Sir
As Mr. Elliot is going to town j take this opportunity, to acquaint your Excellency, that on the 25th ultimate, john Brown and McClain, another Villian like him, j being afraid to be talen up Stold Horses & went away, a little Distance from the Fort, they met a Soldier Thos. Thompson of my Company who was looking after a Horse, they persuaded him to go with them to look after Beavers Traps, great Search was made after the Soldier, and jndian the night after said that Brown had hired him, to go with him down the River for Some Beavers Traps, that hw was Surprised to See them ride So hard, for theu went to a place, where the little Carpenter had left Some Canoes when he cam from War, which is 50 Miles from hence. He said that when they saw the Canow, they seemed very glad, they wanted him to go with them in the Canoe a little further, but he did not like their talk, he saw them going down the River, he then being afraid to stay there by himself, as it is the Enemy Path, he took one of the best Horses, and came away as fast as he could. Immediately j sent to old Hop and Standing Turkey to tell them what had happened, and promised 300 weight of Leather to any jndian that would go after them, and bring them a live, or their Scalps they sent me word, that it was impossible for them to go to the Enemy, because of the great Quantity of jndians in those Parts, and on those Rivers
On the 2 jnstant, Woolinawah who did set of the 23 of March to go to War, arrived here, he said that he met on the Path, The Thick Leggs Warriour, they joined together and went great way on the Ohio River, and Met Nothing, as there were great many Sick among them; he came without the Thick Legg did not choose to come without doing Something. That they made a Bark Canoes and went with 19 towards the French Fort.
On the 12th of this Month, Mr. Turner, Mr. Marlin, the little Carpenter, and several others from Keowee, all very fine. Three Days after the Carpenter came and said, that as he had promised you Excellency, to go to Virginia, he Would go and fixed on the 21. and desired Mr. Turner to send the Powder and Presents that were in the Fort to Temocla to distribute among the Warriors, which the other did. When he handled them, I suppose he remembered himself and his friends. On the 17 he came, and said that he wanted to Stear to give to his People, j told him that is was to much and could not do it, but he insisted upon and said his People wanted it, but for fear to hinder the Expeditions tho j was most, Sure they did not intended. J told him he should haff one,and we the other, he answered very well. On the 21 he came in his laced Coat, and when they were all ready, he said don’t take the Pack Horses, let us go, and hear the Talk at Chotee, and went away when they came there, old Hop sent for the Conjurers and asked them what they had observed in their Conjuring Traps, they Said, that if they went, Every Thing Should be well for two Months, but afterwards there would be greadeal of Sickness Among them, and they Should not all come back the Same Path – and immediately it was agreed they should not go, Mr. Turner very much Surprised, told them, that they used him very ill, all was in vain, they did not mind him. He then desired them to Come the next Day to the Fort and declare before me what they had told him at Chotee, they said they would. Accordingly they came, and said that as they knew that Sickness was frequent in those Months, they were more afraid of them,than of the Enemy’s Guns. Then the Carpenter went on with his deceifull Tongue and, Said to Mr. Turner, you White People tell us Lyes, you Should have brought a larege belt of Wampon, and we should have belived you Sooner. When j heard these j said to him, you was not told Lyes in Charlestown, for j am sure that the Governor has told you, that this Gentleman was a beloved Man Send by the Great Warrior of the North, and you have told me, that you promised the Governor that you would go hand and hand with this Gentleman to Virgina. As he knew himself guilty he put himself in great Passion and Said that j was Thenee, that is Rogue, and that he has complained to your Excellency about me, j told him j did not care of this Complaints; that he was very Sensible that j always did Every thing in my Power to oblige the jndians, and that he himself knew that j never refused him any Thing that he asked, when it was in my Power, to grant it he then Smiled, and Said to the Linguister, as he and j are Warriors he must not mind what j Said, J love Said he, to Scold now and then with him.
In Case your Excellency likes the Tyger Skin that j sent you, and if you Should want any of other kind pray lett me know it, and j Shall do my best Endeavours to get them.
The Well is now finished, and very fine Water, it is lined from Topp to Boton with Boards. J have fenced the 700 acres of Land that were granted, and the Men have planted with great Difficutty their Field with jndian Corn, and Prospect of fine Crap.
J have recived lately Bacon and Hams from Keowee, some in very bad condtion, j had some examined, & Condemned, and Some ordered to be thrown in the Ri9ver, it is Mr. Crim’s fault it was never well cured, j do acquaint Mr. Stead with it.
J have lately recived intelligences from Several Parts, that Cherokees jndians that were come back Some with very good Apparels, Some wownded, and others have been killed on the Path. It is to true that Several of them Commited Hostilities on the back Settlements of Virginia, and Plundered their Houses, and Carried away great Gangs of horses, and that the White People could not bare theses Usages, followed them, and finding resistance fired on them, killed Some, wounded others, and Carried back what they finded. And j am informed that the jndians on our Settlement are very insensed against these; and have Swore vangance against our White People in those Parts the jndians here about pretend to Say, that they know nothing about it, and if it is so, they say that the jndians must be in fault, as they were invited there j shall Soon know the Truth of the Matter.
I AM,
Sir
Your Excellency’s
most obedient
and most humble Servant
Paul Demere
P.S. if your Excelleny thinks that This command, is not to be relived Soon. J wish you will order the cloathing To be sent, for the men wants it