having had an examination & review of Men & things as they passed by & bringing up the Rear.

I know not what to say to the Carolina War. The South Carolina Gazette brings matters down to the 4th of this Instant, and is full of little marches & attacks of Indians. On the whole it is hard to say whether there will not be a general Conjunction of the Indians against us, tho' Fort Loudon keeps its Ground, & will be relieved by Col. Montgomerys detachm

No Fleet to the Baltick, his Majesty of Denmark joyning in the particulars with the Russian Court and the Ministers not caring at this time to provoke him.

Gen! Stanwix had a fine Wind to get off the American shore and has made a good part of his Passage.

There are no Letters to any in this Town from London since the 13th April of any significance.

Be pleased to send the inclosed to M: Young. My Compliments to Major Gates, Mr Russel & all my Friends.

We arrived here yesterday at 10 in the morning having not been able to get in the 16th The distance being at least 20 miles more than was reported, and the latter Part of the Road so swampy that had we had Rain, we could not have been here for 8 days. Major Gladwin would not embark yesterday, as the first Place where he can land is 30 miles off, but I saw them all on board early this morning.

I have heard nothing yet of Col. Mercer, but expecting him every moment, I would not detain any men of Major Gladwin and as the navigation is full of difficulties, and the Coast very dangerous, I sent Lieut. Weeden of the Virginia Detachm with six men to Niagara that we may have Pilots if wanted.

Major Gladwin desired I would make an apology to you for his not answering your Letters, he could neither get me a Copy of the Draft of his Voyage which he promised to send from Niagara, and I recommended to Major Walters to forward it with what Provisions he could conveniently spare in sending Back Lieut. Weeden.

They could only spare us two Whale boats, and two more are to be left on this side Niagara, where there is a little stockaded Post and a serjeants Guard.

We find here a good Retrenchment of fascines and a little garden made by Major Gladwyn who has done a considerable Work in the 11 days he waited for us.

You will see, by the Return of our Provisions, what he has spared us; having kept only 8 days for the Detachment with him.

We left two men of the Virginians sick at Custologa Town, with a third to take care of them. I depend upon Col. Mercer to day, or we would be too Weak.

I have not seen Croghan since the 14th nor any of his Indians, and was again disappointed for the Express he promised me, which put it out of my Power to inform you of our Proceedings. It was happy for us to have Hutchins, or we would have been in danger of loosing our Way, with those drunken Guides.

I have settled as far as I could with the Drivers who are gone back with their Horses. I recommended to Capt. Patterson to make them take with them any of their Horses left on the Road. Inclosed is the state of the whole. (NB. I. gave it to Patterson.)

You will permit me to recommend to you Hutchins and

Patterson, who have been of very great service in this March and deserve to be rewarded.

Our flour is much damaged by the Sweat and sore Backs of the Horses that had no saddles, and if any more is to be sent hereafter, I think it would carry better upon what they call Wooden saddles which is a frame upon saggings, and that every load of flour should be put in two small Bags of about 90 each, tied together to make a well poised Load. The Horses would easily be loaded and unloaded, and the Bags could not fall in the ascent or descent, some of which are extremely steep. Horses so equipped with one Driver to six, could go 20 miles a day.

I inclose you a scrawl of the situation of this Post such as it appears to the Eye, but without any Proportion. Mr Basset will in time make a regular Survey of the Environs.

There is no grass about this place, and we must build a Flatt to carry our Beeves to the Peninsula where there are Meadows; some scythes are wanted to make Hay.

I shall not close my Letter till night in hopes to see Col. Mercer.

SIR,

half an hour past 12 o'clock.

I received this moment a Paquet from Col. Mercer who encamped last night at le Bouef, and expects to be here this afternoon.

I am very sorry that your letter for Gen! Amhorn came too late. It would be impossible for a Whaleboat to overtake Major Gladwin, and as there is no Landing (as they told me) for 30 miles, the People would be lost in the night. As I foresee no opportunity to forward it for a long time, I must send those dispatches back to you.

I cannot return the Flour Bags, till we get some covered Place to lodge the flour. There is not a single Hut here, and as for an Escort with the Pack Horses, I could not

But as the

possibly spare a man in the situation I was. Indians have behaved very civilly to us, & Cap Croghan who is just arrived assuring me that there is no danger, I think they could do without, But I shall send a serjeants Party of the Virginians to morrow with Col. Mercer's Horses, which will overtake the others.

We have kept here all the spare ammunition leaving only what the R. A. had in their Pouches and the 12 Rounds more per man is an equivalent for what was left by Major Gladwyn, whose men have only 8 Rounds. He had orders to take back his Tools. We have lost very few of them on the Road, having severely punished the first man who lost one. I cannot get a Return of them now but shall send it after Capt. Atleys arrival.

The 18th in the Evening.

Colonel Mercer is arrived with his Detachment 6 Beeves, 6 sheep, 11 Bags of flour, 7 Kegs of Rum & some Tools. Upon a rough calculation we have five Weeks Flour and Six Meat for 400 Men.

I beg you will send me your orders concerning the manner of paying the Labourers & artificers who are soldiers, as they have been always paid at Pittsburgh, or had Rum. If they are deprived of either, our Works will go on slowly. Cap: Croghan who setts out to-morrow morning will deliver you this.

I am Sir,

Your most obedt & most hble. servant

HENRY BOUQUET.

BOUQUET TO MONCKTON

SIR,

PRESQU' ISLE 19th July Evening.

Part

I am sorry to give you the trouble of another Letter. Capt. Croghan had this morning Intelligence that a Party of Wyandots and Taways of 20 men were lurking about this Place, and had been seen by an Indian of the Six Nations whom he sent back in quest of them with a string of Wampum to invite them to come to the Fort. were already embarked and the rest have followed them, having given assurances that they were not come with any Intention of hurting us, but only to reconnoitre by order of the Commanding officer at Detroit if any Forces were going that Way. We are upon our Guards, and no Body is suffered to go out of the Camp without orders. That Incident having detained Mr Croghan here, an officer of the light Infantry is arrived in a Whaleboat from Major Gladwyn's Detachment, in quest of three deserters who left them this morning at 35 miles from hence. Inclosed are their description in case they should appear at any of our Ports.

This gives me a favourable opportunity to forward your Letter to General Amherst, and to write to Niagara for a Forge and a Smith, and several other heavy articles wanted here, tho' I am [in] doubt if Major Walters will take upon himself to send me those articles besides Provisions and ammunition, as he has no orders from you. We begin to-morrow our Works, which I am afraid will take us too much time for want of several Tools and Necessarys a list of which (a frightfull one) Basset incloses to Cap Gordon. I am &c.

H. BOUQUET.

General MONCKTON.