Honble Sir: I acquainted your Honour by Mr. Ward with the determination, which we prosecuted 4 Days after his Departure, as soon as Waggons arrived to Convey our Provisions. The want of proper Conveyances has much retarded this Expedition, and at this time unfortunately delay'd the Detachment I have the Honour to command. Even when we came to Wills's Ck., my disappointments were not less than before, for there I expected to have found a sufficient number of pack Horses provided by Captn. Trent, conformable to his Promise, Maj. Carlyles Letters and my own, (that I might prosecute my first intention with light, expeditions Marches) but inst'd of th't, there was none in readiness, nor any in expectation, that I could perceive, which reduced me to the necessity of wait'g till Waggons c'd be procur'd from the Branch, 8 (40 Miles distant). However, in the mean time, I detach'd a party of 60 Men to make and amend the Road, which party since the 25th of Ap'l, and the main body since the 1st Inst't, have been laboriously employ'd, and have got no further than these Meadows, ab't 20 Miles from the new Store, 9 where we have been two Days making a Bridge across, and not done yet.
[Note:The South Branch of the Potomac River. ]
[Note:The Ohio Company's post at Wills Creek, erected in 1752 on the Virginia side of the Potomac. ]
The great difficulty and labour, that it requires to amend and alter the Roads, prevents our March'g above 2, 3, or 4 Miles
We Daily receive Intelligence from Ohio by one or other of the Traders, that are continually retreating to the Inhabitants with their Effects; they all concur, that the French are reinforced with 800 Men; and this day, by one Kalender, I received an acc't, which he sets forth as certain, that there is 600 at the Falls of Ohio, from whence they int'd to move up to the lower Shawno Town, at the mouth of Sciodo Ck. to Erect other Fortresses. He likewise says, that the forces at the Forks are Erect'g their works with their whole Force, and as he was coming met at Mr. Gist's new settlem't Monsieur La Force with 4 Sold'rs, who, under the specious pretence of hunting Deserters, were reconnoitring and discovering the Country. He also brings the agreeable news, that the Half King has receiv'd, and is much pleas'd with, the speech I sent them, and is now upon their March with 50 Men to meet us. The French down the River are sending presents and invitations to all the neighbouring Indians, and practising every means to influence them in their Interest.
We have heard nothing from the Catawbas, or any of the Southern Indians, tho' this is the time we mostly need their assistance. I have not above 160 Effective Men with me, since Captain Trent's have left us, who I discharg'd from this Detach't, and order'd them to wait your Honour's Com'ds at Captn Trent's for I found them rather injurious to the other Men, than Serviceable to the Exp'n, till they could be upon the same Establish't with us, and come under the rigor of the Martial Law. I am, &c.
[V.H.S]