[Pamphlets. American history]

18
seven of their number, retired. Only two of the garrison were
killed.*
In the early spring of this year (1778), the Moravian mission
upon the Muskingum was thrown into great consternation by a
letter bearing an official seal, purporting to be from Gov. HAMILTON, commanding them to put themselves at the head of their
Indians and march against the " rebels," whom they were to attack on their farms and in their settlements, slaying them without mercy, and bringing their scalps to Detroit. They did not
at the time suspect a forgery, but it was probably the work of
some miscreant in the British service, plotting mischief, for it is
difficult to believe that such a paper could have issued from a
British officer.
This letter was followed up by a visit from ELLIOTT, McKEE,
and some deserters from Pittsburgh, who, by persuasions and
falsehoods, sought to induce the Delawares to take up the hatehet; but the effort failed, through the wise intrepidity of the
missionary HECKEWELDER.
In the mean time great preparations were being made by Congress for an expedition into the Indian country, and perhaps
against Detroit itself, with a force of 3,000 men; but the men
and munitions were both wanting. Gen. McINTosH came to
Pittsburgh in the Spring with 500 troops. Soon after he built
Fort McIntosh near the mouth of the Big Beaver, where in October he assembled 1,000 men, and marched to the Tuscarawas
river, and erected Fort Laurens, and garrisoning it with 150
men, in command of Col. GIBsoN, returned to Fort Pitt; thus
leaving this garrison in the Indian country beyond the reach of
succor-too weak for aggressive or even defensive warfare.
But the most notable event of this year in the West, and one
of the most notable events of the war, was the conquest of Kaskaskia and the other British posts in Illinois and on the Wabash
by GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. The circumstances attending this
conquest are full of stirring and romantic interest, while the
consequences flowing from it were most momentous. The events
of the campaign are so fully narrated in every local and general
* Here aoain the dates in printed accounts are corrected by original manuscripts in
3Mr DRAPER's possession. The name of Capt. Du QUESNE is also given as the commander of this expedltion. On Mr. DRAPE,'s authority, I give the proper orthography
of th namie of tais Briti-h_-diban leader as CHENE. He also accompanied Capt. BIIRD's
expeditio..