had their works considerably advanced before dawn, at which time they expected to be attacked; but the Regulars observed a profound silence till about ten o’clock, when they began a very heavy cannonade on our men on the hill, which continued pretty constantly the whole day. An Adjutant and a private soldier of the Massachusetts men had their heads shot off; and one volunteer, in the Rifle Battalion, of the name of Simpson, received a wound in his leg, of which he is since dead.

They remained quiet all Sunday night, but on Monday morning we were alarmed by a signal from Chelsea, and presently perceived that the enemy were drawn up and in motion on the side of Bunker’s Hill facing that way. It was immediately conjectured that they intended to attack us at high water, and in a short time five or six thousand of our men were marched to the intrenchments on Ploughed-Hill and on the Charlestown road. We there waited till near three o’clock in the afternoon, whilst the most awful silence was observed by both sides, until some of our men, straggling along the walls, fired upon the Regular sentries, which brought on several shots from the floating batteries, with the loss of one of the Bay soldiers. Since that time they have thrown between twenty and thirty bombs, and a vast number of cannon-balls, but without doing any injury to our people. Unless very large re-enforcements soon arrive, there will not be another engagement this year, as we have so vastly the superiority in point of numbers. At present they lie tolerably still, except disturbing us at night with their bombs.

PROCEEDINGS OF COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED TO TREAT WITH THE SIX NATIONS OF INDIANS.

German Flats, Tuesday, August 15, 1775.

At a meeting with the Sachems and Warriours of the Six Nations, at this place, present: Volkert P. Douw, Esq., Turbutt Francis, Esquire, Commissioners. The following Speech was delivered by Colonel Francis:

“Brethren of the SIX NATIONS, attend!

“We acquainted you yesterday from whence we came, and by whose authority, namely, by the authority of the Twelve United Colonies, dwelling upon this Island of America. We acquainted you that we were two persons of five, appointed by the Twelve United Colonies now met in council at Philadelphia, to invite you down to Albany, where you may expect to meet our other three brethren appointed to act in conjunction with us. When we meet you, our brethren of the Six Nations, and your allies, at Albany, we will rekindle the council fire which our ancestors and yours formerly kindled up at that place, and there sit down and converse together upon the present situation of the Twelve United Colonies, and disclose to you their minds thereon. We have important matters to communicate to you, our brethren of the Six Nations, and your allies, which cannot be disclosed until the council fire be kindled up at Albany, and we are in full assembly.

Brethren: We observe that many of our brethren of the Six Nations are not here present; and as it is the wish of the Twelve United Colonies that there may be a general meeting of their brethren of the Six Nations, we, their Deputies, in their names, beg you will send to all these absent brethren of the Six Nations, and invite them to come down and sit at the council fire at Albany, that they may hear from us the sentiments of their brethren of the Twelve United Colonies.

“Brethren: We now inform you that your brethren of the Twelve United Colonies have sent you and your allies a token of their love and friendship, which is now at Albany, and which we shall deliver to you at that place.—(A string.)

“Brethren: As our friends and your allies the Caughnawagas, and the seven Towns upon the River St. Lawrence, live at a great distance, and have not yet had an invitation to come down to the council fire which we, the Deputies of the Twelve United Colonies, will kindle at Albany, we beg your assistance in forwarding an invitation to them, and wish you would immediately appoint four or six of your most active and sensible men, who may be relied on, to transact the great and important business which they will have in hand.—(A belt.)

“Brethren: As many mischievous and ill-disposed persons may attempt to raise up in your minds sentiments that are unfriendly to your brethren of the Twelve United Colonies, we beg you will shut your ears and fortify your minds against any such evil and false reports; and if such liars and deceivers should appear among you, and attempt to poison your minds, be assured they are as much your enemies as the enemies of your brethren of the Twelve United Colonies, as their only view can be to break that chain that has long bound you and your brethren of the Twelve United Colonies together, and which is now going to be made stronger at Albany.”—(A belt.)

To this, Kanaghquaesa, an Oneida Sachem, replied:

“Brother SOLIHOANY and our ALBANY

Brother, Commissioners from the Twelve United Colonies:

“You have now opened your minds. We have heard your voices. Your speeches are far from being contemptible. But as the day is far spent, we defer a reply till to-morrow. As we are weary from having sat long in council, we think it time for a little drink; and you must remember that Twelve Colonies are a great body.”

German Flats, Wednesday, August 16, 1775.

The Council having again assembled, Tiahogwando, an Onondaga Sachem, addressed himself as follows: “Brother SOLIHOANY and our ALBANY Brother, attend:

“We are now assembled at the German Flats, at which place you kindled up a council fire, and yesterday called us together and acquainted us from whence you came, and by whose authority, namely, by that of the Twelve United Colonies; and you opened your business to us.

“Brothers, now attend: Through the mercy of God we are brought to this day, and the Six Nations are now in full assembly at this place, where we smoke a pipe in friendship and in love. We are glad to hear your voices. You are come, in the name of the Twelve United Colonies, to invite us down to Albany to a council fire of peace. You desire we all attend, with our confederates, as you say the council fire that is to be kindled up at Albany is of much importance.

“Brothers: We thank you for this invitation; it meets our entire approbation. Here we are of every Tribe of the Six Nations. It shall be done as you have said.

“Brothers: You have desired that all our confederates should receive this invitation. This cannot be done short of one year, as we extend very far, and could not possibly call the extremities of our confederacy to this intended meeting. But possess your minds in peace. When this Congress is over, and the council fire is raked up, we shall acquaint all our allies with what has passed. Brothers, this is the answer of all the Six Nations, who are now here represented from every Tribe.

“Brothers, attend: Yesterday you said you were sensible our confederacy extended to Caughnawaga, and the seven Tribes upon the River St. Lawrence; that it would be very agreeable for your brothers from that quarter to attend this great council Fire, to be kindled up at Albany by order of the Twelve United Colonies, and that it was the desire of your brethren of all those Provinces that they should attend together with us.

“Brothers: You therefore desired, our assistance to forward this, your belt of invitation, to the Caughnawagas, and the seven Tribes in that quarter. Brothers, possess your minds in peace. We, the Six Nations, are put to difficulty to grant this request. We are very much embarrassed for this reason: the man is now there who will vex your minds, and never consent to their coming down, and will draw hard upon their minds another way. Brothers, possess yourselves in peace. We of the Six Nations have the minds of the Caughnawagas, and the seven Tribes in that quarter, at our central council house. When this took place, they addressed us of the Six Nations in the following manners: ‘You are better capable of maintaining peace than we are; therefore, we deliver up our minds to you”. For these reasons we advise you to reconsider your petition to us, seeing we are so embarrassed we cannot grant it. Perhaps you will say to us, when your intended council fire shall be over: Brothers, do you of the Six Nations acquaint all your confederates and allies of what has passed at this council fire of peace. And this we shall do with great care and exactness. Now, brothers, you see we are