6th.—It was a cold morning; we swam our horses over the river, the ice running violently. Mr. Croghn told me that the Indians had spoke, upon the same string that I had, to Colonel Bouquet, and altered their mind; and had agreed and desired that 200 men should stay at the fort. I refused to make any alteration in the answer to the general, till I myself did hear it of the Indians; at which Mr. Croghn grew very angry. I told him I had already spoke with the Indians; he said, it was a d—d lie; and desired Mr. Hays to enquire of the Indians, and take down in writing what they said. Accordingly he called them, and asked them, if they had altered their speech, or spoke to Colonel Bouquet on that string they gave me. Shingas and the other counsellor said, they had spoken nothing to Colonel Bouquet on the string they gave me, but what was agreed between the Indians at Kushkushking. They said, Mr. Croghn and Henry Montour had not spoke and acted honestly and uprightly; they bid us not alter the least, and said, “We have told them three times to go back; but they will not go, insisting upon staying here. Now you will let the governor, general, and all people know, that our desire is, that they should go back, till the other nations have joined in the peace, and then they may come and build a trading house.”
They then repeated what they had said the 5th instant. Then we took leave of them, and promised to inform the general, governor, and all other gentle people of their disposition; and so we set out from Pittsburg, and came within fifteen miles of the breast-work; where we encamped. It snowed, and we made a little cabbin of hides.
7th.—Our horses were fainting, having little or no food. We came that day about twenty miles, to another breast-work; where the whole army had encamped on a hill; the water being far to fetch.
8th.—Between Pittsburg and fort Ligonier the country is hilly, with rich bottoms, well timbered, but scantily watered. We arrived at fort Ligonier in the afternoon, about four o’clock; where we found the general very sick; and therefore could have no opportunity to speak with him.
9th.—We waited to see the general; they told us he would march the next day, and we should go with him. Captain Sinclair wrote us a return for provisions for four days.
10th.—The general was still sick; so that he could not go on the journey.
11th.—We longed very much to go farther; and therefore spoke to Major Halket,[110] and desired him to enquire of the general, if he intended to speak with us, or, if we might go; as we were in a poor condition, for want of linen, and other necessaries. He desired us to bring the Indians’ answer, and our journal to the general. Mr. Hays read his journal to Major Halket and Governor Glen.[111] They took memorandums, and went to the general.
12th.—They told us we should stay till the general went.
14th.—The general intended to go; but his horses could not be found. They thought the Indians had carried them off. They hunted all day for the horses, but could not find them. I spoke to Colonel Bouquet about our allowance being so small, that we could hardly subsist; and that we were without money; and desired him to let us have some money, that we might buy necessaries. Provisions, and every thing is exceeding dear. One pound of bread cost a shilling; one pound of sugar four shillings, a quart of rum seven shillings and six pence, and so in proportion. Colonel Bouquet laid our matters before the general; who let me call, and excused himself, that his distemper had hindered him from speaking with me; and promised to help me in every thing I should want, and ordered him to give me some money. He said farther, that I often should call; and when he was alone he would speak with me.