From late and authentic Accounts from the County of Washington, two families, Consisting of seven persons in each, six of whom, in each family, have been lately killed and scalped, and the remaining two persons taken prisoners by the Indians. This Circumstance, together with others of a like nature, in the neighbouring Counties in Virginia, I find has much alarmed the Inhabitants of Washington County. We are at present in a very bad situation for Defence, and our Circumstances in general, more Especially that of the frontier Inhabitants, is such that very few are able to purchase even a Small Quantity of Ammunition. Besides, the frontier people of that County have suffered Considerably in the late war, and are by no means able to make so noble a stand as they then did. Permit me therefore to observe, that if the Indians continue their Depredations as in all probability they will, it will be less expensive and much more advantageous to the state to support the present line of frontier than to suffer the enemy to penetrate into the Country. The Major part of the frontier Inhabitants are anured to the Business, and as to Indian Incursions are as much preferable to the people in the Interior parts of the State as old Veteran Troops are to young recruits. I would also observe that in Washington County we have a very extended frontier, I think not less than one hundred miles all equally exposed. That in my opinion it will require at least one hundred men even to watch the approach of the Enemy, and that if two hundred active woods men were employed under the command of Experienced Officers it would probably be a sufficient inducement to the frontiers to make a Stand. I well know the circumstances of the people on the frontiers and that however well disposed they may be to support the Government as well as preserve their property, yet I am assured that without the special aid of Government, a very Considerable part of Washington County will be Evacuated should the Indians make incursions on our, or the neighbouring frontiers next spring, the people do not believe the Indians will discriminate between Pennsylvanians and the citizens of any other State, and the fact is they have not done it in their late depredations, for the last family they destroyed lived within thirteen or fourteen miles of the Center of Washington County.

Since I began to write I have had an account of Another family being killed in Washington County, near Pittsburg; this will, no doubt, also alarm the people of Westmoreland County, as they are Equally Exposed with us, and I Believe are in no better situation for Defence. I hope, therefore, that your Excellency and your Hon’ble Board will provide for the preservation and safety of our frontiers, and that the people may have timely notice thereof, that Instead of preparing to remove to a place of safety, they may prepare such places of safety on the present line of frontiers as they may think most advisable. I have the Honor to be, With the highest Respect, Your Excellency’s most obedient And very Humble servant,