The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART I.] PRIVATE LETTERS. 333
mine. It seems he has made a prosperous beginning,
having penetrated into the heart of the country, and he
is now advancing his troops in high health and spirits to
the relief of Fort Loudoun. But let him be wary. He
has a crafty, subtle enemy to deal with, that may give
him most trouble when he least expects it.* We are
in pain here for the king of Prussia, and wish Hanover
safe, these being events in which we are much interested.
My indulging myself in a trip to England depends
upon so many contingencies, which, in all probability,
may never occur, that I dare not even think of such a
gratification. Nothing, however, is more ardently desired. But Mrs. Washington and myself would both
think ourselves very happy in the opportunity of showing you the Virginia hospitality, which is the most agreeable entertainment we can give, or a stranger expect to
find, in an infant, woody country, like ours.
I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.' Such proved in fact to. be the fate of Colonel Montgomery. He
marched from South Carolina with a party of regular troops and militia, and
was at first successful in destroying several Indian towns, but fell at length
into an ambuscade, where the Indians defeated him, with the loss of twenty
of his men killed, and seventy-six wounded. He was obliged to retreat,
and return to South Carolina, without making any farther progress. Fort
Loudoun, situate on the borders of the Cherokee country, was reduced to
the greatest extremity by hunger, and the garrison forced to capitulate
to the Indians, who agreed to escort the officers and men in safety to
another fort. They were, however, made the victims of treachery; for the
day after their departure a body of savages waylaid them, killed some, and
captured the others, whom they took back to Fort Loudoun.- Ramsay's
History of South Carolina, Vol. I. p. 177.