Conococheague, Bigboor, Shearman's valley and other settlements along the frontier, felt his strong arm sufficiently, that he was a bloody warrior,-cruel his treatment, relentless his fury. His person was small, but in point of courage and activity, savage prowess, he was said to have never been exceeded by any one. In 1753, when Washington was on his expedition to the French on the Ohio, (Allegheny)-Shingas-where Pittsburg now is, but in 1756-had his house at Kittaning. See Bedford country, article Fort Littleton, and Armstrong letter there inserted.