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owes vast obligations. For had it not been for him the Iroquois had been long since, established atMichilimaquina.
We learned from some prisoners who had escaped from the Senecas that this action had cost them45 men killed on the field, 25 of whom we had seen at the shambles; the others were seen buriedby this deserter, and over 60 very severely wounded.
On the next day, 14 th July, we marched to one of the large villages where we encamped. Wefound it burned and a fort quite nigh, abandoned ; it was very advantageously situated on a hill.
I deemed it our best policy to employ ourselves laying waste the Indian corn which was in vastabundance in the fields, rather than follow a flying enemy to a distance and excite our troops to catchonly some straggling fugitives.
We learned from deserters that the Senecas had gone to the English where they will not be allowedto want for anything necessary to make war on us. Since that time I have had no news of theenemy.
We remained at the four Seneca villages until the 24 th ; the two larger distant 4 leagues, and theothers two. All that time was spent in destroying the corn which was in such great abundance thatthe loss, including old corn which was in cache which we burnt and that which was standing, wascomputed according to the estimate afterwards made, at 400 thousand minots of Indian corn. 1 Thesefour villages must exceed 14 to 15 thousand souls. There was a vast quantity of hogs which werekilled ; a great many both of our Indians and French were attacked with a general rheum which putevery one out of humor.
’Tis an unfortunate trade, my lord, to command savages who, after the first broken head ask onlyto return home carrying with them the scalp which they lift off like a leather cap. You cannotconceive the trouble I had to detain them until the corn was cut.
During the whole time we were in the Senecas country we did not see a single enemy, whichcaused me divers alarms lest they had been at our batteaux, but terror and consternation deterredthem too much from effecting their first threats.
Returning to our batteaux I should have greatly wished to have been able to visit other villages,but the sickness, the extreme fatigue among all and the uneasiness of the savages who began to dis-band, determined me to proceed to Niagara to erect a fort there in their presence, and point outto them a sure asylum to encourage them to come this winter to war in small bodies.
I selected the angle of the Lake on the Seneca side of the river; it is the most beautiful, the mostpleasing and the most advantageous site that is on the whole of this Lake, the Map and plan ofwhich you will have if Sieur de Ville marie will take the trouble, for I tormented him considerablyfor it; I sent him expressly to Quebec that he may have nothing else to do.
This post being in a state of defence I left a hundred men there under the command of Sieur deTroyes who made the Northern expedition last year. He is a worthy fellow who richly deservessome share in the honour of your good graces and protection. He can be very useful to you inmany things; he is prudent and intelligent, very willing, and has well served on land.
This post has caused much joy to all our farther Indians, who having no place of retreat, scarcelydared to approach the enemy. They have made me great promises—especially our Illinois —toharass them this winter by a number of small parties.
M. de Tonty had returned with them designing to invite them to come. He could collect onlyvery few savages because an alarm had been spread among them of a large body of Senecas havingdeparted last fall on a war expedition against them, which fell through on the information Mr. Don-gan gave the Senecas that I was about to attack them; yet, as this large force had marched six days,
J 1 A minot is equal to three bushels.