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.

258 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. L[ET. 25.
I detached in quest of the enemy, who committed the
late depredations in this neighbourhood, are returned,
after having prosecuted the most feasible measures, and
exerted their utmost efforts in vain, in endeavouring
to come up with the enemy and prevent their escape.
Nor is this in any degree surprising. When the vast
extent of country, the scattered condition of the inhabitants, the nature of the ground, and the disposition of the
enemy, are collectively considered, it is next to impossible, that any of our parties should ever see the enemy,
except when they possess such advantages as render
their victory certain.
The inhabitants of this valuable and very fertile valley
are terrified beyond expression. Some have abandoned
their plantations, and many are packing up their most
valuable effects to follow them. Another irruption into
the heart of this settlement will, I am afraid, be of fatal
consequence. I was always persuaded, and almost
every day affords new matter for confirming me in the
opinion, that the enemy can, with the utmost facility,
render abortive every plan, which can be concerted
upon our present system of defence; and that the only
method of effectually defending such a vast extent of
mountains covered with thick woods, like our frontiers,
against such an enemy, is by carrying the war into their
country. And I think I may, without assuming uncommon penetration, venture to affirm, that, unless an
expedition is carried on against the Ohio next spring,
this country will not be another year in our possession.
Sickness, and the different parties, which the distressed situation of affairs here obliged me to detach
from this garrison, so greatly retard the works, that the
finishing of even the principal parts of them, before the
winter sets in, will, I am afraid, prove impracticable.
I understand there is a mortar and a number of shells