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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from John Stuart to George Sackville Germain, Viscount Sackville [Extract]
Stuart, John, 1718-1779
August 23, 1776
Volume 10, Pages 762-763

[B. P. R. O. Am. & W. Ind. Vol. 280.]
Letter from John Stuart, Indian Agent, &c., to Lord Germain.

Pensacola 23rd August 1776.

My Lord,

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A Great number of Families wishing to avoid the calamities of a rancorous Civil War have migrated from the different Provinces to

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seek bread and peace in those remote deserts and a very extensive and populous settlement is made upon Lands pretended to have been purchased by one Henderson a Lawyer from South Carolina situated between Holstein River and the Ohio. Similar Settlements have been made upon Watoga and Holstein's Rivers of many hundred Families all which are beyond the Boundary Lines stipulated by Treaties. Mr Cameron endeavoured to quiet the minds of the Indians upon account of these encroachments by assurances that as soon as peace should take place Justice should be done them but they became exceedingly alarmed by seeing a Row of stockaded Forts 15 miles distant from each other erected by the Rebels along their Frontiers and at a small distance from their Towns. They saw the back Inhabitants in Rebellion and everywhere in arms, the friends of Government distressed disarmed and drawn from their houses many of whom were pursued by the Rebells into their Towns whither they had fled for shelter and protection. The Indians at last flew to arms attacked, killed and took prisoners many of the pursuing parties. Altho' Mr Cameron was in constant danger of assassination and the Indians were threatened with invasion should they dare to protect him, Yet still he found means to prevent their falling upon the settlement.

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I am, &c.,
JOHN STUART.