The Council advised his Excellency to issue a Proclamation Ordaining and appointing Thursday the second day of October next, to be set a part and observed throughout this province as a day of publick thanksgiving to Almighty God for his singular dehverance from our Enemies. Which his Excellency ordered accordingly.

GENL JOHNSON TO THE BOARD OF TRADE.

Camp at Lake George 24 Sepr 1755

My Lords

I had the honour to write your Lordships the S^ Inst & thought myself under the necessity of laying open (to me) a very desagreable Scene.

Since my last Said letter, the Enemy paid us a visit at this Camp, we were So happy as to give them a pretty Severe repulse & took their General, The Baron De Dieskau who commands ail the French Kings Troops m Canada, Prisoner.

As I make no Doubt but the Gen^ Letter w^l^ I wrote to the Several Governments who raised Troops on this Expedition or tiie particulars drawn from it of the actions & events of the 8'i»

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 699

Ins^ has before now been transmitted to bis Majcscy's ministers, I shall not now interupt your Lordships with any Repetition of that narrative.

The next day after this affair, the Indians acquainted me that they proposed to returne home as was their constant Custom after an Engagm*. wherein they had met with any considerable Loss -- for what passed on this occasion in a publick way, I refer your Lordships to the inclosed minutes. They told me in private that one prevailing motive for their return home was that as the French Indians & they had now drawn the Sword against each other they expecied the Enemy might fall on their Settlements, & therefore it was necessary for their general Safety to go home & put their people on their Guard, call Councills & take eveiy needful precaution, and that when I should acquaint them that we were ready to go forward with the expedition & fix a Day for their Return they would come more in number & with a Determination of Revenge upon their Enemy -- they lost about 30 of their people & among w^h many eminent Sachems & warriors very faithful to our Interest, they Sustained the chief attack from the Enemy in the morning action, and they complained to me that they were Sacrificed by the Backwardness & flight of our People, & I fear from the most impartial acc^s they had reason -- every one of their officers who were in the Engagm* were Slain.