USA > Connecticut > A complete history of Connecticut, civil and ecclesiastical, from the emigration of its first planters, from England, in the year 1630, to the year 1764; and to the close of the Indian wars > Part 30
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* The proportions were very unequal. New-Hampshire raised 500; Massachusetts, 2500; Rhode-Island, 300; New-York, 1600; New-Jer- sey, 500; Pennsylvania, 400; Maryland, 300; and Virginia, 100-only a tenth part of what was raised by the small colony of Connecticut. It ap- pears from the records of the colony, and numerous facts, that Connecti- cut, in her loyalty and zeal for the public service, had been second to none of the colonies.
t Rider's History of England, vol. xxxix. p. 50, 53.
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hensions of an invasion from France, were the occasion of Book II. this delay.t
That this armament, which consisted of nearly thirty 1746. ships of war, might not be wholly uscless, it was, in Sep- ember, dispatched against the coast of Brittany, with a view to surprise port L'Orient, the grand repository of all the stores and ships belonging to the French East-India company. But it effected nothing worthy of notice.
Mean while, France, notwithstanding all her other pre- parations, fitted out her fleets and troops for America. The duke D'Anville, a nobleman in whose courage and conduct the court of France had reposed the greatest con- fidence, was appointed to command the expedition. The Arma- armament consisted of eleven ships of the line, and of ment un- thirty smaller ships and vessels, from thirty to ten guns ; duke der the and of transports, carrying three thousand one hundred and D'Anville .. thirty land forces. These, at Nova-Scotia, were to form a junction with sixteen hundred French and Indians from Canada. Monsieur Pomeret was commander of the land forces. As early as the beginning of May, this formidable armament was ready to sail ; but it was so delayed by con- trary winds, that the admiral was not able to leave the coasts of France until the twenty second of June. Admi- ral Martin waited, with a fleet of observation, to prevent his sailing ; but he got out of the harbor unnoticed, and proceeded without molestation. The duke D'Anville had detached monsieur Conflans, with three ships of the line and a frigate, to convoy the trade to Cape Francois in Hispa- niola. Conflans was ordered to join D'Anville at Che- bucto. In his passage, near Jamaica, he fell in with the British fleet, commanded by commodore Mitchell. But the commodore conducted in such a dastardly manner, that he suffered him to pass without any considerable injury. A British historian represents, that he refused to take him when in his power .* It was now therefore left to him only, who disappointeth the devices of the crafty, and taketh the prey from the mighty, without human aid, to save the colonies from ruin. Let us, with grateful admiration, bc- hold how seasonably and how powerfully he wrought for their salvation.
+ This was a year of alarm, perplexity and danger with Great Britain, on account of the rebellion in Scotland. The pretender landed in that kingdom in August, 1745, and the rebellion soon commenced. On the 21st of September, the rebels defeated the king's troops at Preston Pans. They triumphed for some months, and gave great alarm to the nation, till April 16th, 1746, when they were entirely defeated by the duke of Cum- berland. Most of the rebel officers were killed or taken, with 2500 their men. This put an end to the rebellion.
Rider's hist. vol. xxxix. p. 53.
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1746. Disasters attending D'An- ville's feet.
BOOK II. He not only laid an embargo on the enemy, and, for more than six weeks, prevented his sailing, but caused his passage to be stormy and tedious. Like the chariot wheels of Pharaoh, they moved heavily. It was not until the third of August, that they passed the Western Islands. On the 24th, when they were three hundred leagues from Nova-Scotia, one of the great ships complained so much, that the enemy were obliged to burn her. In a violent storm, which overtook them on the first of September, the Mars, a sixty-four gun ship, was so much damaged in her masts, and became so leaky, that she bore away to the West-Indies. The Alcide, another sixty-four, was so in- jured, that she was sent off to keep her company. Soon after, the crew of the Ardent, a third sixty-four, became so sickly, that she put back to Brest,
It was not till the twelfth of September, that the duke D'Anville arrived at Chebucto, in the Northumberland, accompanied with one ship of the line, the Renomme, and three or four transports only. One ship only had arrived before him. This long and disastrous passage had totally deranged his whole plan. Conflans came on the coast in August, but hearing nothing of the duke, had, before his arrival, sailed for France.
While the colonies were waiting, with impatience, for the arrival of the English fleet under admiral Lestock, the squadron under Conflans was discovered, and the news of it brought to Boston, by the fishermen, who had made their escape from Chebucto ; but their report was not credited. In the beginning of September, the colonies had authen- tic intelligence of the sailing of this formidable armament for America. Reports were after brought them, that a great fleet was discovered to the westward of Newfound- land. Still, however, the colonies flattered themselves that it was the English fleet, under admiral Lestock. But on the 28th, there arrived an express boat at Boston, with certain intelligence that these ships were the French fleet. The report was, that it consisted of fourteen sail of the line, and twenty smaller men of war; and that the rest were fire ships, bomb tenders and transports. It was said, that there were eight thousand troops on board .*
-
As the colonies knew nothing of the disasters which had befallen the fleet on its passage, they conceived of it as consisting of all the force which it possessed at the time of its sailing, and that the reports which they now received were true. England was not therefore more alarmed with the Spanish armada, in 1588, than Boston and New-Eng- land were on the report of the arrival of D'Anville's fleet
# Hutch. vol. ii. p. 425. .
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at Chebucto. The first advices of imminent danger often Book II. shake the firmest minds.
1746.
But no sooner were the colonies assured that the French fleet had arrived, than every practicable measure of de- fence was immediately adopted. In a few days, six thou- sand and four hundred of the inland militia were brought in to reinforce Boston. Six thousand more, if occasion should require it, were, on the first notice, to have been dispatched to the assistance of their brethren.f The mili- tia on the sea coasts, were to be kept at home for their own defence. But as they were altogether unacquainted with what had befallen the French armament, their prin- cipal dependance, under providence, was on a fleet from England, sufficient, in conjunction with that of Louisburg, to defeat the French. But with respect to this and all other human aid, they were totally disappointed.
That Almighty hand, which had already wrought so con- The duke' spicuously for the relief of the country, completed its sal- D' Anville dies. vation. The duke D'Anville waited until the sixteenth of the month for the arrival of the rest of his fleet, and not one ship of war, nor any part of it arriving, except three transports, he was so affected with disappointment and chagrin, that it brought on an apopletic fit, or he drank poison, and died suddenly the same morning.
In the afternoon of the same day, the vice admiral D'Es- tournelle, with four ships of the line, came into port. As the troops had been long on board before they sailed, and had a tedious passage, they arrived in a very sickly and miserable condition. The admiral was dead, and Conflans was returned to France. They had been deprived of four capital ships, the Ardent, Caribou, Mars, and Alcide ; and the Argonute fire-ship was missing. In these circumstan- ces, D'Estournelle, on the 18th, called a council of his offi- cers; and as they had not half the force designed for the expedition, and the season for military operations was far advanced, proposed to them to return to France. Monsieur de la Jonquiere, governor of Canada, was on board the Northumberland, and next in command to the vice admiral ; he, with others of the council, for seven or eight hours, strenuously opposed the vice admiral's proposal. They Division in urged, that the sick men, with fresh air and provisions, the ene- would soon recover ; and that they were able, at least, to my's court- reduce Annapolis and Nova-Scotia : that, after that, they cils. might winter safely in Casco bay, or return to France, as should best suit their inclinations. The debate terminated in the rejection of the admiral's proposition. This so ex-
+ Douglass, vol. i. p. 322, 323,
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1746. D'Estour-
Book Il. tremely agitated his spirits, that it brought on a fever, and threw him into a delirium. A divine terror seemed to fall upon him. He imagined he was among the English, and finally ran himself through; and was no more .* Jonquiere, nelle kills · a man of skill and experience in war, succeeded him, and the expectations of the fleet and army were much raised. From this time, the reduction of Annapolis and Nova-Sco- tia became the object of the expedition.
himself.
The troops were landed, with a view to the recovery of their health, and the Acadians and Indians amply furnished Mortality them with provisions. Nevertheless, by dysenteries and among the French and In- dians. a scorbutic, putrid fever, a very great mortality prevailed among them. The Nova-Scotia Indians took the conta- gion, and by it lost not less than one third of their whole number.f
Governor Shirley, supposing that he had received cer- tain intelligence of the sailing of admiral Lestock for Ame- rica, sent off an express, to inform the fleet at Louisburg of the news. On the eleventh of October, the packet was taken by the French, and carried into Chebucto. This, probably, accelerated their sailing, and return directly to Oct. 13th, France, without attempting any thing against Annapolis, the French fleet sailed or Nova-Scotia .. Two days after they sailed from Che- from Che- bucto, on the fifteenth, they were overtaken with a severe bucto, for storm, which continued to increase for two days, so that France. the fleet was exceedingly scattered. Two only, a fifty and a thirty gun ship, got into the bay of Fundy. The latter came into the bason, and put on shore an express, inform- ing De Ramsay, that the French fleet were returning to France. These ships were discovered from the fort at Annapolis, and the Chester man of war, the Shirley frigate, and a small armed vessel, well manned, went out in chace of them ; but they made their escape to France. Thus, after burying two admirals, and nearly half their army, at . Chebucto, they returned, without effecting the least enter- · prise against the colonies. The French burnt the Caribou ; the Mars was taken, on her return, by the Nottingham, just as she arrived on the coast of France. The Alcide was driven on shore by the Exeter, and burnt. This was the fate of the grand French armada, sent against New-Eng- land.
Such a succession of disasters as pursued the French, from the day they sailed from France, till they returned, is rarely to be found in the history of human events. The restraints put upon this mighty armament, and the protec- tion of New-England, was little less remarkable, than the
Hutch. vol. ii. p. 427, 428. + Douglas, vol. i. p. 322.
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defeat of the Assyrian monarch, and the defence of Jerusa- Book II. lem, when, after all his vast preparations, and haughty menaces, he was not suffered to go against her, nor shoot 1746. an arrow there. Like him, the enemy returned, with un- common loss and shame, to his own land.
The ministry in England well knew of the sailing of this formidable armament ; yet seem to have cared very little what might be the consequences to the colonies. The only measure which they appear to have taken in conse- quence of it, was an order to admiral Townshend, to sail, with his squadron, from the West-Indies, to reinforce com- modore Knowles, at Louisburg. These combined squad- rons were more than a match for the French fleet, and might have destroyed it, in its distressed circumstances ; but they made not the least attempt for its annoyance or destruction. No admiral on the American station this year, appears to have acted with any tolerable zeal or spi- rit. Indeed, there was no exertion of military skill or prow- ess ; no employment of policy ; nor the adoption of a sin- gle measure, in Europe or America, which appeared to The pre- have the least influence in the preservation of the country. of the colo- servation The whole glory of that remarkable salvation which the nies, to be country experienced, appeared to be due to HIM only, ascribed whose kingdom ruleth over all. Pious men saw this in wholly to the divine a strong point of light, and, in their most fervent and pub- interposi- lic devotions, ascribed the glory to HIM. tion.
Great, indeed, was the disappointment of the colonies, after all their expense and exertions, that the fleet ex- pected from England failed, and that the expedition against Canada was, by that means, wholly defeated. But no sooner was this perceived by governor Shirley, than, his enterprising genius projected an expedition against Crown Point, in conjunction with the other colonies. For this purpose, six months provisions, fifteen hundred men, tents, ordnance, and ammunition, were sent on to New- York; but a great sickness, which, at that time, prevailed at Albany, and the alarm spread through the country, by D'Anville's armament, frustrated the design.
A part of these troops were kept in pay until Septem- ber, 1747. Some were sent from Massachusetts, to rein- force Annapolis. Others were employed for the defence of the frontiers, but a considerable part were wholly in- active.
De Ramsay, who had collected an army of about six- teen or seventeen hundred French and Indians, at Anna- polis, receiving intelligence that the fleet was returned to France, decamped, and returned to Minas. His design.
M 2
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Book II. was, to canton his men here, and at Checonicto, that he might have them in readiness to join the armament, which 1746. he expected from France, the next spring, for the reduc- tion of Annapolis. Thus ended the campaign of 1746.
October 9th, 1746.
When the General Assembly of Connecticut convened in October, it was resolved, that the regiment raised in this colony should be dissolved, as it appeared that his majesty had no further service for them.
As the Rev. Simon Backus, who went chaplain to the recruits sent to Louisburg, died there, and as the vessel in which his clothing, and some considerable presents, sent by gentlemen to his widow, was cast away, and all the property lost, the assembly granted her two hundred pounds, in addition to one hundred pounds, which had been before paid to her by the treasurer.
The expedition against Crown Point having failed, in the fall of the year, a number of principal gentlemen in Massachusetts and New-York, were warmly engaged for a winter campaign, with a view to reduce that fortress.
In consequence of a resolution of the general court of Massachusetts, and the report of the committee of war at New-York, in favour of an expedition at this time, pres- sing letters were received from governor Shirley, at Bos- ton, and governor Clinton, of New-York, soliciting Con- necticut to join with them, and the other colonies, in that enterprise. Governor Law, on the reception of the let- General ters, convoked the assembly on the 28th of January, 1747, Assembly, at New-Haven, to deliberate on the subject. After the Jan. 28th, 1747. letters had been read before the assembly, and a full dis- cussion of the affair, the assembly declined to engage, or bear any part in the proposed expedition. The reasons Reasons alledged against it, were, That a winter campaign would against the be attended with many and great difficulties, and subject expedi- tion, in winter. the troops to such fatigues and hardships, as might dispirit, and render them incapable of the services necessary to Jan. 28th, render the success of the expedition even probable : That 1747. the small pox had been among, and, according to the best accounts, was still among the troops of the western and southern colonies ; and that their junction with the New- England forces would communicate it to the whole army, and defeat the design: That, supposing the expedi- tion had been wholly laid aside, the government had sent - on no provisions to Albany, nor any other articles neces- sary for such an enterprise; and it was now impracti- cable to do it in so short a time as had been proposed : That it was very uncertain, whether the western or south- ern colonies would join in the expedition : That some
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general agreement and plan, on which dependence might Book II. have been placed, ought to have been previously fixed upon, but nothing of this kind had been effected : That 1747. by a winter campaign, the army might be so weakened, as to render it incapable of the services which his majesty might require of them against Canada afterwards ; and that they might thereby incur his majesty's displeasure.
The assembly, nevertheless, declared, that whenever a probable plan and proper time should be fixed upon for the reduction of Crown Point, they would readily join with the other colonies : and, that whenever his majesty should call their troops into service, they would do all in their power to subserve his designs .*
This assembly resolved on an address, congratulating Address to him on the glorious victory obtained by his royal highness, Jan. 28th. the king, the duke of Cumberland, over the rebels in Scotland. The legislature express the strongest attachment to his majesty's person, family, and government. They acknowledge the favors which the colony enjoyed under his auspicious reign. They express their utmost abhorrence of that. unnatural and wicked rebellion, raised in favor of a popish pretender against the best of kings, the best constitution, and the best government. They manifest great joy, that the rebels had not prevailed to introduce popery and sla- very, nor to endanger the protestant interest. They con- clnde by praying, that the merciful providence which had placed him on the British throne, and given him so long and so illustrious a reign, might still protect his sacred person, subdue his enemies, make his reign prosperous, and continue the crown in his royal and illustrious family to the latest posterity.
. While these affairs were transacted in this part of the country, a great misfortune happened to a body of troops belonging to Massachusetts. Governor Mascarene, of Annapolis, had represented to the New-England colonies, that a thousand men would be necessary to reinforce that and the neighboring posts, and to drive the enemy from Nova-Scotia. In consequence of this representation, the three colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and New- Hampshire, agreed to reinforce those posts with that num- ber of men. Three hundred, furnished by Rhode-Island, were shipwrecked on their passage, near Martha's Vine- yard. The troops from New-Hampshire, after they were on their passage, put back and never proceeded. These misfortunes led to a still greater one. The Massa- chusetts troops had been sent on and cantoned in a loose
* Records of the colony.
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Book II. manner at Minas. De Ramsay having advice of their situa- tion, detached about six hundred men under the command 1747. of M. Culon and M. Lacorn, with a view to dispossess them Troops at of that post. On the last of January, they surprised, kill- prised and taken. Minas sur- ed and captivated about an hundred and sixty men, who were scattered in small parties. Colonel Noble, who Jan. 31st, commanded the corps, was among the slain. The main 1747. body soon collected, but as they had lost their command- er, were inferior in numbers, and had little ammunition, they capitulated, engaging not to bear arms against the . French in Nova-Scotia, during the term of one year. They were allowed to march off with six days provisions, arms shouldered, drums beating and colours flying.
Prepara- Notwithstanding the uncommon misfortunes of D'An- tions of the ville's fleet, the last year, the French determined to renew French. their attempts against the British settlements, both in North America and in the East-Indies. With this view, two squadrons were equipped. That for North America, was commanded by De la Jonquiere, governor of Quebec : that destined for the East-Indies, by M. de St. George. The fleets made a junction, early in the spring, and sailed from Rochelle. The whole consisted of six ships of the line, six frigates, and four East-India ships fitted as men of war; with twenty nine merchant ships and transports. The ministry dispatched admirals Anson and Warren, with thirteen ships of the line and several frigates, in pursuit of them. On the third of May, they came up with the French squadron, and commenced a furious attack upon them. De la Jonquiere maintained it with equal courage and con- duct, until, overpowered by numbers, he was obliged to strike to the British flag. Ten ships were taken, six ships of the line and the four East-Indiamen. De la Jonquiere, four or five thousand men, some bullion, and large sums of money, were taken with the ships .* Thus did providence once more interpose for the preservation of the English colonies in America.
Defeat of their fleet, May 3d.
De Ramsay, on the advice of the defeat of De la Jon- quiere, returned to Canada, and the French gave no fur- ther trouble in Nova-Scotia.
Indians hostile.
During this war, the Canada, Cape Sable, St. John's, Penobscot and Norridgewock Indians were hostile ; so that the frontiers did not escape alarm and molestation. They burnt the fort and a number of dwelling-houses at St. George's, and destroyed a great number of cattle. They, in a manner, destroyed Saratoga the last year, and were so troublesome this, that the garrison abandoned the place,
* Rider's Hist. vol. xxxix. p. 92, 93.
CHAP. IX.
CONNECTICUT.
293
brought off the stores and ordnance, and burnt the fort. Book II. Damage was also done by them on Connecticut river, on the frontiers of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire. But 1747. the frontiers suffered very little in comparison with what they had done in former wars. The Indians had been much diminished in their numbers, and many had with- drawn to the frontiers of Canada. Sometimes they were kept at home for the defence of the enemy's frontiers, and at others, they were employed in the great enterprises which they designed against the colonies. These prevent- ed their doing the mischief which otherwise they might have done.
Towards the close of the year, the war languished, and a general inactivity appeared among the belligerents, indi- cating that they were nearly exhausted, and verging to- wards a general pacification.
Accordingly, the next April, preliminaries were signed, at Aix la Chapelle, and in a few days, a cessation of hos- tilities was proclaimed. The definitive treaty was com- pleted on the seventh of October following. Prisoners Oct. 7. were all to be restored without a ransom, and conquests were to be given up. Thus, after nearly ten years war, in which there had been a vast expense of blood and treasure, the parties had gained nothing. On cool reflection, it could hardly be told for what reasons a war had been un- dertaken, which had so embroiled and exhausted the na- tions engaged in it, and occasioned such loss and expense to the colonies.
The northern colonies, including New-England and Expenses New-York, during this war, doubtless, expended not less than a million sterling. The bills issued by Massachu- war. setts, for between two and three years of the war, amount- ed to between two and three millions currency. At the time of emission, five or six hundred pounds were equal to one hundred sterling. Governor Hutchinson supposed, that the real consideration which the government received from the people, was nearly four hundred thousand pounds sterling .* He has given it as his opinion, that, for the term of two or three years of the war, the province of Mas- sachusetts paid two hundred thousand pounds sterling, be- sides the annual taxes, which were as high as the people could bear. By the account which Douglass gives, the ex- pense of that province in the expedition against Cape Bre- ton, was not less than four hundred thousand pounds ster- ling ; and its entire expense during the war, must have considerably exceeded half a million sterling. The other
* Hutch. vol. ii. p. 435.
April 30th, 1746.
of the colo- nies in the
1
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Book IT. three New-England colonies, with New-York, probably expended nearly an equal sum. Connecticut, during the 1748. war, emitted bont eighty thousand pounds currency. A considerable part of this was new tenor, and the currency of the colony was but little depreciated at the commence- ment of the war. From the number of troops which Con- necticut raised for the expedition against Cape Breton, and that designed against Canada, it appears that the ex- pense of this colony could not have been less, in propor- `tion to its wealth and numbers, than that of Massachusetts: Especially, considering that the colony maintained a gar- rison in the county of Hampshire, in Massachusetts, for the defence of that frontier, and was at the expense of supporting a sloop of war, with about an hundred men.
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