The first accounts of Oswego put my Lord Loudoun upon designs of releiving it & by his directions I gathered all the Indians I could get together with the Militia, & took post at the German Flatts in order to assist Geni. Webb who was at the Carrying Place, in such operations as might be found necessary for His Majesty's service, and I had between 2 and 300 Indians with me ready for service. The absolute loss of Oswego, the Garrison & every thing there, was soon confirmed to us.

This unfortunate revolution in our military affairs entirely disconcerted all my measures & overset the Pleasing prospect I had, of thoroughly engaging the Indians of all the Six Nations in actual hostilities against the French, and thereby throwing upon them the necessity of summoning all their allies & dependants to take up the hatchet in conjunction with them, w^h, would have been the natural Consequence when they had entered themselves into the War.

Oswego in our hands fortified & secured by us, & our having a navigation on Lake Ontario, was not only a curb to the power of the French that way, but esteemed by the 6 Nations, whenever they joined our arms, as a secure cover to them & their Habitations

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against the Resentment of the French, w*^''. together with the Forts I had built in each of their Castles or Towns, except at Cayouge, and for w*^''. Garrisons were promised them, left them to act for us in full security. This I am persuaded they were determined to do either in a Body with our Army, whenever that should march upon any Enterprize, or go upon the Scalping Service in separate Parties.