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Hond: Sr

I want words to express the miserable state of this poore Countrey—For Coll: Moore (who is a gentleman seemingly of great worth) not finding provisions ready at Bath County for his forces, was necessitated wth all his Indians, being about nine hunder, to march into this County wher they must by destroying the place until provision is carryed round, and men raysed here to join them—The want of having provision carryed round was cheifly occasioned by the ignorance and obstinacy of our Assembly, of all wch Capt Jones can give yr honr a particular account—

Now being informed by Coll: Moor that the Tuscororoes have taken into their Forts, having in his comeing in laid three days befor on of them, And thought it unadvisable to stay longer, being in want of provisions, Tools and some more whitt men, his indians not being very ready in attacking Forts wth out English—For wch reason, what men of ours can be raysed must March wth him, who are generally badly provided in clothing to march this season—

Wherfor would earnestly entreat yr: honor to order the duffells for us at Mr John Cottons at Blackwater, Likewise a dosen spades, twenty brass pans, and about fifty or sixty hand granads, they being very necessary for the ready takeing of the Forts. I shall have a boat or cannoe at John Cottons on Monday nixt. It will be of extraordinary service to the Countrey at this time For the Army being, to march out the first of the nixt month, If it come not before that time shall have no men to goe out—

As for yr: honors disposing of the money by your Assembly, it being impracticable for any of yr Forces to come at this time, not only by reason of the Badness of the season, and the want of provisions being yet carryed round, but chiefly to have yr Forces as a reserve. For I hope that Coll: Moore, wth his, and some of our men will be able to reduce our enemy Indians to a low Condition by the midle of Febry next; by wch time it is probable that many of Coll: Moores' Indians, having got Slaves or other Booty may desert. Only about two or three hunder wch Coll: Moor doubts not he can keep, so that If then we can have some forces from you, they may be a great means to give the finishing stroke & bring enemys that ar left to a Peace on Reasonable terms. And intend to send in ane agent in Convenient time before them, at wch time yr: honor may order matters as you shall see the posture of our affairs at that time requires, of wch shall particularly informe yr honor from time to time—I have ofteu complaints brought to me of the insolency of the Meherrin Indians on this syde Meherrin River, wth a jealousy of their Killing and driveing back the peoples stocks, on John Beverly, who lives near them, againstt whom they have a great hatred, haveing had a mare or twoe shot lately—Also having ordered the Rangers and hunters, for to take upe any Indians they should meet wth on this syde Meherrin River; and haveing taken on of them, brought him in to the for sd Beverlys—in a little time about eighteen of the Meherrin Indians came upe, most of them armed and forced them to lett loose the indians they had taken, giveing them threatening and abusive language—so that besydes their Killing the peoples stocks, supplying the Tuscaroroes wth

ammunition, i am in great doubt they may doe further mischeif on this shore, and lay it on other indians—All wch I hope yr: honor will either redress; or not take offence If wee take such measures wth them as wee shall see most for our own safty—Tom Blunt, the indian comeing in befor I had finished hath hindered my sending thes two dayes, so that i beleive if the boat or cannoe for the duffells be at Mr Cottons by Wednesday the last of this month, it may be time enough—Coll: Moore hath promised Tom Blunt, (upon his being true to the English) protection, and to secure him and the people of his Fort from his indians—Tom Blunt is very desirous of having in, his brother (as he cals him) and his cousine now in your prison, whom the Bearer Wm Charleton our interpreter knows—whom if your honor will be so favourable as to let us have them sent to Mr Cottons, to be brought downe in our boat it will be a great Kindness, and may be of great service to us, Blunt accusing us, for giveing him nothing for all he is done only words, as he says—He had intended to have come or sent in now, to yr: honor, But Coll: Moore intending to march in by his towne, he thought it necessary for him to be at his towne; of all wch our interpreter can give you a full account—

Hond Sr, I am ashamed that necessity forces me to trouble yo fo much. But I doubt not ye will consider our present Condition, And Continue yr Favours to us, wch shall be planted in indelible charectars in his heart, who is

Hond: Sr

Tom Blunt just now informes me of on
Meherrin Indian latly at his towne, named
Tut-sech, bas: queat—so that it is not to
be doubted but that they supply them wth
what ammunition they use and cary what
newes they know of—wch I doubt not yr
honor will consider

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