An impartial account of Lieut. Col. Bradstreet's expedition to Fort Frontenac : to which are added, a few reflections on the conduct of that enterprise, and the advantages resulting from its success

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AN IMPARTIAL

ACCOUNT

O F s

Lieut. Col. Bradstreet's

EXPEDITION
T O

FORT FRONTENAC.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

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

By a Volunteer on the Expedition.

LONDON:

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

M.DCC.LIX.

7-

8 "3

4

\

A N

Impartial Account, iftl

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

[ 2 ]

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

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

* Major General Abercrombie.

turn'd

[ 3 ]

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

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

B 2 On

[ 4 3

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

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

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

was

[ 5 ]

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

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

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

" the

t 6 ]

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

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

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

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

" of

[ 7 J

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

Regulars — 155

Rangers ■ 60

New Yorkers — 1 1 1 2

Williams's ■■ 432

Doughtey's 248

Rhode Iflanders — 318

Jerfey's — — 412

2737

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

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

them

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

Frontenac,

t 9 I

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

[ IO ]

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

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

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

by

[ * ]

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

[ 12 ]

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

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

and

[ *3 1

and his little grarifon, and burnt tho
fort

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

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

board

[ 14 1

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

The

[ 'I* ]

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

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

of

t 16 ]

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

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

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

f '7 ]

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

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

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

[ i8 ]

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

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

* Black Creek.

tween

[ 19 1

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

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

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

D 2 our

I 20 ]

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

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

The

C 21 ]

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

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

turn'd

t » ]

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

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

void

[ 23 ]

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

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

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

boats

[ 24 3

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

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

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

it.

[ 25 ]

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

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

[ 26 ]

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

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

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

the

C 27 ]

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

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

On the 23d, at eight in the morning,

embark'd, but the wind and fea rifing,

E 2 we

[ 28 ]

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

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

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

On

r 29 i

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

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

[ 3° ]

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

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

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

them,

[ 3i 1

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

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

trench

[ 32 ]

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

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

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

at

[ 33 ]

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

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

F fired

[ 34 ]

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

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

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

the

[ 3$ i

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

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

[ 36 ]

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

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

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

C 37 ]

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

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

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

where

[ 38 ]

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

on

\[ { 39 1

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

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

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

A*

r 4° ]

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

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

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

t *rmy,

t 4' ]

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

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

G eva-

[ 42 ]

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

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

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

t fions,

[ 43 ]

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

* Equal to 35,000/. fieri ing.

Gz the

[ 44 ]

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

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

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

On

C 45 ]

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

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

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

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

On

[ 46 ]

On

in each
miles.

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

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

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

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

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

Having

[ 47 3

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

The goods divided at Bulls fort were
as follows :

178 Gold and filver laced hatts

3 3 Pieces of gold lace

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

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

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

375 Ca1*-

[ 48 ]

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

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

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

Thefe

[ 49 ]

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

Firft, the enterprize, or action itfelf.

Secondly, the confequences refulting
from it.

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

H fort,

I 5° ]

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

The

[ 5' ]

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

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

Secondly, the greateft expedition and
difpatch in marching.

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

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

H 2 army*

t 52 ]

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

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

which,

[ 53 ]

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

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

many,

[ 54 3

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

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

By

[ 55 ]

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

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

in

[ 56 3

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

M.

[ S7 ]

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

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

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

J .has

[ 58 ]

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

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

to improve them properly,

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

th$

r 59 3

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

were

[: 60 ]

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

F I N- 1 S.

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