Both Expresses then went to Esopus -- and the People were called under arms on Wednesday & discharged and ord^. to appear next day. But that he met one Cap*. Elpendorph with 50 Troopers on Thursday Night 20 miles from Albany, who when he first heard the News push'd off with these Men without waiting for Orders.

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 691

BATTLE OF LAKE GEORGE.

[Loiul. Mag. xxiv.]

GEN^. JOHXSON TO THE GOVERNORS' OF THE SEVERAL COLONIES. Camp at Lake George, Septr. 9. 1755 Gentlemen,

Sunday cvuning the 7'^^. instant I received intelligence from some Indian scouts I had sent out, that they had discovered three large roads about the South Bay, and were confident a very considerable number of the enemy were marched, or on their march towards our encampment at the Carrying-place, where were posted about 250 of the New Hampshire troops, and five companies of the New York regiment.. I got one Adams, a waggoner, who voluntarily and bravely consented to ride express with my orders to colonel Blanchard of the New Hampshire regiment, commanding officer there. I acquainted him with my intelligence, and directed him to withdraw all the troops there within the works thrown up. About half an hour, or near an hour after this, I got two Indians and two soldiers to go on foot \\ith another letter to the same purpose.

About twelve o'clock that night the Indians and soldiers returned with a waggoner who had stole from the camp, with about eight others their waggoners and forces without orders. This waggoner says they heard and saw the enemy about four miles from this side the Carrying-place. They heard a gun fire, and a man call upon heaven for mercy, which he judged to be Adams. The next morning I called a council of war, who gave it as their opinion, and in which the Indians were extremely urgent that 1000 men should be detached, and a number of their people would go with them, in order to catch the enemy in their retreat from the other camp, either as victors, or defeated in their design.