16th.—Mr. Hays, being a hunting, was so lucky as to find the general’s horses, and brought them home; for which the general was very thankful to him.
17th.—Mr. Hays, being desired by Major Halket to go and look for the other horses, went, but found none.
18th.—The general told me to hold myself ready, to go with him down the country.
20th.—After we had been out two days, to hunt for our horses, in the rain, we went again to day, and were informed, they had been seen in a lost condition; one laying on the hill, and the other standing; they had been hoppled together; but a person told us, he had cut the hopples. When we came home we found the horses; they having made home to the fort.
22d.—It was cold and stormy weather.
23d.—I hunted for our horses, and having found them, we gave them both to the king’s commissary; they not being able to carry us farther.
The sergeant Henry Osten, being one of the company that guided us, as above mentioned, and was that same prisoner, whom the Shawanos intended to burn alive, came to day to the fort. He was much rejoiced to see us, and said, “I thank you a thousand times for my deliverance from the fire; and think it not too much to be at your service my whole life time.” He gave us intelligence that the Indians were, as yet, mightily for the English. His master had offered to set him at liberty, and bring him to Pittsburg if he would promise him ten gallons of rum; which he did; and he was brought safe to Pittsburg. Delaware George is still faithful to the English; and was very helpful to procure his liberty. Isaac Still, Shingas and Beaver are gone with the message to the nations living further off. When the French had heard that the garrison, at Pittsburg, consisted only of 200 men, they resolved to go down from Venango, and destroy the English fort. So soon as the Indians at Kushkushking, heard of their intention, they sent a message to the French, desiring them to draw back; for they would have no war in their country. The friendly Indians have sent out parties with that intention, that if the French went on, in their march towards the fort, they would catch them, and bring them to the English. They shewed to Osten the place, where eight French Indian spies had lain near the fort. By their marks upon the place they learned that these eight were gone back, and five more were to come to the same place again. He told us further, that the Indians had spoke among themselves, that if the English would join them, they would go to Venango, and destroy the French there. We hear that the friendly Indians intend to hunt round the fort, at Pittsburg, and bring the garrison fresh meat. And upon this intelligence the general sent Captain Wedderholz[112] with fifty men, to reinforce the garrison at Pittsburg.
25th.—The people in the camp prepared for a Christmas frolick; but I kept Christmas in the woods by myself.
26th.—To day an express came from Pittsburg to inform the general, that the French had called all the Indians in their interest together, and intended to come and destroy them there.