John Pearson reported to Governor Lyttelton on February 8, 1760: The Result of this is to inform you in Breif of the deplorable State of our back Inhabitants, they being chiefly killed, taken Prisoners and drove into smal Forts, only some who hath made their Escape by Flight and that as low as to Saxegotha Township, and we are now building Places of Safety in my District as well as we can. How long we may continue in Safety in them I know not for the Tourrant hath been so great they have burnt all Goudy's House except the little Fort you built round his Barn, where he and Capt. Francis and some few more are penned up.. They have likeways endeavoured a Fort (at) William Turner's where they have had a smart Engagement, and as I hear they killed some of the Indians notwithstand the (sic) went away down to old Thomas Haverds and got into his Barn, and there they, the old Man and what few Men he had in House a considerable Time (sic), but in short they have burnt and destroyed all up Bush River, except Jacob Brooks where there is some People gathered together to stand in their own Defence. All up Saludy, Little River, Rabourns Creek, Long Cane, and Stevens Creek, are all destroyed. I am informed they have killed 27 Persons on Rabourns Creek, and out of 200 persons that were settled on the Long Canes and Steven's Creek not above 40 or 50 to be found, so that the Case is very desperate, and all the People that move down, hardly one stops at the Congarees, so that I may say we are now the back Inhabitants, and unless there is about 2 or 300 Men raised in scouting Parties and an Officer over 50 to scour the Woods and stop the Tourrant, I don't doubt that they will destroy chiefest of the Country. So soon as I have finished my Fort I shall endeavour all I can for common Good. I know of several stout Men, who with proper Encouragement, that is to say, so much certain per Month, and so much per Scalp, would make it their entire Business to pursue and kill and destroy those merciless Villains wherever they went. If your Excellency in your most wise Consideration should think proper to appoint Captains for Scouts and would send up Commissions for that Purpose with Orders to raise Men, and on what Encouragement, I don't doubt but there may be a good many Men got here directly. And I am with humble Submission, Those who gathered in Turner's Fort, Brooks' Fort and the forts on Enoree likewise withstood attack. Only these stockade forts prevented disaster in the Fork of Broad and Saluda. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com