SEPTEMBER 8:

September 8, 1756:  Colonel John Armstrong, leads approximately 300 Pennsylvania soldiers against the Delaware village of Kittanning, in retaliation for their attack on Fort Granville on July 30th. Delaware Chief, Captain Jacob, is trapped in his house. He is ordered to surrender, and he refuses. His house is set on fire, and he is burned to death. Armstrong estimates Delaware losses at 40 killed, and his own at 18. He recovers many English prisoners.

1756 Montreal Quebec - Montreal Iroquois promise to stay neutral in the Seven Years War.

1990  Oka Quebec - Canadian Army and Mohawk Warriors continue standoff at Kanesatake. 

1810 Kootenay BC - David Thompson 1770-1857 leaves to explore Columbia River valley; prevented by the Piegan from using Howse Pass, he travels north to the head of the Athabasca River and across the mountains to the Columbia. 1
 

BACKGROUND:
 

From http://www.tolatsga.org/dela.html
 

At the time of the King George's War, a few Munsee and Wappinger families were still living along the lower Hudson. Scattered in a few small bands, they were peaceful and posed no danger to their white neighbors, but in 1745 French allies from Canada attacked settlements just to the north. Warned of a possible attack on the lower river settlements that fall, British colonists massacred several Munsee families near Walden, New York. The other Munsee and Wappinger immediately left for Pennsylvania. They returned the following year but no longer felt safe. After the outbreak of the French and Indian War, Abenaki raiders from St. Francois captured the Mahican village of Schaghticoke north of Albany in August, 1755 and took its people back with them to Quebec. The sudden defection of the Schaghticoke made the British question the loyalty of all natives in the area. In December the Munsee and Wappinger in the Hudson Valley were urged to leave the back country and move closer to the settlements for their "protection." On March 2nd, 1756 vigilantes led by William Slaughter (nice name) massacred nine Munsee in the Esopus Valley. The remaining Wappinger and Munsee fled west to Wyoming or north to Mohawk and Oneida villages and never returned to the Hudson.

Meanwhile, the Munsee had attacked the Moravian mission at Gnadenhuetten (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)in November, 1755 massacring 11 missionaries. When the Susquehanna Delaware joined the fighting, and all hell broke loose. Ignoring Iroquois orders for them to stop, 300 eastern Delaware warriors combined with 700 of their relatives from the Ohio spread death and destruction on the frontier in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. In April, Pennsylvania declared war on the Delaware and offered bounties for scalps and prisoners. New Jersey followed suit that June. A line of forts and blockhouses, including Fort Augusta at Shamokin, Fort Allen on Lehigh River, and Fort Gardinier near Minisink, was built to protect the settlements. In September colonial militia under Colonel John Armstrong attacked and burned the principal Delaware village of Kittaning on the Allegheny River. The chief, Captain Jacobs was killed, but most of the Delaware escaped taking the 100 white prisoners they held with them. Meanwhile, some of the eastern Delaware under Teedyuskung had tired of the war and made peace at Easton, Pennsylvania in August, 1756.
 

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>From http://www.motherbedford.com/USMHWeb26.htm
 

Following an attack by French and Indians on Fort Granville (present-day Lewistown, Pennsylvania), plans were formulated by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania to send a militia force to destroy Kittanning, a major Indian town. It was believed that if the Indians were shown that the war could be brought directly into their homes, it might serve to inhibit some of their depradations against the Euro-American settlers.

Kittanning was chosen as the militia's target because it was from that place that the Indian incursions generally originated. The Delaware chief, Captain Jacobs resided there, and occasionally the chief, King Shingas made his home there.

On 30 August, 1756, Colonel John Armstrong, with a detachment of three hundred and seven men set out from Fort Shirley on the Juniata River and headed for the Indian town. Colonel Armstrong's report on the expedition was submitted to the Pennsylvania General Assembly as stated:

"Agreeable to mine of the 29th Ultm, We marched from Fort Shirly the day following, and on Wednefday, the Third Inftant, joined our advanced party at the Beaver Dams, a few Miles from Franks Town, on the North branch of Juniata. We were there informed that fome of our Men having been out a Scout, had difcovered the Tracts of two Indians about three Miles on this fide of the Alleghenny Mountains, and but a few Miles from the Camp. From the frefhnefs of their Tracts, their killing of a Cub Bear, and the marks of their Fires it feemed evident they were not twenty-four Hours before us, which might be looked upon as a particular Providence in our Favour that we were not difcovered. 

Next Morning we decamped, and in two Days came within fifty Miles of the Kittanning. It was then adjudged necefsary to fend fome Perfons to reconnoitre the Town and to get the beft Intelligence they cou'd concerning the Situation and Pofition of the Enemy; Whereupon an Officer with one of the Pilots and two Soldiers were fent off for that purpofe. The day following We met them on their Return, and they informed us that the Roads were entirely clear of the Enemy, and that they had the Greateft Reafon to believe they were not difcovered; but from the reft of the Intelligence they gave, it appear'd they had not been nigh enough the Town either to perceive the true Situation of it, the Number of the Enemy, or what way it might moft advantageoufly be attacked. We continued our March, intending to get as near the Town as pofsible that Night fo as to be able to Attack it next Morning about Day Light; but to our great difsatiffaction about nine or ten O'Clock at Night one of our Guides came and told us that he perceived a Fire by the Road fide at which he faw two or three Indians a few perches diftant from our Front; Whereupon, with all pofsible Silence, I ordered the rear to retreat about One Hundred perches in order to make way for the Front, that we might confult how we cou'd beft proceed without being difcovered by the Enemy. 

Soon after the Pilot returned a Second Time and afsured us from the beft obfervations he cou'd make there were not above Three or Four Indians at the Fire. On which it was propofed that we fhou'd immediately furround and cut them off; but this was thought too hazerdous; for if but one of the Enemy had efcaped It would have been the Means of difcovering the whole defign; and the light of the Moon, on which depended our advantageoufly pofting our Men and Attacking the Town, wou'd not admit of our ftaying until the Indians fell a Sleep. On which it was agreed to leave Lieutenant Hogg with twelve Men and the Perfon who firft difcovered the Fire, with orders to watch the Enemy but not to attack them till break of Day, and then if pofsible to cutt them off. It was alfo agreed (we believing ourfelves to be but about Six Miles from the Town) to leave the Horfes, many of them being tired, with what Blankets and other Baggage we then had, and take a Circuit off of the Road, which was very rough and incommodious on Account of the Stones and fallen Timber, in order to prevent our being heard by the Enemy at the Fire place. This interruption much retarded our March; but a ftill greater Lofs arofe from the Ignorance of our Pilots, who neither knew the true Situation of the Town nor the beft Paths that lead thereto, By which means, after crofsing a Number of Hills and Vallys, our Front reached the River Ohio about one hundred Perches below the main Body of the Town, a little before the Setting of the Moon; To which place, rather than by the Pilots, we were guided by the Beating of a Drum and the Whooping of the Warriors at their Dance. It then became us to make the beft ufe of the remaining Moon light, but are we were aware, an Indian whiftled in a very finglar manner, about thirty perches from our Front in the foot of a Corn field; upon which we immediately fat down, and after pafsing Silence to the rear, I afked one Baker, a Soldier, who was our beft Afsiftant, whether that was not a Signal to the Warriors of our Approach? 

He anfwered no, and faid it was the manner of a Young Fellow's calling a Squa after he had done his Dance, who accordingly kindled a Fire, clean'd his Gun and fhot it off before he went to Sleep. All this time we were Obliged to lay quiet and hufh, till the Moon was fairly fet. Immediately after, a Number of Fires appeared in different places in the Corn Field, by which Baker faid the Indians lay, the Night being warm and that thefe Fires wou'd immediately be out, as they were only defigned to difperfe the Gnats. By this time it was break of day, and the Men having Marched Thirty Miles were moft a fleep; the line being long, the three Companies of the Rear were not yet brought over the laft precipice. For thefe fome proper Hands were immediately difpatched, and the weary Soldiers being roufed to their Feet , a proper Number under fundry Officers were ordered to take the End of the Hill, at which we then lay, and March along the Top of the faid Hill, at leaft one hundred perches, and fo much further, it then being day Light, as wou'd carry them Oppofite the upper part or at leaft the Body of the Town. For the lower part thereof and the Corn Field, prefuming the Warriors were there, I kept rather the larger Number of the Men, promifing to poftpone the Attack in that part for Eighteen or Twenty Minutes, until the Detachment along the Hill fhould have time to Advance to the place Afsigned them, in doing of which, they were a little unfortunate. 

The time being elapfed, the Attack was begun in the Corn Field, and the Men with all Expedition pofsible, difpatched thro' the feveral parts thereof; a party being alfo difpatched to the Houfes, which were then difcovered by the light of the Day. Captain Jacobs immediately gave the War-Whoop, and with Sundry other Indians, as the Englifh Prifoners afterwards told, cried the White Men were at laft come, they wou'd then have Scalps enough, but at the fame time ordered their Squas and Children to fflee to the Woods. Our Men with great Eagernefs pafsed thro' and Fired in the Corn Field, where they had feveral Returns from the Enemy, as they alfo had from the Oppofite fide of the River. Prefently after, a brifk fire begun among the Houfes, which from the Houfe of Captain Jacobs was return'd with a great deal of Refolution; to which place I immediately repaired and found that from the Advantage of the Houfe and the Port Holes, fundry of our People were wounded, and fome killed, and finding that returning the Fire upon the Houfe was ineffectual Ordered the contiguous Houfes to be fet on Fire; which was performed by Sundry of the Officers and Soldiers, with a great deal of Activity, the Indians always firing, whenever an Object prefented it felf, and feldom mift of Wounding or killing fome of our People; From which Houfe, in moving about to give the necefsary Orders and directions, I received a wound from a large Mufket, Ball in the Shoulder. Sundry Perfons during the Action were ordered to tell the Indians to Surrender themfelves prifoners; but one of the Indians, in particular, anfwered and faid, he was a Man and wou'd not be a Prifoner, Upon which he was told in Indian he wou'd be burnt. 

To this He anfwered, he did not care for, he wou'd kill four or five before he died, and had we not defifted from expofing ourfelves, they wou'd have killed a great many more, they having a Number of loaded Guns by them. As the fire began to Approach and the Smoak grow thick, one of the Indian Fellows, to fhow his Manhood, began to Sing. A Squa, in the fame Houfe, and at the fame time, was heard to cry and make Noife, but for fo doing was feverly rebuked by the Men; but by and by the fire being too hot for them, two Indian Fellows and a Squa fprung out and made for the Corn Field, who were immediately fhot down by Our People, then furrounding the Houfes it was thought Captain Jacobs tumbled himfelf out at a Garret or Cock loft Window, at which he was Shot; Our Prifoners offering to be Qualified to the Powder horn and Pauch, there taken off him, which they fay he had lately got from a French Officer in Exchange for lieutenant Armftrong's Boots, which he carried from Fort Granvelle, where the Lieutenant was killed. The fame Prifoners fay they are perfectly Afsured of his Scalp, as no other Indians there wore their Hair in the fame manner. They alfo fay they knew his Squa's Scalp by a particular bob; and alfo know the Scalp of a Young Indian called the King's Son. Before this time Captain Hugh Mercer, who early in the Action was wounded in the Arm, had been taken to the Top of a Hill, above the Town, To whom a number of Men and fome of the Officers were gathered, From whence they had difcovered fome Indians crofs the River and take the Hill with an Intent as they thought, to furround us and cut off our Retreat, from whom I had fundry prefsing Mefsages to leave the Houfes and retreat to the Hill, or we fhou'd all be cut off; but to this cou'd by no means confent until all the Houfes were fet on fire. 

Tho' our fpreading upon the Hills appeared very necefsary, yet did it prevent our Refearches of the Corn Field and River fide, by which Means fundry Scalps were left behind, and doubtlefs fome Squas, Children, and English Prifoners, that otherwife might have been got. During the burning of the Houfes, which were near thirty in Number, we were agreably entertained with a Quick Succefsion of charged Guns, gradually Firing off as reached by the Fire, but much more fo, with the vaft Explofion Of Sundry Bags & large Cags of Gunpowder, wherewith almoft every Houfe abounded; the Prifoners afterwd informing that the Indians had frequently faid they had a fufficient ftock of ammunition for ten Years War with The Englifh. With the Prooff of Captain Jacob's Houfe, when the Powder blew up was thrown the Leg and Thigh of an Indian with a Child of three or four Years Old, fuch a height that they appeared as nothing and fell in the adjacent Corn Field. There was alfo a great Quantity of Goods burnt which the Indians had received in a prefent but ten days before from the French. By this time I had proceeded to the Hill to have my wound tyed up and the Blood ftopped, where the Prifoners, which in the Morning had come to our People, informed me that that very day two Battoas of French Men, with a large party of Delaware and French Indians, were to Join Captain Jacobs at the Kittaning, and to fet out early the next Morning to take Fort Shirley, or as they called it, George Croghan's Fort, and that Twenty-four Warriors who had lately come to the Town, were fet out before them the Evening before, for what purpofe they did not know, whether to prepare Meat, to Spy the Fort, or to make an attack on fome of our back Inhabitants. Soon after, upon a little Reflection, we were convinced thefe Warriors were all at the Fire we had difcovered the Night before, and began to doubt the Fate of Lieutent Hogg and his Party, from this Intelligence of the Prifoners. 

Our Provifions being Scaffolded fome thirty Miles back, except what were in the Men's Haverfacks, which were left with the Horfes and Blankets with Lieutenant Hogg and His party, and a Number of wounded People then on hand; by the Advice of the Officers it was thought imprudent then to wait for the cutting down the Corn Field (which was before defigned), but immediately to collect our Wounded and force our March back in the beft manner we cou'd, which we did by collecting a few Indian Horfes to carry off our wounded. From the Apprehenfions of being way laid and furrounded (efpecially by fome of the Woodfmen), it was difficult to keep the Men together, our March for Sundry Miles not exceeding two Miles an hour, which apprehenfions were heightened by the Attempts of a few Indians who for fome time after the March fir'd upon each wing and immediately Run off, from whom we received no other Damage but one of our Men's being wounded thro' both Legs. Captain Mercer being wounded, was induced, as we have reafon to believe, by fome of his Men, to leave the main Body with his Enfign, John Scott, and ten or twelve Men, they being heard to tell him that we were in great Danger, and that they cou'd take him into the Road a nigh Way, is probable loft, there being yet no Account of him; the moft of the Men come in Detachment was fent back to bring him in, but cou'd not find him and upon the Return of the Detachment it was generally reported he was feen with the above Number of Men, take a different Road. Upon our Return to the place, where the Indian Fire had been difcovered the Night before, We met with a Sergeant of Captain Mercer's Company and two or three other of his Men who had deferted us that Morning, immediately after the action at the Kittaning; Thefe Men on running away had met with Lieut. Hogg, who lay wounded in two different parts of his Body by the Road fide; He there told them of the fatal Miftake of the Pilot, who had afsured us there were but three Indians at the moft at the Fire place, but when he came to attack them that Morning according to Orders, he found a Number confiderably Superior to his, and believes they killed and Mortally wounded three of them the firft Fire, after which a warm Engagement began, and continued for above an Hour, when three of his beft men were killed and himfelf twice wounded; the refidue fleeing off he was obliged to Squat in a thicket, where he might have laid fecurely until the main Body had come up, if this Cowardly Sergeant and others that fleed with him had not taken him away; they had marched but a fhort Space when four Indians appeared, upon which thefe deferters began to flee. 

The Lieutenant then, notwithftanding his wounds, as a Brave Soldier, urging and Commanding them to ftand and fight, which they all refufed. The Indians purfued, killing one Man and wounding the Lieutenant a third time through the Belly, of which he dyed in a few Hours; but he, having fome time before been put on Horfe back, rode fome Miles from the place of Action. But this laft Attack of the Indians upon Lieutenant Hogg and the deferters was by the beforementioned Sergeant, reprefented to us in a quite different light, he telling us that there were a far larger Number of the Indians there than appeared to them, and that he and the Men with him had fought five Rounds; that he had there foon the Lieutenant and fundry others Killed and Scalped, and had alfo difcovered a Number of Indians throwing themfelves before us, and infinuated a great deal of fuch ftuff, as threw us into much Confufion, fo that the Officers had a great deal to do to keep the Men together, but cou'd not prevail with them to collect what Horfes and other Baggage that the Indians had left after their Conqueft of Lieutenant Hogg and the Party under his Command in the Morning, except a few of the Horfes, which fome of the braveft of the Men were prevailed on to collect; fo that from the miftake of the Pilot, who fpied the Indians at the Fire, and the Cowerdice of the faid Sergeant and other Deferters, we have fuftained a confiderable lofs of our Horfes and Baggage. It is impofsible to afcertain the exact Number of the Enemy killed in the Action, as fome were deftroy'd by Fire and others in different parts of the Corn Field, but upon a Moderate Computation its generally believed there cannot be lefs than thirty or Forty killed and Mortally wounded, as much Blood was found in Sundry parts of the Cornfield, and Indians feen in feveral places crawl into the Weeds on their Hands and Feet, whom the Soldiers, in purfuit of others, then overlooked, expecting to find and Scalp them afterwards; and alfo feveral kill'd and wounded in crofsing the River. On beginning Our March back we had about a dozen of Scalps and Eleven Englifh Prisfoners, but now find that four or five of the Scalps are mifsing, part of which were loft on the Road and part in pofsefsion of thofe Men who with Captain Mercer feperated from the main Body, with whom alfo went four of the Prifoners, the other feven being now at this place, where we arrived on Sunday Night, not being ever feperated or attacked thro' our whole March by the Enemy, tho' we expected it every Day. 

Upon the whole, had our Pilots underftood the true fituation of the Town and the Paths leading to it, fo as to have pofted us at a convenient place, where the Difpofition of the Men and the Duty afsign'd to them cou'd have been performed with greater Advantage, we had, by divine Afsiftance, deftroy 'd a much greater Number of the Enemy, recovered more Prifoners and fuftained lefs damage than what we at prefent have; but tho' the advantage gained over thefe our Common Enemy is far from being fatiffactory to us, muft we not difpife the fmalleft degrees of Succefs that God has pleafed to give, efpecially at a time of fuch general Calamity, when the attempts of our Enemys have been fo prevalent and fuccefsfull. I am fure there was the greateft inclination to do more, had it been in our power, as the Officers and moft of the Soldiers thro' out the whole Action exerted themfelves with as much Activity and Refolution as cou'd pofsibly be expected. Our Prifoners inform us the Indians have for fometime paft talked of fortifying at the Kittanning and other Towns; That the Number of French at Fort Duquefne was about four hundred; that the principle part of their Provifions came up the River from the Mifsifsippi, and that in the Three other Forts which the French have on the Ohio there are not more Men, take them together, than what there are at Fort Duquefne. I hope, as foon as pofsible, to receive your Honour's Inftructions with regard to the Deftribution or Stationing of the fundry Companies in this Battalion, and as a Number of Men are now wanting in each of the Companys, whether or no they fhall be immediately recruited, and if the fundry Officers are to recruit, that Money be fpeedily fent for that purpofe. I beg the favour of your Honour, as foon as pofsible to furnifh Governor Morris with a Copy of this Letter, and the Gentlemen Commifsioners for the Province with another, as my prefent indifposition neither admits me to write or dictate any more at this time. In cafe a Quantity of Amunition is not already fent to Carlifle, it fhou'd be fent as foon as pofsible, and alfo if the Companies are to be recruited and compleated, there muft be an immediate Supply of about Three hundred Blankets, as there has been a great many loft in the prefent Expedition. Inclofed is a lift of the killed and wounded and mifsing of the Several Companies. I expect to get to Carlifle in about four Days. I am Your Honour' s Moft Obedient and moft Humble Servant, JNO ARMSTRONG."

The attack on and burning of Kittanning had the desired effect. Although it did not completely stop the Indian incursions into the settlements of the Euro-Americans, it did contribute to a curtailment of the raids for some time.