November 19, 1755
"Honored Sir:
On my return from Philadelphia I met in the township of Amity, in Berks County, the first news of our cruel Enemy having invaded the Country this Side of the Blue Mountain, to witt, Bethel and Tulpenhacon. I left the Papers as they were in the Messengers Hands, and hasted to Reading, where the Alarm and Confusion was very great. I was obliged to stay that Night and part of the next Day, to witt, the 17th of this Instant, and sot out for Heidleberg, where I arrived that evening. Soon after, my sons Philip and Frederick arrived from the Persuit of Indians, and gave me the following Relation, to witt, that on Saturday last about 4 0f the Clock, in the Afternoon, as some Men from Tulpehacon were going to Dietrich' Six's Place under the Hill on Shamokin Road to be on watch appointed there, they were fired upon by the Indians but none hurt or killed. Upon which our People ran towards the Watch-house which was about one-half a mile off, and the Indians per sued them, and killed and Scalped several of them. A bold, Stout Indian came up with one Christopher Ury, who turned about and shot the Indian right through his Breast. The Indian dropt down Dead, but was dragged out of the way by his own Companions. The Indians decided themselves into two Parties. Some came this Way to meet the Rest that was going to the Watch, and killed some of them, so that six of our men were killed that Day, and a few Wounded.
The Night following the Enemy attacked the House of Thomas Bower, on Swatara Creek. They came to the House in the Dark night, and one of them put his Fire-Arm through the window and shot a Shoemaker dead upon the spot. The People being extremely Surprised at this Sudden attack, defended themselves by firing out of the windows at the Indians. The Fire alarmed a neighbor who came with two or three more Men; they fired by the way and made a great noise, scared the Indians away from Bower's House, after they had set fire to it, but by Thomas Bower/s Deligence and Conduct was timely put out again…..By 8 of ye clock Parties came up from Tulpehacon and Heidleberg. The first Party saw four Indians running off. They had some Prisoners whom they scalped immediately, three children lay scalped yet alive, one died since, the other two are like to do well. Another Party found a woman just expired, with a male Child on her side, both killed and Scalped. The Woman lay upon her Face, my son Federick turned her about to see who she might have been and to his and his Companions surprise they found a Babe of about 14 Days old under her, wrapped up in a little Cushion, his nose quite flat, which was set right by Frederick, and life was yet in it, and recovered again…..Upon the whole, there is about 15 killed of our People, Including Men, Women and Children, and the Enemy not beat but scared off. Several Houses and Barns are Burned; I have no true account home many. We are in a Dismal Situation, some of this Murder has been committed in Tulpehacon Township. The People left their Plantation to within 6 or 7 miles from my House against another attack.
Guns and Ammunition is very much wanted her, my Sons have been obliged to part with most of that, that was sent up for the use of the Indians. I pray your Honour will be pleased, if it life in your Power, to send up up a Quantity upon any Condition. I must stand my Ground or my neighbors will all go away, and leaver their Habitations to be destroyed by the Enemy or our own People. This is enough of such melancholy Account for this Time. I beg leave to Conclude, who am,
Sir,
Your very obedient,
CONRAD WEISER
"Honored Sir:
On my return from Philadelphia I met in the township of Amity, in Berks County, the first news of our cruel Enemy having invaded the Country this Side of the Blue Mountain, to witt, Bethel and Tulpenhacon. I left the Papers as they were in the Messengers Hands, and hasted to Reading, where the Alarm and Confusion was very great. I was obliged to stay that Night and part of the next Day, to witt, the 17th of this Instant, and sot out for Heidleberg, where I arrived that evening. Soon after, my sons Philip and Frederick arrived from the Persuit of Indians, and gave me the following Relation, to witt, that on Saturday last about 4 0f the Clock, in the Afternoon, as some Men from Tulpehacon were going to Dietrich' Six's Place under the Hill on Shamokin Road to be on watch appointed there, they were fired upon by the Indians but none hurt or killed. Upon which our People ran towards the Watch-house which was about one-half a mile off, and the Indians per sued them, and killed and Scalped several of them. A bold, Stout Indian came up with one Christopher Ury, who turned about and shot the Indian right through his Breast. The Indian dropt down Dead, but was dragged out of the way by his own Companions. The Indians decided themselves into two Parties. Some came this Way to meet the Rest that was going to the Watch, and killed some of them, so that six of our men were killed that Day, and a few Wounded.
The Night following the Enemy attacked the House of Thomas Bower, on Swatara Creek. They came to the House in the Dark night, and one of them put his Fire-Arm through the window and shot a Shoemaker dead upon the spot. The People being extremely Surprised at this Sudden attack, defended themselves by firing out of the windows at the Indians. The Fire alarmed a neighbor who came with two or three more Men; they fired by the way and made a great noise, scared the Indians away from Bower's House, after they had set fire to it, but by Thomas Bower/s Deligence and Conduct was timely put out again…..By 8 of ye clock Parties came up from Tulpehacon and Heidleberg. The first Party saw four Indians running off. They had some Prisoners whom they scalped immediately, three children lay scalped yet alive, one died since, the other two are like to do well. Another Party found a woman just expired, with a male Child on her side, both killed and Scalped. The Woman lay upon her Face, my son Federick turned her about to see who she might have been and to his and his Companions surprise they found a Babe of about 14 Days old under her, wrapped up in a little Cushion, his nose quite flat, which was set right by Frederick, and life was yet in it, and recovered again…..Upon the whole, there is about 15 killed of our People, Including Men, Women and Children, and the Enemy not beat but scared off. Several Houses and Barns are Burned; I have no true account home many. We are in a Dismal Situation, some of this Murder has been committed in Tulpehacon Township. The People left their Plantation to within 6 or 7 miles from my House against another attack.
Guns and Ammunition is very much wanted her, my Sons have been obliged to part with most of that, that was sent up for the use of the Indians. I pray your Honour will be pleased, if it life in your Power, to send up up a Quantity upon any Condition. I must stand my Ground or my neighbors will all go away, and leaver their Habitations to be destroyed by the Enemy or our own People. This is enough of such melancholy Account for this Time. I beg leave to Conclude, who am,
Sir,
Your very obedient,
CONRAD WEISER