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AN IMPARTIAL

ACCOUNT

O F s

Lieut. Col. Bradstreet's

EXPEDITION T O

FORT FRONTENAC.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

A few Reflections on the Conducl: of that . Enterprize, and the Advantages refulting from its Succefs.

By a Volunteer on the Expedition.

LONDON:

Printed for T. Wilcox, oppofite the New Church m the Strand-, W. Owen, Temple-Bar, M. Cooper, Pater- Nojler-Row ; and Mr. Cooke, at the Royal- Exchange.

M.DCC.LIX.

7-

8 "3

4

\

A N

Impartial Account, iftl

FS^n ARLY in the fpring of the year % E £ 1758, when the plan of opera- liLJfifiif rations for the then enfuing cam- paign, was the fubje£t of deliberation in our military councils 3 Lieutenant Co!. Bradftreet, from a knowledge of the flrength and fituation of the enemy's fort at Cadarsqui, and their ufual military ce- conomy, judg'd an attempt upon Fort Frontenac (whilft the whole force of Ca- nada was employ'd in oppofing our incur- iion into their country on the fide of Lake George) to be attended with the ut- mod probability of fuccefs. The reduc- tion of which, in its confequences, would undoubtedly be of the higheft importance B to

[ 2 ]

to the general intereft of the colonies. He therefore very foon communicated his thoughts on this fubje<3 to the commander in chief,* laying before him his reafons for the pra&icability of the undertaking. Many obje&ions were ftarted, and many difficulties rais'd againftit, as an unfeafable plan. However, the deceas'd Lord Howe, who excell'd in penetration and judgment, highly approv'd of the fcheme ; remov'd every objedtion, and obtained the affcnt of the general, to its being carried into exe- cution, as foon as our army had made an eftablifhment on the north fide of Lake George : at the fame time General Aber- crombie was prevailed upon to have a fort built on the Oneida Carrying Place ; a dif- pofition was made accordingly, and a number of batteaus built and prepared at Schenectady.

Our army having aflembled at Lake George, and made an unfuccefsful attempt on the enemy's poft at Ticonderoga, re-

* Major General Abercrombie.

turn'd

[ 3 ]

turn'd to Fort William-Henry on the ninth of July.

Col. Bradftreet continuing immovably fix'd in his former opinion, of the practi- cability of reducing Cadaraqui, deftroying the enemy's {hipping, and depriving them of the dominion of the lakes ; now re- newed his applications for the neceflary troops, artillery, &c. to profecute the plan before concluded at Albany. From the ruling gentlemen in power, he was a- gain oppos'd, and depriv'd of the aids of my Lord Howe, (who, unfortunate for thefe colonies, fell in the fkirmifh on the fixth of July) he was in the greateft dilemma, leaft the influence of his oppo- nents might occafion a rejection of his plan ; he however defired a council of war, before whom he laid open his fcheme, fubjoining the ftrongeft reafonings on the probability of fuccefs. Many after the warmeft oppofition, reludlantly approv'd, and finally, by a majority it was carried in the affirmative, and a report drawn up in favour of the fcheme.

B 2 On

[ 4 3

On the 13 th of July, the general gave orders, that the New York regiment j the New Jerfey regiment ; the Rhode Ifland regiment ; Col. Dotey's regiment of Maf- fachufet's-Bay Troops, and a detachment from the train of artillery (hould repair to Schenectady, there to obferve fuch orr ders and dire&ions, as they fhoulcj receive from the commanding officer at that poft.

The New York regiment left Fort William-Henry on the 14th of July, and was followed in regular fucceffion, by the other Troops on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th Inftant. And on the 24th Inftant, the whole aflembled at Schenectady.

A few days preceding our arrival at Schenedady, Major Arbuthnot, of CoL Williams's regiment, of Bofton Troops, who were pofted here, had been order'd with a command of 300 men to Fort Harkemer, to join the troops at that poft, under the command of Lieutenant Col. Clinton, of the New York regiment, who

was

[ 5 ]

was order'd to march with two companies of the faid regiment, two independant companies, the company of rangers, and the reinforcement of Col, Williams's regi- ment, to the Oneida Carrying Place, and to take pofleffion of that poft, which he accordingly did, and on his arrival imme- diately repaired the ruins of Fort Cra- ven, •f

On the 25th of July, Brigadier Gen, Stanwix ordered, " That Lieutenant cc Mills, of the independants, march with " the regulars under his command, by cc break of day on the 26th. And that " Col. Williams, with the remainder of • c his regiment, proceed at the fame time, " for the Oneida Carrying Place. That " the Rhode Ifland and Jerfey regiments, " march at the dawn of day on the cc 27th. The New York regiment on

t This fort, which was built of logs, was fet on fire and abandoned by Major General Webb, on the lofs of Ofwego in Auguft 1756.

" the

t 6 ]

" the 28th; And Col. poughtey's regi- * ment with the train, on the 29th: €t Batteaus were furniflied the different " corps by the quarter mafter, and loaded ■ with provifions, each carrying fourteen " barrels."

On the 10th of Auguft, the rear of the army arrived at the great Carrying Place, where they encamp'd. The waggons which had been brought from the fettle- ments on the Mohocks river, were imme- diately employ'd in tranfporting batteaus, whale boats, provifions, &c. from the landing at Fort Craven, to Fort Newport, where a guard was ordered for their fe- curity.

On the nth of Auguft, General Stan- wix HTued the following order at Fort Craven on the Oneida Carrying Place;

<c That the feveral corps hereafter men- ■' tioned, furnifh of able bodied men and cc officers in their proper proportion, and

" of

[ 7 J

«? of fuch as are moft accuftomed to water- <c As follows :

Regulars — 155

Rangers ■ 60

New Yorkers — 1 1 1 2

Williams's ■■ 432

Doughtey's 248

Rhode Iflanders — 318

Jerfey's — — 412

2737

" The whole to be under the command " of Col. Bradftreet, and to be ready <c with every thing compleat, and fix days " provifion, to-morrow evening.4

To thefe troops may be added, two hundred and feventy batteau men, and for- ty two Indians ; of the latter, there were affembled at the Oneida ftation, about one hundred and fifty fighting men from the different nations ; with thefe Col. Brad- ftreet had a conference, in which he in- form'd them of his defign, and invited

them

I 8 ] .then* to a participation of the honor1 and booty which muft attend the conqueft he expected to make 5 his folicitations were without effect on the majority, who by e- very difcouraging argument, earneftly dif- fuaded him from the profecution of his intended enterprise. In this favage con- gregation, Col. Bradftreet found his friend Red Head, an Onondaga chief: a man of high reputation and diftinguifhed abilities (among the Indians) both in the cabinet and the field ; a great warriour in the univerfal eftimation of the five nations. This chief had been formerly in the ene- my's intereft, but taking a difguft at fome treatment received from the commanding officer at La Gaiette, in the year 1755, he came to Ofwego, where finding Coh then Capt. Bradftreet, he made a tender of his fervices to him ; being courteoufly re- ceived and carefs'd by Mr. Bradftreet $ at whofe inftance, Mr. Shirley made him fe- veral confiderable prefents, he became remarkably attach'd to our intereft, and as inveterate againft the enemy -, from him Col. Bradftreet received the moft accurate intelligence relative to the ftate of Fort

Frontenac,

t 9 I

Frontenac, and the condition of the {hip- ping 3 notwithstanding the averflon which Slumbers had declared again ft Col. Brad- ftreet's proceeding, Red Head appeared a public advocate for the execution of the meditated fcheme ; and by a pathetic and animating harangue, influenced a party from each nation, to grafp the hatchet, and join Col. Bradftreet's army : neither his eloquence, nor his perfonal influence, both which he exerted on this occafion, could, however, prevail on more than forty two heartily to join in the caufe; many others declared their readinefs, but after- Wards, on various pretences, privately with- drew to their refpeclive caftles : they were confcious of their engagements to the ene- my, and fenfible of the univerfal difguft, their avowing and publickly joining our forces, in an attempt to deprive the French of this port, would give the Indian nations in their alliance, who entirely depended on the magazines of Cadaraqui, for their fubfiftance -> for thefe reafons, they artfully evaded being acceflary to the reduction of Fort Frontenac, under the fpecious pretext^ of the impracticability of fucceeding. A C gla-

[ IO ]

glaring proof this, of their general difaf- fe&ion to our intereft !

In purfuance of the general's orders, detachments were made, and the different corps review'd by Col. Bradftreet, and on the 1 2th, in the afternoon, Capt. Ogilvie, with the regulars, march'd to fort New- port at the head of Wood Creek, about a mile from Fort Craven, and on the 13th, he advanced to Fort Eagle, com- monly call'd Bull's Fort, about three miles farther. As there was not a fufficient quantity of provifions carried to Fort Newport, to load all the batteaus ; the detachment of Provincial troops, did not move from their encampment, until the 14th, in the morning, when the whole march'd to that poft and loaded their batteaus, and fix companies of the New York regiment proceeded to Bull's Fort, the remainder of the troops continued at Fort Newport.

This fort, is only the ruined remains of a fquare pallifadoe enclofure, fituate at the fource of Wood Creek, built in 1756,

by

[ * ]

by dire&ion of Col. Bradftreet, to cover the provifions that were brought there, in or- der to be tranfported to Oiwego ; till that time, the portage from the landing at Fort Craven, had always been about three miles farther, that is, to Bull's Fort. The intermediate part of Wood Creek,, between Fort Newport and Bull's Fort, never having been explored, nor efteemed navi- gable j indeed in its natural ftate, it can only with propriety be calPd a brook or rivulet, as it has not fufficient depth of water to float even an empty batteau ; but the grounds, from whence it is fup- plied, being low and marfhy, abounding with fprings, and furrounded with fmall eminences ; a dam was thrown acrofs, by which a body of water is collected ; the boats being put into the creek and loaded, are kept in readinefs, and whenever a fuf- ficient quantity of water is gather'd, the fluice is open'd, which conveys them to the next dam. Thus whenever the pond at the head has emptied itfelf, and that water is again difcharged through the dif- ferent dams below it, the boats are obliged to lay ftill, until they can be again floated, C? by

[ 12 ]

by a new collection of water, at the head of the firft dam. The want of water in Wood creek, detained our boats all night, between Fort Newport and Bull's Fort : but a plentiful rain falling towards day, on the 15th they were brought down to us. In the afternoon, many proceeded, and with the regulars, mov'd on, to where Canada Creek difcharges itfelf into Wood Creek, about four miles beyond Bull's Fort.

This fort, which is commonly diftin- guifh'd by the name of Bull's Fort, is, however, properly Fort Eagle. The portage, as I have before obferved, till the year 1756, extended to this poft. In 1755, Mr. Shirley order'd a fmall palli- iadoe work to be thrown up, for the co- ver of the provifions, &c. which were brought hither, to be tranfported to Ofwe- go ; Lieutenant Bull, with a party of his majefty's troops, was ported at this fta- tion. This unfortunate gentleman, who gave Name to this fort, was furprifed by a party of about 500 French and Indians, who inhumanely maffacred both himfelf,

and

[ *3 1

and his little grarifon, and burnt tho fort

In the fucceeding year, Colonel Brad^ ftreet caufed another pallifadoe fort to be ere&ed, which he call'd Fort Eagle. It is fcituate on the banks of the Wood Creek, its form, a regular fquare, with four baftions j each exteriour fide, about fixty yards in length -y it was furrounded by a wide ditch, communicating with the creek ; a crofs which, a very fine ftrong dam was made, by which means, the ditch, furrounding the fort, was kept full of water : for a work of its kind, 'tis the beft conftrufted of any in our pofleffion; On the furrender of Ofwego to the enemy, this, together with all our other pofts, beyond the German Flats, was demo- lished by o«der of the Earl of Lou- don*

On the 1 6th, in the morning, the troops from Fort Newport, join'd thofe at Fort Eagle, from whence, the whole march'd to Canada Creek, where they embark'd on

board

[ 14 1

board their refpedive batteaus, eighteen men in each. The whale-boats were mann'd by the batteau men, and detach- ments from the different corps of Provin- cials ; they proceeded in front, the regulars next, and the provincials followed, in the order in which they were loaded. In this manner we advanced to the Spack Bergb, about four miles from Canada Creek; which with the greateft difficulty we reach'd by fun-fet, meeting with the ut- moft obftru&ion from the trees, which had fallen a-crofs the creek, and in many places entirely blocked up its paffage ; thefe we were oblig'd to cut away, to to make an opening for our boats : by the addition of the waters from Canada Creek, this part of the Wood Creek has a confi- derable depth ; its navigation will, howe- ver, always be attended with difficulties, arifing from its not being above fifty yards wide, and the trees falling a-crofs from each fide ; unlefs all the woods on its banks fhould be cleared off; and even then, from its extream ferpentine courfe, and' the rapidity of the current, it will e- ver remain an unpleafant navigation:

The

[ 'I* ]

The lands on each fide are low and very rich, cover'd with large timber ; they like- wife abound with poifonous {hrubs and woods of various kinds: the falling of whofe leaves, impregnate the ponds and rivulets with their unwholefome qualities ; hence, thefe waters are not to be drank without manifeft bad efFedtsj indeed I obferved, that moft of the men employed to bring down the batteaus from fort Newport, who were obliged to be conti- nually in the water, had the fkin entirely taken from their feet, in which a very high inflammation was rais'd : if fuch was the efFedt on the external parts, how much more injurious muft its efficacy have been, on the ftomach and bowels, as they were under the neceffity of making it their common drink whilft in their paf- fcge.

The very extraordinary ficknefs, which afterwards prevailed among our troops, was probably, in a great meafure, owing to the bad quality of the waters they drank and cook'd with ; it is true Coh Bradftreet had obtain'd a plentiful fupply

of

t 16 ]

of rum, which was dealt to the men with a liberal hand j but this, altho' it might leflenor abate its malignant effedts in fomc meafure, was ftill far from rendering it wholefome.

The Indian traders who frequented this Creek, on their route to Ofwego, &c; ufually took a keg of water in each of their batteaus, at the fprings rifing from the high grounds near the head of it, which they ufed with fuch oeconomy, as to make it laft, till they reach'd the Onei- da river, where frefli fupplies could be had.

But to proceed : from the Spack Bergh, we embark'd at fun rife on the 17th j and after encountering the difficulties of the preceding day, without making a fingle halt, arrived in the evening, at the mouth of Wood Creek, at the Oneida Lake. The diftance of this days march, being by eftimation twenty miles; about half a mile from the Lake, a creek call'd the Fifh Kill empties itfelf into Wood Creek. It is by the route of this creek, the In- dians

f '7 ]

dians from Ofwesjatchie come to Oneida, and from thence, make incurfions and commit ravages on the inhabitants of the Mohocks country. According to the bell information I could obtain, their journey to the mouth of this creek, is ufually per- form'd in three days 5 and its diftance from Ofwegatchie about a hundred miles.

In the morning of the 18th, we em- bark'd on the Oneida Lake. This lake is about thirty-two miles in length, and eight in breadth 5 it affords a mofl delight- ful profped, the lands which furround it, are low and well timber'd; it abounds with a variety of fidi, its falmon, perch and trout are excellent, and remarkably large. For about half a mile from the more, it is (hallow, and the bottom covered with redifli ftone, though farther diftant it is very deep. The Indians who inhabit its banks, are the Tufcarocoes, and the nation from whom it derives its name.

The Oneida Caftle, lies about three miles foutb, from the mouth of the Wood D Creek,

[ i8 ]

Creek. The rivers or creeks, which empty themfelves into this lake, are the Tufcororoe river and Oneida Creek on the fouth ; the Swarte Kill* on the north, and Wood Creek on the eaft. In the fpring, its waters are tolerably good, though in the fummer generally covered with a fcum, when they are very unwholefome. On the fouth fide, lies a large tradt of marfh, which abounds with wild fowl of various kinds. At the north weft end of the lake, are feveral iflands, about four miles from the Oneida river $ Thefe we pafs'd at five o'clock, and proceeded down the river about fix miles, where we made our firft halt ; having advanced this day thirty eight miles.

The river call'd the Oneida River, is the fame ftream that is called the Onon- daga river, at its difcharge into Lake On- tario. But as the Senecas River runs into it, at about twenty miles diftant from the Oneida Lake -, the intermediate part be-

* Black Creek.

tween

[ 19 1

tween this river and the lake, is calPd the Oneida river ; and that part where the Se- necas River runs into it, is call'd the Three Rivers, tho' in fa&, there are but two rivers. At the entrance of the Oneida River, is a rife of rocks, and a fifhing ware extending a-crofs the channel.

Here we found an Indian encampment, and a party catching fifh and eels ; of the latter, they take prodigious quantities an- nually, which they dry, and lay up for winter ufe. They inform'd us, a party of feven Ofwegatchie Indians, had been with them the preceding day, who were gone forwards to Cadaraqui, but wre could not learn, they had any intelligence of our ap- proach. We were in pain for a fcouting party, which Col. Bradftreet had fent for- wards from Bull's Fort, to reconnoitre the country as far as Ofwego.

In the morning of the 19th, we em- bark'd, ^ and at ten o'clock reached the Three Rivers, which, as before defcribed, is the confluence of the Oneida, the Sene- ca and Onondaga rivers. Here fome of

D 2 our

I 20 ]

our advanced whale-boats returned with the intelligence, that they had difcovered two men fcalp'd, on an ifland, two miles on this fide of the Ofwego Falls. On our arrival there, we found the fcalp'd people to be fervants to the officers, who com- manded the fcouting party fent from Bull's Fort. .

They had .left their whale boat and all their ftores at this ifland, under the care of two lads, and were gone on foot to Of- wego. The fervants, very imprudently, made a large fire ; which, in all probabili- ty, was the means of their being difcover- ed by the enemy, who were fuppos'd to be the Indians, lately gone from the One- ida fifhing place ; it appeared that they had been in extream hafte, as they never ftripped the people, nor took away any of the ftores. From hence, we foon pro- ceeded to Ofwego Falls, where we arrived about four o'clock. The diftance of this days march, is eftimated twenty fix miles.

The

C 21 ]

The river, from the Oneida Lake, is about 250 or 300 yards wide- its courfe in ibme places rapid, in others gentle, ac- cording to the depth of water, which is various. The lands on each fide are very rich and level, covered with hickery, but- ternut and Linwood, they appear to be annually overflowed, which muft add to their fertility. The ufual landing place is very near the falls, where is a imall cove, into which the batteaus are brought, in order to be drawn over the carrying place, which is about . fifty yards a- crofs.

However, to cover and fecure our land- ing, and bringing in our batteaus, we were order'd to halt about half a mile on this fide the Falls, where the whole body, except four men in each boat landed, form'd and march'd to the grounds oppofite the Falls. A detachment of 100 men, advanced about a mile along the river, whilft others were order'd to fcour the woods -, but on difcovering no traces, or appearances of any enemy, they re-

turn'd

t » ]

turn'd and join'd their refpedtive corps. This evening the whole army encamp'd on the grounds oppofite the Falls, on the north fide of the river.

This cataradt is about twelve miles from Ofwego ; it extends acrofs the river, and is impoffible to be pafs'd with any de- gree ©f fafety, by any boats whatever ; fe- veral attempts have formerly been made, but they all prov'd fatal to the adventurers. The perpendicular fall, is in fome places eight or ten feet, in others not fo great. The river below is full of rocks, and a fuc- ceffion of rifts for near a mile in length, which makes the navigation both difficult and hazardous $ the batteaus and whale boats are here drawn by hand a-crofs the neck of land, oppofite the falls, that is, from a few yards above the falls, to where the force of water, which defcends the precipice, is fomewhat abated. Here they are again launch'd into the river, and by four men convey'd down the rifts, to a cove, where the water is ftill and fmooth, about a mile diftant. Thofe who are fo fortunate as to keep the channel, and a-

void

[ 23 ]

void touching the rocks, are generally a- bout three minutes pafling this diftance, which is a proof of the great rapidity of the current. Thro' the want of ex- perienced navigators, feveral batteaus were driven againft the rocks, fome filFd with water inftantly, others by the violence of the force, were fplit afunder and funk, and with difficulty their crews reach 'd the fhore.

On the 20th at day break, we began to draw over our boats, which we never un- loaded : one of the batteaus with a piece of cannon and a mortar, in its pafTage down the rifts, ftove on the rocks 5 an empty boat was fent up immediately, and with great labour the artillery was raifed out of the water and put on board, which arrived fafe at the landing place. The greateft part of our boats, were this day, brought over the Carrying Place and down the rifts.

On the 2 1 ft, the few remaining batteaus were brought down ; the whole morning was taken up in unloading fome of the

boats

[ 24 3

boats which were leaky, and in repairing and caulking them. In the afternoon, they were again loaded, and the army em- bark'd and proceeded to Ofwego. Thefe twelve miles we paffed in about an hour and an half, and encamp'd on the level grounds, near the old Fort.

I took a furvey of the ruins ; the walls of the old Trading Houfe were {landing, as were thofe of the feveral outhoufes, which had been the refidence of the tra- ders ; but there was fcarce the appearance,, of there ever having been a fort, or any place of defence; indeed, on the fpot where the old Fort had flood, it was im- poffible to build any defencible works, as the ground was commanded by eminences on every fide. On the oppofite fhore, the land is much higher and more advantagi- oufly fituated.

Here the enemy had erecled a large wooden crofs, which fome of our Indians cut down, and burnt immediately after our arrival. The view of Lake Ontario is ex- tremely pleafant3 from the grounds about

it.

[ 25 ]

it. The lands near Ofwego, and border- ing on the north eaft banks of it, are but ordinary in quality, that is, for cultivation ; they are, however, well cover'd with pine timber ; a few miles fouth weft ward, the foil is very different* There the barren fands, give place to a ftrong black mould; and inftead of pines, tall oaks, hickery and chefnut, rear their tops, and extend their branches.

But farther weftward (as the Indian traders have inform'd me) about an hun- dred miles from Ofwego, at a place call'd Irondequot, which is the mouth of a river* near two hundred miles in extent 5 the fource of which is near the Ohio, taking its courfe northerly, thro* the countries called by the Indians, Chenefee and Cana- fadaga; The lands are, by the defcription they gave me, as fertile, rich and luxuri- ant, as perhaps any in the univerfe ; this country, and that of the Seneca's and Cayuga's, which borders on it, they tell me, abound with rich plains, fome of them many miles in extent, equal in. quality to the beft lands on the Mohocks E river,

[ 26 ]

river. The climate is fo mild, that there would be no neceflity of laying up any fodder for cattle, during the winter fea- fon.

Thefe countries wene formerly the feats of numerous tribes of Indians, but are now abandoned to herds of deer, elks and buffaloes, which with a variety of other wild beads, are here caught in great num- bers. To return to Ofwego : the harbour is very commodious, form'd by a point of land, projecting from each more, at the mouth of the river. Here veffels may lie in the greateft fafety ; tho' by a fand bar, which extends a-crofs the harbour's mouth, no large fliipping can be admitted ; veffels drawing about ten or eleven feet water, are the largeft which can crofs it; At the mouth of the river, and on the north eaft fhore, we found plenty of fifb> which were an excellent repaft.

On the 2 2d in the morning, reviewed our arms, drew ammunition, cook'd three days provisions, and at eleven o'clock em- bark'd. The order of march was this,

the

C 27 ]

the Indians and rangers in whale boats ad- vanced ; then the battean men and detach- ments from the different corps of Provin- cials in whale boats, forming the front of the main body ; the Regulars in batteaus next, then the New York regiment and the Jerfey troops, the train of artillery in the center, the Maffachufets and Rhode Iflanders in the rear of the main body, and the rear guard in whale boats.

Thus we embark'd on the Lake ; our fleet confifted of 123 batteaus, and 95 whale boats, wrhich made a formidable ap- pearance. The weather being calm and favourable, the opportunity of advancing, as far as poffible, was not to be neglecled ; for on the leail rife of wind, the fwell is very great -, this obliged us to keep along more, that we might land, and draw up our boats, whenever the wind heighten'd. We continued rowing, till about two o'clock in the morning, and then came too in a fine bay.

On the 23d, at eight in the morning,

embark'd, but the wind and fea rifing,

E 2 we

[ 28 ]

we were obliged very foon to put a-fhore again. At three in the afternoon, em- bark'd again, and at ten o'clock halted. This afternoon, fome of our advanc'd boats, difcover'd five Indian canoes near the land, which they purfued, and fired upon, but the Indians by putting into the creek made their efcape.

On the 24th, at two in the morning, the report of four difcharges of cannon, at Cadaraqui, were diftindlly heard, our dif- tance from thence being about fifteen miles. Some of the Indians, who efcaped us yefterday (we afterwards heard) had reach'd the fort; and given information of our approach ; upon which the cannon was fired to alarm the adjacent Indians.

The wind continued very high all this day, till about four in the afternoon, when we embark'd, and in the evening, landed on the fouth fide of an ifland, which lies in the mouth of Sc. Lawrence, fronting Cadaraqui, about fix miles diftant.

On

r 29 i

On the 25th, at day light, embark'd a- gain, and at about eight o'clock, came in fight of fort Frontenac, and landed on a fmall ifland, about three miles diftant from it: The water in the bay being very rough, prevented our crofling it at this time. We were now in full view of the fort, which, with the houfes about it, made the appearance of a tolerable fectle- ment ; we obferv'd two veflels near it, e- quip'd for their voyage, and feveral malts beyond it. An experiment was tried' with a haubitzer, to difcover whether the bat- teaus would fuftain the fhock of a dis- charge, which they did extremely well.

At five o'clock it was thought practica- ble to land, and a difpofition order'd ac- cordingly : the whole immediately em- bark'd, and at fix in the evening, landed without the lead oppofition. The Indians, Rangers, and a party from the whale boats, were order'd to fcour the adjoining woods, and reconnoitre the grounds about the fort; whilft the whole army was form'd in the front of their boats. Our parties return- ing,

[ 3° ]

ing, and having difcovered no enemy with- out the fort, the guards were mounted, and the remainder of the troops, ordered to lie on their arms. This night, the enemy difcharged about fifty rounds of cannon fhot at us, but we were out of their reach, cover'd by a rifing ground, between us and the fort.

On the 26th, at an hour before day, the whole flood to their arms ; at day light, all the boats were moved to a bay nearer the fort, it being a more fecure harbour. The artillery was now landed ; this be- ing done, three companies of the New York regiment, were ordered to poflefs themfelves of the high grounds on the weft fide of the fort, which they did without any oppofition; the major part of the army, were now immediately ordered to make fafcines and gabions.

This morning, Col. Bradftreet record noitred the grounds furrounding the fort, and in the afternoon, the commanding officers of corps, were order'd to appear at his tent ; on their aflembling, he inform'd

them,

[ 3i 1

them, that the defign of his calling them together, was, to acquaint them, he had been furnifhed'with only feventy rounds of ammunition for each piece of cannon, and in the fupplies of intrenching tools, had been limited to the fcanty allowance, of forty fpades, and the like number of pickaxes and (hovels ; that therefore he could not think of making any approaches at a great diftance ; that he had thorough- ly reconnoitred the grounds furrounding the fort, and on the weft fide, difcovered a fpot very advantageoufly fituated, at about one hundred and fifty yards diftant ; this he purpofed to pofiefs himfelf of, under ccver of the night 5 firft taking pof- feflion of the enemies old breaftwork, which was about 250 yards fouth from the fort, and thereby drawing their atten- tion on that quarter, where the men might be in the greateft fecurity.

Through the breaft-work, he purpofed cutting embrazures* for two pieces of can- non, and three haubitzers. That on the poll:, to the weft of the fort, he intended to erect a fmall facine battery, throwing up a

trench

[ 32 ]

trench to the right and left, for the cover of the men. He obferv'd, thafr thefe were the meafures, which his fituation fuggefted to him, to be the moft likely to fucceed.

And added, that he would lead them with bravery and prudence, but could not fight for them ; that if the troops behaved only with common refolution, he would infure them fuccefs. The commanding officers of the different corps, approv'd of his propofals, as the only meafures to be purfued in thefe circumftances.

This whole afternoon the enemy kept a continual firing from their cannon, on the inverting party, and all others who made their apppearance in fight of the fort ; but without erTedt. Our cannon were carried to a rifing ground, about five hundred yards from the fort -, here all the fafcines were brought, and towards evening, 1200 men were paraded, a captain and two fubalterns to every fifty men ; a ftrong guard was mounted on the batteaus, and

at

[ 33 ]

at about eight o'clock in the evening, Col. Bradftreet placed himfelf at the head of a- bout 600 men ; principally, Rhode Ifland, Maffachufets and Jerfey troops, and with the engineer, condu&ed them to the ene- my's breaftwork ; pointing out what he intended them to perform ; after which he return'd to the parade, and putting him- felf in the front of a like number of troops, compos'd of one company of Regulars, fe- ven companies of the New York regiment, and a number of batteau men : thefe he conducted to the riling ground on the weft, each man carrying a fafcine, and two pickets on his (houlders, together with his arms.

The enemy firft obferving the party at the breaftwork, were diverted from at- tending to thofe on the other fide, and kept a continual fire on the breaftwork, though without doing any injury. How- *ever, on our approach towards the weft baftion, the noife and ruffling, which the fafcines made among thebufhes, difcovered the advancing of a party, on that quarter ; as the night was very dark, they only

F fired

[ 34 ]

on the found, which being a very indif- ferent direction, they wounded only one man on our march.

Col. Bradftrect having bid out the works, and feen them in fome degree of forwardnefs; after giving the neceffary di- rections for the perfecting them, * went in perfon with about ioo men, to

* On Col. Bradflreet's leaving this poft, Mr. George Coventry had the direction and fuperin ten- dance of the works. This gentleman, a lieutenant in the 55th regiment, was recommended to Colonel Braditreet, by the late Lord Howe, as a proper perfon for an affittant deputy quarter mafter ; and more par- ticularly, as capable of being greatly ferviceable on this expedition. I mould do him much injuflice, if I did not declare, he has done honour to his lordfhip's recommendation ; his vigilance, activity, zeal for the fervice, indefatigable induftry, and diftinguifhed bra- very; all confpired to render him the idol of the officers, and the admiration of the troops. And cerr tainly, if there is any merit in the reduction of Cadaraqui, Mr. Coventry, muft indifputably be admit- ted to have the greater!:, by far the greateft fhare in it, of any man on that expedition, Col. Bradftreet excepted. He has fince fucceeded capt. Chrifte, of the 48th regiment, in his department of affiftant dep. quarter mafter general 3 which office he executes with integrity, and univerfal applaufe.

the

[ 3$ i

the place where the cannon were left, and fent us two twelve pounders, with Mr. Wilfon, an officer of the train ; thefe were fafely condu&ed : Col. Bradftreet then vifited the breaftwork, where he con- , tinued the remainder of the night, judging his prefence more neceflary in that quarter*

Captain Stevens, of the train, from his flation to the eaftward, threw a number of ihells into the fort, with great fuccefs; they did confiderable damage to the inner part ; one burft near the magazine, and fired a quantity of gun-powder, which fcorch'd fome of the Indians almofr. to death, and greatly intimidated thegarrifon. The enemy after difcovering our fituation to the weft, by the afiiftanceof the moon, which rofe about four • o'clock, kept an inceffant fire on us, both from their fmall arms and cannon, though with very bad fuccefs; fince notwithftanding our near approach, they only wounded eleven per- fons the whole night. After day light, Mr. Wilfon began to cannonade the fort; in the management of his artillery, he dif- F 2 cover'd

[ 36 ]

cover'd great judgment and fkill, every ball doing execution.

Between feven and eight in the morn- ing, they hoifted a red flag, and beat a parley, and then the firing on all fides was ftopp'd -, on the appearance of an officer advancing towards us, Mr. Sowers the engineer, was fent to meet him, and by that officer, was conducted into the fort. He was ordered by Col. Bradftreet, to let the commandant know, that if he would inftantly furrender, the garrifon might keep their money and cloathing, and fhould be carried prifoners of war to Albany, from thence to be exchang'd for an equal number of Englifh as foon as pofiible, and that he would only wait ten minutes for an anfvver. The com- mandant readily accepted of thefe terms, which were put in form, and fign'd by the parties.

Capt. Ogilvie immediately march'd in and took pofTeffion ^ Col. Bradftreet con- fidering the difficulty of carrying the gar- rifon, with a number of women and chil- dren,

C 37 ]

dren, fuch a vaft diftance thro* the depth of the wildernefs; and for many other reafons, thought it proper to give them leave to depart immediately for Canada, on condition of their returning Col. Schuy- ler in the room of the commandant, and an equal number of men, women and children, of the like rank, for the reft;

The garrifon confifted of 1 10 men, ex- clufive of about forty, who were on board the veffels ; thefe made their efcape, for attempting to run off with the veffels, which they found impracticable, the wind being unfavourable, and captain Stevens keeping a conftant firing upon them, and hulling them feveral times, they thought proper to run 'em both a-ground, on the ifland oppofiteto the fort, and made off in their boats, as did eight Indians who had been in the fort; threeof whom, were burnt almoft to death by the burfting of a {hell.

Immediately after the furrender of the fort, our Indians (who had all, except five or fix) kept at a mile's diftance during the attack, came running from the woods,

where

[ 38 ]

where they had been conceal'd; like ra- venous beafts, full of the expectations, of fatiating their blood-thirfty fury on the captives ; but were ftopp'd by Col. Brad- ftreet, who charg'd thetn in the ftricteft manner, not to injure or moleft any one of the prifoners ; they heard his injunction with the mod evident marks of concern, and entreated him only to clofe his eyes, and turn his back upon them, agreeable to the praftice of the French : but he, with fome warmth, pofitively denied them, in- filling on their firidly obferving his or- ders ; and to divert their attention to ano- ther object, he told them, they now had it in their power, to enrich themfelves by plunder, which they were at full liberty, to take as much of as they pleas'd ; adding, that he hop'd they would make good ufe of their time, as he was determined to fet every thing on fire very foon. The fearch for valuable goods, became then their en- tire purfuit j they applied themfelves with the utmoftinduftry in loading their boats; and by that means were diverted from the thoughts of fcalping. In the mean time, the garrifon were furnifhed with batteaus,

on

\[ { 39 1

on board of which, they carried their ef- feds.

About noon, we began to deftroy the provifions, by fetting them on fire; we likewife fet fire to the veflels, which lay near the wharfs.

About this time Monf. Noyen, with his garrifon, embark'd under the greateft appa- rent affli&ion, for the melancholy de- ftruction they beheld ; tears flowed uni- verfally from their eyes -y but in the midft of their grief, they could not refrain pro- feffing the higheft fenfe of gratitude, for the humane and generous treatment, they had met with from Col. Bradftreet ; the commandant in particular, made the warmeft acknowledgments, confefling the ufage they had received, was both unex- pedted and undeferv'd. Indeed, they were all aftonifhed, at the extraordinary fubordination of our Indians, from whom they had been under the moft dreadful ap- prehenfions.

A*

r 4° ]

Among the various intelligences we re- ceived from the garrifon, we were in- form'd, that an army of four thoufand Canadians, and a thoufand Indians, were actually on their march from Montreal, in order to make an incurfion into this pro- vince, on the fide of the Mohocks river ; and that they were to be join'd by all the Indians of the five nations, fome of which, the Onondagas in particular, had already received prefents, on the ftrength of their engagements $* and as a corroborative proof, we found the garrifon had been em- ployed \n baking bread for this army, up^ wards of a fortnight.

As Col. Bradftreet was not inclineable to rifque a battle with fuch a fuperior force, the troops under his command be- ing already greatly harrafs'd 5 he very rea- dily bethought himfelf of an artifice, which might retard the approach of this

* On our arrival at Ofwego, we found a number of new empty cafes and chefts, from whence the goods had been taken, which had been diftributed to thefe Indians.

t *rmy,

t 4' ]

army, aiid thereby give us an opportunity of fecuring our return, as far as the Ofwego falls, before they could pofiibly come up with us. This ftratagem was as follows : On M. Noyen's embarkation, he went towards him in fome apparent hurry, and told him, he had forgot to give him, and the prifoners a pafs, which might pofiibly occafion their being flopped at Ofwegat- chie, as he had fent Col. Potter with 1 500 men a crofs the country, to reduce that poft ; who might, perhaps, detain him until he could produce evidence of his having left fort Frontenac with his leave ; Noyen, very thankfully waited, till the Colonel had drawn a pafs for him, and his party.

In all probability* had M. Noyen met the army, faid to be on its march to Ca- daraqui, it would have ftopp'd their pro- ceeding further than Ofwegatchie; leaft by advancing, they might have put them- felves between two fires. It is faid, that on M. Noyen's (hewing the command- ing officer at La Gallete, the pafs dire&ed to Lieutenant Colonel Potter^ he imme-

G eva-

[ 42 ]

cvacuted that port, and with the garrifon, which confifted of but twenty five men, went down to Montreal with Noyen ; and that the officer was afterwards depriv'd of fais commiffion, for abandoning his poft, before attacked by an enemy ; this is re- lated by feveral prifoners, fince arrived from Canada.

After the departure of the garrifon, the remainder of the afternoon was employ'd in deftroying the provifions, the ftores without the fort, and in putting on board our batteaus fome of the effedls. In the evening, a body of men were ordered to demolifh the fort walls, and the houfes in and about it.

The fort was built of (tone, its form a fquare, with four baftions, each exterior fide about one hundred yards in length ; its walls could never be intended to fuf- iain a cannonading, as their bafe was only three feet thick, and the upper part not a- bove two. The inner part of the fort, was furrounded with houfes, fome ferv'd as ftores for dry goods, others for provi-

t fions,

[ 43 ]

fions, and the dwellings of officers and foldiers ; on the outfide of the fort, were about ten or a dozen houfes, chiefly ufed as ftores, but the principal warehoufe was on the wharf, which was about two hun- dred feet in length, and about twenty five in breadth, in this was depofited, in the mod regular and neat manner, the fails and rigging of the fevefal veffels which lay near it; thefe were a fnow, a brig, three fchooncrs and two (loops -> likewife a great variety of Indian goods and provi- fions, of the latter a prodigious quantity was on the wharf, piled up againft the ftore houfe, along the whole length -, there was judg'd to be at leaft ten thoufand barrels of the different fpecies : in and a- about the fort we found fixty pieces of cannon, fixteen mortars, and fix brafs patterraras, all which were effectually de- flroyed and render'd unfit for ufe. The ftores were filled with prodigious quanti- ties of Indian goods of various kinds, the prime coll: of which, the commandant valued at eight hundred thoufand livresi*

* Equal to 35,000/. fieri ing.

Gz the

[ 44 ]

the grcatcft part of which were burnt with the fort, our batteaus being too deep laden with provifions, &c. and too much crowded to admit of any confiderable ad- dition to their cargoes, without greatly en- dangering them on the Ontario,

On the 28th in the morning, after having fufficiently demolifhed the walls of the fort, we fet fire to the houfes, the batv racks, breaftwork, fences, and every thing which would burn ; we then took out fome part of the leading from the brig and fchooner, which were run aground, when they floated and were got off, and pro- ceeded for Ofwego. In the afternoon we embark'd, and landed on the little ifland oppofite to the ruins of fort Frontenac, where we continued this night.

On the 29th at day break, embark'd, but the wind coming a-head, and the fea growing too rough to continue on it, we halted at ten o'clock in a very fine bay, a- bout twenty miles diftant. At 3 o'clock, fail'd again, and in the evening, came too at an ifland on which we continued.

On

C 45 ]

On the 30th, at the dawn of day, em- bark'd, and at 12 o'clock this night, landed at Ofwego, where we found both the vef- fels which had arrived the preceeding eve- ning, fafely moor'd.

On the 31ft, we took out of the veffels fome of their lading, after which fet them on fire, and with the remains of their car- goes, fent them a drift on the lake. At noon, eight men were order'd on board each batteau, the remainder march'd as a flank guard ; towards evening, we halted at the fix mile creek ; our boats, on account of the deep loading, and the great force of the ftream againft them, could not be carried farther.

On the firft of September, we proceeded to the Ofwego falls, a mile below which, we encamp'd on a plain formerly an Indian field.

On the 2d and 3d, we were employ'd in bringing the batteaus to the falls, and drawing them over the Carrying Place:

On

[ 46 ]

On

in each miles.

the 4th, embark'd twenty three men ich bateau, and advanced fifteen

On the j;th, proceeded to the iflands in the Oneida Lake, on one of which we landed, at nine in the evening.

On the 6th, crofs'd the Lake, and pro- ceeded about four miles up Wood Creek.

On the 7th in the evening, arriv'd at Canada Creek. And,

On the 8th in the morning, advane'd to Bull's fort; here a command of 500 men was left, and officers appointed from the different corps, to receive, and make a ge- neral divifion of the plunder, in proportion to the number of men each corps cqnfifted of; an equitable diftribution was after- wards made in each corps, in which the officers and foldiers fhared equally ; the re- mainder of the troops march'd to the O- neida flation, having been abfent twenty four days.

Having

[ 47 3

Having now regularly purfued the thread of this narrative, from the origin of this enterprize to the return of the army, I fhall fubjoin an account of the plunder taken at Cadaraqui ; exclufive of what the Indians took, which were of the mod va- luable kinds ; feveral of them, on their re- turn to the Mohocks country, I have been told, fold to the amount of three, four, and one to the value of five hundred pounds, in lace, paint, bever, &c.

The goods divided at Bulls fort were as follows :

178 Gold and filver laced hatts

3 3 Pieces of gold lace

1 6 Pieces of filver lace 400 Pieces of ribband 445 Pieces of gartering

45 Pieces of ferriting 238 Pieces of napp'd frieze 3690 Mens fhirts

828 Pair of fuird woollen (lockings 1978 Woollen caps 1674 Plain coats

375 Ca1*-

[ 48 ]

575 Callimancoe gowns 689 Childrens gowns and frocks 1 no Blankets 1 20 Ruggs 313 Laced coats 85 Pieces of white linnen 16 Pieces of ftriped ditto 56 Pieces of crofs barr'd fluff 662 Childrens fhirts 270 Bags of vermillion 55 Fox fkins 53 Otter fkins 4950 Raccoon fkins

360 Bever fkins 4007 Deer and elk fkins 732 Bear fkins 152 Pieces of Ticklenburgh 383 Skains of tent cord 147 Finefuzees 400 mufkets

46 Pair of piftols 205 Brafs kettles 78 Barrels of gun-powder never divided, but fent to the magazine at fort Stanwix on the Oneida carying place.

Thefe

[ 49 ]

Thefe were the goods brought to Bull's fort, which certainly, were not the one fourth part, of what were burnt in the ftores and on board the veffels. I fhould here have made a paufe, and come to a conclufion, but as a great deal of pains has been taken by a fet of gentlemen, en- vious of the fifing character and fame of Col. Bradftreet, to depreciate from the merits of this conqueft 5 repreienting it, as <c a mad, injudicious fcheme, the fuccefs of *c which, was merely owing to chance <c and accident/' I fhall endeavour to point out a few particulars, relative to the conduct of this expedition, and the im- portance it has manifeftly been of to thefe colonies ; which I fhall confider in a two- fold light.

Firft, the enterprize, or action itfelf.

Secondly, the confequences refulting from it.

As to the firft point $ the principal foun- dation of a fuccefsful enterprize againft this

H fort,

I 5° ]

fort, was laid in the information Colanel Bradftreet had received, concerning the ftrength of the works, and the garrifon polled within them, and in his knowledge of the ufual military oeconomy of the French. Thefe matters we may conclude, from the oppofition he met with at head quarters, he was better acquainted with, than even the commander in chief, as every circum- ftance relative to the fituation of the gar- rifon, anfwered his expectations. Indeed, by the inftructions Col. Bradftreet re- ceived from the general, he was left the fole judge of the probability of fucceeding, and whether, if on his arrival at the great carrying place, he fhould, from the intelli- gence he might there receive from the Indians, judge it prudent to proceed. As by this inftru&ion, the entire burthen of the event of the expedition, Was thrown upon Col. Bradftreet, it made him parti- cularly cautious, of obtaining the fulled, and moft circumftantial information, of the force the enemy had at Cadaraqui, which being fatisfadlory, he inftantly determined on profecuting his plan.

The

[ 5' ]

The executive part of which, remains next to be confider'd ; in this we find all thofe requifites, effentially neceflary in the condudt of enterprizes in the American wilds, together with thofe chara&eriftics, which have ever diftinguifhed the greateft generals.

Firft, caution and fecrecy, in preventing the enemy from difcovering the objedt, a- gainft which our preparations were in- tended.

Secondly, the greateft expedition and difpatch in marching.

Thirdly, judgment in making the at- tack properly, prudence in doing it with- out lavishing the lives of men, and intrepi- dity in conducting it, with that refolution, which carries with it the appearance of a determination to conquer.

As to the fir ft point, never was there an expedition undertaken, the deftination of which, the individuals who compos'd the

H 2 army*

t 52 ]

army, were more profoundly ignorant of; even the commanding officers of corps were uncertain, at leaving the Oneida (ra- tion, whether they were to be led againft Niagara, Ofwegatchie or Cadaraqui -, by which extraordinary fecrecy, the enemy were, beyond doubt, prevented from fuc- couring, or reinforcing the garrifon of fort Frontenac. Had the defign been made public, the Indians, who have a conftant intercourfe with thofe of the enemy, might have given them fuch information, as would have enabled them, by reinforcing the garrifon, to have render'd our attempt abortive.

As to the fecond point. The expedition and difpatch, with which this enterprize was carried on, is perhaps not exceeded by any recorded in hiftory; for notwithftand- ing the ob ft ructions' we met in Wood Creek, the detention at the Ofwego Falls, and our frequent halts on the banks of the Ontario, on account of rough water ; we were only ten days on our paflage, from Bulls fort to Cadaraqui, the diftance being at leafl two hundred and twenty five miles,

which,

[ 53 ]

which, deducting the time we were o- bliged to lie ftill, was pafs'd in lefs than fix days. So fecret and fadden was our ap- proach, that the enemy never heard of, nor apprehended the advancing of an army a- gain ft them, till we were within fifteen miles of their gates.

The judgment, prudence and intrepidi- ty with which jhe attack was conducted, fully appear on confidering, that from our fcanty fupplies of ammunition and in- trenching tools, the fiege was not to be protracted ; and formal approaches at the diltance of feveral hundred yards, agreeable to the cuftom and practice of modern at- tacks, would never have given room to hope for fuccefs, efpecially as our quantity of ammunition, would not have beenfuffi- cient to hold out above twenty four hours firing ; Col. Bradftreet therefore, wifely determined to make his approaches imme- diately within fuch a diftance, as that eve- ry ball might do execution; thefe ap- proaches he prudently made in the night, for altho' they might have been affected in the day, ftillit would have coft the lives of

many,

[ 54 3

many, which was prevented by attracting the attention of the garrifon to a quarter, where the men might lie covered and fe- cure from their fire ; as to the bravery of advancing within one hundred and fifty yards of the fort walls, without any cover- ing whatever, open to Tallies from the gar- rifon, no body acquainted with the attack of fortified places, can deny, but was as daring, and bold, and {till in our fituation as fieceffary a condudl as is to be met with in the records of any military achieve- ments of the moft enterprizing gene- rals.

Having I think, fully considered the aftion itfelf ; I (hall now proceed to point out the importance of the conqueft, by fhewing the advantages we have gain'd by it ; but as no improvements have yet been made on our part, the advantages are in a great meafure to be eftimated, from the diftrefs and injury the enemy have fufFer- ed by its reduction j in this view, we (hall therefore confider it.

By

[ 55 ]

By the demolition of fort Frontenac, the enemy have been depriv'd of their grand magazine, from whence their weftern ter- ritories, garrifons, and Indian allies were fupplied with ammunition, proviflons, and goods of all kinds. By the deftru&ion of their fleet, the intercourfe between Canada and Niagara, has in a great meafure been cut off, and the dominion of the lakes wrefted from their hands $ by which, ac- cording to their own confeflion, they will be obliged to abandon their fettlements, forts, and pofleffions on lake Erie, the ftreights of lake Huron, and the lake Su- periour 5 their trade and intereft with the Indians inhabiting thofe countries, muft coniequently decay, and if a proper ufe is made of thefe advantages, may be utterly taken from themr

The expedition of M. Levy againft the fettlements on Mohocks river, was by this conqueft entirely ftopp'd and render'd im- practicable, by which we continue in pof- feffion of the Oneida carrying place, on which we have eredted a ftrong fort 5 this

in

[ 56 3

in all probability, we fhould not have ef- fected this year, unlefs the expedition to Cadaraqui, had been proje&ed and carried into execution : As only 2000 men were to have teen ordered for this fervice, who, exclufive of the interruption M. Levy might have given them, would have been undoubtedly difturb'd by the five nations, they being averfe to it, and having actually engag'd to take up the hatchet, and declare in favour of the enemy. In confequence of the redudtion of fort Frontenac, the De- lawares, Shawanefe, and other Indians, in* habiting the back parts of thefe colonies, have been influenced to conclude a peace with us at Eafton, in October laft ; and is there not the higheft reafon to imagine, the good difpofition which General Forbes found the Indians in, on the Ohio, is prin- cipally owing to the conqueft of Cadaraqui, by which all their fupplies of ammuni- tion and provifions were cut off, and they depriv'd of the means of fubfifting. If Frontenac had remain'd in pofieffion of the enemy, is there not the greateft probability, they would have fent a reinforcement to

M.

[ S7 ]

M. de Lignery,* having a fleet to tranf* port, and provifions to fubfift them on fuch an enterprize. This M. Levy might have effected, after having fufficiently a- larmed us on the Mohocks river, and drawn a body of our troops thither from Lake George 5 indeed it might have been done, even fince our troops withdrew from fort William Henry ; by which the expe- dition of General Forbes would have beea fruftrated.

Thus had it not been for the reduction of fort Frontenac, our fituation on the con- tinent would have been the fame, as at the opening of the campaign, with the addn tion of an almoft infupportable tax to no purpofe. But the taking of Cadaraqui ; to fum up the whole in a few words, has de- priv'd the enemy of Lake Ontario j has fruftrated their fcheme of making an in- curfion into this province -, has kept the Five Nations in a ftate of neutrality ; has influenced the Indians on the frontiers of Penfilvania, Jerfey and Virginia to a peace ;

* This gentleman commanded at Fort du Quefne on the Ohio.

J .has

[ 58 ]

has facilitated the expedition againft fort Du Quefne ; has broken the chain of attach- ment and intereft, which fubfifted between the French and the Indians on the Ohio ; and has laid open to us, the eafy acquisi- tion and peaceable poffeffion of thofe im- rnenfe and valuable tracts, which border on the Ohio, the lakes, and the furround- ing country.

Thefe advantages have been gain'd, without putting the crown to a hundred pounds fterling extraordinary charge $ of ammunition and intrenching tools, it was out of our power to expend any great quantity. And the troops would have confumed the fame provifions, had they paft the time in the moft fapine inactivity at Lake George. The importance of thefe acquisitions to the general intereft of the colonies, is undoubtedly great, and had any one meafure been taken by

to improve them properly,

our advantages might have been multiplied almoft beyond imagination $ But as CoL Bradftreet was the projector of the enter- prize, he was fufFered to go in the name of

th$

r 59 3

the Lord, and to return again as well as he could -, but not one ftep was taken, nor a fingle difpofition ordered to fecure his re- treat in cafe of a repulfe, or make a pro- per improvement of the conqueft, if fuc- cefs had attended him. Had the former been the cafe, few, very few of our troops, would have ever return 'd to tell the direful tale. This, together with the lofsof men the colonies have fuftained during the war in America, and in ftorming the never to be forgotten breaftwork at Tichonderoga, would have given them a moft fevere (hock, in this their infant ftate. If only two thoufand Provincial troops, which were kept unemploy'd at Lake George, had been order'd to follow us, and take poft at Ofwego, we might have thrown up fome defenfible works, and brought over and preferved all the (hip- ping, artillery, ammunition and provifions fort Frontenac would have amply fupplied us with. We might then have had it in our power to have taken Niagara, and fe- cured that important pafs, long the objecl: of the nations defire j the immenfe quan- tities of Indian goods with which the (lores

were

[: 60 ]

were filPd, might all have been fecur'd. Thefe, if neceffity, and the want of bread, had not influenced the weftern Indians to the offers of a peace, might have purchas'd them from the enemy's intereft ; what a glorious acquiiition would this have been? This, for which Great Britain has ex- pended millions, might have been acquired without blood or money.

F I N- 1 S.

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