sent from Philadelphia
to Henry Pollens of Conococheague, to be thence transported on pack
horses to Fort Pitt. This very much alarmed the country; and many
individuals remonstrated against the propriety of supplying the
Indians at that particular juncture; alleging the well known fact,
that they were then destitute of ammunition and clothing, and that to
furnish them with those articles, would be to aid in bringing on
another frontier war, and to lend themselves to the commission of
those horrid murders, by which those wars were always distinguished.
Remonstrance was fruitless. The gainful traffick which could be then
carried on with the Indians, banished every other consideration; and
seventy horses, packed with goods, were directed on to Fort Pitt.

In this situation of things, Capt. James Smith, (who had been with
Boquet during the campaign of 1764, and was well convinced that a
supply at that time of clothing and ammunition, would be the signal
for the recommencement of hostilities) collected ten of his "Black
boys," painted and dressed as Indians; and waylaid the caravan, near a
place called the "Side long Hill." He disposed his men in pairs,
behind trees along the road, at intervals of about 60 yards, with
orders for the second not to fire 'till the first had reloaded, so
that a regular, slow fire might be maintained at once, from front to
rear.

As soon as the cavalcade approached, the firing commenced, and the
pack horses beginning to fall by the side of their conductors, excited
the fear of the latter, and induced them to cry out "Gentlemen what
would you have us to do." Captain Smith replied, "collect all your
loads to the front, deposit them in one place; take your private
property and retire." These things were accordingly done; and the
goods left (consisting of blankets, shirts, beads, vermillion, powder,
lead, tomahawks, scalping knives, &c.) were immediately burned or
otherwise destroyed.

[83] The traders then went to Fort Loudon, and obtaining of the
commanding officer a party of Highland soldiers, proceeded in quest of
the _Robbers_ (as they termed them;) some of whom were taken and
carried into the Fort. Capt. Smith then raised about 300 riflemen, and
marching to Fort Loudon, occupied a position on an eminence near it.
He had not been long there before he had more than twice as many of
the garrison, prisoners in his camp, as there were of his men in the
guard house. Under a flag of truce proceed