PAPERS,RELATING TO THE ONEIDA COUNTRY AND MOHAWK VALLEY. 337

there heard this,’he came on to us with the account that night; and as soon as we received it we senta belt of Wampum to confirm the truth thereof, to the Flats, which came here the day before theEnemy made their attack ; but the people would not give credit to the account even then, or theymight have saved their lives * This is the truth, and those Germans here present know it to be so.The aforesaid Germans did acknowledge it to be so; and that they had such intelligence.

rir’/von'r l.nncUAV

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM ALBANY,

DATED THE 13 th INSTANT, BEING A RELATION OF THE MURDER COMMITTED AT THE GERMAN FLATTS,NEAR FORT HERCHAMER, BY 80 INDIANS AND 4 FRENCHMEN.,

[ N. Y, Mercury, May 22, 1758. ] ,

About 12 o’clock, on Monday the 30th of April last an Oneida Indian acquainted Captain Hercha-mer that a Party of 80 Indians and four Frenchmen , were nigh his fort, and would certainly comedown and attack the settlements that Day, and advised Capt Harchamer to go into the Fort and takeas many of the Inhabitants with him, as he could collect. About 3 o’Clock, most Part of the Inhabitants, having Notice from Capt Herchamer, left their Houses and assembled at the Fort; fouiFamilies, that fled from Henderson’s Purchase in the spring for fear of the Enemy, could not get in,and had in their Houses two Indian Traders, of the name of Clock , and six Waggoners that were carry-ing Capt. Gage’s Baggage to the Fort . At 4 o’clock, all of a sudden, the Houses were attacked and theWaggoners being surprized, run up stairs, the better to defend themselves. The Indians immediatelyrushed into the House, and killed and scalped all that were below ; some of the Indians attempted t iestairs, but they were knocked down by the Waggoners; they then fired up thro’ the Loft, and soon werejoined by more Indians who fired many shot quite thro’ the House, and proposed to set it on fire, whichintimidated John Ehel, a Waggoner, to such a Degree, that he leap’d out at a window, thinking to ma ehis Escape, but was soon killed; the other five defended themselves with great Intrepidity, havingfilledone Indian, until they were relieved by a Party of Rangers, who came to their assistance, and alterexchanging a few Shot the Indians fled, seeing our People have the advantage of a Log Fence. • •Capt. Herchamer says he saw four or five of the Indians drop, but were carried off.- -^ n a °.affair, 33 of the Inhabitants were killed, & Lieut . Hair, of the Rangers, received a slight othe Breast. . . . Next day some Oneidas came down to Trade, and met the Enemy going o ,who told them they had 6 of their Company killed, and 9 Wounded. Next Morning a oman cam, into the Fort that had been scalped, besides having her Nose almost cut off, with a oun in lerBreast, and another in her side. She is likely to recover, related all that happened till she was scalped,and says there was Onondado Indians amongst them.

js still incredulous, the next morning*, just before the

• The Indians who brought this belt of Wampum finding the Germ • the river- bv which

.. , „ 0 manner forced him over to the other side of the river, Dy wnitn

attack began, laid hold on the German Minister, and in a mannemeans he and some who followed him escaped the fate of their brethen.

[VOL. I.]

43