Morrison's Pensions
Letter to General Stark giving intelligence
Hon. Brigadier General Stark.
Cohnawaga,
3d of June, 1778
Sir‑‑We
were this day at the fort at Johnstown, with a few invalids, and about
six o'clock of said evening, one Philip Pellet, an old servant of Major
Fonda, who is a worthy man, came and informed us that about half way between
Sagondawa and Johnstown he saw about one hundred Indians, painted, in the
woods, near his house. He also says he knew some tories who were there,
who took George Cook and his son prisoners, together with Charles Maresius
and several others; and as we were busy swearing to this purpose, two other
expresses arrived at the fort, who said the Indians were busy destroying
all before them in that part of the country, and were then near Johnstown;
upon which we thought proper to go home and bring our families into Cohnawaga
church, having only seven armed men to defend that fort. All our militia
have gone to the relief of those at Cobuskill and Cherry Valley, on the
German flats. We are only about ten men strong in the church, with about
one hundred women and children, and expect to be attacked this night by
the best accounts we can get. For God's sake, send reinforcements, or I
am afraid we shall fall an easy prey to the enemy; and we are also much
afraid that some of our neighbors will act against us.
We are, your most obed't serv'ts,
FREDERICK
FISHER
ZEPHENIAH
BATCHELLOR
JAMES
VEDER
THOMAS
ROMEYN
C.F.M.
ADAMS
JELLIS
FONDA
Received at Albany, June 4, 1778
SOURCE: MEMOIR AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF GEN. JOHN STARK, CALEB STARK, CONCORD, 186O, pp 158-159.