Over the entire stretch of country from Fort Pitt the Indians were on the war-path.

Every day brought tragic stories of the murder of settlers and the destruction of their homes.
There was no safety outside the precincts of the feeble forts that dotted the Indian territory.

Bouquet had hoped for help from the settlers and government of Pennsylvania; but the settlers thought only of immediate safety, and the government was criminally negligent in leaving the frontier of the state unprotected, and would vote neither men nor money for defence.

But they must be saved in spite of themselves.

By energetic efforts, in eighteen days after his arrival at Carlisle, Bouquet was ready for the march.