Aug. 29th, 1755.
Sir:
I wrote You the 28th Ulto., to w'ch please be refer'd. There appears to me an Infatuat'n attend'g the Proceedings of our Army. The Gen'l did not keep Scouts out to discover the Enemy, who were lurking in the Woods, surpriz'd them on their March, and made great Destruct'n. After y't fatal Day, if Colo. Dunbar had entrench'd himself at the Meadows and sent in to the different Gov'rs for Reinforcements, I sh'd have sent him out 1,000 Men; but he destroy'd every Th'g at his Camp, march'd in to F't Cumberl'd, and in a great hurry in the middle of Summer march'd for Winter q'rs, leav'g our Country open (by the new Road to the Ohio) to the Insults of a barbarous Enemy. He left at F't Cumb'l'd ab't 300 Sick and Wounded and the Remains of the Provincial Troops, y't were not above 70 fit for Duty. That now being depriv'd of the Assistance expected from our neighbour'g Colonies to execute the above Design, I am oblig'd to augm't our Forces to 1,000 Men to defend our Frontiers, and to be entirely on the Defensive. I hear Y'r Son has well recover'd his Sight. His Co'y and the other Provincials, after the
March of the Regulars, deserted daily, y't I fear there are but few at the Fort. Excuse the length of this L'r, and believe me to be with great Regard and very much hurried,
P. S.—Since writing the above, S'r Jno. St. Clair came here from F't Cumb'l'd, says Y'r Son is well, and enclos'd You have a Let'r from him. I do not yet hear any Th'g of the Steers You were to send to the Army; as the regular Forces are gone there will be no more wanted. Many of Y'r Son's Co'y have deserted, and ab't a Fortnight ago some of them went throw this Co'ty with Horses, &c., w'ch they stole from the Fort. I wish You may find them out to punish them and to recover the Horses. S'r Jno. is not yet recover'd of his Wound; he tells me Colo. Dunbar is gone for Albany. Y'rs, &c.
Inclos'd is a List of Deserters from Y'r Son's Company.