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ExplanatioTL / The Riwr Orwndtiqo 1 La/ce Ontario
REV IE W
O F T H E
MILITARY OPERATIONS
I N
NORTH AMERICA;
FROM The Commencement of the French Hosti- lities on the Frontiers of Virginia in 1753, to the Surrender of Ofwego, on the 14th of Auguft, 1756.
INTERSPERSED With various Obfervations, CJiara&ers, and Anecdotes ; neceffary to give Light into the Conduft of American Tranfaclions in general; and more efpecially into the political Management of Affairs in NEW YORK.
InaLETTER to a Nobleman. -
To which are added,
Colonel Wajbington's Journal of his, Expedition to the Ohio, in 1754, and Several Letters and other Pa- pers of Confequence, found in the Cabinet of Major General Braddock, after his Defeat near Fort Du £!>uefne; and fince publifhed by the French Court.
& None of thefe Papers are contained in the Englijh Edition,'
DUBLIN:
Printed for P. Wilson, and J. Exshaw, in Dame-StreeK
M,DCC,LVII.
Site
Mb Ontarw V ^/ ""x^^^v ^ ^* n
REV I E W
O F T H E
MILITARY OPERATIONS
I N
NORTH AMERICA;
FROM The Commencement of the French Hosti- lities on the Frontiers of Virginia in 1753, to the Surrender of Ofwego, on the 14th of Auguft, 1756.
INTERSPERSED With various Obfervations, Characters, and Anecdotes; neceflary to give Light into the Conduct of American Tranfa&ions in genera]; and more efpecially into the political Management of Affairs in NEW YORK.
InaLETTER to a Nobleman.
To which are added,
Colonel WajbingtotCs Journal of his,Expedition to the Ohio, in 1754, ancl feveral Letters and other Pa- pers of Confequence, found in the Cabinet of Major General Braddock, after his Defeat near Fort Du gfoefne; and fince publifhed by the French Court.
fc> None of thefe Papers are contained in the Englijh Edition,'
DUBLIN:
Printed for P. Wilson, and J. Exshaw, in Dame- Street',
M;DCC,LV1I.
:y^
&S^r
C 3] A
REVIEW
OF THE
MILITARY OPERATIONS
I N
NORTH AMERICA, &c.
My Lord,
IE S T E E M myfelf highly honour- introduc- ed, when you requeft of me, a full Hon, account of the rife, progrefs, an4 prefent ft ate, of the military operations in North America, with a jufl delinea- tion of the characters of the principal agents in our political affairs. Indeed, my Lord, you impofe a tafk that will require a Volume, rather than a Letter. As your Lordfhip's defire, however, mall alv/ays carry with me the force of a command, I will engage in it with the utmoft chearfulnefs. Forgive me, A ray
[4] my Lord, for faying I have a ft ill ftronger motive for compofmg thefe meets, than a mere compliance with your Lordfliip's requeft; to which I would ever pay the profoundefl regard. When I reflect upon your eminent fla- tion — your excelling abilities — your warm and active zeal, for the interefl and welfare of the Britifh colonies ; I am prompted by an unfeigned defire of ferving my country, and fetting before your Lordfhip's eyes Truth, in her plain and undifguifed habiliments : I would flrip her of all that delufive co- louring, with which fhe hath been art- fully varniihed, by letter-writers from this part of the world ; either to fub- ferve fome mean finifter party defign, or to promote the views of fome afpir- ing and ambitious minds. Candour and integrity fhall therefore guide my pen; and amidfl the variety with which it is my purpofe to prefent your Lord- fhip, it mail be my facred endeavour, to the bell of my knowledge, to attach myfelf to the ftricteft — the moil impar- tial verity. American n^H E American colonies, I fpeak it
colonics
too long w^tn fubmiiiion, my Lord, were too
negle&ed, long neglected by their mother coun-
tho' of ge-try, tho' loudly demanding her patron-
neral Im- a ^ afliftance. Thofe, on the conti- portance. B ^
t 5] nent, require her peculiar notice: They may be made an inexhauftible maga- zine of wealth ; and if fuflfered to fall into the hands of the French, fuch will be the acceflion to their already extend- ed commerce and marine flrength, that Great Britain mufl not only lofe her former luftre, but, dreadful even in thought! ceafe to be any longer an in- dependent power. Nay, mould every other fcherne fail, the fuccefs of this will inevitably accomplifh the long-pro- jected defign of that afpiring nation, for fetting up an Univerfal Monarchy : for, if France rule the ocean, her re- fources will enable her to fubjecl: all Europe to her defpotic {way. But it is unnecefTary to offer any arguments in fupport of a propofition, of which the Public feems to remain no longer in- fenfible. Happy for us, had thefe fen- timents prevailed earlier, and been more frequently inculcated!
The importance of the colonies, my More con- Lord, was^too little confidered, till ther^erej>°" commencement of the laft war. The [j^f reduction of Cape Breton by the peo-Lou^ pie of New England, was an acquilition bourg. fo unexpected and fortunate, that Ame- rica became, on that remarkable event, a more general topic of converfation. Mr. "Shirley, the governor of the Maf- A z fachufets
[6] fachufets Bay, was the principal pro- jector of that glorious enterprize : An enterprize, which reduced tc* the obe- dience of his Britannic Majefly, the Dunkirk of North America. Of fuch * confequence to the French, was the pofleflion of that important key to their American fettlements, that its refuta- tion was, in reality, the purchafe of the laft general Peace in Europe. Charaaer Op all our plantation Governors, my of Gov. Lord, Mr. Shirley is mofl diflinguifhed bhirlev. for his fingular abilities. He was born in England, and bred up to the Law, at one of the Inns of Court. In that profeiTion he afterwards practifed, for feveral years, in the MafTachufets Bay : and, in 1741, was advanced by his Majefly to the fupreme command of that colony. He is a Gentleman of great political fagacity, deep penetra- tion, and indefatigable induftry. With refpedl to the wifdom and equity of his adminiflration, he can boaft the uni- verfal fufrrage of a wife, free, jealous, and moral people. Tho' not bred to arms, he is eminently poffefTed of thefe important military virtues — An extent of capacity to form and execute great defignsi — profound fecrefy; — love of regularity and difcipline 5 — a frugal and laborious manner of living; with the
art
[ 7 ]
art of conciliating the affections ;-^-a talent which Hannibal admired in Pyr- rhus, above all the reft of his martial accomplishments. In the firft of thefe great qualities, Mr. Shirley is univer- fally acknowledged to mine : and it is, in reality, more eftimable, than all other military endowments without it ; confifting, to ufe the words of that dis- cerning hiftorian Mr. Rollin, " hihav- " ing great views ; in forming plans at " a diftance ; in propofing a delign, " from which the author never de- " parts; in concerting ail the meafures " neceffary for its fuccefs ; in know- '.* ing how to feize the favourable mo- " ments of occafion, v/hich are rapid " in their courfe, and never return^ ** to make even fudden and unforefeen " accidents fubfervient to a plan ; in a " word, to be upon the watch againft " every thing, without being perplex- M ed and difconcerted by any event.'" But whether it arifes from his being fo far advanced in years, or from his con- ftitutibnal difpofition and make, he has not, in my opinion, that activity and alertnefs fo conducive to warlike expe- dition •, and on which the fuccefs of an enterprize frequently depends. This was one of the charadteriftics of Brad- dock ; a commander, vigorous in exe- A j cuting,
[8 ]
cuting, as Mr. Shirley, judicious in con- triving a Tplzn—fed won c?nnia pojjumus omnes — and 'tis eafier, my Lord, to find active hands, than able heads. No His atten-man perhaps in the nation, has beftow- tion to co-ed more attention, upon the ftate of xolony af- the colonies in general : and having fairs. ttie-r jntere'fl fincerely at heart, he has been perpetually concerting expedients, advancive of their profperity, and to check the views of an all-grafping Mo- narch. Upon the reduction of Louif- burgh, he earneftly recommended to his Majefly's miniflers, the demolition of that fortrefs, and an expedition a- gainfl the French fettlements in Cana- da. The reafons why he fucceeded in neither of thefe propofals, I cannot Is reward-take upon me to affign. His Majefty, ed with a however, fenfible of his fervices, gave regiment, ffim a regiment in 1 746 ; and upon the comrnif- c°nc^fion of the peace of Aix-la-Cha- fary to pelle, fent him as one of the Britifri Paris. eommiiTaries to Paris, for fettling the controverted limits between the two Crowns in America. Amidfl all the fplendors and delicacies of Verfailles, he forgot neither Our interell, nor His duty. As a proof of his integrity and diligence, during that fruitlefs embaiTy, one need only perufe thefe judicious and laborious memorials, in fupport of
his
[9]
his Majefty's right to Nova Scotia, which were principally framed by him; and lately publifhed by order of the Lords of Trade, as a full exhibit of our title to that part of America. When no fatisfaction could, in this way, be obtained from the Court of France ; which was artfully endeavouring to {pin out the negotiation, and at the fame time fortifying the places in queilion, as v/ell as making new acquisitions * the Britifh commiiTaries retired from the French Court, and Mr. Shirley re- fumed his government in New England in Auguft 1753.
The French, jealous of the growth 1755. of the Englifh colonies, were now me- *— ~v— — ditating all poflible arts to diflrefs them, The and extend the limits of their own fron- *enc~., tier. The marquis Du Quefne, an en- on virgi- terprizing genius, was at this time in- ma. veiled with the fupreme command of New France. Our provinces were quickly alarmed by the French fettle- ments, which he this year began en the banks of the Ohio. Virginia, ap- pearing more immediately concerned, Mr. Dinwiddie * wrote, on the 31ft ofMeflage Oclober, to the commandant of theto the French Forces there, complaining ofjant"
eomman-
*
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
\- 4 fimdry
fwered.
[ 10]
753. fundry late hoftilities, and defiring to know, by whai authority an armed force had marched from Canada, and invaded a territory indubitably the right cf his Britannic Majefty. Major Washington, a gentleman of whom I (hail have occafion in the fequel to make honourable mention, was the bearer of this letter. He returned with an anlwer from Monf Legardeur De St. Pierre, dated at the fort on Beef River, 15 December, -1753; of which the following is an exact tranflation : It is an- " y\s I have the honour to command " here in chief, Mr. Wafhington de- " livered me the letter, which you di- " rected to the commandant of the 44 French troops. I mould have been " pleafed if you had given him orders, " or if he himfelf had been difpofed, " to vifit Canada and our general; to 44 whom, rather than to me, it proper- 44 ly appertains to demonflrate the " reality of die King my mailer's 44 rights to lands fituated along the 44 Onio, and to difpute the pretenfions 44 of the King of Great Britain in that 44 refpect.
44 I mall immediately forward your " letter to Monf Le Marquis Du 44 Qucme. His anfwer will be a law 44 to me : and if he direds me to com- municate
[ II ]
" municate it to you, I allure you, Sir, 175.?. u I mall neglect nothing that may be u necefTary to convey it to you with " expedition.
" As to the requifition you make u (that I retire with the troops under " my command) I cannot believe my- " felf under any obligation to fubmit " to it. I am here, in virtue of my ge- " neral's orders ; and I beg, Sir, you " would not doubt a moment of my " fixed refolution to conform to them, " with all the exactitude and fteadinels " that might be expected from a better " officer.
" I do not know that, in the courfe " of this campaign, any thing has pais- u ed that can be eileemed an act of u hoflility, or contrary to the treaties " fubfifting between the two Crowns; " the continuation of which is as in- " terefting and pleafmg to us, as it can " be to the Englifh. If it had been <( agreeable to you, Sir, in this refpect, " to have made a particular detail of " the facts which occafion your com- " plaint, I fhould have had the honour " of anfwering you in the mod expli- " cit manner 5 and I am perfuaded you u would have had reafon to be fatisfied.
" I have taken particular care to re-
" ceive Mr. Wafliington, with all the
A 5 g diflindion
[ 12]
1753- " diflinction fuitable to your dignity, w— y—— >" and to his quality and great merit. " I flatter" my felf that he will do me " this juftiee, and join with me in tef- " tifying the profound refpett with " which I am,
"SIR, " Your moll humble and u mofl obedient fervant, „ " Legardeur De St. Pierre,
3754. On the receipt of this refolute anfwer,
*— " % -Mr. Dinwiddie made inftant complaint
Virginians to th€ Court of Great Britain ; and by ltd to the a'arm*ng fpeeches laboured to rouze the colonies. Virginians into a vigorous oppofition. He wrote alfo to the neighbouring go- vernors, importuning the aid of the other colonies, for repelling the invafion, and erecling a fort at the confluence of the Ohio and Monangahela. An immediate j miction in fuch meafures became abfo- iutely requifite for our common fecu- rity. But the colonies, alas ! v/ere funk into a profound lethargy ; and, refign- ed to flupidity and {lumbering, appear- ed infeniible of the threatening danger. They contemned the power of Cana- da ; connded in the number of their inhabitants -, inattentive were they to the inconveniencies of an endlefs fron- tier j and in fhort intirely unacquainted
with
[ '3 1 with the fituation of the inland conn- 1754- try. The waters of the Ohio, before1 /"""■* this period, were fcarce known, fave to a few Indian traders ; and the gene- rality deemed thoie French fettlements too remote to be the object of dread, and a matter of infignificant moment. Accordingly, when application was But they made for fuccours to Virginia, confor- generally mable to directions from the miniiiry, ^^_ fome of our provincial alTemblies, par- feives. ticulariy thofe of Penfylvania * and New York -f, feemed even to queflion his Majefly's title to the lands ufhrped by the French. Others, to avoid their
* " You would not admit, that the French ** encroachments and fortifications on the O- " hio were within our limits, or his Majefty's " dominions, thereby feeking an excufe to a- u void doing what was required of you."
Gov. Morris's meffage to the afTembly of Penfylvania, 22 Nov. 1755.
f " It appears, by other papers your hd- " nour has been pleafed to communicate to *c us, that the French have built a fort at a " place called the French Creek, at a confi- " derable diflance from the river Ohio, which *' may, but does not by any evidence or in- " formation appear to us to be an invafion of " any of hts Majefly's colonies."
Addrefs of the general afTembly to Lieut. Gov. De Lancey, 23 April, 1754. ."
fhare
[ 14 3
1754- ^are in the burden, framed the molt *—-v~' trifling excufes. New York, however, voted 5000 1. currency in aid of Virgi- nia i which, confidering her own fitua- tion, and approaching diftrefs, was no ungenerous contribution. Forces The Virginians neverthelefs pro-
raifed un- cee(|ed in their refolution of marching
Wafting_ a bodY of trooPS t0 the Proteaion ?f ton. their frontiers : and parted an act in February 1754, for raifmg 1 0,000 1. and 300 men. The command was given to Col. Wafhington, a young gentleman of great bravery and diftin- guiflied merit. By his Majefty's di- rection, two of the regular independent companies of foot at New York, were ordered to the frontier of that domi- nion. They imbarked for Virginia on board the Centaur man of war j which unfortunately did not fail from thence till the middle of June, and car- ried the money before mentioned to the affiftance of that colony. Who had Col. Washington began his march, a fuccefs- at the head of his little army, about fe! **". the 1 it of May *. On the 28th he had Seen^a &^mifti with the enemy, of whom
* For a more circumftantial account of this expedition, fee Col. Waftiington's Journal, which is annexed to this Dublin edition by way of Appendix.
ten
1 15]
ten were flain, and about twenty made prifoners. But this public-fpirited of- ficer loon experienced a reverfe of for- tune. Waiting for further Reinforce- ments, he was alarmed with an account, that 900 French and 200 Indians were advancing from the Ohio ; who ac- cordingly in two days after * came up, and an engagement immediately en- fued. Our troops were but a handful compared to the number of the enemy, confifling only of about three hundred effective men. After a vigorous re- But was Mance for three hours, in which it was afterwards faid near two hundred of the French £b^ and their Indian allies were flain ; Col. t^rs. Washington, cbferving the great fupe- riority of the enemy, who now began to hemm him in on all quarters, found himfelf under an abfolute neceffity of fubmitting to the difagreeable terms that were offered him j\
In
* The third of July.
f The terms of capitulation granted by Monf. De Villier, captain and comman- der of the infantry of his Mod: Chriftian Majefty, to thofe Englifh troops actually in Fort Neceffity, which is built on the land of the king's dominions. As our intentions have never been to trou- ble the peace and harmony which reigns be- tween the two princes in amity, but only to
revenge
I >*3
1 754. In this action we had thirty killed and fifty wounded. The French were
obferved
revenge the aflaffination which has been done on one of our officers, bearer of a flation, as appears by his writings ; as alfo to hinder any eflablifhment on the lands in the dominions of the king my matter; upon thefe confedera- tions, we are willing to grant protection and favour to all the Englifh. that are in the faid fort, upon the conditions hereafter menti- oned.
Article I.
We grant the Englifh commander, to retire with all his garrifon, and to return peaceably Into his own country ; and promife to hinder his receiving any infults from us French, and to reftrain, as much as mail be in our power, the favages that are with us. Article II.
That the Englifh be permitted to march cut, and carry every thing with them, except the artillery, which we keep.
Article III.
That we will allow the Englifh all the ho- nours of war ; and that they fhall march out with drums beating, and with a fwivel gun ; • — that we are willing to fhew that we treat them is friends.
Article IV. —
That as foon as the articks are fgned by both parties, they flrike the Englifh colours. Article V.
That to-morrow, at break of d?y, a de- tachment of the French fhall mike the garri- fon file off, and take pofTeflion of the fort.:
And
5^3
obferved to be aflifted by a confiderable 1754J number of Indians, who had been long* — "v — ■§ in the Englifh alliance : Not a few of them were known to be Delawares, Shawanefe, and of the Six Nations *. On the furrender of our camp, theyconfe- fell at once to pillaging the baggage quences of and provifionsj and not content with*?113 de~ this, they afterwards (hot fome of the eat*
And as the Englifh have a few horfes or oxen, they are free to hide their effects, and come and fearch for them when they have met their horfes : And that they may for this end have guardians, in what manner they pleafe, upon condition that they will give their word of honour, not to work upon any building in this place, or in any part this fid'e the mountains, during a year, to be accounted from this day. And as the Englifh have now in their power an officer, two cadets, and mod of the prifo- ners made in the aflaiTination of Sieur Defa- monville, that they promife to fend them back to the Fort De Du Quefne, fituate on the Fine River ; And for the fecurity of this article, as well as this treaty, Meffi Jacob Van Bracham and Robert Stobo, both cap- tains, mail be put as hoftages, till the arrival of the Canadians and French above-mention- ed. We oblige ourfelves, on our fide, to give an efcort to return in fafety thefe two officers ; a duplicate being made upon or of the poft of our blockade. July 3 , 1754.
* They are called Mingoes by the fouthem Indians.
horfes
r a ]
1754. horfes and cattle, and fcalped two of the wounded *.
Against this conduct, Col. Wafh- ington remonftrated, but all his argu- ments made but little impreflion upon them. The Canadians delight in blood ; and in barbarity exceed, if poifible, the very favages themfelves. Thus the French remained matters of the field ; the Indians were riveted in their defection -, his Majefty's arms unfuc- cefsful ; and our frontiers expofed, through the ill-timed parfimony of the provinces. The enemy, on the other hand, wifely improved the prefent ad- vantage, and erected forts, to fecure to themfelves the quiet pofTeflion of that fertile country. How evident then was the necefTity of uniting the power of the Britifh colonies ! The expediency of a plan for that purpofe had been before confidered. Some meafures feemed alfo abfolutely requifite for fup- porting our Indian intereft, and pre- venting their total decienfion.
* Among other infractions of the capitu- lation, the deftru&ion of the doctor's box ought not to be forgotten ; by which means our wounded were barbaroufly diftrefifed.
See Col. Innes's letter of 12 July, 1754.
Accord-
[ <9 ]
Accordingly, agreeable to his Ma- 1754.' jelly's orders, the 14th of June was*— -v-*^ appointed for a grand congrefs of com- Grand miflaries from the feveral provinces, to£°"J^j[, be held at Albany, as well to treat with fcanv the Six Nations, as to concert a fcheme for a general union of the Britifh colo- nies. MefTengers had been difpatched to the Indian catties * to requefl their attendance ; but they did not arrive till Indians the latter end of the month ; and the delay at- Mohawks, who live but 40 miles dif-tenda"ce> tance, came in lafl. This occafioned reafons, various /peculations : fome imputed it to fear ; left the French, in their ab- fence, mould fall upon their countries : Others to art, — imagining that by ex- citing our jealoufy of their wavering difpofition, at fo critical a juncture, the more liberal would be the prefents made them by the feveral governments. Not a few thought it an artifice of Mr. Johnfbn's, who expected to rife into importance, from the reputation of a mighty influence over the Indians, kept them from a punctual attendance ; be- ing very confident of a public requefl: to himfelf from the commiffioners, to go up, and haften their progrefs. There
* The Indians call their villages, which arc only furrounded with pallifades, caftles.
was
[ 20 ]
1754- was t^ie highell evidence of the like Shrv — 'piece of policy at an Indian treaty, du- ring Mr. Clinton's adminiflration. The Indians however at length arrived, tho' fewer in number than was expected, or had been ufual on thofe folemn oc- cafions. Hendrick, a noted Mohawk fachem % apologized for the delay of that canton, in a fpeech to this effect : " There was (faid he) an interview laft " fall, between Col. Johnfon and the " Six Nations, at Onondaga. Our bre- " thren of the other nations reported, u that his fpeech to us was concerted " by the Mohawks : We therefore come cc laft, to prevent any ground for the " repetition of fuch (landers, with re- " gard to the addrefs now to be made " us by your honour.'* Commif- The congrefs having been opened fioners, on the 1 8 th of June, were ready to and.h°w treat with the Six Nations j and on the 29th, after fettling difputes between the commiflioners concerning rank and precedence, Mr. De Lancey, the Lieu- tenant Governor of New York, ad- dreffed himfelf in a fpeech to the In- dians.— On his right hand, were MefF.
* A fachem is a warrior, and a man of an eflablifhed reputation for his wifdom and bra- very, among the Indians.
Murray
[21 ]
Murray and Johnfon, two of the coun- 1754. cil of New York ; next to them, Meff. *■***—«# Wells, Hutchinfon, Chandler, Par- tridge, and Worthington, commilTioners from the Maffachufets Bay: Then the gentlemen from New Hamplhire, Meff. Wyburn, Atkinfon, Ware, and Sher- burn: And laft on that fide, Meff. Hopkins and Howard, commiiTioners of Rhode-Ifland. On his left, were feated Meff. Chambers and Smith, two other of his Majefty's council for New York : Then the Connecticut commif- fioners, Lieutenant Governor Pitkin, Major Walcot, and Col. Williams : Af- ter them Melt Penn, Peters, Norris, and Franklin from Penfylvania: and laft of all, Col. Talker and Major Barnes, from Maryland.
The treaty was conducted with great Indians folemnity. The Indians appeared well pleafed pleafed with the prefents from the fe-w^* ^ veral governments; which, compared {^et yame to former donations, amounted to an our con- immenfe value: But in their anfwer,duc~t. recriminated upon us the defertion of our fort * Saraghtoga the laft war ; la-
* Upon the difbanding of the forces raifed for the Canada expedition in 1746, and the affembly's difinclination to garrifon it, the fort, by order of Mr, Clinton, was burnt and abandoned.
mented
t«J
1754. merited the defencelefs condition of Wy—Jour frontier city of Albany ; and ex- tolled the better conduct of the French, in fortifying and maintaining their gar- rifons.
. The Indians being difmiiTed, the conferences were continued till the 1 1 th of July. The commiffioners were, both for abilities and fortune, fome of the moil confiderable men in North Ame- rica. The fpeakers however were not many ; but of thofe who fpoke, fome delivered themfelves with lingular- ener- gy and eloquence. All were inflamed with a patriot-fpirit, and the debates were nervous and pathetic. This af- fembly, my Lord, might very properly be compared to one of the antient Greek conventions, for fupporting their expiring liberty againft the power of the Perfian empire, or that Lewis of Greece, Philip of Macedon. In the conclufion, Plan of a a plan was concerted for a general union. union 0f the Britifh colonies, and cre- ating a common fund to defray all mi- litary expences j and a representation of their prefent Hate drawn up ; which were agreed to be laid before the King's miniflers. Some of the governments have neverthelefs declared themfelves Approved averfe t0 this fcheme ; tho' approved
ceptDeX"at r^e ^me kv every member of the Lancey. congrefs,
t*3J
congrefs, except Mr. De Lancey. Un- 1 754.' accountable was the conduct of this v-~v"*-i gentleman to feveral of the provincial deputies. But thofe who were belt ac- quainted with his character and love of fway, afcribed his averfion from the plan, to an apprehenfion, that mould the fame take place, the fupreme officer, who agreeably to it was to prefide in the grand council of deputies from the reipective colonies, would mofl probably be the governor of the Maffachufets Bay : An apprehenfion, which reprelTed his own afpiring views v and, it was imagined, flung him with unfpeakable chagrin.
As the Lieutenant Governor will ap- His cha- pear, in the courfe of this letter, to rafter and bear a principal part in all our tranf- hlftoi7» actions, it will be neceffary, before I proceed any farther, to prefent your Lordfhip with his picture at full length. Without an intimate knowledge of that gentleman's hiflory and genius, it will be impoffible to comprehend his con- duct, or trace his actions to their ge- nuine fource.
He is the eldefl branch of one of the firil families in the province. His father, a French refugee, a gentleman of diiiinguifhed rank in this city, and who here acquired a large fortune, fent
him
I H ]
1754. him for his education to the Univerfity 'of Cambridge. He was a youth of prompt parts, and made a confiderable progrefs in learning, efpecially in the dailies. In the year 1719 he was, by Governor Montgomery's recommenda- tion, created one of hisMajefty's Coun- cil of New York ; but never engaged the public attention, till the time of Mr. Cofby. He became then very famous. With this governor he took part in moll of all his meafures — meafures extremely arbitrary, and productive of an adminiftration odious and turbulent. Cofby, in return for his miniflerial fer- vices, loaded him with favours. De- pofing Chief juflice Morris (the main obftacle to his perilous proje&s) he raifed him to the full: feat on the bench *. But though his excellency had the difpofition of offices, he could by no means delegate the affections of the people. Accordingly, our politi- cian was equally honoured and defpifed. He enjoyed the fmiles of the governor, which loaded him with the curfes of the people •, was carefled by the former,
* Mr.DeLancy was not educated to the law; but having fpent fome time, after his return from England, in the ftudy of that fcience, Gov. Montgomery appointed him fecond judge of the fupreme Court of Judicature.
and
[ 25 }
and by the latter abhorred. Colby 1754. leaving a fucceflbr capable of govern- ing without a prompter, the chief ju- ftice found it necelfary to deface the memory of his former conduct, by cul- tivating the arts of popularity. Mr. Clarke, who fucceeded +, being per- fectly mailer of our conflitution, a gen- tleman of experience and penetration, and intimately acquainted with the temper of the people, in a fhort time reconciled all parties ± and by refloring the public tranquillity, rendered Mr. De Lancey's plodding abilities utterly ufelefs. Hence he was at full leifure to court the populace. Suddenly he became transformed into a patriot \ and9 ftrange to relate! without a fingle act of patriotifm. His uncommon viva- city, with the femblance of affability and eafe; his adroitnefs at a jeft, with a fhew of condefcenfion to his inferi- ors, wonderfully facilitated his progrefs. Thefe plaufible arts, together with his influence as Chief Juftice, and a vaft perfonal eftate at ufe, all confpired to fecure his popular triumph. To efta- blifn fuch an undue power, and amaz- ing influence, would, in a Grecian com- monwealth, have expofed a man of lefs ambition and better principles to the
f In March 1736.
oftracifm.
C 26 3
1754. oftracifm. Mr. Clarke being fuperfe- 'ded by Governor Clinton *, Mr. De Lancy was prefented with a frefh op- portunity for the exhibition of his po- litical genius. Mr. Clinton, a gentleman of but indifferent parts, wholly refigned himfelf into his hands. Contenting himfelf with the title and falary of Governor, he left the fole direction of affairs to his minifter, who, by virtue of his late acquired omnipotence with the affembly, carried all his points, and even endeared him to the people. This in- timacy fubfifled no longer than it was found conducive to his defigns. Hav- ing obtained from Mr. Clinton a new commiflion for his office of Chief Juflice during good behaviour ; and flattering himfelf with the hopes of another, ap- pointing him Lieut. Governor, through the intereft of his friends in England, he cared not how foon his excellency abdicated the province, nor how tem- peftuous he rendered his adminiflra- tion; and was therefore prepared for an open rupture. He no fooner thought himfelf capable of acting independent- ly of the governor, than, like Sixtus Quintus, who threw afide his crutches the moment of his exaltation to the popedom, he put off all that humble
* Clinton arrived as Governor, 22 Sept. 1743.
devotion,
C 27 ]
devotion, by which he had fo fatally 1754* deceived his too credulous mailer, and openly fet himfelf at defiance againd him. Now he began to dictate, ra- ther than advife : and initead of Seja- nus, chofe to be Tiberius himfelf. Din- ing one day with Mr. Clinton, and infilling upon fome favourite point with great imperioufnefs, the Governor, who had hitherto very cordially differed him- felf to be led, refufed on this occafion to be driven. The Chief Judice then arofe and left him ^ declaring, with an oath, he would make his adminidra- tion uneafy for the future : His Excel- lency replied, he might do his word. Thus they parted ; nor were ever af- terwards reconciled. This breach gave rife to the contentions, which fo un- happily imbroiled our provincial , affaire, during the remainder of his admini- dration. The aiTembly were indantly inflamed. He who before had been able to make them connive at very un- judifiabie deps, could at once dir up an oppofition to the mod unexception- able meafures. Remondrances, warm and virulent, were now drawn up ; un- worthy their own dignity to offer, and replete with the groiTed language to his Majedy's reprefentative. Thus was formed againd Mr. Clinton a powerful B party,
[28 ]
1754- Party> which ceafed not, while he con- tinued at the helm, to harafs and per- plex him. To fuch an exorbitant length did they carry their oppofition, as to throw off the reftraint of humanity : They had even recourfe to force and violence. Nay, a partifan of the Chief Juflice, in defiance of the facred rights of the magiftracy and the law — to fhew his refentment againft Mr. Clin- ton and his adherents — alTaulted the mayor; whipped the fherifT; damned the Governor-, and ftabbed his phy- fician. My Lord, we became the fport and contempt of our neighbours ; and it is beyond contradiction, that Mr. De Lancey, by blowing up the coals of contention, did the province more in- jury, than he will ever be able to re- pair. Nor is there any reafon to doubt, that the enormous power of this gentleman, and the ferment raifed a- gainfl Mr. Clinton, occafioned the 39th article of the king's inftru&ions to Sir Dan vers Ofborn ; which appears pur- pofely calculated to render our future Governors independent on his influence over the afTembly : For a law indefinite, making provifion for the falary allowed by the King to his Governors, and competent falaries to all judges, jufbi- ces, and other necefTary officers and mi-
niflers
1 29]
nifters and government — fuch a law, 1754. I fay, would effectually render a Go- vernor independent of the aflembly, and confequently of any undue influ- ence in it. Nor without fuch inde- pendence, or an abridgement of Mr. De Lancey's power, by reducing him to his primitive private ftation, do I fee any probability of the extinction of that party-fpirit, which hath fo long diftur- bed the tranquillity, and injured the public weal of the colony. Mr. Clin- ton being fuperfeded by Sir Dan vers Ofborn *, a gentleman of a moft ami- able moral character, retired into the Country ; from whence he propofed to embark for Great Britain. The Chief Juilice notwithftanding his long declar- ed enmity, and unwearied induftry to embarafs his administration, had now — the humility, (hall I call it ? — to difpatch a meffenger to him with a de- fign if poflible to procure an accommo- dation — in order to fecure his favour in England, when he could no longer diftrefs him in America. It were dif- ficult to determine, whether this re- quired a higher degree of affurance or fervility. But it is no uncommon
* Sir Danvers Ofborn arrived at New York the 7th of O&ober, 1753.
B 2 thing,
[ 3o]
1754. thing, to behold the fame perfon fa- V-""V— 'ftidious and fawning, fupercilious and fycophantic. Mr. Clinton, far from an implacable enemy, began to be foften* ed ; when his lady (who if born among the Scythians, had been the Thale- ftris of antiquity) unravelling the fecret, fruflrated at once all expectations of a compofition ; and gave the plenipoten- tiary fuch a volley of invective againft his conflituent, as rendered all future overtures intirely hopelefs. Hisap- On the death of Sir Danvers Of- Tl&Tzo born+' eclually unexPefted and deplored, v°ernmeltMr- De LanceY publifhed the commif- ' andfyftemfion he had jufl received, appointing of politics, him Lieutenant Governor. He v/as now to act a part intirely new, and de- manding the full exertion of his po- litical dexterity. In the firft place, he had to convince the miniftry of his ut- raofl efforts to carry the King's in- ftructions in the houfe of representa- tives: And in the next, in order to preferve his popularity with the arTem- bly, and not in the mofl flagrant man- ner counteract his avowed principles, he was to fatisfy them, that in reality he by no means expected their compli-
+ This happened on the 1 2th of October,
1753-
ancc
[ 3" 1 ance with them. To execute the for- J 754* mer part of this plan -— in his fpeech^- — /"**■* of the 31ft of Odfcober, 1753, t0 ^ie council and general aiFembly, he fays, — " You will perceive by the 39thHisfpeech " article of his Majefty's inftrudlionsto the " to Sir Danvers bfborn, (copies oFJJ}1^ " which I (hall herewith deliver you *) ^ " how highly his Majefly is difpleafed " at the neglect of, and contempt fnewn " to, his royal commiilion and inflruc- " tions, by your palling laws of fb-ex- " traordinary a nature, and by fuch " your unwarrantable proceedings, par- ** ticularly fet forth in this inftruc~lion : " Hence alfo his Majefly's royal plea- " fure as to thefe matters will appear, " and what he expects from you. On " this head, I muft obferve to you, " that by our excellent conftitution " the executive power is lodged in the
* The 39th inftrucYion was published in one of our nev/s-papers ; and reprinted in England. The publication of it was thought to have been intended to excite the popular clamour : and it occafioned the refentment of the miniitry. It is worth remarking, that copies of feveral other inflru&ions were ex- prefsly ordered by his Majefty to be laid before the aftembly; but no fuch directions were gi- ven with refpecl: to this.
B3
[ 3*]
1 754. " crown : That all government is foun- ded on a confidence, that every per- " Ton will difcharge the duty of his fta- " tion j and if there mould be any a- " bufe of power, that the legal and re- 44 gular courfe is, to make application to 44 his Majefty, who having a paternal " tendernefs for all his fubjects, is al- 44 ways ready to hear and redrefs their 44 grievances :" and then addreffing himfelf to the affembly in particular — " I muft earneilly prefs it upon you, 44 that in preparing your bill for the " fupport of government, and other 44 public fervices, you pay a due regard 44 to his Majefty's pleafure fignified in " his inilrudtions ; and frame them in u fach a manner, as when laid before " me for my aiTent, I may give it con- " fiftent with my duty to his Majefly." What think you my Lord ? could your favourite Garrick have perfonated Rich- ard the Third in a livelier manner, than this gentleman the real advocate for the royal inflru&ion ? — Could the man, who, but a day or two before, had in- trigued with the members how to elude that Very inflruclion, preferve his gra- vity, while acting fuch a tragi-comi- cal farce ? — for that, my Lord, was the method in which he performed the fecond part of his plan. As his Ma-
jefty'.s
[ 33 1 ■ jetty's reprefentative, he was obliged 1754. to urge their compliance with feem-*— -v—
ing iincerity and warmth but
as James Delancey, Efq-, their old friend and beft advifer, it was his real fentiment, that never ought they to fubmit.
Matters being thus previoufly ad- jutted, the afTembly in their addrefs ftudioufly avoid a categorical anfwer with refpect to the indefinite fupport : But to gratify his honour, and blacken the memory of Mr. Clinton, that he might not prejudice him in England, they make ufe of this memorable eva- fion — " On reading the 39th article AfTem- " of his Majefty's inftruclions to Sirbly'seva* " Danvers Ofborn, your honour's im-flvean- " mediate predeceffor, v/e are extremely wer* " furprized to find, that the public u tranfaclions of this colony have been " fo malicioufiy mifreprefented to our " mofl gracious Sovereign. We can, " Sir, with truth and juflice affirm, that " his Majefly has not in his dominions " a people more firmly, and that from ' " principles of real affection, devoted " to his perfon, family, and govern- " ment, than the inhabitants of this u colony. And we are greatly at a lofs " to difcover in what inflances, the peace B 4 " and
[34] 1 754- " and tranquillity of the colony have Wv*-« j « been diflurbed, or wherein order and 44 government have been fubverted. If " the courfe of juftice has been ob- " flrucled, or in any cafe perverted, " it has been by the direction, or 44 through the means, of Mr. Clinton 44 late Governor of this province, who 44 »fent peremptory orders to the judges, 44 clerk, and fheriff of DuchefsCoun- 4€ ty, to flay procefs, and (lop the pro- 44 ceedings in feveral cafes of private 44 property, depending in that court; 44 and who did, in other counties, 44 commiflionate judges andjuflices of 44 known ill characters, and extreme " ignorance : One flood even prefented " for perjury in the fupreme court of 44 this province, whom he rewarded 44 with the office of ailiftant judge •, and 44 others were fo fhamefully ignorant 44 and illiterate, as to be unable to 44 write their own names. From whence 44 we greatly fear, that juftice has in v many cafes been partially, or very " unduly adminiflred." Obfervati- I shall not trouble your Lordfhip °^onrthis with a vindication of Mr. Clinton ; but a ' only oblerve — that the fliits commenced in Duchefs County were by deferters a-
gainfl
[ 55]
gainft their captains*; that the go- 1754- vernor, who was no lawyer, allured the r hcufe, his letters to the judices were written unadvifedly, and with precipi- tation ; and that if any man was in- jured, he would readily compensate his damages. And as to the charge of ap- pointing ignorant juftices, it lies with equal truth againft ail our governors, (Mr. De Lancey himfelf not except- ed) who, to influence elections, have gone into an unjuftifiable practice of intruding blank commiflions with cer- tain favourites in the refpeclive coun- ties, impowered to place and difplace civil and military officers at their plea- sure. Thefe election-jobbers are ge- nerally the court members in an aflem- bly : And decency, my Lord, mould have induced them to ftifle the ridicu- lous alTertion, that Mr. Clinton rewarded a man for being perjured ; as well as the more pertinent invective againd the dangerous ufage juft mentioned, for corrupting the houfe of reprefentatives. — But to difgrace Mr. Clinton was ex- pedient to the Lieut. Governor; and hence this attack upon the former.
* Captains of the levies raifed for the Ca- nada expedition in 1746.
B 5 Up3N
[36] 1754- Upon his honour's advancement to
*— "v 'the government, the prefs laboured
N"m£rouswith addrelTes -, and the incenfe offered fome ad- llPon tne occafion, might haveperfum- drefles to ed the whole temple of Delphos. It the Lieut, was not enough, that, agreeable to an- Governor. t[ent ufage? he was prefented with the compliments of public bodies alone. It was neceffary, from the number of addreffes, to difplay his extenfive in- fluence, and the univerfal joy — there- by, if pofiible, to lay the foundation of his continuance in the adminiftratiom Accordingly, the very militia officers and fupervifors of Queen's County (a motley affemblage !) were made to groan out their afpirations for this aufpicious event — " Oh! — that his gracious Ma- " jefhy would be pleafed to confirm u and fix you, for a long time, in this I " exalted ftation." Never have I feen
an infigniiicant interjection more inflg- nificantly employed. To fo extrava- gant a pitch, my Lord, did this exube- rant ardor arrive, that we at length found him clothed with an incommuni- cable attribute of the Deity himfelf— even his immutable moral rectitude. " Thefe things in you, (fay they) are *' not fo properly called virtues, as na-
" TURAL ENDOWMENTS. You Will not,
" you cannot act otherwife than you
do."
[37 ] " do.'' With fuch fuftian can fome 1754, men be regaled : and by fuch fuftian v— is oftentimes a whole nation deluded.
To proceed in the character of this remarkable American — He is a perfon of quick apprehenfion, and extenfive acquaintance with the law ; which he acquired with incredible application, to obliterate the indifferent figure he made, when firft elevated to the chief feat on the bench, to ferve the purpofes of Governor Colby. Without the ta- lents, he has all the ambition of a Rip- perda. His thirfl after popularity, which in him is a mere engine of (late, hath almoft banifhed all public ipirit ; and the triumphs of power occafioned the exile of common fenfe. Appre- henfive of the diminution of his own luftre, his jealoufy will not admit a His jea- competitor; but lets him at mortal loufyj odds with a rifmg independent fpirit, left it be rewarded with popular favour, and thence refult into popular interefl — in derogation of his own fovereign influence. Hence, whoever would ac- complifh a patriot meafure, muft either obtain his leave ; and then he arrogates to himfelf the merit due to its author ; or carry it by mere ftratagem, without which he may be fure of a difappoint- ment. In the latter cafe, he has gene- rally
[38] 1754- ra% a<^drefs enough to be revenged *— -v— •'on the projector, by rendering both him and his project univerfally odious. Some among us fee thefe arts ; many mfpect them ; few dare mention them ; and fewer ftill oppofe them. Thus a people, who would by no means be for- cibly deprived of their liberties, poft into vo'untary bondage : and they who would fcorn a vafTalage to the gr eaten: monarch, become dupes to a dictator of their own creation, and uni- Of all provincial affairs he is the un- verfalin- controukd director. As chief juflice, iiuence. great is his interefl in the counties : with that interefl he commands electi- ons : with his fway in elections he rules the aiTembly : and with his fovereignty over the houfe controuls a governor. His influence with the members of the aiTembly being the main fource of his exorbitant power, never will he ferve the Crown at the rifque of a diffention with the houfe. He will only fland by a governor while at his devotion, and Handing fair with the people ; but in cafe of a rupture, inftantly facrifice prerogative on the altar of popularity. His own interefl is his idol, and every thing elfe made fubfervient to procure it veneration and efleem. The men who are his greatefl tools, are generally
by
[ 39] by himfelf the moil defpiied; and 1754. fometimes treated with defpite and in- ^-^Y"— ■* fult. If they difcover the leaft freedom of refentment (which few of them dare difcover), he can with a {mile, or a joke, or a promife, or a bottle, at once diflipate the ftruggling refolution, and reduce them to their primitive obfequi- oufnefs. By hints — by threats and blandifhments — by emiffaries — by dark infmuations and private cabals, he is able to render any meafure hate- ful or popular — to put down, or raife up, whom, when, and what he pleafes. Nay, my Lord, I will venture to affirm — and every man in the province muft bear me teftimony — that while his in- fluence continues to be fupported with his office of chief juftice, no operation, in which this colony is concerned, can promife fuccefs, mould this monopolizer of power be determined to obflrudt it.
Should it now be inquired, MuftRefle&i- not a man fo extremely popular be ne- on? on P°° cefTarily poffieiTed of eminent virtue, and ^dr me~ warmly devoted to the weal of the people, who thus cordially refound his fame, fubmit to his controul, and a- gree to adorn his triumph ? The ques- tion can only come from a novice in hiftory, and a flranger to mankind. In the judgment of your Lordfhip, who
is
. [ 40 ] 1754- *s deeply read in both, I am confident that popularity is no indication of me- rit. With the deluded multitude the befl men are often unpopular — the mofl pernicious, extolled and adored. The people are ever ready to be be- witched, cheated, and enflaved by a powerful crafty feducer : and, what is. worfe, ever ready to facrifice whoever would difabufe and releafe them. The fame people who could without emoti- on behold a Sidney bleeding in defence of public liberty, could commit a riot in refcuing a Sacheverel for preaching {edition, and fubverting the nation, Your Lordfhip remembers that Maffa- nello, in the mort fpace of ten days, was a poor fifherman, — a popular in- cendiary, — a fovereign viceroy, — ftripped of his honours, — treated like a malefactor, — knocked on the head, - — and thrown into a ditch. Who,, in fine, was more popular than the pe- jftilent Clodius, except, perhaps, the more peflilent Catiline ? 'Twas there- fore well obferved by the Protector Cromwell, that the very men who fol- lowed him with acclamations and tor- rents of flattery, would with the fame demonflrations of joy accompany him to the gallows.
Thus,
[4i ]
Thus, my Lord, I have prefented 1754.' you with a faithful portrait of the Lieut. *— -v-H Governor of New York, who is to bear no fmall fhare in the public affairs, of which I have the honour to tranfmit your Lordfhip an account — a portrait, under which there had been no need of fixing a name to direct to the original, thofe who have the leafif&iowledge of that gentleman's character.
While thefe things were tranfact-Chara&ei ing at Albany, Mr. Pownal, brother to of Mr. John Pownal, Efq; one of the fecreta- J0^JS ries to the Board of Trade, was upon the fpot. This gentleman came over to America with Sir Danvers Ofborn, in quality of his private fecretary h though it was imagined by many, he was defigned to be an affiftant to him in the exercife of the government. He is fomething of a fcholar, but a con- fufed reafoner* and in his flile perplex- ed ; and in that ufefullefl of all fciences, the knowledge of mankind, he is a mere novitiate : without the latter, your Lordfhip knows that other acquirements are comparatively of fmall account, in the management of public bufinefs. To be only learned, is frequently to be vain, oflentatious, and obflinate; fuch a one, in a word,, as Tertullian de- fcribes the moll learned among the hea-
thens,
[42] 1754- thens, " an animal of glory.' ' This 'gentleman is fond of being confidered in an important light. Infatiable of praife, he can not only hear himfelf flattered ± but, what is more unaccount- able in a man of tolerable fenfe, can flatter himfelf. He is a perfon of un- common application, and a good me- mory. By dint of induflry, and an accefs to the papers in the Plantation Board Office, he has acquired fome knov/ledge of American affairs : but fo keen is his appetite for promotion, that he cannot brook the thoughts of a gra- dual advancement. He is for galloping into preferment : and fo intent on the contemplation of his future grandeur, as to lofe all patience in earning it. Being more fkilled in books than men, he is very abrupt in giving a fcholaftic turn to converfation, in order to difplay his erudition. Ever ready to contra- dict ; himfelf impatient of contradicti- on. But wonderful is his knack at pluming himfelf with the fchemes and inventions of others; and, with the daw in the fable, mining in a borrowed drefs : a remarkable inftance of which I (hall give your Lordmip in the follow- ing anecdote; as characterise of a perfon, who will appear to have had
fome
t 43 ] fome confiderable influence in courfe of American tranfactions. ring the fitting of the congrefs, it wasA"ec^?tes fcarce poflible to prevent part of their ^gce^e fentiments from tranfpiring. Thepubiifted. fcheme of a naval armament on Lake Ontario, projected by Lieut. Governor Clarke, before the late war, fubmitted to the then miniflry, and now flrongly recommended by the commiflioners of the Maffachufets Bay, by fome means or other happened to be hinted without- doors. Mr. Pownal, intent upon rifing into fignificance among the colonies, chofe not to flip fo favourable an op- portunity of diftinguifhing himfelf, as he could now lay hold of, from thefe whifpered intelligences. He accord- ingly drew up fome loofe indigefted propofals, with refpect to American affairs. Among other trite fentiments, he urged this fcheme as a new un- thought of meafure, abfolutely requi- fite to fecure the command, and pre- ferve the furr-trade of thofe inland feas. This he delivered to fome of the mem- bers of the congrefs to be communi- cated, and afterwards tranfmitted a copy to England ; challenging to him- felf the fole merit of being the original
author
[44] 1754- author of fo ufeful and neceffary an ex- V" ~v — 'pedient*.
Shirley e- While the congrefs was held at reels forts Alban Governor Shirley, ever jea- onKenne-, r~ , *_• • j
kec# lous of French machinations, proceed- ed, at the head of about one thoufand men, to the river Kennebec; and e- re&ed forts, at convenient diftances, to flop the progrefs of the French in that quarter -, to fecure the pofleffion of that country with the friendfhip of the eaflern Indians.
The remainder of this year was prin- cipally {pent in repeated reprefentations to the miniflry, refpedting the dange- rous fituation of the Englifh colonies -9 and the abfolute necefTity of a power- ful afliftance from Great Britain, to de- feat the ambitious defigns of the Court of France.
* Mr. Pownal had this Piece publifhed in New York in Feb. 1756. It contained an introduction, declaring, that copies of it were fent by the miniftry to the refpedtive gover- nors of the colonies : and in the fpring fol- lowing, it was republifhed, with great often- tation, in the Englifh magazines. With refpecl: to thofe parts of it, wherein he talks of Indian affairs, the fentiments feem to be unintelligible by a North-American under-
standing.
o&
[45 ]
On the welcome intelligence of the 1755. fuccefs of thefe reprefentations, and*— -v— ""* while forces were expected from Eng- land ; the two regiments of Shirley and Pepperel were ordered to be re- eft abli fri- ed, and recruits were raifing thro' the fe- veral governments, to form an army for difpofTefling the French from their late encroachments.
The general afTembly of the Mafia- Deiigns ah chufets Bay being convened, and the expedition members fworn to fecrecy; Mr. Shir- £p6ft ley communicated to them a defign of p0jnt# attacking Fort St. Frederic at Crown Point, the enfuing fpring ; and his in- tention to appoint Col. Johnfon to the command of that expedition. The fcheme being approved by the council and reprefentatives of that province, and the quotas fettled, commiilioners were charged to the neighbouring go- vernments, to follicit their concurrence and aid, in the profecution of this en- terprize.
While thefe matters v/ere in agita- tion, Mr. Pownal was at Boflon, intend- ing to fail from thence to England. He now thought fit to change his refoluti- on ; and Governor Shirley honoured him with the embaify to New York, for which place he fet out the beginning of March. Some gentlemen of the coun- cil
[46 ] 1755- cil and affembly were commillioned, on *— ~\r-»-> the like errand, to the other colonies of
Newjerfey, Penfylvania, &c. De Lan- Mr. Pownal's profpects of fuecefs ceyendea-at New York were at fir ft not very en-
r^U°^ui;a-m§-.rDe Lance.y' Jeaious °/
the con- knirley s riling reputation, appeared, currence with regard to the expedition recom- ofNew mended, extremely phlegmatic: and Yor*. ti10' artful enough to abftain from an o- pen oppofition, he made ufe of Mr. Chambers as his tool in council, to ob- ftrucl the concurrence of the legiflature. At this time great animofities were pre- vailing in the province, occafioned by a charter juft before granted by Mr. De Lancey, conftituting a college for the education of youth, upon a foundation which happened to enkindle the gene- ral difguft. The majority of the houfe, apprehending the lofs of their feats on a future election, mould they afford it the leaft afliftance, found themfelves obliged rather to countenance the po- pular refentment. A gentleman . of diftindion, with whom Mr. Pownal ad- vifed on the fubjedl of his commiiiion, thought it a prudent ftep to open his meffage in part, to thofe members of the affembly, who, on the above-men- tioned account, were then in the oppo- fition . Several of the leading men were
fecured
[47 1 fecured by this method: and when the 1755. houfe met, fitch a difpofition appeared ' — y~*+J to join in the fcheme propofed, that it5".1 in was beyond Mr. De Lancey's power tovam* obflrudt it. Out of pique however to Mr. Shirley, to whom this expedition was folely committed, he prevailed up- on them to fufpend the execution of their vote, until General Braddock's approbation was obtained : and by this artifice occafioned a confiderable delay in the operations.
General Br ad dock, being nowfiraddock arrived in Virginia, fent expreffes to convenes the feveral Governors to meet him, the §over: in order to a confultation on the °°t^s at£e bufinefs of the approaching cam-0perati- paign. — This convention was opened on ons. the 14th of April"*, at Alexandria in Virginia. Here it appeared, that thro* mifreprefentations from Virginia, the
* It was at firft propofed to have been held at Annapolis in Maryland. Mr. Shirley, who thro' the multiplicity of his affairs did not arrive there till April, has been charged with delaying Braddock's march near three weeks ; tho' it is notorious, that delay was occailoned by the failure of the Virginia contract for the necefTary fupplies. The general was after- wards obliged to enter into a new one with gentlemen in Penfylvania ; which was not compleated till the 27th of May, near fix weeks from the conclufion of the congrefs.
general
C 48 ]
1755. general was injoined to proceed immc- 'diately to Fort Du Quefne. Thofe who were well acquainted with the country, could not help obferving, that a march from Potowmac, acrofs the Allegheny mountains, mufl be attended with incredible difficulty, hazard, and expence — that the vicinity of New York to Canada — its fort of Ofwego on Lake Ontario — together with the advantages of water carriage: — rendered that province by far the fitteft theatre of a&ion. Braddock's orders were ne- verthelefs pofitive. — For the prefervati- on therefore of Ofwego, and the re- duction of Niagara, it was at length a- greed, that Shirley's and Pepperel's regiments mould proceed to Lake On- tario,— while General Braddock attack- ed Fort Du Quefne — and the provincial troops, commanded by General John- ion, marched to invert Crown Point. Shirley re- These refolutions being taken, Mr, turns to Shirley began his journey to Boflon, to
prepare t0PrePare ^or t^ie exFedition under his
for the immediate command ; to forward that
Northern under Col. Johnfon; and to quicken
Expediti- me departure of the New England
troops, now aflembled by his Majefly's
directions, for reducing the French
fettlements in Nova Scotia. On his
way, he fpent fome time in conference
with
[49] with Col. Schuyler, a gentleman of 1 755. fortune and courage, who, autofdifm- terefted love to his country, was en- gaged to head a regiment of 500 men, railed and maintained by the province of New Jerfey. In New York, he was retarded a few days to confult with General Johnfon, and remove fome objections made by Mr. DeLancey to the form of his commiffion : * and in Connecticut, to haflen the aiTembling the troops of that colony f.
The
* Mr. Johnfon had his commiiTion from the governors of the provinces, which furnifhed the troops under his command ; the draft of which was fettled at Alexandria. The Lieut Governor of New York now thought proper to repeat thofe very objections, which had been there over-ruled. This unaccountable conduct gave Mr. Johnfon great uneafinefs, who could not obtain Mr. De Lancey's com- miiTion, till proper notice was taken by Gene- ral Shirley of fo manifeft an obflruction to the operations of the campaign.
f Connecticut had voted one thoufand men for the Crown Point expedition, and given afiurances of 500 more, if the fervice fo re- quired. New York was to fupply 800 ; but thro' the delay occafioned by the fufpending claufe above-mentioned in the vote of our aiTembly, Mr. De Lancey's brother was fent into Connecticut, to obtain leave for recruit- ing
[50] 1755* ^HE neceflary difpatches being given w-v— — »to the expedition to Nova Scotia under Col. Window, Mr. Shirley, upon the arrival of the paymafler for the nor- thern diflricl, returned to New York -, and fails and on the 4th of July failed for Alba- for Alba- nv? his own regiment having paffed by n^* for that place, in twenty-one tranfports,
a few days before.
ing the quota we were to furnifh, in that co- lony ; as men might there be raifed more fpeedily than in the province of New York. Mr. Shirley being at Hertford, during this ap- plication, was told by Governor Fitch, that if Connecticut complied, they fhould confi- der themfelves difengaged from the aiTurances given of 500 more than their own quota, did the fervice demand it. This, with Mr. Oliver De Lancey's declaration — that if himfelf mould accept the command of the New York regiment, he could in ten days raife the whole number in this province, induced Mr. Shirley to oppofe the application ; it appearing to him not improbable, that the fervice might after- wards require the reinforcement offered. In confequence of which, only 300 recruits were furnifhed New York from thence. — A lucky incident for Mr. Shirley's adverfaries to incenfe the people of New York againft him; to which purpofe it was induftrioufly applied ; tho' his conduct in that affair was prudent and rational ; and tho' by repeated letters to Lieut. Governor De Lancey, he took pains to re- move any mifunderftanding at a juncture fo unfeafonable.
About
[5i ]
About this time, the colonies were 175c filled with univerfal joy, on the agree-' — •—- ' able news that the New England troops NovaSco- were become mailers of Beau-iejourtia,recIu~ and Bay Verte, on the ifthmus of No- va Scotia ; whereby a new province was added to the BritifTi empire in America ; and that a ftrong fleet, under Admiral Bofcawen, lay before Louinburgh, to intercept the French fupplies 5 and which had alfo feized two of their ca- pital fhips, the Lys and Alcide, and fent them into Halifax.
General Bk addock was now on hisBraddocfc march towards the Ohio, at the head marches of about 2200 men, in order to invert from Fort Fort Du Quefne, and drive the French ^ufber' from their encroachments on the fron- " * tiers of Virginia and Penfylvania. From Fort Cumberland to Fort Du Quefne, the diftance is not lefs than 1 30 miles! Mr. Braddock began his march from the former on the j oth of June ; leav- ing the garrifon under the command of Col. Innes. Innumerable were the dif- ficulties he had to furmount, in a coun- try rugged, pathlefs, and unknown, acrofs the Allegheny mountains, thro' unfrequented woods, and dangerous defiles. From the little meadows the army proceeded in two divifions. At the head of the firft, confiding of 1400 C men.
1*15$. men, V^as die general himfelf, with the 'greatefl part of the ammunition and ar- tillery. The fecond, with the provifi- ons, ftores, and heavy baggage, was led by Col. Dunbar. Never was man more confident of fuccefs, than this brave, tho'' unfortunate officer. Being advifed at the great meadows, that the enemy expected a reinforcement of 500 regular troops, he pufhed on by forced marches, with fo much difpatch, that he fatigued the foldiers, weaken- ed his horfes, and left his fecond divi- fion near 40 miles in the rear. The enemy being not more than 200 flrong at their fort on the Ohio, gave no ob- ftruclion to the march of our forces, till the memorable 9th of July — a day never to be forgotten in the annals of North America. About noon our troops pafled the Monagahela, and were then within feven miles of Fort Du Quefne. — Unapprehenfive of the approach of an enemy, at once was the alarm given, by a quick and heavy fire upon the vanguard, under Lieut, Col. Gage. Immediately the main bo- dy, in good order and high fpirits, ad- vanced to fuftain them. Orders were then given to halt, and form into bat- talia. At this juncture the van falling back upon them, in great confufion, a
general
[ 53 ]
general panic feized the whole body of 1755, the foldiery ; and all attempts to rally1 them proved utterly ineffectual. The general and ail the officers exerted their utmofl activity, to recover them from the univerfal furprize and diforder : but equally deaf were they to intreaties and commands. During this fcene of con- fufion, they expended their ammuni- tion in the wilder! and mofl unmean- ing fire. Some discharging their pieces on our own parties, who were advan- ced from the main body for the reco- very of the cannon. After three hours fpent in this melancholy fituation, en- during a terrible daughter, from (it may be faid) an invJ/ible foe, orders were given to found a retreat, that the men might be brought to cover the waggons. Thefe they furrounded but a fhort fpace of time : for the enemy's fire being again warmly renewed from the front and left flank, the whole ar- my took to immediate flight ; leaving behind them all the artillery, provifi- ons, ammunition, baggage, military cheft, together with the generaPs ca- binet, containing his inftruclions and other papers of confequence *. So
great
* Several of thefe papers being fince pub- C z lifted
[54] 1 755. great was the confirmation of the fol- 'diers, that it was impofiible to flop their career, flying with the utmoft preci- pitation three miles from the field of action ; where only one hundred began to make a more orderly retreat,
What was the flrength of the ene- my, has hitherto remained to us uncer- tain. According to Indian accounts, they exceeded not 400, chiefly Indi- ans : and whether any were flain, is Hill to be doubted, for few were feen by our men, being covered by flumps and fallen trees. Great indeed was the deft ruction on our fide. — Numbers of officers facrificed their lives thro' fingu- lar bravery. Extremely unfortunate was the whole ftafT. The general, af- ter having five horfes fhot under him, received a wound in his lungs thro* his right arm, of which he died in four days. His fecretary, eldeft fon of Ma- jor General Shirley, a gentleman of great accompli fhments, by a fhot thro' the head, was killed upon the fpot. Mr. Orme and Capt. Morris, aid-de- camps, were both wounded. Of the 44th regiment, Sir Peter Halket, Co- lonel, was flain, with feveral other of-
liihed by the French court, are annexed, by way of Appendix, to this Dublin edition.
ficers;
[ 55] ficers; and Lieut. Col. Gage wounded. 1755, Lieut. Col. Burton, of the 48th regi-' — "V—> ment, was among the wounded ; and many gallant officers perifhed in the field. Our whole lofs was about feven hundred killed and wounded.
To what caufes this unhappy cata-Towhat flrophe is to be afcribed, has been mat- caufes the ter of much inquiry and animated de- **e.?* ™ bate. The officers charged the de- feat to the cowardice of the men : but, in a reprefentation they made to Mr. Shirley, by order of the Crown, they, in fome meafure, apologize for their be- haviour— alledging, that they were ha- rafTed by duties unequal to their num- bers, and difpirited thro' v/ant of pro- vifions : That time was not allowed them to drefs their food : That their water (the only liquor too they had) v/as both fcarce and of a bad quality : In fine, that the provincials had dif- heartened them, by repeated fuggefti- ons of their fears of a defeat, mould they be attacked by Indians ; in which cafe the European method of fighting would be intirely unavailing. But, my Lord, however cenfurable the conduct of the foldiery may be thought, Mr. Braddock, too (anguine in his profpecls, was generally blamed for neglecting to cultivate the friendfhip cf the Indians, C 3 who
|
c |
56] |
||
|
who offered their |
afliftance ; |
and who, |
|
|
it is certain, |
had |
a number ©f them |
tzss-
preceded the army, would have fea- fonably difcovered the enemy's ambus- cade. The Virginian rangers alio, in- flead of being made to ferve as regu- lars in the ranks with the Englifh troops, mould have been employed as out-fcouts. But this flep, fo necefTary to guard againft fiirprize, was too un- happily omitted ; the whole army, ac- cording to the reprefentation above mentioned, following only three or four guides. Dunbar When the routed party joined the retreats fecond divifion, forty miles mort of the predpi- p]ace 0f a&ion, the terror difFufed it- 'at7Pt0 felf thro' the whole army. Your Lord- berland. miP might naturally expect to hear, that Col. Dunbar then intrenched him- felf, and called on the neighbouring colonies for immediate reinforcements; -—as by fuch a flep the enemy might have been detained at Fort Du Quefne, prevented from ravaging the frontiers, or throwing fuccours into Niagara. But alas! my Lord, an infatuation feemed to accompany all our meafiires on the fouthern quarter. Fearful of an un~ purfuing foe, all the ammunition, and fo much of the provifions were deflroy- ed, for accelerating their flight, that
Dunbar
[5/3 Dunbar was actually obliged to fend for thirty horfe-loads of the latter, before he reached Fort Cumberland — where he arrived a very few days after, with the mattered remains of the Englifh troops.
On Mr. Braddock's unhappy cata- Major G, ftrophe, the command of his Ivfajefry's Shirley af- forces in North America devolved up- fumesthe on Major General Shirley. I before ac- quainted your Lordihip of his return to New York, and departure from thence to Albany, where he arrived the beginning of July.
Albany, my Lord, was the grand theatre of all the preparations for the northern expedition againft Fort St. Frederic, as well as that to the weft- ward for the reduction of Niagara. The general, on his arrival there, found not the former in the forwardnefs he had reaibn to expect. The provincials dis- contented with the inactivity of a long encampment, Major General Lyman was obliged to make Ihort marches, to prevent their difbanding ; and the ge-Is detam- neral was therefore detained awhile ined at Al- that city, to hinder fo fatal an event. ^' His own troops in the mean time were filing off, in different divifions, from Schenectady, towards Oiwego.
C 4 Oswego,
[5?] i755« Oswego, along the accuftomed * — v — 'route, is computed to be about 300
OiWeeo° mikS Wdl fr°m AIbar,y- The firft wes°' frxteen, to the village of Schenectady,
is land carriage, in a good waggon road. From thence to the Little Falls, in the Mohawk River, at fixty-five miles diflance, the battoes * are fet a- gainfl a rapid flream; which too, in dry feafons, is fo (hallow, that the men are frequently obliged to turn out, and draw their craft over the rifts with in- conceivable labour. At the Little Falls, the portage exceeds not a mile: the ground being marfhy will admit of no wheel-carriage, and therefore the Ger- mans who refide here, tranfport the battoes in fleds, which they keep for that purpofe. The fame conveyance is ufed at the Great Carrying-Place, fixty miles beyond the little Fails ; all the way to which the current is flill adverfe, and extremely fv/ift. The portage here is longer or fhorter, ac- cording to the drynefs or wetnefs of the feafons. In the laft fummer months,
* A battoe is a light flat-bottomed boat, wideft in the middle, and at each end fharp pointed, of about 1500 weight burden, and managed by two men, with paddles and fett- ing poles.
when
[59]
when rains are not frequent, it is ufual- 1755. ly fix or eight miles acrofs. Taking' water again, we enter a narrow rivu- let, called the Wood-creek, which leads into the Oneida Lake, diftant forty miles. This flream, tho* favourable, being mallow, and its banks covered with thick woods, was at this time much obftru&ed with old logs and fal- len trees. The Oneida Lake flretches from eafl to weft about thirty miles, and in calm weather is paiTed with great facility. At its weflern extremity opens the Onondaga River, leading down to Ofwego, fituated at its entrance on the fouth fide of the Lake Ontario. Ex- tremely difficult and hazardous is the paffage thro' this river, as it abounds with rifts and rocks ; and the current flowing with furprifing rapidity. The principal obftru&ion is twelve miles fhort of Ofwego, and is a fall of about eleven feet perpendicular. The port- age here is by land, not exceeding for- ty yards, before they launch for the lafl time.
Your Lordship,, from this account, will readily conceive, that thror fuch a long amphibious march an army mufl proceed with prodigious rffque and fatigue; and the battoes be neceffa- rily conducted by perfbns fkilled in C 5 the
[6o]
1755. the navigation, and enured to hard- *—» -v— -^ ihips. For this fervice General Shirley had engaged all the young men in the county of Albany, who formerly had been employed in the Indian trade at Cfwego : and a vafl number of battoes were prepared for the conveyance of the troops, ftores, and provifions.
Oswego was formerly garrifoned by twenty-five men ; but on the com- mencement of our prefent difputes, the number was augmented to fifty. Early this fpring fifty more were ordered up: and about the latter end of May, Capt. Bradflreet arrived there with 200, be- iides workmen to be employed in the naval preparations, purfuant to the fcheme concerted in the congrefs of commifTicners at Albany the lafl fum- mer. Troops Col. Schuyler's New Jerfey re- proceed to giment embarked in two divifions from iifon,Sar~ Schenectady, the beginning of July. Shirley's and Pepperell's were prepar- ing to follow, when the melancholy news of Gen. Brad dock's defeat reach- ed that place. This ftruck a general damp on the fpirits of the foldiers, and many deferted. Great numbers of the battoe-men difperfed themfelves into the country, and fled to their refpec- tive habitations, To engage the return
of
[6, ]
of above half the fugitives, equally in- 1755. effectual were threats or promifes, re-*— <-v-— * wards or punifhments. The general, however, fenfible of the importance of the fervice, purfued his march in fpite of every vexatious difappaintment. As he pafTed their country, he called upon the Indians of the Six Nations, at feme of their caftles; and fent embaffadors to the reft, prefling them to join him, with aflurances of his protection. But they feemed in general greatly difin-Six Na- clined to our weftern operations. In-tlons ar dian affairs had been too long neglected^ ^.^ by the province of New York, to which gar3 expe.. the principal management of them hasdition,and always been committed. Neither thewh7« fums allotted for prefents to thofe la- vages, were always by our governors fairly expended ; nor the prefents them- selves honeftly diftributed. And partly thro' repeated frauds, and the omifiion of proper meafures to conciliate their favour, our intereft with them amount- ed to little more than a bare neutra- lity. Mr. Johnfon neverthelefs pre- Johnfon tending a mighty influence over them, holds a was intrufted with 5000 1. flerling, ir|con yu order to engage their afliflance for thethem# general benefit of his Maj city's fervice. For this purpofe he held a congrefs with fome of their principal fachems at
Mount-
[6»]
1755. Mount- Johnfon *, foon after his return v— ■v-^-'from Alexandria.
Your Lordship is pleafed to infill upon my " defending into a detail ** of every tranfa&ion, how minute M foever, that can give any light into " the more fecret fprings of our poli- Anecdote " tical action." I fhall therefore ac- of Johnfon quaint your Lordfhip, that upon the and Shir- generaps arrivaj at Albany, Mr. John- ion laid before him a copy of the mi- nutes of his late treaty with the Indians. Thefe minutes, it feems, contained lome unhandfome reflections upon his excellency; infinuating, that to treat feparately with them, he had employed one Lydius, a perfon of not the moft unexceptionable character, either for loyalty or integrity. The fingle reafon upon v/hich the furmife could be found- ed was this. Lydius, who formerly lived near Lake George, and whofe In- dian acquaintance was very extenfive, had offered the general his affiftance, in procuring the junction of a number of them, on the defigned expeditions. Upon which he wrote to Mr. Johnfon, intimating the pleafure it would give
-* Sir "William Johnfon's own feat, near the lower Mohawk caflle, about 36 miles from ^Albany.
him.
[«3] him, if he could make any ufe of this 1755. man in his Majefly's fervice. On de- livering tho'fe minutes into the general's hands, Johnfon, fenfible of the infinu- ation, told him, he intirely difapproved the reflection they feemed to contain, and appeared amamed of its infertion. Having perufed the paper, Shirley could not avoid complaining of the ill ufage ; while the other with folemn vows protefted, he was not privy to it, and importuned him to return the mi- nutes, that he might erafe the obnoxi^ ous pafTage. The former confided in the fincerity of his proteftations, but foon after had abundant reafon to diftruft his integrity.
The general had applied to one Staats, who refided near Albany, and had a confiderable interefl with the Indians of Stockbridge *. He propos- ed to him his raifmg a company of them, as a guard to the battoes in their paflage to Ofwego. Privately was this man intimidated from the undertaking : and Mr. Johnfon, to induce him to break thro* his promifes, offered him
* Stockbridge, by the Indians called Hoir- fatonuc, lies upon the weftern confines of the Maflachufets Bay, in the eaftern parts of ti&e province of New York,
a captain's
I64]
1755. a captain's commiffion, could he en- JuJv««^»gage an Indian company to proceed on the expedition under his own di- rection.
Your Lordship, being already in- formed of this gentleman's appoint- ment to the command of the provin- cial army, by the interefl of General Shirley, will fcarce have patience at the recital of a conduct fo aftonifhing and ungrateful. The fecret, my Lord, was this. — Mr. Johnfon was never diftin- guifhed for his fenfe or penetration. Fa&Ion He had now for his aid-de-camp Capt. fori?eAti Wraxal, a man of art and genius, who general, a ^ew years before had been appointed and occa-fecretary' for Indian affairs, and clerk fion of it. of the city, and county of Albany. Go- vernor Clinton had granted a commif- fion for the latter of thofe offices, be- fore the date of Wraxal' s fign manual. A fuit was therefore commenced, and is Hill depending between him, and the perfon in poneffxon of the office, fuf- pended on the determination of a point of law. Upon this account Wraxal became an humble dependant on Lieut. Governor De Lancey, before whom, unlefs fuperfeded in the chief com- mand, the cafe muft be determined upon a wrk of error : The latter, who had been a declared enemy to Johnfon,
throughout
throughout the whole of Clinton's ad- 1755, miniftration, and had even prevented ^V^ the alTembly from difcharging a very equitable demand he had againfl the province for fervices and difburfements, now determined to fall in with, and fet him up, in competition with Shirley. WraxaTs pofl and dependence afforded a fine opportunity for the purpofe ; and Co Johnfbn became ftrongly attached Evil efFe<Sls to the Lieut. Governor. Your Lord-0*" & fhip will no longer wonder at his pro- curing all the Indians he could prevail upon, to join the provincial troops under his own command; or at his attempts to excite others to embarafs and ob- struct the general's defigns upon the Lake Ontario. In fupport of a charge fo heavy as this, I think it incumbent upon me to affign the following in- stances : 1 . Not an Indian joined Ge- neral Shirley at Schenectady, agreeably to Mr. Johnfon's pofitive affurances. 2. Nor at either of the caflles in the five cantons, as he paffed thro' them to Ofwego; but, on the contrary : 3. One Bant, an Onondaga (three of whofe fons were in Johnfon's army) at the head of feveral other Indians, declared to Mr. Shirley at Ofwego, that it was a place of trade and peace — that there mould be no war there — and that he mould
not
[66] Xjgj. not difturb the French; adding, that he was going with the like meffage to Canada. The general having convinced him, that the expulfion of the French from their encroachments muft redound to the advantage of the Six Nations -9 he afferted, that Mr. Johnfon had fent them upon this embafly to Canada> Tho' this appeared utterly incredible, 'tis neverthelefs certain, 4, feveral other Indians arrived from the Onondaga ca- ftle, with a belt declaring it to have been fent them by Mr. Johnfon, with his requeft, that not a man of them would join the King's troops, under the command of General Shirley. 5. Others alfo, from the Seneca, Oneida and Cay- uga cantons concurred in the like reports ; particularly one Redhead, an Indian of great Fame, and a fpeaker at the late congrefs at Mount- Johnfon, came to Ofwego,. in his way to Ofwagatic or la Gallette, and defired the cefTation of all military defigns \ affirming, that with the fame requeft he was going to the French.
It v/as with difficulty, my Lord, thefe Indians were reconciled to our attempts, detained at Ofwego, and therefore pre- vented from communicating our opera- tions to the enemy. The general, from thefe inftaraes, became more and more
fufpicious?
[67 ]
fufpicious, that the faction at New York 1 7 55. were endeavouring to embarafs and im-*— v — \ pede his meafures. What farther con- firmed his fufpicions, that the Lieut. Governor of New York, with that view, made Mr. Johnfon his inftrument, was a letter, which after his arrival at Ofwe- go he received from the latter, where • in he juftified that very afperfion be- fore difavowed, contained in the mi- nutes above recounted.
My Lord, we will now leave Mr. Shirley at Ofwego, and purfue the courfe of tranfactions, as well at New York, as in the fouthern colonies.
Dunbar, having reached Fort Cum- Dunbar berland, difpatched an Indian exprefsmaI?kes to General Shirley, with an accountdelDhiar of the defeat, and the necefTary re- turns refpedling the troops under his command; acquainting him, moreover, with his intention of marching to Phi- ladelphia, and his hopes of meeting his orders at Shippenfburgh. About the fame time Mr. Dinwiddie wrote to Dunbar, propofing a fecond attempt on Fort Du Quefne. But a council being thereupon held, the members of which were Col. Dunbar, Lieut. Col. Gage, Governor Sharpe, Major Chapman, Major, Sparke, and Sir John St. Clair,
it
[ « ]
1755- lt was unanimoufly conceived, that Mr.
*—- v~J Dinwiddle's fcheme was impracticable. The very next day, being the fecond of Auguft, Dunbar began his march towards Philadelphia, with i6co men, four fix-pounders, and as many cohorns ; leaving behind him the Virginia and Maryland companies, and about 400 wounded. At this fudden departure
Frontiers 0f t|le forces? the Virginians were ex-
nialeftex-treme^y difobliged, as not only expo- pofed. fing their frontiers, and occafioning the daily defertion of their provincials ; but becaufe the enemy, in flying parties* penetrated into the province, and on many of the inhabitants committed robberies and murder. What judg- ment ought to be formed of this re- treat, I leave your Lordfhip to deter- mine. Certainly thofe fouthern colo- nies ought to have flrengthened Ge- neral Braddock with a large body of provincial forces, which had doubtlefs prevented all that efFufion of blood and treafure — the fatal confequence of Another their ill judged parfimony ! Upon the attempt advices received from Dunbar, Mr. Quefne «kfafcy gave orders for renewing the propofed. attempt, if the fouthern colonies would readily afford him a competent rein- forcement.
Governor
Governor Morris having convened 1755. the Fenfylvania afTembly, informed v— v — > them of the retreat of our army, and^aP!n" in a well-drawn pathetic fpeech, preffed withholds them to the moil vigorous meafures for her Aid. the defence of their borders. They proceeded fo far as to vote for raifmg 50,000 1. but offering a bill for taxing the proprietary-eftate, an immediate rupture enfued, of which your Lord- fhip is long fmce acquainted, by the ample accounts in fundry late pamphlets on that and fimilar fubje&s. As to Vir- Virginia ginia — now equally open to the irrup-F0™^* tions of the enemy, four companies of ^orJ^x rangers were ordered out, and the af- Defence fembly voted 40,0001. for furnifhing aalone. thoufand men for the frontier defence. About the fame time, met the council and afTembly of New Jerfey, and the latter voted 30,000 1. for the public fer- vice : but as the houfe propofed to pro- long the currency of the bills for nine years, to which Mr. Belcher, who ne- ver fwerves from his inftructions, not being able to afTent, 15,000 1. only was New Jer- raifed, and its ufe reftri&ed to keeping^ ?nly on foot her regiment at Ofwego, com-^^Pf manded by Col. Schuyler. At Newment jn York, the houfe of reprefentatives af-pa^. fembled on the 5 th of Auguft, and fet out with a generous fpirit. Agreeable
[ 7P 1
1755. to the requeft of the Maflachufets Bay ^-^ ^government, always foremoft in mili* cey'sma- tar^ a^rs' tneY refolyed to reinforce nagement tne provincial army, deftined for Crown with re- Point, with 400 men. The bill was %& to the actually paffed the houfe for that pur-
neat de- P0^e ; and the council nad determined /igned by t0 conceal from . their knowledge, the NewYork. contents of a fecond letter from Gen. Shirley to Col. Dunbar, of the 7 th of Auguft, in which he ordered him to proceed with his troops to Albany, for the protection of that important port, in cafe the colony forces mould meet with a repulfe. By this bill the afTem- bly propofed to invert the refpective captains of the city militia with an ar- bitrary power to draught men for the fervice. The defign of this extraordi- nary project was fufpected to ferve a particular purpofe, on a new election of reprefentatives, which, according to cuftom, it was thought would immedi- ately enfue the arrival of Sir Charles Hardy, who was foon expected with a commiflion for the chief command of this province. It certainly was a fa- vourite bill ; for, contrary to precedent, the Lieut. Governor came to the council board *, and preffed them to pafs it :
but
* Before the adminiftFation of Governor Cofby, it was cuftomary for the governors to
be
[7* 1 but when he perceived an amendment 1755.' preparing for a ballot of the recruits in *— -v~ H New York, as well as in the other counties, he immediately laid the ge- neral's letter to Dunbar before the houfe — in confequence of which, the defign of a reinforcement inflantly dropped, and the afTembly adjourned the next day.
After what I have already recounted, His influ- your Lordfhip will not, I prefume, beenceover at all furprized, to find Mr. De Lancey*e airem' leaving no device untried, to maintain the ible direction of the afTembly. He knew that on his interefl with the re- prefentatives depended his credit with the miniftry; and that with the expi- ration of his power, to carry certain points of prerogative, would alfo expire their opinion of his importance. His agents in England, to fupport their patron, had hitherto amufed a certain noble Lord with many fpecious pro- mifes. They had reprefented his ca- pacity to ferve the Crown in very mag- nificent terms ; nor forgot his readinefs to procure, whenever an opportunity
be prefent in the council, even when fitting in their legislative capacity. But fince that pe- riod, they have not openly interpofed in the confutations of that branch of the legiflature.
prefented,
[ 72 ]
I75.1- prefented, the obedience of the houfc J — v—- 'to fome favourite inftruclions. Hence it is evident, that the lofs of his afcen- dancy over that branch of the legifla- ture, muft naturally terminate in the extinction of his grandeur derived from the Crown.
While he held the reins of govern- ment, aflumed on Sir Danvers Gfborne's deceafe, the miniftry had none to in- fpect his conduct, or trace him thro' the mazy labyrinth of his politics. From himfelf came all their intelligence, and hence undoubtedly none in his own dif- favour. During thefe golden days of fecurity and repofe, he refigned himfelf to pleasure, and indulged his natural difpofition to voluptuoumefs and eafe. The province, the mean while, was principally governed by his fecretary ; who, like a fecond Atlas, bore the chief burden of the Hate. Thus negligent His popu-of his politics, his popularity began to larityde- fuffer a manifefl declenfion. It was dines. moreover notably abridged by his paf- fing the charter before-mentioned, re- pugnant, by his own confeilion, to the dictates of his judgment. By this Hep he incurred fuch general umbrage, that the very members of the afTembly could not be wrought upon to confirm it. Nay, fodiiguftfultothe people was this charter,
that
[73 ]
that a majority of the mcft reputable 1755. inhabitants united againft it in a petiti-v — v~*-> on to thehoufe. Civil liberty, and by fome, even the rights of confcience were imagined to be in danger ; and the op- pofition being, as it were, pro oris c5? foci's, was extremely animated. The Lieut. Governor became nowapprehen- five of the confequence. He flood up- on the point of refigning his command to a fucceflbr hourly expected ; and, without regaining his feat as chief jus- tice, his popularity appeared defending from its meridian : nor, in cafe of a diflblution was he infenfible his authori- ty with the houfe muft furTer a total e- clipfe. Your Lordfhip cannot therefore but obferve, of what moment it was, to fecure the friendmip of the next governor. Permit me to mention the arts, whereby it was accomplished.
Sir Charles Hardy arrived in ourHefecures harbour on the 2d of September 1 755-tJ!e ear °* The council immediately convened I, c" themfelves for his reception. In the * midft of their confutations, Mr. Oliver De Lancey, without leave of the board, bolts into the chamber, and mcdeftly interpofes his advice, to fend a mefTage to Sir Charles, requeuing his continu- ance in the fhip, till the next morning. The reafon aligned was, to gain time
for
C 74 ] 1755. for drawing out the militia, to receive y^v~^his excellency at landing, with the for- mality and honour due to his rank. But the true fecret v/as, to gain an op- portunity for the Lieut. Governor, and a feledtjuncto, to pafs the evening with him, in order to conciliate his graces, and give him early impreflions in favour of their party. The next day, the go- vernor publifhed his commiilion; and was, by Mr. De Lancey, invited to a public entertainment. In the evening they conducted him to the common, to hear the acclamations of the people; and on every occafion, followed him with fervile court and adulation. To imprefs a high fenfe of his predecefTor's popularity, they fpared no pains. For this purpofe alfo they intrigued with the affembly, and city corporation, two e- le&ive bodies, and thence under his in- and pro- fluence. Of the latter, Mr. Oliver De cures eulo-Lancey, as alderman, was a member ; giums onand, with true fraternal afTe&ion, fti- adminU nrulated the board to infert in their ad- ftration. drefs a compliment to his brother. A modeft motion, my Lord! and fb ve- hemently urged, that it was carried, tho* not without fome oppofition. The burden of that momentous pafTage, without which the whole had been je- june and infipid, was difchargedin thefe
terms
[75] terms — " We have the greatefb reafon 1 755. " to expect the continuation of that' " wife and happy administration, we " have been bleffed with fbme time " paft." Still greater was Mr. De Lancey's intereft in the affembly, as I have already had the honour to acquaint your Lordfhip. But one gentleman in that houfe, oppiofed the flattery of their addrefs. He is a man of an affluent independent fortune, a bold unfhack- led fpirit, and of flrong natural parts. The addrefs was calculated to fecure De Lancey's power both with governor and people : the former, by difplaying to Sir Charles his formidable intereft in that houfe ; the latter, by preventing a diffolution, than which nothing was the object of greater dread. " It has, Sir, " (thefe are the expreflions) been ufual u in this colony, at the acceffion of a " new governor, to give the people an " opportunity of a new election of re- u prefentatives. If your excellency " conceives, that fuch a meafure, in " the prefent flate of affairs, will be " confiftent with his Majefty's fervice, " and the fecurity of this his loyal co- " lony, it will be agreeable to us, and " to the people we have the honour to " reprefent.
D « The
[76] J755- " The importance of the bufinefs
under our confideration, and the dif- " patch neceiTary to accomplifh it, " will plead our excufe to your excel- " lency, for not being earlier in this ad- " drefs.
" And here, Sir, we mould have *c ended, were we not in juflice bound " to pay fome acknowlegement to the " adminiftration of your excellency's ** predeceffor, the Lieut. Governor; " whofe upright intentions, as far as " we had opportunities of difcovering ic them, ever tended to his Majefly's " honour and fervice, and the welfare " and profperityof this colony.'*
Mr. De Lancey is one of the moil fortunate of men. While the people impatiently expected a diflblution, an exprefs arrived on the 12 th of Septem- ber, with a confufed, but alarming ac- count of an action at Lake George. This rendered it neceffary for Sir Charles Hardy, immediately to proceed to Albany. Thither the Lieut. Governor accompanied him, and had thereby a fair opportunity to ingrofs and cajole him. I mall iufpend the relation of his fuccefs, till I have laid before your Lordfhip the progrefs of the provincial army, and their repulfe of the French.
Major
[77 3 Major Gen. Lyman, being ad- 1755. vanced with the troops to the Carrying- <— -v— — \ Place, about 60 miles from Albany, was waiting the arrival of General Johnfon, who fet out from thence on the 8 th of Auguft, with the train of artillery. Lyman had begun a fort at the landing, Lyman on the eaft fide of Hudfon's River, now buIlds a called Fort Edward. About the latter f^\^ end of the month, Gen. Johnfon, withpiaCgt the main body, moved forward 14 miles more northerly, and pitched his camp at the fouth end of Lake George, be- fore called St. Sacrament. By feme In- dians, who had been fent as fcouts, he received the following advices : — That they had difcovered a party of French and Indians at Tinonderoge, fi- tuate on the iflhmus between the north end of Lake George, and the fouthern part of Lake Champlain, 15 miles on this fide Crown Point ; but that no works were there thrown up. To have fe- cured this pafs, which commanded the route to Crown Point thro' the Lake, had been a meafare extremely advife- able. Mr. Johnfon, informed of its importance, on the ill of September wrote to Gen. Shirley, that he was im- patient to get up his battoes ; propo- fing then to proceed with part of the troops, and feize upon that pafs. The D 2 French
[78] 1 755. French however took advantage of the ^—-v-—> delay, and cut out work enough for him at his own camp.
Of the troops which failed from Breft in the fpring, amounting to about 3000, your Lordfhip knows, eight com- panies were taken with the Lys and Alcide men of war, who fell in with our fleet commanded by Admiral Bof- cawen. One thoufand were landed at Louifburgh ; and the refidue arrived at Quebec, with Monf de Vandreuil go- vernor-general of Canada, and Baron Diefkau, commander of the forces. The French Court, well apprifed of the lingular confequence of Ofwego, had determined to reduce it. Such being the baron's inflrudtions, he immediate- Dlefkau ly proceeded to Montreal ; from whence defigns to he detached 700 of his troops up the wegol ~river> intending himfelf fpeedily to join them with the remainder. Juft before he had made the neceiTary preparati- ons, Montreal was alarmed with the news of our forming a numerous army near Lake St. Sacrament, for the re- duction of Fort Frederic, and perhaps to penetrate into the heart of Canada, but is di- Whereupon a grand council being held, verted. ^ Daron was importuned to proceed thro' Lake Champlain, for the defence
of
[79] of that fortrefs: nor was he without 1755. great difficulty prevailed upon to alter <- ■- J-««J his intended route.
Djeskau, having in vain waited the He coming up of our army, at length re- marches folved himfelf to advance towards them ; "J a"3^ and if he proved victorious, todefolate^ . Jom" our northern fettlements, lay the towns of Albany and Schenectady in afhes, and cut off all communication with Of- wego. A dreadful resolution, my Lord ! And had he fucceeded — I tremble at the thought — had he fucceeded. But the Supreme Difpofer of events had not yet devoted us to ruin ■ and therefore, like the counfels of Achitophel, blafled the fanguinary purpofe. —
For the execution of this defign, he embarked at Fort St. Frederic with 2000 men inbattoes, and landed at the South Bay *. Of this movement, Gen. Johnfon had not the leafl intimation, 'till his fcouts difcovered their actual departure from the South Bay towards Fort Edward. By an Englifh prifoner, the baron was told that the fort was de- fencelefs, and our camp at the Lake, when he left it a few days before, without lines, and destitute of cannon.
* About 16 miles from the Englifh en- campment.
D 3 Having
[8o]
1755. Having approached within two miles * — /"" — 'of Fort Edward, he opened his defign to his troops, confiding of 600 militia, as many Indians, and 200 regulars. To Kisirre- animate his irregulars, who feemed fe!fFS a~ ^inclined t0 tne attack propofed, he the attack a^ured them, that inevitable mud be of Fort their fuccefs — " that on reducing this Edward. " fort, the Englifh camp mud neceffa- " rijy be abandoned, and their army " diiperfe in great diforder— that this " would enable them to fubdue Alba- " nyi and by darving the garrifon of " Ofwego, fuperadd to their conqued " the abfolute dominion of Ontario." With whatever intrepidity this harangue inipired his European troops, the Ca- nadians and favages, fearful of our can- non, were utterly averfe to the fcheme ; but declared their willingnefs to fur- prize our camp, where they expected nothing beyond mufquetry*. Thus He _ moves difappointed in his principal defign, he aSamftour changed his route, and began to move camP » againd the main body at the Lake. Gen. Johnfon, on the information of his fcouts, had difpatched feparate mef-
* Our artillery was got up to the camp, from Fort Edward, but a day or two before the action, of which the French had no
intelligence.
fengers
[«' ]
fengers to Fort Edward, with advice 1755. of the enemy's approach towards that garrifon ; of which, one was unfortu- nately intercepted; the reft who got back, reported, that they had defcried the enemy about four miles to the northward of the fort. Inftead of any attempt to difcover the ftrength of the guard left with their battoes at the South Bay, which might eafily have been cut off, a council of war reiblved the next morning to detach 1 000 men, with fbme Indians, to fail upon, or, as Mr.. Johnfon exprelfes it in his letter to the feveral governors, " to catch the enemy in their retreat." On this fervice commanded Col. Williams, a brave officer, who met the baron within four miles of our camp.
The Englifh, my Lord, were en- camped on the banks of Lake George, being covered on either fide by a low thick- wooded fwamp. After the march of the detachment, Gen. Johnfon drew up the cannon, then at 500 yards dis- tance from the front. Trees were alio felled to form fome fort of breail-work : and this was all his cover againft an attack ; having hitherto ftrangely de- layed the proper retrenchments.
D 4 About
[ 8* ]
1755- About an hour after Williams's de- ^— v~- 'parture, a heavy fire was heard; which and meets eyjdently approaching, Gen. Johnfon
twhm7nJudSed riShtly> that our detachment was retreating : for the French were fuperior in number, amounting to a- bout 1 800. Upon this he fent out a reinforcement to fupport them ; which was very judicioufly conducted on the death of Williams, by Lieut. Colonel Whiting, a Connecticut officer, who gained much applaufe at the reduction of Louifburgh. Gen. Johnfon informs the governors, " That about half an " hour after eleven the enemy appear- 44 ed in fight, and marched along the " road in very regular order, directly " upon our center : That they made a M fmall halt, about 1 50 yards from the " breafl-work, when the regular troops " made the grand and center attack ; " while the Canadians and Indians " fquatted and difperfedon our flanks." This halt was the baron's capital error: for, amidfl the conflernation at the camp, had he clofely followed up the detachment, he had eafily forced their lines, and gained a complete victory. Eut by continuing for fome time a pla- tcon fire, with little execution at that diitance, our men recovered their fpirits. As foon as the artillery began to play,
Diefkau
[ 8j ] Diefkau and his regulars found them- i ysf. felves totally deferted by the militia i — v~-f and favages, who all fkulked into the fwamps, took to trees, and maintained a fcattered fire upon our flanks for fome , time, with variable and intermitting brifknefs. Having now no command He is de- of any part of his army, except hisfeated» handful of regulars, the baron though ta^Q^en proper to retire ± which he did in very great diforder. A party from the camp followed him, fell upon his rear, dit- perfed the remaining foldiers about him, and being himfeif wounded in the leg, was found refling on a flump, utterly abandoned and deflitute of fuccour. Feeling for his watch, to furrender it, one of our men, fufpecling him in fearch of a piflol, poured a charge thro* his hips ; of which wound he is not yet recovered. Upon his retreat, the militia and Indians retired in fmall parties : and as the Engliih neglected to continue the purfuit, they halted a- bout four miles from the camp, at the very place where the engagement hap- pened in the morning. Opening their packs for refreshment, they here en- tered into a confultation, refpecling a fecond attack. Why the enemy was not purfued, when their retreat became general, no tolerable reafon has ever
D 5 yet
t«4] 1755- yet been afTigned; and Mr. Johnfon, * — * — 'in his letter, feems very artfully to e- Gallant Vade it. Nothing however could be ofM<VGVmore ^ortunate than the gallant behavi- nest our of a party confuting of about 200, led by Capt. Mc Ginnes, who had been detached from Fort Edward, to the afliftance of the main body. They fell upon the French in the evening, put an end to their confultations, and gave them a total overthrow. Mc Ginnes died of the wounds he received in this rencounter, having fignalized himfelf by a lpirit and conduct that would have done honour to a more experienced officer. Remark Mr. Wraxal, in his letter to the on Wrax-yeut . Governor of New York, told him, ^ajj™agl"he flood fo near Gen. Johnfon, when the latter received his wound, that " he " thought he faw the ball enter :'* which curious piece of intelligence was obliterated before its publication. I only mention this circumftance to con- vince your Lordfhip, that the moft in- trepid foldier hath not always the fame prefence of mind. The ene- If the duik of the evening was too my n°J far advanced, before the repulfe at the pur ue . Lak-e^ for an immediate purfuit (which by the way could not be the cafe, fince Mc Ginnes' s encounter was fubfequent) yet the neglect of it the next day ad- mits
[85]
mits of no colourable apology. Mr. 1755. Lyman urged it with great warmth ; ' — v-*- but the general, with mod of the field officers, are accufed of an equal difm- clination. Mr. Johnfon, to judge by his letter, feemed well fatisfied with his es- cape, and determined with this action to clofe the prefent campaign. It was probably to avoid the profecution of the expedition, that he tranfmitted no ac- count of the battle to General Shirley ; contenting himfelf with requeuing Lieut.. Governor Phipps to fend a copy of his letter from Bofton, tho' his own fituation was 200 miles nigher to Ofwego. The gentleman at Albany, to whom his dis- patches were intruded, fufpecting their contents, and conceiving their communi- cation to the general absolutely neceflary for hisMajefly's fervice, broke open the letter to Governor Phipps, and fent an exprefs with a copy to Ofwego.
The Indians, during the whole of the The Indf-
engagement, fome of the Mohawks only ans joined to & i • j r 1 '1 not m the
excepted, retired from the camp, wait-a^jon
ing the event of the conflict at a conve- nient diftance. Nor indeed was their affiftance expected, by thofe who knew their boafled fidelity was a mere delu- fion, and Mr. Johnfon's fo much mag- nified influence, what it has fince ap- peared to all men, the groffeil impo- ilure. They even declared before their
march,
[86]
1755* march? they intended not to engage, y--v~-'but to be witnefles of the gallantry of our troops. And had Diefkau won the day, equally ready had they been to fcalp their brethren the Englilh, as now they appeared to exercife their brutal and left dexterity on the French. Moreover, our aimy they came in a body to Albany, imme- aftent. diately after the battle, on pretence of celebrating the fuccefs of our arms, and to condole with the Widows of thofe who fell in the action. This, fays one of Mr. Johnfon's encomiafts, is their cuftom; fubjoining prophetically, that they were in a fortnight after their depar- ture to return to the camp. The favages, My Lord, obferve no fuch cuflom,fave on the conclufion of an enterprize ; where- as this was fcarcely commenced : and as to their return, 'tis notorious they never did. Befides, had the general the real intereft pretended, would he not, for once, have induced them to poftpone their triumphant feflivity, and untimely condolence, when their pre- fence at the camp, would they really fight, was of indifpenfible neceffity ; and himfelf in expectation of a fecond at- M*\ot tack 5 nor5 kv the ftrain of his letter, ex- Gen. Ly- empt from a little perturbation of mind ? man mali- To render the luflre of this gentle- chafed man,|S character ftill more refulgent, by wkhScow- preventing
ardice.
[87 ] preventing any one's fharing with him 1755. the glory of the day, a junto combined at the camp, and framed a letter *, im- peaching Mr. Lyman, the fecond in command, of daftardly carriage, which they procured one Cole, a fellow of no reputation, to fign, and convey to the prefs. A notable instance of the amaz- ing latitude to which an invidious fpirit is capable of proceeding : So true is the poet's observation,
Men that make
Envy and crooked malice nourifhment, Dare bite the beft Sh akesp.
For, in reality, no man, my Lord, be- haved with more magnanimity, than the unfortunate object of their jealoufy : and from his fuperior merit actually arofe their malignity, as he thence ri- valled their deified idol. The reafon why this much-injured officer deferred his vindication, was not only the dif- graceful name of his Calumniator, but becaufe he expected that juflice from the public ; who accordingly, in teiti- mony of his merit, veiled him, the next campaign, with the fame impor-
* — Minds that will mount into fuperior ftate, Climb mifchiePs ladder — i
Ri chard's Meflalina.
tant
C 88 3
1 755. tant poft. But numbers of witnefTes — J— "V^^eye-witnefTes, utterly impartial, and not belonging to the camp, are ready to depofe, that by them he was feen fight- ing like a lion, and expofing his life in the hottefl of the battle : not to men- tion a gentleman * of undoubted vera- city, to whom Gen. Johnfon, two days after the action, frankly acknowledged in his tent, that to Lyman was chiefly to be afcribed the honour of the victory. Remarks I shall now, my Lord, take the on John- liberty to make a few remarks on Mr. fon's rea- Johnfon's letter + to the governors ; and n°0nts°rfu_ examine the reafons affigned againft ing the purfiiing his advantage, as well as thofe enemy, oralledged for not profecuting the expe- profecut- dition. The repulfe of the French de- ine^s^x"livered us from fuch unfpeakable cala- mity, naturally to be apprehended from the enemy's fuccefs, that we have in- finite reafon to thank the God of Armies, for thus remarkably refcuing us from the jav/s of perdition. Nor ought we to mention either our officers or men, who generally behaved as well as could be expected, without a fuitable
* Col. John Renfalair, of Albany. f Vide Johnfon's letter, which is added, to this Dublin Edition by way of Appendix.
tribute
[ H ]
tribute of gratitude. But the general's 1755! own letter will enable me to convince' your Lordfhip, that the magnificent tro- phies erected to his fame, fprung whol- ly from the New York cabal-, whofe fervices, when encircled with his lau- rels, he was ever after to acknowlege and retaliate
— fana redimitus tempora lauro
— veterem Anchifem agnofcit amieum.
By this letter he appears fo confcious of deferving reprehenfion, rather than ap- plaufe, that the latter part of his epiflle is apparently calculated to divert all inquiry into the true reafon of his not purfuing the enemy, and breaking up the campaign, without paying a vifit to Crown Point. " Our men, fays he, " have fuffered fo much fatigue for " three days paft, and are conftantly " {landing upon their arms by day, " half the whole upon guard by night, " and the reft lie down armed and ac- " coutred ; that both officers and men are " almofl worn-out." I can't help think- ing, that had the general begun his breaft-work more feafonably, and not waited for intelligence of the enemy's advancing, before he ordered up his cannon, his men had been lefs fatigued
by
[90]
1755- by ^is redoubtable action. But left the world fhould remain in the dark about the real grounds of his apprehen- fion, he proceeds — " The enemy may " rally; and we judge they have confi- Ci derable reinforcements near at hand." i queftion, my Lord, whether the whole circle of hiflory affords a fmgle inflance of an army's rallying, after the {laugh- ter of i ooo men (his own computation) out of about 1800, the whole force of the enemy. And whence he conjec- tured they had any reinforcement fo near at hand, as not to be able to join their routed detachment, flill remains one of thofe arcana of flate, which, by com- mon underflandings, is not to be fa- thomed : or, if the French confifled of 200 grenadiers, 800 Canadians, and 700 Indians (the baron's account to the general) fo great a flaughter as is pre- tended by the letter, with the lofs of the greater! part of the principal offi- cers, and Monf. St. Pierre, who had the chief command and influence over the Indians, mufl have reduced them to lefs than 800. From thefe, one would have imagined, there was no danger of a fecond attack. Far more proba- ble was it, that for fo momentous an enterprize as the reduction of the forts before-mentioned, the French had muf-
tered
[9i ] tered all the forces they could fpare 1755. from Crown Point and Tinonderoge,' where many of the regular troops were ported; efpecially, as they went un- furnifhed with cannon. Add to this, that our army was now fTufhed with victory ; the enemy, on the contrary, difconcerted ; and, according to his ac- count, moil of their principal officers, and many of their men, flain ; the In- dians too, by the death of St. Pierre, pobably wavering and diffipated. This, if fuch were the fads, was a glorious opportunity to difpoffefs them of Ti- nonderoge. But the longer they were fufFered to fortify, the more arduous the talk to diflodge them, and the greater the lofs of our prefent advan- tage, refulting from their, deteat and our fuccefs. Befides was there any pro- bability of their return the next day, to re-aflault the camp with mufquetry, when the effecis of our cannon (admir- ing them to have done the pretended execution *) was flill fo recent in their memories -, and to the Indians, even
* The cannon were fo ill-ferved, and highly elevated, that they did, beyond all contro^erfy, no execution at all ; none of the dead being obferved to have been killed by cannon-mot : but amongft the tops of the trees, 30 and 40 feet high, they made great and ufelefs havock.
the
[sM
1755. the firft time, fo vifibly tremendous? 'But the cautious general fubjoins — " We don't think it either prudent or " fafe to be fending out parties in fearch " of the dead." I agree, it had been more for his Majefty's fervice to have dirpatched them in purfuit of the living. After a fhort paragraph concerning the wounded, his panic returns — " I think " we may expect very fhortly a more " formidable attack." More formida- ble than what ? Why, than that of their regulars firing at a diftance, and the Canadians and Indians running away — " and that the enemy will then come " with artillery." I wonder whether this gentleman expected to reduce Crown Point without being expofed to the French artillery. But whence this furmife of a more formidable attack, he thinks not proper to communicate. It was well known, the whole force fent from France amounted to about 3000 : — that of thefe, admiral Bofcawen took eight companies, and 1000 were in garrifon at Louifburgh. Admitting therefore that all the reft arrived at Quebec, without any lofs, (a favoura- ble concefiion) the utmofl amount that reached Canada was about 1 700 ; of which 500 were at Cadaraqui : fo that,
without
without any allowance for thofe killed 1755. at the camp, or in the mock purfuif- which enfued, the whole number of regulars that arrived with Diefkau, and could come againfl him, but little ex- ceeded uoo. The gentleman pro- ceeds — " The late Col. Williams " had the ground cleared for building " a ftockaded fort : our men are fo " harafled, and obliged to be upon " watchful duty,- that I think it would " be both unfeafonable, and, I fear, in " vain, to fet them at work upon the " defigned fort. I defign to order the " New Hampshire regiment up here to " reinforce us ; and I hope fome of " the defigned reinforcements will be " with us in a few days. When thefe " frefli troops arrive, I mall " — I dare fay your Lordfhip expects at leaft the demolition of Fort St. Frederic : no- thing like it—" I mail immediately " fet about building a fort." Still the flrongefr. fymptoms of terror and a- larm : for, 'tis evident from this pafTage, he had now laid afide all thoughts of profecuting the expedition, mould even fuccours arrive, and in greater num- bers than were neceffary. All his pu- iflant purpofes terminated now, " in " fetting about building a fort." And if indeed he thought Crown Point im- pregnable
[94] 17 55- P^gnable by the army then under his command, above 4000 ftrong, he muft neceflarily conclude it would be found fo the next year, by double the num- ber : and if then attempted thro* ano- ther route, his grand fortrefs at the end of the Lake was abfolutely ufelefs. Nor would it prove any defence to the country between Lake George and Hudfon's River, v/hile the French could penetrate it by two other more ufual pafTageSj the South-Bay and Wood-Creek; thro' the former of which they had actually marched to his camp. And as to their formidable attack with artillery, whence could they bring it, but from Crown Point? And if they learnt he intended, in the prefent cam- paign, nothing beyond building a ftockaded fort, that very intelligence was fufficient to induce them to attack the camp with cannon ; againft which, I am confident, his fort would make but a very indifferent refiflance. But, in reality, 'twas mofl probable they would exert their efforts in ftrengthen- ing Crown Point and Tinonderoge ; the reduction of v/hich, for not im- proving our fuccefs at the camp, will coft us a vafl addition of blood and treafure.
Thus,
ts$ ] Thus, my Lord, ended this expen- five expedition in erecting a wooden fort; faulted by Mr. Montrefor * ; Refleai- and, I dare fay, derided by the enemy . ^u°nnethe So that if ever any man obtained lau-and con- rels without earning them, it was thisdua of fortunate general ; who, by the fplen-thIs Sen«- did reprefentations of his fecretary/*1, and the fovereign decree of his patron, is exalted into an eminent hero. To the panegyrical pen of Mr. Wraxal, and the — fie volo, ficjubeo — of Lieut. Gov. De Lancey, is to be afcribed that mighty renown, which ecchoed thro' the colonies, reverberated to Europe, and elevated a raw unexperienced youth into a kind of fecond Marlbo- rough —
Fortunate puer, tu nunc eris alter ab illo.
So capricious is fortune, and fo fond of fporting with human affairs. The emperor Severus (I think it is Herodian tells the ftory) when obliged to raife the liege of Atras, the only attempt in which he had ever been baffled, thought himfelf conquered becaufe he did not conquer : but our hero, it feems, is a
* Chief engineer.
conqueror,
[9^3
1 755. conqueror, becaufe he was not con- J— -v^"~ 'quered. When a general finds himfelf attacked in his camp, a very quaker methinks, would forget his principles, and follow, in fpite of Barclay and the meeting, the powerful di&ates of na- ture's incentive to felf-defence. And did the valour of our warrior carry him an inch farther ? Did he purfue an enemy, who by flying, with the lofs of about 30 men, exhibited a full proof of a moil extraordinary pufillanimity ? Or, if his wound (which, confidering it was made by a ball vifible in its flight to his aid-de-camp, muft have been very capacious) rendered his perfonal purfuit impracticable ; were any orders given to improve the fortune of the day, and deftroy a fugitive army ? Was not, on the contrary, the noble ardor of thofe who offered to purfue, by pofitive orders, reprefTed ; and a poltroon adverfary furTered to efcape, whofe recent cowar- dice promifed a general flaughter, and who, in their prefent panic, had fallen a facrifice to our victorious arms ? Why this These are fads of inconteftible no- a&ion wastoriety : and if your Lordfhip demands, exf reatIyt.whence then the accounts that fix or *d. "eight hundred, nay a thoufand, fell be- fore the camp (when, in reality, the enemy loft not above two hundred in
all
I 911 all the three engagements, which is lefs t7£ff. than our own lofs) there is no other way of accounting for thefe glaring mifreprefentations, than that it fuited our prefent fyftem of politics to have this action exaggerated and magnified. It was necefTary to exalt Johnfon, in order to deprefs Shirley, and they who had reprefented the expedition againfl Crown Point of fuch prodigious im- portance, thought it advifeable to ren- der every thing important that was tranfa&ed in that expedition. Every man among us knew it to be an impo- fition ; and yet ran the rifque of having his head broke for offering to doubt it. It was notorious, not above 30 of the enemy were found ilain at the camp ; and that the reft of the dead could neither rly into the air, nor dive into the earth. Where then was the re- mainder? To anticipate the queflion, left any one mould have effrontery e- nough to ftart it — they were carried off by a flying enemy, who took to their heels to fave their own lives ; and yet were lb anxious about their dead, as to carry them all along. Such ma- nifeft contradictions are we obliged to believe !
Nay, to excufe this favourite gene- ral; the blame of not following his ad- vantage,
[98]
iy 55. vantage, has been thrown on Mr. Shir- *— -v— - ' ley, and attributed to his pofitive di- Shirley ab- re<flions. Befides the abfurdity of the
cenfured accu^at^on? triat ne could be accefTory to an omiflion of this nature, it was abfolutely impoffible for him to know whether the enemy would at all rifk an attack. Your Lordfhip will confider, the general was then at lead 365 miles from the place of action, nor advifed of it till nine days after it happened. But when he received the intelligence, fo far from directing to the inactivity of a merely defenfive conduct, that he dif- patched repeated exprefles to Mr. John- fon, urging him in the moll: prefling terms, to purfue the advantage already obtained ; and if unable to proceed in perfon, to commit the charge of the troops to Major Gen. Lyman ; or, if he found it impracticable to invefl Crown Point that feafon, at leaft to make himfelf matter, if pofhble, of the enemy's advanced pofl at Tinon- deroge. — But all was ineffectual: the laurel being already acquired, for- tune was not again to be put to a def- perate venture.
We will now, if your Lordfhip pleafes, return to Ofwego, where Ge- neral Shirley arrived the 2 1 ft of Auguft,
and
[99] and take a view of the courie of his 1755, proceedings in that quarter. *— v-^i
Your Lordship may remember, Courfe of that the troops marched from Schenec-proceed- tady, with fcarce half the number of'^gs at battoemen, which contracted for the0iweSc- fervice; and thefe by frequent deferti- ons gradually decreafed. Hence the tranfportation of provifions, thro' this long tradt of country, was fo much impeded, that until the latter end of September, it was impofrlble, upon that account, to move from Ofwego.
The general however had, in the mean time, made all the neceflary pre- parations for the expedition to Niaga- ra : and as the arrival of a large con- voy with provifions was then hourly expecled, he held a council of war at A council his camp on the 18th of September j?f..w*r at which were prefent heId there'
His Excellency the General,
Lieut. Col. Ellifon,
Lieut. Col, Mercer,
Col. Schuyler,
Capt. Patten,
Major Littlehales,
Major Bradflreet, Adj. Gen.
Capt. Barford,
Capt. Broadley, Com. of the vef- fels on the Lake.
E The
[ 100 ]
1755- The general informed this council, *— -v^— > that thro' the great defertion of battoe- The ge- men, the fcarcity of waggons on the prefente Mohawk River, and the defertion of the ftate fledgemen at the Great Carrying-Place, of affairs, the conveyance of provifions and other and in- {fores had been fo much retarded, that forms the ^ ^ad t ^een at an ^mc fmcQ j^ council or . \ r
his intelli-arnval> a lumcient quantity or dry pro- gence. vifions to enable him to go upon action : but as a large fupply would probably very foon arrive, he was determined to proceed immediately. He thought pro- per to inform them of his intelligence concerning the fituation and flrength of the enemy — v/hich was to this purpofe. ■ — That before he left the Oneida Car- rying-Place, two trufly Indians, with as many Albany traders, were fent as fpies to Niagara ; who, after fourteen days abfence, returned with an account — That the Indians had been two days in the French fort there, which was built partly of flone, but principally of logs, being in a weak and ruinous con- dition — that the garrifon confifted of about 60 French and 1 00 Indians, who faid they had for fome time expedled 900 Indians and a quantity of flores from Canada; but were apprehenfive their veffels were taken — that letters
came
[ 'oi ]
came in frequently from FortDuQuefn( whence alfo they expected a coniidera- ' ble reinforcement. The fpies added, that the Indians were difguited at the divifion of the fpoils, on the defeat of General Braddock, and that the French had loll 30 men in that engagement — that they faw many Englifh fcalps, with a large quantity of cloaths and furniture — that the French had there 70 or 80 large battoes, with which they intended to meet and board our veffels : and this article was confirmed by another Indian, who fet out after the fpies, and meeting one of our row-gallies, cautioned the commander againlt a nearer approach to Niagara.
His Excellency alfo informed the council, that an Indian fpy had been with the Outawawas, v/ho afiifted the French in the aclion at Monongahela — that they had declared their inclination to lay down the hatchet ; and that others more weflerly gave the like intimations ; which had induced him to difpatch four meifengers with belts of wampum, to invite them into our alliance, or at lead to engage their neutrality.
Upon the general's arrival at Ofwego, he thought it neceffary to procure intel- ligence from Frontenac ; and for that purpofe fent out a party of white men E 2 and
[ IQ2 ]
and Indians, who returned about the '8 th of September, with information — that they landed upon an iiland, about fix furlongs from the fort, from whence they had a full view of it — that it was built in a bay, near the edge of the water, and furrounded by a flone wall ; the land behind it cleared and rifmg in a gradual acclivity — that two >efTels of about 40 tons each, lay moored in the harbour, unrigged, and without guns — that at the eaft end of the fort there was a regular encampment, and fix marquis tents ; from the extent of which they imagined it contained about 3 or 400 men. — Upon the fide of the bay, op- pofite the fort, the land projected about half a mile : between this and the iiland they were upon, was another little ifland, about three quarters of a mile from the fort, inhabited by about twenty Indian families. The fpies added, that there were feveral other adjacent i (lands ; but they difcovered no battoes. His excel- lency farther acquainted the council, that an Indian who came to Ofwego about the time of his arrival, and had left Frontenac nine days before, declared there were 30 French within the fort ; a confiderable quantity of powder, and many guns mounted on the furrounding wall, which was about fix feet thick ;
and
[ 103 3
and the encampment without confifted 1755. of 600 foldiers,. The information ofv Redhead, to the fame effect, v/as alfo laid before the council, with the addi- tion— that there were two encampments, one of Canadians, and the other of re- gulars, in a hollow, indifcoverable from the ifland ; and that he was told, by the commandant, of a much larger number of troops expected with the general, lately arrived from France ^ when they propofed to inveft Ofwego. Gen. Johnfon's letter of the ift of Sep- tember, fignifying, that his fcouts in- formed him of the departure 300 canoes to Frontenac, was alfo confidered : and from thefe articles of intelligence — the account of the arrival of the French troops — the fufpenfion of all intercourfe between Frontenac and Niagara — and their lying flill fo long at the former ; his excellency obferved, it was not im- probable their defign might be to make a defcent on Ofwego, if the whole force proceeded on the expedition to Niagara, which was about 150 miles to the weft- ward -, and from whence, at that ad- vanced feafon, they could not return in lefs than 30 days. That this was the more probable, as Ofwego was of the greatefl importance for fecuring the fron- tiers of the weftern colonies, maintain* E 3 ins;
[ J°4 ] 1755. ing the Britilh dominion over the great lakes, and the country beyond the Apa- Iachian mountains. He alfo took no- tice of the defencelefs flate of Ofwego, which would render it neceffary to leave a ftrong garrifon there : that the num- ber of effectives at that time in the three regiments and independent com- panies, including ferjeants and corporals, amounted to 1 376 ^ and that the irre- gulars, who were Albany men and In- dians, procured by his own emirTaries, confined only of 1 20. For the better fecurity of the place, the general had ordered to be built, with all poflible dif- patch, a llrong wooden fort, capable of mounting cannon, with picquets and a ditch, on a high point, commanding the old fort on the eaft fide of the river. This he obferved was already begun, and would foon be compleated : and that for the propofed enterprize, he had built and equipped a Hoop and fchooner of fixty tons each, two row-gallies, each of twenty tons, with eight whale-boats, each capable of carrying fixteen men. He then informed them of his inten- tion to embark for Niagara, as foon as the expected convoy arrived, v/ith 600 regulars, including gunners and ma- troffes, befides the Albany and Indian irregulars, one 18 pounder, four 12
pounders^
[ io5 3
pounders, a ten-inch mortar, a feven- 1755. inch hoyet, two royals, and five fmallv-"-v— ^ fwivel-hoyets, the vefTels, whale-boats, and a competent number of battoes ; leaving behind him 700 effectives, two 12 pounders, ten 6 pounders, fix 3 pounders, and eight cohorns.
The council, upon this reprefenta- tion, were unanimously of opinion, in anfwer to the feveral queftions propofed, that the force intended for the Niagara expedition was fufficient : but with re- flect to Ofwego, fome imagined it would not be defenfible: the majority, how- ever, were of contrary fentiments. All agreed, that a feint upon Frontenac, while his excellency was gone to Nia- gara, was by no means advifeable. They univerfally concurred in opinion, that a fort ought to be erected on the weft fide of the old fort : and that it would be for his Majefty's fervice to prepare ma- terials for building one or more vefTels, larger than any of thofe already upon the lake, capable of mounting ten 6 poun- ders, betides fwivels, two more row- gallies, and 100 good whale-boats.
In confequence of this advice, 6oopreparati~ regulars were draughted, the artillery cms to pro- and ordnance-flores (hipped on boarded on the floop Ontario, part of the provifions V^a "^ on board the iloop Ofwego, and the re-ditlon. E 4 fidue
[ '06 ]
755- fidue was ready for the row-gallies, "whale-boats, and battoes. While thefe preparations were making, the weather was extremely wet and tempeftuous. The rains began to fall fo heavily on the 1 8th of the month, that on the bell chofen ground the tents of the foldiers were overwhelmed. As 400 of the troops mufl have gone in open battoes, it was impollible to pafs the lake with any fafety, till the ftorm abated ; which was on the 26th of the month, when orders were immediately iffued for the embarkation of the troops : but thefe could not be carried into execution. Tho* Which the rains ceafed for a fhort fpace of could not time, the weflern winds began to blow be profe- wjtk rec]oubled fury ; and were again the bad- fricceeded by continual rains for thirteen nefsofthedays together. During this boiflerous weather, weather, numbers fell fick, whofe tents were an infufficient fhelter : and the In- dians, well acquainted with the climate, went off, declaring the feafon too far Another advanced to admit of an expedition council ofapon the lake.
war held, IN the midft of thefe difficulties ano- ™ whlch t*ier council? confirming of the fame ial repre" members who compofed the lafl, was fents the called on the 27th of September. The imfavour- general acquainted them with the unto-
ablear- warcj ^ate Qf affajrs ancJ fome of his
rT«fn~ kteft
<;es or
affairs.
[ *°7 ^
kteft advices. He obferved as follows 1755. — That the preceding day, eight battoes ' were arrived, with 48 barrels of flour, and 1 3 of bread ; fo that there was then 14 days full allowance of thofe fpecies of provifions for 2000, being the num- then in his camp — That he thought it neceflary to take with him 21,000 weight of bread and flour, which for 700 men, forty days, amounted only to three-fourths of the ufual allowance — that, in fuch cafe, there would be left with the garrifon only 8000 weight of bread and flour, at half allowance for only 1 2 days: but, by advices received from the Carrying-Place and Mohawk River, he had the greateil reafon to ex- pect fuch a quantity of provifions, in a few days, as would be a. full fiipply for fome months — that a party of men, with two officers, in whale-boats, fent feven. days before to Frontenac to difcover the enemy's motions, were returned, with the following report.- — That they went into the harbour, and faw the fort, which appeared I to be a regular fquare faced with ftone, having four, embrafures in the fronts— that the encampment confifted of above 1 00 tents — that two brigan- tines of about 40 tons each, and a (mall lloop lying then at anchor, were rigged, and the fails of one of them bent, and E 5 a number
[ io8]
1 7-55. a number of battoes lay near the walls 'of the fort. He communicated to them alfo a copy of the orders and inflruclions given to the French regulars fent thi- ther, which were taken from baron Diefkau, in the action at Lake George : whence it appeared, that ten companies of the Queen's battalion marched from Montreal to Cadaracqui, in two divi- fions, upon the firfl and fecond of Au- guft, together with 250 Canadians, ex- clufive of Indians : the number of men therefore at Frontenac, including the garrifon, might amount to 1000 effec- tives, originally defigned, as appeared from thofe papers, for an attack upon Ofwego. He farther took notice of the departure of fome of our Indians, and their unanimous opinion, that the at- tempt againft Niagara could not fucceed this feafon : on which account the re- mainder were refolved to return to their refpedive caflles ; giving nevertheiefs the highefl affurances of their willing- nefs to join us in much greater numbers the enfuing fpring — that the Albany traders were of the fame opinion, that the battoes, tho' well adapted for the navigation of fmall rivers, could not live on the lake in fuch tempefluous weather as had continued for a fortnight paft — that Lieut. Holland, who had refided
there
[ iog ]
there above three years, declared it was 1755, commonly windy and wet, with few fair *-*■/— ** days intervening, during the fall. — That it was befides now impracticable for the velfels and battoes to fail in concert : and as the veffels and whale-boats would not contain all the fupplies, there was the utmofl danger of fpoiling that part of the provifions and ammunition, which mun: be conveyed in the battoes ; in confequence of which many of them might be cut off; it being more than probable, from the weaknefs of their fort, the enemy would attack them on the lake — that from the returns of the director and furgeons of the hofpital, the number of the fick amounted to about 300, exclufive of officers ; which they imputed to the excefiive rains, and want of barracks. His excellency in- formed them, he propofed the erection of barracks, and a ftrong redoubt on the hill, weft of the old fort, before the winter was too far advanced.
These matters, my Lord, were at- Their opi- tentively confidered : and the council nion, and of war prayed leave to add to the gene- advice ,to ral's reprefentation — That Major Brad-^^J^. ftreet, fince his refidence there, wasdition,and perfuaded 1650 Canadians had parTed ftrengthen by from Cadaracqui to Niagara, forthe°^weS°* Ohio ; a great part of whom, thro' fear- city
t «o]
1755. city of provifions, he conceived muft then be upon their return to Canada; and that a confiderable number of French traders go annually from Canada to De- troit, and other French fettlements to the weft ward, who, at this feafon, are generally upon their return : — that their paiTage home is by the way of Niagara, where, it isvvery probable, they and all the French will tarry, as long as their provifions admit, for the defence of fo important a poll. That there were then but few proper battoe-men at Ofwego : nor could they be provided with a fuffi- cient number, as thofe who underflood the management of battoes were chiefly employed in the tranfportation of pro- vifions from Schenectady to Ofwego, and from Albany to Lake George ; and that the foldiers were unable to conduct them to Niagara, the lake being tur- bulent generally five days in fix.
The advice of the council, my Lord, was unanimoufly to this effect — That the arrival of the battoes with provifions, tho' hourly expected, was by no means to be depended upon, there being fcalp- ing-parties in the neighbourhood -, one of which, fince the laft council of war, had actually killed three, and captivat- ed two of the workmen employed in building the new fort on the eaft fide
of
[ III ]
of the river, and the cutting off the 1755, battoes was -:/ more to be apprehended, as the Indians in our alliance were now returning to their cafbles. Nor did they think it advifeable to rilk the troops in battoes upon the lake, at fo advanced a feafon of the year. They approved his excellency's intention of raifmg bar- racks for the foldiers without de- lay, and thought the foAjon the eafl fide of the Onondaga River ought to be compleated as foon as poilible; and again advifed the erection of a work for mounting cannon on the emi- nence weft of the old fort — all which, in their opinion, could not be effected before the winter was too far fet in, without employing the whole ftrength then at the place. They were alio una- nimoufly and clearly of opinion, that his excellency ought to defer any attempt on Niagara or Frontenac, till the next fpringj when they had great reafbn to expect the junction of a large body of the Six Nations, and fome of the French allies, who had taken up the hatchet againft the Englifh, and were concerned on the banks of the MonongaheJa. Be- fides, he might, in the enfuing cam* paign, have a greater number of troops, whaleboats inftead of battoes, and a more powerful naval force, which they
conceived
[112]
*755- conceived ought to be provided againft V-"v^*— 'the next fpring.
Which This advice, my Lord, the general was car- proceeded immediately to carry into ex- ried into ecution. Compleating the fort on the execution, eafl fide of the river, was a matter of principal attention, becaufe fituated on a high point of land, at ioo yards di- flance from the lake, commanding the ground round about it — the old fort at 450 yards diftance — and the entrance of the harbour. Its circumference was 800 feet, being built of logs from 20 to 30 inches diameter, and the outer wall 14 feet high. Round it was to be a ditch 14 feet broad and 10 deep. Within, a fquare log-houfe to overlook the walls, and barracks for 300 men. — This fort, called Ontario, was to mount 1 6 pieces of cannon. Another, called Ofwego, was immediately begun, upon an eminence 450 yards weft of the old fort. It was a fquare of 1 70 feet, with baftions, and a rampart of earth and mafonry-, which, befides the parapet, was to be 20 feet thick, i 2 in height, with a ditch 14 feet broad and 10 deep. The barracks within were to contain 200 men. This was to mount eight pieces of cannon ; being made the more de- fenfible, as it commanded a good land- ing,
[ u3 ]
ing, diflant 1 50 yards on the edge from 1755. the lake. ' — v — -*
While thefe works were carrying on, The ge- the general employed himfelf in a necef- £eral ia~ fary attention to Indian affairs. He la-e^lifh boured to eflablifh fome of the principal the!Indians Onondagas, who were thro' negligence in our in- become wavering; and difpatched mef-terefta fages to thofe who were gone from us, and fettled at Oiwegatie, and to the MefTafagues and Chippawees on the north fide of the Lake Ontario. Others were fent to foment the difTarTeclion of the Outawawas, difgufted at the French partition of the plunder, on Braddock's defeat. With the Senecas, the remoteft from our fettlements of all the five can- tons, and therefore the mofl debauched by the French, he fucceeded fo well, that they now difmiffed Joncaire, one of their emiflaries, whofe father had been long fuffered to refide among them, in fpiteof our repeated remonftrances ; and was the chief preferver of the fort at Niagara. They alfo engaged to meet him, the next campaign, with 100 of their warriors, and promifed for the fu- ture to refufe the afTiilance they had for- merly given the French, in tranfporting their furrs, with horfes and fleds, acrofs the Niagara Carrying-Place — as necef- fary there, as at any of our portages
between
[ "4]
1 755 • between Schenectady andOfwego. When «-— v~— > nothing further could be profecuted, the And re- general retired from Ofwego the 24th of ALta! t0 0&°ber, leaving 700 men in garrifon, under the command of Lieut. Col. Mer- cer ; with orders to continue the works projected for its defence.
Having, my Lord, taken up too much of your time in a cireumftantial relation of the proceedings in this quar- ter, I fhall not trouble you with any reflections upon them. Your Lordfliip has feen the infurmountable difficulties attending this weflern expedition ; and will doubtlefs approve our not hazard- French ing the lofs of Ofwego. That fuch defigned WOuld have been the event, had Mr.
Ofwe ^f SnirleY feft the Place about t^ie begin-
had the' ™ng °f October, was wifely forefeen,
general from the advices he had received : and
proceeded baron Dieikau, jufl after the action at
to Niaga- La}ce George, allured a gentleman of
diftinction in the army, he queftioned
not the Englifh general would make
himfelf matter of Niagara ; but that the
French had half the forces he brought
with him from Breft, with a number of
Canadians and Indians, at Front enac,
ready, immediately on his departure,
to inveft Ofwego, and cut off his
retreat.
While.
[ H5 J
While the general was at Albany, 1755. after his return from the lake, forward- v — *~-"J ing the fupplies for the garrifon at Of-|r^dharIes wego ; preparing for the operations of cajjs -m t^e the next campaign, and examining into militia on the flate of the troops arrived there a falfe a- under Col. Dunbar ; the city was a-Jarm* larmed by exprelTes from General John- Ton, informing, that 8 or 9000 of the enemy were advancing towards him. Sir Charles Hardy, then at Albany,, called in the militia : and a detachment of the regular troops, with a train of ar- tillery, held themfelves in readinefs to march at a moment's warning. But a- nother exprefs gave reafon to believe thofe apprehenfions were ill-grounded, and General Johnfon's fears in fome meafure abated. It feems a few Indian fcouts had difcovered the tracks of a large army ; but Capt. Rogers, the brave officer before-mentioned, came into the camp foon after them, and declared, the enemy were employed, as the ge- neral had predicted in his letter to Mr. Johnfon of the 19th of September, in throwing up works at Tinonderoge. Upon which, the militia were difmif- fed to their refpedtive habitations.
Of the malignity of the New York faction againft the general, I have al- ready acquainted your Lordfhip : per- mit
[~.ii6]
1 755. mit me to prefent you with another in- ' fiance of the fame fpirit. A mercenary fcribbler, of whom I mall foon take more particular notice, is pleafed to in- form the public, that " Col. Dunbar " with his forces, were obliged fix " weeks to lie encamped at Albany, w in the rain and mow, till barracks " were built for them. That they were M entirely obliged to Sir Charles Hardy, " that they got a flick of wood to burn. " So (fays he) were our forces difpofed " of."
Albany, my Lord, is an old com- pact city, confifling of 3 or 400 well- built houfes: and at about 16 miles N. W. from it, is the town of Sche- nectady, confifling of about 1 50 houfes. The inhabitants are far from being in- digent : the adjacent country abounds with provifions ; and in fuch quarters, your Lordfhip is fenfible, his Majefly's troops will not want necefTaries ; efpeci- ally fuel, in a country covered with timber. Where then the probability, that the forces, which confifled of 1 200, would naffer in a pofl like this ? As to the affair of barracks, my Lord, there was a council held at New York, on the firfl of Augufl, when the news ar- rived of Col. Dunbar's retiring into winter-quarters, after Braddock's de- feat.
[ "7 ]
feat. It was compofed of Mr. De Lan- 1 755. cey the Lieut. Governor, MefT. Alex-' ander, Kennedy, Murray, Holland, Chambers, and Smith • and the opini- on of that board then was, " That not " only the King's forces to the fouth- " ward, but alfo thofe that could be " fpared from Nova Scotia, mould *•* quarter near Albany, for any future " operations." This refolve Mr. De Lancey tranfmitted to the general at Ofwego ; and as Dunbar's troops were ordered to Albany, for the defence of that country, . and particularly to make a fland, in cafe the provincials were defeated -, they had, methinks, the higheft reafon to expect favour from the inhabitants, and the fpecial countenance of the government, even had they been quartered upon them as ufual; and which at prefent is actually the cafe, by exprefs orders of my Lord Loudon. The general, I fay, had no reafon to expect, upon this head, any oppofition from the civil magiftrate. But Sir Charles Hardy, on his arrival at Alba- ny, about the 26th of September, fig- nifiedto him by letter, his apprehen- fions of uneafmefs arifing among the inhabitants, mould the foldiers be quar- tered upon private families ; and wifhed to have his excellency's orders for build- ing
[ "8 ] *755- m& barracks, both there and at Sche- nectady ; left his affembly fhould not chufe to put the province to that charge, He alfo expreffed his hopes, if fuch an expence was faved them, of their grea- ter readinefs to raife more men, mould the fervice require it, the next cam- paign. The general's anfwer to this letter, equally demonftrated his inte- grity to the crown, and concern for the troops. He intimated his fears, that the conftruction of barracks would be thought an extraordinary expence ; but it being neceflary for the fervice, that Dunbar's, and the regiment of the late Sir Peter Halket, mould winter in Albany and Schenectady, he complied with Sir Charles's requefl ; and defired him to provide barracks for thofe regi- ments with all pollible diligence, that the troops, on their arrival in his go- vernment, might not find themfelves deftitute of quarters. — To relieve the crown in the expence, he farther took notice to Sir Charles, of the requeft made by his own government for draw- ing thefe troops to Albany — that they would in a fpedaM manner cover the frontier of New York — be of fervice to Ofwego in the enfuing fpring — and that the inhabitants would draw very large
fums
[ "9 ] mms'from their refidence a-mongft them. 1 755. Nor did he forget to recommend an imitation of the Maflachufets Bay ; who thought it reafonable to erect barracks for his own regiment, tho' they knew their continuance among them would be fhort, deftined as they were for the weflern expedition. But that there might be no delay in building the bar- racks, arifing from any doubt of the expence being paid by the province of New York, Mr. Shirley informed Sir Charles, that if they would not, after thefe confiderations, take that expence on themfelves, he would defray it out of the contingent-money in the hands of the deputy pay-mailer. Thus, my Lord, if any ground for complaint of the want of barracks, Mr. Shirley 'tis clear was intirely uncenfurable : and if the troops, as this libeller informs us, did fuffer in their tents, — I fubmit it to your Lordfhip, whofe province it was to have found them better quarters ? But the fact is, that the barracks were finifhed, and the trtfeps quartered in them before the n\ I of December, fuel provided for them" fufncient for the winter, and all at the expence of the crown.
The winter now approaching, com-
miflioners
[ 120 ]
1755- niiffioners were appointed by the go V--V-— ' vernments concerned in the Crown Point expedition, to afcertain their refpedtive quotas for garrifoning the forts Edward and William-Henry, and difbanding the reft of the army. After this was com- pleated, the general and Sir Charles Hardy returned to New York, where the former convened a grand congrefs of governors and field officers, to de- liberate on a plan for the operations of the fucceeding campaign. But before I enter upon their tranfadions, I mall briefly lay before your Lordfhip thofe between Sir Charles Hardy and his afTembly, which was opened on the fe- cond, and continued fitting till the 23d of December. Tranfac- I have already obferved, that the tions in miniflry, from the time of Mr. Clinton's New York departure in 1753, had been follicitous
sfrCharle8a^0Ut Procul*ing tne confent of our af-
Hardy an4^mbly to a law eflablifhing a permanent
Ibis aflem- provifion for the governor and other ne-
My* ceflary officers. When Sir Danvers
Ofborne arrived, he brought with him
an inftrucHon for that purpofe -, from
the terms of which it was apparent
that the miniflry had it much at hearty
and Sir Danvers, before he left England,
was made to believe that Mr. De Lan-
cey, by means of his great popularity,
would
[ 121 ]
would enable him to carry it into exe- cution. This I had from a gentleman, to whom Sir Danvers opened himfelf, and whom he confulted before his em- barkation for his government. The gentleman is a perfon of the fir ft figure in thefe colonies ; and being acquainted with the fyftem of politicks in New York, he informed Sir Danvers, that thofe promifes were by no means to be depended upon: that Mr. DeLancey was inexpreffibly jealous of his afcendancy over the aiTembly, who were utterly difinclined to a perpetual fupport : that he would join in no meafuresthat might weaken the confidence they repofed in him : that as long as he maintained his influence in their councils, he would virtually be the governor of the pro- vince ; and therefore upon the whole, his intereft and ambition would in- fallibly lead him to keep every go- vernor in a ftate of dependence upon him. Sir Danvers difliked fo difa- greeable a prediction ■, and many are of opinion, that its accomplishment haft- ened his unhappy fate. Excufe me, my Lord, for troubling you with a re- lation of facts, a little out of the ftrict order of time. There is an anecdote Anecdote of Sir Danvers, of which I would notof Slr^an"" have your Lordfhip uninformed. He^rrsne
arrived
[ <22 ]
1755. arrived here on the 7 th of October, 1753, under very difcouraging appre- henfions of the people ; and indeed not without reafon, the oppofition a- gainfl Mr, Clinton having been carried beyond all decorum. Governor Of- born's commiflion, thro' Mr. Clinton's abfence, remained unpublifhed till the third day after his arrival. This is ufually done, firfl privately in the coun- cil-chamber ; and immediately after, in the moft public manner at the city- hail. To wait on his excellency thi- ther, Mr. Clinton came abroad ; an aflo- nifhing crowd being afTembled at the Fort Gate, to attend the procefHon. Mr. Clinton's enemies were very afli- duous in exciting the popular acclama- tions ■, and the huzzas of the mob were fcarce intermitted for a moment. There appeared, in fhort, fuch a profufion of joy, accompanied with fome indecent expreflions refpe&ing himfelf, as gave Mr. Clinton juft reafon to fufpect more open indignities. He therefore foon took his leave of Sir Danvers, who ex- preffed his difpleafure at the conduct of his enemies. This, my Lord, prov- ed a day of general feftivity, and Bac- chanalian frolic. In the evening, the city was illuminated : The common
blazed
[ 123 ]
blazed with bonfires: great was the 1755. confumption of Madeira ; and every company rung with maledictions againft the late commander in chief, who was charged as the fole procurer of the new inftrudtion ; an account of which could only have tranfpired from fome of the council. Sir Danvers alone appeared unaffected with our intemperate revels -, and on his countenance fat a melan- choly gloom. He convened the coun- cil on Thurfday the eleventh of the month ; and prayed their fentiments on the probability of obtaining a perma- nent fupport, according to his inftru&i- ons. That the point was unattainable, they all delivered as their unanimous opinion. He then required the folution of the fame queftion from each member feverally ; and ftill from each received the fame reply. Upon this, he turned himfelf about in apparent diftrefs, ut- tered a deep Sigh, and reclining his head againft a window, in a defpond- ing accent faid, " What then am I " come hither for ?" The next morning -- But I defift. This inftru&ion, as your Lordfhip will be pleafed to recol- lect, remained unrevoked all the time of his luccefTor : and 'tis natural to ex- pect, that the people of this province were very inquifitive whether it was F continued
[ >2+] 1754. continued to Governor Hardy — They *■— -v-^were lb. But Sir Charles did not fol- low the example of Mr. De Lancey, in laying his inftruclions before the af- fembly. The article, relative to the fupport, has undergone, as I am credi- bly informed, very few alterations, and thofe only in the preamble. That it was in fubflance the fame, is evident from his fpeech to the Houfe, on the 3d of December, at the opening of that fefTion. His words are thefe : " I SIrCharles" am commanded by his Majefly to Hardy's " recommend in his name without de- fpeech to « ja^ to confider 0f a proper law to be bly. e ~" pafed, for fettling a permanent re- " venue upon a folid foundation, for " defraying the neceffary and eftablifh- " ed charges of government • taking " care that fuch law be indefinite, u without limitation of time ; and that " provifion be made therein for a com- " petent falary to the captain general " and governor in chief of this his " Majeily's province ; and likewife for " competent falaries to all judges, juf- " tices, and other neceifary and ufual •* officers and minifters of government: " and alfo for a certain permanent " fund, for repairing and maintaining u the fortifications, for making annual " prefents to the Indians, and for the
" other
[ '25]
u other continent expences attending 1755. u that fervice: and in general, for all' — * — J. u fuch other charges of government, iC as may be fixed or afcertained." The affembly in their addrefs, after a Their an- juflly merited compliment, for his acti-fwer. vity in proceeding to Albany, and their approbation of the meafures for garri- foning the frontiers, fubjoin this emolli- ent paragraph: " We willi we could, with equal fatisfa&ion, reconcile to ourfelves your excellency's recom- mendation of an indefinite fupport : but humbly beg leave to inform your excellency, that we have no permanent funds, on which to efta- blim fuch a revenue ; nor do any occur to us, without very apparent incon- veniencies to our confTituents. We therefore moil humbly hope we fhali Hand acquitted in the eyes of our mofl gracious Sovereign, if we de- clme a meafure fo directly oppofite to the fentiments of almofl every indi- vidual of the colony. We cannot leave this fubjedl, without difcloiing to your excellency the concern it gives us, that this his Majefly's loyal colony, which, tho' fmall in numbers, has chearfully bore very heavy ex- pences, and particularly mpported its governors, and other officers of go- F 2 " vernment,
[ 126]
1 755- " vernment, in a more liberal manner i. »^^ " than moil others on the continent, u mould be requeiled to purfue mea- " fures hitherto unknown to it, whilfl " the reft, almoft without exception, " are left to praclife the very meafures " denied to us." Their be- Mr. Clinton, my Lord, afked of haviour this fame aflembly only a fupport for from what ^ve Years > anc* lt was rcfijfed with in- it was in dignation and virulence. Sir Charles Clinton's here demands much more ; and we time, and fee^ fa^ jie js anfwered with the moft t ereaon-commendabie decency. To help your Lordfhip in accounting for this con- tradiclory behaviour — Mr. De Lancey was bent upon expelling that governor from the province ; and to gain his point, continually fomented the quarrel he himfelf excited. But Sir Charles was to be treated in a different manner, and meafures more lenient were to be purfued. An afcendancy over him would enfure to his lieutenant many advanta- ges i and enable him to procure the go- vernor's afTent to a bill, for paying him a large fum, now due for his falary and other perquifites, while he had the chief command. He might indeed, but durft not pafs fuch a bill himfelf, and there- fore it was not offered. Accordingly, the houfe, at their very next meeting,
fent
[ 127 1
fent up a bill to the council, on the 1755, 4th of February, 1756, for paying the*—- v*^ debts of the government ; in which he was a creditor for near 4000 1. But of this I mail have occafion to take more particular notice. Thus, my Lord, I will forfeit my honour, if, upon a faithful perafal of the journals of the affembly, your Lordfhip doth not find — the con- duel of the home, and the intereft of Mr. Delancey, for ten or fifteen years pad, perfectly to tally.
Let us now take a view of the tranf- Grand actions in the grand council of war,C0UnciI of which the general had convened atNew™e™~ York, for fettling a plan of the future New_ operations. It was opened on the 1 2th York for of December, and continued fitting forfettKn^*e the fpace of two days. Tho' the invi-^adc^8 tation to the governors was univerfal, it confifted only of thefe members :
His Excellency General Shirley, com- mander in chief of all his Majefty's forces in North America :
His Excellency Sir Charles Hardy, Knight, governor and commander in chief of the province of New York :
The Honourable Horatio Sharpe, lieut. governor and commander in chief of the province of Maryland :
F 3 The
[ '23 ]
1755- . The Honourable Robert Hunter Mor- ^--v-^ris, lieut. governor and commander in chief of the province of Pennfylvania :
The Honourable Thomas Fitch, go- vernor and commander in chief of the colony of Connecticut. Col. Thomas Dunbar : Col. Peter Schuyler : Major Charles Craven : Sir John St. Clair, deputy quarter- mailer general :
Major John Rutherford. After adj ufting feveral points of rank, the members took their feats in the order mentioned ± and the general open- ed the conference, by laying before the council the King's inftrudtions to Gene- Thegene-ral Braddock. He then delivered his redelivers fen timents to the board, to the follow- ius fenti- 'm~ purp0fe . ec That our only entrance
thecoun- into Lake Ontario, was thro the O- cili " nondaga River to Ofwego. No other " harbour had his Majefty upon that " lake, capable of receiving veffels of *6 force : That Ofv/ego was fituate in " the country of the Onondagas, the ■*c centre canton of the Six Nations, " and famous for the furr trade : no " other mart could we boaft, for com- " merce or correfpondence with thofe " numerous tribes of favages inhabit- " ing the weftern country, on the
" banks
[ 129 ]
" banks of the great lakes Erie, Huron, i 755. " Michigan, and the many rivers which' " roll into them : That the Lake On- w tario was only accefiible to the Cana- " dians, thro' the river Cadaracqui, <c formerly called by the French Fleuve " Iroquois ; but in their late maps, cal- " dilated to countenance their exorbi- <c tant claims, diflinguifhed by the u name of St. Laurence. At the head " of that river was their entrance into " that lake ; and near Fort Frontenac, " fituated on its north eaftern edge, " about 50 miles from, and nearly op- u pofite to, our fort at Ofwego : That " while the Enemy kept poiTeffion of u Frontenac, with the harbour at Fron- u to, and a free paflage thro' the Iro- u quois River, they would always be <c able to build and maintain veiTels of " force upon the lake : That his Ma- <c jefly would therefore be neceflitated u to fupport a naval armament there, " at leafl equal to that of the French. u Without this, they might annoy any <c forts we could erect at the north- " eafh end of the pafs at Niagara ; and " Ofwego itfelf be loft. The inevita- " ble confequence of which would be, " the defection of the Six Nations, the " lofs of the whole country for near " 3 go miles from Ofwego to Sche- F 4 nectady,
[ 13° ] 1755- " nedfcidy, and perhaps the reduction S— v~-?" of Albany itfelf." The general added, " That all the French forts at Niagara, " upon the lake Erie, and the river " Ohio, thofe alio upon the lake Hu- " ron, at the Streights of Miffilima- ** kinac, and the Lake Michigan Hill " more wefterly, received all their fup-^ " plies by water-carriage from Mont- " real, thro' the River Iroquois, and " the Lake Ontario : That the French " fettlements at the mouth of the Mi£ u fiffippi furnifhed thefe northern gar- " xifons neither with provifions nor " ftores ; being not only at 2000 miles " diflance from any of them, but em- " barafTed with infuperable difficul- " ties, by a laborious navigation againfl " a rapid flrearn." Hence his excel- ic lericy concluded, " That could the <c French be diflodged from Frontenac " and the little fort at Fronto, and their <c entrance into Lake Ontario obftruct- " ed, all their other forts and fettle- " ments on the Ohio, and the weftern " lakes, were deprived of their fup- " port from Canada, and muft ere long " be evacuated." and pro- Imfressed, my Lord, with thefe pofes his views, the general propofed, as a plan plan of o-0f operations for the next year — That Peratl0ns:5OOp men mould be very early affem-
bled
C !3* ]
bled at Ofwego, and 4000 of them 1755. fent to attack Frontenac and La Gal- lette^ which being reduced, an attempt mould be made upon the forts at Ni- agara, Prefque Ifle, Riviere au Beiif, Detroit, and Miffilimakinac : and that in the mean time, 3000 provincial troops mould march from Will's Creek , for the reduction of Fort Du Quefne: That a body of 1000 mould proceed to Crown Point, build a fort there, and launch one or more veil'els into Lake Champlain : And that the force of Ca- nada might be farther divided, he pro- pofed, that 2000 men fhouid carry fire and {word up Kennebec River, fall upon the fettlements adjoining to the River Chandiere, and proceed to its mouth, three miles diflant from Que- bec ; and by dividing themfelves in fmall parties along the banks of the river St. Lawrence, and deftroying the fcattered fettlements there, keep that part of Canada in continual alarms.
He then obferved, that if the Se- veral attempts upon Crown Point, the forts upon the lakes, and the Ohio, were not profecuted at the fame time, very perilous might be the confequen- ces : That if in particular, while Fron- tenac and Niagara were attacked, no attempt was made againfl Crown Point, the whole force of Canada would march F 5 to
[ \3* 1 1755. to oppofe us; which would defeat the ^—v-^defign, and require fo large a body of troops as to render the tranfportation of neceiTaries to Ofwego impracticable. So numerous an army might alfo march againft Albany, as effectually to cut off the retreat of our forces, or at leaft to- tally obftruct their fupplies : That mould, on the contrary, our whole ftrength be dertined for Crown Point, and the wefcern operations neglected ; Ofwego, the grand object of the French, was in the utmoft danger of falling into their hands. A lofs irreparable and beyond eftimation — The lofs of the whole country down to Albany, with that of the Six confederate Nations-, and to the French the acquifition of an abfolute dominion on the lakes, and the whole fouthern country.
His Excellency fmifhed, with in- forming the council of his late intel- ligence — That the French were build- ing three large velfels, of fuperior force to ours, in the harbour of Frontenac : and upon the whole prayed their ad- vice. Which A plan fo well digefted, and fo was ap- clearly flated, required but little confi- proved, deration ; and accordingly it was in the lTttleaIt«!main unanimoufly approved. The ations. "council advifed the general, to give or- ders
[ 133 1 ders for building three or more veffels i J55.
at Ofwego. They were of opinion, ' \r — \
that 1 0,000 men were necefiary for the Crown Point expedition, and 6oco fov that on Lake Ontario. The attempt againft Fort Du Quefne, by the weftern governments, 'twas thought would an- iwer very good purpoies, efpecially in fecuring the fidelity of the weftern In- dians. The feint againft Quebec was approved, if it interfered not with the other expeditions. The operations on Lake Ontario, they conceived, ought to begin with the attack on Frontenac — and upon the whole, were of opinion — that an additional number of regular troops would be neceffary for effectually recovering and fecuring his Majefty's rights and dominions on the continent.
The council having finiihed their bu- Deflgn a- finefs, the governors ibon after return- Eain;1 T^ ed to their reflective provinces. But?^Jg the general continued his head quarters ter defeat- at New York, till the 2 1 ft of January, ed. to profecute an expedition againft Ti- nonderoge, this winter : and as the French garrifon was left very v/eak, it had doubtlefs fucceeded, had not the want of froft and fnow prevented the tranfportation of the ftores. Before he left New York, he had a frefh inftance of the unwearied and ill-natured indus- try
C 134 ]
1755. try of his oppofers ± of which, becaufe
•*- — s^-^important in its confequences, I mall
^.e cabal give y0ur Lordfhip an ample detail
general & ^e Prmc*Pal agents were MefT. De
ftrength- Lancey and Pownal, who now formed
ened, and a kind of duumvirate, to perplex the
hy what fervice, in order to ruin the general.
Without queftion, my Lord, you are as
much furprized, after what has already
been faid concerning thefe gentlemen,
to find Mr. Pownal among the general's
enemies, as you would have been had
I told you that Mr. De Lancey was not.
I am fenfible, that a perfon of your
Lordfhip' s high fenfe of honour, will
recollect Mr. Shirley's favours to him at
Eofton •, and think it incredible to find
him in the catalogue of thofe combined
againft his benefactor. But it is a
filming remark of Tacitus *, " That
*' benefits are only fo far acceptable,
*' as it feems poffible to difcharge them ;
" and that when they have exceeded
** all retaliation, hatred is returned for
*e gratitude. Mr. Pownal, who was
ambitious of recommending himfelf to
a certain noble Lord in England, by
furnifhing him with American intelli-
* Beneficia eo ufque laeta funt, dum vi- dentur exfolvi pofle : ubi multum antevenere, pro gratia odium redditur.
gence,
[ i35l
gence, could by no means brook his 1 755. being abfent from the congrefs at Alex- ' andria, in the fpring of the prefent year. He earneftly fought an introduc- tion to General Braddock -7 and Mr. Shirley did the office with great polite- nefs. He was thenjuft informed of his appointment to be lieut. governor of New Jerfey, and on that account preiTed for an admiflion into the council. Mr. Shirley, in a very genteel manner, de- clined a talk, which might give offence to the general, and, if any refolution tranfpired, draw himfelf into a fnare. But Mr. Pownal, being a ftranger to that diffidence and modefty, fo fuitable to his years and inexperience, became from this moment difgufled, and was feldom after feen amongft that gentle- man's friends. He tarried at Phila- delphia, till General Braddock's defeat, and towards autumn returned to New York. This change of temper recom- mended him to Mr. De Lancey, who failed not to exafperate the rifing re- fentment : and now his oppofition be- came open and unreferved. Juft at this juncture, arrived Sir Charles Hardy j and Mr. Shirley being then at Ofwego, your Lordfhip fees how feafonable their opportunity, for fowing the feeds of prejudice in the breaft of the new go- vernor,
[ <3<5]
1755. vernor. I will not take upon me to Tpeak of their fuccefs; but doubtlefs no mifreprefentations were wanting to ilrengthen the cabal. Yet no fboner did the general arrive from Ofwego at Albany, where MefT Pownal and De Lancey attended upon Sir Charles, than the former, difTembling his enmity, la- boured to procure his confidence, that he might pry into his fecrets : but from previous intimations of his prefent dif- pofition, in a letter to a gentleman then near the general, he failed in that infi- dious defign. He could now no longer fupprefs his malevolence, or conceal his recent connections; and therefore open- ly traduced the very man, to whom he was indebted for all his fignificancy a- rnongft the provinces. My Lord, it is with reluctance I utter thefe things, But your Lordihip is as determined to know every tranfaclion which concerns the operations in America, as I am to difcharge the office of a faithful hiflo- rian. Truth is too facred to be violated either out of fear or favour ; and what- ever your Lordihip may think of this gentleman, mch was his conduct. I knew him an avowed enemy to Mr. De Lancey, and to Mr. Shirley as fan- guine a friend. I have fmce known him to calumniate the latter, and ap- plaud
[ i37 1 plaud the former. With a change of 1755, refidence, or rather of intereft, he changes fides ; and on this account, no man perhaps ever multiplied fo many adverfaries in fo fhort a time. He aims at two governments, without the leafl profpecl of peace, if either of them mould fall under his command. I can allure your Lordfhip, that even in the province of New Jerfey he is fo little eileemed, and that principally for in- triguing the difbandment of the regi- ment under Col. Schuyler, to difoblige Mr. Shirley, that upon his return to England in February 1756, he was un- able to procure a vote of alfembly, de- Tiring his affiftance of their agent at the Court of Great Britain ; tho' he pufhed it with an earneftnefs that would have coft mod men a blufli of confufion.
Determined to embarafs the ge- neral, nothing could have been more agreeable to Mr. Pownal and the lieut. governor of New York, than an ad- miffion into the late council of war. To a feat at that board neither of them had the leafl pretenfion ; and yet both were highly difpleafed at not being in- vited. Mr. Pownal, who has often dif- tinguifhed himfelf for puming a bold point, repaired to New Jerfey, and importuned Governor Belcher, unable,
on
[ 138]
'755- on account of his age, to attend the *— -v— *->congrefs in perfon, to depute him in ' hJT" ^s ^ea<^- ^s excellency very wifely viour to "anfwer^d, that the invitation he had tliegover- received from the general, was merely nor of a perfonal compliment ; nor could he, New Jer- wjtin t]ie jeaft decency, infill upon an e^' appearance by proxy. His lieutenant,
impatient of a denial, called in a me- nacing tone for pen, ink, and paper, thinking to operate on the infirmities of age by commination and outrage. The council were aftonifhed at this in- decent attack upon an antient and faith- ful fervant of the Crown, and withheld their advice. But the governor, con- fcious of the propriety of his refufal, firmly adhered to his firfl refolution ; and Mr. Pownal abruptly quitting the board, returned with difappointment to New York. He pro- This gentleman, my Lord, became cures one acquainted at Philadelphia with one J1!!? Evans, who, for a * valuable confide-
publiih in- 7 '
ve&ives a- ration,
gainfl: the
general. * Among other gentlemen of diftin&ion in the colonies, Mr. Pownal became acquaint- ed with Mr. Alexander, of New York ; a perfon of a friendly difpoiition and eafy ac- cefs. Mr. Alexander had nr/w the fnrveyor general's office of New Jerfey : and Mr. Pownal, to procure the fulforrie dedication
from
[ l39 ]
ration, dedicated to him his map of 1755. the middle Eritifh colonies, with an en-( comium, that he efteemed him the beft judge of it in America. This man hav- ing, in the public flreets of Philadel- phia, not only prefumed to accufe Go- vernor Morris of high treafon, but to afperfe two of his Majefly's minifters as penfioners to France, fled from juf- tice there, and took fan&uary in New
from Evans, promifed him that office, upon his acceflion to the government. This, Evans frequently declared in his laft illnefs to one of his moft intimate friends ; who concealed it till after his death. Such an anecdote will fcarcely be credited by thofe unacquainted with Mr. Pownal's infatiable ambition to rife in America. There was another inflance of his conduct equally furprifing. While this gentleman was at New York, difcharging his embaffy from Boflon in the fpring 1755, he had the loan of a map of the country from Crown Point to Montreal ; which was com- pofed by William Alexander, Efq; a gentle- man well /killed in the geography of America. Mr. Pownal, who had occafion to lay this chart before the aflembly of New York, having erafed the name of its author, very modeftly inferted his own. And tho' his pla- giarifm was detected at the time, he neglect- ed to return it ; and afterwards produced the fame map before the miniftry, claiming to himfelf the honour due to Mr. Alexander a- lone.
York,
[ Ho } 1755. York. Mr. Morris however commenced 'an action againft him in this province, more for his own vindication, than a reparation of damages ; which the poor fellow would never have been able to make. Upon this he was committed to Gaol, till Mr. Oliver De Lancey fo far befriended him, as to, become his fecurity. Thefe were his circumftances, when he publifhed a pamphlet full of invectives againft General Shirley. I will not affirm, that he wrote it at the inftance of the cabal in New York. I leave your Lordfhip to judge how far they were concerned in it, after adding, that it contained their repeated re- marks •, that Mr. Pownal was frequently at his lodgings about the time of its publication ; and did actually accom- pany him to a printer, to h alien the impreflion, before he failed for * En-
* Upon the news of the lofs of Ofwego, part of it was republifhed in the New York Gazette, to lead the populace to impute this calamity to General Shirley. It was appealed to, as an indifputable authority, by the very perfons to whom poor Evans was indebted for his materials ; and without whofe dictating, it would never have (cen the light. To write a book in another's name, and then to quote it as an authority, is a fpecies of proof, with which Euclid appears to have been utterly unacquainted.
gland.
[ Hi ]
gland. I fhall not trouble your Lord- 1755. fhip with any particular obfervations' upon this libel. If ever it fhould fall into your Lordfhip's hands, this letter will allift you in detecting its falfehoods, and forming a proper judgment both of its author and his abettors.
Thus, my Lord, was every oppor-Qreat tunity embraced by the cabal to preju- pains tak- dice the general in the opinion of the en to pre- people : and happy for the colonies, fe™ Mr* had their mifreprefentations been con-^0l^(n fined to this fide the Atlantic ! Bent on England Mr. Shirley's removal, all imaginable and Ame- pains were taken to defame his charac- nca» ter. Here, they queflioned his inte- grity. But in England, they endea- voured to create a fufpicion of his judg- ment. General Johnfon v/as fet up as his competitor ; and to his renov/n were blown all the trumpets of fame. Shir- ley's deep fenfe of the importance of Ofwego, was made the object of buf- foonry and ridicule. The reduction of Crown Point reprefented as a matter of fuperior moment. Three hundred men Mr. De Lancey often declared to be a fufficient garrifon for Ofwego. The general was therefore charged with fquandering the King's money, in mak- ing it the main object of his attention : and out cf mere oppofition, a fcheme
v/as
[ I42 ]
1755, was recommended for turning our
}^mvm'mmJ whole force tov/ard Crown Point. Upon
this errand, my Lord, Mr. Pownal
went home in February 1756. I need
not inform your Lordfhip of the fuccefs
of the faction. The fequel will fhew
with what confequences it was attend-
Refle&i- ed. Thus ended the year 1 755. A
ons on the year never to be forgotten in America.
pTrations°"It: °Pened with the faireft profpe&S to of 1755. thefe diflant difperfions of the Britifh Empire. Four armies were on foot, to remove the encroachments of a perfi- dious neighbour; and our coafls ho- noured with a fleet for their fecurity, under the command of the brave and vigilant Bofcawen. We had every thing to expect — nothing to fear. The e- nemy was defpifed ; and we only defir- ed a proclamation of war, for the final deftrudtion of the whole country of New France. But, my Lord, how unlooked for was the event! General Winflow indeed fucceeded in Nova Scotia : but Braddock was defeated — Niagara and Crown Point remained un- reduced — the Barbarians were let loofe from the wildernefs — many thoufand farms abandoned — the King's fubje&s inhumanly butchered, or reduced to
beggary
[ 143 .3
beggary — one of the * provinces rent 1755. by intefline broils — in another, a po-v— "v"""H tent faction laying the foundation for new dHafters, in the courfe of the en- fuingyear.
The New England colonies, myTheim- Lord, take the lead in all military mat- P£rt<jnce ters. Your Lordftiip is too well ac-Ne^En2: quainted with hiftory, not to know,iand co]o„ they chiefly owed their origin to the dif-nies inmi- putes which involved the nation in all Htarymat- the calamities of a civil war. The firft ter5, planters encountered innumerable diffi- culties, and were long engaged in re- peated wars with the Indian natives. Their defendants retain the martial prowefs and fpirit of their anceftors : and for wifdom, loyalty, and an enter- prifmg genius, are a people of renown. In thefe governments lies the main ftrength of the Britifh interefl upon this continent. Befides their above advan- tageous character, they are very confi- derable for their numbers. The Mafia* chufets Bay contains about 40,000 ca- . pable of arms. The militia of Con- necticut is about 27,000. Rhode I- 11 and and New Hampfhire are not fo populous. His Majefty's fervice there- Shirley fore rendered it necefiary for the gene- ^Sf? t0
* Pennfylvania. vernment,
ral,
[ '44 ] ral, according to the plan of operati- ons, to vifit his own government, in order to follicit the fuccours ; without which the expedition propofed againfl Crown Point mult inevitably have failed. 1756. For this purpofehe fet out from New Vnr-^York on the 21 ft of January : and, but for his prefence and follicitations at Bofton, no provincial troops would this year have entered the field. — That colony was fo extremely difobliged at the conduct of General Johnfon, in neglecting to purfue his advantages, after the memorable rout of the French at Lake George, as to be in general a- And wlthverfe to a new campaign : and with the difficulty utmoft difficulty did the general pro- obtains cure their concurrence in another ex- *uerlrrencc°n"penfive attempt. — There let us at pre- in another fent leave him, promoting the public expediti- fervice of the colonies : and returning on- again to New York — mffer me, at this
inactive feafon of the year, to enter- tain your Lordfhip with one or two in- ffcances of Lieut. Governor De Lancey's more private political feats.
Never was any man more impolitic than Governor Clinton. Had he kept the chief juilice dependent on his fa- vour, he would have governed his pro- vince with eafe and tranquillity : but by granting him a new commiffion for his
office,
C 145 J
office, during good behaviour, hefethim 1756. at liberty to adt at pleafure : and in con- <— *$*-J fequenceof this fatal error, the province was thrown into violent convuliions. Nothing therefore, my Lord, could be more definable to his fucceflbr, than to hold that gentleman under proper re- ftraint. Sir Charles Hardy had this advantage : his office of chief juftice, I am informed, became extinguifhed the moment the government devolved upon him by the death of Sir Danvers Ofborne. From the time of Sir Charles Lieut -Hardy's arrival, Mr. De Lancey had Gov. De impatiently expected a new commiffi- La,nce7 on : but the governor neglecting thej^-su^ offer, to the aftonilhment of moft in the bench* the province, he notwithftanding ven-tho' his tured to refume his feat on the bench ^"^ in January term, when two felons were^0^ arraigned before him. This bold become flroke at the prerogative, mofl men extinct, imagined would have drawn down the refentment of the new governor : and why it was paiTed by without obferva- tion, I mufl leave to your Lordfhip's conjectures. ThatDe Lancey had, in reality, no right to the exercife of that office, has been ftrongly infifled upon by gentlemen of the law, tho' in an extrajudicial manner. I pretend not
my felt
on
[i46]
1756. myfelf to any knowlege in that intricate 'fcience, but beg leave to prefent your Lordfhip with an opinion, relating to the point, contained in the following letter from a gentleman of the profefii- on, to his friend in this city ; with a copy of which I have been favoured —
Philad. 21 Oft. 1755.
"SIR,
The opi- « You fay you're informed, that your
ni01tlera a " ^eut- governor defigns to exercife his
of the law " f°rnier office, in virtue of the com-
with re- " million ilfued by your late governor
fpefttoit." Clinton. I can't think your infor-
" mation well grounded ; becaufe I am
" clearly of opinion, that office was
" extinguifhed by his acceptance of
" the lieut. governor's commiflion :
" and I conceive Mr. De Lancey will
" hardly venture to difpute the matter
" with the crown. The main reafon
" I go upon, is, that thofe two offices
" are incompatible. To make this
ic plain to you, you mufl underlland —
" that to every office there are duties
" annexed. The fame perfon cannot
" exercife two offices, inconfiflent with
" one another. One of them mufl
" therefore be loft ^ becaufe as every
" office
a
E H7 1
u office is, pro bono publico, its ufe lies 1756. " in the exercife of it : and the infe- " rior office is that which is loft ; be- " caufe it is moil for the public good, " that the officer mould hold the fupe- " rior office -9 as the law prefumes e- " very man capable of the office, which " the King, who is the fountain of " offices and honour, is pleafed to con- " fer upon him. Agreeable to this, " we find many refolutions in our " books : I'll mention one or two — A man cannot be forefter and judge eo inftanti. Rolls Rep. 452, &c. — " Nor judge of the Com. and King's " Bench fimul & femel. Dyer's Cafe. « 4 & 5 Phil. & Mar, The firft patent " is determined, tho' the fecond was " granted pro ilia vice, and furrendered " the next day. Br. N C. 5 Mar. Br. " Commiffions pi. 25.
" Nothjng now remains but to " mew, that the office of chief juftice u and governor of your province are " inconfiftent. To explain this I mud " inform you, that your fupreme court " is a court of general jurifdiclion, " eftablifhed by an ordinance of gover- " nor and council ; claiming the like " power here in all pleas civil and cri-' " minal, as fully as they are taken " cognizance of by the King's Bench G " and
[ 148 ]
1 756. " and Common Pleas in England. Superior to this, is the Court of Go- " vernor and Council— a court, infli- * tutedby one of his Majefly's inftruc- u tions to your governor. In virtue of " this inflruction, writs of error are u returned from the fupreme court, u before the governor and council " The inconfiftency then of the two " offices becomes very apparent. By w the inflruction, the governor in the " court above, is a fine quo non ; and " to fuppofe him at the fame timejudge " in the court below, you mufl difre- " gard the abfurdity of the governor's " fending a writ to command himfelf ; cc and of hisjuftifying his judgment as cc chief juflice to himfelf in council as <c governor, and yet be excluded from " a voice in the judgment above 5 " which nevertheless cannot be given " without him. You fee then the in- 4< compatibility is much flronger, than <c if a man mould be judge both of u the King's and Common Bench in " England. There the other judges iC of B. R. might correct the error in " the Common Pleas — but here the " courfe of public juflice might be in- " tirely flopped.
"If it mould be faid, his power was " only fufpended, while in the chair of
" government:
[ 149 1
government; I anfwer with the ob- 1756. fervation before — that an office is a' duty, as the very word itfelf implies : and I know of no fleeping and not- to-be- exerci fed office. Every office is inflituted for the public good : the officer is therefore obliged to ex- ercife his duty ; for, without that, he cannot ferve the public — and to be obliged to a5l, and at the fame time obliged not to aft, is nonfenfe. It would be more fpecious to fay, the inftruction is no law, as your affem- blies have often faid in other cafes ; but then, Sir, Mr. De Lancey, in obedience to it, has declined acting as judge, ever fince the death of Sir D. Ofborne : and why has he (as I have been informed) rejected a writ of error, becaufe, according to this very inftruction, the damages in de- mand did not exceed 300 1. flerling ? Befides this court of Governor and council, I am told, has long exerci- fed its power, under this and former inftru&ions to your governors, of the like tenor, without the leafl op- pofition.
" The offices will further appear to be inconfiftent, if you reflect — that as governor he is alio chancellor. g The Court of Chancery often re- G 2 M ftrains
[ i5o]
1 75^- " drains the power of the law courts; and it is the fpirit of every court to " enlarge its own jurifdidtion. Upon " both thefe accounts, the two offices M mufl inevitably clam. I know that <c Knevet was formerly chief juflice " and chancellor: but the propriety " of that double invefliture was never " folemnly confidered. It was long a- " go, in the time of Edw. III. There " has been no inftance of the like in " later times -, nor do I believe it would <c be fuffered. But the cafe is much u ftronger here — and I can't conceive, *' for the reafbns above, that your lieut. " governor will attempt to fit as judge, " by virtue of his old commiflion. It " is more probable, he will prevail " 'on your governor, lately arrived, to " grant him a new patent.
lam," &c.
Perhaps, my Lord, no higher evi- dence can be afligned of a man's influ- ence, than fuch a bold invafion of his Majeily's prerogative. Mr. De Lancey was determined not to lofe an office, which he knew to be the grand fource of his popularity, and the main prop of his power. For, whoever is chief juflice of the province> unlefs a very
novice,
[ 15' 3
novice, muft be the fecond man in the 1756. government. Governor Hardy made* — -v-*— \ no oppofition to this large ftride of am- bition : and the other not long after, by his wonderful artifice, fubjecledhim to his abfolute dominion. It was effected in the following manner — Your Lord-DeLance? fhip will be pleafed to recoiled, that obliges the Mr. De Lancey had the addrefs to^over™r prevail upon the affembly to fend nptwoa^sof a bill to the council, on the 4th of Fe- affembly. bruary, intituled, " An Aft for the " Payment of the Debts due from this <c Colony ; and other Purpofes therein " mentioned." By this, payments were to be made to many creditors of the government, for fervices done this colony, without fpecifying what thofe fervices were. The iieut. governor was to receive 3 7 8 7 1. 1 6 s. and feveral other fums were payable to his brother. It was in reality a bill for difcharging the arrears due to the ordinary officers of the government. To render it the more palatable to the governor, provi- fion was made for paying him alfo large fums for prefents to the Indians, and the expences of his voyage to Albany, after the French repulfe at Lake George. When it came up to the coun- cil, it obtained a majority only by one voice : and of thefe, my Lord, two G 3 gentlemen,
[ 152 ]
I75^- gentlemen, befides lieut. gov. De Lan- 'cey, were themfelves interefled in the bill. They were the puifne judges of the fupreme court, MeiT. Horfemanden and Chambers, whofe arrears of falary were now by the act to be difcharged. MefT. Colder}, Alexander, and Smith looked upon it, as a mean evafion of the King's inftructions, which, until they reiigned their feats at the council board, they were bound in honour to regard with facred punctuality. — It was befides evidently partial; no provifion being made for other creditors, whofe demands were indifputable. They al- io conceived it derogatory to the dig- nity of that board, to pafs an acl, ex- cluding themfelves from any knowlege of thofe fervices, for which the re- fpe&ive fums were made payable. For thefe reafons, among others, they op- pofed the bill < and prayed their diffent might be entered, as a vindication of themfelves to his Majefty. The go- vernor, to whom it was fent up, de- tained it for farther confideration ; tho' he paffed feveral other bills on the 1 9th of the month. This circumftance, my Lord, could not but chagrin his lieutenant, who had the bill much at heart; not only on account of the
large
[ '53 ] large fums thereby payable to himfelf 175^ and brother, but becaufe the pairing ** — **"*" it into a law, would be the fulleft e- vidence of his afcendancy over the governor ; and if he could bring him into difgrace with the rniniftry, by leading him into a breach of inftrucli- ons, it was plain he would have no- thing to rely upon, but his own popu- larity. This was an important card, and to be fkilfully played off. So in- deed it was, and when I finifh the fie- ry, I am perfuaded your Lordfhip will entertain no very mean opinion of A- merican politicians. — The fpring was now advancing ; and it became neceffa- ry to pafs a law for levying forces, not only to join the eaflern colonies, on a new expedition againft the French for- trefs at Crown Point, but for the pro- tection of our weftern frontiers, in conjunction with Pennfylvania and New Jerfey, which were become fields of blood, by the daily ravages of inhuman barbarians. The bill for this purpofe originated v/ith the aiTembly, and Mr. De Lancey, who was now clofeting the members, was its principal constructor. When it came before the council on the 28th of March, that board imme- diately objected to it, according to his expectations : and the governor de- G 4 dared,.
.
[ '54 J 1756. clared, that if the council approved* j he fhould himfelf give it a negative- According to the tenor of this bill, the forces, defigned for the weftern expedi- tion, were to ferve hut forty days, when the province of New Jerfey had ordained their quota, to be difbanda- ble by Mr. Belcher ; and Sir Charles Hardy infixed, that the like confi- dence ought to be repofed in his judg- ment. The two houfes now engaged themfelves in adifpute, at a time when, of all others, every contention mould have been avoided. Mr. Oliver De Lancey, appointed by the houfe to pro- vide the fupplies for the regiment de- figned as our quota towards the Crown Point expedition, now gave orders to Hop all farther preparations, an open rupture between the governor and af- fembly, being daily expected. The members began freely to fpeak againfl him. The council laboured to procure an alteration of the bill — but all to no purpofe. The principal thing aimed at, was the pafiing of the debt-bill : and a leading member in the houfe, plainly intimated their defigns to the governor. Doubtlefs your Lordfhip will wonder he did not diffolve them with indignation. Believe me, my Lord, it would have been a flep, at this time,
extremely
[ 155 ]
extremely unadvifeable. Forty days 1756. intermiiTion between the tefland return of the writ of fummons for the electi- on of reprefentatives, being required by law, the public exigencies were too prefling to admit of any delay. Mr. De Lancey knew all his advantages ; and that Sir Charles Hardy might be at no lofs to conjecture that the houfe was now acting at his beck, nor himfelf under the neceility of joining with the council againit the bill, abfented him- felf from the consultations of that board. The neighbouring colonies in the mean time were urging the dif- patch of our preparations for opening. the campaign. Reduced at length by thefe perplexities, he was obliged to fend for his lieutenant, and give him his promife to pafs the favourite bill for payment of the public debts. The houfe then privately took back the quota-bill ; and after a few alterations, the council parTed it on the 31ft of March. To both of them Sir Charles gave his aflent the following day, and they were enrolled among our laws. I leave this affair to your Lordfhip's own reflections, obferving only, that from this period, the lieutenant governor's influence became more apparent than G 5 before
[ Ip ]
1756. before — and that as it always was, £o it v— v — 'will ever continue to be, his ruling paf- fion, and the grand engine of his poli- tics, to crufh or controul the King's go- vernors in this province.
The plan of operations, concerted at New York in December, was a few days after tranfmitted to Sir Thomas Robinfon, to be laid before his Majefty, for the royal approbation*. Upon the Intefli- arrival of the rirfl veffels from Europe gence in April following, we were furprifed fromEng-wjth ^fe remarkable articles of intel- !a * ligence :— That the action at Lake George had been magnified in England into an almofl decifive victory — that Mr. Johnfon was advanced to the dig- nity of a baronet, and 5000 1. flerling voted by the commons, as a farther reward for his great fervices — that Eyres, his engineer, was raifed to a majority — and Wraxal, his fecretary, to the com- mand of a company. To crown, in fine, the utmoft wifhes of his adverfaries— that Mr. Shirley's conduct having been
* Mr. Pownal importuned Mr. Shirley to be made the bearer of thefe difpatches. The general very civilly thanked him for the offer of his fervice ; but chofe rather to confide in Major Rutherford and Capt. Staats Morris. Mr. Pownal followed foon after them to En- gland,
intirely
[ '57 ] intirely disapproved, his Majefly had 1756.
been pleafed to remove him from the' /""— *
command, and appoint the right hon. the Earl of Loudon general of all his forces in North America. Than thefeagreeabje particulars, nothing could have beentoMr. more pleafing to the New York cabal ; Shirley's as they were fhortly to reap the fruits .\ of all thofe calumnies of which they hadwi ' been the original authors. A change of the general at once gratified their re- venge and ambition, and facilitated the execution of an affair earneflly folicited, and greatly advancive of, their interefL I will not aifert, that Mr. Shirley, had yet received his Majefty's orders with refpedt to the late plan of ope- rations. I believe he had not — becaufe on the 7th of May he arrived at Albany, The ge- and continued his preparations for car- n.eral ar- rying that plan into execution, unt^Alban^ the 25th of the month, when a council ancj ^alis a of war was there held, confiding of the council of following members : war »
His Excellency the General. Lieut. Col. Gage, Lieut. Col. Burton, Major Chapman, Major Sparks, Sir John St. Clair, John Montrefer, Efq; chief
engineer. Mr. Shirley laid before them the minutes and ac- of the congrefs in December, and ac- quarts quainted them with the ftate of affairs. ^™ltJ*h
With ^ of ^
fairs.
[i58] 1756- With refpect to the weflern expedition "the naval force upon the lake confided, he obferved, of two veffels of ten car- riage-guns each ; two row-gallies, each of ten fvvivels ; and that he had three months before ilTued orders for building three other veffels, one of eighteen, another of fixteen, and a third of twelve carriage-guns. Befides which, there would be 250 whale-boats upon the lake, each of them capable of containing 1 6 men. The land forces then at Ofwego, and on their march for preferving a free communication between that place and Albany, were his own and Pepperell's regiments, with that raifed and fup- ported by the province of New Jerfey, and the four independent companies of New York. As there was a magazine of provifions and flores at the Canajo- hary Falls, about 35 miles from Sche- nectady, his excellency propofed poll- ing there 1 00 men out of thofe forces : as many more at the German Flats, to fecure another magazine, guard the portage, and convoy the provifions thro' the Wood Creek : and as the fall near Ofwego occafioned another fmall port- age, a fort was there alfo to be erected, for a garrifbn of fifty men at leafl. It was, my Lord, of the greater! moment to keep open the communication be- tween
[ *59 ]
tween Albany and our fort on the lake • 1 756, his excellency was therefore intent upon' raifing four companies of fixty privates each, to be employed in fcouting along the paflage, and haraffing the French fettlements between Frontenac and Mon- treal.
The general gave them alfo an ac- count of the ftrength of Ofwego, when he left it the lafl fall — adding, that he had fent up Mr. M£Keller, the engineer in fecond, and Mr. Sewer, a practitioner engineer, with Grders to make fuch ad- ditional works, as they mould think ne- ceffary for the fecurity of that important poll. And your Lordfhip will be pleafed to take notice, that thefe orders were iflued very early in March, before the Mohawk river was open ; and that the engineers actually arrived at Ofwego in April. At thefe feveral garrifons were to be depofited fix months provifions for 7000 ; and he obferved to the council, that for that purpofe, 200 whale-boats and 500 battoes had been difpatched fmce the firft of April from Schenectady. The remaining quantity would have been tranfported by the middle of July, had his defigns been carried into exe- cution.
As to the provincial expedition, he informed them— that the troops voted
by
[ i6o J 2 756. by the feveral colonies amounted to 8800 ^—■v — 'men, including the officers and garri- fons at the forts Edward and William- Henry. One, or perhaps two hundred Indians might be expected to join them, befides a company which his excellency had raifed, to harafs the enemy upon Lake Cham-plain, and procure intelli- gence of their motions in Canada ♦, and three more, for the like fervice, were intended to be chofen out of the whole force deflined for Crown Point. Capt. Ro- About this time one Rogers, of New gers, an Hampshire, capt. of a ranging company, atfiveoffi-gave repeated demonflrations of his intellf-mS a^vltY m the neighbourhood of Crown gencc ; ofPoint. He made many incurfions upon which the the enemy, fell on their fcattered par- general "i-ties, and fcarce ever returned to Fort council e William-Henry without fcalps and pri- foners. The general took a particular notice of him, and he became Angu- larly ferviceable in procuring intelligence. By a cadet, whom he took on the 20th of May, we were informed, that the whole number of men at Fort St. Fre- deric, Tinonderoge, and at an advanced poil, were 1 1 00, compofed of the regi- ments of Languedoc, the Queen's re- giment, two companies of the. colony troops, and the militia. Befides thefe, there were Indians, but their numbers
uncertain :
E 161 ]
uncertain: that at Tinonderoge the 1756. French had twelve pieces of ordnance' mounted, and carriages preparing for an additional number •, but that the re- trenchment at the advanced pofl was without any cannon. Thefe troops wintered at Montreal and Chambly •, and arrived at the fouth end of the lake about the middle of April, being plen- tifully fupplied with provifions and mi- litary flores. — Thefe intelligences the general laid before his council •, and then obferved, that the 50th and 51ft regi- ments, the four independent companies, and the regiment of New Jerfey, were fcarce a third part of the number of troops defigned by the general plan, for the operations upon Lake Ontario : that the provincials were alfo not only defi- cient of the complement thought necef- fary at the congrefs, but even of the number voted by the provinces con- cerned in the enterprize againfl Crown Point -, and that it was impracticable, even v/ith the junction of the 44th and 48th regiments, then at Albany, to car- ry oh both the northern and weftern ex- peditions at the fame time : that he had no dependance upon the Indians of the Six Nations ; Sir William Johnfon be- ing unable to procure fcouting parties ;
and
[ 162]
1756. and that upon this account he propofed ^— ■v*—> railing four companies for that fervice. Your Lordfhip may hence obferve, what reafon the congrefs in December had for their opinion, that more troops were necelTary for his Majefty's fervice in America. No reinforcements being yet arrived from England, for carrying the general plan into execution, the The$ropi-counc^ were of unanimous opinion— nion and that 1 300 ought to be potted at Ofwego, advice. 50 at the Falls, 200 at the Oneida Car- rying-Place, 1 50 at the German Fiats, and as many more at the Conejohary Falls. They advifed therefore, — That the 50th and 51ft, and the New Jerfey regiments, the independents, and the North Carolina provincials (all which amounted to about 2000 men) mould be employed in that fervice. The 44th and 48th regiments, with the colony troops, were thought fufficient to re- duce Crown Point. Accordingly, they recommended their junction; advifmg, however, that the regulars mould con- tinue for a time in their encampment at Albany. — The ranging companies, propofed by the general, were highly approved ; and the raifing of others flrongly recommended. They alfo con- curred with him in fentiment — that a road ought to be made from the Ger- man
[ 1 63 ]
man Flats to Ofwego : and declared, it appeared to them very neceiTary to flrengthen Fort Edward, and erect ano- ther at the South Bay. The former was a depolite for flores, and at the con- currence of all the routes from Crown Point to Albany. The latter would command the route taken by baron Diefkau for his defigned attack upon Fort Edward — a route thro' which in- curfions were frequently made upon our northern frontier. A fort at the South Bay was conceived requifite, to cover our convoys of provifions for the northern expedition from the infults of the enemy, who in flying parties infeft- ed the parfage from Albany to * Wil- liam-Kenry. The propriety of this ad- vice, my Lord, mufl be evident to every man of a tolerable acquaintance with the country ; and thefe were the very fentiments which the general re^ peatedly communicated to Sir William Johnfon, in his letters, after the action at Lake George -, which were then flight-
* For the building of a fort at South Bay preparations were making when Mr. Shirley refigned the command of the army : but the work has fince been neglected ; and the paf- fage from Fort Edward to our camp at Wil- Jiam-Henry, infefted all this fummer, and many of our people cut off, as was forefeen by this council.
ed
[ .64 J
1 756. ed by the cabal, who fludioufly oppofed v-~v"— ->him in all his meafures.
Thus I have fhewn your Lordfhip the reafons why the general plan conti- nued to be unexecuted, till the fitting of this laft council of war. Mr. Shirley, however, in hopes of the arrival of the expected reinforcements, and loth to be diverted from his favourite defigns upon Lake Ontario, continued to throw large quantities of provifions and ftores into Schenectady, and all the magazines between that place and Ofwego. This, it was fuppofed, was done to induce his fucceilbr, from thefe ample fupplies, to act upon this quarter ; it being univer- fally imagined, that Crown Point was now become the main object of the mi niftry. Till the arrival of General Webb on the 7 th of June, this was only con- jecture, and general report. The effects of the mifreprefentations of American affairs in England, then became evident to all ; for the flores laid in at Schenectady were now reconveyed to Albany for the northern expedition, and frelli clamours excited againfl Mr. Shirley, for his fup- Major plies towards the weflern operations. Aber_ On the 1 5th of June, Major General crombie Abercrombie landed at New York ; and takes the ten days after at Albany ; where he im- oTth 3af me<^atety t00k uPon htefejf the cora- my. a^ mand
[ 1 65 ]
mand of the army. Shirley continued 1756. there no longer than to deliver over tov— -v^H the new general the proper returns, and communicate fuch information as ap- peared necefTary, with refpect to the prefent fituation of affairs.
The whole force, of which General Abercrombie now took the command, confifted of the 44th, 48th, 50th, and 51ft regiments, four independent com- panies, the New Jerfey regiment, four companies raifed by the province of North Carolina, Otway's, and the High- land regiments*, and the provincial forces deflined againfl Crown Point.
Instructions had been given to Sir Sir Wil- William Johnfon, to procure a largely™ John- body of the Six Nations, to join in any ^"^olds s attempt that might be made upon therenceat Lake Ontario ; and to engage 1 00 more, Ononda- for the affiftance of the provincial army. ga. To effect which, he was then holding a conference with the deputies of the Six Cantons at Onondaga j from whence he was to proceed immediately to Ofwego. Mr. Shirley had, befides, raifed a com- pany of Indians from Stock bridge, to be employed in ranging the woods be- tween Fort William-Henry and Mont- real : and that his Majefly's fervice upon
* Thefe two regiments arrived with him* and confifted of about 900 men,
Lake.
[ 166 ]
1756. Lake Ontario might be free from the S— v-~— 'obftructions, by which it had been the year before greatly embaraffed, he had Forty inlifted 40 companies of battoemen, each companies of 50 men, a captain and an afliflant, of battoe-for tranfport]ng ftores and provifions to ed and " Ofwego. Thefe were put under the their great direction of Capt Bradflreet, an active ufefulnefs. vigilant officer, inured to the hardfhips to which that fervice inevitably expofed him. This, tho' one of the moil judi- cious meafures that could have been taken, was made the fubject of low in- vective. The faction at New York la- boured to reprefent it as a project to in- volve the Crown in a needlefs expence : but time has given the fulled evidence of the propriety of this ftep ; and proper it will appear to your Lordfhip, before the conclufion of this letter. General Shirley wifely forefaw, that the Indians of the Six Nations, whatever influence over them Sir William Johnfon might pretend, could not be engaged even to protect the King's troops in the pafTage thro' their own country ; and that unlefs the communication was kept open to Ofwego, nothing could be effected up- on the Lake, nor the garrifon itfelf pre- Afmall ferved from falling into the hands of the poft cut offenemy. Accordingly, no fooner did the in the in-fprjng 0pen than a \[n\c blockaded port,
diancoun- *.-.*? *^ ? r .V
uj. with
[ i «7 J
with 25 men, at the Carrying-Place, in 1756. the very center of the Oneida country/ was cut off; the Oneidas themfelves be- ing unqueftionably concerned in the maf- facre. Nothing could fquare us againft the repetition of thefe infults, but palling through the country with large fquadrons of battoes : and to facilitate the tran- fportation, Mr. Shirley, who canvafTed every expedient for the prefervation of Ofwego, employed a working party of 80 men, under a director, to remove the obftru&ions in the Wood Creek •, by this means, the portage from the Mohawks River, acrofs the great Car- rying-Place, was reduced from eight miles to one. Nor did he omit obferv- ing to his fuccelTor, that an attempt up- on Niagara was of the laft importance ; the lofs or prefervation of our Indians depending upon the fuccefs of the oper- ations on Lake Ontario.
Relative to the Crown Point expe- dition, he recommended the march of part of the army, in a new difcovered route, on the weft fide of Lake George, to the enemy's advanced works, five miles fhort of Tinonderoge. Which being carried, the heavy artillery and flores might be there landed, and tran- fported thro* a road to Tinonderoge and Fort Frederic ; and after the reduction
of
[ iSS ] of thofe fortrefles, he advifed General Abercrombie immediately to conftrudt armed veffels, to fecure the command of Lake Champlain. Governor Your Lordship may remember, that Sharpe's an attempt was propofed, at the congrefs defigned 'm December, againft Fort Dti Quefne, attempt on wjt|1 an armv 0f 2 000 provincials. Gov.
Quefne Sharpe was to have commanded in that fails. enterprize •, but there remained now no hopes of its profecution. Virginia chofe to be intirely upon the defenfive — Mary- land was wholly inactive; her frontier being covered by the adjoining provin- ces— and as to Pennfylvania, me raifed indeed 1 500 men, but only with a view to protect her out-farms ; nor probably would thus far have confulted her own fafety, but for the daily murders and horrid cruelties perpetrated upon her borders. CIrcum- With refpect to the circumftances of ftances oflndian affairs to the northward — While Indian af-Mr. Shirley was at Ofwego, and upon fairs to thej^g retUrn, as I before obferved to your ™£± Lordfhip, he propofed to the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and Oneidas, the erection of frnall forts for the protection of their refpeclive caflles. The two lafl tribes confented, defiring alfo, that the forts might be mounted with cannon : and the Tufcoraras afterwards fent de- puties
[ 1 69 1
puties to him, with the like requefl : 1756. — the Senecas and Cayugas had alio1 lately fignified their acquiefcence to Sir William Johnfon ; and the general tranfmitted him the plan of a fort, di- recting the profecution of the work with all poflible difpatch, as a mofl effectual means to fecure the Indian country to his Majefly.
Before Mr. Shirley left Ofwego the raft year, he propofed to the Six Nations, their convening this fummer, in a grand council there, the Indians on the north fide of Lake Ontario, and round Lake Erie, to confult their common interefb, and maintain a correfpondence by an- nual councils at Ofwego. And to draw off the latter from their attachment to the French, recommended to the Six Nations their concurrence, in opening a free trade with the foreign Indians, at the entrance of the Onondaga river, upon terms more advantageous to all the Indians, than any hitherto purfued. This fpring Sir William Johnfon in- formed his excellency, that the Six Na- tions were extremely well pleafed with the projects relating both to the trade at Ofwego, and the conflruction of forts in their cantons. To accelerate the lat- ter, the general fupplied him with 5000I. flerling, in addition to -5000L advanced
to
[ ijro ]
1756. to him by General Braddock: and yet, my Lord, he was conflrained to confefs, in a fubfequent * letter, that unlefs his excellency could engage feveral compa- nies of rangers, he defpaired of the pre- fervation even of a free pafTage thro* their country : and whether he has to this day built a fingle fort, as the gene- ral propofed, I have not been able, af- ter much inquiry, to difcover. Situation Equally unpromifing was the fitu- of our af- ation of our affairs with the fouthern In- fairs with dians. Some hopes indeed were enter- em Indi tained of the fidelity of the Cherokees— ans, a people warlike and powerful ; in whofe territories the Virginians were erecting a fortrefs. The Shawanefe neverthelefs continued their irruptions into that pro- vince : and Governor Dinwiddie was ob- liged to draft the militia, to oppofe their progrefs, and prefer ve the town of Win- chester. Thefe Indians alfo, with the Safquehanas and Dekwares, commit- ted frequent hoflilities upon the Penfyl- vanians. Governor Morris, for the pro- tection of the country, carried a line of forts on the weft fide of the Kittatiny mountains, all along the extended fron- tier of that colony, from Delaware to the river Potowmac. The government of New Jerfey proceeded even to declare war againft the Delaware Indians ; and * 10 May, 1756.
would
t 171 .]
would have penetrated into their fettle- rnents, had not affurances been fent by Sir William Johnibn from the council at Onondaga, that the Delawares and Shawanefe, in obedience to the Six Na- tions, were under renewed and pofitive engagements, to refrain from any far- ther outrages upon the fouthern fron- tiers. If any fiich promifes were really made, 'tis certain they were immedi- ately broken, many of our inhabitants having fince been murdered and capti- vated by the lavages of thofe very tribes. Whence we may fairly con- clude, that either the Six Nations con- nived at thefe infractions of their com- mands ; or that their antient fovereign- ty is become the contempt of their tri- butaries. In fact, my Lord, the matter is flill worfe. Too much reafon is there to believe the truth of both thefe alter- natives.
I informed your Lordfliip, that Sir Sir Willi- William Johnfon was ordered to pro-am;JoIln- ceed from Onondaga to Ofwego, with j0nlscon"
o o / duct con«
as many Indians as could be perfuaded fibred.
to march with him ; not only for the more effectual prefer vation of that port, but to execute the plan which Gen, Shirley had concerted, for the eftablifti- ment of an annual council there, with thofe Indians who had been long in the H French
IV
[ 172 ]
French intereft, and feemed ready to liften to propofals for an alliance v/ith us: it was expedient, my Lord, that he mould have complied v/ith thefe in- ftructions, nay it was his duty. But no fooner was he acquainted v/ith Mr. Shir- ley's refignation of the command of the army, than he returned from Onon- daga to Albany, at the head of about 60 Indians -, leaving Capt. Patten with his company of grenadiers, to wander thro' a forlorn wildernefs, in fearch of Ofwego. Whether this inflance of his conduct was not intended to raife his reputation with the new general, as a leading man among the Indians, I leave to your Lordlhip's conjecture. Ey arts like thefe, he acquired his Indian fame : and the influence of the faction at New York fo powerfully fuftained it, that few perfons doubted his ability to pro- cure feveral hundred warriors for our afliftance, tho' every day exhibited frefh proofs of their melancholy defection. Eelides the deftruction of our pofl in the very country of the Oneidas men- tioned before, the enemy infefted the parts about Ofwego, and the whole paflage thither, without the leafl oppc- fition from the Six Nations. Alarms indeed were frequently given of the approach of their flying parties ± and it
was
f >73 1 was obfervabie, that Sir William John- 1756. fori, on thofe occafions, as Colonel of'-— v-— ' the county, raifed the militia of Albany, and proceeded to the fpot -, tho' every man acquainted with Indians well knows, that of all places thefe are the mofi unlikely for finding the enemy. By fuch fham expeditions have our nor- thern inhabitants been impoverifhed and diflreiTed : nor could they anfwer any other end, than to raife a bruit thro' the colonies, and with parade and often- tation fet the gazetteers upon founding his applaufe. — Even in thefe wild roman- tic excurfions, but few Indians attended him : and yet if we credit our news writers, hundreds were in his train.
Mr. Shirley had fcarce refigned the command to Major General Abercrom- bie, when the good effect of the battoe fervice became fo irrefiftibly evident, that his very enemies recollected their ungrounded calumnies with fhame and confufion. — I allude, my Lord, to the Account action between the French and our bat- of a §aI- toe men, on the 3d of July. Senfiblelarnta^iori
r 1 u r r\r i ofourbat-
or the importance or Oiwego, the ene- toe men my collected themfelves about the latter under end of May in a large body, not many CaPc- miles to the eaftward of that garrifon j Bradl*reet' from whence detachments were perpe- tually fent out to fall upon our work- H 2 men,
[ '74 J men, and infeft the paffage thro' the Onondaga River. Capt. Bradftreet, who had the direction of the battoes, was apprized that fmall parties lay in am- bufh, waiting a favourable opportunity to attack him. Accordingly when he left Ofwego, he ordered the feveral di- vifions to proceed as near each other as poffibk : but fo numerous and irre- gular a body could not without diffi- culty be kept to any tolerable order. He was at the head of about 300 bat- toe-men, in the firft divifion, upon his return to Schene&ady ; and about nine miles from Ofwego, when the enemy, who were 700 flrong, rofe from their ambufcade, and fired upon his front. Near the place of attack, was a fmall ifland, by which the enemy might eafily have forded the river. Bradftreet in an inftant landed upon the ifland, to prevent being inclofed between two fires ; and with fix men maintained his poiTeiTion, bravely repelling twenty of the enemy, who attempted to feize that advantageous poft. He was then rein- forced with fix others ; and even com- pelled a fecond party of 40 French to give way. Enraged at this fhameful difappointment, the enemy, to the num- ber of 70 men, thought proper to make a third attempt ; but the battoe-men,
who
[ '75 I who did not exceed 20, with redoubled 1 756, bravery flill kept their ground, and' again forced their adverfaries to retire. During thefe fkirmifhes, which lafted near an hour, the battoe-men in the rear landed, without lofs or confufion, upon the fouth fide of the river. Four hundred of the enemy now advanced up the north fide of the flream, intend- ing to ford it about a mile higher, and furround us. Bradftreet, aware of the defign, left the ifland, and with 200 men marched on the other fide to op- pofe them. But they had actually ford- ed over, before he came up, and potted themfelves in a fwamp. Dr. Kirkland, with the fecond. divifion of battoes, was now advancing to his afliftance; but Bradftreet ordered him, and Capt. Butler, who commanded the third divifion, to keep their pofts, and cover the battoes in the rear. Being arrived at the fwamp, an engagement enfued in the Indian manner of fighting, and continued a- bove an hour v/ith dubious fuccefs. Bradftreet, at length animating his men, ruined into the thicket thro* twice his number, and gallantly pufhed them into the river, where many of them pe- rifhed. Another attempt was made, in the mean time, to ford the river a little
H 2 higher 5
, [ '76 ] 1 756. higher; but thofe being alio repulfed, the v/hole party was intirely routed and difperfed.
Just after the defeat, Capt. Patten, with his grenadiers from Onondaga, fell in with our battoes ; and the next morning a reinforcement of too men came up from the garrifon : and but for the exceffive rains, which began foon after the action, and continued all the next day, thefe brave battoe- men would probably have cut off the whole party. Had Sir William John- fon, as was expected, accompanied Capt. Patten to Ofwego, with the Indians from Onondaga, Bradflreet might have made immediate purfuit, and many of the enemy muft have been overtaken : but this pacific plenipotentiary was then foaftening to Albany (a fafer fituation) with the important minutes of his late "conference. A conference full of affec- tionate Indian fpeeches, and large pro- mi fes of their afliflance ; when fcarce a man of them could be prevailed upon to turn out of his hut for the defence of the common caufe. Bradflreet had but three Indians of the Six Nations with him at this attack. Of thefe, one took to his heels ; a fecond fought bravely ; but the third went over to the eriemy, and aflat ed in pointing out our
officers.
[ i?7 1 officers. In thefe feveral actions we 1756. had about 30 men killed and wounded. <—- v— ~/ How many of the French were (lain, is not certainly known ; tho' it is generally faid, they loft about 1 20. Eighty arms were brought to Schenectady ; and about 70 men found in the woods, and carried to Ofwego. The French fled in the utmoft diforder : and fome of their regular foldiers, being ftrangers to the country, got bewildered in the defart, and perifhed for want of fade- nance.
Bradstreet arrived at Schenectady Bi-adftreet on the nth of July; and the. nextS1VpS in~ day acquainted General Abercrombie jf^^e. at Albany of the ftate of Ofwego. — my'sde- That he learnt from his prifoners, the tign to at- French were preparing to attack it, tack of- having 1 2 00 men for that purpofe en- we2°* camped not far from the eafternmoft fort. Upon the receipt of this intelli- gence, orders were iffued to Major Ge- neral Webb, to hold himfelf in readi- nefs to march for its defence with the 44th regiment. My Lord, Mr. Shirley had, feveral days before *, advifed Ge- neral Abercrombie to reinforce that gar-
* On the 26th of June, the day after he was fuperfeded.
H 4 rifon.
rives
[ '78 ] 1 756. ri'fon with f two battalions at leaft : and v— -v — »> they might have marched immediately, as Bradftreet was ready to convoy the troops, and every magazine, along the pafTage, plentifully fupplied with pro- vifions. But not to anticipate my flory : Lord Lou- Mr. Shirley arrived at New York on the 4th of July, and waited the ar- rival of my Lord Loudon, who landed there on the 23d of that month, with Mr. Pownal in his train : but in what character the latter returned a fecond time from England, was a fubject of doubtful conjecture. — His Lordfhip, regard lefs of his eafe, and the fatigues of a tedious voyage, tarried there but three days> and on the 29th of July reached his head quarters at Albany, when he took upon himfelf the com- mand of the army. Our pie- The garrifon of Ofwego confiited fent force, now of 1400 men, and about 300 nd that wor^men ancj failors. Four hundred
or trie French.
t Such a reinforcement could eafily have been fpared for that purpofe, Otway's and the Highland regiment being now landed at Al- bany. And that this necefiary ftep might not be obftructed, General Shirley had, before their arrival, difpatched an exprefs to Ofwego, ordering Braditreet to quicken his return to Schenectady.
and
i ii9 1
and eighty-five were ported, in fmall 1756. parties, between that place and Bur- net's Field, to maintain an open paf- fage thro' the country of the Six Na- tions. The 44th and 48th regiments at Albany and Schenectady, with the Britifh troops juft arrived, confuted now of 2600 men ; and the provincials, under the command of General Win- flow, were about 7000, and ready to march from Fort William-Henry. — Of the naval force of Ofwego, I have already given your Lordfhip an ac- count : and as to the Strength of the enemy at Tinonderoge and Crown Point, according to the latefl intelligence ob- tained by Capt. Rogers, they did not then exceed 4000 men.
From his Lordfhip's known abilities for war, the colonies were in great hopes, that notwithstanding the delay of the Britifh reinforcements, fome coup d* eclat would very fpeedily be ftruck at Crown Point. But alas! while we were intent upon this favourite de- fign, the enemy were bending their main force, not to oppofe us at Ti- nonderoge, but to fecure what v/as to them a matter of much more impor- tance, I mean the exclufive dominion of the great Lakes — Accordingly, they H 5 laid
[ i8o ]
1756. laid fiege to Ofwego ; and after two of
^^^ 'three days contefl, obliged the garrifon,
on the 14th of Auguft, to furrender
Ofwego themfelves prifoners of war. This me-
taken by lancholy account was firfl brought to
lndFtheChAlbany ^ feV€ral foIdiers> fome of garrifon wnom had formerly deferred the French made prl- fervice ; and remained many days un- foners of confirmed, till the arrival of two failors, war. wj10 mac[e their efcape after the reduc- tion of the forts. An univerfal fhock was now given to the whole continent : and to increafe our difbefs, the Indians reported, that the whole garrifon was put to the fword, and the dead bodies of our countrymen denied even the fa- cred rite of fepulture. But this, by ftibfequent advices, was contradicted : and the fpies, difpached for obfervation, inform us, that the works are intirely de- molished, and the enemy departed. In what manner, and by what numbers, it was taken, or upon what terms fur- rendered, I cannot give your Lordfhip any fatisfadtory account. How many Orcum- ere kjikd on either fide is alfo un- itances of . . , T T .
the fiege known; tho certain it is that Lieut, unknown. Col. Mercer, the commanding officer, is among the flain.
It is much to be wifhed, my Lord, that Mr. Shirley's advice to General
Abercrombie
[ i8i ]
Abercrombie had been followed: and 1756. equally to be regretted, that Sir Wil- v— -v^-u li-am Johnfon returned with fuch preci- pitation from Onondaga to Albany. Nor ought the difcharge of 400 battoe- Battoe- men, after Bradflreet's return, to pafs men im- without fome remark. They arrived F^ently at Schenectady, as I obferved before, JjC ars" on the 1 1 th of July ; and methinks the recent proofs of their courage, and the account they gave of the ftrength and defigns of the enemy, might have been a fufficient antidote againft the poiibn of that council for their difcharge ± which was unquestionably defigned by Mr. Shirley's enemies for throwing an odium on his meafures. To the fame General influence, my Lord, it was undoubt- Webb's edly owing, that General Webb's march, jj^j with the 44th regiment from Schenec- " tady, was delayed till the 1 2 th of Au- guft, but two days before the garriibn was actually furrendered. He had pro- ceeded no farther than Burnet's Field, with his regiment of 900 men, and the remaining 800 battoe men, when the de- ferters brought him the news of the fiege. Upon the receipt of which, he made a forced march to the Oneida Carrying- Place j where he immediately felled
trees
[: i8a ]
1,756: trees into the Wood Creek, to prevent 'the approach of the * enemy.
These, my Lord, were great over- fights : but the lofs of Ofwego mull principally, be afcribed to a more diftant caufe — to a junclo, who have all a- long embararTed every part of his Ma- jeily's fervice on the Lake Ontario. By their mifreprefentations, the public has been drawn into a dependence upon the Six Nations, merely to exalt Sir William Johnfon : and that nothing might be wanting to procure a change in the command of the army, and de- ilroy all confidence in Shirley's judg- ment, Ofwego, the great object of his attention, has been flighted as an un- effential poll ; and the reduction of St., Frederic reprefented as a point of far
fupenor moment.
* The French were equally apprehenfive of his advancing towards them, or of our at- tempting to rebuild Ofwego : and very pru- dently improving the prefent advantage, be- gan where General Webb left off, and conti- nued the obftru&ion quite down to the en- trance into the Oneida Lake; which renders it impoflible to pafs thro' the Wood Creek, 40 miles in length. General Webb not long. after abandoned the Carrying-Place, after burning down the forts, much to the diflatis- faction of the Indians.
My
C '83 J
My Lord, by thefe intrigues our 1756. country bleeds — Ofwego is loft — loft * — y-^J perhaps for ever, — with the naval ar- Unhappy mament — above 60 pieces of ord-cone" f nance, and a rich fupply of flores and Xe "oft of. provifions, laid in at a vaft expence, this im- for feveral thoufand men, during thePortant whole campaign. — Would to God this?0** was all, and we had nothing worfe to apprehend ! — Our furr trade, which has long been the principal object of the national attention, and the fupport of our frontier city of Albany, is at an end. The French can now with the utmoft facility fecure the inland coun- try, and confine us to the very brinks of the ocean — a free communication is opened between Canada and Louifi- ana ; and all our intercourfe with the Indians totally refcinded. The enemy, on the other hand, may, without op- pofition or reftraint, render thefe innu- merable tribes of favages their allies and dependants. The Six Nations are more wavering than ever : and mould they no longer think it expedient to preferve their neutrality, the whole con- tinent muft inevitably become a field of blood. Whatever may be thought The colo- of thefe colonies, which of late have ™es not fo been magnified for their numbers and?0™^1 opulence, I do allure your Lordfhip, ^imaSiri*
that
[ i84]
that a fhort war will effectually exhaufl them. Their fettlements are Scattered ; their frontiers extenfive; the inhabi- tants but few, generally in very mode- rate circumflances, and ftill luxurious, and without reiources. The irruption of a few Indians into Pennfylvania, had already occafioned the lofs of feveral hundred fouls, and the defolation of near two thoufand farms. The fron- tiers of the neighbouring colonies are equally defencelefs : and the power of the native favages, at prefent in the French intereft, is of itfelf fufficient, by flow but inevitable means, to reduce us to extreme beggary and diftrefs. General Thus, my Lord, I have fmifhed the Refle&i- relation of what has hitherto been tran- ons upon faded in America. I have not only the whole. prefentej vou wjm a feries of the moll interefting events, but brought your Lordfhip acquainted with the characters and defigns of the principal agents in our political affairs. If I have erred, I am perfuaded it is not in any article of importance, nor purpofely in the mi- nutefl. — ■ Every line of this letter hath been penned with the moll facred vene- ration for truth, and a mind equally un- biafed by refentment or affection. For obtaining an intimate acquaintance with the matters rehearfed, few in the colo- nies
[ 1*5 1
nies have had fuperior advantages ; nor in collecting proper materials, has any one been more affiduous. Add to this, that I had no other interefl in the public meafures, than the interefl of every man on the continent. I am uncon- nected with all parties ; neither enjoy- ing any pofl myfelf, nor {landing in the leall relation to a fingle officer in the army. The love of my country was the fole fpring of my curiofity ; and fo far, indeed, I was not an unconcerned fpeclator of the public tranfactions. If I have made honourable mention of General Shirley, it was owing to my approbation of his fchemes, as condu- cive to the commonweal of the Britifh plantations : and if my judgment was in this regard erroneous, I have the pleafure to find myfelf in very refpect- able company. Except New York, or rather a prevailing faction there, all the colonies hold him in very high efteem. Some have made public declarations of their fenfe of his great merit ; and that too, at a time when he appeared de- fending from his meridian of glory. But he needed no other than the tefli- monials of his own province •, for he, my Lord, whofe conduct is approved by the people of the Maflachufets Bay, muft be diflinguifhed both for his abi- lities
[ >36]
1I56. lities and his virtue. They are too nu- 'merous and wife to be deceived, too free and independent to be driven. An undue influence can never be obtained by the governor of a colony, who has neither power nor places to beftow. — Their afTemblies are annual — the members elected by ballot, in number near 200. — The council, or middle eflate, chofen yearly by the affembly : — and as all the offices are elective, not a man in the province is dependent on the fmiles or the frowns of the King's reprefentative : — and yet fo wife, free, and loyal a people have approved his judgment ; confided in his integrity ; teftified in his favour ; and publickly lamented his departure from the conti- nent. I would by no means^ my Lord, be underflood, by thefe favourable fen- timents of Shirley, to difparage his noble SuccefTor in the command. He yet has not, at leafi he deferves not to have, a fingle enemy amongfl us : and I hope it will ferve the purpofes of no man to be his enemy. I could only have wifhed, that at this critical junc- ture, a gentleman fo thoroughly verfed in American affairs, had been conti- nued in America for his Lordfhip's af- firmance. We have to contend with a fubtle enterprifing foe — a foe, rapaci-
[ 1 87 J
ous, martial, and bloody, committing 1756. murders, rather than waging war. Tho' the French colony contains per- haps not 30,000 men capable to bear arms ; yet thefe are all under the de- fpotic command and fole direction of their governor-general ; and experience teaches us, that in fpite of our navy, they may be annually reinforced. The ftrength of our colonies, on the other hand, is divided -t and the concurrence of all necelTaries both for fupplies of men and money. Jealous are they of each other — fome ill-conflituted — o- thers fhaken with inteftine divifions — - and, if I may be allowed the expreffi- on, parfimonious even to prodigality. Our alTemblies are diffident of their governors — governors defpife their af- femblies, and both mutually mifrepre- fent each other to the Court of Great Britain. Military meafures demand fe- crecy and difpatch : but while the co- lonies remain undivided, and nothing can be tranfacted but with their uni- verfal aflfent, 'tis impoflible to maintain the one, or proceed with the other. Without a general conftitution for war- like operations, we can neither plan nor execute. We have a common in- tereft, and muft have a common coun- cil, one bead, and one ptrfe. — The
French
[ .88 ]
if $6, French fervice is unexpofed to thefe embarafsments ; and hence they pro- ject without difcovery, and we fcarce collect their defigns, till we are attacked and defeated. Hitherto they have pro- fecuted the war with fuperior advan- tage; and yet the militia of the pro- vince of the Maflachufets Bay alone, undoubtedly exceeds, by fome thou- fands, all the troops of Canada. Since the commencement of the prefent hofti- lities, his Majeily has loll above 3000 loyal fubjedts : and as all the Indians are at the devotion of the French, and Ofwego is now loft, many thoufand farms before the opening of the next fpring, will probably be abandoned; and the interior fettlements deluged with the innocent blood of all ages and fexes. Indeed, my Lord, 'tis not be- neath the moil elevated flation, to in- dulge the benevolent feelings of huma- nity; nor, retiring awhile from the pomp and gaiety that furrounds you, to flied*a pitying tear over families in- humanly bereft of their fubflance, or more inhumanly flaughtered in their beds,— It is a celebrated faying, and does honour to human nature, " Ho- " mo fum, et nihil humanum a me a- " lienum puto."
What
[ iiT9]
What the prefent or the next cam- 1756. paign will bring forth, is known only to the Omnifcient Governor of the u- niverfe. The colonies are nearly ex- haufted, and their funds already anti- cipated by expenfive unexecuted pro- jects : and whether they v/ill Hill con- tinue their efforts, or refign to a liftlefs defpair, is uncertain. I fear the worft — and yet you know, my Lord, I am not of a melancholy call. There is too much reafon for general concern : and I venture to predict, what every judicious perfon forefees, that unlefs fome fuccefsful blow is ftruck--~and fpeedily ftruck, at the power of France, Britain muft inevitably lofe her poffeili- ons in America. An event, my Lord, of the mofl tremendous confequence to us — to you — to the Proteftant reli- gion— to the peace of Europe — yes— and to the peace and happinefs of all mankind.
Hitherto we have wafted our ftrength in lopping off branches, when the axe mould have been laid to the root of the tree. Canada, my Lord, Canada muft be demoliihed — Delenda eft Carthago— or we are undone. Strength fufficient have we left, with proper afliftance, for a decifive ftruggle : but a lingring confumption will infal- libly
[ 1 9o ]
1756. libly enervate and deftroy. France has 'been, ever can, and will be annually, throwing over frefh troops into her co- lony, in defiance of our great mari- time force : and mould peace enfue, even before our ruin is compleated, what will be the flate of thefe pro- vinces upon the next rupture between the two crowns, when the inland coun- try is filled with our enemies ?— As you therefore value, my noble Lord, the caufe of liberty * the glory of the Bri- tish name ; the honour and dignity of the befl of Kings ; and the prefer vati- on of thefe colonies from bloody car- nage and total ruin ; exert, I befeech you, exert your influence, to extirpate this brood of French favages from the face of the continent. In a fcheme fo decifive, and in no other, will the pro- vinces heartily unite ; and if well con- certed, and our unfortified fea-coafls at the fame time fufficiently protected \ it will doubtlefs fucceed — humble the pride of France — and clofe the prefent war with a lading and. honourable peace. I am,
My Lord, New York, with the profoundefl refpecl, Sept. 20, your Lordfhip's moft obliged and obedient fervant.
APPENDIX.
[ 19' ]
APPENDIX.
NUMBER I. Major WajbingtorCs Journal.
TH E 3 1 ft of March I received a commifHon from his excellency the governor * dated the 15 th, appointing me to be lieutenant colonel of the regiment of Virginia, of which Jofhua Fry, efq; is colonel, with directions to take the troops, then quartered at A- lexandria, under my command, and to lead them on to the Ohio, in order to afiift captain Trent in erecting forts', and defending the pofTelfions of his Majefty, a- gainft the encroachments and hoflilities of the French.
2d April. Every thing being got ready agreeable to our orders, we began our march with the companies of foot commanded by captain Peter Hog, and captain lieutenant Jacob Vembraan, five fubaltern officers, two ferjeants, fix corporals, a drummer, and an hundred and twenty foldiers ; a ferjeant-major, a Swediffr gen- tleman voluntier, two waggons, guarded by a lieutenant, a ferjeant, a corporal, and twenty-five men.
We fet out from the town on Tuefday at noon, and we encamped about four miles from Cameron, after having marched fix miles.
From the 3d of April till the 19th of the fame month, this journal contains only the march of the troops, and the junction of a detachment brought by capt. Stephens.
The 19th we met an exprefs, who was charged with letters from capt. Trent on the Ohio, requiring that a reinforcement might be fent him with all the expedition poflible, he having had notice that a body of eight
* M. Dinwiddie, governor of Virginia.
hundred
i92% APPENDIX.
hundred French was hourly expected. I waited at Job Pearfal's for the troops, which came up the next day. On receiving the exprefs above-mentioned, I difpatched a courier to colonel Fry, in order to give him notice thereof.
The 20th I went down to colonel Crefan's, where I difpofed the detachment in a proper order -, and in my way I was informed of the fort's being taken by the French. This news was confirmed, two days after, by captain Trent's enfign, M. Wart, who was obliged to furrender himfelf to a body of above a thoufand French, under the command of captain Contrecoeur, who was come from Venango (in French the Frefq ifle) with fixty battoes, three hundred canoes, and eighteen pieces of ar- tillery, which were erecled into a battery facing the fort, and then fummoned him to withdraw.
M. Wart informed me likewife, that the favages per- fifted on their firm attachment to our interefts. He had brought with him two young men of the Mingo nation, that they might have the fatisfattion to fee that we were inarching with troops to their afliftance.
He alfo delivered me the following meiTage, which was fent me by the Half-King *. April 18, 1754, at the fort of the Ohio,
The Half-King's fpeech. A hell for the governor of Virgi- nia rtWPennfyivania.
BRothers, the Englifh, the bearer will let you know- how we have been ufed by the French. We ex- pected a long while they would come and ftrike us ; we now fee how they propofe to behave towards us ; we are ready to ftrike them even this moment ; and we wait only for your afliftance. Take courage and come as foon as 'tispojjible, and you will find us as well difpofed to Jirike them asyou are your [elves.
We have fent thefe two young men in order to fee if you are ready to come -, and in that cafe they will return
# This is an Indian chief, on whom the Englilh had conferred this title of Half King.
to
APPENDIX. 192
• to us, and we will give notice where you are ; that we may have it in our power to join you, we could wifh, if poilible, that the troops or* the two provinces met at the fort on the road. If you don't come to our affiflance now, we are utterly undone : and I believe we mall never more be able to come together. I fpeak it in the deepeft concern of my heart.
A firing of Wampum.
The Half-King addreiTed this fpeech to me in perfon.
I am ready, if you think it proper to go with thefe two young men to the two governors ; for I can no longer rely on thofe who have fo long been gone and are not re- turned, nor have fent any meiTage.
A firing.
April 23. A council was held at Will's Creek, in or- der to concert meafures relative to the news brought by M. Wart.
Examination being made of the news brought by en- fign Wart, and the fummons fent by captain Contre- coeur, commander of the P'rench troops : the melTages of the Half-King, and the other chiefs of the fix nati- ons, being perufed, it appears, that M. Wart was com- pelled to give up the aforeiaid fort the 1 7th inflant to the French, whofe number amounted to above a thoufand men, with eighteen pieces of artillery, fome of which were nine pounders, which was the lefs to be wondered at, as the detachment of the Virginia regiment, a- mounting to a hundred and fifty men, commanded by colonel Washington, had orders 10 reinforce captain Trent ; and that thus the garrifon of the faid fort con- fided but of thirty-three effective men.
It was found impracticable to march towards the fort without fufncient forces, and being very warmly prefTed by the meifages of the favages, and efpecially thofe of the Half-King, the president propofed this as a fubjecl: of deliberation, viz. whether it was not proper to advance as far as Redtlone Creek, called by the French, Creek de la roche rouge, upon Mononghela, in French, Ma- lengueuiee, about thirty feven miles from the fort on this fide ; and there to fortify ourfelves, while our peo- ple were clearing up the roads, fo as to admit the
tran i per ting
i94 APPENDIX.
tranfporting our artillery and baggage : or to wait there for new orders.
It was refolved in the affirmative, for this reafon : that the mouth of Redftone river is the firft convenient place on Mononghela river ; that the magazines defign- ed for the company's ftores are ready to receive our ftores and proviilons ; and that occafionally, the heavy artillery may be tranfported by water, in cafe we mall think it convenient to attack the fort. Moreover, this will guard our people againft the evil confequences of inaction, and may be an encouragement to the Indians our allies, to adhere to our interefts. Upon this I de- termined on fending M. Wart to the governor * with one of the young favages, and an interpreter. I thought it alfo incumbent upon me to inform the governors of Maryland and Pennsylvania of this news. I fent back the other Indian to the Half-King, with the fpeech in- ferted in the following letter.
To the honourable Robert Diawiddie, Efq$ Governor, Ge~ neraly &c
Sir,
MWart, enfign in captain Trent's company, is # this day arrived from Mononghela, and has brought the melancholy news of the furrender of the fort the 17th inftant on the fummons made them by captain Contrecoeur, at the head of a body of French troops, confiding of above .a thoufand men : in his way from Venango, with eighteen pieces of cannon, fixty battoes, and three hundred canoes : and they have given leave to all our people to retire, with all the work- ing tools; which was done the fame day.
Being thus informed of this news, I called a council of war in order to confider of the moil proper meafures to be taken in thefecircumftances. I fend you a copy of the particulars, and refolutions of this council, and have charged the fame exprefs with it, for your more particular information.
* The governor of Virginia.
M. Wart
APPENDIX. 195
M. Wart is the bearer of the fummons and the meiTa- ges of the Half-King, in which I have included the it-rings of Wampum ; he is attended by one of the fa- vages, of whom mention is made in thefe fpeeches, who has been fent to view our forces, and to know the time they might expecl: our coming. I fent back the other favage with fpeeches.
I hope you will be (enable of the abfolute neceffity of fending us our forces as foon as they (hall be railed ; with a fufficient number of canoes, of which fome muft be large ^ and fome mortars for grenadoes, in order to be enabled to attack the French with an equal force. Per- haps it might be proper to invite the Cherokees, Caliv- bales, and the Chicachas, to come to our afllftance, as we are informed, that the Iroquois and the Outawas are coming down Sciodo Creek, in order to join the French, who are to aflemble on the Ohio. In that cafe I beg you will caufe them to be conducted here irj good order, that we may be able to prevail on them to make peace with the fix nations ; for I am informed from feveral parts, that there is no good undemanding amongft them, and that if they ihould be the firfl: at the Ohio, it might occafion a good deal of diforder, and end to our difadvantage.
We are fenfible of the great advantage of a water carriage ; therefore I would beg the favour of you to provide a number of canoes for that purpofe.
Captain Trent's people are arrived this day. They iiave been enlifted, by your orders, as militia men, The officers had imprudently promifed them twenty-four pence a day : they will not ferve at prefent for IqCs. M. Wart will receive your orders on this fubjecl:.
To his Excellency Horatio Sharp, Efq-> governor ^Mary- land.
c V
OIR,
I Arrived here with a detachment of an hundred and fifty men ; colonel Fry, with the remaining part of the regiment and the artillery is daily expected ; in the mean time we will crofs the mountains by eafy marches, I and
i96 APPEND! X.
and cut onrfelves roads as we advance, fo as to render the tranfporting of our cannon practicable. We pro- pofe going to the mouth of Redflone river, which falls into the Mononghela, about thirfy-feven miles on this fide of the fort which has been taken by the French, it being navigable to the Ohio.
There is a magazine built at that place by the Ohio company, which hereafter may contain our {lores and provifions.
Befides the French forces above-mentioned, there is reafon to believe from the reports which we have receiv- ed, that another party is coming to the Ohio. We have alfo advice, that fix hundred Indians, Chippoways and Olioways are coming down the r ver Sciodo in order to rejoin them.
This is my anfwer to the fpeeches of the Half-King.
To the Half -King, to the chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations, chevanons and wolves, our friends and our brothers.
I Have received your fpeech by brother Bucks, who came to us with the two young men in fix days after they had left you. We return you our moft fincere thanks, with hearts burning with affedion for you, for your conftant attachment, your gracious fpeech, and your wife counfels.
This young man will acquaint you with the place where he has met a fmall part of our army drawing to- wards your forts; being employed in clearing up the roads for a great number of our warriors, who are rea- dy to follow us with our heavy artillery, our ammunition and provifions.
I cannot poftpone making our hearts known to you. I therefore fend the young man with this fpeech in order to acquaint you therewith, having fent the other to the governor of Virginia with your fpeech, and your belt ; that he may be an eye-witnefs of the preparations which we are making, in order to come fpeediiy to the a'flift- ance of thofe, whofe interefts are as dear to us as our lives. We acknowledge the character of the treacherous
French
APPENDIX... 197
French ; and our conduct will evidently fhew boW much we have that at heart.
I (hall not be fatisfied unlefs I fee you, before all our forces are ailembled at the fort, which is on the way. 'Tis for this reafon that 1 earneflly wiih that you, belt and firing of Wampum, or at leaib one of you, wouh' meet us on the road, asibon as pcfiible, to alTiil us in counfel. I prefent you thefe firings to enforce my fpeech, that you may call to mind how much I am your brother and friend.
Signed VVafnin?ton or, Conotocanous. *
April 28. Received fome artillery- which were fent up to the mouth of Paterfon's river.
From April 29, //// May 11, this Journal contains no- thing hut ??iarckesi and other matters not very inter ejling.
THE nth of May; made a detachment of a party of twenty-five men under the command of captain Stephens, and enlign la Peyronie. They were di~ reeled to go to Mr. Gift's, and make exact enquiries where la Force \ and his party lay ; and in cafe he was in the neighbourhood, they were to go no farther, but to ie- cure themfelves. I ordered them likewife to fearch carefully the furrounding woods, -and to endeavour to nab fome ilraggling Frenchman, and to bring him, that we may get fome intelligence ; alio, to endeavour to find out whether 'tis poiTible to go down the- -river ; and to look out for fome convenient place about the mouth of Pvedftone river to build a fort on ; to pay a vifit to the Half-King, and to fend him here with a fmall efcort. They were likewife to get what infor- mation they could, relative to the French and their
* This prcbibiy is an Indian name aiTumed by M. Washington.
\ M. de la Force, is one of thofe French who attended M. de Jumonville." He had been about the beginning of May, detached with three other French, and lome Indians, in purfait oT fome de- ferters : and M. Washington had been informed of this by means of the favages.
f 2 fchemes;
198 APPENDIX.
fc'hemes ; what they had been doing, and what they further defigned to do : in fhort, to gather whatever might tend to give us any information.
12. We ftruck our tents and afcended an eminence, where we halted in order to dry ourfelves ; having been obliged to crofs a rapid river, where the fmalleft of our men had water up to their arm-pits.
An exprefs arrived with letters acquainting us, that colonel Fry was with a detachment of upwards of an hundred men at Winchefter, and that in a few days he would fet out in order to rejoin us; likewife that colonel Jnnis was on his march with three hundred and fifty men, raifed in Carolina: That it was expected Maryland would raife ten thoufand pounds (equal to fifty thoufand and five hundred livres) to pay the fol- diers of the other colonies, by way of amends for its furnifhing no men ; and that governor Shirley had fent nx hundred men to harafs the French in Canada.
I hope this will give them fome employment ; and will damp that fpirit with which they fend parties to the river Ohio.
1 6. We met two traders, who told us they had re- tired through fear of the French, of whom, parties were often feen towards M. Gift's habitation. Thefe traders are of opinion, with many others, that it is not pofiible to open a road for loaded carriages, from here to Redftone river.
17. This evening arrived M. Wart with the young Indian from Williamfbourg : he delivers a letter, in which the governor is kind enough to approve of my meafures, and expreifes his diffatisfaclion of captain Trent, whom he has ordered to be tried, for having, without orders, deferted his men on the Ohio. At the fame time the governor "informed me that captain Roy, with an independent company of a hundred men, exclufive of the officers, was arrived ; that we might expett them immediately, and that thofe of New-york would join us in lefs than ten days.
This evening likewife, arrived from the Ohio two Indians. They came from the French fort, from whence they fet out, about five days ago : they bring
word
APPENDIX. iQ9
word that the French employ all their forces in building their fort, which is railed already elbow high, and two fathoms in breadth ; the middle fpace being filled up with earth, ftone, &c.
All the neighbouring trees have been cut down and burned, and corn has been fown in their room. By their own account they are but eight hundred men ; the Indians are of opinion they were but fix hundred. A greater number is expected in a little time. They reckon they will then form a body of one thoufand fix hundred men ; with which they fay they will be able to bid defiance to the Engliih.
18. The waters being ftill high, I could not pro- ceed with my people and my baggage ; which made me refoive on putting myfelf in a polhire of defence againft any immediate attack of the enemy ; and to go myfelf down to make my obfervation on the river.
19. I difpatched to the Half-King, the young Indian returned with M. Wart, with the following fpeech.
To the Half-King, &c,
BROTHERS, I am rejoiced to hear of your being on your march to affift me with your counfeJs. Come on, brothers 5 march haftily towards your brother the Englishman ; for he is going to receive new fupplies, which will protect you againft your treacherous enemy the Frenchman I muft fend my friends to you, that you may be informed of the agreeable fpeech which was fent you by the governor of Virginia ; he is much grieved at the ill treatment which you have met with. The waters are fo {welled, we cannot repair haftily to you ; therefore I fend this young man to invite you to come to us: he can inform you of a great many things which he has ken at Virginia, and the good ufage he met with from the rnoft confiderable of the people. They have not behaved to him, as the French do to your people who vifit them at their fort • they deny them victuals : this young man has had all his heart could wife for. As a confirmation of the truth of all this, I give you a ftring of Wampum.
I 3 20. I
2co APPEND! X.
20. I embarked on a canoe along with lieutenant Weft, three foldiers and an Indian j and having gone the fpace of half a mile, we were obliged to land : where I met with Peter Suver, a trader, who feemed to difcourage me from puriuing my fearch after a paf- lage by water. This made me alter my intention of building canoes. I gave orders to march, the waters ■being low enough to pafs over ; notwithstanding, I Hill continued going clown along the banks of the river, and finding cur canoes not fnffieient to contain fix men, we ilopt and built a boat, by the means of which, and our other canoes, we got to the Turkey-foot (in French, pie de Diude). About eight or ten miles forwards, we met with feveral little impediments, which are of no ccnfequence, unlefs the waters ihould Hill happen to fall. We paffed feveral places fit for canoes.
21. We fpent fome time in examining the place, which we found to be a very fit fituation for a fort, be- ing at the confluence of the three branches, and meet- ing in moil places, with a good foft gravel-Hone foun- dation. The plan as it Hands here, is as good as I could draw it, without the help of inftruments.
We went about two miles to view the courfe of the river, which is narrow, has many currents, is full of rocks, and rapid ; we crofs'd it notwithflanding the water was pretty high : from which I am apt to think, that it would not be difficult to make it navigable for canoes -3 though it would be attended with fome trouble
Betides this, we met with other rapid Hreams \ but the water being lefs deep, and the current more quiet, we palled them with eafe. After this, we found few or no bottoms -3 the mountains lie clofe to both banks of the river. We went about ten miles lower down ; when we found ourfelves Hopped by a flrong current, which obliged us to land.
[From the 2 2d to the 24th, the Journal contains nothing but a defcription of the country.]
24. This morning arrived an Indian, accompanied by the young Indian whom I had fent to the Half- King, from whom he brought the following letter.
APPENDIX. 2or
To the firft of bis Majefljs Officers tvbom this may
" A ? lt '1S S'ven cut ^at tiie French army is on its " l\ march, to meet M. George Washington ; I *' recommend to you, brothers, to be on your guard " againft them ; for they propofe to themfelves to " ftrikethe firft Engliih they thai 1 fee: they have been " two days on their march already, I cannot fay in u what number. The Half-King, and the reft of the " chiefs, will join you in five days to hold a council. 44 I mall fay no more at prefent ; but defire my com- 5* pliments to my brothers the Engliih.1'
Signed
fbe. Half- King.
I endeavoured to get as much information as I could from thefe two young Indians, as to circumflances j but received not much fatisfaction from them.
They tell me there are parties frequently out ; but they know of no considerable ones coming this way. The French go on raifing their fort. What is towards the land, is well inclofed, but the part towards the water-iide, is much neglected, or at lead has no de- fence : they have but nine pieces of cannon, and ibme of thefe very fmall. There is none of them mounted : two of them are on the rock, and the others at fome diftance from the fort on the land fide.
They report likewife, that they have feveral fick a- mongthem, and that they cannot find lavages to guide their fmall parties towards our camp, thefe Indians hav- ing given them a denial.
The fame day we arrived at the meadows, where we met a trader -, who told us he was juft come from Mr. Gift's, where he had feen two Frenchmen laft night, and that he knew there was a ftrong detach- ment on its march. This confirmed the advices of the Half-King ; I therefore caufed the troops to retire be- 1 4 hind
2ca APPENDIX.
hind two intrench ments which were made by nature, and made alfo the waggons to go into the fame place.
The 25th I fent a fcouting party on horfe-back along the roads, and feveral other imall ones to beat up the woods. I gave directions to the horfemen to fearcn, the country well, and to endeavour at getting fome in- telligence of the French, their forces, and their mo- tions, &c. At night all thefe parties returned without making any difcovery, although they had been far e- nough the way, from which this party is faid to be co- ming.
26. Arrived William Jenkins, exprefs from colonel Fry ; and a letter from colonel Fairfax, who writes me word that the governor himfelf, colonels Corbin and Ludruelt, were arrived at Winchester, and defired to fee the Half- King at that place : on which I addrefs'd him fome fpeeches.
27. Mr. Gift arrived early with an account, that M. la Force with fifty men, whofe tracks he had difcovered at five miles from this place, went yefterday to his ha- bitation ; and that they would have killed a cow, and demolished every thing at his dwelling, had they not been hindred by two Indians to whom he had left the care of his houfe. I fent away on the fpot, a detach- ment of fixty-five men under the command of captain Hogg, lieutenant Mercer, and enfign la Peronie, three ferjeants, and three corporals with inftruclions.
The French had been making great enquiries at Mr. Gift's about the Half-King, I did not fail giving notice thereof to fome young Indians who were in our camp, which had the effect I defired. I gave them to under- ftand that the French meant to kill the Half-King : they offered to go, on the fpot, in purfuit of the French with our people ; and in cafe they had infulted or killed him, one of them was immediately to repair with the news to the village of Mingo, and raife the warriors to ftrike. One of thefe young men was detached towards Mr. Gift's fettlement, and in cafe he did not meet with the Half-King at that place, he was to fend him a fpeech by a Delaware. *
* This iuhfi name of an Indian aation.
Abou£
APPENDIX. 20}
About eight in the evening I received an exprefs from the Half-king, acquainting me that as he was coming along to join us, they had difcovered along the roads the tracks two of men, who defcended into a dark bottom : that he imagined the whole party was concealed in the fame place. That moment I fent out a party of forty men. I ordered my ftores to be hid, left this might be a ftratagem of the French to attack our camp. I left a guard for their defence ; and with the remainder I fet out myfelf in the midft of a very heavy rain ; the night being as dark as pitch, and along a path icarce Urge enough for one man : we often went aftray, and were fifteen or twenty minutes, before we could find out the road again j and we often knocked our heads together without feeing each other. We continued our march the whole night i and the 28th about fu;:-r;fe, wear- rived at the camp of the Indians ; where after we had held a council with the Half-King, we agreed to strike together. In confequence of this, he lent a couple of fcouts to fee whereabouts they were, and in what po- fture, and to reconnoitre the neighbouring grounds. After this we made our dilpofition in order to iurround them and we began our march in the Indian manner, one after another. We had advanced pretty near them according to our fyftem, when they difcovered us. I then gave orders to my troop to fire. Mine was fup- ported by that of M. Wager, and my troop and his re- ceived all that of the French, during the beft part of the engagement ; which held but a quarter of an hour, be- fore the enemy was routed.
We killed M. de Jumonville the commander of this party, with nine others: we wounded one, and made twenty-one priibners, among whom were M. de la Force, M. Drouillon, and two Cadets. The Indians fcalped the dead, and took mod of their arms. After this we marched with the priibners and their guard, to the camp of the Indians; where I again held a council with the Half-King. Here I acquainted him that the gover- nor defired to fee him, and expected him at Winchefter. His anfwer was; that was impofTible for the prefent ; his people being in too imminent a danger from the I 5 French,
•204- A P P E N D I X.
French, whom they had jnft ftrack. That it was nc- ceQbty he fhould fend couriers to all the allied nations, to invite them to take up the Hatchet ; which he did : and added thereto a French fcalp which he fcnt to the Delawares by one of their young people. This man defired to have a part of the prefents which were de- signed for them ; and that the reft might be kept for another occafion. He propofed to himfelf to return to his ramily, in order to conduct them and feveral others towards M. Gift's fettlement, where I was to fend fome horfes and men to aflift their coming to the camp. Af- ter this I fet out with the prifoners -> they informed me that they had been fent with a warning to caufe me to withdraw. This was a fpecious pretext trumped up in order to difcover our camp and take a view of our forces, and our fituation. Their defign of reconnoitring us was fo evident, that I could not help admiring their af- furance, in declaring to me they were come with an embafTy. Their inftruclions were, to take a view of the roads, rivers, and the country all the way to Potomack : inftead of coming like ambaiTadors, in a public and open manner, they come with the greateft fecrecy, and feek the mod hidden places of retirement, and much more fuitable for deferters than ambafTadors ; they en- camp in thefe places ; they remain there whole days concealed, though but within five miles of us >, they fend out fpies to reconnoitre our camp; the whole trcop gees two miles back ; two couriers, of whom mention is made in the inftru&ipns, are fenfc to advife M. Coni:recoeur of the place where we were, and our dif- pofition ; that he may be enabled to fend his detach- ments in order to reform the fummons as foon as it ihould be made.
Befides this, the attendance was indeed fuch as might have become an ambafTador, whereas, it was but a lit- tle fimple French officer : what need had an AmbafTa- dor, whofe character is always facred, of fpies? when their defigns were fo good, how came they to remain two days within five miles of us, without communicat- ing to me the fummons, or any thing that had a rela- tion to this embafTy ? This alone would be fufficient to
give
APPENDIX. 205
give the ftrongeft fufpicions ; and it is but doing them juilice to fay, that their defign being to conceal them- felves, they could not have pitched upon a better place. The fummons is fo iniblent, and favours fo much of gafconade, that if two men came and brought it openly, it were exceilive indulgence to fuffer them to go back. The Half-Kings fentiment on this occafion is, that they had bad defigns and that it was a mere pretext ; that they never deiigned to come to us but as enemies, and that had we been fools enough to let them go, they never would have afllfted us more in taking Frenchmen. They pretend they no fooner faw us, than they called out to us ; which is abfolutely falfe ; for I was at the head of the body that marched towards them, and I can affirm, that they no fooner had fpied us than they ran to their arms, without calling out to us; which I mull have heard had they done it.
The 29th I difpatched enfign Latour to the Half- King, with about twenty:five men and almoil an equal number of horfes; and as I expected that fome other French parties would follow the one that was defeated, I lent away an exprefs to colonel Fry in oider to have a reinforcement.
After this the French wanted to fpeak with me, and defired to know upon what footing I confidered them,, whether as being attendants on an ambaifador, or pri- foners of war. I told them it was in this latter capacity j, and gave them my reafons as above.
The 30th I detached Mr. Wart and M. Spindorph, in order to conduct the prifoners to Winchefler under an efcort of twenty men.
Being appreheniive that the news of this defeat would no fooner reach the French, than we mould be attacked with confiderable forces, I began to erect a fort with -a fmall pallifade.
June 1 , arrived a trader with the Half-King : they fay- that at the fame time M. de Jumonville had been lent here, another party Was fent down the river in order to take and kill all the Engliih they mould meet. We nniih our fort.
Towards
206 APPENDIX.
Towards the evening arrives M. Touvers, enfign„ with the Half-King, the Queen AJguipa (a) and about five and twenty or thirty families, amounting to about eighty or an hundred perfons women and children in- cluded The old king (b) being invited to our tents, tells me he has fent Monokatoocha to Logftown with a iking, and four French fcalps, which were to be fent to the fix nations, to the Owendo's, &c in order to givs them notice, that he had {truck the French, and de- lire their affiftance in the fupport of the firft blow.
He gave me alio to underftand he had fomething to offer to the council, but that he would poftpone what he had to fay till the arrival of the Chavanons, whom we expected the next day.
The 2d arrived two or three families of the Shawa- nons and Wolves. Prayers were read in the fort.
The 3d the Half King calls a council, and informs me of his having received, fome time fince, a fpeech from the Great Kettle, in anfwer to that he had knt him.
The 5th, arrived an Indian from the Ohio, who had gone lately to the French fort : he brings confirmation of the news of the taking of two traders by the French, and their being fent to Canada : he fays they have {tuck their pallifades in the ground, and ihut up the avenues of their fort by means of very large trees.
.Eight Indian families from this fide the rivei are com~ ing to join us ; he has met one of the French, who had made his efcape from M. de Jumonville's engagement. He was without fhoes, {lockings, and almoft unable to walk ; but he let him pafs, as he was ignorant of their having been {buck.
The 6th M. Gift returned ; he acquaints me with the death of pooi; colonel Fry, and that the French pri- foners are arrived all fafe at Winchefter, which gave the governor great fatisfaction.
I am alio informed, that M. Montour is coming witk a commiifion. to command two hundred Indians.
(a) The wife of a favage, created queen by the Englifh. lb) Another favage chief,
M. Gift
APPENDIX. 207
M. Gift met a French deferter, who afTured him they were but five hundred ftrong, when they took M. Wart's fort, and that their number was now decreafed, having difpatched fifteen men to Canada, to acquaint the go- vernor with their fuccefs ; that there were ftill two hun« dred foldiers, who waited only a favourable opportuni- ty to come away and join us.
The 9th the laft divinon of the Virginia regiment ar- rived under the command of colonel Mult. We are informed that the independent company of Carolina is arrived at Will's Creek.
The 10th I received the regiment; and towards the evening I had notice that fome French were coming to- wards us : on this I fent fome Indians to beat up the grounds towards Gift's habitation, in hopes of difcover- ing them, and finding out their number. In the begin- ning of the night we had an alarm, but it proved a falfe one.
The 1 2th two of the fcouts whom we had fent out yefterday returned, having fpied a fmall party of French ; the others went on to Stuart's. Upon hearing this I judged it advifeable to fet out with the major part of the regiment, in order to fall in with thefe ninety men, whom we had notice of; in confequence of this refohii- tion I gave colonel Muft orders to remove all our baggage and military ftores, to lodge them in the fort, and to poft a ftrong guard on them till fuch time as I returned. I fet out myfelf at the head of an hundred and thirty men, and about thirty favages ; but at the diftance of about half a mile I met with the other Indians, who told me this party confided only of nine deferters; then I fent M. Montour with fome Indians, in order to conduct them fafe- I ordered them cloaths, and they confirmed our conjecture, as to the defign of the party commanded by M. de jumonville, and that there are above one hun- dred foldiers who wait only for a favourable opportunity to come and join us. That M. de Contrecaeur expected a reinforcement of four hundred men : and that thefe four hundred fhould have arrived fome time before the blow given to la Force. That the fort was complete $ that the gates and the from thereof were fcreened from
anjf
208 APPENDIX.
any artillery ; that on the water fide there were double pallifadoes; that they have but eight fmall pieces of cannon, and that they know our number.
They alfo informed us, that the Delawares and the Shawanons, have taken up the hatchet againft us : on which it was refolved to invite thefe two nations to a conference at M. Gift's. Sent for that purpofe meffen- gers and Belts.
The 1 3th I perfuaded thefe deferters to write to their comrades, who are difpofed to defert, the following letter.
This letter is not in the journal.
1 5. Ordered the people to work at the roads.
16. We fet out for the red river, and we were under great embaraiTments ; our waggons having broke down feveral times.
17. I difpatched an exprefs to the Half-King, to de- fire he would fend to the Wolves ; which he has done as I expected.
18. Arrived eight Mingos from Logs-town, who im- mediately on their arrival talk to me of a commiilion which they are entrufted with, and fay that a council muft be called. Being met, they faid in a few words, that they had often wiihed to fee their brothers in the field with their forces, and begged we would not think ill of them, for that being among the French, they conformed with fome of their cuftoms : that they were naturally inclined to ftrike the French, and feveral other things to that purpofe : after this they told us, they had brought a fpeech, and that they muft fet about it immediately. That, with fomething elfe, gave us fome fufpicion of their being ill difpofed towards us ; and it was for this reafon I poftponed giving them audience, until the ar- rival of the Half-King. I defired alfo the Delawares to have patience until the fame time, as I waited only for their arrival to call a council, and that I reckoned on their arriving that very day. After the eight Mingos had withdrawn from their council, they fent me fome firings of wampum, to defire I would excufe their being in fuch hafte to deliver their fpeech ; but that they wde fenfible it was juft to. wait the arrival of the Half King.
The
APPENDIX. 209
The Half-King being arrived, I confented to give them audience. A council was held to that purpofe in the camp ; at which were prefent the Half-King, and feveraJ Iroquois, Wolves, Shawanons, to the number of forty.
The fpeech-maker of the fix nations addrefTed this fpeech to the governor of Virginia.
" Brothers,
We, your brothers of the Six nations, are now come to meet you, and acquaint you that we have heard you threaten to deflroy, entirely, all your brothers, the In- dians, who would not come and join you on the road Wherefore it is, that we, who remain in our villages, ex- pect every day to be cut into pieces by you. We would fain know the truth of this news from yourfelves; and we hope you will not take it amifs that we are come to in- form ourfelves thereof; fmce you know very well, bad news makes a far greater impreflion on us than good That by your anfwer we may be fully informed of the truth, we prefent you with this firing.
We know the French on our return will ask us, In what number are our brothers whom we have been to vifit ? We therefore by this firing defire you would tell us ; as likewife the number of thofe you expeft ; againft what time, and when you propofe to attack the French • that we may advife our village thereof, and alfo know what v/e may fay to the French." Answer.
Brothers, we are glad to fee you, and very forry you fhould be difturbed by any reports tending to make you believe the Englifh defign doing any harm to any of you or your allies. This news, we fee, has been forged by tne French man, who is a traytor, and ready to affirm the greatefl falfhoods, whenever he thinks it can be of fervice to him. He has a fine tongue, promifes the fineft things, but all this is from the lips only • while his heart contains nothing but corruption, and the poifon of the ferpent. You have been their children, and they would have done to be fure, everything for you; but they no fooner fancied themfelves ftrong enough, than they
liave
aio APPENDIX.
have naturally re-afTumed their haughty airs, have dri- ven you out of your own country, and declared you had nothing on the Ohio. The Englifh, who are your true brothers, have too much generofity to think the fix nations, their faithful allies, fhould ever be treated in this manner. After you had been with the governors of Virgi- nia and Pennfylvania, they have at your repeated requefts, fent an army to fupport your rights, to put you in poffeffion of your lands, to guard your women and children, to difpofTefs the French, maintain your rights, and fecure you all this country : this is the bufmefs in which the arms of the Engliih are now employed: 'tis for the fafety of your women and children that we fight; as that is the true motive of our conduct, we cannot reafonably doubt but the reft of your forces will join us to fight the common enemy. Thofe who will not come in, will be refponfible for the confequences. We only wiih that our brothers may embrace the party that fhall 3ppear to them moll proper.
The fix nations are thofe that are principally con- cerned in this war ; for them it is we fight ; and I mould siever forgive myfelf if I did them the leaft harm. 'Tis to afTift you, and to protect you, that we fight j our arms are open to receive you, and our hands are ready to feed your families during the courfe of the war. The go- vernor of Virginia has feveral times defired they fhould be fent him, that he might behold them with his own eyes, fed and cloathed to their mind ; but as you can- not prevail on yourfelves to fend them to him, we are ready to mare with you in a friendly manner, our pro- vifions ; and we fhall take proper meafures, and give orders, that a fufHcient quantity be brought wherewithal to maintain and clothe your women and children. From this conduct it is evident, how much greater i3 the efteem which the Engliih bear their faithful allies the Six na- tions, than.that which the French bear them. As we have drawn the fword in your defence, and for your caufe, delay not a moment longer to put your women and children under our protection ; there they will find abundance of provifions. At the fame time let your young men and warriors fet about whetting their hatchets
m
APPENDIX. 2ir
in order to join us, and unite themfelves to us vigoroufly in our battles. Brothers, the prefent which I offer you, k not fo confiderable as I could naturally wiih ; but I expect in a little time to receive a great quantity of mer- chandife, which I fhall have at my difpofal, to reward1 thofe who will give proofs of their valour and activity on this occafion. For the reft I will reward them in the moft generous manner.
Take courage, brothers, refcue your country, and fecure it for your children, lay your hearts open to me on this occafion ; that I may be enabled to give an ac- counf of your fentiments to your great friend and bro- ther the governor of Virginia. As an affurance of my fincerity and efteem, I prefent you this belt of wam- pum.
The 20th, another council.
The Delawares no fooner found that they were fuf- fpected of favouring the French interefts, than they de- fired to know the reafon of their having been fent for, and what was necelTary for them to fay on their return.
I anfwered, it was to acquaint them, that it was in compliance with their repeated folicitations we had come with an armed force to their afMance ; that our defign was to reinftate them in the poffeiTion of the lands which the Frenchman had taken away from them.
That as they had often claimed our affiftance, in the quality of antient and faithful allies, I invited them to come and put themfelves under our protection, with their women and children.
Upon this the fpeech-bearer ftretched his quilt on the floor, and on this quilt he placed feveral belts and firings of wampum in the order he had received them in from the French.
Here are repeated the fpeeches of Mr. Contrecceur 5 after which the Delawar fpeaker addrefled me in the fol- lowing fpeeches.
* Major Wafiiington does not mention in his journal what thefc fpeeches of the French were.
** Brothers,.
2i2 APPENDIX.
" Brothers, The governors of Virginia and Pennfylvania, we your brothers the Delawares recollect perfectly the treaty of Logfiown, where you and your uncles the fix na- tions, taking into confideratibn the bad fituation we were in on account of our wanting a man to be at our head to conduct us, gave us a king, and told us he would tranfact in all public matters between you and us. You recommended to us not to give ear to all the idle rumours which ihould be fpread, but to confult our own interefts well, and do what would feem to us right : we can allure you, we have not given credit to all thefe re- ports ; nor ihall we ever give any credit to fuch ; but that we will be led by you, our brothers, and by our uncles the fix nations, and do on every bccafion, what ihall be juft, and what you fliall advife us to do. As an affurance of our difpolition to fulfil our engagements with you, we prefent you this belt."
After this, they made the following fpeech to the fix nations.
" Uncles, 'Tis thirteen days fince we have received from the Council of Onondago this belt ; we doubt not but you have been apprifed of it. He exhorted us to recollect the old time when he covered us with a robe that de- fcended to our heels : He afterwards defired we would tuck it up to our knees, and tye it well, and meet them at the fource of the Sifquehana, where he has prepared a place for us to live at, and that he has fent his fpeech to thofe of our nation, who live on the fide of the Mi- nifintesj inviting them to the place which he had pitch- ed on to live along with us. He has alfo fent us a fpeech to acquaint us that the Englishman and the Frenchman were on the point of coming to blows on the river Ohio i and he exhorted us to do nothing in this con- juncture but what was reafonable, and will himfelf tell us ; laflly, he recommended to us to keep faft hold of the chain of iiiendfhip, which has been a long while,
fubfifting
APPENDIX. 213
fubfifting "between us, him, and our brothers the Eng- Jiih." A Belt.
After this the Delawares fpoke to the Chevanons as follows.
" Grand children, by this firing we take you in our arms, and we withdraw you from the place you are now at on the Ohio, and we carry you along with u? to live where we live, and where you and we may iive in peace and tranquillity."
After this the council adjourned to the next day in the morning.
The 2 1 ft we met very early, when I immediately fpoke to the Delawares in the following manner.
Brothers, by your open and generous conduct on this occafion, you have become dearer to us than ever : we thank you for not going to Venango upon the firft invi- tation of the Frenchman -, and his chifdiih treatment of you, has raifed in us a juft and warm refentment : he calls you his children and talks to you in reality, as if you were children, and had no more fenfe than children. Weigh well, brothers, and compare all their fpeeches together, you will find that every thing they contain may be reduced to this 5 I am going to clear your eyes, open your ears, and fuch like fu- tilities ; fuch as are made ufe of to amufe children withal. You will likewife obferve, brothers, that if they give their word or make a promife, and confirm it with a belt, they think themfelves no longer obligated thereby, than they efteem it their intereft to keep it. They have given an inftance of this, which I am willing to obferve to you, in the leap which, they fay, they have taken over the barrier which you had oppofed to them : this ought, brothers, to infpire you with the moft juft indignation, and induce you to lay hold on the favourable opportuni- ty which we offer to you, being come, at your requeft, to aflift you; by which means you have it in your power to make them leap back again, much quicker than they had come forwards.
A String
2H APPENDIX.
A String of Wampum.
The French are conftantly defiring you not to liften to the ill reports which will be fpread of them who are your fathers. If they were not fenfible in their own minds how much they deferve it by their unjuft proce- dure towards you ; why mould they fufpett that they are impeached ? why fhould they take fo much care to prevent you from giving credit to what will be faid a- gainft them ? As to what they will tell you to our pre- judice, our conduct alone will be our anfwer.
Enquire yourfelves into the truth; you know the roads which lead to our fettlements ; you have lived among us ; you can fpeak our language. But in order to confute what might be faid, and give alfurances of our brotherly friendship ; we invite anew your old men, your women and your children, to take refuge under our protection, and between our arms, where you will be plentifully maintained ; while your warriors and your young people will unite with ours, and efpoufe the common caufe.
A String.
We return you our hearty thanks, brothers, for your declaration j that you are in a determined refolution to fulfill the engagements you have entered into, by the treaty of Logftown. And we cannot help applauding your generous conduct towards your grand-children the Shawanefe. It gives us infinite pleafure.
We are greatly obliged to Onondago for the advice he has given, to keep faft hold of the chain of friend- ship which ties us. I dare fay, if he had known how nearly this war concerns you ; or that it was for your fakes, and at your requeft that we have taken up arms, he would have commanded you to declare yourfelves, and to proceed without delay to action, againlt the com- mon enemy of the Six-nations.
To convince you of my affection, and as a confir- mation of the truth of what I have told you ; I prefent you this belt.
Gave two large Strings.
After
APPENDIX. zi5
After this the council broke up : and thefe treache- rous devils who had been fent by the French in order to make obfervations, returned back ; not being how- ever unprovided with forne difcourfes prepared on pur- pofe to amufe the French, and to favour the fuccefs of our own fchemes.
As they had i'poke to me of fixteen hundred French, and feven hundred Indians, who, they faid, were on their march to reinforce thofe at the fort^ I prevailed on the Half-King, to fend three of his people in order to be informed of the truth of the matter ; notwithstand- ing I was of opinion this news had no other foundation, than the talk of the common foldiers. Thefe Indians were difpatched privately, before the council broke up, with orders to repair to the fort, and get information of all the Indians they mould meet there : and if they ihould learn any thing worth while ; one of them was to return while the two others were to proceed on their journey to Venango, and round the lake, in order to be fully informed of the whole.
I prevailed alfo on King Schingues to keep fcouts out on the river, in order to give us news in cafe of the approach of any French. I gave him a letter which he was to fend me by his Runners, jto prevent being im- pofed on, or receiving falfe alarms. Although we had not fucceeded in perfuading King Schingues, and the other ancient Delawares, to take ihelter in our camp with their families, becaufe they flood in great awe of the council of Onondago ; yet they gave us the ftrongeft aiTurances of afTiftance, and pointed out to us the means by which I was to go about attaining our ends; which was to have in readinefs a great War-belt, in or- der to invite thofe who were willing to receive it, and aft independently of their king and the council. King Schingues promifed to ufe, underhand, the moft fubtle means to bring this matter to bear ; though he durft not appear in it openly.
The very day the council broke up, I prevailed on Raquehufton a Delaware, on whom I could depend, to carry to the fort a letter which the French deferters had writ to their fellow-foldiers j and I gave him inftrufti-
ons
216 APPENDIX.
ons relative to the manner he was to conduct himfelf, in his obfervations on feveral articles which I mentioned to him. And indeed, I am thoroughly fatisbed of the poilibility of furprifing the fort ; in as much as the French encamp outfide of it, and that the duty cannot be performed exactly, on account of the works which they are employed in.
I alfo employed George, another trufly Delaware, to vifit the fort in a little time after Raquehuiton ; and furniihed him with proper in ftruclions ; recommending to him at the fame time in a fpecial manner, to return quickly ; that we might be fupplied with frefli news.
The council was no fooner broke up, and the De- Iawares, as alfo the Half-King, and all the other Indians, notwithstanding ail that M. Montour could fay to dif- fuade them from it, returned back to the great mea- dow. In order to make amends for the lofs of thefe Indians, I was obliged to keep fcouts out conflantly of our own people, to guard againfl all kinds of furprife.
Having been told that if I fent a firing of Wampum and a fpeech, the Half-King and his young men might be prevailed on to come back. I fent the following fpeech by M. Croghon.
" It is now fome little time fince you and we have been met. We have fent by your brother the governor of Virginia, at your own requeft, repeated feveral times, in order to affift you and fight your caufe. It is there- fore for that reafon that I mufl requefl of you, brothers, that you and your young men do come to join us, and encamp with us ; to the end that we may hold ourfelves in readinefs to receive our brother Monacotoca, whom I expect every day. That this requefl may be attended with the defired effect, and make the proper impref- fion on your minds, I prefent you this firing of Wam- pum.
As thefe Indians who were fpies for the French, ap- peared very curious ; and ufed to afk feveral queflions, in order to know by what road we propofed to march to the fort; and when we expected to arrive there, I made the people give over working on the road, and ceafed to carry it on any farther. I told them after this,
wre
APPENDIX. 217
we intended to go on with it through the woods, as far as the fort, by cutting down the trees, &c. and that here we waited for the reinforcement, which was coming to us ; together with our artillery and our Waggons, in order to take them along with us : but no fooner were thefe people gone, than I ordered the road to be open- ed, and carried towards Redflone
25. 7'owards the evening arrived from the Great- meadows three men ; among whom is the fon of queen Aliguipa. He brings me a letter from Mr. Croghon, acquainting me of the difficulties he meets with in finding any Indian that is difpofed to come : that indeed, the Half-King was difpofed and preparing to come and join us ; but that he was prevented from it by a blow which he received. I thought it proper therefore todifpatch M. Montour to the fort of neceffi- tyy in order to try whether it was not poifible to prevail on the Indians to come to us.
26. Arrives an Indian, who brings word that Mona- cathoca has burned his village (Logftown -,) and has fet out by water, for Redfione, with his people; where he may be expected to arrive in two days. This Indian has palled by the fort, and atfures us the French have received no reinforcement, except a fmail number of Indians, who, he fays, have killed two or three Dela- wares, I failed not to relate this piece of news, and to reprefent it in its propereft colours to the Indians ; and particularly to two Delawares, who are here.
27. I detached captain Lewis, lieutenant Wagghe- ner, and enfign Mercer ; two ferjeants, two corporals, a drum and fixty men, to endeavour to carry on the road to the place where Redftone-river difcharges itfelf into the Mononghela.
NUMBER II.
Journal of the Campaign of M. Villiers.
I Arrived at fort du Quefne the 26th of June, about eight o'clock in the morning, with the feveral nati- ons, of which the general had given me the command.
I was
2i3 APPENDIX.
I was informed on my arrival, that M. de Contre- coeur had made a detachment of five hundred French, and eleven Savages of the different nations of the Fair river ; the command of which he had intruded to M. le Mercier ; who was to fet out the next day.
As I was this officer's fenior ; that I commanded the Six-nations ; and that my * brother had been aiTaffina- ted : M. de Contrecoeur honoured me with this com- mand ; and M. le Mercier, though deprived of it, gave me to underftand, it would give him great pleafurc to ferve the campaign under my orders.
M. de Contrecoeur, called MefT. le Mercier, Longevil, &nd myfelf together, in order to deliberate on what was proper to be done during the campaign ; taking into confideration the fituation, the ftrength of the enemy, the alTailination which they had committed on us, and the peace which it was our defign to maintain between the two crowns.
28. I received my orders from M. Contrecoeur : the provifions were given out ; every one embarked ; and we let out from the fort about ten in the morning.
From this moment I began to employ Indian runners by land, to prevent being in any way furprifed.
I went to fpend the night about fix or eight acres above the nrft fork of the river Mononghela ; though I had no intention to make this my way. I called the Savages together and defired their advice. It was de- termined, though a longer way, to proceed by the river Mononghela.
29. Mafs was faid at the camp ; after which we fet out on our march, with the ufual precautions.
30. We came to the Stock-houfe f which was built "by laying pieces of timber one over the other, well join- ed together : the building was about thirty feet in length, by twenty two in breadth. As it was late, and that I would do nothing without confulting the Savages, I encamped about two gun fhots from this place.
I called the leaders together that evening, and we deliberated about the precautions which were proper for
* M. de Jumonville.
% This Stock-houfe had been built by the Englifli.
us
APPENDIX. 219
us to take for the fecurity of our wheel-carriages, the proviiions which we intended to leave in referve, and the people who were to guard them.
July i . We went and put our wrheel-carriages in a fecure place. We c'ifpofed in order our effects, and whatever elle we could difpenfe with in the Stock-houfe. I left to guard them a good ferjeant and twenty men, and a few lick Savages. Some ammunition was ihared out, and on we marched. About eleven o'clock we fpied fome human tracks, which gave us a fulpicion of our being difcovered.
About- three in the afternoon, having had no account of our fcouts, I lent out fome others, who fell in with the nrit They miitook each other, and were juft going to fire at one another ; but luckily they found out their miftaxke. They came to us, and decla/ed, that they had been as far as rhe road which the Engliih were mak- ing ; that they had feen no body there ; and that it w?as apparent no body had been there for about three days : we no longer doubted but the Engliih were apprifed of our fleps.
2. At break of day, we fet out on our march, without waiting the arrival of the fcouts. After I had marched for fome time, I ftopped and determined not to proceed farther, till fuch time as I received fome positive ac- count. I difpached fome fcouts towards the road : in the interim arrived fome of the Savages whom I had left behind at the Stock-houfe. They had made a prifoner who faid he was a deferter ; 1 examined him, and threatened him with hanging, if he attempted to impofe upon me. I was informed the Engliih had deferted their poll:, in order to draw near their fort; and that they took with them likewife their cannon.
Some of our people difcovered the camp which had been abandoned by the Engliih • and thither we went. I fent out fcouts, and took care to have everyplace fearch- ed. A great many inilruments and other utenfils were found concealed, which I ordered to be taken away. It feeing late I caufed my detachment toencamp at this place. I again fet about afking the Englifhman more quefti- ons, continuing to frighten him and likewife to Hatter K him,,
220 APPENDIX.
him, with the hopes of being rewarded. I communi- cated to the Savages whatever difcoveries I made, and my refolution not to expofe them rafhly. It rained the whole night.
3. At day-break I prepared to march. I invited the Savages to fupply me with fcouts. The weather inclin- ed to be rainy; but i forefaw the neceihty of prevent- ing the enemy, before they had raifed the woiks which they might refoive on.
We marched the whole day through the rain, and I fent out fcout after fcout : I flopped at the place where my brother had been affafiinated ; and here I faw fome human carcafes (till remaining.
Being now about three quarters of a league from the Engliih fort, I made each officer to march in a column at his refpe&ive divifion, in order to have it in my power to difpofe of them as the exigency fliould require.
I fent fcouts who were to go clofe to the camp, and twenty more to fupport them ; and I advanced my (elf in order ; when fome of my people returned to tell me that we were difcovered ; and that the Englrlh approach- ed in order of battle to attack us : as it was faid they "were juft clofe to me I put my troops in order of battle, and in a manner agreeable to the wood-fighting. It was not long before I perceived that my fcouts had led me wrong j and I gave orders to my troops to advance to- wards that fide from whence I apprehended an attack.
As we were not acquainted with the ground, we pre- fented our flank to the fort from whence they began to cannonade us: I perceived almofl at the fame time, to the right, the Engliih coming towards us in order of battle. The Savages, and we alfo, fet up the cry, and advanced to meet them : but they gave us not time to make our difcharge : they filed oif, and withdrew into an intrenchment which lay contiguous to their fort. We then fent ourielves about inverting the fort: it was ad- vantageoufly enough fituated in a miadow, the wood of which was within mufket (hot of it. We came as clofe to them as it was poflible, to the end that his Majefty's fubjecls might not be expofed without neceflity : the lire was pretty brifk on both fides, and I repaired to the
place
APPENDIX. 22i
plaec which appeared mod to favour a Tally. We &o ceeded in filencing the fire of their cannon, I may lay, with our irnall arms.
The enemy's fire began again at fix o'Clock, with more fury than ever, and laded till eight o'Clock. We returned it briikly. We took the proper meaiiires for fecuring our poits, and keeping the Engiiih clofe in their fort during the night. When we had put ourfekes into the belt pofition poifible, we caufed it to be cried out, that if the Engliih were deiir-ous to fpeak to us, we would ceafe firing: they accepted the propofal, and there came a captain to that part of the attack where I was. I detached iv'I. le Mercier to receive him, and I w7ent myfelf into the meadow ; here we told them, that as we were not in war, we were willing to deliver them from the cruelties to which a more obltinate refinance would expofe them from the favages ; that this very night we would take away from them all hopes of flip- ping away from us. That we now condeicended to ihew them mercy, as we were come only with a view to take revenge for the murder which they committed on my brother, in violation of the moil facred laws ; and to oblige them to quit the King's territories ; and we agreed with them to grant them the capitulation, of which a copy is annexed. (See p. 1$.)
We considered, that nothing could be more advan- tageous to the nation than this capitulation ; it not being natural, that we mould make prifoners of war in time of peace. We made the Englifh agree to give it us under their hands, that they had committed an aiTafiination on us, in the camp of my brother. We had hoflages as fureties for the French whom they .had in their power : we compelled them to evacuate the country belonging to the King. We obliged them to leave us their cannon Avhich confifted of nine pieces. We had already de- flroyed all their horfes and black cattle ; and we made them fxill give u under their hands, that the favour we (hewed them, was only to prove to them, how greatly we defire to treat them as friends.
That very evening the articles of capitulation were
figned : and I had in my camp the hofb ges I required.
K z The
222 APPENDIX.
The 4th, at peep of day, I lent a detachment to take poflefiion of the fort ; the garrifon filed off, and the number of their dead and wounded raifed compafTionin me, notwithflanding my refentment of the manner in which they had made away with my brother.
The favages, who had in every refpecl:, complied with my defires, had laid claim to the pillage. I oppof- ed it, but the confirmation of the Englifli- was fo great, that they ran away, and left behind them even their flag, and a pair of their colours. I demolifhed their fort, and M. le Mercier caufed their cannon to be de- ffroyed, together with the one which had been granted them by their capitulation, the Englifli not being able to take it away.
I haftened away, after having firft deftroyed the calks of lia^or, in order to obviate the diforders which they muft have infallibly occafioned : one of my favages took ten Englifh and brought them to me : I fent them away by another.
1 loft in this attack only two French and one Pany (/?), I had feventeen wounded, of whom were two favages ; exclufive of feveral wounds fo flight as not to require the furgeon's afliftance.
I marched this day about two leagues, snd caufed our chief fick to be carried on litters by tietachments.
The 5th I arrived about nine o'Clock at the camp, which had been abandoned by the Englifli. I ordered the intrenchments to be demolifhed, and the houfes to "be burnt to alhes. This done, I marched on, after having detached M. de la Chavignerie to burn all the houfes in the neighbourhood. I encamped at three leagues diftance.
7 he 6th I kt out early in the morning to the place where we left our waggons, and arrived there about ten o'clock : we put our wheel-carriages in order, diilributed provifions to the detachment, carried off the reft, and tound fome things concealed. After which we burned the hangard. I embarked and went on till fix o'clock in the afternoon ; when I was obliged to encamp upon ac- count of very heavy rains.
{a) The name of i kva^e habitation.
The
APPENDIX. 223
The 7th I continued to march, after having detached M. de la Chavignerie to inform M. de Contrecceur of the fuccefs of our campaign. I burned as I went along all the fettlements I met with, and I made a furrender about four o'clock, of my detachment to M. Contrecceur.
NUMBER III.
Inflruflions given to General Braddock by bis Brilannick Mtijejly.
George R.
iNtiruftions for our trufty and well-beloved Edward Braddock, Efqj major-general of our armies, whom we have appointed general and commander of all and every of cur troops and forces, which are actually in North America, or which may hereafter be fent thither, or therein railed j to vindicate our juft rights and our poifeifions in thefe parts. Given at our palace of St. James's, the 25th of November 1754, and of our reign the 28th.
Whereas, by our com million dated the 24th of Sep- tember lad, we have appointed you general and com- mander of all and every our forces which are, or here- after (hall be in North America : In order that you may be the better enabled to anfwer the confidence of which we have given you that teilimony, we have thought proper to give you the infractions that follow.
1. We, having given our moil ferious attention to the reprelentatiohs of our fubjects of North America, and to the prefent itate of our colonies ; to the end that our jiift rights and pofTeuions may be guarded againft all encroachments, and the trade of our lubjetts fecured 5 have given directions, that two of our regiments of foot, which are now in Ireland, commanded by Sir Peter Halket and colonel Dunbar, be immediately fent over to America, with a fuitable train of artillery, tranfports, 3nd provifions, under the convoy of a certain number of our Ihips of war.
2. Upon receiving our prefent mftni&ions, you mall embark on board one of our mips of war, and you
K 3 mail
224 APPENDIX.
ihall make fail for North America, where you will take upon you the command of our forces ; and whereas we have appointed Auguftus Keppel to command the fqua- ciron of our ihips of war in the American feas, we re- quire and enjoin you to maintain a perfect understanding and correfpondence with him, fo long as you ihall be employed in the fervice you are now in j and we have given the fame orders to the faid commander of our iquadron, with regard to the conduct and the cor- jefpondence which he is to hold with you.
3. And whereas a number of men mail be wanting to compleaf our faid regiments, which are to be com- pofed of between five and feven hundred men each j and our intention being ; that there be forthwith raifed two other regiments of infantry, compofed of a thou- fand men each, to be commanded by governor Shirley and Sir William Pepperel, whom we have appointed to be colonels thereof, in our provinces and colonies of America 5 we have given our orders that the rendezvous of the regiment under the command of the former mail be at Boiton, and that under the command of the latter at New York and Philadelphia ; and that our feveral governors fnall take beforehand the meafures neceiTary to contribute to their utmoft, fo as to have about three thoufand men in readinefs to be enlifted for this purpofe, who are in proportion to the number that mall be raifed to be put under your command, and are there to be fub- ject to the diftribution which you ihall make of them in the above-mentioned corps.
And whereas v/e have thought proper to detach Sir John Saint-Clair our quarter mailer general, and James Petcher, Efq; our commifiary for mufters and reviews in America, to the end that they may make all necefTary preparations againft the arrival of the two regiments from Europe, and for the raifmg of the forces above- mentioned ; you ihall inform yourfelf immediately upon your arrival, of the governors who ihall be the neareit at hand, and in time and place of all the governors, and likewife of the quarter-mailer-general, and the muiter- mafter-general, what progrefs they Ihall have refpe&iveiy
made
APPENDIX. 225
made in the execution of our above orders, to the en& that you may be able to a£t in confequence.
4. It having been reprefented to us, that the forces of Cork, which are to go over under your command, may want provisions on their arrival in America, we have caufed to be fhipped, &c.
5. Whereas we have given orders to our faid go- vernors, to provide a quantity of frefh provifions for the ufe of the troops on their arrival $ and whereas they are equally obliged to fupply our officers with what they mail {land in need of, whenever they mail be obliged to go from place to place, and every thing that (hall be necef- fary for travelling upon land when they cannot go by fea ; likewife, to obferve and obey all fuch orders as (hall be by you given them, or by thofe whom you mall, from time to time, appoint to quarter the troops, haften the transports, provide every thing neceifary for fuch number of troops as lhall arrive, or mail be raifed in America : and whereas thefe feveral fervices are to be executed at the charges of the governments where they mall take place ; It is cur will and pleafure, that in or- der to the execution of all thefe parts, you do apply to our abovefaid governors, or to fame one of them, ac- cording to the exigency of the feveral cafes.
6. And whereas we have moreover commanded our faid governors, to ufe all their efforts, in order to prevail on the refpedtive afTembles of their provinces, to raife fpeedily as confiderable a fum as they mall be able to obtain, by way of contributing to a common fund, to be provifionally employed in America for the general fervice, and in particular, to defray the expence of railing the troops which are to be employed in compleat- ing the regiments above-mentioned : It is our will, that you give them all the advice and aififtance you can to-. wards advancing thefe advantageous projects, by fettling fuch a common fund as may be fully adequate to the projedvf fcr-vice which we propofe to you ; but you are to take fpecial care to hinder the giving any money to the troops which are to be under your command ; fuch payments excepted, as lhall be made in confequence of the fupplies of effective men which mall be made.
K 4 7. Having
2)6 APPENDIX.
7. Having alfo commanded our faid governors to cor- lefpond and confer with you on all matters, which may tend towards accelerating the faid levies in their re- fpeclive governments, we require you to aid and affift them in the execution of our inftructions ; you are therefore not only to keep up a conftant and frequent correfpondence with them by letters, but you are alfo to vifit the faid provinces, or fome of them, if you think it for the advantage of our fervice j and you mail put our faid governors frequently in mind of ufing all pofTible diligence ; fo as the execution of our projects may not be cbftructed by the fiownefs of the levies, which are to take place in their refpeclive provinces, or by the want of tranfports, provisions, or fuch other things as mall be neceffary, in whatever time or place you ihall think convenient to affign for their general rendezvous.
You mail alfo affemble a council of war, which we have thought proper to appoint, and which Ihall confiit and be compofed of yourfelf, the commander in chief of our fhips, of fuch governors of our colonies and provinces, fuch colonels and other land officers as fhall be found to be within a convenient diftance of our faid general and commander of our forces ; and it Ihall be with their advices, or of the plurality of them, that you will determine on all the operations which are to be ex- ecuted by our faid troops under your command, and all the other important points which fhall have a reference thereto: in the manner that fhall be judged moft ef- fectual for attaining the ends for which the faid troops are defigned, and tor correfponding faithfully with the truft which we have repofed in you.
8. You are not only to keep up the moft entire har- mony and friendship poflible with the feveral governors of our colonies and provinces, but even with the chiefs of thefe Indian nations. You are to endeavour to find out fome perfon that is fit and agreeable to the Indian nations in the fouthern parts, in order to fend him to them for this purpofej in the fame manner as we have directed colonel Johnfon, to repair to the northern na- tions, as being the perfon, whom it is believed, they
will
APPENDIX. 227
wiil receive with the greateft pleafure ; to the end that they may be prevailed on to lhare and act with our forces, in the operations which you lhall deem the moil advan- tageous and expedient to undertake.
9. You lhall from time to time, inform yourfelf of the nature and value of the prefents which fhall be granted by the aifemblies of our different colonies and provinces, according to cuflom, in order to invite and engage the Indian nations to our interefts and alliance ; and you fhall be very attentive that a juft and faithful distribution be made thereof, by fuch perfons as mail be charged to make it ; and you lhall affift thefe perfons with your belt advice towards the faid diftribution : you are to be alfo particularly attentive that thefe prefents be difpofed of prudently, in all the occasions in which they lhall be made ; and in thofe exigencies againft which, lieutenant governor Dinwiddie might have made a provifion, with regard to the Indians, in confequence of the fums of money which have been already granted in his towns, or eifewhere.
10. It having been reprefented to us, that the French and the inhabitants of our different colonies, hold a cor- refpondence. and carry on an illicit trade together ; you are to take fpeediiy all the meamres necefiary to prevent the continuance of fuch dangerous practices ; and in particular that no fort of proviiions be fupplied, under any pretext whatfoever, to the French, &c.
1 1 . Whereas we have thought that on the prefent 00 cafion, it was fit to fettle and ascertain the rank which is to be obferved between the ofricers bearing our imme- diate comrnifiions, and thofe who ferve under the com- millions of our governors, &c.
12. Yoia will receive, here-to annexed, a copy of the orders which we lent, the 28th of Auguil: 1753, to our feveral governors, wherein we enjoin them, and exhort our colonies and our provinces of North Ame- rica, to unite together for their common and mutual defence; and you will fee by our directions of the 5th of July (of which likewife a copy is herewith delivered to you) our repeated commands for the enforcing our orders of the 28th of Auguil 1753 > 3nt^ ***£' we were
K 5 pleafed
528' APPENDIX.
pleafed to direct that the fum of ten thousand pounds might be remitted in fpecie to governor Dinwiddie, and to give leave to our faid lieutenant-governor to draw for another fum of ten thoufand pounds, on the conditions mentioned in our order of the 3d of July laft, which was fent to the faid lieutenant-governor the 27th of Sep- tember following ; the faid fum to be employed towards the general fervice and protection of North-America. The feveral other letters of the 25 th and 26th of Octo- ber and 4th of November, to our governors, to Sir William Pepperel and to colonel Shirley (copies of which will be delivered to you, together with the prefent) will make you thoroughly acquainted with our orders and inftructions, which have been made known on this oc- cafion to our officers and governors ; and will enable you to inform yourfelf of their execution, and the ad- vantages which fhall have refulted therefrom.
13. You are not to fail fending us, by the firil and all epportimities which may offer, a clear and particular ac- count of your fteps, and of every thing that is eifential to our fervice, by letters to one of our principal mini- ftersand fecretaries of ftate, from whom you will receive from time to time, fuch orders, of a more ample nature, as fliall be neceffary for your conduct.
NUMBER IV.
tetter from Col. Robert Napier, written to M. Br ad Jock, by order of bis Royal Higbnefs the Duke of Cumberland.
London, Nov. 25, 1754. Sir,
HI S Royal Highnefs the Duke, in the many au- diences which he gave you, has entered into all the particular details of the fervice which you are going upon ; and on Saturday, communicated to you his notions as a better rule for the execution of the different articles of his majefty's inftructions : and as you were defirous that nothing of what paifed then, ihould efcape your memory; he has commanded me to fet down every thing in writing. His royal highnefs has this fer- vice
APPENDIX, 229
vice very much at heart; it being of the utmofl confe- quence to the territories in the obedience of his majeily in America, and the honour of the troops which he employs in the laid countries. As you are particularly concerned in this affair, his royal highnefs takes the greater fhare therein, as he has made intereii with his majefty £0 procure you this command.
It is the opinion of his royal highnefs, that immedi- ately after your landing, you conlider what kind of ar- tillery and other implements of war it will be necefTary to tranfport to Wills-creek, for your firft operation oil the Ohio ; and this, in fuch quantity as that it may not be wanting in the fervice ; likewife that you form a fe- cond field train, with good officers and foldiers, who are to be fent to Albany, and be in thorough readinefs to march for the fecond operation at Niagara. You are to take under your command what number you fhal! think necefTary, from the two companies of artillery which are at Nova-Scotia and Newfoundland, as foon as the feafon will permit you ; being however mindful to leave a force fufficient for the defence of the Ifland. Capt. Ord, a very experienced officer, and of whom his royal highnefs has a great opinion, will join you as foon as he poilibly can.
When the regiments of Shirley and Pepperel ihall be increafed to a number fufficiently confiderable ; it is the opinion of his royal highnefs that you caufe them to encamp, not only for the fpeedier difciplining them, but alfo to attract the attention of the French, and throw them into a fufpenfe with regard to the place you pur- pofe to attack. His royal highnefs makes no doubt, but all the officers and captains of thefe corps will an- fwer his expectation, in modelling and difciplining their, refpective troops.
The moft exact and the ftricteft difcipline is always necefTary : but it can never be too much infilled on in the fervice now under confideration. His royal high- nefs therefore recommends to you the enforcing it a- mong your troops in the moll uniform manner. You are alio to guard againft all panic terrors in the prefence of the Indians, with whom they are not yet acquainted 5
and
230 APPENDIX.
and whom the French will not fail making life of, in order to terrify them. His royal highnefs recommends to you the vifiting your polls night and day ; that both the colonels and other officers of the army be exatt in doing the fame ; and that you yourfelf fet frequent ex- amples thereof; and to give your troops to underftand, that no excufe will be admitted for any furprife what- ever.
If the expedition of the Ohio, ihould take up more time than has been imagined ; and if, while it is car- rying on, Shirley's and Pepperel's regiments ihould be found fufficient to undertake the reduction of Niagara ; it is the opinion of his royal highnefs, that you confider whether you can repair thither in perlbn, leaving the command of the troops on the Ohio to an officer, on whom you fafely rely ; or whether it may not be more conducive to the fervice, to fend to thefe troops fome perfon whom you might have had in view for the com- mand of the Ohio ? This is an extreme nice cafe, and damands great attention on your part ; inafmuch as co- lonel Shirley is next to you in command. Therefore if you do fend fuch an officer, he mm! conduct himfelf in fuch a manner, as to appear only in the capacity of a friend and counfellor, with regard to colonel Shirley; who fhould be wrote to accordingly he not being verfed in military affairs : and his royal highnefs thinks, that this officer ought not to produce, or make mention of the commiffion which he ihould have from you, to take the command of him', excepting in the cafe of abfolute ueceffity.
The above arrangements may ferve as a foundation to proceed upon, in cafe the expedition of Crown-point * may take pkee, whilft the reduction of Niagara is la- boured at.
If it mould be neceiTary for you, after the Ohio ex- pedition, to repair to Niagara with all your forces j his ?oyal highnefs advifes you to examine with the greateft attention, whether it may not be poffible to go from the Ohio toNiagara by a fhorter Way than that of the lakes ;
* This js Fort Ffrederic: la Englifli, Crown-point.
which
A P P E N D I X. 231
which you ought not to undertake under any pretext whatfoever, without a moral certainty that provifions will not be wanting, &c.
As to the deiign which you have to make yourfelf mailer of Niagara, which is of the utmoil confequence"; his royal highnefs recommends it to you to leave nothing to chance, in the purfuit of that enterprife.
As to the reduction of Crown-point, people are per- fuaded that the provincial troops will be of much more fervice ; being better acquainted with the country ; and his royal highnefs recommends to you, after the taking the fort, to confult with the governors of the neigh- bouring provinces about a proper place to build a forti- fication on, which hereafter may fcreen both the for- trefTes and provinces.
As to what relates to the forts which you fliall think necelTary to erect, which they perhaps are but too fond of in that country ; his royal highnefs recommends it to you to obferve, that they may be contrived in fuch a manner as not to require a flrong garrifon ; and he is of opinion, that you mould not build forts that are conii- derable, and of flone, without having previously fent plans and eilimates of the faid forts to England, m order to be approved of by the government. His royal highnefs thinks that forts of earth, with pointed flakes and pallifadoed with good ditches, * capable of contain- ing two hundred men, and in cafe of need, four hun- dred will be fufficient for the prefent.
As lieutenant colonel Lawrence who commands at Nova-Scotia, has for fome time pail formed a plan of making himfelf mafter of Beaufejour ; his royal highnefs is of opinion, and advifes you thereto, that you confult him about this point, both as to the time and manner of executing this project. His royal highnefs forefees that his majefly's lhip's will be of great ufe in this expe- dition ; not only in tranfporting the troops, llores, and warlike implements, but alio in intercepting the flcres and other fuccours which the French may receive either
* Stockaded ForLs,
h
232 A P P E N D I X.
by Bay-Francoife or from Cape-Breton, to Baye-Verte, on the other fide of the Ifthmus.
As to your winter-quarters, your operations being over, his royal highnefs recommends to you, to exa- mine whether the French may not be for making fome attempts the next feafon; and what place they will more probably fix on. In this cafe, it would be more expedient to cantoon your troops on that fide, and at fuch diftance from one another, as that you may eafily reunite them for the general defence. But you will be able to determine yourfelf with regard to this, upon the appearance of things, and from the intelligence which has been recommended to you, to procure by all fort of means, immediately on your arrival. It is needlefs mentioning to you, how attentive you ought to be, not to fuffer yourfelf to be furprized. His royal highnefs thinks, that the greater! difficulty you mall meet with in your errand, will arife from the fuppl'-es of provifions for your troops. He therefore recommends to you to be very careful in this refpett, and to take for this purpofe as loon as poffible, certain meafures with the governors, your quarter-mafter-general, and your commirTaries. I hope the extraordinary fupplies which are carried you by the fleet, and the thoufand barrels of beef defigned for your fubfiftence, will facilitate and enfure the (up- plying your troops.
I believe to have omitted above, none of all the points on which you defire to have fome eclaircifement. If fo, you may expofe them now, or hereafter. If you will be fo good as to communicate to me, fuch points as may embarafs you, I fhall take it upon me to lay them before his royal highnefs ; and to acquaint you. with his manner of thinking on the fubjedt I heartily wifh you much fuccefs ; and as this fuccefs will greatly rejoice all your friends, I earneftly defire, that you will be per- fuaded, nobody will take greater pleafure in being in- formed thereof, than he who is, &c.
Signed
Robert Napier.
NUMB.
APPENDIX. tn
NUMB. V.
Tranflation of a Regifer of Letters 'written by M. Brad" dock } to federal Minijiers and Englijb Noblemen.
LETTER I.
!T<? Henry Fox, Efq; Secretary at War.
Sir, Williamfburgh, Febr. 24, 1755.
AF T E R a paiTage of feven weeks in which I had very bad weather, I arrived here, where I found every thing in great confufion as I expected it : much money has been already expended here, though very little has been done as yet. Sir John St-Clair isjuffc ar- rived here, and I refer you to his letters to be informed of the bad condition of the independent companies of New- York : the time fince my arrival has been too fhort, to be able to give you an account of them myfelf. The governor here is of opinion, that the people of this province, are well perfuaded of the neceffity of giving all the afiiftance in their power towards forwarding an affair that concerns them fo nearly. Governor Dobbs is well enough fatisfied with thofe of his province, and hopes to be more fo hereafter.
Pennfylvania will do nothing, and fupplies the French with every thing they want. 1 (hall execute your orders punctually as foon as I ihall have it in my power: I have been under a neceffity of appointing a commiffary for about fifteen days. I Ihall have occafion to write to you, and ihall acquaint you with all fuch particulars as I ihall think raoft intereiting. I am with a profound refpect fir, &c,
LETTER II.
To Colonel Napier, Adjutant-General.
Sir, Wiiliamiburgh, Feb. 24, 1755.
AFTER having gone through all the hazards of the fea from which I got fafe, I arrived here the
zoih
S34 APPENDIX.
20th of this month. The governor has given me hopes that the people wijl grow more tradable : and that they fee the neceifity of fupplying me with all the fuccours they can, in an undertaking which concerns them per- fonaily. So little order has fubfifted hitherto, that much has been fpent in doing very little. Sir John St-Clair arrives at this inftant, and you will fee by his letters (to which I refer you) what is now done. This man is in- defatigable, and has done all that man is capable of do- ing. You will fee, by his letters, the condition of the troops in this country -, particularly that of the infamous free companies of New- York. The province of Penn- fylvania the moft numerous, and the richeft of thefe provinces will do nothing, and fupplies the French. The Six-Nations have now declared tor the French. I have as yet but four twelve pounders, which will not be attended with any great efFecl: if I am obliged to make a breach, but I cannot help that. I mall endea- vour to get fome from the men of war. We have yet nothing in readinefs to tranfport them. My moft hum- ble duty to his royal highneis. I am, my dear colonel, your moll humble, &c.
LETTER III.
7's Sir Thomas Rolinjon, his Majeftys principal Secretary of State.
Sir, Willi amjhnrgb, March 1 8 , 1755.
I Arrived here the 20th 01 February: the Gibraltar having failed two days after, it was not pofiible for me to fend you by her, an account of the preparations which have been made in the provinces for the feivice of our expedition j nor of the meafures which J muft take to make it fucceed.
Immediately after my arrival, I forwarded with all fpeed, letters to the different governors of this conti- nent, in order to prevail on them to exert themfelves in their refpeclive governments towards obtaining fupplies of men and money, purfuant to the orders they had re- ceived from his majeily; recommending to them, to
lock
APPENDIX. 235
lock up their ports in fuch a manner, as to render it impoflible for the enemy to draw any provifions from us ; which has been executed here by governor Din- widdie. I have likewife, agreeable to his majefty's inftru&ions, recommended to them the eftablifhing a common fund out of the money granted by the Several colonies ; which will ferve as a provifional capital to- wards defraying the expence of the general fervice of our expedition, and might be at my difpofal ; offering to make myfelf accountable to each of them for^ the employment thatfhall be made of it. Though this is the heft ftep that can be taken towards promoting the fervice I am engaged in, and the {ureft road to fuccefs ; yet the jealoufy of the people, and the difunion of ma- ny colonies, as well between them in general, as be- tween each of them in particular, are fuch, that I al- mofi defpair of fucceeding. I am indeed very forry to tell you, that in all appearance, I lhall meet with great difficulties in obtaining of thefe colonies, the fupplies which his majefiy expects from them -, and which the general interefl requires. The different governors of the provinces cf this continent will, I think, inform you of what each of thefe provinces has already done in favour of this undertaking, and what they are to do- hereafter: Ail I can inform you of for the prefent, is, that governor Dinwiddle has already obtained from his province, twenty thoufand pounds currency : and that he hopes to obtain of the aifeinbly, which he has ap-' pointed to meet for this purpofe, the firft of May next, a larger fum. North-Carolina has granted eight thou- fand pounds ; that of Maryland, fix thoufand pounds ; each the current coin of their refpeclive governments.
Though Pennfylvania is, without contradiction, the richefl and the moft concerned in the event of this ex- pedition, yet it has fupplied nothing hitherto. I have therefore wrote to the governor a very full letter ; which he is to lay before the alfembly of that province, if he judges it necelfary, to make them fenfible of their duty : I fend you a copy thereof.
I make no doubt but governor Shirley has acquainted you with the progrefs made in the raifmg of the Ameri- can
236 APPENDIX.
can regiments : I take his to be as good as complete, from the accounts that have been given me. As to that of fir William Pepperrel, I cannot give you any account. I have taken meafures with Mr. Reppel, that thefe re- giments may have, with all the expedition poifible, the arms and cloathing deilined for each of them. All the tranfports are arrived, excepting the Severn, which has on board a company of fir Peter Halkett's regiment, which is expected from day to day : I have had no fick as yet. Inftead of cantoning my troops, as I at nrfl propofed, according to the account fent to England by Sir John Sinclair, J have ordered the tranfports to fail up the river Po to mack, and to fall down to Alexandria, and land them where I defign to encamp ; the wind being favourable, and apprehending no rifk.
All the new raifed troops of Virginia and Maryland, are llkewife to join me at Alexandria ; I (hall take the picked men {o complete the Englilh regiments to feven hundred men each, and (hall employ the others in the following manner, as has been agreed on with Gover- nor Dinwiddie ; viz. to form two companies of car- penters, compofed each of a captain, two fubalterns, two ferjeants, and thirty men. The firfl: of thefe will be abfolutely necelfary to make roads and boats, repair the carriages, &c. and I mall make ufe of the remainder of thefe fupplies to cover the main body, and guard it againft all furprizes. Thefe companies will be paid by the provinces, and on the lame footing with thofe of Old England, allowing for the difference of cur- rency, which is about 25 per cent. I have alfo raifed 2 company of guides, compofed of a captain, two aids, and ten men : I have eftablifhed polls from the head quarters to Philadelphia, Annapolis in Maryland, and Williamfburgh ; in order to keep up the corres- pondence which is necelfary for me, with all the go- vernors of thefe provinces.
As foon as I can poifibly affemble my troops, collect forage, provifions, and other things necelfary for a march, I mall proceed ; and fet about reducing the French forts on the Ohio. It is a great doubt whether
I mall
APPENDIX. 237
I ihall meet with any grafs on the other fide of the Allegany mountains before the end of April, which is the fooneft I can get there. I have it not now in my power to give you a juft account of the number of troops I ihall have with me. Suppofmg I compleat the Engliih regiments to four thoufand four hundred men, the companies of carpenters and fcouts to the number above-mentioned, with the independent companies of New York, which fall very ihort of their complement, as do thofe of Carolina -, I believe the whole will not exceed two thoufand three hundred men. I propofed to have augmented them, by means of the provincials, to the number of three thoufand. But as I thought it neceflary to have an interview with governor Shirley, and that accordingly I ordered him to meet me at An- napolis in Maryland, I have put off giving the necef- fary directions for this augmentation till after the faid interview.
I expect governor Shirley at Annapolis in lefs than three weeks. Governor Dinwiddie offers to attend me thither, and I have writ to thofe of York and Pennfyl- vania to meet me there, if the affairs of their provinces do permit it. In this interview, at which commodore Keppel is alfo to be prefent, I intend fettling the opera- tions, which we ihall determine to be carried on to- wards the northern parts, and entering into an exami- nation of the means, which we may make ufe of with advantage, to recover the frontiers of the Indians, that are contiguous to feveral colonies, and fecure them for his majefty ; and I ihall endeavour at the fame time to excite the governors to the exertion of all their influ- ence, towards promoting the King's fervice, in an affair of this importance. I ihall lay hold, on the firfl: opportunity to acquaint you with what ihall be agreed upon. I cannot tell you juftly what forces the French have on the Ohio -, but if the various accounts which we have from thence may be depended upon, they ex- ceed three thoufand, the major part of which is com- pofed of Indians. It is a general opinion that the Iro- quois are m the French King's intereft, excepting the
Mohawks
itf APPENDIX.
Mohawks *. Governor Dinwiddie flatters himfelf great- ly, that thefe laft will unite themfelves with us, as alfo the Catawbas, a warlike nation, though fmail in num- ber, and fome Cherokees. All the other fouthern na- tions appear now to be linked to the French ; but as their attachment ought to be afcribed to the fuccefs which they have lately obtained 'over us, it may be hoped that the appearance of our army, or the lead advantage which we fhall gain over them, will be productive of a great alteration in their difpofitions.
I fend you enclofed, the extract of a letter from the officer who commands at Chowaguen, written to go- vernor Dinwiddie, which proves the monflrous and abfurd fahhoods, which the French make ufe of, to irnpofe on thefavages, and gain them over to their in- terefts.
M. de Lancey, lieutenant-governor of New York, propofes to me in his letters, to employ the money which is to be raifed in his government, and is deflined for the prefent expedition, in building forts for the par- ticular defence of that province ; as this propofal ap- pears to me to be now quite out of feafbn, I wrote him word, that all the affiftance could not be better em- ployed, than in forwarding the prefent expedition.
Governor Dinwiddie writes me word, that M. de Lancey has agreed to a neutrality, between the inhabi- tants of Albany, and the neighbouring Indians in alli- ance with the French. I do not fee what reafon he has had to fuffer a thing of fo extraordinary a nature, but as I think it may be attended with great inconvenierr- cies, I intend giving him my opinion of it in the ftrong- eft terms. I efteem myfelf very happy in being aflb- ciated in his majefty's fervice with an officer, of M. Keppel's abilities and good difpofitions ; which appears by his readinefs to enter into every meafure that may be conducive to the fuccefs of this undertaking. As but four pieces of twelve pounds were given me with the train, and that a greater number appeared neceffary to me, I applied to him to have four more- from his
* Thefe are the Anies.
fnips,
APPENDIX. 239
Clips, with the necefTary ammunition, which he has granted me with the greateft readinefs pofhble ; as alio a deal of other things which I flood in need of: he has likewiie let me have thirty fearaen, with the officers neceiTary to conduct them, to attend on the army in its march ,• I make ufe of them with advantage in building battoes, in order to affift us in tranfporting our artillery and heavy baggage ; and for their fubfiftence' I fixed it, with the commodore, to three millings and fixpence a day, for the officers, and iixpence for the failors ; which I mail be obliged to take out of the quo- tas furnifhed by the provinces. As I do not find that the provifions which have been made by the colonies for the fubfiftence of our troops, are fuflicient, I fhall be obliged, in order to fupply the deficiency, to take a thoufand barrels of beef, and ten tons of butter, out of the provifional fupply fent from England.
The juftice which I muft do governor Dinwiddie, will not allow me to conclude this letter without ac- quainting you, with the zeal which he has fhewn, and the pains which he has taken in all fhapes, for the good of the fervice on this occafion -, when I conflder the faction which has prevailed over him in his govern- ment, I find he has fucceeded in a manner beyond all hopes.
I have his Majefty's orders to deliver all the French tvho /ball be taken in this expedition to Commodore Keppel hi order to be carried to France ; but as M. Keppel, has had no directions from the admiralty, in this refpeft, and that this affair appears to him of too nice a nature, wacl in it without order, I muft beg orders from his Majefty of a more ample nature in regard to this affair, and that as foon as poihble. The Severn is jiift arrived.
lam, Sir, &c,
LETTER
£4o APPENDIX.
LETTER IV.
To the Governor of Pennflvania. Alexandria, in Virginia April 15, 175$.
S I R,
I Am informed, that there are in your province, a great number of Indians from the river Ohio, who have been expelled from thence by the French. I de- lire you will let them know that 1 march, with a body of the King's troops, to wreft from the French the encroachments which they have made on that river, in order to re-eftablifh the Indians, our allies, and to defend them therein againft their enemy. As thefe Indians mult be perfectly acquainted with that country, and that they may be of great ufe to me, in the courfe of my expedition, I beg you will prevail on them to come and join meat Will's Creek, with their choice men; and to allure them, that they lhall be well ufed, and lhall not want any thing necelTary to them. I beg you will acquaint me with what you have done in this affair, as alfo, what Indians I may expect from your province. I hope the Hates of your government will take care of the fubfiflence of the women and chil- dren, until the return of thole people : as they would be very troublefome to me if they came to the camp.
LETTER V.
To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Rohinfon, one of his Majejiy's principal fecretaries of fate.
Alexandria, April 19, 1755.
S I R,
I Had the honour to write to you from Williamlburgh the 1 8th of laft March, by a verTel which was to fail in eight days after.
The
APPENDIX. 241
The 13th of this month, Governor Shirley, accom- panied by the other Governors, of whom I made men- tion in my laft, as alio Colonel Johnfon met me here.
In this interview, M. Shirley has communicated to me a plan, formed by him and Governor Lawrence, of which he told me he had given you an account of, for attacking the French forts in Acadia ; as I entirely approved of it, I fent immediately my orders to Colonel Monckton, to take upon himfelf this command, and to fet about this expedition, without delay.
I have alfo fettled with him the plan, for the reducti- on of Crown-Point, which is to be undertaken, only by provincial troops, raifed in the northern colonies, to the number of about four thoufand four hundred, under the- command of Colonel Johnfon, a perfon re- commended by his great influence over the fix Indian nations, and by the reputation which he enjoys through- out all the northern colonies.
As the moll: important of all our enterprifes is that of Niagara, I prcpofed to M. Shirley, that he would charge himfelf with thiscommiilion, which he has done readily. I have accordingly given him my orders for taking his own regiment along with him, which ought to be complete : and Pepperefs, fuch as it is, in order to go upon this expedition, with all the diligence poifi- ble. I have heretofore given my orders for the rein- forcing the garrifon of Chouaguen, with two compa- nies of Pepperefs, and the two independent companies of New York -, which I looked upon as a neceifary ftep, in order that the works might be put in fuch a fituati- on, as may hereafter preferve the garrifon, and fecure our troops a retreat.
As M. Shirley, is the officer who is next to me in command, and that I have the higher! opinion of his integrity, and his zeal for his majeily's fervice, I have authorized him, in cafe no treafurer was named in the northern parts, to draw upon his Majeily's treafurer to the amount of what will be expended towards the fer- vice of his province.
I wrote to the Duke of Newcaftle, to prove in this manner the neceihty of acting, on account of the
diftance
242 APPENDIX.
diftance we are at, and the impoflibility of conferring together on this fuhject.
(He writes, that Governor Shirley pTopofed to him, to treat the two new raifed regiments as thofe of old England.)
The inclofed copy will inform you of the different fubjects that have been canvafled in the council, and which I brought on the carpet at the interview which I had with the Governors. As his Majefty has entrufted to me the care of employing fuch proper perfons as I fhould find mod fitting to gain over, the Indian nations. to his interefts ; this, m the council appeared to me of much greater confequence than I had imagined, and to require the greater attention, as their conducl towards us for fome years pad, is an indication of the fix na- tions being diffatisned with us, and that a great want of confidence appears on their fide, in the arms of his majefty. I propofed Colonel Johnfon as the propereft man lor this errand, on account of the great credit which he enjoys among them -, my choice has been unanimoufly approved of by the council, and I accord- ingly fent him a fpeech which he is to make in my name, together with the mod extenfive powers to treat with them. He is fmgly entrufted with the conduct of this negotiation : for this purpofe I advanced him the fum of two thoufand pounds, of which eight hundred are to be immediately given them in prefents, and to be repayed by the colonies, the remainder is for future prefents, and in order to pay what it may coft to make them move. I have likewife given him power to draw on Governor Shirley for larger fums, in cafes of abfolute neceflity, without any other condition than that of keeping an exa6l account of the employment which he lhali make of it ; the exigency of the fervice, and the neceflity of my relying upon him, engage me to (hew him this confidence, and the inftances of probity which he has given on every occafion, are to me aflurances that he will make no bad ufe of it.
You will be fufnciently informed, by the minutes of the council which I addrefs to you, of the impoflibility pf obtaining from many colonies the eftabiifning a gene- ral
APPENDIX. 243
ral fund agreeable to the inflruclions of his riiajefty, and the circular letters which you have addrelfed to me for the feveral governors. Since the laft accounts which I have given you of this, very little has been fiipplied ei- ther in men or money by all thefe provinces. 1 he ium of twenty thoufand pounds currency has been expended in Virginia, altho' the money has not been yet paid : the provinces of Pennfylvania and Maryland perfift ilill in their refufal to contribute, the province or' York has raifed the fum of five thoufand pound currency for the troops of that province, which I have defuned for the particular fervice of the garrifon of Chouaguen ; the ium of four thoufand pounds has been moreover railed in this province for the fortifications of this government, and above all the metropolis ; I have deiired M. De Lancey to get it to pafs for the general fervice of the ex- pedition, but I am much afraid it will not be granted.
Governor Shirley will acquaint you, with the expence New England has been at in the prodigious levy of men, which has been made in that government for the enter- prizes towards the north, the other governments have done little or nothing. I cannor help taking the liberty to lay before you the neceihty there appears to be of im- poiing a tax on all his majetly's dominions in America, agreeable to the refult of the council, to repay the large fums which muii be advanced for his fervice, and the intereft of thefe colonies In this important crifis.
I am obliged to acquaint you, that the expence which relates to the fervice of America, will exceed the con- tingent of each province much beyond what I had per- fuaded myfelf it would, and even beyond what the go- vernment has imagined. Among other innumerable caufes which may be mentioned of the confiderable au<r- mentation of the expence attending the fervice of my province, I (hall mention the number of horfes, wag- gons, and battoes, necefciry for the tranfporring the ar- tillery, baggage, &c. the couriers and the excellivc price of the day labourers. Though I .am fully bent upon proceeding with the greateit ceconomy, whether it be repaid by the provinces or not, I ihall be blamed by his raajefty if by miftaken favings, confidering the fitu- L atioa
244 APPENDIX.
ation of affairs-, it mould occaiion the mifcarriage of the intended operations.
You will give me leave, fir, to refer you to the mi- nutes of the council in regard to the propofitions which I had made to thefe provinces, to which no anfwer has been made, particularly, in what relates to the battoes, which ought to be built on the lakes: the building of thofe which are to be on lake Ontario, is to belong to governor Shirley's province, and the expence of thefe battoes is to be paid by commodore Keppel.
Since my departure from Williamiburgh, I have had the honour to receive one of your letters, with his majefty's directions to augment all the regiments of this continent to a thoufand men each ; I have accordingly employed towards the fouthern parts fuch officers as appeared to me moil fitting for the purpofe of recruiting j and I difpatched a courier to M. Lawrence, in order that he might execute thefe his Majefty's orders relative to the regiments of his province, with all the expedition poifible.
I have his Majefty's orders to create no new officers in thefe regiments; but this augmentation of troops, to- gether with the many fmall detachments which I mult make, has already obliged me to name a number of fe- cond fubalterns, out of thofe who have been recom- mended to me from home, to ferve without pay, till there are vacancies. There rauft be an officer to each of thefe detachments, who is to take care of the provi- fions and the cheft, as likewife to mark out the camps, which as there are no villages, rauft be done every night, and which are the more necefTary in this country, as the woods are very thick ; the officer by this means is nearer at hand to have his troop under his eye, and has it more in his power to prevent all furprife from the Indians, who are always greatly to be apprehended, whatever pre- caution is taken j for this and many other reafons which I could recite, I cannot exprefs to you the many diffi- culties I fear I fhajl meet in the fervice which I have Jbeen entrufted with, towards the northern parts of America, if the number of officers be not augmented in proportion to that of the troops.
The
APPENDIX. 245
The little dependence that is to be made on this country, obliging rae to draw the provi lions requiiite for the fervice of this expedition, from many colonics di- ftant, the one from the other, I have been under the neceihty of appointing two affiftant commiiiaries for the victualling, to whom I have affigned four millings per day : I have alio named an affiftant quarter-mailer, with the fame pay, owing to the neceffity which I lie under of employing fir John St. Glair, at three hundred miles; diflance from me now, he being taken up with making roads and bridges, and providing us with waggons, horfes, &c. for the tranfporting our ftores, provisions, and artillery. I have met with many obftacies in getting carriages, which could not have been iurmount- ed, had it not been for the zeal and activity of the offi- cers, and others employed to this purpoie. The wane of forage, is an obftacle which I fee no remedy for, but letting out the horfes to feed en the mountains. I pro- pofe fetiing out to-morrow morning from hence on my way to Frederic, in order to go by the way of Will's- creek, where I mould have been before ; but that I have been obliged to wait for the artillery : and I am much afraid the fame will delay me ftill longer. I hope to be on the mountains in the firft days of May, and in the courfe of the month of June to be able to difpatch you an exprefs, who mall inform you of the ilTue of our operations on the Ohio.
Notwithftanding I have ufed every method for that purpofe, I have not been able to procure more ample intelligence of the number of the French at prefent on the Ohio ; but I expect to receive more certain accounts of them when I get to WilPs-Creek, and I mall take my meafures accordingly.
I cannot enough exprefs to you, the fatisfaction I feel in being employed in his majeiiy's fervice in America, at a time when I have it in my power to form and execute the plan of attacking the French in all their confiderable pofts, which have been fo many invasions on his majefty's lands in North-America -, from the northern fide, \o that of the fouth. I fee a great appearance of iuccefs in each of them 5 but I perceive fo ckfe a conmclion he- L 2 fween
246 APPENDI X.
t-yjeeneach of ihefe projects, that the fuccefs of one, is afitre pledge of that of the other. If I therefore fucceed in the firft and moil important of tliefe projects, I am perfuaded, I will fucceed in flopping the progrefs of the French in their new fettlements \ and that this will be fufficient to raife the drooping fpirits of his fubjeets of this continent ; and to roufe them from their indolence, and. the neglect of their duty, with which they have been, for lbme time pail, fojuftly reproached. I am, With the greater! refpedt, &.c.
Other Letters of Mr. Braddocfis, found in a Book a-part from the above Regifler.
LETTER VI.
To his Grace the Duke of Newcaf/e.
Williamfourgh, March 20, lj$$. My Lord,
I Lay hold on this firft opportunity of executing your grace's commands by acquainting you with my ar-; rival here, and that of the veffels which have tranfported the troops under my command. My voyage was at- tended with great fatigue, but the tranfports have been better off; there not being one man lick on board of them.
" I am as yet ignorant, what effect the^ orders of his tnajefty (with regard to the prefent expedition) will have produced on the minds of the generals. I cannot fay that they have had, as yet, all the influence which it was rea- sonable to expect they would have : I labour hard, and ihaii always labour to excite them to ufe their- utmoft to prevail on the provinces to bear the expences of this ex- pedition ; it is their duty to do it, in order to (hew their attachment to his majefty, and correfpond with what they owe to their own intereib.
To this purpofe I wrote to governor Shirley to meet me at Aaagpolia in Maryland, and I defired the gover- nors
APPENDIX. 247
nors of New-York and Pennfylvanfa to come alfo ; in cafe the bufmefs of their governments allow it.
I ihall not enter into a circumftantial detail of all the things which take up my time in the fervice in which I have engaged myfelf, having wrote at large upon this fubjecl to the fecretary of ftate ; you will pleafe to give me leave to refer your grace to his letter, ibr your more particular informarioii.
Shirley's regiment is almoft completed, if not already" fo : that of fir William Pepperel is, I believe, in great forwardnefs. When I fee Mr. Shirley, I mall fettle with him about the bed manner of employing his forces towards the north 5 and I am to fti out on my march with thofe which I ihall have under my command, in order to the reduction of the French forts upon the Ohio; and I flatter myfelf I mail get, at the end of April, be- yond the Allegany mountains.
I have had from commodore Keppel all the aififtance pofiible; and in the governor of this province, I have found a man, who anifts in the moft handibme manner in fupplying the wants of this expedition. By the in- duilry of this governor, this province is now difpofed to fupply ahundantly what it can ; which is what 1 dare not flatter myfelf with, from the other governments.
As fmail coin would here be of great utility for pay- ing the troops, I beg your grace would give orders to the contractors, M. Hanbury and M. Thomlinfcn, to fend over, as foon as poilible, if they have not done it already, four or five thoufand pounds in dollars and half dollars ; the pay-mafcer of the troops having nothing now by him but gold.
I am, With the moft profound Refpect, &c.
LETTER VII.
To the Earl of HalHfax. (without date.) My Lord, * 1 AHE interefl which your lordfnip takes in every j[ thing that reiares to his majefty's dominions in L 3 America,
248 A P P E N D I X.
America, and the mare which you have in the admini- ftration of their government, call upon me to give you an account of my iituation ,• which I hope will not prove difpleailng to you. Your lordfhip has, without doubt, been informed of the good fuccefs that has attended the tr-anfports hither; and the meafures which I took to ilicceed, on my arrival, in promoting the fervice of his majeny, under my direction, and which 1 hope will tend to his interefl, and that of his fubjects on this continent.
I have fome time fince, fent to the fecretary of ftate an account of the fupplies which I have received from ail the colonies on the prefent occafion ; there is no need offending you the particulars thereof.
I am forry to have been under the neceffity of faying, that in general the inhabitants of thefe colonies, have all /hewn a great deal of indifference for his majenYy's fer- vice, and their own intereftsj however they do not all fall under this cenfure, and particularly thofe of the province I am now in, are not to be compared with their neighbours, and may not have deferred reproaches.
I am perfuaded the account which your lordfhip has received of the good difpofition of the northern colonies; and in particular that under the command of Mr. Shir- ley, ought greatly to have enhanced his merit with his jmajefty.
1 cannot Sufficiently exprefs my indignation againfl the provinces of Pennfylvania and Maryland, which being quite as much concerned in the event of this expedition as this here, and much more {o than any other on this continent, refufe to contribute in any fhape, towards the lupport of this project j and even what they propofe, rhey do it only on fuch terms as are intirely contrary to the prerogatives of his majefly, and his inftruclions to his governors.
You will perhaps be glad to hear that I have affembled the governors Shirley, and thofe of New- York, Pennfyl- vania and Maryland ; and that in this alterably I have fettled the plan which is to be purfued in attacking at once, the French in their encroachments on us at Nova- Scoria, at Crown-Point, and at Niagara, and which we me to do with all the vigor potable. (Here he repeats
APPENDIX. 249
ali that he had written to Sir Thomas Robinfon in his letter of the 19th of April 1755, wmcn *s tne 5r^ *n the above regitler.)
I have given a full power to Colonel Johnfon, to ne- gotiate with the fix nations and their allies, and with all the other Indians of the Weft, as far as he {hall find it neceifary ; and I delivered him words, which he is to prefent to them in my name ; I have likewife given him money to make prefents, and have authorifed him to draw on M. Shirley, if he finds it neceifary, on this occafion.
" M. Peronal has prefented me a contract paffed in. 1 70 1 by the fix nations, by which they make over to his majefty all their hunting grounds : this ceilion takes \n7 on the fide of the lakes Ontario and Erie, an extent of country of lixty miles in depth. I delivered this contract to Colonel Johnfon, with orders to prefent it to them in my name, and to allure them that I am come here only to retake thefe countries from the French, and preferve them for their life."
I (hall not purfue word for word what was determin- ed upon in the council, in regard to the building of vef- fels on lake Ontario; we agreed, the commodore and myfelf, that the direction of this affair ihould be en- trusted to M. Shirley, and that it was proper he mould have the liberty to determine, at his will, the bignefs and ftrength of thefe veifels.
I propofe marching in order to attack, with all poffible fpeed, the fort on the Ohio. I thought I ihould have been by this time on the mountains, but I have been kept back by a number of difficulties, not only on ac- count of the ill fituation of the country, but likewife the great number of horfes, waggons, and other imple- ments which have required much time before they could be made ufe of.
I fet out to-morrow for Frederick on my way to fort Cumberland in Will's Creek ; and before the end of June, I am in hopes I mall be able to give fome account of the affair of the Ohio.
I hope it will be in my power to execute the plan
which I have formed of recovering from the French the
L 4 mod
250 APPENDIX.
moil; confiderable of the encroachments which they have made on his majefty, on the frontiers of the northern- part of America. If I fucceed in the mod important of thtie operations, I am perfuaded his majefty will eafily put a Hop to the projects of the French, which daily grow more and more exteniive on this continent. I am with refpect, &c.
LETTER VIII.
Jlmther Utter ; <wbkb ivas, it is prefumed, ivrit/en to M Robinfon, though it bears not the name of the perfon to iv hem it is addrejjed.
At fort Cumber land in Will's Creek, June 5, 175 5 .
S r R, Had the honour to write to you from Frederick in the lad days of April.
The 10th of May I arrived here, and the 17th the r^eO; of the army came up alfo here from Alexandria, after a march of feven and twenty days, and having met with great delays and difficulties, not only on ac- count of the bad roads, but alio the want of forage, and indeed the want of zeal in the people for the fuc- qefs of our expedition.
I have at lair aiiembled all the troops deftinedfor the attack of fort du Quefne ; they amount to two thoufand effective men, eleven hundred of whom are fupplied by the fouthern provinces, who have fo little courage and good difpofiticn, that fcarce any military fervice can be expected from them, although I have employed the belt officers to form them.
My defign en my arrival here was to flay but a few days, only to refrem my troops ; but the difficulty of getting waggons and horfes to crofs the mountains has detained me a whole month.
Before I fet out from WHliamfburgh, the quarter- ma- iler-general told me, I might depend on two thoufand five hundred horfes and on two hundred waggons, as well from Virginia as Maryland -, but I had great reafon to mi draft it ; from the experience which I have had of
the
APPENDIX. 251
the deceit of all the perfons of this country with whom I have had any dealings : wherefore, previous to my de- parture from Frederick, Idefired M. 13. Franklin, poft- m after of Pennfylvania, who has great credit in the pro- vince, to conclude a bargain for an hundred and fifty wag- gons with the horfes neceffary, which he has executed with equal quicknefs and probity 3 and indeed this is almoft the only inftance of capacity and honefty that I have (een in all thefe provinces. Ail thefe waggons and horfes have joined me, and on them I ground ail my hopes, the fine promifes of Maryland and Virginia have ended in a fup- ply of twenty waggons and two hundred horfes. With this number I (hall be able to (et out from hence, though I mail meet with infinite difficulties, efpecially as I mail march with half the quantity of (lores which i expected to have had ; and having been obliged to fend before . me a detachment, in order to fix upon a place to lodge our ftores in, on the Allegany mountains, which are five days march from hence.
I fhould never finifh, were I to enter into a detail of the innumerable inftances which I could give of the want of honefty, which 1 found both in general, and in particular ; and the moft absolute contempt of truth, which I have met with in the courfe of this fervice. J can- not help adding to what I have already told you, two or three inftances.
An agreement was put into my hands, made by the governor of Virginia, for the purchafe of eleven hundred bullocks, which were to be delivered in June and in Au- guft, for fubfifting the troops : this bargain had been concluded on the credit of twenty thoufand pounds of the country, granted by the ailembly for his majefty's fervice towards this expedition. I immediately regu- lated my difpofitions accordingly, but in a few days after the perfon, who had engaged in this agreement, Came to tell me, that the ftates had refufed to fulfil the governor's engagements, and confequently the bargain was void. As this was of the utmoft confequence, I offered immediately to become myfelf fecurity for the money, on the terms flipulated in the contract, but the L 5 contractor
252 A P P E N D I X.
contractor rejected my offers, and required of me 3 thud over and above what was ftipulated in the laid agreement, nor would he engage for the forth-coming of the oxen in lefs than two months, at which time they would be of little or no ufe.
An ;ther example : the Maryland agent employed to fupply the troops with provifions, had got fome toge- ther, which at firft fight were found to be ail fpoiled, and I faw myfelf under the neceiiity of lending an hun- dred miles in order to buy up others.
This difpofition of trie people not only delays the fchemes of his majefty, but likewife encreafes the ex- pences to near double : " thefe are occafioned by the difficulty of carriage thro' countries hitherto uninhabit- ed," and Hill unknown and impracticable to the inhabi- tants themfelves, who dwell in the lower parts, meeting every where with a continual chain of mountains, fo that the expence furpalfes greatly the principal ; this has been the caufe of my leaving at Alexandria a quantity of ftores, which would be very neceifary for me here. The conducl of all thefe governments to me appears unexampled. This negligence is fomewhat excufable in the lower fort, becaufe their trouble has not been (efficiently rewarded, and that having been employed in the publick fervice on former occafions, the payments were neglected. We learn from experience, what the ill confecuences are of fuch proceedings.
As I have his majefty's orders to employ all poffible means to fix the Indians in our intererls, I have affem- bled fome from the frontiers of Pennfylvania, and efpe-^ cially of the Six-nations, and have had already two or three conferences with them. I have made them fome genteel prefents: they are now fifty in number, but I hope to draw a far greater number to me. When I ar- rived in Ame.i a. they affured me that I might depend on a very great number of the fouthern Indians ; but they have been totally alienated from us by the bad conduct of the government of Virginia : the truth is, that in all the deal ngs with the Indians, thefe people have behaved towards them with fo little regard, and fo much diJlQnejIjy thai a yery large expence would be
now
APPENDIX. 253
now necefTary to gain back their confidence, 2nd none is to be had even in. thofe v/ho have embraced our in- terells.
The fituation of the country is fuch, that the French can have no communication there but by means of the Indians, on whofe report there cannot be much reliance ; I am informed, that their number is very fmall at fort Du Quefne, but that they expect a ftrong rein- forcement.
They write me word that two thoufand {land of arms are arrived. They were intended for New-England, but lhipped off for Nova-Scotia.
The battoes deftined to tranfport the troops which are to form the attack of Niagara and of Crown Point, are getting ready. However, New- York, which is to fup- ply the greater! part of them, does not mew as much zeal for this affair as I could wifh.
It having appeared to me, that a road through Penn- fylvania would be morter and more proper for eitabliuV ing a communication, after the troops have palled the Allegany mountains, I defired the Governor to make one in that province, from Philippeniburgh to the river of Yaughy-Aughane. I am juft informed, they are working on it conftantly, and that it will be compleated in a month. This road will be of the greater! impor- tance, both to facilitate the arrival of convoys, and to fecure my communication with the northern colonies.
I now wait only for my lafl convoy to fet out on my march, and if no accident intervenes, I am in hopes to begin it in five days by the Allegany mountains. I ex- pect to meet many obitruelions, agreeable to the ac- counts which have been given me. The diftance from this place to the fort is one hundred and ten miles : we &all be continually employed in making a road as we proceed, which muft be done with infinite labour acrofs mountains and rocks of an exceifive heighth, which are fteep, and divided by torrents and rivers.
I will take the firft opportunity to acquaint you with my fituation, after leaving this place, and am with the profottndeft refpeft, &c.
UtUT
254 APPENDIX.
Letter from M. Charles Lawrence to General Braddock.
HallifaXy May 10, I 75 5. SIR,
I Had the honour to receive your letter, dated from Annapolis in Maryland, April 7. by a veiTel arrived; two days ago from Philadelphia. You will give me. leave to allure you, that nothing could give me greater pain, than that you ihould have the leait idea of my having faiied in my duty, and the due deference which* I make a point of Ihewing to thofe I owe any. 'Till the inftant I received your letter, I was neither informed of your arrival in Virginia, nor of the extenfivenefs of your commiilion ; and no fooner have I been apprized' thereof, than T have taken the firft opportunity to fend, you a general ftate of the fituation of affairs in this province, and an account of the forces and troops which his Majefty has here, with remarks on the feveral parti- culars: I flatter myfelf you will, have received them, and that they will meet with your approbation. I al- low my having communicated to Commodore Keppel, as he has acquainted you ; the projected expedition, in, order to put a flop. to the French encroachments at Beaufejour and the river of St. John, which has been concerted between Governor Shirley and myfelf. And what gave rife to this, were the primary orders which captain Rous, commander of one of his Majefty's mips, kad received from the Admiralty, to take orders from? ths Commodore, which together- with fome other ad- vices, made me conclude, that M. Keppel was in Vir- ginia ; but I had then no knowledge of your arrival in, America, nor even any certainty of your, coming there, and I could lefs Hill form any certain judgment as to the nature and extent of your commiilion. Such is the reaL ftate of the cafe : I hope you will do me juftice.
Lieutenant- Colonel Mon.eton, with the troops of the province under his command, is now, I believe, very near, if not before the French fort of Beaufejour ; and as I have cut off all the communication by land ber ■tween this place and the northern parts of the province,.
in
APPENDIX. 255
in order to put it out of the power of the French to get any intimation that may be prejudicial to our defigns, I cannot acquaint you, with the progrefs that the Lieu- tenant-Colonel has made. I ihali do myfelr the honour to inform you of the particulars of our enterprize by the firit opportunity.
I {hall be particularly attentive to your orders for aug- menting to a thoufand men each of the regiments that are here, and ihall lofe no time in doing it. If I was informed of the conditions on which thofe people are to be raited, and what pay they are to have : but as the particular orders concerning the augmentation, are not yet come to my hands from England, and that no officer is yet arrived, I believe you will judge it impracticable for me to proceed in it, till fuch time as I mail have the in- ftruttions and affiftances neceflary.
Upon the advices which I received from New En- gland, with regard to the men, raifed there for gover- nor Shirley's and Sir William Pepperel's regiments, and the difficulties met with in raifing thefe recruits, I fear greatly that the augmentation of your troops will take up much time, and be at the end but badly compofed, if 1 fhould be obliged to fend there for the number which mall be wanting. But I hope to meet with better fuccefs among the provincial levies now at Beaufejour, who, if I am well informed, are compofed of good men, and may be enlifted more fpeedily, and at lefs ex- pence, than thofe who may be taken from the continent, after the number of recruits already raifed there.
In my letter of the 29th of March, I propofed to governor Shirley to apply ourfelves to you, in order that his regiment, or that of fir William Pepperel's, might come here to protect the province, in cafe I fhould think it neceffary : but obferved, that afterwards I did not fee any great neceflity for a meafure of this fort, being on the point of receiving two thoufand, and between two Or thee hundred men who are at Beaufejour; the only pafiage by land to this place, by which we might have aoiy thing to apprehend from our neighbours the French : I am itill of this fentiment, there being, as yet, no jpal. alteration in the face of affairs in America : how-
ever,
256 APPENDIX.
ever, mould a rupture happen with France (an event founded on appearances and reports) it would be ex- tremely necefTary for us to keep on our guard. I efteem it my duty to acquaint you that in fuch cafe, the three regiments augmented as it is propofed, with the fcouts, the militia, and all the forces that we can depend on, will no-ways be in proportion to the number of ports which we muft be obliged to defend ; efpecially if it be confidered, that even in the heart of the province, we have what they call neutral French ; inhabitants wejl armed, well experienced in the ufe of arms, and alfo are connected with the French King -, fo that upon the leaft attempt which Canada mould make to invade us, I believe it is more than probable that they would im- mediately join them. As I take this article to be of im- portance, I thought it my duty to fubmit it to your re- flection.
NUMBER VI.
Speeches pronounced to the Savages, by order and under the infpeftion of M. Johnfon ; and the anfvuers ivhkb were made hirm
SPEECH I.
To the Six-Nations, on the part of General Braddock.
Brothers, and Allies of the Six -Nations.
I Have already called you feveral times together, to treat with you about different affairs, of which I had no knowledge before I came among you; and which are not yet known to your father the great king of England, of which I lhall take care to inform him ; and to offer to you in his name, the prefents that are here before you, which he gives you as a testimony of his paternal affection.
I have delayed you for fome time, with your women and children, in hopes of feeing foon your brothers the Delawares, but as their arrival is as yet uncertain, and that I know you do not love to remain inactive -, and
that
APPENDIX. 257
that moreover, the fervice of the great king your father requires a quick afllftance from you, I propofe to you to accept the Hatchet ; and to the end that you may exert your warlike difpofitions ; I advife you to fend your wo- men and children to Pennfylvania : I have recommend- ed to the king's governor of that province, to take parti- cular and brotherly care of them.
A fine Belt of Wampum;
Brothers and Allies of the Six-Nations.
IT gives me great pain to fee how much you fuffered yourfelves to be ill-ufed and deceived by your perfi- dious neighbours the French ; and even by fome of your brothers the Englifh : The French have infinuated to you that we who are your faithful brothers, defigned to turn you out of all your hunting lands, and to feize on them for our own ufe : You were greatly impofed upon, when you aiTifted the Frenchman in executing the horrible plan which he lays to our charge, by put- ting himfelf in the real polTefiion of thofe lands which we intended to fecure to you for your own ufe folely, and your particular intereft. 1 declare to you in the prefence of your chiefs and your warriors who are here aifembled, and agreeably to the inftruclions I have re- ceived from the great king your father ; that if you will heartily give me your ajjijlance ; I tuill re-inflate you in the pojfejfton of your lands, of which you have been difpof- felfed by French fraud ; and I will at the fame time5 fecure you an open trade in America, from the rifing to the fetting of the Sun. It is very well known, that 1 have no particular views or any other defign, than that of ferving mutually, the interefts of the great king your father, and of the Six-Nations, and their allies ; and I promife you to be your friend and your brother fo long as the fun and moon fhall endure.
A great Belt of Wampum: I have been allured that when prefents were made you on former occasions, fome of our people have been fo wickecf as to provoke your young men to drink, and got by this means for a very fmall matter, what had been given you. I have given orders to prevent for the
future
258 APPENDIX.
future fuch proceedings ; by threatening with death, all thofe who mould be convicted of this fault : and I beg you will lay before me your complaints againft thofe who fhall a£t in this manner ; and, as a friend and a brother, I will do you juftice.
I have nothing farther to defire, but to fee you ac- cept with pleafure, the prefents which lie. before you, and fee you divide them among you, according to your cuftom and your native equity. I hope they will prove agreeable to you, and you may from time to time, depend on receiving great rewards for your fervices. I have given orders that arms, powder and balls, be diftributed to fuch of your warriors as want any.
Brothers, I have been informed of the perfidious conduct of the French, towards our late brother the Half-King ; and to prove to you how fenfible I am, as well as yourfelves of his ill-ufage (and hope that you will join with me to revenge him) I cover his death with this belt.
Brothers Delawares and Chevanons.
You did a wrong thing in following the advice which fclie French gave you Jait Autumn, to aiTaffinate a num- ber of your brothers the Englim, in the habitations of Carolina ; I am perfuaded this did not proceed from any inclination that was natural to you, but only that you a£ted by the inftigation of the French : therefore if you acknowledge your fault, and that you will unite yourfelves to me frankly and chearfully ; I am willing to forget this unfortunate tranfgreffion, and 1 will ftill receive you as brothers. This I confirm to you in the jaame of, and, as authorifed by the great king your father, with this itring of Wampum.
Signed Johnso.n.:. May 15, 1755.
SPEECH,
APPEND IX. 259
SPEECH II.
%be Speech of the Honourable "William Johnfon Efquire, fuperintendant for the affairs of the Indians > to the ivarriors of the high and low Cajlle of the Iroquois Indi- ans ; in the prefence of lieutenant Butler of Rutherford's company, of captain Matthew Ferral, lieutenant John Butler; and of
Mef.
Daniel Claufe ") Secretaries for
Peter Warpalk y Indian Affairs,
William Printus 7 r .
rx j m , f Interpreters.
Jacob Llement j r
Brothers of the two Caftles of the Anies.
I Wipe away all tears from your eyes, and clean down your throats, that you may fee and fpeak without reftraint. I am glad to lee you, and I falute you hear- tily. Gave a firing of Wampum*
I wiih you could have conformed to what I defired of you by a letter, which I wrote to you from New York immediately on my return from Virginia -, wherein I begged, that all your chiefs and warriors would wait for my return home ; in order to hear the news and be informed of the orders which I received from his ex- ceilency general Braddock (a great warrior) whom the king, cur common father, has lent to this country with a great number of troops, large cannons, and other im- plements of war ; in order to protect you, as well as his liibjects of this continent, and fcreen you from the encroachments, and all infults, on the part of the French.
I have been to meet this great man, with the gover- nors of Boiton, New York, Pennfylvania and Mary- land : we alio found there the governor of Virginia, and another great man, who commands the fhips of war belonging to the king in this part of the world. They deliberated in the great council upon many im- portant affairs ; among which great attention was paid
to
160 APPENDIX.
to the advantage and interefts of our brothers the Six- Nations and their allies.
Brothers. The tree which you and the reft of the Six- Nations have fo often, and fo earneftly defifed mould be replanted, is grown up by fo powerful a hand, that its root will penetrate to the bottom of the earth, and its branches will form a refrefhing fhade, to cover you and your allies withal. I am to acquaint you that, agree- able to the inftru&ions which the great king your father has given to general Braddock, I am appointed to be fole fuperintendent over all the affairs which relate to you and your allies, in this part of the world. I invite you, and your brothers of the fix united nations, and your allies to come and feat yourfelves under this tree ; where you may freely open your hearts, and heal up your wounds ; and at the fame time I tranfport the fhadow of the fire which was at Albany, and rekindle the fire of council and friendfhip in this place : I will make it of fuch wood as mail make it produce the greateft light and the greateft heat. I hope it will prove advantage- ous and comfortable to all thofe who fhall come to light their pipes at it, and that its fparks and fiery coals will burn all thofe who are, or fhall be its enemies.
J hope that you and all your brothers, will be pleafed to augment the luftre and advantage of this fire, in keep- ing and holding it always high, by uniting yourfelves with that diligence and zeal as may make it a bleffing, not only to yourfelves but to all your pofterity. To at- tain and fecure this falutary end, it is abfolutely neceffary that you extinguifh ail fires that have been kindled by fraudulent and unnatural ways ; which give light only to deceive you, and at long run, to annihilate you and yours.
A Belt.
Brothers. With this ftring of Wampum I make clean the chamber of council, and clear it fo as nothing offen- five remain in it ; and I hope you will be pleafed to take care that no malignant fpirit do creep in among us, and tkat nothing do interrupt our harmony.
Gave a ftring of Wampum. Brothers,
APPENDIX. 261
Brothers. It gives me concern to fee, now at my re- turn, that many among you of the two villages, have s mind to go to Canada. It would furprife me greatly, mould you, who have been our moil faithful friends, and our nearefl neighbours, betray on any occafion, a, defire of being impofed upon by the wicked artifices of the French, who are fo well known, and of whom you have had fuch fatal tryals ; efpecially at a time, when that reillefs and perfidious nation breaks through the moil folemn treaties, and tranfgreffes the moil efTential duties of honour and juflice. It would be the ilrangeft thing in the world ! I flatter myfelf that there is no foun- dation for what has been told me on this occafion. I requeilof you, nay, I infiii on it, that none of you un- der any pretext whatfoever, have any correfpondence with the Frenchman, or receive any of his emiffaries, nor any vifit from Canada, without my knowledge and approbation.
On this promife I give you this belt. I propofe to call, immediately, your other brothers of the Six na- tions to this prefent fire : I hope you will come hither along with them. I fnall pronounce a fpeech of his ex- cellency general Braddock's, it is accompanied with prefents for you, which the great king your father, has fent by this warrior.
After a feiv Infants of Confutation among themfelves, Abraham, one of the Chiefs of the Upper Village, got up and [poke for the l-voo. Brother,
YOU have called us together, to acquaint us with the news which you have brought with you ; and we have heard all you have faid. We put off entering into a detail of all thefe affairs, till fuch time as the Six- nations ihall be affembled here.
Gave a firing of Wampum.
Brother. We return you thanks for that you have
been pleafed to wipe the tears off our eyes, and make
our throats and this floor clean : We do the fame by you
with this firing of Wampum.
They gave a firing of Wampum, Brother,
262 APPENDIX.
Brother. To pleafe you ; we have met you at this place, and have with great attention, heard all you have £aid ; we thank you for your friendly intimation ; we are rejoiced to fee you here once more ; and we falute you with this firing of Wampum.
They gave a firing of Wampum,
Brother. We have often reprefented to our father, the great king, that the tree might be raifed up again. We are thoroughly pleafed at our father's yielding to our requeft, and we thank him for it very fincerely. We have had the greatefl fatisfaclion in hearing all you have faid relating to this tree : we fincerely wifh it may con- tinue fuch as you have defcribed it in your fpeech, and we are very grateful for all you have told us on this fubject.
• Brother. You have told us that the tree which ferves «s as a fcreen, is now replanted at this place. "You have caufed the fhade of it to be brought from Albany ; and you have rekindled here, the fire of council and friend- ship, which ought to be compofed of good, and ever- Jafling wood ; fo as it may be always very clear, and cafl a comfortable and beneficial heat on all thofe that mall approach it as friends ; while it burns and fparkles on thofe which are its common enemies. Our firft fathers have kindled this firft fire at Onondago, and have thence tranfported the fmall coals, in order to light another at Quider * -9 this fire has never burned clear, and it was going out. We fed great fatisfaclion at your kindling this fire here.
Brother. You have invited us all, and our brothers of the Six united- nations and their allies, to come and feat ourfelves under the tree which you have fpoke to us of; that we may there fmoke our pipes at the fire of council, and labour jointly at preferving it. We make no doubt but they will feel much joy at feeing it planted here ; having been all defirous to fee it here. But we mufl poftpone anfwering this article of your fpeech, till fuch time as the nations fhall be affembled all in a body.
* This is Albany, in the Savage Language.
Brother*
APPENDIX. 263
Brother, We thank you for having cleaned out this chamber of council, and removed from hence, all that might prove offenfive therein. You may allure yourfelf we mall do our utmoft to correfpond with your inten- tions, and to drive far away whatever might tend to difturb our mutual harmony.
Brother. You have told us that you had been inform- ed, fome perfons among us were going to fee the French; and you put us in mind of their conduct towards our £rft fathers, which we remember perfectly well, for their bones are ftill to be (ben : we know the Frenchman is falfe and deceitful ; he has given us very fine words, and his letters were foft, but his heart was full of poifon for us. You, brother, know our affairs as well as we do ourfelves ; and you know, the reft of the Six-nations are jealous of us ; becaufe we have ufed the Hatchet in the laft war againft the Frenchman. Shall we pafs now for being falfe and deceitful ? no. You may depend upon it, we inall not go to Canada upon any invitation of the Frenchman ; for we are not enough their friends. Therefore you are not, brother, to give credit to all the reports which have been made you on this occafion.
Brother, Once more we thank you heartily for all you have told us. We have already urged the necelnty of aiTembling here the Six-nations, in order to give you a pofitive anfwer : we thank you for the invitation you have given us to meet you here with the reft of our brothers. We mall not fail to wait for them.
She Mohawk Chief of the Upper Village ( Anies,) having deftred a Conference ivith Colonel Johnfon, in the pre- Jence of the Secretary for the affairs of the Savages, and the nvo Interpreters : Abraham, fpoke in the name of this Chief and /aid,
Brother,
WH EN you were at New- York, you fent U3 word that you wifhed our chiefs and our war- riors would remain on their Malts, and wait for your return here. We have done it ; and why mould we aot, fuice, at all times, we have ihewn ourfelves ready
to
a64 APPENDIX.
to oblige you ? and we are the more difpofed to do what you fay, as you acquaint us that you are the Tree which has been replanted in order to give us welter ; and we make no doubt but our brothers of the five other na- tions are all difpofed to obey you.
Brother. It is very true we have been always obe- dient, and always obliging to you ; and when you inti- mated your defire to us, that we fhould remain in our Cabbins, our young men were ready to go out a hunt- ing ; but having been prevented by your order, from going, they now are in want of every thing for their fubfiftence. They have defired us, Chiefs, to lay their wants before you. They ftand in need of every thing, as they have not been out, and they beg you would let them have fome powder and fhot, in order to kill fome Game for their fubfiftence. And as it will be fome time before the other five nations do arrive, and therefore, before the prefents which the king our father fends us, are delivered to us, all we requeft is, that you give us, in the mean time, what is barely neceffary for us.
Brother, as we forefee that the troublefome times are approaching, we renew to you the requefts which we have fo often made to the Government, for the build- ing a Fortrefs for the fecurity of our women and chil- dren ; we hope you will be pleafed to execute it at this time.
Colonel Johnfon's Anfwer.
Brothers,
I Am thoroughly convinced of your good difpofitions towards me, and your compliance at all times in liftening to my word, and doing what I require of you. This is what has induced me to take upon me the de- tail of your affairs. The freih teftimony which you give me of your friendfhip, and your regard for me, will enable me to promote your intereft much to your ad- vantage, and my own fatisfa&ion.
I am well perfuaded I have done you a great preju- dice, as well as to your young people, in having detain* ed them arthis time, at home. Therefore I grant you
leadily,
APPENDIX. 265
readily, what you afk me ; and I will give you fome powder and balls.
Before I left New- York I reprefented to your brother, the governor, the neceflity of building a fortrefs where you might fafely retire to with your families ; and 1, with pleafure acquaint you, that he has given me a full power to do it : and I mall give orders for the fetting about it as foon as polTible.
Signed
Ma7» i7> 1755*
JOHNSON,
A Letter from M. Johnfon to M. Arent Stevens, Inter- preter/or the Province,
SIR,
IN confequence of the Inftructions, which his rhajefty has given his excellency general Braddock, he has entrusted me with the fole fuperintendence, and the management of all the affairs that relate to the fix United nations and their allies. You are therefore, to be attentive to follow the orders which you ihall receive from me, in refpeft to this bufmefs,
I fend you this letter by James Clement, with two belts of Wampum, both the one and the other for the five nations above : you are to deliver them in my name $ and aflure them, that the troops which are in march, and thofe which may hereafter march for Chouaguen, are deftined to reinforce that garrifon, and to fecure it againft the acts of hoftility of the Frenchman, who has declared that it belonged neither to us, nor to the Six- nations ; and that he would demolifh it.
I have fent a melTage with a firing of Wampum im- mediately upon my arrival; but in cafe that mould not have been fufficient, I at prefent fend this belt. If you find that the Five-nations are uneafy, or alarmed 3t the march of thefe troops through their country, whether this fhould proceed from their jealoufy, or the deceitful infinuations of the French emifTanes; you are to afTure them, in my name, that they are defigned for the fecu- ihy and advantage of the Six-nations and their allies.
You
z66 APPENDIX
You are to exhort them not to hearken to any lyes which the French may make life of on this occafion ; whofe defire and intention are to fall upon us and them while we are afleep, in order to cut off both us and them from the face of the earth : and they well know that the eafieft way to fucceed, is to difturb and deftroy the brotherly love and confidence which has fo long, and fo happily fubfifted between us. You will make ufe of thefe or other like arguments, as the circumilances may require.
The other belt, which I fend you, is to acquaint them with the commilTion I have from the great king, their father, which has been granted at their repeated Snftances ; and alfo, that purfuant to general Braddock's orders, by this belt, I invite and call upon the Six United-nations to repair with their allies, to my houfe j where I have kindled the fire of council and friendfhip, and replanted the tree which mall cover with its made both them and all thofe who will flielter themfelves un- der it ; that I have a prefent to make them in the name of the great king, their father, a great deal of good news to tell them ; and am to hold a council upon a great many affairs of the laft confequence, and which concern their happinefs and welfare. If you find that there are any praclifes made ufe of by the French emif- faries in order to prevent them from meeting me ; you are to employ the beft arguments, and thofe you mall judge moft proper, in order to diffipate thefe imprefli- ons : and you are to infill on their obedience, and the condefcenfions they owe us. If they mould fay that they are planting their corn, and that fhould they come now, they muft lofe their harveft and want provifions ; You are to allure them that I mall take care of them, and that I mail indemnify them for the lofs which they fhall fuftain on this occafion : but you are to aft pru- dently in this refpecl, and be cautious how you promife.
I have had an interview with the two Antes villages Concerning thefe two belts: they have been fatisfied, and have promifed to join me here when the other na- tions come down j which is what you are to urge as
Eiuch as pofllble.j
I have
APPENDIX. 267
I have fent you by M. Clement, fome goods to make ufe of, if you fhonld have occafion : and when you have conducted the Indians to the German Flatts, you will find provifions at my houfe ; of which I beg you will keep an account.
Signed
William Johnfon.
NUMBER VII.
A Letter written by Mr. William Johnfon, to federal Go- vernors, relating to the Expedition againji the Fort of Crown-Point.
New- York, May 15, 1 755."
BEING appointed commander in chief, of the forces of the colonies for the intended expedition of Crown-Point, I think it incumbent upon me to remove, to the beft of my power, all the difficulties which may occur in the fervice, and obfiruct the luccefs of this undertaking. As a train of artillery is efTentially necef- fary, that nothing can be done without it, and as it is to be fupplied by the eaftern colonies, I make no doubt but you will do your utmoft to accelerate every thing relating to this article, in order that our march may not "be retarded, and that we may not fpend more time than is necefTary, at Albany; which might confirm " the enemy's fufpicion of an attack, if unfortunately, they •fhould have notice of it." I fear greatly I fhall want proper perfons to conduct a train of artillery. There- fore if you have in your government any perfons that are capable of being made engineers or bombardiers, or any other that is capable of conducting a train of artillery, f beg you will take them into the fervice, according to your knowledge of their capacity. You muft know that we ftand in need of a great number of battoes, in order to the tranfporting our troops ; befides thofe that are necefTary for the train of artillery, ftores and baggage. Each battoe muft carry five hundred men. We have already thofe which are to be fupplied by this govern- ment. As J believe the other colonies muil caufe thofe which they fljaJl fupply, to be built here or at Jerfey ; I M ■ take
263 A P P E N D I X,
take the confirmation of a fufficient number of them in time, to be impoiiible, unlefs they will fend workmen to our aiilftance.
I am, Sir, &c. Signed
William Johnfon,
NUMBER VIII. Tran/lation of a letter vurote from fort Du Quefhe by Robert Stobo, an Englishman, one of the hof ages for the Jecurity of the capitulation granted to the Englifh troops commanded by M. Wafhington.
S I R,
Savage, called Tufquerora John, has brought hither an account, which very much alarms all' the favages on this river : He fays, that the Half-King, Manaquehiha, and a Chevanon chieftain, &c. to the number of thirty feven, have been taken by the Englifh, and made prifoners. He fays alfo, that John Mainot, alias James Cork, of Monger's company, told him, that thefe thirty (even favages were to be hanged as foon as they arrived at the Englifh fettlements, and advifed him to make his efcape. This was artfully reported on the eve of a great Council between the Chevanons, French, and the lavages their allies. The French made them a long and elegant harangue, alTuring them, they came not here to "wage 'war againfl any body, but the Englifh would not fuffer them to live at reft; that they hoped the favages, their children, would not fuffer their father to be intuited in his old age: that, notwithftanding, if they had a mind' to join the Englifh, they might do it ; but if they had a mind to think better they would re- main in peace. This is all I could learn of this council. The French feconded thefe words with two large belts, and two firings of wampum. Their allies did the fame. There were alfo confiderable prefents : to wit, fixteen fine guns, two barrels of powder, balls in proportion, fixteen fine fuits ofcloaths, many others of lefs value, and coverings of cloath. The Chevanons made them no anfwer, nor did I hear they have as yet.
It
APPENDIX. 269
It is allured, that the Half- King and his people were killed, and that their wives and children have, been de- livered to the barbarity of the Cherokees and Catabocs, who are affembled to the number of three hundred at the new magazine. Whether this be true or not, 'tis certain, that the favages are very much alarmed ; and were it not for this hews, a number of different nations would have efpoufed your intereft : if this news be true (which I cannot think) you can depend upon no favages in thefe quarters; which will make our return very hazardous : but this is not to be considered.
The Chevanons, Picko, and (a) Deiawago, have held a great Council among them : 1 know not the refult ©fit. I have engaged fome of them to join you, and allured them they would be very well received, and that there were many fine prefents for the favages at the new magazine. A prefent made apropos at this time, might be of great fervice. If we could engage the Ca- tabocs and Cherokees to conclude a peace, I believe every thing would go well. In the combat of the mea- dow, near the fort of Neceflity, we had no more than fix or feven favages, which we call our own. I believe they were of the nation of Mingo, and little efteemed in the nation, particularly one John Englifh : Ke is of the number of thofe who are looked upon to be fpies : I knew he was to join you with his men, but be on your guard againil them. I fend you this by the brother-in- law of Manaquetahas, a good fubjecl whom you may trull.
You'll fee on the other fide the plan of the fort drawn as well in detail as time and circumflances would per- mit me. The garrifon at prefent is not two hundred ftrohg, all workmen. The reft are gone off, to the number of a thoufand, in different detachments. In two days Merrier, a good officer, will quit the fort and leave behind him only Contrecoeur, and fome young officers and cadets. They fent fome days ago a. lieute- nant, with two hundred men for proviilons, and wait
(a) Savage nation?. The Deiawago may be the fame that M. Walhingtop calls Delawares.
M 2 impatiently
270 APPENDIX.
impatient!/ for them. At his return, the garrifon will confift of four hundred men. They feem here to mifs la Force greatly : Since his departure there were no fconts fent out. He is much regreted and defired here, which makes me judge he was not an ordinary man. When we engaged in the fervice of our country, it was expected it would be at the expence of our lives. Let no one therefore be deceived. Confider the advantage that will accrue from the expedition without the leafl regard to us. For my part 1 would die ten thoufand deaths to enjoy the pleafure of feeing this fort in the hands of the Engliih. The French are fo vain, of their fuccefs at the meadows, that I would fooner die, rather than hear them fpeak of this affair . Attack this au- tumn as foon as you poillbly can -3 gain over the Indians ; perfiiade them with judgment ; in a word, do what you can and you will fucceed : an hundred trufty In- dians are fufricient to furprize the fort. They have ac- cefs every day here. They may hide themfelves, fo as to be able, without much difficulty, to fecure the guard wirh their Tamkanko : let then the gate be ilmt, and the fort is our own. Here is never in the night hut Contrecoeur and the guard, which never exceeds fifty men, all the reft are lodged without the walls in cabins built all round. For the love of God do not communicate this letter but to a few perfons ; and let thofe be fuch as you can depend on : that they have here notice of every thing, is not to be queftioned ; if they come to be informed of what I write, the lofs of the little liberty which I am allowed, would be the leaft that could happen me. I fhould be defirous to hear from youj but -let no mention be made of this in your letter. Pleafe to excufe the faults which might have crept into this letter, in which there is- no great coherency 3 and believe me your's.
Signed,
Robert Stobo.
P. S. Re kind to this Indian. Schinga and Deleavy George are come this place.
Copy
appendix: 271
NUMBER IX.
Copy of Major-General Joimfon's Letter to the Governors
of the federal Colonies,
Camp at Lake George, Sept. 9, 1755. Gentlemen,
SUNDAY evening the 7th inftant I received intelli* gence from ibme Indian icouts I had feat out, that they had difcovered three large reads about the South Bay, and were confident a very confiderable number of the enemy were marched, or on their march towards our encampment at the Carrying- place, where were ported about 250 of the New Hampshire troops, and five companies of the New York regiment. 1 got one Adams, a waggoner, who voluntarily and bravely con- fented to ride exprefs with my orders to colonel Blan- chard of 'the New Hampshire regiment, commanding officer there. I acquainted him with my intelligence, and directed him to withdraw all the troops there within the works thrown up. About half an hour, or near an hour after this, I got two Indians and two foldiers to go on foot with another letter to the fame purpofe.
About twelve o'clock that night the- Indians and foi- diers returned with a waggoner who had ftole from the camp, with about eight others their waggoners and forces without orders. This waggoner fays they heard and faw the enemy about four miles from this fide the Carrying-place. They heard a gun fire, and a man call upon heaven for mercy, which he judged to be Adams. The next morning I called a council of war, who gave it as their opinion, and in which the Indians, were extremely urgent, that 1 000 men mould be de- tached, and a number of their people would go with, them, in order to catch the enemy in their retreat from the other camp, either as victors, or defeated in their defign. The 1000 men were detached under the com- mand of colonel Williams, of one of the Bofron regi- - ments, with upwards of 200 Indians. They marched between eight and nine o'clock. In about an hour and half afterwards we heard a heavy firing, and all the M 3 marks
272 APPENDIX.
marks of a warm engagement, which we judged was about three or four miles from us ; we beat to arms, and got our men all in readinefs. The fire approached nearer, upon which I judged our people were retreating, and detached lieutenant colonel Cole, with about 300 men, to cover their retreat. About ten o'clock fome of our men in the rear, and fome Indians of the laid party, came running into camp, and acquainted us, that our men were retreating, that the enemy were too ilrong for them. The whole party that efcaped return- ed to us in large bodies.
As we had thrown up a breaft-work of trees round our encampment, and planted fome field-pieces to de- fend the fame, we immediately hauled fome heavy can- non up there to ftrengthen our front, took poileffion of fome eminencies on our left flank, and got one field-piece there in a very- advantageous fituation : The breaft-work was manned throughout by our people, and the beft difpofition made through our whole encampment, which time and circ"mftances would permit. About half an hour after eleven, the enemy appeared in fight, and marched along the road in very regular order directly upon our centre : They made a fmall halt about 150 yards from our breaft-work, 'when the regular troops, (whom we judged to be fuch by their bright and fixed" bayonets) made tile grand and centre attack. The Ca- nadians and Indians fquatred and. difperfed on our flanks. The enemy's fire we received firft from their regulars in. platoons, but it did no great execution, being at too great a diftance, and our men defended by the breaft- work. Our artii!e?y then began to play on them, and' was ferved, under the direction of captain Eyre, dur- ing the whole engagement, in a manner very advanta- geous to his character, and thofe concerned in the ma- nagement of it. The engagement now became general' on both fides. The French regulars kept their ground and order for fome time with great refolution and good conduct, but the warm and conftant fire from our artil- lery and troops, put them into diforder: Their fire be- came more fcatcered and unequal, and the enemy's fire
on
APPENDIX. 273
on our left grew very faint. They moved then to the right of our encampment, and attacked colonel Ruggles, colonel Williams, and colonel Titcomb's regiments, where they maintained a very warm fire for near an hour, ftill keeping up their fire in the other parts of our line, tho' not very ftrong. The three regiments on the right fupported the attack very refolutely, and kept a conltant and ftrong fire upon the enemy. This attack failing, and the artillery ftill playing along the line, we found their fire very weak, with confiderable intervals : This was about four o'clock, when our men and the Indians jumped over the breaft-work, purfued the enemy, flaughtered numbers, and took feveral prifoners, amongft whom was the baron de Diefkau, the French general of all the regular forces lately arrived from Europe, who was brought to my tent about fix o'clock, juft as a wound I had received was dreifed. The whole engagement and purfuit ended about feven o'clock.
I do not know whether I can get the returns of the. flain and wounded on our fide to tranfmit herewith ; but more of that by and by.
The greateft lofs we have fuftained was in the party commanded by colonel Williams in the morning, who was attacked, and the men gave way, before colonel Whiting, who brought up the rear, could come to his afliftance. The enemy, who were more numerous, en- deavoured to furround them ; upon which the officers found they had no way to fave the troops but by retreat- ing ; which they did as fall as they could. In this en- gagement wefuffered our greateft lofs ; colonel Williams, major Aihley, captain Ingerfal, and captain Puter, of the fame regiment ; captain Farrell, brother-in-law to the general, who commanded a party of Indians, cap- tarn Stoddart, captain M'Ginnes, captain Stevens, all Indian officers, and the Indians fay, near forty of their people, who fought like lions, were all (lain : Old Hen- drick, the great Mohawk Sachem, we fear is killed. We have abundant reafon to think we killed a great number of the enemy ; amongft whom is Moni". St. Piere, who commanded all the Indians, The exact
_. ... jjurnjbef
274 APPENDIX.
number on either fide I cannot obtain; for tho' I fent a party to bury our dead this afternoon, it being a running Scattered engagement, we can neither find all our dead, nor give an exacl: account. As fart as thefe tioops joined us, they formed with the reft in the main battle of the day ; fo that the killed and wounded in both engagements, officers excepted, mull Hand upon one return.
About eight o'clock laft night, a party of 120 of the New Hampfhire regiment, and 90 of the New York regiment, who were detached to our affiftance, under the command of captain M'Ginnes, from the camp at the Carrying-place, to reinforce us, were attacked by a party of Indians and Canadians, at the. place where colonel Williams was attacked in the morning : Their engagement began between four and five o'clock. This party, who our people fay were between 3 and 400, had fled from the engagement here, and gone to fcalp our people killed in the morning. Our brave men fought them for near two hours, and made a confidera- ble (laughter amongft them. Of this brave party two were killed, and ekwen wounded, and five miffing. Captain. M'Ginnes, who behaved with the utmoft ealmnefs and refolution, was brought on a horfe here, and, I fear, his wounds will prove mortal. Enfign Falfam, of the New Hampfhire regiment, wounded thro' the fhoulder.
I have this morning called a council of war, a copy of the minutes of which I fend you herewith.
Monfieur le baron de Diefkau, the French general, is badly wounded in the leg, and thro' both his hips, and the furgeon very much fears his life. He is an el- derly gentleman, an experienced officer, and a man of high confideration in France. From his papers, I find he brought under his command to Canada, in the men of war lately arrived at Quebec, 3 171 regular troops, who were partly in garrifon at Crown-Point, and en- ' camped at Ticonderoro and other advantageous paifes, between this and Crown Point. He tells me he had ^yith himyefterday morning 200 grenadiers, 800 Cana- dians^,
APPENDIX. iys
dians, and 700 Indians of different nations. His aid de camp fays, (they being feparately afked) their whole force was about 2000. Several of the prifoners fay a- bout 2300. The baron fays, his major general was killed, and his aid-de camp fays, the greater part of their chief officers alfo. He thinks by the morning and afternoon actions, they have loft near 1000 men, but I can get no regular accounts. Moil of our people think from 5 to 600. We have about 30 prifoners, moil of them badly wounded. The Indians fcaiped of their dead already near 70, and were employed after the bat- tle lait night, and all this afternoon, in bringing in fcalps; and great numbers of French and Indians yet left unfcalped. They carried oiF numbers of their dead, and fecreted them. Our men have fuffered fo much fatigue for three days pad, and are conilantly {landing upon their arms by day, half the whole upon guard every night, and the reil lay down armed and accoutred, that both officers and men are almoil wTore out. The ene- my may rally, and we judge they have confiderable re- inforcements near at hand ; fo that I think it neceifary we be upon our guard, and be watchful to maintain the advantages we have gained. For thefe reafons I do not think it either prudent or fafe to be fending out parties in fearch of the dead.
I do not hear of any officers killed at our camp but colonel Titcomb, and none wounded but myCdf, and major Nichols of colonel Titcomb's. I cannot yet get certain returns of our dead and wounded ; but from the beil accounts I can obtain, we have loft about 130 who are killed, about 60 wounded, and feveral miffing from the morning and afternoon's engagement.
I think we may expect very fhortly another and more formidable attack, and that the enemy will then come with artillery. The late colonel Williams had the ground cleared for building a (lockaded fort. Our men are fo haraiTed, and obliged to be fo conilantly upon watchful duty, that I think it would be both unreafona- ble, and I fear in vain, to fet them at work upon the deilgned fort.
I defign
2>]6 APPENDIX.
I de&gn to order the New Harnpfhire regiment up here to reinforce us, and I hope, fome of the defigned re- inforcements will be with us in a few days. When thefe frefh troops arrive, I ihall immediately fet about building a fort.
My wound is in my thigh, it is very painful. The ball is lodged, and cannot be got out, by which means I am, to my mortification, confined to my tent, ioth.
This letter was begun, and fhould have been dif- patched yellerday $ but we had two alarms, and neither time nor prudence would permit it. I hope, gentlemen, you will place the incorredlnefs hereof, to the account ©f our fituation. I am, gentlemen, moft refpectfully,
Your moft obedient fervant,
William Johnson.
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