| Citation |
BG.754.035
30 Jul 1754:22,31 (83)
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 the advice of the
march of the French from their fort, by Monagatootha, and
made the necessary preparations for their reception. The
French and Indians marched up within a small distance of the
camp, & beat their drums in such a manner, that Washington
judged them to be a good distance off; and then he ordered
to beat to 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 inclos'd is a copy, and to
which they agreed: But no sooner had they delivered up the
camp, than the Indians got in, and pilag'd them of all their
baggage and provisions, shot down all their cows and horses,
and, in short took every thing from them but their powder,
which they themselves destroyed, by throwing it in the ditch
that surrounds the camp;. . . [14 lines + 1 col]
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