November 23, 1752 The Pennsylvania Gazette
"Several of the Indian Traders are come in who confirm the Account we had of the Indian War, with some additional Circumstances of Horror.
A Party of French Indians, called Tawaws, assisted by some French, laid Siege to the Twightwee Town, when most of the fighting Men were out a hunting, and scarce any Body left but the Women, old Men, and a few Traders, notwithstanding which the Town made a brave Resistance, and killed 36 of the French and Tawaws, but were at last overpowered by Numbers, and all who were so unfortunate as to fall into the Enemy's Hands, put to Death in a most cruel Manner. --- Among the rest of the Prisoners there was an old Chief of the Twightwees, who from his great Friendship to the English, was usually called the OLD BRITON. Him and one of the Shannoak Kings they eat. --- They ripped up some of the white Mens Bellies, and eat their Hearts and Livers, with many other shocking Acts of Barbarity. The Six Nations are so exasperated with this inhuman Treatment of their Allies, that they and all the Ohio Indians have declared War against the French, and laid themselves under a solemn Oath, to eat every Frenchman they can lay their Hands on, and not to leave Man, Woman or Child, of the Tawaw Nation alive. the Twightwees have sent to the Westward to assemble their numerous Tribes. Tomahawks and black Wampum are continually passing from one Town to another, and nothing but Revenge and Blood is to be heard of among the Indians."
October 27. William Trent, Esq; sent by this Government with a Present to the Twightwees arrived in town this Week, and gives us the following Account of the Engagement mentioned in our last. On the Twenty first of June, about nine a Clock in the Morning Two Hundred and Forty French and French Indians, surprized the Twightwees in their Corn Fields, and came so suddenly on them, that the white Men who were in their Houses, had the utmost Difficulty to reach the Fort. Three not being able to get in, shut themselves up in one of the Houses adjoining. There were about twenty Men and boys, including the white Men in the Fort. The Indians having taken Possession of the white Mens Houses, advanced towards the Fort, firing very briskly, which was a warmly returned, then attacked the Log house where the three Men were shut up, who having plenty of Arms and Ammunition, and being well secured by the Strength of the House, might have defended themselves against the whole Body of the Enemy: Notwithstanding which they could not be prevailed on by the Men in the Fort to fire a Gun, but cowardly hid themselves under Skins, suffered the House to be taken, and themselves made Prisoners; and then discovered to the Enemy the Weakness of the Fort. The French and Indians in the Afternoon, informed the Twightwees, that if they would deliver up the white Men that were in the Fort, they would break up the Siege and go home. After a Consultation it was agreed by the Indians and Whites, that as there were so few Men, and no Water in the Fort, it was better to deliver up the white Men, with Beaver and Wampum, to the Indians, on Condition they would do them no further Injury, than let the Port be taken, and all be at their Mercy. The white Men were delivered up accordingly, except Burney and Andrew, whom the Indians hid. One of the white Men delivered up to them, being wounded in the Belly, they stabbed and scalped him, took out his Heart and eat it; and as they have a considerable Reward for killing an Englishman, they cut off his Fingers and carried them with them to Canada, to prove him such. The Indians upon receiving the white Men (whom they carried away Prisoners) delivered up all the Indian Women whom they had taken, and set off with the Plunder, amounting to about 3000 l. They killed Englishman, and took six Prisoners. One Mingoe, one Shawnesie, and three Twightwees, they killed; among whom was the old Pianguisha King, called by the English, OLD BRITON, whom they boiled and eat. The French and Indians lost fifteen in the Battle. They carried off all their Dead, except four of the Chapawas, whose Custom is to leave the Dead: One of them is the Head King, and another of them the next Head Man of that Nation. --- The other Indians that assisted the French, were called Ottawawas. One Hundred of the Chapawas went over to the Six Nations, because they would not help the French, and the rest that assisted them, say, that those which were slain were killed by the French, and not by the English and their Indians.
The Six Nations have not yet declared War, but have called in all their Warriors, and are making such Preparations, that we have Reason to expect a Declaration very soon.