horses &ca. he had with him, retardid his Marches greatly, insomuch that in all probability, the French would be renforced, before he could poſsibly get there, provided he kept the whole Army together—he therefore selected 1200 of the Choicest Men besides Artillery & Seamen with the most Neceſsary Stores that might be wanted, which compleated 51 Carriages, and left the heavy Baggage Provisions &ca. with Colo. Dunbar and the rest of the Forces wth. Orders to follow as fast as poſsible: then March'd & continued untill 8th. July without Interruption save 8 or 9 Scalps on the March a Number much inferior to the Expectations, he Encamp'd within 8 Miles of Fort Dec Quisne where he held a Councill of War, when it was unaimously agreed that they should paſs the Monongohela River in the Morning twice and that the advanced Party should March at 2 o'Clock in the Morning to secure that paſs (the River being very broad and easily defended as the Fort was very near they thought it advisable to take that oppertunity, that the Enemy might not have a View of them, Therefore the General order'd that the
