USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from its earliest settlement to the present time. Ed. by W. H. Carpenter and T. S. Arthur > Part 9
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1712.]
along with the British regiments, in the fleet of Admiral Walker, against the fortress of Quebec. The other, composed of some fifteen hundred men from Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, assembled at Albany, under the command of Nicholson, preparatory to an attack upon Mon- treal. But they never marched.
After losing nearly a thousand men by ship- wreck, the result of his own inefficiency and obstinate resistance to the advice of the provin- cial pilots, Walker abandoned the attempt against Quebec, and returned ingloriously to England. Of course, the troops under Nicholson were now disbanded.
In addition to the disappointment and heavy pecuniary losses attending this failure, the colo- nies were forced to bear the unjust accusation of having occasioned it, by their delay in co-ope- rating with the British fleet and army. Such, at least, was the excuse offered by Walker and his officers for their shameful retreat. In Eng- land, however, a tolerably fair view was taken of the matter, and public indignation ran high against the conduct of the admiral; while the Americans, with some plausibility, denounced the whole enterprise as a tory scheme, intended to fail, and devised solely to impoverish and disgrace. the colonies.
During the year following this futile attempt against Canada, negotiations were entered into.
148
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
[1714.
which, in 1713, resulted in the peace of Utrecht. This, though stigmatized by the Whigs of Eng- land as sacrificing the fruits of many triumphs, was yet regarded by the Anglo-American colo- nies as one highly advantageous to them, and not to be passed over without rejoicing.
Connecticut, alone, of the northern provinces, had escaped the attacks of the enemy. For the last four years, however, the contest had been somewhat expensive to the colony ; bills of credit to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars having been issued during that period. The population of the commonwealth at the close of the war was about seventeen thousand, distributed through four counties and forty-five towns. Its manufactures were yet inconsiderable. There being but one fuller in the colony, most of the home-made clothing was worn without shearing or pressing. So far there had been no permanent printer in the province. In 1714,
however, Mr. Timothy Green, a descendant of the first printer in Massachusetts, came to New London, and there set up an establishment, which, having the government patronage, con- tinued to flourish for many years.
During the same year which gave quiet to the colonies, a long-continued dispute as to the boundary between Connecticut and Massachu- setts was amicably adjusted. The line run in 1642, had been the cause of considerable ill-
149
BOUNDARY SETTLED.
1714.]
feeling. It was now laid out anew, pretty much as at present; excepting that the towns of Woodstock, Suffield, and Enfield, having been settled by emigrants from both provinces, under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, were allowed to continue a part of that colony. Con- necticut, however, undoubtedly losing territory by this arrangement, was compensated by the grant of one hundred and seven thousand seven hundred and ninety-three acres of wild land in Massachusetts, the proceeds of the sale of which were soon afterward applied to the support of Yale College.
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150
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT. -
[1715.
CHAPTER XI.
Decline in morals-Consequent action of the assembly-Re- newed attempts to abridge the charters of New England- Liberality of Governor Saltonstall-Proposed union of Con- necticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, into one royal province-Spirited refusal of the colonists-Talcott and Law governors-Political quiet-Religious controversies- War between England and France-New England colonies resolve upon the conquest of Louisburg-Expedition pre- pared-Departs-Arrives before Louisburg-Troops effect a landing-Royal battery taken-Labours of the siege- French reinforcements captured-Colonists repulsed in an assault on the island battery-Preparations to storm the city-Louisburg capitulates-Rejoicings of the colonists- French plan an invasion of New England-Colonies pre- pare to conquer Canada-Project abandoned-Alarm caused by a French squadron-Peace.
THE close of Queen Anne's war found Connec- ticut disturbed by a decline in that condition of moral order which, to this period at least, had given the colony no little cause for pardonable pride. Taking cognizance of the fact " that the glory had departed from them," and "that the providences of God were plainly telling them that their ways did not please him," the assem- bly, in May, 1714, proposed certain questions to the ministers of the several churches of the province. In October, 1715, the pastors report- ed, "That there was a great want of Bibles ;
151
THE CHARTER THREATENED
1720.]
. that the Sabbath was frequently neglected ; and that there was a great deficiency in family go- vernment." Besides, they complained of "tale- bearing and defamation ;" of intemperance, and of " calumniating and contempt of authority and order, both civil and ecclesiastical." As there were already laws to regulate these matters, the assembly could but direct the attention of the town officers to them, with injunctions to enforce them more faithfully in future.
Considerable alarm was excited at this period by the introduction into Parliament of a new bill for the better regulation of the chartered governments. Opposed earnestly by Dummer, the provincial agent in London, the projected measure was presently dropped.
Nearly five years later, in 1720, the same bill again made its appearance in Parliament. To defeat it, Dummer was directed to spare neither pains nor expense; Saltonstall, the patriotic old governor of the colony, generously transferring his extensive pecuniary credit in England to the agent's use. A second time the faithful Dum- mer contended for the existing liberties of the colony. His elaborate and cogently argumenta- tive "Defence of the New England charters" was successful. Again the obnoxious bill was withdrawn by its friends.
Thus balked in their bolder attempts to de- . prive Connecticut of its chartered privileges, the
152
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
[1741.
enemies of the colony soon afterward devised a scheme to induce it to surrender them of its own accord. It was proposed that Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire should be united in one province, with a governor deriving his appointment from the crown. But this pro- position the two first-named colonies rejected with the strongest expressions of disapprobation ; declaring that, should they ever part with even one of their liberties, it would only be when that liberty was "wrested from them."
Governor Saltonstall dying in 1724, Major Joseph Talcott was chosen to fill the executive chair of the commonwealth-a station he con- tinued to occupy for the next seventeen years, being succeeded in 1741 by Jonathan Law.
The period thus summarily passed over, was one of political quiet and continued prosperity. Eras of this character are productive of but few important events which can properly be admitted into a succinct account of the progress of a state. Material for many chapters might easily be gathered from the ecclesiastical his- tory of Connecticut, during the concluding thirty years of the first half of the eighteenth cen- tury. Though the semi-theocratic form of the colonial government seems to require it, the limits of this volume will not afford space for a clear and faithful recital of the religious contro- versies which, for thirty years, agitated more
153
WARLIKE MOVEMENTS.
1744.7
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or less the entire province. The virulence of this polemical warfare was greatly increased by the intolerant action of the members of the general assembly, who, in the narrow spirit of bigoted sectaries, enacted various laws, under the operation of which severe punishments were inflicted upon all those who refused to conform to the established religion of the colony.
Hostilities had already raged for several years between Great Britain and Spain, when, in May, 1744, the colonies received the first intimation that France had entered into the contest, through the capture of Fort Canso, in Nova Scotia, by a French expedition from the Island of Cape Breton. An attack upon Annapolis followed, and was with difficulty repelled ; while numerous privateers threatened the fisheries and commerce of New England with destruction.
Determined to put a stop to these offensive operations of the enemy, the now fully aroused colonists debated among themselves what mea- sures it would be best to adopt. To Louisburg, on the Island of Cape Breton, the attention of the more thoughtful was early directed. Here it was the French privateers found a commodious and safe harbour, sheltered by a fortress, which, from its great size and strength, had been termed the Dunkirk of America. Five millions and a half of dollars and twenty-five years of labour had been expended in its erection. While this
154
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
[1744.
remained in the hands of the enemy, New Eng- land could not reasonably hope for security. The design of attempting its reduction, hesita- tingly entertained at first, seemed wholly practi- cable to Shirley, the governor of Massachusetts, when certain English captives, returning home on parole from Louisburg, reported the garrison to be weak, and the works out of repair.
Writing to England for naval assistance, Shirley broached his project to the Massachu- setts assembly, which, by a majority of one vote, resolved to engage in the bold undertaking. Aid being solicited from the other colonies, Pennsylvania sent provisions, New Jersey money, and New York ten pieces of artillery. The troops-all volunteers-were New England men ; from Massachusetts three thousand; from Con- necticut five hundred; and from New Hampshire three hundred. To lead this untrained but en- thusiastic army of farmers, fishermen, and me- chanics, Shirley selected William Pepperell, a merchant of Maine. Second in command, and heading the troops of Connecticut, was Roger Wolcott, who, from the condition of an unedu- cated apprentice boy, had already elevated him- self by the force of natural talents and perseve- ring energy, to the lieutenant-governorship of his native province.
Unsustained by any hope of assistance from England, Shirley determined to try the colonial
155
SIEGE OF LOUISBURG.
1745.]
. troops alone. On the 24th of March, 1745, the Massachusetts armament set sail for Canso. Ar- riving there the 4th of April following, they found the New Hampshire men already as- sembled, and were presently joined by the Con- necticut division. Sailing from Canso, in a hun- dred New England vessels, accompanied by a British squadron, which had opportunely and unexpectedly joined the expedition, the adven- turous colonists entered Labarus Bay, in full view of the citadels of Louisburg, early on the morn- ing of the 30th of April.
In high spirits, and sanguine of success, the troops pushed boldly for the shore, putting to flight the force sent to oppose their landing. That night, Vaughan, a brave New Hampshire man, leading a few companies, marched by the city to the north-east harbour, and, setting fire to a number of warehouses adjacent to the royal battery, struck a panic in its garrison, who, having spiked their guns, fled within the walls of the city. The next morning Vaughan took possession of the abandoned works; from which a heavy fire was presently opened against the town, and upon the island battery fronting the main harbour.
Laughing at the technicalities of military en -- gineering, the hardy colonists pressed the siege vigorously. Little science was displayed in their approaches, but they made them with a hearty
156
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
[1745
good-will and untiring enthusiasm, that betoken- ed their ultimate triumph. The erection of bat- teries was the most fatiguing of their labours ; every one of the cannon having to be carried a distance of more than two miles from the landing- place, over morasses impassable for wheels, and in which the men sunk to their knees in mud. To add to the hardship of this duty, which em- ployed the soldiers for two weeks, it could only be performed at night, inasmuch as the whole route lay open to the cannon of the besieged.
Meanwhile the squadron, cruising off the har- bour, encountered and captured the Vigilant, a French man-of-war, having on board a large re- inforcement, and numerous supplies for the be- leaguered fortress. Already several attempts had failed to take the island battery, which com- manded the entrance of the harbour. Soon after the capture of the Vigilant, a more vigorous as- sault of this work was planned. In boats, under cover of the night of May the 26th, the adven- turous assailants endeavoured to force a landing. After an hour's hard fighting, they were repulsed, with the loss of sixty killed, and one hundred and sixteen taken captive.
This untoward affair resulted, however, in some slight advantage. The English prisoners, `as if animated by one spirit, when separately questioned as to the number of the besiegers, in- dulged in exaggerations of the real force, which
157
SIEGE OF LOUISBURG.
1745.]
the dispersed state of the troops seemed to con- firm. Greatly disturbed by their accounts, the French commander was still more disheartened by the intelligence of the loss of the Vigilant, a circumstance of which, up to this time, he had remained entirely ignorant.
Meanwhile, the colonists, under the direction of Gridley, of Massachusetts, had laboriously erected a battery on the cliffs opposite the town, by means of which they annoyed greatly the fortifications on the island. Another battery, thrown up within two hundred yards of the city, now thundered against the north-west gate. Active preparations were at the same time being made to carry the town by assault, in the midst of a bombardment which the men-of-war were to open upon it, having first forced their way into the harbour.
Every thing thus far had favoured the besieg- ers. The weather had been unusually dry for the climate; and, in consequence, the troops were much freer from disease than the most san- guine had expected they would be. Besides, the French garrison, all along comparatively feeble, was now mutinous; so generally se, that the officers would not venture a sally, for fear the men should desert. This fact, and the visible preparations of the English to storm the town, induced Duchambon, the French governor, to send out a flag of truce. On the 17th of June,
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
[1746.
forty-nine days after the commencement of the siege, terms of capitulation were agreed to, and the city, the fort, and batteries were surrendered together with nineteen hundred troops, one-third of which were regulars, and an immense quantity of valuable stores.
By this unlooked-for capitulation the colonists were saved the necessity of an assault. And they were thankful for it. The most coura- geous of them were appalled when they be- held the scarcely impaired strength and formi- dable massiveness of the fortifications. Nothing could have prevented the defeat of a storming party.
The capture of Louisburg, shedding a redeem- ing lustre over one of the most unfortunate wars ever participated in by Great Britain, excited throughout the American colonies a feeling of unbounded joy. Flushed with their triumph, they speedily revived the favourite, but hitherto unlucky project of an invasion of Canada. On the other hand, France felt painfully the blow inflicted upon her North American power; and, preparing to retaliate, planned for the ensuing campaign, not only the reconquest of Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, but also the complete subjugation of New England.
Complying partly with a request from Shirley, the British ministry, early in 1746, forwarded to the American governors a plan for the con-
159
1
1746.]
PROJECTED INVASION.
.quest of Canada. A fleet and army from Eng- land were to be joined at Louisburg by four thousand levies from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, and thence proceed by the St. Lawrence against Quebec; while the troops of Connecticut, New York, and the more southern colonies, assembling at Albany, were to cross Lake Champlain and invest Montreal.
With more than their usual alacrity executing the duties assigned them by the crown, the co- lonies speedily raised their respective quotas of troops. Connecticut alone brought a thousand men into the field. But neither general, fleet, army, nor orders arrived from England. As the season for active employment was fast wear- ing away, it was proposed by Shirley and Pep- perell to advance a body of colonists against Crown Point. While this design was being matured, a large force of Indians and Canadians threatened an attack upon Annapolis. Preparations were scarcely begun to embark troops for the defence of the imperilled point, when intelligence was received that threw all New England into a state of intense alarm. A French squadron, number- ing fifty ships-of-war, having on board three thousand veteran troops, was crossing the At- lantic to reconquer Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, and invade the eastern colonies.
Abandoning their design upon Canada, the colonists prepared to repel this powerful arma-
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT. [1647.
ment. Forts were strengthened, the militia called out, and troops stationed at every avail- able point. But, after suffering from the liveliest apprehensions for nearly two months, their alarm was turned to rejoicing. Encoun- tering disaster after disaster, the shattered fleet of the enemy, having lost its two chief officers, one by sickness and the other by suicide,- was finally dispersed by a storm. Such of the vessels as escaped shipwreck, returned singly to France. From this period the war was con- ducted with little spirit by either of the bellige- rent powers. In 1647 negotiations were entered into which, during the following year, resulted in the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle.
161
PROSPECT OF THE STATE. -
1756.]
CHAPTER XII.
Prosperity of Connecticut-Towns of Enfield, Woodstock, Somers, and Duffield received under the jurisdiction of Con- necticut-Governors Wolcott and Fitch-Difficulties between England and France-Hostilities commenced-Plan of co- lonial union proposed-Rejected by the colonies and the Lords of Trade-Campaign of 1755-Israel Putnam-Sketch of his life-His character-His adventure with the wolf -- Victory of Lake George-Honour of it claimed for Lyman of Connecticut-Defeat of Braddock-Failure of Shirley- Campaign of 1756-Loudoun appointed commander-in-chief -Oswego captured by the French-Shameful close of the campaign-Campaign of 1756-Expedition set on foot against Louisburg-Loudoun's inactivity at Halifax-Re- turns to New York-Montcalm descends upon Fort William . Henry-Putnam informs Webb, at Fort Edward, of Mont- calm's approach-Vacillating conduct of Webb-Surrender of Munro-Massacre of the English prisoners attempted -. Heroism of Montcalm-Alarm of the colonies-Promptness of Connecticut-Fort Edward saved by the daring energy of Putnam.
FOR several years subsequent to the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the history of Connecticut was unmarked by little, save the prosperity that usually attends peace.
Claiming to be within the chartered limits of Connecticut, the towns of Enfield, Woodstock, Somers, and Suffield, disregarding the boundary arrangement of 1713, by which their jurisdic- tion had been ceded to Massachusetts, applied
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162
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
[1754.
for, and, in 1750, obtained the consent of the former colony to live under its laws, and to be a part of its territory. Massachusetts deemed this act an unjust one, and threatened an appeal to the crown. But this threat was never put in execution. .
Dying in 1751, Governor Law was succeeded by Roger Walcott. Suspected, groundlessly it would now appear, of having connived at the de- frauding of a Spanish trader, Wolcott was not long retained in office. In the election of 1754 he received scarcely a vote. His successor was Thomas Fitch, a man of no great ability, but who, for the twelve following years, was annually re-elected to the highest office in the colony.
, Meanwhile serious difficulties had arisen be- tween the governments of England and France. Eager for empire in the New World, both coun- tries hastened to enlarge as much as possible their respective North American possessions. Mutual "encroachments," as they were called by the contending nations, led to collisions of a sanguinary character. By the summer of 1754 war had virtually begun, though two years elapsed before hostilities were formally pro- claimed.
In view of the approaching conflict, the Bri- tish Lords of Trade had already proposed a union of the Anglo-American colonies. Accordingly, commissioners from the several assemblies con-
163
PLAN OF UNION.
1755.]
vened at Albany, in June, 1754. Benjamin Franklin's celebrated scheme of colonial con- federation was presently introduced into the convention, and after some debate, adopted almost unanimously. Only the cautious repre- sentatives of Connecticut opposed it, chiefly on account of the negative power allowed the go- vernor-general, whom it was proposed the crown should appoint, over the acts of the contemplated grand council of delegates from the several pro- vincial assemblies.
Declaring that it "would tend to subvert the liberties and privileges" of the colonists, the people of Connecticut were intensely alarmed by the proposed plan of confederation. But their apprehensions were soon quieted. Rejected by every one of the colonial assemblies, Franklin's scheme was wholly disapproved of by the govern- ent in England. No better was the fate of that subsequently brought forward by the Lords of Trade. Particularly odious, as suggesting parliamentary taxation of the colonies, the as- semblies scarcely deigned to notice it.
War being unavoidable, General Braddock, with two regiments of regulars, was despatched from England to take command of the army in North America .. Meeting a congress of colonial governors in April, 1755, Braddock concerted with them three separate but simultaneous expe- ditions against Forts Duquesne, Niagara, and
164
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
[1755.
Crown Point. In the latter of these, which was led by Johnson of New York, Connecticut bore an important part. One of her most popular citizens-Major-General Phineas Lyman-was second in command ; and among the officers who headed her thousand accompanying levies, none were more efficient than Colonel Whiting and Israel. Putnam, then an inexperienced captain of rangers. With regard to the character and previous life of the latter, some few words seem necessary.
Born at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1718, Put- nam emigrated, when quite a young man, to Pomfret, in Connecticut. Here he had lived a farmer's quiet life for nearly sixteen years. By no means unlettered, but with few educational advantages, he already possessed a reputation for native sagacity and daring courage. The following anecdote may serve to illustrate the latter trait in his character.
A she-wolf, which had long been a scourge to the neighbouring farmers, was finally tracked in the snow to a cave near Putnam's house. From this stronghold, a winter's day was spent in vain efforts to drive her. Night coming on, Putnam grew impatient. Doffing his coat and vest, he avowed his determination to drag the wolf by the ears from her den. Carrying a torch of birch bark, and with a stout rope tied to his legs, he crawled on his hands and knees through
165
ISRAEL PUTNAM.
1755.1
the narrow avenue leading to where the furious animal crouched, growling and gnashing her teeth in mingled rage and terror. After a hasty reconnoissance, Putnam gave the signal to be drawn out. Alarmed for his safety, his friends performed this duty with undue alacrity, tearing his clothes to tatters, and sorely bruising and lacerating his body and limbs. Armed with an old musket, Putnam a second time groped his hazardous way into the cavern. All before him was darkness, in the midst of which gleamed the fiery eyes of the wolf. Deliberately aiming be- tween the glittering orbs, he fired. Stunned by the report, and nearly suffocated with smoke, Putnam was again dragged hurriedly out. After a few moments he re-entered the cave. The wolf was stone dead. Seizing her by the ears, he clung to them while his friends, with applaud- ing cheers and shouts of exultation, hauled him and his shaggy prize into the open air.
The troops destined against Crown Point, , advancing under Lyman to the portage between the Hudson and Lake George, built there Fort Lyman, called afterward Fort Edward. Johnson presently came up, took command, and marched, with three thousand four hundred men, to the southern shore of Lake George, where he formed an intrenched camp. His front was protected by a breastwork of felled trees ; in his rear was
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