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[Price Three Shillings, few'd.] ■ •(; r-v* A r >i»*&^ ^ % ^. f M A a.f,"^ « *.l «. «,),*' .7 / ^ ,m I. t tm~it t ii tm\ t i>i ' *« REV I E W OF T H E MILITARY OPERATIONS I N NORTH-AME R ICA^ FROM The Commencement of the French Hostilities on the Frontiers of Virginia in 1753, to the Surrender of Ofwcgo, on the 14th of Auguft, 1756. I N T E R S P E R S E I> With various Obfcrvations, Charadters, and Anecdotes j neceflaiy to give Light into the Condud of American Tranfadions m generaU and more efpecially into the political Management of AJBiurs in NEW YORK, In a Letter to a Nobleman. LONDON: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley i^ Pall*MalK M.dccj.vii» m A t «MaliiM*u>i^>BMMHi 7.^0 .A R E V I E Wi O F T H€ 7 MILITARY OPERATIONS I N NORTH ^MER/CA,8cc. Kit yOdy Lord, ESTEBM myfelf highly honoured, when you lotrodaAioa requeft of me, a full account of the rife, pro- grefs, and prefent ftate^ of the military ope- rations in North America j with a ju/i: deli- yc//t*^' /y neation bf the charaders of the principal agents in our £^>^£i^tj^/ political ai&irs. Indeed, my Lord, you impofe a tafk that will require a Volume, rather than a Letter. As your Lord(hip*s defire, however, fhall always carry with me the force of a command, I will engage in it with the ^^ Z' utmoft chearfulneii Forgive me^ my Ix>rd, for faying f/fc I have a ilill ftronger motive for corapodng thefe (heets^ than a mere compliance with your Lord(hip*s requeft ; i \s» ;>* to ^ '"* ?^^o"\S /Imericaa colon lea too long ncg- Ic^ed, tho* of general importance. v»\s»>--;>^._ ^ 1 \.»V-»3f"^' :n. -i^*.. "aM«^»i» > "J [O to which I would ever pay the profoundcft regard. When I rdkdt upon your eminent (lacion — your excelling abl- Hdei — your warm and adiive zeal, for the intercil and welfare of the Britifh colonics ; I am prompted by an un- feigned defir^ of ferving my country ; and fetting before your Lord(hip*8 eyes Truth, in her plain undifguifed ha- bilimenti: I would drip her of all that dcluiive colouring, with which (he hs^th been artfully varnifhed, by letter- writers from this part of the world ; cither to fubfcrve fome mean (inifter party dcfign, or to promote the views of (bme afpiring and ambitious minds. Candour and integrity (hall therefore guide my pen ; and amidft the variety with which it is my purpofe to prefent your Lord- (hip, it ihatt be my (acred endeavour, to tlie beft of my knowledge, to attach myfelf to the (Irideft — the moft impartial verity. ! !j( Thk Amieiican colomeay I fpeak it with fubmiffioni my rLoir4) wfretoq long negledlcd by their mother. cp^ii4 try \ tho* loudly denu^nding hei: patronage and mJt- ance. Thofe, on the continent, require * her peculfar QiQUce: They may be madie an inei^h^uAible mag^si^e of weahh ;, and if fu0ered to £m iaoo the l^nds, ofi the French, fiich will be the acceilionr to their already ex- tended commerce and marine . ftrengtb, that Great Bri- tain flfiuft i>Q{t only lofe her focsner lufire, but, dreadful even ia duought 1 ceafe to be any longer an iadependeD.!; power. Nay, fhould every other icheme fail, the fuccefs of this wiU inevitably accomplifli the long-prcjeded c- ■ fx defign "■J i ♦ ^^ " %port of , p«,pof,ti^r „f '^'° f'[ «ny argument. fcnt.n,e„r. prev,a«J caller Ih^''^^ '^'- "'• ''^d 'hcfe mculcated I ""• ""'' Ix*" more frequent!/ The importance of rli.. ^ i • ''« confidered. tifj the comir' '"' ^"'' "" '°»"'--« J*- reduair'o^"^'^r"T'"^"^°f 'f- ia^wr?^^^^^ England, wa, a^ a^fiS"? ''^ "'^ P«'P'- of New'?'^"'- "«c. f.at America Sm"^h"rP^''''"'d for,u>""^"* "o" generd topic of S^a'^" «"«'"">'» event, a governor of the MaffacE i^""' **'• ^'''^H he Fojaflor of that glo L, "-. ^' *''' ""^ ?"«='>»! which reduced to aJ iL "^"^ ' An enterorize - q"en« eo the French, irl^T^- ^^ '""ch confe. *«»' % to their Amerk^tr ''^°" °^ ">« '"I^- "on wa,, in reality tZ ,"'««»". that its rctou % i' LrdSiZSii^''?'^ «y Lord, Mr Sh.V -- ;;-^^..., .,,,, ^^'^hMJWaleftytothen.: ' preme ■ ii I I' ♦■■ • [4] preme commtnd of that colony. He ii a Gentleman of great political fagacity, deep penetration, and indefati- gable indulby. With refpedt to the wifdom and equity of hit adminiAration, he can boaft the univerfal fulfrage of a wife, free, jcaloui, and moral people. Tho* not bred to armi, he it eminently po(ic(fed of thefe impor- tant military virtuci — An extent of capacity to form and execute great defigni ; — profound fccrcfy ; — love of regularity and difcipline ; — * a frugal and laborious manner of living ; with the art of conciliating the aflcc- tioni ; — a talent which Hannibal admired in Pyrrhiis, above all the reft of hit martial accomplifhments. In the firft of thefe great qualities, Mr. Shirley is univer- fally acknowledged to (hine : and it is, in reality, more eftimable, than all other military endowments without it ; confiding, to ufe the words of that difccrning hi- dorian Mr. RoUin, " in having great views ; in forming " plans at a didance { in propoiing a deiign, from '' which the author never departs ; in concerting all the *' meafures neceffary for its fuccefs; in knowing how '* to feize the favourable moments of occa(ion, which ** are rapid in their courfe, and never return ; to make " even fudden and unforefecn accidents fubiervient to a '* plan ; in a word, to be upon the watch againd every ** thing, without being perplexed and difconcerted by ** any event.*' But, whether it arifes from his being to far advanced in years, or from his conditutional diipo- fition and make, he has not, in my opinion, that &€ti' vity and alertnefs fo conducive to warlike expedition ; and ..# 4- H^^h^ ^t<^ and on which the (uccefi of an enterprize freqi^entty depends. This was one of the eharaAeriftics of Brad- dock \ a commander, vigorous in executing, as Mr. Shir- ley, judicious in contriving a plan -^fid non omiia pojfu* mm mfui -^ and *tis ealier, my Lord, to find adive hands, than able heads. hk> irian perhaps in the na- hu >> Paris, for fettling the controverted limits between the two Crowns in America. Amidft aU the fpfendors and delicacies of Verfailles, he forgot neither Oij r hiterelV, nor His duty. As a proof of hi» integrity and dili- gence, during that fhiitlefs embafly, one need only per- ufc thefe judidoufr and laborious memorials, in fupport J of ' . Majefty's right to Nova Scotia, which were prin- ^^^^ / f/tV^^ cipally framed by him ; and lately publiihcd by order *^" of the Lord^ of Trade, as a full exhibit of bur title to f»VK ct •* that ii' [«] t > «753' ^v »" »• ti* that part of America. When no fatisfad^ion could, in this way, be obtained firom the Cknirt of France ; which ^vai artfiilly endeavouring to fpiu out the ncgotiadoiv, and at the fame time fortifyix^ (he places in que(lion« as well as making new acquiiitions ; the Britifh oommii^ faries retired from the French Court, and Mr. Shirky re- fumed his government in New England in Auguft 1753. Ths French) jealous of the growth of the EngUfh •^^^rp^ colonies, were now meditating all podiblciu'ts to diftrefi vimSu. °° ^^^°^» and^^tcnd tip Ufiaits of thw own frontier The marquis Du Quefne, an enterpri;(ing genius, was at this time invefted with the fuprente command of New France. Our provinces were quicUy alarmed by the French iettlements, which he this year began on the banks of the Ohio. Virginia, appearing more imme- Meflfage to diatdy concerned, Mr. Dinwiddie * wrote, on the 31ft ii»nd^ of October, to i:he commandant of the Fuench fprces there, complaining of fundry late hoililities : and de- firing to know, by what authority an ai^med force had marched from Canada, and invaded ^ territory indubi- tably the ri^t of his Britannic Majefly. Major Wafli- ington^ a gentleman of whom I ihall have occafton in the fequel .to make honourable n^entipn, wm the hearer of this letler. He returned with an anfwer from Monf. Legardeur De St. Pierre, dated at the fort on Beef River, 15 December, 1753 ; of which the followiug is an exad irisaafwcr- (fgjjfl^on ; " As I have the hoiM>Uf «Q CQiamand here , , J " ]-tl • Jicuicfumt Govtmot of Virgfak. : bf iT lo ^t > J,,5ili ^9 -fflO.J ^r.r m 17 ] *( in chiefs Mr.! Wafl^|ngton4lelivertd me the ktter^ t^7SP <* which you dire^d to the commandant of the French <* troops. I fhould have been pkafed if you had given U him orders^ or if he hip^lf had been difpofed, to vifit *' Canada and our general ', to^^bom, rather than to " me» it properly appertains todemonftrate the reality <* of the King my mafterV rights to lands (ituated along *.* the Ohio, and to difpute the pretentions of the King *5 (of OrWt Britain iii thatrefpciail! / -A . •** % lOiall immediately forward ybur letter to Monf. ** Le Marquis Du Quefne. His anfwer will be a law to and if he diiedU me to communicate it to you. me " I aiTure you, 8ir, I ikaU^^gler aid and by alarming fpeeches laboured to rouze the Viiginians looies. into a vigorous oppofition. He wrote alio to the neigh- bouring governors, importuning the aid of the other colo- nies, for repelling the invasion, $md ereding a fort at the confluence of the Ohio and Monangahela. An immediate jund^on in fuch meafures became abfolutely requifite for our common fecurity. But the colonies, alas ! were funk into a profouhd lethargy ; and, refigned to flupidity and {lumbering, appeared infenfible of the threatening danger. They contemned the power of Canada ; confided in the number of their inhabitants; inattentive were they to the iaconveniencies of an endlefs frontier j and in (hort 8 intirely f 9 ] intirely unacquainted with the fituation of the inland i754* country. The waters of the Ohio, before this period, ^"""^^'^^ were fcarce known, fave to a few Indian traders ; and the generality deemed thofe French fettlements too re- mote to be the objed of dread, and a matter of iniig- nificant moment. Accordingly, when application was But they ge- made for fuccours to Virginia, conformable to dircdionstjfed them- from the miniftry, fome of our provincial adcmblies, par-^'^^*"' ticularly thofe of Penfylvania * and New York **, feemed even to .queftion his Majefty's title to the lands ufurped by the French. Others, to avoid their (hare in the burden, framed the moft trifling exnifes. New York, however, voted 5000I. currency in aid of Virginia ; 1 which, confidering her own fituation, and approaching diflrefs, was no ungenerous contribution. The Virginians neverthelefs proceeded in their refblu- Forces raifed tion of marching a body of troops to the protection of waSinff*' their frontiers: and paiTed an ai^ in February 1754, for • " You would not admit, that the French encroachments and fortifications on the " Ohio were within our limits, or his Majefty's dominions, thereby feeking an excufe " to avoid doing what was required of you." ^ Gov. Morris's meflage to the aflembly of Penfylvania, 22 Nov. 1755. ** «' It appears, by other papers your honour has been pleafed to communicate to " us, that the French have built a fort at a place called the French Creek, at a con- '♦ fiderable diflance from the river Ohio, which may, but does not by any evidence " or information appear to us to be an invafion of any of his Majefty's colonies," Addrefs of the general afTembly to Lieut. Gov* f V ■ _r' V ''^' *' De Lancey, 23 April, 1754. ton. ■ 1^^- f : raifing [ 10 ] 1554* f^i^ng i6)Oool. and 300 men. The command was ^"•""^'^^ given to Col. Wadiington, a young gentleman of great bravery and diftlnguiOied merit. By his Majefty*s di^ re6tion, two of the regular independent companies of foot at New York, were ordered to the frontier of that dominion. They imbarked for Virginia on board the Centaur man of war; which unfortunately did not fail from thence till the middle of June, and carried the money before mentioned to the afTidance of that colony. Who had a CoL. WASHINGTON began his march, at the head of fkirmiftiwith his little army, about the ift of May. On the 2^th he the enemy, j^^j ^ fkirmifh with the enemy, of whom ten were (lain, and about twenty made prifoners. But this public-fpi<* rited oiHcer foon experienced a reverfe of fortune. Wait- ing for further reinforcements, he was alarmed with an account, that 900 French and 260 Indians were ad^ vancing from the Ohio ; who accordingly jn two days after * came up, and an engagement immediately en- fued. Our troops werc but a handful compared to the number of the enemy, confiding only of about three hun- But was af- drcd efFcdlivc men. After a vigorous refiftance for three fubdued by hours, in which it was faid near two hundred of the numbers. French and their Indian allies were {lain ; Col. Wafhing- ton, obferving the great fuperiority of the enemy, who now began to hemm him in on all quarters, found him- • The third of July. '9i m felf [ II ] fclf under an abfolutc ncccflity of fubmitting to the dif- agreeable terms that were ollered him *, • The termi of capitulation granted bf Monf. De VUlicr, captain and commander of the infantry of his Moft Chriftian M^gefty, to thofe Englilh troops actually in Fort Necefity, which is built on the land of the Icing's dominions. As our intentions have never been to trouble thr peace and harmony which reigns between the two princes in amityi but only to revenge the aflaflination which has been done on one of our officers, bearer of a ftgtion, as appears by his wiittngs; as olfo to hinder any eAabiifliinent on the lands in the dominions of the king my mafter ; upon thefe confiderations, we are willing to grant protection and favour to all the EnglUh that are in the faid fort, upon the conditions liereafter mentioned. Article I. We grant the EnglUh commander, to retire with all his garrifon, and to return peaceably into his own country ; and promife to hinder his receiving any infults from iis French, and to reftrain, as much as (hall be in our power, the favages that are with us. Article II. That the Englifli be permitted to march out, and carry every thing with them, except the artillery, which we keep. Article III. That we will allow the Englifh all the honours of war ; and that they (hall march out with drums beating, and with a fwivel gun ; — that we are willing to fliew that we treat them as firicnds. Article IV. , That as foon as the articles are figned by both parties, they (Irike the Engli/h colours. Article V. That to-morrow, at brcik of day, a detachment of the French fliall make the garrifon file ofF, and take poTTeflion of the fort : And as the Englifh have a few horfes or oxen, they are free to hide their efieAs, 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 pleaTe, upon condition that they will give their word of honour, not to work upon any builiiing in this place, or in any part this fide the mountains, diiring a year, to t)e accounted from this day. And as the EnglUh have now in their power an officer, two cadets, and moft of the prifoners made in the afTaflination of Sicur Defainonville, that they promife to fend them back to the Fort De Du Quefne, fituate on the Fine River : And for the fecyrity of this article, as well as this treaty, Meff. Jacob Van Bratbam and Robert Stobo, both captains, (hall be put as hoftages, till the arrival of the Canadians and French aboye-meotioned. We oblige ourfelves, on our fide, to give an efcort to return in fafety thefe two officers ; a duplicate being mad^ upon or ^f the poA of our blodiade. July 3, 1754. B a In 1754' 1754. Confe In this adlion we had thirty killed and fifty wounded* The French were obferved to be afTifted by a coniidera- ble number of Indians, who had been long in the Eng- lifh alliance : Not a few of them were known to be qucncei of Dckwarcs, Shawanefe, and of the Six Nations *. On tiiu defeat, the furrendcr of our camp, they fell at once to pillaging the baggage and provifions ; and not content with this, they afterwards (hot fome of the horfes and cattle, and fcalped two of the wounded f . Against this condud, Col. Wafhington remonflrated, but all his arguments made but little impreflion upon them. The Canadians delight in blood; and in bar- barity exceed, if podible, the very Tavages themfelves. Thus the French remained mafters of the field ; the In- dians were riveted in their defection ; his Majefly*s arms unfuccefsful ; and our frontiers expofed, through the ill- timed parfimony of the provinces. The enemy, on the other hand, wifely improved the prefent advantage, and ereded forts, to fecure to themfelves the quiet poilefHon of that fertile country. How evident then was the ne- ceflity of uniting the power of the BritiQi colonies ! The expediency of a plan for that purpofe had been before confidered. Some meafuics feemed alfo abfolutely requi* fite for fupporting our Indian interefl, and preventing their total declenfion. Ai3-T * They are called Mingoes by the fouthern Indians. + Among other infraftions of the capitulation, the deftru^tlon of the dolor's box ought not to be forgotten ; by which means our wounded were barbaroufly diflreOed. ".':-■ " ■ '!i :. SeeCol.Irmes's letter of 12 July, 1754. ■ " * ' ACC0R]>- ■« 'i [ '3 ] Accordingly, agreeable to hit Majefty^ orders, the 1754. 14th of June was appointed for a grand congrefs of^^^^^^f^, commiffarics from the feveral provinces, to be held at 8JjJj^''«'<* **' Albany, as well to treat with the Six Nations, as to con- cert a fcheme for a general union of the Britiih colo- nies. MefTengers had been difpatched to the Indian caftles * to requeft their attendance ; but they did not Indian* dc- arrive till the latter end of the month; and the Mo-am:c,andthe hawks, who live but 40 miles diftant, came in laft. This"^"^*"*'* occafioned various fpeculations : fome imputed it to fear; left the French, in their abfence, fhould fall upon their countries: Others to art, -- imagining that by exciting our jealouly of their wavering difpodtion, at fo critical a juncture, the more liberal would be the prefents made them by the (everal governments. Not a few thought it an artifice of Mr. Johnfon's, who expeding to rife into importance, from the reputarion of a mighty influence over the Indians, kept them from a punctual attend- ance ; being very confident of a public requefl to him- felf from the commiflioners, to go up, and haflen their progrefs. There was the highefl evidence of the like piece of policy at an Indian treaty, during Mr. Clinton's adminiflration. The Indians however at length arrived, tho* fewer in number than was expeAed, or had been ufual on thofe folemn occafions. Hendrick, a noted * The ladians call their villages, which are only furrouaded with pallifades^ cafiles. :t- MohawJc ' '.^^s^ ■ n is," ■ > 7 .*.**l# •.-■?■ *Jfi-i ^j-1 ijhvJ V'. (( c< « « Coinmi /Ton- ers, and how ranked. i. i H] 1754. Mohawk fachem *, apologized for the delay of that can- ton, in a fpecch to this cfFc£k : " There was (faid he) an interview lafl- fall, between Col. Johnfon and the Six Nations, at Onondaga Our brethren of the other nations reported, that his fpeech to us was concerted by the Mohawks : We therefore come laft, to prevent any ground for the repetition of fuch (landers, with regard to the addrefs now to be made us by your " honour.** Th« congreis having been opened on the 1 8th of June, were ready to treat* with the Six Nations ; and on the a 9th, after fettling difputes between the commiflionen concerning rank and precedence, Mr. De Lancey, the Lieutenant Governor of New York, addreiled himfelf in a fpeech to the Indians. — On his right hand, were MelT. Murray and Johnfon, two of the council of New York ; next to them, MefT. Wells, Hutchinfon, Chandler, Par- tridge, and Worthington, commiflioners from the Maf^ iachufots Bay: Then the gentlemen from New Hamp- (hire, MelT. Wyburn, Atkinfon, Ware, and Sherburn : And lad on that (ide, MefT. Hopkins and Howard, com- miflioners of Rhodc-Ifland. On his kft, were (ealcd MefT. Chambers and Smith, two other of his Ma|iedy*s council for New York : Then the Conne^icut commif- (ioners, Lieutenant Governor Pitkin, Major WalooC, and Col. Williams: After them MefT. Penn, Peters, Norris, * A fachem is a 'warrior, and a man of an cftabli/hed reputation for his wiOora '•ad bvtMrjS among the Indians. and r '5 ] and Franklin, from Pcnfylvania : and laft of all, Col. J754^ Taikcr and Major Barnes, from Maryland. The treaty was conducted with great folemnity. The lodiom Indians appeared well pleafed with the prefents from the fhrprefrnti, feveral governments; which, compared to former dona- JjjJJJ3J^ tions, amounted to an immcnfe value : But in their an- fwer, recriminated upon us the defcrtion of our fort * at Saraghtoga the laft war ; lamented the defencelcfs con- dition of our frontier city of Albany; and extolled the better conduct of the French, in fortifying and main- taining their garrifons. The Indians being difmiiTed, the conferences were continued till the nth of July. The commifTion- crs were, both for abilities and fertune, fonie of the moft condderable men in North America. The fpeak* ers however were not many ; but of thofe who fpoke, ibme delivered tliemfelves with iingular energy and elo- ^ quence. Ail were inflamed with a patriot-fpirit, and the debates were nervous and pathetic. This a(Icmbly, my Lord, might very properly be compared to one of the antient Greek conventions, for fupporting their expiring liberty againft the power of the Perlian empire, or that Lewis of Greece, Philip of Macedon. In the conclufion, Plan of a a plan was concerted for a general union of the Britiih colonies, and creating a common fund to defray all mi- * Upon the difbanding of the forces raifed for the Canada expedition in 1746, and the alTembly's didnclination to garrifon it, the fort, by order of Mr. Clinton, was biuvt and abaodooed. union. l;t\Z litary »754. Approved by all, ex- icpt Dc Lancey. [,6] litary cxpences ; and a rcprcfcntation of their prcfcnt ftatc drawn up ; which were agreed to be laid before the King's miniden. Some of the governments have ne- verthelefs declared themfelves averfe to this fcheme ; tho* approved at the time by every member of the congreft, except Mr. De Lancey. Unaccountable was the conduA of this gentleman to feveral of the provincial deputies. But thofe who were beft acquainted with his charader and love of fway, afcribed his averdon from the plan, to an apprehenfion, that (hould the fame take place, the fupreme officer, who agreeably to it was to prefide in the grand council of deputies from the refpeAive colonies, would mod probably be the governor of the MaiTachufets Bay : An apprehendon, which reprefled his own afpiring views ; and, it was imagined, ftung him with unfpeak- able chagrin. rndtuS?!"^ As the Lieutenant Governor will appear, in the courfc of this letter, to bear a principal part in our public tranf- ad^ions, it will be necefTary, before I proceed any farther, to prefent your Lordfhip with his picture at full length. Without an intimate knowledge of that gentleman's hi- Aory and genius, it will be impoflible to comprehend his r condudt, or trace his adions to their genuine (burce. He is the elded branch of one of the firfl families in the province. His father, a French refugee, a gentleman of diflinguifhed rank in this city, and who here acquired a large fortune, fent him for his education to the Uni- verfity of Cambridge. He was a youth of prompt parts, 5^. .; and and ma^e( t confudeM^le progrefi in learning, efpedAll/ i754* in the dailies. In the year 1729 he was, by Governor Montgomery*! recommendation, .created one of hit Ma- jcfty*8 pound! of New York ; but never engag^ the public attet^tipn^ till the tin^e of Mr. Co(by. He became then very fan^ous. With this governor he took part in moft or all of his meafures — mcafurei extremely arbi- trary, and produAive. of an, odnpinillTatioa odious and. turbulf;nt. Cpfby, ini return for hit ininiAe^iiil ferviceii loaded, him witK^vourB. Deppitng Chief Juftice Mor-> ris (the main obftacle to his perilous proje^) heraifed him to the firfl leat on the bench *• But tho* hit ex- cellency ^d the difpoii^n of offices, he could ,by no means delegate the afie^tions of tho people. According* ly, our politician was equally honoured and defpifed* He enjoyed the fmiles of the governor, which loaded him wijdi die curfes of the people 5 was careiTed by the for- mer, and by the latter abhorred. Cofby leaving a fUc- ccflbr capable of governing without a prompter, the chief juflice found it neceflkry to deface the memory of his former conduct, by cultivating the arts of popularity. Mr. Clarke, who fucceeded f , beit^g perfed^ly mailer of our conilitution, a gentleman of experience and penetra- tion, and intimately acquainted with the temper of the people, in a fhort time reconciled all parties i and by re- • Mr. De Lancey was not edackted to the law • but having fpcnt fomc time, after his return from England, in the ftudy of that icicnce, Gov. Montgomery ap- pointed him fecond judge of the fupreme Court of Jujiaiupe. + In March 1716, . , a ,, t .^ „*. ,». 5 " fcDliu ^ ' ^ '•' ' Coring t «• J *7H* Coring the public trtnquilitf, rendered Mr. De Lancey*ff plodding abilitiei utterly ufelefi. Hence he wti at full kiAire to court the populace. Suddenly lie became tranf- formed into a patriot ; and, Arange to relate I ^vithout a (ingle aA of pntriotifm. Hit uncommon vi? adty, with the (emblancc of afiability and eaie ; his adroitncfs at a jeft, with a fhe\r of condefceniion to hit infcriori, won- derfully facilitated hit progreft. Thefe plaufible artt, to- gether with hii influence at Chief Juftioe, and a taft per- ibnal eAate at u(e, all conipired to (ecure hit popular triumph. To eftablidi fuch an undue power, and amar- tng mfluence, would, in a Grecian commonwealth, have expofed a man of left ambition and better principlet to the oftracifm. Mr. Clarke being fuperfeded by Ooirer- nor Clinton ^, Mr. De Lancy wat prcfented with a fre(h opportunity for the exhibition of hit political geniur. Mr. Clinton, a gentleman of but indifferent partt, wholly reiigned himfclf into his handi. Contenting himfelf with the title and [alary of Governor, he left the fblr direc- tion of affairs to his miniffer, who, by virtue of his late late acquired omnipotence with the affembly, carried all his points, and even endeared him to the people. This intimacy fubfiffed no longer than it was found condu- cive to his dellgns. Having obtained from Mr. Clinton a new commiflion for his office of Chief Juftice during good behaviour ; and ffattering himfelf with the hopes of another, appointing him Lieut. Governor, throudi the * Mr. Clinton arrived as Governor, aa Sept. 1743. * • intereil intercft of hit friends ij) EAgldod^ he cared nothowfeoa 17)4.^ hit excellency abdicated tbr province, nor how tem- pcAuous he rendered hit adminiftration ; and wai there- fore prepared for an open rupture. He no (boner thought himfelf capable of aAing independently of the governor^ than, hke 8ixtus Quintui, who threw afide his crutchci the moment of hit exaltation to the (lopedom, he put off all that humble devotion, by which he had fo fa- tally deceived hit too credulous mafter, and openly let himfelf at defiance againft him. Now he began to die* tate, rather than aclvife : and inftead of Sejanus, choie to be Tiberius himfelf. Dining one day with Mr. Clin- ton, and infifting upon (bme favourite point with great imperioufncis, the Governor, who had hitherto very cor- dially fuffered himfelf to be led, refufcd on this occafion to be driven. The Chief Juflice then arofe and left him ; declaring, with an oath, he would make his adminiflra** tion uneafy for the future : His Excellency replied, he might do his wor(^. Thus they parted ; nor were ever afterwards reconciled. This breach gave rife to the con* tentions, which fo unhappily imbroiled our provincial affairs, during the remainder of his adminiQration. The afibmbly were inftantly inflamed. He who before had been able to make them connive at very unjudifiable Aeps, could at once Air up an oppofition to the mod unexceptionable meafurcs. Remonftrances, warm and virulent, were now drawn up ; unworthy their own dig- jiity to offer, and replete wich the groflcft language to C a his )Si . [ ao ] '754;^ hw Majcfty*8 reprefentativc. Thus was formed ^infii Mr. Clinton a powerful party, which ceafed not, while he continued at the helm, to harrais and perplex him. To fuch an exorbitant length did they carry their oppo- (icion, as to throw off the reftraint of hutninity : They had even recourfe to force and violence. Nay^ a parti- fan of tlic Chief Juftice, in defiance of the facred rights of the magiftracy and the law — to fhew his refentment againft Mr. Clinton and his adherents —- adaulted the mayor ; \(r hipped the (heriff ; damned the Goivemor ; and dabbed his phyfician. My Lord, we became the fpord and contempt of our neighbours $ and it is beyond con- tradiction, that Mr. De Lancey, by blowing up the coals of contention, did the province more irtjury, than he will ever be able to repair. Nor ii there any reafon to doubt, that the enormous power of this gentleman, and the ferment raifed againft Mr. Clinton, occafioned the 39th article of the king's inftruaking provifion for the falary allowed by the King to his Governors ; and competent falarits to all judges, juftices, and other ne- ceflary officers and minifters of government — fuch a law, I fay, would effedlually render a Governor indepen- dent of the affembly, and confequently of any undue influence in it. Nor without fuch independence, or an abridgement of Mr. De Lancey*s power, by reducing fir - -^ him. ^ [2. J him to his primitive private (lation, do I fee any proba- 1754. bility of the extindion of that party-fpirit, which hath fo long difturbed the tranquility, and injured the public weal of the colony. Mr. CUnton, being fuperfeded by Sir I>anvers Ofborn *, a gentleman of a mod amiable moral character, retired into the country ; from whence he prbpofed to embark for Great Britain. The Chief JuAice^ notwithftanding his long declared enmity, and unwearied induftry to embarrafs his adtniniflration, had now. — the humility, (hall I call it? — to difpatch* a meffengcr to him, with defign if pofHble to procure an accommodation — in order to fecure his favour in Eng- land, when hei could no longer diftrefs him* in America. It were difficult to determine, whether this required a in higher degree of afTurance or fervility. But it is no un- common thing, to behold the fame perfon faftidious and fawning, fupercilious and fycophantic. Mr. Clinton, far from an implacable enemy, began to be foftened ; when his lady (who if born among the Scythians, had been the Thaleftris of antiquity) unravelling the fecret, fruflrated at once all expectations of a compofition ; and gave the plenipotentiary fuch a volley of invedive againft his conftituent, as rendered all future overtures intirely hope- lefs. *■• li:- '^-'-'y :«' -• •■: . •: .: ,.i o^ ./K)l .If i:y*^aa i;/: — '. '' On the death of Sir Danvers Olborn +, equally unex- His appoint peGed and deplored, Mr. De Lancey publifhed the com- government, r.n :i ii * Sir Danvers Ofborn arrived at New York the 7th of Oft<5ber, 1753. f This happened on the 1 2th of Oftober, 1753. andfyftemof politics. mifllon I I 1754. million he had juft received, appointing him Lieutenant' ^•^^^J~^ Governor. He was now to a niftry ; and now ftrongly recommended by the commif- (ioners of the MaiTachufets Bay ; by fome means or other happened to be hinted without-doors. Mr. Pownal, intent upon ri(ing into (ignificance among the colonies, chofe not to (lip fo favourable an opportunity of difkin- guifhing himfelf, as he could now lay hold of, from thefe whifpered intelligences. He accordingly drew up fome loofe indigefted propofals, with refpeCt to American affairs. Among other trite fentiments, he urged this fcheme as a new unthought-of meafure, abfolutely requifite to fccure the command, and prefervc the furr trade of thofe inland feas. v«— * »., [ 3» 1 1754* ^cai. Tltii he delivered to fimic of die membcri of the *""*^''**' congrcG to be communicated : and aftcrwardi trnnfmitccd ^^ a copy to England ; challenging to himfclf the folc merit of being the original author of (b vifcful and necelTary an expedient *. .: shirieycre^i WiiiLt thc congrcfs wai hcld at Albany, Governor ijcbc*;. Shirley, ever jealous of French machinations, proceeded, ^ ^ , at thc head of about one thoufand men, to the river *"' "^*^'; ><<'^ Kennebec; and ere^ed forts, at convenient diftances, to J,, M./^ f^^^huij^2^.,^^^ ^^^ progrefi of thc French on that quarter; to fe- ^ c>^,#>M ^v../v 4 y^ ^^^^ ^j^^ poffeflion of that country with thc fricndfhip of ■^^1 ^. 'J'^^'^^xjaz caftern Indians. k.y..t. <^ A^>>^^ The remainder of this year was principally fpcnt in c-^^Vji < -^' dangerous fituation of the Englifh colonies ; and the ab- folute necedity of a powerful aflidance from Great Bri> tain, to defeat the ambitious defigns of the Court of France. 1755* On the welcome intelligence of the fuccefs of thefe reprefentations ; and while forces were expedting from England ; the two regiments of Shirley and Peppcrel were ordered to be re-eftabli(hed, and recruits were raifing thro* the fcveral governments, to form an army for dif- poflcfling the French from their late encroachments. * Mr. Pownal had this piece publiHicd in New York in Feb. 1756. It contained •n introduAion, declaring, that copies of it were fent by the miniftry to the refpe^ive governors of thc colonies : and in the fpring following, it was republi(hed, with great oftentation, in the Englifh magazines. With refpe^ to thofe parts of it, wherein he talks of Indian afiktrs, the featiments feem to be unintelligible by a North-American uaderAanding. i i The * # rt of hefe rom >crel aifing rdif Thb V [33] The general afTcmbly of the Maflachufcts Bay being 1755. convened, and the members fworn to fccrccy ; Mr. Shir- pJuUT^ ley comnuinicated to them a deftgn of attacking Fort ^H^''*^ St. I rederic at Crown Point, the enfuing fpring; andi:rtn*rn his intention to appoint Col. Johnfon to the command of that expedition. The fchcme being approved by the council and rcprcfcntatives of that province, and the quotas fettled, commiiTioiicrs were charged to the neigh- bouring governments, to follicit their concurrence and aid/ in the profccution of this cnterprizc. ^ While thefc matters were in agitation, Mr. Pownal was at BoAon, intending to fail from thence to England. He now thought fit to change his rcfolution ; and Go- vernor Shirley honoured him with the cmbally to New York, for which place he fct out the beginning of March. Some gentlemen of the council and aflembly were com- mifHoned, on the like errand, to the other colonies of New Jerfcy, Pcnfylvania, &c. Mr.Pownal*s profpedts of fuccefs at New York were atoe Lanccy firft not very encouraging. De Lancey, jealous of Shirley's StbS rifmg reputation, appeared, with regard to the expedition **»* ^Jj^JJ^^^ recommended, extremely phlegmatic: and tho* irtfulvork. enough to abdain from an open oppotition, he made ufe of Mr. Chambers as his tool in council, to obftrudl the . concurrence of the legiflature. At this time great ani- mofitics were prevailing in the province, occationed by a charter juft before granted by Mr. De Lancey, conftituting a college for the education of youth, upon a foundation . ^ • .B •.J. . which --^1 .r.% » s ♦. ^.-v ^. rv ^ > V •.I \^ •••!. » ► "S A X, K ■ /r ' ,.. .... I "•—i \ rt' i. A ^^ • ► 1--^ , , \\ ' '\^ ?l.>^**»<*»^- s [34] ^755* w^*c^ happened to enkindle the general difgiift. The '*— ">'^*^ majority of the houfe, apprehending the lofs of their feats on a future eledion, fhould they afford it the lead afUftance, found themfelves obliged rather to countenance the popular refentment. A gentleman of diftindtion, with whom Mr. Pownal advifed on the fubjedt of his commiflion, thought it a prudent ftep to open his mef- fage in part, to thofe members of the aiTembly, who, on the above-mentioned account, were then in the oppofi- tion. Several of the leading men were fecured by this But in vaim method : and when the houfe met, fuch a difpofltion appeared to join in the fcheme propofed, that it was be- yond Mr. De Lancey*s power to obftrud it. Out of pique however to Mr. Shirley, to whom this expedition was folely committed, he prevailed upon 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. Braddock GENERAL Braddock, being uow arrived in Virginia,, ^mnora, fent cxprcflcs to the feveral governors to meet him, in thf otS" or^i"^ to a confultation on the buflnefs of the approaching tions. campaign. — This convention was opened on the 14th of April *, at Alexandria in Virginia. Here it appeared. a O /m- *./^ * * ^* ^^'^ ** ^^ propofed to ha^ y.* *f^t^ 4-*^^-c^ u^ s^4^ yjjg general was afterwards obliged to enter into a new one with gentlemen in Pen- w/i^,^^tjL^ . J/^l^t^^ aU^ fylvania; which was not compleated till the 27 th of May, near fix weeks from the / ^ ^ / » condofion of the congrefs. A-jV--. >*^/^ y 1755- [ 35 ] that thro* mifreprefentations from Virginia, the general was injoincd to proceed immediately 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, muft 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 fitted theatre of aftion. Braddock*s orders were neverthelefs pofi- tive. — For the prefervation therefore of Ofwego, and the reduction of Niagara, it was at length agreed, that Shirley's and PeppereFs regiments fliould proceed to Lake Ontario, — while General Braddock attacked Fort Du Quefne — and the provincial troops, commanded by Ge- neral Johnfon, . marched to in veil Crown Point. These refolutions being taken, Mr. Shirley began his Shirley re- journey to Bofton, to prepare for the expedition under |on"'toprc'- his immediate command ; to forward that under Col. ffortheJn'*' Johnfon j and to quicken the departure of the New Eng- ExpediUons. land troops, now aflembled by his Majefty's direftions, for reducing the French fettlements in Nova Scotia. On his way, he fpent fome time in conference with Col. Schuyler, a gentleman of fortune and courage, who, out of difinterefted love to his country, was engaged to head a regiment of 500 men, raifed and maintained by the province of New Jcrfey. In New York, he was retarded a few days to confult with General Johnfon, and remove fome objedions made by Mr. De Lancey to E a the •» <*■• «.«-'^» \ .vV'^5:« A , • ■> »i ■» '■■5^. ■..^ ili-iU H„ Vt Ayt.'fdt'U /7t^ &nd falls for '•*^-;^'^^*'^va Scotia U^J^t/*^CU./Ay reduced. [36] '755* the form of his commiflion ! * and in Q)nncfticut, to haden the afTembling the troops of that colony f . The neceffary difpatches being given to the expedition to Nova Scotia under Col. Window, Mr. Shirley, upon the arrival of the paymafter for the northern diftridt, returned to New York ; and on the 4th of July failed for Albany, his own regiment having pafTed by for that place, in twenty-one tranfports, a few days before. About this time, the colonies were filled with univer- fal joy, on the agreeable news that the New England troops were become mailers of Beau-fejour and Bay Verte> on the ifthmus of Nova Scotia ; whereby a new province * Mr. Johnfon had his commiflion from the governors of the provinces, whick fiimUhed the troops under his command ; the draft of which was fettled at Alexan- dria. The Lieut. Governor of New York now thought proper to repeat thofe very objections, which had been there over-ruled. This unaccountable condudt gave Mr. Jdmfon great uneaflnefs, who could not obtain Mr. De Lancey's commiflion, till proper notice was taken by General Shirley of fo manifeft an obib-udlion to the opera- tions of the campaign. t Connecticut had voted one thoufand men for the Crown Point expedition, and given aflurances of 500 more, if the fervice fo required. New York was to fupply 800 ; but thro' the delay occafioned by the fufpending claufe above-mentioned in the vote of our aflembly, Mr. De Lancey's brother was fent into Connecticut, to obtain >taMA4b:> ,^ leave for recruiting the quota we were to furnifli, in that colony ; as men might there be raifed more fpeedily than in the province of New York. Mr. Shirley being at Hertford, during this application, was told by Governor Fitch, that if Connecticut complied, they fliould confider themfelves difengaged from the afllirances given of : , 500 more than their own quota, did the fervice demand it. This, with Mr. Oliver De Lancey's declaration — that if himfelf ftiould accept the command of the New York r^ment, he could in ten days raife the whole number in this province, induced Mr. Shirly to oppofc the application ; it appearing to him not improbable, that the fervice cught afterwards require the reinforcement offered. In confequence of which, only 300 recruits were fiirniflxed New York from thence. — A lucky incident for Mr. Shirley's adverfaries to incenfe the people of New York againit him ; to which pur- pofe it was induftrioufly applied ; tho' his conduCt in that affdr was prudent and ra- tional ; and tho' by repeated letters to Lieut. Governor De Lancey, he took pains to remove any mifunderftanding at a juncture fo vnfeafooable. was ^^^xXl [ 37 ] was added to the BritiQi empire m America : and that a 1755*' flrong fleet, under Admiral Bofcawen, lay before Louif- ^^"^^^"^ burgh, to intercept the French fupplies ; and which had alfo feized two of their capital (Itips, the Lys and Alcide, and fent them into Halifax. General Braddock was now on his march towards ®"^J°* the Ohio, at the head of about 2200 men, in order to from Fort inveft Fort Du Quefne, and drive the French from their land. encroachments on the frontiers of Virginia and Penfyl- vania. From Fort Cumberland to Fort Du Quefne, the diftance is not lefs than 1 30 miles. Mr. Braddock begaa his march from the former on the loth of June} leav- ing the garrifon under the command of Col. Innes. In* numerable were the difficulties he had to furmount, in a country Pitgged, pathlefs, and unknown, acrofs the Allegheny mountains^ thro* un^equented woodsy and dangerous defiles. From the little meadows the army proceeded in two divilions. At the head of the firfl,. confifling of 1400 men, was the general himfelf, with . the greatefl part of the ammunition and artillery^ The (econd, with the provifions, flores, and heavy baggage, was led by Col. Dunbar. Never was man more confident of fuccefi, than this brave, tho' unfortunate officer.. Being advifcd at the great meadows, that the enemy A>-f^jLt>^^/Ck4^i expelled a reinforcement of 500 regular troops, he pufhed /Lm^^j-^u^H^ on by forced marches, with io much difpatchj that he f^i^,^^*,^ fatigued the foldiers, weakened his horfes, and left hiff fe- ^T^zi^^. cond divifion near 40 miles in the rear. The enemy ^ ^ being .^^.. K H , i:i' ^ V [ 38 ] i75S\ being not more than 200 flrong at their fort on the Ohio, gave no obftruAian to the march of our forces, till the memorable 9th of July — - a day never to be fwrgotten in the annals of North America. About noon our troops pafled the Monagahcla, :md were then within feven miles of Fort Du Quefne. — Unapprchenfivc 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 body, in good order and high fpirits, advanced to fuftain them. Orders were then givca to halt, and form into battalia. At this juncture the van falling back upon them, in great confuiion, a general panic feized the whole bpdy of the foldiery 5 and all attempts to rally them proved utterly ine^6tual. The general and all the officers exerted their utmoft adlivity, to recover them from the univcrfal furprize and diforder : but equally deaf were they to intreaties and commands. During this (bene of confuiion, they expended their am- munition in the wildeft and and moil unmeaning fire. Some difcharging their pieces on oiu* own parties, who were advanced from the main body for the recovery of the cannon. After three hours fpent in this melancholy (ituation, enduring a terrible flaughter, from (it may be faid) an ifrvifihk foe, orders were given to found a re- treat, that the men might be brought to cover the wag- gons. 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 army took to imme- diate • >> i-^.v. re- [ 39 ] diatc flight ; leaving behind them all the artillery, pro- i7S5« vidons, ammunition, baggage, military cheft, together with the generaFs cabinet, containing his inftru^tions and other papers of confequence. So great was the conAer- nation of the foldiers, that it was impoflible to (lop their career, flying with the utmofl; precipitation three miles from the fleld of adlion ; where only one hundred began to make a more orderly retreat. What was the (Irength of tlic enemy, has hitherto remained to us uncertain. According to Indian accounts, they exceeded not 400, chiefly Indians : and whether any were flain, is flill to be doubted, for few were feen by our men, being covered by flumps and fallen trees. Great indeed was the deflru^ion on our fide. — Numbers of officers facrificed their lives thro' Angular bravery. Ex- tremely unfortunate was the whole flafF. The general^ after having Ave horfes (hot under him, received a wound in his lungs thro* his right arm, of which he died in four days. His fecretary, eldefl fon of Major General' Shirley, a gentleman of great accomplifhments, by a fhot thro* the head, was killed upon the fpot. Mr. Orme and Capt. Morris, aid-de-camps, were all wounded. Of the 44th regiment. Sir Peter Halket, Colonel, wasflain^ with feveral other oflicers; and Lieut. G)l. Gagp wounded> Lieut. Col. Burton, of the 48th regiment, was^ among the wounded ; and many gallant officers perifhed in the field. Our whole lofs was about feven hundred killed and wounded* To 1 ■ . 1 w^ 1 To what 1 caufei the deicat wat afcribcJ. 1 '■ 11 w ' II , ■' '- :' IP t ! 1 '' * " ' ; 1 Ii ' 1 i j ' ' :j 1 ^ :' !' ■■■' fw i i ■ il : t 40 1 To what caufcs this unhappy cataftrophe is to be afcribed, has been matter of much inquiry and animated debate. The officers charged the defeat to the jowavdice of the men: but, in a reprefentation they made taMr. Shirley, by order of the Crown, they in fome meafure apologize for their behaviour — alJedging, that they were harrafTed by duties unequal to their numbers, and difpi- rited thro' want of providons : That time was not al- lowed them to drefe their food : That their water (the only liquor too they had) was both fcarce and of a bad quality : In fine, that the provincials had difheartened them, by repeated fuggeflions of their fears of a defeat, fhould diey be attacked by Indians ; in which cafe the European method of lighting would be intirely unavail- ing. But, my Lord, however cenfurable the conduct of the foldiery may be thought, Mr. Braddock, too fanguine in his proipeds, was generally blamed for neglecting to cultivate the friendfhip of the Indians, who offered their affiflance; and who^ it is certain, had a number of them preceded the army, would have feafbnably difcovered the enemy's ambufcade. The Virginian rangers alfo, inflead of being made to ferve as regulars in the ranks with the Englifli troops, fhould have been employed as out-fcouts. But this fiep, fo necefTary to guard againfl furprize, was too unhappily omitted ; the whole army, according to the reprefentation above mentioned, following only three £r four guides. vm'':Mi}u^'Wu-iQ-\x'^xDwup'^^.'^J' .».wi* ■-■■'t- -' ' ■'•■:: -JiljiK'- When [ 4' ] When the routed party joined the fccond divifion, 1755. forty miles (hort of the place of a£lion, the terror dif- d^^. fufed itfelf thro' the whole army. Your Lordfhip might »re«t« p«ci- naturally expert to hear, that Col. Dunbar then intrenched Fort cum. himfelf, and called on the neighbouring colonies for im - '*^ ' mediate reinforcements ; — as by fuch a ftep the enemy might have been detained at Fort Du Quefne, prevented from ravaging the frontiers, or throwing fuccours into Niagara. But alas ! my I^ord, an infatuation feemed to accompany all our meafures on the fouthern quarter. Fearful of an unpurfuing foe, all the ammunition, and fo much of the provifions were deftroyed, for accelerating their flight, that Dunbar was adually obliged to fend for thirty horfc- loads of the latter, before he reached Fort Cumberland — where he arrived a very few days after, with the (bat- tered remains of the Englidi troops. On Mr. Braddock*s unhappy cataftrophe, the com- Major Gen. mand of his Majefty's forces in North America devolved fumes^,hc upon Major General Shirley. I before acquainted your ^°°*°**"^' Lordfhip of his return to New York, and departure from thence to Albany, where he arrived the beginning of July. • r 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 weftward for the re- duction of Niagara. The general, on his arrival there> found not the former in the forwardnefs he had reafbn to exped. The provincials difcontented with the ina£ti- F vity 1755- •t Albany. Route 10 Ufwego. Vi'f'- l / [42 ] vity of a long encampment, Major General Lyman was obliged to make (hort marches, to prevent their difband- I* ^«,<^'j||^^ ing ; and the general was therefore detained awhile in that city, to hinder fo fatal an event. His own troops in the mean time were filing ofF, in different divifions, from Schenedtady, towards Ofwega ^ Oswego, along the accuftomed route, ts computed to be about 300 miles weft from Albany. The firfl (ixtcen, to the village of Schenedtady, is land carriage, in a good waggon road. From thence to the Little Falls, in the Mohawk River, at (ixty-five miles didance, the battoes ^ are fet againft a rapid (Iream ; 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 inconceivable labour. At the Little Falls, the portage exceeds not a ^ mile : the ground being marfhy will admit of no wheel^- ^*'^^ carriage, and therefore the Germans who refide here, tranfport the battoes in ileds, which they keep for that : * purpofe. The fame conveyance is ufed at the Great Carrying-Place, fixty miles beyond the Little Falls ; all the way to which the current is ftill adverfe, and ex- tremely fwift. The portage here is longer or fhorter, ac- cording to the drynefs or wetnefs of the feafons. In the lad fummer months, when rains are not frequent, it is ufually fix or eighc miles acrofs. Taking water again, we enter a narrow rivulet, called the Wood-creek, which * A battoe is a light flat-f)ottomed boat, wideft in the middle, and at each end iharp pointed, of about 1 500 weight biurden, and managed by two mei>, with pad- dles and fetttng-poles. leads It IS leads into the Oneida Lake, didant forty miles. This dream, tho* favourable, being (hallow, and its banks covered with thick woods, was at this time much ob- Aru£lcd with old logs and fallen trees. The Oneid.i Lake flretches from eafl to wed about thirty miles, and in calm weather is palled with great facility. At its wedcrn extremity opens the Onondaga River, leadi: ^ down to Ofwego, fituated at its entrance on the fouth fide of the Lake Ontario. Extremely difficult and ha* zardous is the palTage thro' this river, as it abounds with rifts and rocks ; and the current flowing with furprifing rapidity. The principal obflrudtion is twelve miles fhort of Ofwego, and is a fall of about eleven feet perpendi- cular. The portage here is by land, not exceeding forty yards, before they launch for the laft time. Your Lordship, from this account, will readily con- ceive, that thro* fuch a long amphibious march an army mud proceed with prodigious rilque and fatigue ; and the battoes be neceflarily conducted by perfons (killed in the navigation, and enured to hardfhips. For this fer- vice General Shirley had engaged all the young men in the county of Albany, who formerly had been employed in the Indian trade at Ofwego : and a vaft number of battoes were prepared for the conveyance of the troops, ilores, and provifions. Oswego was formerly garrifoned by twenty -five men; but on the commencement of our preient difputes, the number was augmented to fifty. Early this fpring fifty 1 £ 2 more r*** 1755' Troopi pro ceed to that C 44 ] more were ordered up : and about the latter end of May» Capt. Bradftreet arrived there with 200, befides work- men to be employed in the naval preparations, purfuant to the fcheme concerted in the congrcHi of commiiTioners at Albany the lad fummer. Col. Schuyler's New Jerfey regiment embarked in two garrifbn!""' divi(ions from Schene£tady, the beginning of July. Shir- ley's and Peppereirs were preparing to follow, when the melancholy newt of Gen. Braddock's defeat reached 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 Hed to their refpe^tive habitations. To engage tlie return of above half the fugitives, equally inefFe^ual were threats or pro- mifcs, rewards or punifhments. The general, however, fentible of the importance of the fervice, purfued his march in fpite of every vexatious difappointment. As he pafTed their country, he called upon the Indians of the Six Nations at fbme of their caftles ; and fent embafTa- dors to the reft, prefling them to join him, with afTur- six Nations auces of his protcdion. But they feemed in general Niai^rrcx-^ gready didnclined to our vveflern operations. Indian pedition,auJ affairs had been too long neglcded by the province of New York, to which the principal management of them has always been committed. Neither the fums allotted for prefents to thofe favages, were always by our governors fairly expended ; nor the preients themfelves honeflly di- {h-ibuted. And partly thro* repeated frauds, and the omiffion [45] omidion of proper meaTures to conciliate their favour, our 1 755* intereft with them amounted to little more than a bare *'*-^^'**' neutrality. Mr. Johnfon neverthclcfi pretending a mighty j[°fj/°"Q„. influence over them, was intruded with 5000 1. (lerling, in ference with order to engage their afTiftanoe for the general benefit of his Majefty^i fervice. For this purpofe he held a congrefs with fome of their principal fachems at Mount- Johnfon *, foon after his return from Alexandria. . Your Lordship is plcafed to infifl upon my " defcend- " ing into a detail of every tranfadtion, how minute '< foever, that can give any light into the more fecret ** fprings of our political a^ion." I fhall therefore ac- Anecdote of quaint yt ur Lordfhip, that upon the general's arrival at shirky" *'^ Albany, Mr. Johnfon laid before him a copy of the minutes of his late treaty with the Indians. Thefe minutes, it feems, contained fome unhandfome reflections upon his rxcellcncy ; infinuating^ that to treat feparately with rhem, he had employed one Lydius, a perfon of not the moft unexceptionable character, either for loyalty or in- tegrity. The fingle reafon upon which the furmife could be founded was this. Lydius, who formerly lived near Lake George, and whofc Indian acquaintance was very extenfivc, had offered the general his alliftancc, in pro- curing the junftion of a number of them, on the de- figned expeditions. Upon which he wrote to Mr. John- fon, intimating the pleafure it would give him, if he could make any ufe of this man in his Majefly*s fervice. * Sir William Johnfon's own feat, near the lower Mohawk caftle, about 36 miles ^m Albany. 8 On I *( II [ 46 J 1755' On ctcIWcring tTiofc minutes into the generars hands, Johnfun, fcnfiblc of the infmuation, told him, he in- tircly difapprovcd the reflexion they Teemed to contain, and appeared adiamed of its infertion. Having perufed the paper, Shirley could not avoid complaining of the ill ufage ; while the other with folemn vowi protefted, he was not privy to it, and importuned him to return the minutes, that he might erafe the obnoxiou* paflage. The former confided in the fmcerity of his proteftations, but foon after had abundant reafon to didruft his inte- grity. The general had applied to one Staats, who redded near Albany, and had a condderable intereft with the Indians of Stockbridge "^^ He propofed to him his raif- ing a company of them, as a guard to the battoes in their paiTage to Ofwego. Privately was this man inti- midated from the undertaking : and Mr. Johnfon, to induce him to break thro* his promifes, offered him a captain's commiflion, could he engage an Indian com- pany to proceed on the expedition under his own di- leaion. * " '•" ' ' '• ^ ' Your Lordship, being already informed of this gen- tleman's appointment to the command of the provincial army, by the intereft of General Shirley, will fcarce have patience at the recital of a conduA fo aftonifhing and ungrateful. The fccrct, my Lord, was this. — * Stockbridge, by the Indians cullcJ Houfatonuc, lies upon the wcftern confines of the Mafliichufcts Buy, in the eaAero parts of the province of New York. Mr. [ +7 ] Mr. Johnfon wai never diilinguifhed for hit fcnfc or pc- i^**. netration. I le had now for his aid-dc-camp CupC. w*vi«J Wraxal, a mm of art and genius, who a few yean bc-f^rmcj fore had been appointed fecretary for Indian afTairii and'*Jj[[jJ,'*JJjj clerk of the city and county of Albany. Governor tr>«>n u Clinton had granted a commifTion for the Utter of thofe offices, before the date of Wraxal's fign manual. A fuit was therefore commenced, and is Aill depending between him, and the perlbn in podcfTion of the office, fufpended on the determination of a point of law. Upon this ac- count Wraxal became a humble dependant on Lieut. Governor De Lanccy, before whom, unlefs fuperfeded in the chief command, the cafe muft be determined upon a writ of error : The latter, who had been a declared enemy to Johnfon, throughout the whole of Clinton*s adminidration, and had even prevented the afiembly from difcharging a very equitable demand he had againil the province for fervices and diiburfements, now determined to fall in with, and fet him up, in competition with Shirley. Wraxal's pod and dependence adbrded a fine opportunity for the purpofe : and fo Johnfon became ftrongly attached to the Lieut. Governor. Your Lord- EyU cffia^ (Lip will no longer wonder at his procuring all the In-** dians he could prevail upon, to join the provincial troops under his own command ; or ut his attempts to excite others to embarrafs and obflruifl the general's defigns upon the Lake Ontario. In fupport of a charge fo heavy as this, I think it incumbent upon mc to affign the follow- ing |i! ' •\ I t'V'il [48] 755. ing Indances : i. Not an Indian joined General Shirley at ' Schene^ady, agreeably to Mr. Johnfon's pofitive aflTur- ances. 2. Nor at either of the caflles in the five can- tons, as he pafTed thro' them to Ofwego : but, on the contrary ; 3, One Bant, an Onondaga (three of whofe fona were in Tohnfon*s arnay) at the head of feVeral other Indians, declared to Mr. Shirley at Ofwego, that it was a place of trade and peace — that there (hould be no war there -^ and that ne (hould not difturb the French ; adding, that he was going with the like meflage to Ca- nada. The general having convinced him, that the ex- pulfion of the French from their encroachments mud redound to the advantage of the Six Nations ; he afterted, that Mr. Johnfbii had fent them upon this embafly to Ca- nada. Tho* this appeared utterly incredible, 'tis never- thelefs certain, 4, feveral other Indians arrived from the Onondaga caftle, with a belt, declaring it to have been fent them by Mr. Johnfon, with his itquefl, 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 Cayuga cantons concurred in the like reports; particularly one Redhead, an Indian of great fame, and a fpcaker at the late congrefs at Mount- Johnfon, came to Ofwego, in his way to Ofwagatic or la Gallette, and defired the ceffation of all military de- figns ; affirming, that with the fame requeft he was go- ing to the French. C 49 ] It was with difficulty, my Lord, thcfe Indians were *7S5» reconciled to our attempts, detained at Ofwego, and there- by prevented from communicating our operations to the enemy. The general, from thefe inflances, became more and more fufpicious, that the fadion at New York were ' endeavouring to embanafs and impede his meafures. What farther confirmed his fufpicions, that the LieuC Governor of New York, with that view, made Mr. John- fon his inftrument, was a letter, which after his arrival at Ofwego he received from the latter, wherein he jufti- fied that %'ery afperfion before difavowed, contained in the minutes above recounted. My Lord, we will now leave Mr. Shirley at Ofwego » and purfue the courfe of tranfadtions, as well at New York, as in the fouthern colonies. Dunbar, having reached Fort Cumberland, difpatched Dnnbar an Indian exprefs to General Shirley, with an account pho^fi.^ with the defeat, and die necefTaiy returns refpeding the p^* troops under his command ; acquainting him, moreover, with his intention of marching to Philadelphia, and his hopes of meeting his orders at Shippeniburgh. About the fame time Mr. Dinwiddie wrote to Dunbar, propofing a fecond attempt on Fort Du Quefne. But a council hdng thereupon held, the members of which were Col. Dunbar, Lieut. Col. Gage, Governor Sharpe, Major Chapman, Major Sparke, and Sdr John St. Clair, it was unanimoudy conceived, that Mr. Dinwiddie*s fcheme was impradticable. The very next day, being the fecond ■-■■.• ' : M: of 1755' Frontiers of Virginia left expofed. Another at- tempt on Fort Du Quefne pro- poled. But Penfyl- vania witii- holds her Aid. [so] of Auguft, Dunbar began his march towards Philadel- phia, with 1600 men, four iix-pounders, and as many cohoms ; leaving behind him the Virginia and Maryland companies, and about 400 wounded. At this fudden departure of the forces, the Virginians were extremely difobliged, as not only expoting their frontiers, and oc- cafioning 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 judgment ought to be formed of this retreat, I leave your Lordfhip to determine. Cer- tainly thofe fouthern colonies ought to have Arengthened General Braddock with a large body of provincial forces, which had doubtle/s prevented all that effufion of blood and treafure — the fatal confequence of their ill-judged parfimonyl Upon the advices received from Dunbar, Mr. Shirley gave orders for renewing the attempt, if the fouthern colonies would readily aflbrd him a competent reinforcement. Governor Morris having convened the Penfylvania alfembly, informed them of the retreat of our army, and in a well'drawn pathetic fpeech, prefTed them to the mofl Vigorous meafures for the defence of their borders. They proceeded fo far as to vote for raifing 50,000 1. but of- fering a bill for taxing the proprietary-eitate, an imme- diate rupture enfued^ of which your Lordfhip is long fince acquainted, by the ample accounts in fundry hxss pamphkts on that and fimilar fubje^ls. As to Virginia — now Cs» 3 now equally open to the irruptions of the enemy, four 17C5. companies of rangers were ordered out, and the affembly ^r^T^jJ. voted 40,000 1. for furnifhing a thoufand men for the vides for her frontier defence. About the fame time, met the coun- tcnw alone' cil and affembly of New Jerfey, and the latter voted 30,000 1. for the public fervice : but as the houfe pro- pofed to prolong the currency of the bills for nine years, ' to which Mr. Belcher, who never fwerves from his in- ftrudions, not being able to affent, 15000L only was New Jerfey raifed, and its ufe reftridcd to keeping on foot her regi- nuesher regi- ment at Ofwego, commanded by Col. Schuyler. At "*^" *" ^ ' New "^ K. the houfe of reprefentatives affembled on the ^Jj^^g°^7aJ 5th of ^uft, and fet out with a generous fpirit. Agree- wuh refpeft able to the requeft of the Maffachufets Bay government, forcement always foremoft in military affairs, they refolved to rein- New York^ force the provincial army, deftined for Crown Point, with 400 men. The bill was a^hially paf&d the houfe for "hat purpofe ; and the council had determined to conceal from their knowlege, the contents of a fecond letter from Gen. Shirley to Col. Dunbar, of the 7th of Augufl, in which he ordered him to proceed with his troops to Albany, for the protection of that important pod, in cafe the colony forces (hould meet with a repulfe. By this bill the adembly propofed to inveft the refpedive captains of the city milkia with an arbitrary power to draught men for the fervice. The defign of this tn- traordinary projeA was fufpeCted to ferve a particular purpofe, on a new eledlion of reprefentatives^ which, ac- G 2 ^ cording ih »7S5« over the afTcmbly. [ Sa ] cording to cuflom, it was thought would immediately enfue the arrival of Sir Charles Hardy, who was foon expected with with a commidlon for the chief command of this province. It certainly was a favourite bill ; for, contrary to precedent, the Lieut. Governor came to the council board *, and preiled them to pafs it : but when he perceived an amendment preparing for a ballot of the recruits in New York, as wdl as in the other counties, he immediately laid the gencraFs letter to Dunbar before the houfe — in coniequence of which, the defign of a reinforcement inftantly dropped, and the aflembly ad- journed the next day. His influence After what 1 have already recounted, your Lord(hip will not, I prefume, be at all furprized, to find Mr. De Lancey leaving no device untried, to maintain the fole dirc6tion of the affembly. He knew that on his intereft with the reprefentativcs depended his credit with the miniflry ; and that with the expiration 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 nor ble Lord with many fpecious promifes. They had re* prefented his capacity to ferve the Crown in very mag- nificent terms ; nor forgot his readinefs to procure, when- ever an opportunity prefented, the obedience of the houfe to fome favourite inftrudions. Hence it is evident, that * Before the adauniffntion of Governor Cofbj, it was cuAomary for the governors to be prefent in the council, even when fitting in their legiflative capacity. But fince that period, they have not openly interpofed in the confultations of that branch of the legiOature. the ■■,:^- the [ S3 ] the lofs of his afccndancy over that branch of the le- 1755. giflature, muft naturally terminate in the extindion of <— v*-* his grandeur derived from the Crown. While he held the reins of government, affumed on Sir Danvers 0{horne*s deceafe, the miniftry had none to infpedt his condu6t> or trace him thro* the mazy labyrinth of his politics. From himfelf came all their intelUgence, and hence undoubtedly none in his own disfavour. During thefe golden days of fecurity and repofe, he refigned himfelf to pleafure, and indulged his natural difpofition to voluptuoufnefs and eafe. The province, the mean while, was principalfy governed by his fecretary ; who, like a fecond Atlas, bore the chief burden of the flate. Thus negligent of his politics, his popularity began to '?'» J^p?''" fuiFer a manifeft declenfion. It was moreover notably abridged by his pafUng the charter before-mentioned, re- pugnant, by his own confeflion, to the dilates of his judgment. By this ftep he incurred fuch general um- brage, that the very members of the aflcmbly could not be wrought upon to confirm it. Nay, fo diiguftful ta the people was this charter, that a majority of the mod. reputable inhabitants united againft it in a petition to the houfe. 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 arts &^ focisy was extremely? animated. The lieut. Governor became now apprehen^ five of the confequence. He flood upon the point o£ refigning his conmiand to a fuccefTor hourly expeded ; andj, i!. He fecures the ear of [S+] *755' and, without regaining his feat as chief juftice, his po-^ pularity appeared defcending from its meridian : nor, in cafe of a difTolution was he infenfible his authority with the houfe niuft fuiFer a total eclipfo. Your Lord(hip cannot therefore but obferve, of what moment it was, to fecure the friendfliip of the next governor. Permit me to mention the arts, whereby it was accomplifhed. Sir Charles Hardy arrived in our harbour on the 2d hufucccifor; of September 1 755, The council immediately convened themfelves for his reception. In the midft of their con- fultations, Mr. Oliver De Lancey, without leave of the board, bolts into the chamber, and modeftly interpofes his advice, to fend a mefTage to Sir Charles, requefting his continuance in the (hip, till the next morning. The reafon afligned was, to gain time for drawing out the the militia, to receive his excellency at landing, with the formality and honour due to his rank. But the true fe- crct was, to gain an opportunity for the Lieut. Governor! and a feleft junfto, to pafs the evening with him, in or- der to conciliate his graces, and give him early impref- iions in favour of their party. The next day, tlie go- vernor publiflied his commiilion ; and was, by Mr. De I^ancey, invited to a public entertainment. In the even- ing they conduced him to the common, to hear the acclamations of the people ; and on every occasion, fol- lowed him with fervile court and adulation. To imprefs a high fenfe of his predeceflbr's popularity, they fpared no pains. For this purpofe alfo they intrigued with the aflembly, -II I..' own t ss] aflemby, and city corporation, two eledive bodies, and i755* thence under his influence. Of the latter, Mr. Oliver and procure De Lancey, as alderman, was a member ; and, with true *^^*J5',"^, fraternal afieflion, (limulated the board to infert in their adminiftr* addrefs a compliment to his brother. A modeft motion, my Lord ! and To vehemently urged, that it was carriv^J, tho* not without fome oppo^tion. The burden of that momentous pafTage, without which the whole had been jejune and iniipid, was difcharged in thcfe terms ^ ** We ** have the greateft reafon to exped the continuation of ** that 'wife and happy adminiftration, we have been *^ bleiTed with fome time pad.*'. Still greater was Mr. De Lancey *s intereft in the aflembly, as ! have already •had the honour to acquaint your Lord{hip. But one gentleman in that houfe oppofed the flattery f>( their ad- drefs. He is a man of an affluent independent fortune, a bold unfhackled fpirit, and of flrong natural parts. The addrefs was calculated to fecure De Lancey *s power both with governor and people : the former, by difplay- ing to Sir Charles his formidable intereil in diat houfe : the latter, by preventing a diiTolution ; than which no^ thing was the objed of greater dread. ** It has, Sir, (thefe are the expreffions) been ufual in this colony, at the acceilion of a new governor, to give the people an opportunity of a new eledion of reprefentatives. *< If your excellency conceives, that fuch a meafure, in the prefent ftate of affairs, will be confident with his Ma- jcfty*s fcrvice, and the fecurity of this his loyal colony, ^ ' . 8 i« it c< 801 but ii dl* verted. prifcd of the (ingular confequcnce of Ofwego, had de- termined to reduce it. Such being the baron*s inAruc- tioni, he immediately proceeded to Montreal ; from whence he detached 700 of his troops up the river, in- tending himfelf fpeedily to join them with the remainder. Jud before he had made the neccHary preparations, Mont- real was alarmed with the news of our forming a nu- merous army near Lake St. Sacrament, for the reduction of Fort Frederic, and perhaps to penetrate into the heart of Canada. Whereupon a grand council being held^ the baron was importuned to proceed thro* Lake Cham- plain, for the defence of that fortrcfs : nor was he with- out great difficulty prevailed upon to alter his intended route. DiESKAU, having in vain waited the coming up of cen. John- our army, at length refolved himfelf to advance towards them ; and if he proved victorious, to defolate our nor- tb'-rn fettlements, lay the towns of Albany and Schenec- tady in a(hes, and cut off all communication with Ofwega A dreadful refolution, my Lord ! And had he fuc- ceeded — I tremble at the thought — had he fuccecded. But the Supreme Difpofer of even ts had not yet devoted us to ruin ; and therefore, like the counfels of Achito- phel, blafted the fanguinary purpofe. — For the execution of this defign, he embarked at Fort St. Frederic with 2000 men in battoes, and landed at the South Bay *. Of this movement. Gen. Johnfbn had He marchei to attack • About 16 miles from the EnglUh encampment. not Fort Ed- ward. [ 59 ] not the Ictft intimation, till hii fcouts difcovered their t7S5'^ a£tual departure from the South Bay towards Fort Ed- *"**^'^*^ ward. By an English prifoner the baron was told that the fort was defencclefs, and our camp at the Lake, when he left it a few days before, without lines, and de- (litute of cannon. 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 animate his irregulars, who fccmcd difin- hi* irrcRu. clincd to the attack propofcd, he afTured them, thattflcTtwcuof inevitable muft be their fuccefi — " that on reducing this " fort, the Englifh camp muft neceftarily be abandoned, " and their army difperfe in great diforder — that this ** would enable them to fubdue Albany ; and by ftarv- '* ing the garrifon of Ofwego, fuperadd to their con- ** qucft the abfolute dominion of Ontario." With what- ever intrepidity this harangue infpired his European troops, the Canadians and favages, fearful of our cannon, were utterly averfe to the fcheme ; but declared their willingnefs to furprize our camp, where they expedted nothing beyond muftjuetry *. Thus difappointed in his He moves principal deiign, he changed his route, and began to camp ; °^'^ move againft the main body at the Lake. Gen. Johnfon, on the information of his fcouts, had difpatched feparate mefTengers to Fort Edward, with advice of the enemy's approach towards that garrifon; of which one was ■ • Our artillery was got up to tke camp from Fort Edward but a day or two before the a^ion, of which the French had no intelligence. i H 2 unfortunately «755' and meets Dtir detach- [60] unfortunately intercepted : the refl who got back, re^ ported, that they had defcried the enemy about four miles to the northward of the fort. InAead of any at- tempt to difcover the Arcngth of the guard left with their battoes at the South Bay, which might eaiily have been cut off, a council of war refolved the next morn- ing to detach looo men, with fome Indians, to fall upon, or, as Mr. Johnfon exprefTcs it in his letter to the fcveral governors, " to catcbt the enemy in their retreat." On this fervice commanded Col. Williams, a brave officer, who met the baron within four miles of our camp. Thb Englifh, my Lord, were encamped on the banks of Lake George, being covered on either fide by a low thick-wooded fwamp. After the march of the dctaclt- ment, Gen. Johnfon drew up the cannon, then at 500 yards diftance from the front. Trees were al(b felled to form fome fort of bread-work: and this was all his cover againd an attack > having hitherto ftrangely de- layed the proper retrenchments. About an hour after Williams's departure, a heavy fire was heard ; which evidently approaching, Gen. Johnfon judged rightly, that our detachment was retreating : for the French were fuperior in number, amounting to about 1 800. Upon this he fent out a reinforcement to fupporC them ; which was very judicioufly conduced on the death of Williams, by Lieut Colonel Whiting, a Connecticut officer, who gained much applaufe at the redudion of Louifburgh. Gen. Johnfon inJForms the governors, " That " about f «• ] ** about half an hour after eleven the enemy appeared 1755. •* in fight, and marched along the road in very regular ^^^^~^ '* order, dire£lly upon our center : That they made a '* fmall halt, about 1 50 yards from the breaft-work, when ** the regular troops made the grand and center attack ; " while the Canadians and Indians fquatted and difperfed ^ on our flanks.'* This halt was the buons capital error: for, amidA the con(\ernation at xL. camp, had he clofcly followed up the detachment, he hod chilly forced their lines, and gained a complete victory. But by continuing for fome time a platoon fire, with little execution at that didance, our men recovered their fpirits. As foon as the artillery began to play, Dicflcau awi his regulars found themfclves totally delerted by the militia and favages, who all (kulked into the fwamps, took to trees, and maintained a fcattered fire upon our flanks, for fomc time, with variable and intermitting biilknefs. Having now no command of any part of his army, ex- He is deftaN ccpt his handful of regulars, the baron thought proper to taken" prt- retire ; which he did in very great difbrder. A party ^'*°"' from the camp followed him, fell upon v* rear, difperfed the remaining foldiers about him, and being himfelf wounded in the leg, was found ref^ing on a flump, ut- terly abandoned and deflitute of iuccour. Feeling for his watch, to furrender it, one of our men, fufpeding him in fearch of a piftol, poured a charge thro* his hips ; of which wound he is not yet recovered. Upon his re- treat, the militia and Indians retired in fmall parties : and as ^',f' tt/*>' Gallant be* Jaaviour of M' Giones. [ 6a ] as the EngliQ) negledted to continue the purfuit, the/* halted about four miles from the camp, at the very place tr^ K^ X uc*M^'^f where the engagement happened in the morning. Open* /v-trjL */-^^*-/ "^8 ^^^^^ packs for refreihment, they here entered into confultation, refpe£ting a fecond attack, ^^hy the enemy was not purfued, when their retreat l>rcame general, no tolerable reafon has ever yet been afligned ; and Mr. Johnfon, in his letter, feems very artfully to evade it. Nothing however could be more fortunate than the gallant behaviour of a party confiding of about 200, led by Capt. M* Ginnes, v/ho 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. M* Ginnes died of the wounds he received in this rencounter, having figna- lized himfelf by a fpirit and condu£t that would have done honour to a more experienced officer. Mr. Wraxal, in his letter to the Lieut. Governor of New York, told him, he flood fo near Gen. Johnfon, when the latter received his wound, that " he thought «< he faw the ball enter :" which curious piece of intel- ligence was obliterated before its publication. I only mention this circumftance to convince your Lordfliip, that the moft intrepid i'oldier hath not always the fame prefence of mind. If the duflc of the evening was too far advanced, be- fore the repulfe at the Lake, for an immediate purfuit (which by the way could not be the cafe^fmce M'GinnesV encounter Remark on Wraxal's imagination. The enemy not purfued. r\%yf^t V ^^ ^^ himfelf with.requefting Lieut. Governor Phipps to fend ^^-^//-'^^^^^'^^'^a a copy of his letter from Boflon, tho* his own fituation 4/-^^^^-- Aj-trx^U) f/fO was/200 miles nigher to Ofwego. The gentleman at «^*'«*««-*»^ A^v/ Albany, to whom his difpatches were intrufled, fufped- '^^ ^""^ ^ "^^ ** ing their contents, and conceiving their communication to the general abfolutely neceffary for his Majefty's fervice, broke open the letter to Governor Phipps, and fent an exprefs with a copy to Ofwego. ' ^^ .j The Indians, during the whole of the engagement, The Indian* fome of the Mohawks only excepted, retired from the'SJ^aolS^/ camp, waiting the event of the confliA at a convenient ^^' •'^^'*'-/ ^v*#-/^^ diflance. Nor indeed was their adlflance expeded, by ^^^i^^yy'^*'*-/,J^^< thofe who knew their boafted fidelity was a mere delu- ^ -->~vA/^^^»--^t^,r^ flon, and Mr. Johnfon's fo much magnified influence, y^'^'V^'"^ *^ ' ?5 what it has fince appeared to all men, the groflefl im- . . / '^g. . ' v;^^ ^ pofture. They even declared before their march, they j intended not to engage, but to be witnefles of the gal lantry of our troops. And had Diefkau won the day, equally ready had they been to fcalp their brethren the EngliQ}, *^ :^ t^ ^ r their departure to return to the camp. The favages, y^'"*"*" ..^ ?X7:/%.i^^- — - , - . ,. , , ,. , L , ^^ — ^.^^^^ menccd : and as to their return, tis notorious they never did. :£^y^DiiUCM. i^^^n^^ Befides, had the general the real intereft pretended, would he not, for once, have induced them to poftpone their triumphant feftivity, and untimely condolence, when their prefcnce at the camp, would they really fight, was of indifpenfible necefHty ; and himfelf in expedation of a fecond attack ; nor, by the ftrain of his letter, exempt from a little perturbation of mind ? To render the luftre of this gentleman's character ftill more refulgent, by preventing any one's fharing with *owTdicT him the glory of the day, a jundlo combined at the camp, and framed a letter *, impeaching Mr. Lyman, Major Gen. Lyman ma- Ikjoudy fo-Z*^ /* the fecond in command, of daft^rdly carriage, which /fe/-ri.*x-^""ii5s<'* • they procured one Cole, a fellow of no repu ration, to / A e?T.^' ^^ ', fign, and convey to the prefs. A notable inftance of the amazing latitude to which an invidious fpirit is capable * Minds that will mount into fuperior flate, , - Climb mifchiet's ladder RicnARDi's MeHalina. 8 of C 65 ] . , . of proceeding : So true is the poet's oblervation, Men that make j .. r!<-)f'^- ^ Envy and crooked malice nouridiment, r ^, Dare bite the beft — * Shakes?. ' For, in reality, no man, my Lord, behaved with more magnanimity, than the unfortunate objcd of their jea- loufy : and from his fuperior merit actually arofe their malignity, as he thence rivalled their deified idol. The rcafon why this much-injured officer deferred his vindi- cation, was not only the difgraceful name of his calum- niator, but becauff he expeded that juftice from the pub- lic ; who accordingly, in teftimony of his merit, veiled him, the next campa^n, with the fame important pod. But numbers of witnefles — eye-witnefles, utterly im- partial, and not belonging to the camp, are ready to depofe, that by them he was feen fighting like a Hon, and expofing his life in the hottefl of the batde : not to mention a gentleman * of undoubted veracity, to whom Gen. Johnfon, two days after the adion, frankly acknow- ' leged in his tent, that to Lyman was chiefly to beafcribed the honour of the vidory. I SHALL now, my Lord, take the liberty to make a Remarks on few remarks on Mr. Johnfon's letter to the governors 5 reafoSfor and examine the reafons afligned againft purfuing "5°^ p"'^^"'"s his advantage, as well as thofe alledged for not pro- ?r profecut- fecuting the expedition. The repulfe of the French de- dirioi'/^^ Col. John ReoTalalr, of Albany. i^^U livered [ 66 ] 1755* li^vcred us from fuch unfpeakable calamity, naturally to be apprehended from the enemy's fuccefs, that we have infinite reafbn to thank the God op Armies, for thus re- markably refcuing us from the jaws of perdition. Nor ought we to mention either our officers or men, who generally behaved as well as could be expeded, without a fuitable tribute of gratitude. But the general's own letter will enable me to convince your Lordfhip, that the magni- ficent trophies erected to his fame, fprung wholly from the New York cabal ; whofe fervices, when encircled with his laurels, he was ever after to acknowlege and re- taliate ■:,:.y.M::. h:A ii--. .'-^>y..ui 'iiiifr .: — fana redemkus tempora lauro •'^'^" — veterem Anchifem agnofcit amicum. By this letter he appears fo confcious of deferving reprehen- fion, rather than applaufe, 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 pafl, and are condantly (landing upon their arms by day, half the whole upon guard by night, and the refl lie down armed and accoutred ; tliat both officers and men are almoft 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 le& fatigued by this redoubtable adlion. But lefl the <( ^ ^^'® ^^y» derided by the enemy. So that if ever any man obtained laurels without earning them, it was this fortunate general ; who, by the fplendid reprefen- Refleftlon* on the for- tune and -; //4 < i ' • Chief engineer. tations ^1* * \.i .V- C7«] tationi of hii fecretary, and the fovereign decree of hii , 'jSj*^ \ patron, u exalted into an eminent hero. To the pane- gyrical pen of Mr. Wraxal, and the — iic volo, Ac ju- b^ — of Lieut. Goir. De Lancey, is to be afaibed that mighty renown, which echoed thro* the colonies, rever- berated to Europe, and elevated n raw unexperienced ./^.^' youth into a kind of fecond Marlborough — \ Fortunate puer, tu nunc eris alter ab illo. So capricious is fortune, and fb fond of fporting with human affairs. The emperor Scverus (I think it is He- rodian tells the flory) when obliged to raife the (lege of Atras, the only attempt in which he had ever beea baffled, thought himfelf conquered becaufe he did not conquer : but our hero, it feems, is a conqueror, becaufe he was not conquered. When a general finds himfelf attacked in his camp, a very quaker methinks, would forget his principles, and follow, in fpke of Barclay and the meeting, the powerful dictates of nature^s incentive to {elf-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 moft extraordinary pufilanimity ? Or, if his, wound (which, confidering it was made by a bail vifible in its flight to his aid-de-camp, muft have been very ca- pacious) 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 nobler Why this a^ion WiiB To 17155'. noble ardor of thofc who oflFered to purAie, by pofttive ^ ' orders repreiTcd ) and a poltroon adverfary fuflered to elcape, wfiofe recent cowardice promifed a general (laugh- ter, and who, in their prefent panic, had fallen a facri- ficr to our viAorious arms ? These are fafts of incontedible notoriety : and if your grcAtiy ex- LordQiip demands, whence then the accounts that fix or ^gcratcd. ^jgi^j hundred, nay a thoufand, fell before the camp (when, in reality, the enemy loft not above two hundred in all the three engagements, which is le(s than our own lofs) there is no other way of accounting for thcfc glaring mifrcprcfentations, than that it fuited our prefent fyftem of politics to hare this a6lion exaggerated and magni- fied. It was necefiary to exalt Johnfon, in order to de- prefs Shirley , and they who had reprefented the expedi- tion againft Crown Point of fuch prodigious importance, * thought it advifeable to render every thing important that was tranfa£ted in that expedition. £very man among us -knew it to be an impofition ; 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 flain at the camp ; and that the reft of the dead could neither fly into the air, nor dive into the earth. Where tlien was the remainder ? To anticipate the queftion, left any one fhould have effrontery enough to ftart it — tliey were carried off by a flying enemy, who took to their heels to fave their own lives j and yet were fo anxious about their [ 73 1 their dead, at to carry them all along. Such minifeft 1755* contradi^ons are we obliged to believe ! ^^^-v**^ Nay, to excufe this favourite general, the blame of not following his advantage, has been thrown on Mr. Shirley, and attributed to his pofitive diredions. Befidesf^^,'^!^,.*!^: the abfurdity of the accufation, that he could be accef- ^a'c<^' fory to an omifHon of this nature, it was abfolutely im- pofTible for him to know whether ;^'' enemy would at all rifle an attack. Your Lordfhip will coniider, the ge- neral was then at leaft 365 miles from the place of action, nor advifed of it till nine days after it happened. But ' j when he received the intelligence, fo far from directing to the ina^vity of a merely defenAve conduct, that he difpatched repeated expreiles to Mr. Johnibn, urging him in the mod prefling terms, to purfue the advantage al- ready obtained ; and if unable to proceed in perfon, to commit the charge of the troops to Major Gen. Lyman : or, if he found it impradicable to invell Crown Point ^^^ ^K^ that feafon, at leaft to make himfclf raafter, if poflible, //C^j /, ^j^^^yA,^^/^ of the enemy's advanced poft at Tinonderoge. — But all ^^ ^ ^3^i^#;,.J^ was ineffcdlual : the laurel being already acquired, for- AC^^l/t^^f-^^ ^t'a,jk tune was not again to be put to a defperate venture. ^4U-^^^AL^^^d-^ We will now, if your I.ordfhip pleafcs, return to Of- lC}t ^/f/^^t. ^^ ^L . wego, where General Shirley arrived the 2ift of Auguft, U^^ j^i^^ u/tC^ d, and take a view of the courfe of his proceedings in that w ^ . ' quarter. i^^' ' ^ '^^ * ^ ^^^»* Your Lordship may remember, that the troops courfe of >! v^>v ^ marched from Schenedady, with fcarce half the number ^'^^^'^& ^^-.^/CV- K of '''^°' ^ I .*» % wur hclJ there [74 1 - 1755* ckT btttoemen, whkh contrived for the fcrvioe; and thefc by frequent delations gradually decrcafed. Hcnco the tranfportation of provUioni, thro* this long tradt of country, wai fo much impeded, that until the latter end of September it was impofTiblc, upon that account, to move from Ofwego. The general however had. In the mean time, made all the ncccfTary preparations for the expedition to Nia- gara : and as the arrival of a large convoy widi provi- A counoi offions was then hourly expeded, he held a council of war at his camp on the i8th of September , at which were prefcnt ^ * His Excellency the Gbnekal. Lieut. Col. EUiibn, Major Bradflreet, Adj. Gen» Lieut. Coi. Mercer, Capt. Barford, Col. Schuyler, ■■- Capt. Broadley, Com. of the Capt. Patten, vefTels on the Lake. Major Littlehales, t ji ^nj general TuE general informed this council, that thro* the great the'ftateof gTcat dcfertion of battoemen, the fcarcity of waggons affairs, a iofwmi Killbil ( -Hi. _ fions and other (lores had been fo much retarded, that there had not been at any time fince his arrival, a fuf- ficient quantity of dry provifions to enable him to go- upon a£tion : but as a large fupply would probably very foon arrive, he was determined to proceed immediately. He thought proper to inform them of his intelligence concerning The general rcpretcuis affair,, and ^^ ^^ Mohawk Rivcr, and the defertion of fledgemen itl*'\r^ at the Great Carrying-Place, the conveyance of provi- gcnces. [75] concerning the (miation and ftrength of the enemy — I7I1 which wai to this puqxyfe — That before he left the Oneida Carrying-Place, two trufty Indians, with u many Albany traders, were Tent at fpiet 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 (lone, but principally of log^i being in a weak and ruinous condition —- that the gar- rifon confifted of about 60 French and lOO Indians, who faid they had for fome time expelled 900 Indians and a quantity of (lores from Canada ; but were apprchendvc their ve(rels were taken -— that letters came in frequently from Fort Du Quefne, whence alfo they expeAed a con- fiderable reinforcement. The fpies added, that the In- dians were difgufted at the diviiion of the fpoils, on the defeat of General Braddock, and that the French had loft 30 men in that engagement — that they faw many Englifh fcalps, with a large quantity of cloaths and fur- niture — that the French had there 70 or bo large bat- toes, with which they intended to meet and board our vefTels : and this article was confirmed by another In- dian, who kt out after the fpiee, and meeting one of our row-gallies, cautioned the commander againft a nearer approach to Niagara. *.^ t n: His Excellency alfo informed the council, that an Indian fpy had been with the Outawawas, who afUfted the French in the adion at Monongahcla — that they had declared their inclination to lay down the hatchet ; •'- • ' K 2 and y I ! 1- I I I [76] '755* and that others more wefterly gave the like intimatiom; which had induced him to difpatch four mefTengers 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 necefTary to procure intelligence from Frontenac ; and for that purpofe fent out a party of white men and Indians, who returned about the 8th 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 rifing in a gradual acclivity— that two veflels, of about 40 tons each, lay moored in the harbour, unrigged, and without guns — that at the eafl 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, oppofite the fort, the land projeded about half a mile : between this and the idand they were upon was another little ifland, about three quarters of a mile from the fort, inhabiced by about twenty indian families. The fpies added, that there were feveral other adjacent iflands ; but they difcovered no battoes. His excellency far- ther acquainted the council, that an Indian who came to Ofwego about the time oE his arrival, and had left Fron- tenac nine days before, declared there were 30 French within tlie fort ; a confiderable quantity of powder, and many l\ T 77 3 .. many guns mounted on the furrounding wall, which was i755» about fix feet thick ; and the encampment without con- fifted of 600 foldiers. The information of Redhead, to the fame efFe as Ofwego was of the greateft importance for lecuring the frontiers of the weftern colonies, maintaining the Britifli dominion over the great lakes, and the country beyond the Apalachean mountains. He alfo took notice of the defencelefs ftate of Ofwego, which would render it ne- ceflary to leave a ftrong garrifon there : that the number -^ of 175^. of dFed:iyes,at that time in the three regiment) and ix^ dependent companies, including ferjiiants an J corporali, amounted to 1376; and that the irregulars, who were Albany men and Indians, procured by his own emiilariea^ confifted only of 120* For the better fecurity of the place, the general had ordered to be built, with all pof*- fible difpatch, a ftrong wooden fort, capable of mounting cannon, with picquets and a ditch, on a high pointy commanding the old fort on' the eaft £de of the river« This he obferved was already begun, and would foon be compleated: and that for the propo(ed enterprize, he had built and equipped a floop and fchooner of fixty tons each, two row-gallies,; each of twenty toifes, with eight whale-boats, each capable of carrying iixteen men. H0 then informed them of his intention to embark for Nia- gara, as foon as the expedcd convoy arrived, with 600 regulars, including gunners and matroffes, befides the Albany and Indian irregula , onq 18 pounder, four 1 2 pounders, a ten-inch mortar, a feven-inch hoyet, two royals, and five fmall fwivel-hoyets, die veflels, whak- boats, and a competent number of battocs ; leaving be- hind him 700 efFedives, two 1 2 pounders, ten 6 pOund-r ers, fix 3 pounders, and eight cohorns. -^ - • '(^ -. The council, upon this reprefentation, were unani- moufly of opinion, in anfwer to the feveral queftiow propofed, that the force intended for the Niagara expe- dition was fufBcient : but with refped to Ofw^go, fame imagined it would not be defenfibie : the majority, how- ever. ' »755' !0-[ If A .hhd vtf [79] ever, wcrr of contrary feotiments. AU agreed, that a feint upon Frontenac, while his excellency was gone to Nia- gara, was by no means advifeable. They univerfally con- curred in opinion, that a fort ought to be ereded on the woft fide of the old fort : and that it would be for his Majefty's (ervice to prepare materials for building on't or more veffels, larger than any of thofe already upon the lake, capable of mounting ten 6 pounders, befidei fwivels, two more row-gallies, and loo good whale-boats. *' In confequencc of this advice, 6oo regulars were Preparations draughted, the artillery and ordnance -(lores (hipped oUo^i'JhTNia- board the (loop Ontario, part of the provifions on board f^^ ''^^'^^' the (loop Ofwcgo, and the re(idue was ready for the row^galHcs, whale-boats, and battoes. While thcfe pre- parations 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 heft chofen ground the tents of the foldiers were overwhelmed. As 400 of the troops muft have gone in open battoes, it was impoflible to pafs the lake with any fafety, till the ftorm abated ; which was on the 26th of the month, when orders were immediately ifTued for the embarkation of the troops : but thefe could not be carried, into execution. Tho' the which couid rains ceafed for a fhort fpace of time, the weftern winds fccuted from began to blow with redoubled fury ; and were again fuc-Qf^jhe^ea^ ceeded by continual rains for thirteen days together. ^^^'^• During this boifterous weather, numbers fell (ick, whofe tents were an infufficient (belter : and the Indians, well acquainted I f It t >7SS' Another council of war held, in which the general re- prefents the unfavoura- ble circum- Hances of •ifairs. C 8o! ] acqiiainted with the climate, went off, declaring the fea- fon too far advanced to admit of an expedition upon the lake. .^ In the midft of thefe difficulties another council, con- (ifting of the fame members who compoied the lad, was called on the 27th of September. The general acquainted them with the untoward (late of afi^rs, and fome of his lateft advices. He obferved as follows ^ That the pre- ceding day, eight battoes were arrived, with 48 barrels of flour, and 13 of bread; fo that there was then 14 days fuUallowance of thofe fpecies of provifions for 2000, being the number then in his camp — That he thought it neceffary 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 greateft rcafon to expedl fuch a quantity of provifions, in a few days, as would be a full fupply 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 re- turned, with the following report — That they went into the harbour, and faw the fort, which appeared to be a regular fquare faced with flone, having four embrafures in the front — that the encampment confifted of above ^00 tents — that two brigantines of about 40 tons 4 each [ 8, ] each, and a fmall floop lying then at anchor, were rigged, and the fails of one of them bent : and a number of bat- toes lay near the walls of the fort. He communicated to them alfo a copy of the orders and inftrudions given to the French regulars fcnt thither ; which were taken from baron Diefkau, in the adion at Lake George : whence it appeared, that ten companies of the Queen's battalion marched from Montreal to Cadaracqui, in two divifions, upon the firft and fecond of Auguft, together with 250 Canadians, exclufive of Indians; the number of men therefore at Frontenac, including the garrifon, might amount to 1000 effedlives, originally deligned, as appeared from thofe papers, for an attack upon Ofwego. He farther took notice of the departure of fome of oijr Indians, and their unanimous opinion, that the attempt againft Niagara could not fucceed this feafon : on which account the remainder were refolved to return to their refpedive caftles ; giving neverthelefs the higheft aflur- ances of their willingnefs to join us in much greater num- bers the cnfuing 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 tempeftuous weather as had continued for a fortnight paft — that Lieut. Holland, who had refided there above three years, declared it was commonly windy and wet, with few fai Sys intervening, during the fall. — That it was befides now impradicable for the veflels and battoes to fail in concert : and as the veflels and L whale-boats «75S- »75S' 1 [8a ] whale-bo«its would not contain all the fuppKes, there was the utmod danger of fpoiling that part of the proviHons and ammunition, which mull be conveyed in the bat- toes ; 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 dirc^or and furgeons of the hofpital, i\ v number of the tick amounted to about 300, excludvc ^f officers ; which they imputed to thi; cxceiTivc ;airis, aad want of barracks. His excellency inlbrmec' tin qi, he propofcd the erection of barracks, and a ft )i)^ *' doubt on the hill, weft of the old fort, before the winter vas too far advanced. These matters, my Lord, were attentively contidered : advice to lay and the couHcil of War prayed leave to add to the general's pedition,andrcprefentation — That Major Bradftreet, fince his refi- ofweg^o.^" dence there, was perfuaded 1650 Canadians had pafled by from Cadaracqui to Niagara, for the Ohio ; a great part of whom, thro* fcarcity cA' provifions, he conceived muft then be upon their return to Canada ; and that a confiderable number of French traders go annually from Canada to Detroit, ani other French fettlements to the weftward, who, at tbis feafon, are ^yeneially upon their return : — that their paflage home is by the way of Nia- gara, where, it is very probable, they and all the French will tarry, as long as their provifions admit, for the de- fence of fo important a poft. That there were then but few proper battoe-men at Ofwego: nor could they be Their opi- nion, and ■ 4 [83] be provided with a fufHcient number, as thofe who un- derAood the management of battoes were chiefly em- ployed in the tranfportation of providons from Schenec* tady to Ofwego, and from Albany to Lake George ) and that the foldicrs were unable to conduct them to Niagara, the lake being turbulent generally five days in fix. The advice of the council, my Lord, was unanimouily to this eHed — That the arrival of the battoes with pro- viiions, tho* hourly expedled, was by no means to be de- pended upon, there being fcalping -parties in the neigh- bourhood ; one of which, fince the lad council of war, had adually killed three, and captivated two of the work- men employed in building the new fort on the eaft fide of the river : and the cutting ofF the battoes was the more to be apprehended, as the Indians in our alliance were now returning to their caftles. Nor did they think it advifeable to rifk the troops in battoes upon the lake, at fo advanced a feafon of the year. They approved his e cellency's intention of raifing barracks for the fol- diers without delay ; and thought the fort on the eail fide of the Onondaga River ought to be compleated as foon as pofllble ; and again advifed the eredion of a Work for mounting cannon on the eminence weft of the old fort — all which, in their opinion, could not be cffeAed before the winter was too far fet in, without employing the whole ftrength then at the place. They were alfo unanimoufly and clearly of opinion, that his excellency ought to defer any attempt on Niagara or Frontenac, till L 2 the «755' ■%;; ^''^^^'rM- i75S« Which wai carried into execution. [84] the next fprmg ; when they had great reafon to expedV the jundUon oF a large body of the Six Nations, and fome of the French allies, who had taken up the hatchet againft the English, and were concerned on the banks of the Monongahela. Beddes, he might, in the enfu- ing campaign, have a greater number of troops, whale** boats inAead of battoes, and a more powerful naval force, which they conceived ought to be provided againft the* next (bring* ' •» ui« wVii 'ca\\ •.. it; . This advice, my Lord, the general proceeded im- mediately to carry into execution. Complcating the fort on the eafl fide of the river, was a matter of principal attention, becaufe fituated on a high point of land, at 1 00 yards diftance from the lake, commanding the ground round about it — the old fort at 450 yards di- ftance — and the entrance of the harbour. Its circum- ference was 800 feet, being built of logs from ao 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 overl6ok the walls, and barracks for 300 men. — This fort, called Ontario, was to mount 16 pieces of cannon. Another, called Of- wego, was immediately begun, upon an eminence 450 yards weft of the old fort. It was a fquare of 170 feet, with baftions, and a rampart of earth and mafonry j which, beftdes the parapet, was to be 20 feet thick, 1 2 in height, with a ditch 14 feet broad and 10 deep. The barracks within were to contain 200 men. This was to mount [ [ 8i ] mount eight pieces of cannon; being made the more 1755. dcfendblc, ask commanded a good landing, diftant 150 *-*T**^ yards on tlte edge from the lake. While the(e works were carrying on, the general env The general labuurs to ployed himfclf in a neceffary attention to Indian affairs, cftabiifh the He laboured to cftabliAi fome of the principal Ononda- J,uf Jjjj^. gas, who were thro* negligence become wavering ; and difpatched meiTages to thofe who were gone from us, and fettled at Ofwegatic, and to the MciTufagues and r Chippawees on the north fide of the Lake Ontario. Others were fcnt to foment the difTaffedtion of the Outawawasi difgufted at the French partition of the plunder, on Braddock*s defeat. With the Senecas, the remote^ from our fettlements of all the five cantons, and therefore the moft debauched by the French, he fucceeded fo well^ that they now difmifled Joncaire, one of their emiflaries, whofe father had been long fuffered to redde among them, in fpite of our repeated remonftrances ; and was the chief preferver of the fort at Niagara. They al(b en- gaged to meet him, the next campaign, with 1 00 of their ' warriors, and proniifed for the future to refufe the aflift- ance they had formerly given the French, in tranfporting their furrs, with horfes and fleds, acrofs the Niagara Carrying-Place — as necefTary there, as at any of our portages between Schenedady and Ofwego. When no- And returns thing further could be profecuted, the general retired ^'^^''''^"-* from Ofwego the 24th of 0(5tober, leaving 700 men in garrifon, under the command of Lieut. Col. Mercer ; . . with I I -IJ •755- Sill :ai ,.'jt>!ni French de- figned to cut [86] with orders to continue the works prcge^ed for its defence. Having, my Lord, taken up too much of your time in a circum(^antial relation of the proceedings in this quarter, I (hall not trouble you with any refledlions upon them. Your Lordfhip has feen the infurmountable dif- ficultiet attending this weftern expedition; and will doubtlefs approve our not hazarding the lofs of Ofwego. That fuch would have been the event, had Mr. Shirley otf-'ofwTgo? left the place about the beginning of October, was wifely w?ai p*ro-* forefecn, from the advices he had received : and baron gara ; but that the French had half the forces he brought with him from Brefl-, with a number of Canadians and Indians, at Frontenac, ready, immediately on his depar- ture, to inveft Ofwego, and cut off his retreat. ■ ^ - — While the general was at Albany, after his return m the lake, forwarding the fupplies for the garrifon at Ofwego; preparing for the operations of the next campajgiij and examining into the ftate of the troops arrived there under Col. Dunbar ; the city was alarmed by expreffcs from General Johnfon, 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 artillery, held themfelves in readincfs to march at a moment's Hai u. on a tullt: Alarm. [«7j niomcm*a warning, But another exprcfji gave rcafon to 1755- believe thofe apprehenfioni were ill-grounded, and Ge- neral Johnfon*! feart in fome meafure abated. It fcemi a few Indian fcouti had difcovercd the tracl^i of a large army ^ but Capt. Rogers, the brave ofBcer before- men- tioned, came into the camp foon after them, and de- clared, the enemy were employed, as the general had predi^cd in his letter to Mr. John'' \ of the 19th of Sep- tember, in throwing up works . finonderogc. Upon which, the militia were difmifTed to their rcfpe^ve ha- bitations. Op the malignity of the New York fadion againil the general, I have already acquainted your Lordihip : permit me to prefent you with another indance of the fame fpirit. A mercenary fcribbler, of whom I (hall ibon take more particular notice, is pleafed to inform the public, that ** Col. Dunbar with his forces, were obliged '< fix weeks to lie encamped at Albany, in the rain and ** {how, till barracks were built for them. That they ** were entirely obliged to Sir Charles Hardy, that they •* got a ftick of wood to burn. So (fays he) were our " forces difpofed of.'* Albany, my Lord, is an old compact city, confifting of 3 or 400 well-built houfes : and at about 16 miles N. W. from it, is the town of Schenedady, confifting of about 150 houfes. The inhabitants are far from being indigent: the adjacent country abounds with provifions; and in fuch quarters, your Lord(hip is fenfible,. his Ma- jeftyV IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I LI 11.25 La 121 12.5 Ui Uii |2.2 WUi. U 116 1^ Photographic Sciences Corporation Y .V* A* 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WIUTM.N.Y. 14SI0 (716)l7a-4S03 « l(( ■a [88] '755* jcfty's troops will not v/ant necefTarid; efpedallyj^^^ in a country covered with timber. Where then the pro- bability, that the forces, which confided of 1200, would fufFer in a poft like this ? As to the affair of barracksj tny Lord, there was a council held at New York, on th6 firft of Augtift, when the news arrived of Col. Dunbar's retiring into winter-quarters, after Braddock*s defeat. It was compofed of Mr. De Lancey the Lieut. Governor, Meff. Alexander, Kennedy, Murray, Holland, Chambers, and Smidi ; and the opinion of that board then was, That not only the King's forces to the fouthward, but alfo thofe that could be fpared from Nova Scotia, (liould quarter near Albany, for any future operations." This Tefolve Mr. De Lancey tranfmitted to the general at Of- •wego ; and ais Dunbar's troops were ordered to Albany, for the defence of that country, and particularly to make a ftand, in cafe the provincials were defeated ; they had, methinks, the higheft reafon to exped favour from the inhabitants, and the fpecial countenance of the govern- ment, even had they been quartered upon them as ufual: :and which at prefent is actually the cafe, by exprefs or- ders of my Lord Loudon. The general, I fay, had no Teafon to expeA, upon this head, any oppoiition from the civil magiftrate. But Sir Charles Hardy, on his arrival at Albany, about the 26th of September, (ignified to him by letter, his apprehenfions of uneafinefs arifing' among the inhabitants, fliould the foldiers be quartered upon private families j and wiftied to have his excellency's r'^i^l orders i:l_ [89] orders for building barracjcs, both there and at Schenec- tady ; left his aflembly {hould not chufe to put the pro- vince to that charge. He al^ expreiled his hopes, if fuch an expence was faved them, of their greater readinefs to raife more men, fhould the fervice require it, the next campaign. The generaUs anfwer to this letter equally demonftrated his integrity to the crown, and concern for . the troops. He intimated his fears, that the con(lru£tion^ of barracks would be thought an extraordinary expence ; but it being neceffary for the fervice, that Dunbar*s, and ;^ the regiment of the late Sir Peter Halket, fhould win- * ter in Albany and Scheneiftady, he complied with Sir - Charles's requeft ; and dedred him to provide barracks for thofe regiments with all poilible diligence, that the troops, on their arrival in his government, 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 drawing thefer troops to Albany — that they would in a fpecia] manner cover the frontier of New York — be of fervice to Of- wego in the enfuing fpring — and that the inhabitants would draw very large fums from their reftdence amongft • them. Nor did he forget to recommend an imitation of the Maflachufets Bay ; who thought it reafonable to ereft barracks for his own regiment, tho* they knew their continuance among them would be fhort, deftined as they were for the weftern expedition. But that there might be no delay in building the barracks, arifing from any M '■ y- doubt 1755- •*«. ..«4 \.- s I" , .1 Ml I I [903 1755. 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 ex- pence on themfelves, he would defray it out of the con- tingent-money in the hands of the deputy pay-maftcr. Thus, my Lord, if any ground for complaint of the want I of barracks, Mr. Shirley 'tis clear was intirely uncenfur- u /^<^Av^-j^'^V^I<^ble : and if the troops, as this libeller informs us, did -*-tJ^/£,"*>Cr^«,'^£^fufrer in their tents, — I flibmit it to your Lordfhip, ^Z'A.^^y ^^^Cjt fx^4/^ifLy whofe province it was to have found them better quarters. /L^ ^1^^^ t^^yriu^^MX. the fa£t is, that the barracks were finifhed, and the \^ ^^Lz^ -f;h^y*L.c^^ troops quartered in them before the firft of December, i^ ^ AC^^*^^«^ fiiel provided for them fufikient for the winter, aiid all \€^jt^ /ii^/t'i^e^J><^AC^ ^t the expence of the crown* f^To,/— /^*~^^*^ <^M<^/-N The winter now approaching, commiffioners were aj>- r-,^uD /^ *^ ;*«*..*-^*v poiiited by the governments concerned in the Crown Point c^t^jj/uytit^Ct^ iatAy expedition, to afcertain their refpeAiye quotas for garri- ^^^^^fc^ri^Mjbning the forts Edward and William-Henryj and dif- /^ t i%.€rx^ banding the reft of the army. After this was compleated^ aUje/^ rx^ ^'^ general and Sir Charles Hardy returned to New Yorkj I>/^ >^ where the former convened a grand congrefs of governors ^^ , and field officers, to deliberate on a plan for the operas- **^'^^^* *^^***tion8 of the fucceeding campaign. But before I enter upon their tran(a£iions, I (hall briefly lay before your Lordfhip thofe between Sir Charles Hardy and his afTeixir bly ; which was opened on the fecond, and continued fitting till the 23d of Decemben ^^ i * . ;, .. , ■ % , • :•'. '-■•'" ■ '- ' •• • -"'■'•'- Ihayb ■V'tn^ ^i ik^ tji' bly. C9. 3 ■ I HAVE already obferved, that the miniftry, from the 1755. time of Mr. Clinton's departure in 1753, ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^'-SaT^ licitous about procuring the confent of our aflembly tot»"nsinNcw *a law eftablifliing a permanent provifion for the gover- tween su- nor, and other neceflary officers. When Sir Danvers Hardy Ld Ofborne arrived, he brought with him an inftrudion for ^'^ *^^*'''"- that purpofe ; from the terms of which it was apparent that the miniftry had it much at heart ; and Sir Danvers, , 'before he left England, was made to believe that Mr. ,De Lancey, . by means of his great popularity, would icnable him to carry it into execution. I'his I had from a gentleman, to whom Sir Danvers opened himfelf, and •whom he confulted before his embarkation for his go- vernment. The gentleman is a perfbn of the firft 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. De Lancey was inexpreffibly jealous of his afcendancy over the aflembly, who were utterly difinclined .to a perpetual fupport : that he would join in no mea- Aires that might weaken the confidence they repofed in him : that as long as he maintained his influence in their counfels, he would virtually be the governor of the pro- vince 5 and therefore upon the. whole, his intereft and ambition would infallibly lead him to keep every gover- nor in a (late of dependence upon him. Sir Danvers difliked fo difagreeable a prediction $ and many are of opinion, that its accompliOiment hAfl:ened his unhappy M 2 fate. i I !l 1^ H ■. ii [9a] 1755* fate. Excufe me, my Lord, for troubling you with a relation of fadls, a little out of the ilrid order of time. Anecdote of Therc is an anecdote of Sir Danvers, of which I would not oiboinc!*^'^^ have yourLordfhip uninformed. He arrived here on the 7 th of Odober, 1753, under very dilcouraging apprehenllons ^' of the people; and indeed not without reafon, the oppo^ (ition againft Mr. Clinton having been carried beyond all detorum. Governor Ofborne*s commiiHon, thro* Mr, Clinton's at^nce, remained unpublished till the third day after his arrival. This is ufually done, firil privately in the council-chamber ; and immediately after, in the moil public manner at the city-hall. To wait on his excel- lency thither, Mr. Clinton came abroad 3 an aftoniihing vi crowd being afli*mbled at the Fort Gate, to attend the ?] proctflion. Mr. Clinton's enemies were very affiduous in exciting the popular acclamations; and the huzzas cf the mob were fcarce Intermitted for a moment. There appeared, in (hort, fuch a profudon of joy, accompanied tvfth fome indecent expreflions ttfpe&ing himfelf, as gave Mr. Clinton juft r^fon to fufpe^ more open indigni- ties. He the^fere loon took his leave of Sir Danvers^ who eixprdTed his di^kaifute at the conduA of his ene- mies. This, my Lord, proved a day of general feftivity and Bacchanalian fix>Kc. In the evening, the dty was illuminated : the common blazed widi bonfires : great was the confumpdon of Madeira; and every company rung with matedidiont againft the late commander in: ^ehief) who was changed as the fole procurer of the new inilrudtion ;; !1 # i'^r- [93] inftrudion; an account of which could only have tran- 1755. fpired from fome of the council. Sir Danvers alone ap- peared unafFedted with our intemperate revels ; and on his countenance fat a melancholy gloom. He convened the council on Thurfday the eleventh of the month ; and prayed their fentiments on the probability of obtaining a permanent fupport, according to his inftruftions. 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 himielf about in apparent diftrefs, uttered a deep figh, and reclihingihis head againfl a window, in a defponding accent faid, ** What then am I come hither for ? " The next morning — But I defift. This inftrudion, as your " '! XiOrdfhip will be pleafed to recdled, remained unrevoked all the time of his (xxceffor : and 'tis natural to expeA, that the people of this province were very inquifitive whether it was continued to Governor Hardy — They were fo. But Sir Charles did not follow the example of Mr. De Lancey, in laying his inftrudions before the af- iembly. The article relative to the fupport has under- gone, as I am credibly 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 feflion. His words are thefe : ** 1 am commanded by his Maiefty to sir charics J J J Hardy's ^ itcommend in his name without delay, to confider fpeech to hi« raflembly.. Their an- fwcr. 1 1 [94] of a proper law to be paffed, for fetding a permanent revenue upon a folid foundation, for defraying the ne- ceflary and eftablifhed charges of government ; taking *' care that fiach law be indefinite, without limitation of ** time ; and that provifion be made therein for a com- petent falary to the captain-gtneral and governor in *' chief of this his Majefty's province ; and likewife for competent falaries to all judges, juflices, and other ne- ceflary and ufual officers and minifters of government : and alfo for a certain permanent fund, for repairing and maintaining the fortifications, for making annual prefents to the Indians, and for the other contingent expences attending that feivice : and in general, for all fuch other charges of government, as may be fixed or afcertained^" The aflembly in their addrefs, after a juftly-merited compliment, for his activity in proceeding to Albany, and their approbation of the meafures for gar- rifoning the frontiers, fubjoin this emollient paragraph : We wifh we could, with equal fatisfadion, reconcile to ourfelves your excellency's recommendation of an ** indefinite fupport: but humbly beg leave to inform your excellency, that we have no permanent funds, on " which to eftablifh fuch a revenue ; nor do any occur " to us, without very apparent inconveniencies to our con- ** ftituents. We therefore moft humbly hope we fhall (land acquitted in the eyes of our moft gracious So- vereign, if we decline a meafure fo diredly oppofite to ^< the fentiments of almoft every individual of the colony. « We «( C( [ 95 J We cannot leave this fubjedl, without difclofing to your excellency the concern it gives us, that this his Majefty's loyal colony, which, tho' fmali in numbers, has chear- fuUy bore very heavy expences, and particularly fup- ported its governors, and other officers of government, in a more liberal manner than mod others on the con^ tinent, fliould be requefted to purfue meafures hitherto " unknown to it, whilft the reft, almoft without excep- " tion, are left to pradtife tlie very meaftjres denied to C( i< C( cc C( cc cc '755- u us. >* Mr. Clinton, my Lord, aflced of this fame aitembly Thai beha. only a fupport for iive years ; and it was refuied with in- eJIt'from "' dignation and virulence. Sir Charles here demands much y***^.'* ^1" o ^ ^ m Clinton's'. more; and we fee, that he is anfwered with the moftt*>n»e.andthe commendable decency. To help your Lordfliip in ac- counting for this contradidory behaviour — Mr. De Lan- cey was bent upon expelling that governor from the pro- vince : 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 en- fure to his lieutenant many advantages ; and enable him to procure the governor's aftent to a bill, for paying him a large fiim, now due for his falary and other perquifites, while he had the chief command. He might indeed^ but durft not pafs fuch a hill himfelf^ and therefore it was not offered. Accordingly, the houfe, at their very next meeting, fent up a bill to the council, on the 4th of Fe- bruary, [96] 1755. ^ruary if 56> for paying the debts of the government; in *'''"'^''*"^ which he was a creditor for near 4000 1. But of this I fhali have occafion to take more particular notice. Thus, my Lord, 1 will forfeit my honour, if, upon a faithful perufal of the journals of aflembly, your Lordfhip doth not find — the condud of the houfe, and the intereft of Mr. De Lancey, for ten or fifteen years paft, perfectly to tally. Grand coun- Let US now take a view of the tranfa^ions in the grand convened at council of War, which the general had convened at New forTeSiig York, for fettling a plan of the future operations. It was the opera- opened on the 1 2th of December, and continued fitting uons for * ' r j rr«i » i • • 17 s^' for the fpace or two days. Tho the mvitation to the go- vernors was univerfal, it confided only of theie members: His Excellency General Shirley, commander 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 : The Honourable Robert Hunter Morris, lieut. governor and commander in chief of the province of Pennfylvania : The Honourable Thomas Fitch, governor and com- mander in chief of the colony of Connedicut. Col. Thomas Dunbar : Col. Peter Schuyler : Major Charles Craven: Sir John St. Clair, deputy quarter-mafter general : Major John Rutherford. After ,■' -if I- it ' G,;r ■>ij.'-*-. , The "eneral (C C( (C cc [97] After adjufting ftveral points of rank, the members took i75S* their feats in the order mentioned ; and the general opened the conference, by laying before the council the King*s inftruAions to General Braddock. He then deli- j^jj^,^^.^ j^j^ vered his fentiments to the board, to the following pur- ff'iments to r , rr%i t . » 1 ^-v • the council; pole : " That our only entrance mto Lake Ontario, was thro* the Onondaga River to Ofwego. No other bar- • hour had his Majefty upon that lake, capable of re- ** oeiving veflels of force: That Ofwego was fituate in ** the country of the Onondagas, the centre canton of ** the Six Nations, and famous for the furr trade: no " other mart could we boail, for commerce or cor- refpondence widi thofe numerous tribes of favages in- ^ habiting the weftern country, on the banks of the great " lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, and the many rivers " which roll into them : That the Lake Ontario was only " accefUble to the Canadians, thro* the river Cadaracqui, *' formerly called by the French Fleuve Iroquois ; but in " their late maps, calculated to countenance their exor- ** bitant claims, diftinguifhed by the name of St. Law- " rence. At the head of that river was their entrance " into that lake ; and near Fort Frontenac, fituated on its north-eaftern edge, abo\it 50 miles from, and nearly <* oppofite to, our fort at Ofwego: That while the <* enemy kept poffefTion of Frontenac, with the harbour at Fronto, and a free paffage thro' the Iroquois River, they would always be able to build and maintain vefTels " of force upon the lake : That his Majefty would there- N " fore C( (C C( .» » I I H' 1.8 [98] 1755. '^ fore be necefHtated to fupport a naval armament there, at lead equal to that of the French. Without this, they might annoy any forts we could ereft at the north- eaft end of the pafs at Niagara; and Ofwego itfelf be loft. The inevitable confequence of which would be, the de- fedtion of the Six Nations, the lols of the whole country for near 300 miles from Ofwego to Schenedady, and perhaps the redudion of Albany itfelf." The general add- ed, " That all the French forts at Niagara, upon the lake Erie, and ihe river Ohio, thofe alfb upon lake Huron, at the Streights of MiflUimakinac, and the Lake Michigan ftill more wefterly, received all their fupplies by water- carriage from Montreal, thro* the River Iroquois, and the Lake Ontario : That the French fettlements at the mouth of the Midiflippi furniflied thefe northern gar- rifons neither with provifions nor ftores ; being not only at 2000 miles diftance from any of them, but embar- railed with infuperable difficultiesi, by a laborious na- vigation againft a rapid ftream." Hence his excel- lency concluded, " That could the French be dillodgcd from Frontenac and the little fort at Fronto, and their " entrance into Lake Ontario obftruded, all their other forts and fettlements on the Ohio, and the weftern lakes, were deprived of their fupport from Canada, and muft ere long be evacuated." ^^^' " aodpropofes IMPRESSED, my Lord, with thcfc views, the general opaations: propofcd, as a plan of operations for the next year ^- That 5000 men (hould be very early affembled at Ofwego, and C( it = He then obferved, that if the feveral attempts upon Crown Point, the forts upon the lakes, and the Ohio, were not profecuted at the fame time, very perilous might be the confequences : 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 to oppofe us ; which would defeat the defign, and require fo lart^e a body of troops, as to render the tranf- portation o. aerefTaries to Ofwego impradticable. So nu- merous an army might alfo march againfl Albany, as cfTedually to cut ofT the retreat of our forces, or at leaft totally oblbud their fupplies : That fhould, on the con- N 2 trary, 755- t'rr f. -?ti. w I ..;, :'. ,::'.:. ^..^^ A PLAN fo well digefted, and Co clearly ftated, required but little confederation ; and accordingly it was in the main unanimoufly approved. The council advifed the general, to give orders for building three or more veflels at Ofwego. They were of opinion, that 10,000 men were neceflary for the Crown Point expedition, and 6000 for that on Lake Ontario. The attempt againft Fort Du Quefne, by the weftern governments, 'twas thought would anfwer very good purpofes, efpecially in fecuring the fide- lity of the weftern Indians. The feint againft Quebec was approved, if it interfered not with the other expe- ditions. 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 neceflary for effedlually re- covering [ lOI ]^ covering and fecuring his Majefty's rights and dombions 1755. on the continent. •ir-;','s;-r-:i"-,-in la? iv;...::H- A '.-.-•i-' «— nr-^ The council having finiQied their bufinefs, the gover-Defign a- nors foon after returned to their refpedlive provinces. But§^j."^JJ^jJ^ the general continued his head quarters at New York, winter de- till the 2 ift of January, to profecute an expedition againft Tinonderoge, this winter : and as the French garrifon was ^ isjrttz^ /^^ left very weak, it had doubtlefs fucceeded, had not the (^^TiamJ^J^ want of froft and fnow prevented the tranfportation of ^/^^^^^^^^^ the ftores. Before he left New York, he had a freOi in- The «baF" ^^^ fiance of the unwearied and ill-natured induftry of hisgf^^"ai'''^ oppofers ; of which, becaufe important in its confequences, **J^"8then- I fliall give your Lordfliip an ample detail The prin- what caufes. cipal agents were MefT. De Lancey and Pownal, who now formed a kind of duumvirate, to perplex the fervice, in order ta ruin the general. Without queRion, 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 LordOiip's high fenfe of honour, will recoiled Mr. Shirley's favours to him at Bofton ; and think it incredible to find him in the catalogue of thofe combined againft his benefaftor. But it is a (hining re- mark of Tacitus *, " That benefits are only fo far " acceptable, as it feems poflible to difcharge them;. * Btneficia eo ufque lata funt, dum videntur exfohi pofTe : ubi muUum anteycnere, pro gratia odiutn rsdditui'. " and [ 102 ] and that when they have exceeded all retaliation, ha- tred is returned for gratitude.'* Mr. Pownal, who was ambitious of recommending himfelf to a certain noble Lord in England, by furnifhing him with American in- telligence, could by no means brook his being abfent from the congrcfs at Alexandria, in the fpring of the prefent year. He earneftly fought an introduction to General Braddock ; and Mr. Shirley did the office with great 'po- Ktenefs. He was then juft informed of his appointment to be lieut. governor of New Jerfey, and on that account prefied for an admiffion into the council. Mr. Shirley, in a very genteel manner, declined a tafk, which might: give offence to the general ; and if any refolution tran- fpired, draw himfelf into a fnare. But Mr. Pownal, being a ftranger to that diffidence and modefty, fo fuit- able to his years and inexperience, became from this mo^ ment difgufted, and was feldom after feen amongft that gentleman's friends. He tarried at Philadelphia, till Ge- neral Braddock's defeat : and towards autumn returned to New York. This change of temper recommended him to Mr. De Lancey, who failed not to exafperate the rifing refentment : and now his oppofition became open and unreferved. Juft at this jundure, arrived Sir Charles Hardy ; and Mr. Shirley being then at Ofwcgo, your Lordfhip fees how feafonable their opportunity, for fow- ing the feeds of prejudice in the breaft of the new gover- nor. I will not take upon me to fpeak of their fuc- pefs ; but doubtlefs no mifreprefentations were wanting to ftrengthen [ »03 ] flrength the cabal. Yet no (boner did the general arrive from Ofwego at Albany, where MefT. Pownal and De Lancey attended upon Sir Charles, than the former, dif- fembling his enmity, laboured to procure his confidence, that he might pry into his fecrets : but from previous in- timations of his prefent difpofition, in a letter to a gen- tleman then near the general, he failed in that infidious defign. He could now no longer fupprefs his malevolence, or conceal his recent connections ; and therefore openly traduced the very man, to whom he was indebted for all his fignificancy amongft the provinces. My Lord, it is with reludlance I utter thefe things. But your Lordfhip is as determined to know every tranfadtion which con- cerns the operations in America, as I am to difcharge the office of a faithful hiftorian. Truth is too facred to be violated either out of fear or favour ; and whatever your Lordfhip may think of this gentleman, fuch was his condud. I knew him an avowed enemy to Mr. De Lancey, and to Mr. Shirley as fanguine a friend. I have fmce known him to calumniate the latter, and ap- plaud the former. With a change of refidence, or rather of intereft, he changes fides; and on this account, no man perhaps ever multiplied fo many adverfaries in fo (hort a time. He aims at two governments, without the leaft profped of peace, if either of them Ihould fall under his command. I can afllire your Lordfhip, that even in the province of New Jerfey he is fo little eftecmed, and that principally for intriguing the difbandment of the regiment under ^755- >t/ [ i<54 ] ft' ' I M 1 ft 1 755' ^Mider Col. Schuyler, to difobKge Mr. Shirley, that upnf(prted his oijra. And tho' his plagiarifm '^^ deleted at jthe time, he oegle&ed to rctmm it^ and afterwards produced the fame map before the mi. niftry, claiming to himfelf the honour due to Mr. Alexander alone. Q It I I ' t "6 Ji 1755* It* at the inflance of the cabal in New York. I leave *''*~^^~*^ your Lorddiip to judge how far they were concerned in it, after adding, that it contained their repeated remarks ; that Mr. Pownal was frequently at his lodgings about the time of its publication ; and did actually accompany him to a printer, to haflen the impreflion, before he failed for * England. I fhall not trouble your Lofdihip with- any particular obfervations upon this libeL If ever it fhould fall into your Lordfhip's hands, this letter will aflift you in deteding its faliehoods, and forming, a pro- per judgmeftt both of its author and his abettors. i Swn tare- ^Hus, my Lord, was every opportunity embraced by judke Mr. the cabal to prejudice the general in the opinion of the in England pcoplc : and happy for the colonies, had their mifrcpre- and America. J^j^j^^jQj^g been Confined to this fide the Adantic! Bent on Mr. Shirley's removal, all imaginable pains were taken to defame his character. Here, they queftioned his in- tegrity. But in England, they endeavoured to create a: fuipicion of his judgment. General Johnfon was let up as his competitor j and to his renown were blown all the trumpets of fame.^ Shirley's deep (enfe of the importance of Ofwego, was made the objeA of buffbonry and ridi* cule. The redu^on of Crown Point reprefented as a '• • upon the news of the lofs of Ofwego, part of it was repubfifhed in the New York Gazette, to lead the populace to impute this calamity to General Shirley. It was appealed to, as an indifputable autlrarity, by the very perfons to whom poor Evans was indebted for hisi materials ; and without whole dictating, it would never have feen the light. To write a book in another's name, and then to quote it as aa authority, is a fpecies ^f proof, with whidi EQcUd appears to have been utterly unacquainted.. matter M [ i07 ] matter of fiipcrior' moment. Three Hundred men Mr. 1755* De Lancey often declared to be a fufficient garrifon for ' Ofwego. The general was therefore charged with fquan- dering the King*s money, in making it the main objed of his attention: and out of mere oppofltion, a fcheme was recommended for turning our whole force toward » Crown Point. Upon this errand, my Lord, Mr. Pownal went home in February 1756. I need not inform your Lord(hip of the fuccefs of the fadion. The fequcl will fhew with what confequences it was attended. Thus ^^'^f^'.?"^ * ^ on the fruit- ended the year 1755. A year never to be forgotten in ief» opera- America. It opened with the faireft profpedls tothefei755. diflant difperlions of the BritiQi Empire. Four armies were on foot, to remove the encroachments of a perfi- dious neighbour ; and our coafts honoured with a fleet for their fecurity, under the command of the brave and vigilant Bofcawen. We had every thing to expert — nothing to fear. The enemy was defpifed ; and we only defired a proclamation of war, for the final deflrudion of the whole country of New France. But, my Lord, how unlooked for was the event ! General Winflow in- deed fucceeded in Nova Scotia : but Braddock was de- feated — Niagara and Crown Point remained unre- duced — the Barbarians were let loofc from the wilder- jiefs — many thoufand farms abandoned — the King's fubjedts inhumanly butchered, or reduced to beggary — one of the ^ provinces rent by inteftine broils — in another, .. y\i. ....... i:. ,-., - • Pcnnlylvania. : -. , , . . .. .:., ,i;, , — „i.,.y- •nil.: 02 a potent ;;.T /l1^^uJc/tf>^ Bl m [ io8 ] ♦ I755* a*^teiit faction laying ihe foundation for ^^ difaftcd^ ^^''"^-^ in the courfe of the enfuing year. The import- The Ncw England colonies, my Lord, take the lead NSvEng* in all military matters. Your Lordfliip is too well ac« Irmnitf'^ainted with hiflw^ not to know, they chiefly owed matters, (jjeir orighi to the difputes which involved the nation in all the calamities of a civil war. The 'firfl: planters en- countered innumerable -difficnlttes, and were long engaged in repeated wars viritih the Indian natives. Their de- fcdidants retain the mardal prowe^ and ^iiit of tbdr anceftors : and for wifdom, loyalty, and an enterpriiing genius, are a people c^ renown. In thefe governments lies the main flrength of the BritiQi intereft up(ini this continent. Befides their above advantageous cbaradter, they are very coofiderable for their number. The Maf- fachufets Bay contains about 40,000 capable of armsk The militia of Connecticut is about 27,000. Rhode iAand and New Hampshire are not fo populous. Hi& fit^hrs own Msyefly 's ferviee therefore rendered it neceffary for the government, g^j^gj^j^ acording to the plan of operations, to vHit his '^^ own government, in order to fbllicit the ftoccours j with- out which the expedition propofed againft Crown Point 1756. mufi: inevitably have failed. For this purpofe he fet out from New York on the 21ft of January: and, but for his prelence and folicitations at Bofton, no provincial troops would this year have entered die fidd. — That colony was fo extremely diibbliged at the condudb of General Johnfon, in neglecting to purilie his advantages,, » 5 after Shirley obliged to vi' ; ! »-: [ 109 ] after the memorable rout of the French at Lake George, 175^. as to be in general averfe to a new campaign : and with ^JjjJ^JS^ the utmoft difficulty did the general procure their con- tabslheir'* currence in anoxher expenfivc attempt. — There let us at concurrence prelent leave him, promoting the public fervrce of die expedition. colonies : and returning again to New York — fuiFer me, at this inactive feafon of the year, to entertain yout Lordfhip with one or two inflances of Lieut. Governor De Lancey's more private political feats. Never was any man more impolitic than Governor .Clinton. Had he kept the chief juftice dependent on his favour, he would have governed his province with eafe and tranquility : but by granting him a new commifllon for his office, during good behaviour^ he fet him at liberty to ad at pleafure : and in confcquence of this fatal error,, the province was thrown into violent convulfions. No- thing therefore, my Lord, could be more defirable to his focccflbr, 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 CharksLieut.Gov. Hardy's arrival, Mr. De Lancey had impatiently expeded refumerS a new commiffion : but the governor negleding the ofFer, ^^^^^ [|j^, to the aftonifhment of mofl in the province, he notwith- his office of (landing ventured to refume his feat on the bench in Ja- Ir^i^omt nuary term; when two felons were arraigned before him.""*'"^' This bold flroke at the prerogative, moft men imagined would. r [ no ] '- -^ 1756. would have . ' f r Cm J " loft ; becaufe it is moft for the public good, that the *« officer ihould hold the fiiperior office ; as the law pre- " fumes every man capable of the office, which the King, '* who is the fountain of offices and honour, is pleafed' <* to confer upon him. Agreeable to this, we find ** many refolutions in our books: Til mention one or « two — A man cannot be forefter and judge eo in- " ftanti. 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^ xho the ** fecond was granted pro ilia vice, and furrendered the *^ next day. Br. N C. 5 Mar. Br. Commiffions ph 25. " Nothing now remains but to fhew, that the office of chief juftice and governor of your province are incoi^i fiftent. To explain this, I muft inform you, that your fupreme court is a court of general jurifdidion, efta- bliflied by an ordinance of governor and council; claimr " ing the like power here in all pleas civil and criminal, '* as fully as they are taken cognizance of by the King's, ** Bench and Common Pleas in England. Superior to " this^ is the Court of Governor and Council — a court, '* inftituted by one of his Majefty's inftrudHons to your. ** governor. In virtue of this inftrudlion, writ« of error ** are returned from the fupreme court,, before the gover* " nor and council. The inconfiftency then of the two ^ offices becomes very apparent. By the inftrudlion, the i^ governor in the court above is a, Jim quo nony and to ^' fuppofb him. at the fame time judge in the court be- h,- ■<■''■' ■^- ': ' ■ ' : ■ ■ - ' ': " low; cc C( (C (( ii '-t: r (( i( 1756, " low, and muft difregard the abfurdity of the gover- nors fending a writ to command himfelf ; and of his " juftifying his judgment as chief juftice to himfelf in *< council as governor : and yet be excluded from a voice " in the judgment above ; which neverthelefs cannot be " given without him. You fee then the incompatiblity " is much ftronger, than if a man {hould be judge both of the King's and Common Bench in England. There the other judges of B. R. might correal the error in " the Common Pleas — but here the courfe of public " juftice might be intirely (lopped. " If it fliould be faid, his power vvas only Aifpended, " while in the chair of government ; I anfwer with the " obfcrvation before :--- that an office is a duty, as the ** very word itfelf implies : and I know of no fleeping ** and not-to-be-exercifed office. Every office is infti- ** tuted for the public good : the officer is therefore " obliged to cxercife his duty ; for, without that, he ** cannot ferve the public — and to be obliged to aSi^ " and at the fame time obliged not to aSty is nonfenie. It *^ would be more fpecious to (ay, the in{hiu£lion is no " law ; as your aflemblies have often feid in other cafes ; " but then, Sir, Mr. De Lancey, in obedience to it, has " declined acting as judgCj ever fince the death of Sir " D. Oiborne : and why has he (as I hayc- been in- ** formed) rejected; a writ of error, bccaulb, acooiding to '' this very inftrucStion, the damages in demandt did not •<< exceed 300 1. fteHing? Besides this count of (Governor « and ■^?j- cc urt of Chancery often reftrains the power of ** the law courts : and it is the fpirit of every court to enlarge its own jurifdidion. Upon both thefe accounts, the two offices mufl inevitably dafh. I know that *< Knevet was formerly chief juftice and chancellor : but the propriety of that double inveftiture was never (b- lemnly confidered. It was long ago, in the time *' of £dw. III. There has been no inftance of the Hke " in later times ; nor do I believe it would be fuflered. <^ But the cafe is much flronger here — and I can't con- *^ ceive, for the reafons above, that your lieut. governor *^ will attempt to fit as judge, by virtue of his old com- *^ miffion. It is more probable, he will prevail on your *' governor, lately arrived, to grant him a new patent. I am," &c. Perhaps, my Lord, no higher evidence can be affigned of a man's influence, than fuch a bold invaflon of his Majefly's prerogative. Mr. De Lancey was determined not to lofc 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, muil be the fecond man in the government. Go- < vernor Hardy made no oppofition to this krge flride of J V ^.v ^; ambition: C( (( ilijlll -y. ^-W • [ 114] ^ ' ^ ^■^^-".' ^ 1756. ambition: and the other not long after, by his wonderful ^"'"'''f''''*^ artifice, fubjeded him to his abfolute dominion. It was obi^e?Se ^^^^^ ^^ t^c following manner --Your Lordfhip will governor to bc pleafed to recoiled, that Mr. De Lancey had the ad- ofafTooaUy. dreis to prevail upon the adembly to fend up a bill to the council, on the 4th c^ February, intituled, " An Adk for the Payment of the Debts due from this Colony $ and other Purpofes therein mentioned.*' By this, pay- ments were to be made to many creditors of the govern- ment, forjervtces done this colony ^ without Specifying what thofe fervices were. The lieut. governor was to receive 3787 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 ren- der it the more palatable to the governor, provifion was made for paying him alfb large fiims for prefents to the Indians, and the cxpences of his voyage to Albany, after the French repulfe at Lake George. When it came up to the council, it obtained a majority only by one voice : and of thefe, my Lord, two gentlemen, befides lieut. gov. De Lancey, were themfelves interefted in the bill. They were the puifiie judges of the fupreme court, Meff. Horfeman- den and Chambers, whofe arrears of falary were now by the a£t to be difcharged. Meff. Colden, Alexander, And Smith looked upon it, as a mean invafion of the King's inftru6lions, which, until they refigned their feats at the council board, they were bound in honour to re- gard with facred punduality. — It was befides evidently partial ; [ "5 ] partial; no provifion being made for other creditors, 1756. whofe demands were indifputable. They alio conceived it derogatory to the dignity of that board, to pafe an adl, excluding themfelves from any knowlege of thofe iervices, for which the refpcAive fumjwere made payable. For thefe reafons, among others, they oppofed the bill ; and prayed their difTent might be entered, as a vindication of them- felves to his Majefty. The governor, to whom it was lent up, detained it for farther confideration ; tho* he pafled feveral other bills on the i9ith of the month. This cir- cumftance, my Lord, could not but ch^rin his lieute* nant, who had the bill much at heart ; not only on ac- count of the large fums thereby payable to himfelf and brother; but becaufe the paflmg it into a law, would be the fuUeft evidence of hi& afcendancy over the governor ; and if he could bring him into disgrace with the mini- flry, by leading him into a breach of inftruSdons, it was plain he would, have nothing to rely upon, but his own popularity. This was an important card, and to be fkil- fuUy played off. So indeed it was : and when I finifh the ilory, I am perfuaded your LordQiip will entertain no very mean opinion of American politicians. — The fpring was now advancing ; and it became neceHary to pafs^ a law for levying forces, not only to join the eaftern colonies, on a new expedition againft the French fortrefi at Crown Point, but for the protedion of our weftern frontiers, in conjundlion with Pennfylvania and New Jerfey, which were become fields of blood, by the daily P 2 ravages 'ilp i!ki I [ 1x6 ] '^75^» ravages of inhuman barbarians. The bill for this purA pofe originated with the aflembly : and Mr. De I^ance/y who was now dofeting the members, was its principal conftrudor. When it came before the council on the flSth of March, that board immediately objeded to it, according to his expedations : and the govern(»r declared, that if the council approved, he (hould himfelf give it a negative. According to the tenor of this bill, the forces defigned for the weftem expedition were to (erve but forty days, when the province of New JeHey had or- dained didr quota, to be diibandable by Mr. Belcher : and Sir Charles Hardy infixed, that the Hke confidence ought to be repofed in his judgment. Th^ two hou(es now en- gaged themfelves in a dilpute, at a time when, of aU others, every contention (hould have been avoided. Mr. Oliver De Lancey, appointed by the houfe to provide the fupplies for the regiment defigned as our quota towards the Crown Point expedition, now gave orders to flop all farther preparatbns, an open rupture between the governor and aflembly being daily expeded. The mem- bers began freely to fpeak againft him. The council la- boured to procure an alteration of the bill — but all to nb purpofe. The principal thing aimed at, was the paflmg of the debt-bill : and a leading member in the houfe plainly intimated their defigns to the governor. Doubde^ your Lordfhip will wonder he did not diflblve them with indignation. Believe me, my Lord, it would have been a ftep, at this time, extremely unadvifeable. Forty ["7] Forty days intermiflion between the teft and return of the writ of fummons for the election of reprefehtatives, 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 conjedure that the houfe was now ading at his beck, nor himfelf under the necedity of joining with the council againft the bill, abfented himfelf from the coniultations of that board. The neighbouring colonies in the mean time were ur^ng the difpatch of our pre- parations for opening the campaign. Reduced at length by thefe perplexities, he was obliged to fend for his lieu- tenant, 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 al- terations, the council pafTed it on the 3ifl of March. To both of them Sir Charles gave his aflent the following day: and they were enrolled among our laws. I leave this afikir to your Lordfhip's own reflections ; obferving only, that from this period, the lieutenant governor's influence became more apparent than before — and that as it al- ways was^ fo it will ever continue to be, his rulihg paflion,^ and the grand engine of his politics, to crufh or controul the King's governors 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 Majefly, for the royal ap- -« probation* 756. i)»-i . I ! '756» {M;obation*. Upon the arrival of the foft veffeU from intdugeoce Europc ill April following, we were furprifed with tfeefe hZ, ^°^' remarkable articles of initelUgenee: — That the aaion at Lake George ^d be.fp magnified in England into an al* moft decifiye vi^ory — th^t Mp. Johnfon was advanced to the dignity of a baronet, and 5.000 1 fteding voted by the commons, aa a farther reward for his great lervices; — that Eyres, his engineer, was raifed to a n^ajprity — - and Wraxalj^ his fecretary, to the commaiid of a cpmjpiany. To crown,, in 6ne> thfi wti^oft \fnJhe9, of his adverfafies — th^ N(r. Shirl^'s cowJud having been, intiifely di(^ approved* his, MajejEty had been pleafed tQ. remove him from the commiaad,^ aad appoint the right hon. the Earl of Lpudpn geiieral of all his forces in Npjifth America. jerc^'jbiyo^Than thefe particulars, nothing could have h^en i»ore adverfaiies, pleafing tOi the Ncw York cabal ; as they were (hortly to reap the fruits of all thofe calumnies of which they had been th^e original authors. A change of the general at once gratified their revenge apd ambition, and faci- litated the eacecntion of an af&ir earneflly folici|ted, and greatly advancive of their interefl:. I wai, not affprt, that Mr. Shirley had yet received Kis Majefty's orders with nej^d to the late plan of ope- rations. I believe he had. npt — becaufe on the 7th of lyfay he arrived at Albany,, and continued his prepara- • 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. Fowoal followed fooa after them to England. tions and why. :.'*^ Ti6tts for carrying that plan into executrbn, nfitii the i5th 1756. of thit mdnth, when a council of war was tlherc held, ^:;;^^*^j confifting of the following tnemlrers : am^cs at - His Excellency the GENEkAL. cu of ^r Lieut, tiol. Gage, Lieut. GoL Burton, Major Chapman, Major Sparks, Sir John St. Clair, John Montrefer, Efq; chief engineer. Mr. Shirley laid before them thfe minutes of thfe congrefs and/c in December, and acquainted them with the (late of af- with the a- fairs. With refpeKft t6 the weftem expedition, the naval J^°° °^ force upon the lake confided, he obferved, of two vef- fels of ten carriage-guns each ; two row-gallies, each of ten fvtrivels ; and diat he had three months before ifTued orders fc^ building three other vedelsj one of eighteen, another of (ixteen, and a third of twelve carriage-guns« Befides which, there would be 250 whale-boats upon the lake, each of them capable of containing tt men. The land forces then at Ofwego, and on thefr match for pre* ferving a free communication betweeU that place and Albany, were his own and Peppcrell's regimehtis with that raifed and fupported by the province of New Jer- fey, and the four independent companies of New York. As there was a magazine of providons and ftores at the Canajohary Falls, about 35 miles from Schenectady; his excellency propofed pofling there 100 men out of thofe forces : as many more at the German Flats, to fecure another magazine, guard the portage, and convoy the provifions [320) 175^* provisions thro* the Wood Creek : and as the fall near Ofwego occai^oned another iKnall portage, a fort was there alfo to be erefted^ for a garrifon of iifi^ men at leaft. It was, my Lord^ of the greateft moment to keep open the communication between Albany and pur fort on the lake ; his excellency was therefore intent upon raifing four companies of fixty privates each, to be employed in fcouting along the pafiage, and harrafling the French fettlements between Frontenac and Montreal. The general gave them alio an account of the flrength of Ofwego, when he left it the laft fall ~ adding, £at he had fent up Mr. M' Keller, the engineer in iecond, and Mr. Sewer, a praditioner engjineer, with orders to make fuch additional works, as they 0iould think ne- cefTary for the fecurity of that important poft. And your LordOiip will be pleafed to take notice, that the(e orders were ilTued very early in March, before the Mohawk river was open ; and that the engineers adually arrived at Ofwego in April. At thefe feveral garrifons were to be depofited fix months provifions for 7000 ; and he ob* ferved to the council, that for that purpofe, 200 whale- boats and 500 battoes had been difpatched (ince the firft of April from ScheneAady. The remaining quantity would have been tranfported by the middle of July, had his defigns been carried into execution. As to the provincial expedition, he informed them — that the troops voted by the feveral colonies amounted to 8800 men, including the officers and garrifons at the forts ,*' f »" 3 forts Edward arid William-Henry. One, or perhaps two 1756. hundred Indians might be expeiSiled to join them, beild.es ^— "*v^— ' a company which his excellency had raifed, to harrafi the enemy upon l#ke Champlain, and procure intelli- gence of their motions in Canada ; and three more, for the like iervice, were intended to be cho(en out of the whole force deftined for Crown Point. About this time one Rogers, of New Hampflure, capt. of capt. ko- a ranging company, gave repeated demonfbations oJF hkfaivelmcer, aaivity in the neighbourhood of Crown Point. He made|^„°Vrof ' many incurfions upon the enemy, fell on their fcattered^**'*^'* ** • 1 r 1 -r^ «vTMi« general m- parties, and fcarce ever returned to Fort Willianb>Henry forms the without fcalps and prifbners. The general took a particular *^'*°*^ * xiotice of him ; and he became iu^larly ferviceable iti 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. Frederic, Tinonderoge, and at an advanced pod, were iioo, compofed of die regi- ments of Languedoc, the Queen's regiment, two com* panies of the colony troops, and the militia. Befidet thefe, there were Indians ; but their numbers uncertain : that at Tinonderoge the French had twelve pieces of ord- ' * .> nance mounted, and carnages preparing for an additional - * number ; but that the retrenchment at the advanced poft was without any cannon. Thefe troops wintered at Mont- real and Chambly ; and arrived at the Ibuth end of the lake about the middle of April, being plentifully fup- plicd with provifions and military (lores. — Thefe intel- • Q^ ft^ ligences flilii 11 i Mil [122 ] '75^* gences the general laid before his council; and then ob-^ ferved, that the 50th and 51(1 regiments, the four inde^ pendent companies, and the regiment of New Jetky^ were (carce a third part of the numbg; of troops ddigned by the general plan for the operations upon Lake Onta.- Tio : that the provincials were alio not only deficient of the complement thought nece&-y at the congrefs, but even of the number voted by the provinces concerned in the enterprize againft Crown Point ; and that it was in^adli^ cable, even with die jundion of the 44th and 48th re- giments, then at Albany, ta carry on both the northern and weftem expeditions at the fame time: that he had no dependanccupon the Indians of' the Six Nations^^; Sir William Johnfbn being unable to procure (bouting parties; and that upon this account he propofed railing four com^ panies for that fervice. Your Lordfhip may hence obferve, what reaibn the congrefs in December had for their opinion, that more troops were nece£&ry for his Majefty*8 fervice in America. No reinforcements being yet arrived from England, for carrying the general plan into execution, the council were rheiropi- q( unauimous opinion — that 1300 ought to be polled ion and ad- _- *, ,, tJ^-i^.. at Ofwego, 50 at the Falls, 200 at the Oneida Garry mg- Place, 150 at the German Flatts, and as many more at the Conejohary Falls. They advifed thereforcj — Th^t the 50th and 51ft, and the New Jerfey regiments, the independents, and the North Carolina provincials (all, which amounted to abuut 2000 men) fhould be employed 4 i > Wi Their nion vice. ■>? [ 123 ] in that fervke. The 44th and 48th regiments, with the oh i 756. lony troops, were thought fufficient to reduce Crown Point. Accordingly, they recommended their jundion : advifing> however, that the regulars fhould continue for a time in their encampment at Albany. — The ranging companies, propofed by the general, were highly approved ; and thd raifing of others ftrongly recommended. They alfo con- curred with him in fentiment — that a road ought to be made from the German Flatts to Ofwego : and declared, it appeared to them very neceftary to ftrengthen Fort Ed- ward, and eredl another at the South Bay. The former was a depodt for flores, and at the concurrence of all the routes from Crown Point to Albany. The latter would command the route taken by baron Diefkau for his de* figned attack upon Fort Edward — a route thro* which incurfions were ^equently made upon our northern fron- tier. A fort at the South Bay was conceived requifite, to cover our convoys of provifions for the northern expedi> tion from die infults of the enemy, who in flying par- ties infefted the paflage from Albany to * William-Henry. The propriety of this advice, my Lord, muft be evident to every man of a tolerable acquaintance with the coun- try ; and thefe were the very fentiments which the general repeatedly communicated to Sir William Johnfon, in his « * 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 Hnce been negleAed ; and the paffage from Fort Edward to our camp at William-Henry, infefted all .this fuminer, and many of our people cut off, as was forefeen by this council. '-'■ i.^i !,.» JUi 0.2 »"-V,-t ■•'•* .**< - letters, V ,-5.>.;-'*V 0^1 ! ^LuAir C »H ] *7i^« letters, after the a6Hon at Lake George ; which were "^"'^"^^ then flighted by the cabal, who ftudioufly oppofed him o^xpy , in all his meafures. 7^ 4^ a^d^^^^^ '^^^^ ^ ^^^^ fliewn your Lordfliip the reafons why the \^ a-^" ^ \/ZrJi^J^^^^ P^*" continued to be unexecuted, till the fitting of uLJ^^ez^An^ ^^ council of war. Mr. Shirley, however, in hopes ^t/X^ /^^^tej/»v^*^ of the arrival of the expe6led reinforcements, and loth to /A^' <^ continued to throw large quantities of provifions and . /^ ,^ ftores into Schenedady, and all the magazines between ^>^'h^ca^ /!to-^'^^ place and Ofwego. This, it was fuppofed, was done ! y^ ./Z^^o induce his fuccefibr, from thefe ample fupplies, to a£t . /jr/ i^ upon this quarter ; it bemg umver&lly imagined, that !' ' j^ "^ ^Jv Crown Point was now become the main objeft of the "' ^^ "'^^S?^'^'''^'^'"^' '^'^^ the arrival of General Webb on the 7th ^"^"^^ '^^^^'^f June, this was only conjefture, and general report. ^A±^ /'^''"^The eflfeds of the mifreprefentations of American aiFairs A^w ^r^^iu^f-^ jj^ England, then became evident to all ; for the ftores ^K^a.i^t-~A^^ x^l-^ jajj in at Schenedady were now reconveyed to Albany i^ i^^u^tyi^ ^AA^^^ii^r the northern expedition ; and frefh clamours excited )fl^y':Mi:s^ Aj^/^^^n/^j^^^ Mr. Shirley, for his fupplies towards the weftern \f^A ty^ //^ Major Gene- o^ations. On the 1 5th of Junc, Major General Aber- f ^*^^' ^'^^^rombi" crombie landed at New York ; and ten days after at Al- ^^t^^r^^^^ ^^^'^y ' ^^^'^ ^^ immediately took upon himfelf the com- ^ ^,^^e^ u^^^^^^]yiJ^^'^^ °^ ^^ army. Shirley continued there no longer /^-i^^.^^a ^f^ ^^^ ^° deliver over to the new general the proper returns, %,c/-.f?^i^<^ and communicate fuch information as appeared neceflary, i ^^ I J-— with refped to the prefent fltuation of affairs. ^4^ ■r^^^ In -'»*^»»^ >i. P'\^_ -. h Sir Wiinaat coa- ;AA- ["S] u.FThb whole force, of whidi General Abercrombie now i756>. took the command, confifted of the 44th, 48th, 50th, and 51ft regiments, four independent compani^, the New Jer- (ty r^ment, four companies raifed by the province of North Carolina, Otway's, and the Highland regiments *> And the provincid forces defined againfl Crown Pd>intt ^^"Instructions had been given to Sir William Johnfon, ?J5,2 to procure a large body of the Six Nations, to join in any holds acoi Attempt that might be made upon the Lake Ontario ; and o^nd^a^'. to engage loa more, for the aflHlance of the provincial army. To effed which, he was then holding a conference with the deputies of the Six Cantons at Onondaga ; from whence he was tvij:rf/^!vi^.'^v'}() L:^^ Your Lordship may remeihber, that anr attonpt was Governor propofed9 at the coogrefi in December^ agunft Fort Dufigned^at- Quefiie, with uti&uay oi $000 provinciak Gov. Sharpep^Pp"" was to liaye commanded in fthat enterprise ; but theue Qsefn* ^^^s. sem^ed now no hopes, of its* profoculnon. Vicginia chofe to be intirely upon the defenfive. -^ Maryland wa& wholly .inadive; her frontier being coverediby the adjoining pro- . vinces r- and as to Penlylvania, fhe railed indeed 1500 men, but only wit}h a view to protedher out-farms ^ nor probably would thus far have confulted her own fafcty, . but for the daily murders, and horrid cruelues perpetrated , upon her bordersv. ':^> ^^ - ^^ ^^^ vr? ;r , >• ■ ^ WiTfT rerpe£): to the circumff-anc^s of Indian afiairs to circum- the northward — While Mr. Shirley was at Ofwego, and dfa'n ^airs"^ upon his return, as I before obferved to your Lordfhip, J^j*"**'^* he propofed to the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, aiui Oneidas, the eredtioa of fmall forts for the protedion of their refpedtive caftles. The two laft tribes confented, i.-v.Ii ' deliring I! in • 'jv I. 1756. dediing alfo, that the forts might be mounted with can- " ~ ^ ' non : and the Tufcoraras afterwards lent deputies to him, ivith the like requeil: -— the Senecas and Cayugas had alfo lately fignifted their acquiefcence to Sir William Johnfon; and the general Cranfmitted him the plan of a ibrt, direding the profecution of the work with all polTible difpatch, as a moft efFedual means to fecure the Indian country to his Majefty. mr -iflv Before Mr,^ Shirley icft Ofwegothe laft year, he prd- pofed to the Six Nations, their con<%mng thifr fummer, in a grand council there, the Indians on the north fide of Lake Ontario, and round Lake Erie, to coniult their common intereft, and maintain a corre(pondence by an- nual councils at Ofwega And to draw ofF the latter from their attachment to die French, recommended to the Six Nations their concurrence, in caning a free trade with the foreign Indians, at the entrance of the Onon- daga river, upon terms more advantageous to aH the In- dians, than any hitherto purfued. This fpring Sir Wil- liam Jc^nfon informed his excellency, tjiat the Six Na- tions were extremely well pkaied with the projeAs re- lating both to the trade at Ofwego, and tlhe conilrudion of forts in their cantons. To accelerate the latter, the general fupplied him with 5000 1. ftciiing, in addition to 5000 1. advanced to him by Gf^neral Braddock : and yet, my Lord, he was conibained to confe(s, in a fub- fequcnt * letter, that unlefs his excellency could engage 'llK, * 10 May, 17561 \ I- ^ULyj y •r^^'u feveral [ 129 1 feireral companies of rangers, lie defpaired of the preferva- 1756. tion even of a free paiTage thro* their country : and whe-^ u— v--** ther he has to this day built a iingle fort, as the general propofed, I have not been able, after much inquiry, to QllCOVer* ' f^ ,_!.^;.;.J.. J™i-. ^»^^..^— jk-^,iv-« ^ ri -t ,. jw« ./^.r.»« . < « j*«-:»««r»«':ii»»a»- . . Equally unpromidns was the (ituation of our affairs ^**"*'^?°^ ^^ r o our afTairs with the fbuthern Indians. Some hopes indeed were en- wuh the tertained of the fidelity of the Cherokees -^- a people (JJJ^b,.^ warlike and powerful ; in whofe territories the Virginians . ', were ereding a fortrels. The Shawanefe neverthelefs con-r tinned their irruptions into that province : and Governoc Dinwiddie was obliged to draft the militia, to oppofe their progrefs, and preferve the town of Winchefter, Thcfc Indians alfo, with the Sufquehanas and Delawares, com- mitted frequent hoftilities upon the Penfylvanians. Go- vernor Morris, for the protedion of the country, carried a line of forts on the weft fide of the Kittatiny moun- tains, all along the extended frontier of that colony, from Delaware to the river Potowmac. The government of New Jerfey proceeded even to declare war againft the Delaware Indians ; and would have penetrated into their fettlements, had not af&rances been fent by Sir William Johnfon from the council at Onondaga, that the Dela- wares and Shawanefe, in obedience to the Six Nations, were under renewed and poiitive engagements, to re- frain from any farther outrages upon the fouthern fron- tiers. If any fuch promises were really made, *tis cer- tain they were immediately broken, many of our inha- R bitants ■tf-i ! Vv^ •.'J iidfired. f 130 J i /Tjj* ^ bitants having fince been murdered and captivated by the ravages of thofe very tribes. Whence we may fairly conclude^ that either the Six Nations connived at thefe- infradions of their commands ; or that their antient fo- vereignty is become the contempt of their tributaries. In h&y my Lord, the matter is ftill worie. Too much rea- ion is there to believe the truth of both thefe alternatives. SwWiiUam J INFORMED your Lordflup, that SirWilliam Johnfon way oonduft con- ordered to proceed from Onondaga to CHwego, with as many Indians as could be perfuaded to march with him ;: not only for the more efie^ual prefervation of that po(t, but to execute the plan which Gen. Shirley had concertedi for die eAablifliment of an annual council there, with thofe Indians who had been long in the French interefV, and feemed ready to KdJbn to propofah for an alliance widi us. It was expedient, my Lord, that he (hould have complied with theie infbudtions, nay it was his duty ; but no (boner was he acquainted with Mr. Shirley's refigna- tion of the command of the army, than he returned from Onondaga tc Albany, at the head of about 60 In- dians ; leaving Capt. Patten with his company of grena- diers, to wander thro*^ a fbrlbm wilderneis, in fearch of Ofwego. Whether diis inftance of his condu£l: was not intended to raife his reputation with the new general, as a leading man among the Indians, I leave to your Lord- {hip*8 conjc6hire. By arts like thefe, he acquired his In- dian fame: and the influence of the faAion at New York fo powerfully fuftained it, that fe'v pcrfon* doubted i hii. • Kis ability to procure fevecal hundred warriors for our 1756. afiiftance, tho* every day exhibited frefh proofs of their melancholy defection. Befides the deftrudion of our pod in the very country of the Oneidas mentioned be- fore, the enemy infefled the parts about Ofwego, and the whole pailage thither, without the lead oppofition from the Six Nations. Alarms indeed were frequently given of the approach of their flying parties ; and it was obfervable, that Sir WiUiam Johnfon, on thoie occadons, as Colonel of 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 mod unlikely for finding the enemy. By fuch fham expeditions have our northern inhabitants been impoverifhed and didrefled: nor could they anfwer any other end, than to raife a bruit thro* the colonies ; and with parade and odentation fet the ga- zetteers upon founding his applaufe. — * Even in thefe wild romantic excurfions, but few Indians attended him : and yet if we credit our news writers, hundreds were in his tram. Jf>4' tifMrt *>»»«»•<.»■ Mr. Shirlby had fcarce refigned the command to Major General Abercrombie, when the good ededt of the battoc fervice became fo irrefidibly evident, that his very enemies recoUeded their ungrounded calumnies with fhame and confufion. — I allude, my Lord, to the adion Account of between tne French and our battoe men, on the 3d of JaloS July. Senfible of the importance of Ofwcgo, the enemy Jj^*]^ "*** coUe^ed themfelves about the latter end of May in a Bradftreet. * our .i-H' ,tp R2 large t >3J» ] lyjE large body, not many miles to the eaflward of that gafr rkbh ; from whence detachments were> perpetually lent out to fall upon our w(»'kmeri, and infeft the paflage thro' the Onondaga River. Capt. Bradftreet, who had die diredion of the battoes, was apprized that ^all parties lay in ambuQ), waiting a favourable opportunity to attack him. Accordingly, when he left Oiwego, he ordered the feve- ral divifions to |irbceed as near each other as poflible: but (b numeroin andtktegular a body could not withoiiu: difficulty be kepit to any tolerable order. Ffe was at the head of about 300 battoe-ment in the firft divifion, upon, his return to Schenedbady ; and about nine miles from Gfwego, when the enemy, whd were 700 fh-ong, rofe from their ambufcade, and fired upon his front Neat the place of attack, was a fmatt ifland, by which the enemy might eafily have forded the river. Bradftrect in an inAant landed upon the iHand, to prevent being in- clofed between two fires j and with fix men maintained his pofleflion, bravely repelling twenty of the enemy, who attempted to feize that advantageous poft. He was then reinforced with fix others ; and even compelled a fecond party of 40 French to give way. Enraged at this fhame- ful difappointment, the enemy, to the number of 70 men, thought proper to make a third attempt ; but the battoe- mcn, who did not exceed 20, with redoubled bravery Mi kept their ground, and again forced their adveriaiies to retire. During thefe fkirmiihes, which lafied neai^ an hour, the battoe-mcn in the rear landed, without lofs or confufion,^ ..r...-Ii{ cLredi of the cneoijr no^vnadvancediiip the: xbrthciide the ftream^ intending to ford it about a iVMlfe higher j and furromidt w; firadftfteet^ aware of > the jde^n, lek the ifhhdyJ aiid witk 2bo men mancfaed' on the other itde to ni> '; i.i ■in ■.•l)r i-'t '.-?'%> M T »34 ] 1756. Irom Onondaga^ Bcidfbeet might liaise mafle immediate purluit, and-mdny ofr the. ehemjrmi^d^ave been over- taken : but fliis pacific pJenipotentiary was then haflen- ing to Albany (a fater fituatioa) with the important mi- nutes of his late conference. fAcoolerehce/full of affec- tionate Indian fpeecfaes, and lai^e promifes of their aifift- ance ; when fcarce a man of them; could be prevailed upon to turn out of his hiit for the defence of the com- ,mon caufe; firadfbidet hddbut three Indlaift of theSiz Nations wiiSiiihimiat! this atiaickr < Of thefe/ one took to his heeh ; a ^ohd fought bravdy ; but the third ivent over - to the enemy^i an4 affifled ; in pointing out our officers^ In thde ieveral iaAions wi^^ iiad about 30 mite killed and w6unded. ,Hoiir many of the French ireit :flain, is not certunly known ; thb' it i^ generally faid, they loft about lao. Eighty arms were brought to Sche- nc^ady; and about 70 men found in the woods, and being fbanjgees to the country, got bewildered in the defart, and perilhed foi^ want of fuftenance. 1; , J- Br AiDSTRE ET arrived at Schenie^ady on the • i^ ith of fditgence of July ; and the next day acquainted General Ahercrombie dSignTat-*^ Albany of the ftate of Ofwego. — That he learnt ockofwego. ffom his prifoners, the French were preparing to attack it, having i aoo men for that purpoie encamped not far from the eafternmoft fort. Upon the receipt of this in- telligence, orders were iiTued to Major Genbral Webb, to 4. hold Bradftreet rives in- i hold himfeir 'n readme^! tQ marcb. bx its defence with 1756; the 44th regiments Mj Locd, Mr. Shirley had, feveral days before \ advir<;4 General Atxarcrombie ta reinforce that ^uriion ^^rith't^twOiibattaUoo/s at leail: and the; inig^t ^yetnarchedimipecliately^ as Biiadftreet^was ready ^^. to qonvoj the trpops, andnevery ms^azine, along the paf- iU./^ /&>;<^ ^g^i plendftilly'fuppljcd with prpvifions*. But not to an^^ ^^^-^ '^ /»^A^^ ticipate;niy,ftoryj, [j^ii^^^ mionA «j'«j, .-^loU aa i.:(-^ ^ . , Mr» Shirley arrived at New York oathe 4th of TuFy; - ^d waited the arrival of my Lprd Loudon>. who landed Lord Loa-^ there on the z$^ of that noonthi with Mf. Fbwnal in his train : but in what charader the latter returned a iecond time from England, was a fubjed of doubtRd conjedure. — His Lordfhip, xegardlefs of his. ea(e, and the fatigues of a tedious voyage, tarried there but three days ; and im the 29^1 of July reached his head quartecs at Albany, when he took upon himfelf th& command of the army. ^j The g^rifbn of Ofwego confldednow of 1400 men,oorprefen ,1 and about 300 workmen and (ailors. Four hundred and that onb eighty-five were poiled, in fmall parties, bet weea that place ^**°*^* and Burnetts Field, to maintain an open pa(&ge thro* the ,/y /itwitliftai!ding the delay bf tbd B^itlfhf reinforededents,- £bh)ie tioup ^ eclat Would rcry fpeedily ht ilnidk at Crbwn Point. But alas \ wiiil6 we were intent upon diis favourite defign, the enemy were bending their itiaiii forcej "not to oppofe^us at'Hhonderitsge^ but to i*ecure what was to them a matter of thtich more importance, I mean the exclufive dominion of the grd^t ^J^Jjjjg Lakes — Accordingly, they laid fiege to Qfwego ; atid French, and after two or three days conteft, obliged the gaitifoh, oh ttgde'pHfe^.the 14th of Augufl, to furrender them&Ives prifoii^rs of crs of ynx. \^^^ r^^iU melancholy account was firft brought to. Al- '"^'^ bany by feveral fbldiers, fbmeof whom had formerly de- serted the French fervice ; and remained many days un- confirmed, till the arrival of two failors, who made their vefcape after the redu&ion of the forts. Ah uhiverfal (hock was now given to the whole continent : and to in- creafe our diftrefs, the Indians reported, that th6 whole ' garrifbn was put to the fword, and the dead bodies of our countryn^en denied even the &cred rite of fepuknre. But this, by fubfequent advices, was contradidted : and the v.A; ■'i..&.;.v. ill [ '37 i the ipies, difpatched for obfervation, inform us, that 1756. the works are intirely demoliOied, and the enemy de- ^-"*^^"*^ parted. . In what manner, and by what numbers, it was circum- taken, or upon what terms iurrendered, I cannot give fiege un- your Ix>rd(hip any fatisfadtory account. How many were '^''^°' killed on either fide is alfo unknown ; tho' certain it is that Lieut. Col. Mercer^ the commanding officer, is among the (lain. It is much to be wifhed, my Lord, that Mr. Shirley's advice to General Abercrombie had been followed: and equally to be regretted, that Sir William Johnfbn returned with fuch precipitation from Onondaga to Albany. Nor Battoemen ought the difcharge of 400 battoe-men, after Bradflreet's dufharg^/ return, to pafi without fome remark. They arrived at-^^6:izj/c>tay Schenectady, as I obferved before, on the nth of July ; and >k<_^«^ ^ methinJ!^ the recent proofs of their courage, and the ac- 'tctA^^, count they gave of the flrength and defigns of the enemy, might have been a fufficient antidote againft the poifon 1^.1.^ Ml of that council for their difcharge ; which was unqueflion- ably defigned by Mr. Shirley's enemies for throwing an odium on his meafures. To the fame influence^ my General Lord, it was undoubtedly owing, that General Webb's ^^h de- march, with the 44th regiment from Schenedady, was^^- delayed till the i ath of Augufl, but two days before the garrifon was adually furrendeted. He had proceeded no farther than Burnet's Field, with his regiment of 900 men, and the remaining 800 battoe-men, when the deferters brought him the news of the fiege. Upon the receipt of S which. «.«/ /■ /^^/j [138] '7S^v which, he made a forced march to the Oneida Carrying- Place ; where he immediately felled trees into the Wood Creek, to prevent the approach of the * enemy. These, my Lord, were great overfights: but the lofs of Ofwego muft principally be afcribed to a more diftant caufe — to a jundto, who have all along embarrafled every part of his Majefty's iervice on the Lake Ontario. By their mifreprefentations, the public has been drawn into a dependence upon the Six Nations^ merely to exalt Sir William Johnlbn : and that nothing might be wanting to procure a change in the command of the army, and de- ilroy all confidence in Shirley's judgment, Ofwego, the great objcA of his attention, has been flighted as an un-^- efiential pofl ^ and the redu&ion of St. Frederic repre- fented as a point of far fliperior moment. ' My Lord, by thefe intrigues our country bleeds — OC- quences of wcgo is lofl — loft pcrhaps for ever, — with the naval ar- tt^ tmi^r- mament — above 60 pieces of ordnance^ and a rich fup^ tant poll, pjy ^£ flores and provifions, laid in at a vaft expcnce, for feveral thoufand men, during the whole campaign. — J Would to God this was all, and we had nothing worfe to> apprehend! — Our futr trade, which has long been the principal objedt of the national attention^ and the fupportf of our frontier city of Albany,^ is at an end. The French * The Treiich were equally apprehenfive of his advattdiag towards them^ or of our attempting to reOotld Ofwego : and very prudently impromg the prefent advantage* began where Gieneral Webb left off, and continued the obftruflion quite down to the ; entrance into the Oneida Lalce; which renders it Lnpoffible to pafs thro' the Wood Creek, 40 miles in length. General Webb not long after abandoned the Carrying- Placet after burning dowo the forts, muck to the dUTatisfa^tion of the Indians. can: Unhappy confe' i^'v ' " • )• I'V- ; -- [ '39 ] can now with the utmoft facility lecure the inland coun- 1756. tiy, and confine us to the veiy brinks of the ocean — - a free communication is opened between Canada andLouifi- ana; and all our intercourfe with the Indians totally reicinded. The enemy, on the other hand, may, with- oiit oppofition or reftraint, render thefe innumerable tribes of favages their allies and dependants. The Six Nations are more wavering than ever : and fhould they no longer think k expedient to preferve their neutrality, the whole continent mud inevitably become a field of blood. Whatever maybe thought of thefe colonies, which of The colonics late have been magnified for their numbers and opu-erfuUsima- lence, I do afliire yorr Lordfhip, that a fhort war wilF'"**** eflS^ually exhaufl them. Their fetdements are feat- tered ; their frontiers extenfive ; the inhabitants but few, generally in very moderate circumflances, and flill luxu- and without refources. The irruption of a few nous, Indians into Pennfylvania, had already occafioned the I0& of feveral hundred fouls, and the defblation of near two thoufand farms. The frontiers of the neighbour- ing colonies are equally defenceleG : and the power of the native favages, at prefcnt in the French intereft, is of itfclf fufEcient, by flow but inevitable means, to re- duce us to extreme beggary and diflrefs. Thus, my Lord, I have finifhed the reladon of what General rc. has hitherto been tranfaded in America. I have not upon tha only prefentcd you with a feries of the mod interefting^ °^ events, but brought your Lordfhip acquainted with the S 2 charaders %' %,r [ 140 3 '75^* charaders and defigns of the principal agents in our political afFairs. If I have erred, I am perfuaded k is not in any article of importance, nor purpofely in the minuted. — Every line of this letter hath been penned with the moft facred veneration for truth, and a mind equally unbiafled by reientment or afFedion. — For ob- taining an intimate acquaintance with the matters re- hearfed, few in the colonies have had fuperior advan- tages: nor in colle^ing proper materials, has anyone been more arduous. Add to this, that I had no other interefl in the public meafures, than the intereft of every man on the continent. I am unconneded with all parties ; neither enjoying any poft myielf, nor Handing in the leaft relation to a fingle officer in the army. The love of my country was the fole fpring of my curiofity i and fo far, indeed, I was not an unconcerned fpedator of the public tranfadtions. If I have made honourable mention of General Shirley, it was owing to my appro- bation of his fchemes, as conducive to the common- weal of the Britifh plantations : and if my judgment was in this regard erroneous, I have the pleafure to find myfelf in very refpedtabk company. Except New York, or rather a prevailing fadion there, all the colonies hold him in very high efteem. Some have made public de- clarations of their fenfe of his great merit ; and that too, at a time when he appeared defcending from his meridian of glory. But he needed no other than the teftimonials of his own province ; for he, my Lord, ' whofe ^ $. V^;s.r-*,ti\. i^' ' ' r , [HI 3 wbofe conduct is approved by the people of the MaiTa- 1756. chufets Bay, mud be diflinguiOied both for his abilities and his virtue. They are too numerous 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 be- flow. — Their aflemblies are annual — the. members elected by ballot, in number near 200. — The council, or middle cftate, chofen yearly by the aflembly : — and as all the offices are eledive, not a man in the province is dependent on the fmiles or the frowns of the King's re- prefcntative : — 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 de- parture from the continent. I would by no means, my Lord, be imderftood, by thefe favourable fentiments of Shirley, to difparage his noble Succeflbr in the command. He yet has not, at lead he deferves not to have, a (ingle enemy amongft us : and I hope it will ferve the purpoies of no man to be his enemy. I could only have wifhed, that at this critical juncture, a gentleman fo thoroughly verfed in American affairs, had been continued in Ame- rica for his Lordfliip's afliftance. We have to contend with a fubtle enterprifing foe — a foe, rapacious, martial, and bloody, committing murders, rather than waging war. Tho' the French colony contains perhaps not 30,000 men capable to bear arms ; yet thefe are all under the defpotic command and fole direction of their governor- ■..-y^y . general; !!! t »42 ] iy^6. general; and escperience teaches us, that in fpite of our navy, thej may be annually reinforced. The fttength of our colonies, on the other hand, is divided ; and the concurrence of all neceflaries both for llipplies of men and money. Jealous are they of each other — ibme ill-conftituted-^ others fhaken with intdline divifions — and, if I may be allowed the expreflion, parfimonious even to prodigality. Our aflembliies are diffident of their governors — governors deipife their aflemblies, and both mutually miireprefent each other to the Court of Great Britain. Military meafures demand fecrecy and difpatch: b*!t while the colonies remain undivided, and nothing can be tranfaded but with their univerfal aflent, 'tis impoflible to maintain the one, or proceed with the other. Without a general conftitution for warlike operations, we can neither plan nor execute. We have a common intereft, and mud have a common council, one heady and one purfe* — The French fervice is unexpofed to thefe embarrafsments ; and hence they projed without difco- very, and we fcarce collect their defigns, till we are at- tacked and defeated. Hitherto they have profccuted the war with fuperior advantage ; and yet the militia of the province of the Maffachufets Bay alone, undoubtedly ex- ceeds, by fome thoufands, all the troops of Canada. Since the commencement of the prefent hoftilities, his Majefty has loft above 3000 loyal fubjeds : and as all the Indians are at the devotion of the French, and Ofwego is now loft, many thoufand ^ms before the opening of the next [»43l next fpnog, will probably be abandoned; and the inte- 1756. rior fettlements deluged with the innocent blood of alt ages and fexes. Indeed, my Lord, 'tis not beneath the moil elevated flation, to indulge the benevolent feelingt of humanity ; nor, retiring awhile from the pomp and gaiety that furrounds you, to fhed a pitying tear over fa- milies inhumanly bereft of their fubftance, or more in- humanly flaughtered in their beds. — It is a celebrated faying, and does honour to human natijre, " Homo fum^ *^ et nihil humanum a me alienum puto." - What the prefent or the next campaign will bring forth, is known only to the Omnifcient Governor of the univerie. The colonies are nearly exhauded, and their funds already anticipated by expenfive unexecuted pro- jeds : and whether they will flill continue their efforts, or refign to a liftle^ deipair, is uncertain. I fear the word — and yet you know, my Lord, I am not of a melancholy caft. There is too much reaibn for general concern : and I venture to predift, what every judicious * perfon forefees, that unlefs fome fuccefsful blow is ftruck — " and fpeedily ftruck, at the power of France, Britain mufl: inevitably lofe her pofTefllons in America. An event, my Lord, of the mofl tremendous confequence to us — to you — to the Proteftant religion—-- 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 fhould have been laid to the root of the tree. Canada, my Lord, Canada muft be demo- li(hed — ^^ (T 144 ] 1756.. lifljed — • Delen^a eft Carthago --^ or wc arc unidoneii! Strength fdficient have we left, with proper affiftance, foti 9, decifive ftrvggle : hut a lingring consumption will ififaUibijr enervate and deftroy. France has been, ever can, aind will be annually, throwing over frefh troops into her colony^ in defiance.of our great maritime force : and fhould peace enfue, even before our ruin is compleated, what will be the ftate of thefe provinces upon the next rupture between the two crowns, when the inland country is filled with our enemies ? : — - As you tlierefore value, my noble Lord, the caufe of liberty ; the glory of the Britifh nan^e ; the honour and dignity of the beft of Kliigs ; and the prefervation of thefe colonies froi^ bloody carnage a^d total ruin ; exert, I befeech you, exert yoUt infiuence» to extirpate this brood of French iav^i^ges from the face of the continent. In a icheme {o decifive, and in no other, wjU the provinces heartily unite ; and if well concerted, and our unfortified fea-coafts at the fame time fuHiciently protected; it will doubUefs fucceed— 'humble the pride of France ~ and clofe the prefent war with a lafting and honourable peace. I am. My Lord, With the profoundeft refpeA, Your Lordfhip's moft obliged and obedient fervant. New York, Sept 20, /