ting grounds
for his sake, and requested that the Americans would vigorously exert
themselves to take possession of and fortify that river, promising
that they would assist in an expedition to gain and hold it or lose
their lives in the attempt.

Allan's enthusiasm over the spirit displayed by the Indians and their
loyalty to him as their leader was somewhat dampened by their alarming
consumption of his provisions and supplies, which he was obliged to
dispense with a free hand or run the chance of their leaving him.

The account of Colonel John Allan's operations on the River St. John
given in the former part of this chapter may be supplemented by
Colonel Michael Francklin's official report to the Governor of Canada,
Sir Guy Carleton, which follows:

Nova Scotia, River St. John,
Maugerville, 23d July, 1777.

Sir,--The Continental Congress having by their Emissarys taken
every method to alienate the affection of the savages of this
Province from His Majesty so far prevailed as to induce part of
the Tribes of this River, Passamaquoddie and Penobscott to
associate last Fall with a few banditti from the eastern parts of
New England, who together with some of our Provincial Rebels
plundered the peaceable inhabitants of the County of Cumberland,
seized upon the King's provision vessels, and presumed to invest
Fort Cumberland, but were finally defeated by His Majesty's Troops
under the command of Major Batt of the Royal Fencible American
Regt.

Since last Fall a John Allan, late an Inhabitant of this Province,
has been appointed by the General Congress agent to the Indians,
and the beginning of June entered the River with Two pieces of
cannon and about 120 Rebels, who were to be followed by a more
considerable body. These Rebels were defeated the 30th of June at
the mouth of the River by the King's Troops under the command of
Brigade Major Studholme, sent by Major General Massey. The day
following I arrived in a civil capacity with about 150 Troops and
militia from Windsor. These Rebels in their flight have been
obliged to divide, one part passing over our western Boundary at
about twenty miles from the sea, but Allan with the other part
have been pursued up this river more than 120 miles and have
retired from Medoctic by way of Penobscott. This last party were
joined by Ambrose St. Auban, an Indian Chief, and some others whom
I could not possibly draw off fro