Urgent Dispatch
          Shannee Town near ye Fort Detroit
                    In Providence
                      ye Canada
                  1st ye March 1781

To my Kinsmen at ye Fort Elk Garden in ye Washington
County Virginia.
John Litton, Father & James McLaughlin, Brother in Law.

Explaining my long absence of communicay due to being
taken from the tilling of my field, by several breeds
of savages on ye 26 June 1780 as a captive of the
Shawnee's commanded by Brit. Gen. Harry Bird, under His
Majesty out of ye Canada. My family all were marched
a foot, 300 miles to ye Fort Detroit where I was sold
to a savage called Big Fish as a slave, is my reason.
     I have been seperated from my family not knowing
whence they were being held. I am fearful of their
demise? The urgency of this dispatch, if delivered,
to have you take power of attorney to save and secure
my property together with that of Captain John Duncan,
also a prisoner of the enemy in ye Canada, from sezure
by ye Commonwealth of Virginia for taxes.
     I had in ye spring marked out 400 acres joing Fran
Berry on ye Cooper's Creek near ye Fort Martin. I am
now fearful of sustaining it due to my absence. Present
this dispatch to ye Attorney at Law at Abington or
Blaksfort and take what ever steps needed to secure our
Estates there.
     Ruddles and Martins forts were cannoned balled and
after surrender most inhabitants were massacred. Brains
of infants on trees, some crushed under cart wheels. Ye
older inhabited were gutted and drawn to the pleasure of
ye spectators. Ye lassies were raped and scalped by ye
savages. Fort burned and stock and fowl slautered. A
horrible massacre not yet equaled in this country.
     On ye 27th June we marched down ye Licking 70 miles
to ye big Miani (down ye Ohio) thence, up ye Miami to ye
head of, thnnce over land 18 miles to ye Glaise [Auglaize]
thence down it ye Lake Erie, put aboard ye boat Goge,
floated across to ye River Detroit thence put aground at
ye Fort Detroit. At which place I was taken to ye Shawnee
Town, twenty miles distant. Of the 300 marchers taken 90
were count of reaching Fort Detroit. Me thinks Gen. Geo.
Clark will be pursuit and liberate us?
     Please respond by same messenger to Major DePayster
at ye Fort Detroit, a friend of the captives.
                             Your Kinsman & Patriot
                             Lt. Solomon Litton