USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from the first settlement to the present time > Part 19
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The capture of Louisburg stimulated France and England, with one consent, to make America a chief theatre of war. Orders were received by the colonies in June, 1746, that a provincial force should join cight battalions of regular troops at Louisburg, and sail for Quebec, in the squadron of Sir Peter Warren ; and that, at the same time, an ". army, under General St. Clair, should march from Albany to attack Montreal. The colonies were
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[1740.
276 A FRENCH EXPEDITION DISPERSED.
expected to raise 5000 men : but, not dishearten- ed by former injustice and disappointments, they agreed to increase that number to 8200. Of these Connecticut furnished 1000, and New-England 5200, most of whom were ready to embark for the rendezvous in six weeks.
Admiral Lestock, however, who was expected from Portsmouth with a powerful armament, was prevented from sailing, partly, perhaps, in conse- quence of the apprehensions caused by the party of the young Pretender, who had landed in Scot- land in August, 1745, and designed to reduce the kingdom under the power of the rejected royal family. He was successful in his operations un- til April 16th, 1746, when his army suffered a to- tal defeat in the battle of Preston Pans.
A powerful French fleet, of 11 line ships and 30 smaller vessels, sailed for Chebucto, in Nova Scotia, in June, under the Duke d'Anville, where 1600 French and Indians were to await it, and there was no force to oppose it. In this case, however, Providence was pleased to disappoint the enemy when they had the most favourable pros- pects of success : for the fleet was delayed by con- trary winds, one ship was burned, the Mars and Alcide, sixty-fours, were disabled, and the Ardent 64 was sent back on account of sickness on board. The colonies, however, were in a state of alarm long after the danger was over : for they heard exaggerated accounts of the poor remnants of their enemies, as the Duke d'Anville proceeded to Che- bucto in September with one ship of the line and three or four transports. Fearing that Boston would be attacked, 6400 militia were soon col-
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1746.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
lected, and 6000 more prepared to march. Ap- prehensions of the most gloomy nature were now indulged ; and, to human foresight, nothing was to be hoped for in case the English fleet should not arrive, of whose detention at home the colonies were not yet aware. The Great Ruler of events, in whom so many placed their trust, protected the defenceless in a way of which they had no antici- pation.
The French admiral died suddenly, in conse- quence of disappointment, as was believed, at not meeting expected re-enforcements : but whether by apoplexy or by poison appears doubtful. A few hours after his death, and on the same day, his vice-admiral, D'Estournelle, arrived with four ships of the line; and it was immediately proposed by him to return to France. The governor of Canada, however, Jonquière, who was on board, and now second in command, urged that the ships should remain, and take Annapolis and Nova Sco- tia ; and he at length prevailed on the majority to decide on that course. D'Estournelle was so much chagrined at this, that, in those depths of de- spair to which infidelity can drive its miserable victims, he killed himself with his own sword. The men were now landed at Chebucto for the benefit of their health : but many of them became sickly ; and the Indians of Nova Scotia, who af- forded them all the conveniences they could, lost one third of their number by diseases communica- ted by them.
In these circumstances, the commanders were alarmed by an unfounded report that the English flcet was on the way, under Admiral Lestock.
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[1747,
A NEW FRENCH EXPEDITION.
Governor Shirley, having received such informa- tion, despatched a packet with the news to Louis- burg. This was captured by the French, who im- mediately became alarmed by the false report, and sailed for France. A severe storm, however, over- took them when two days out, which dispersed their ships ; and, before they could get home, one was burned, one was taken, and another was driven on shore and destroyed. Thus ended this great ex- pedition : the most formidable that had ever been formed for the reduction of the colonies, and which produced as much apprehension as the Spanish Ar- mada had caused to England. The pious people of the country, who knew that the English govern- ment had not taken any step to oppose it, except to order Admiral Townsend to go from the West In- dies to Louisburg, which he never did, were dis- posed to attribute their deliverance entirely to that Almighty Hand which had so often, and now so signally, interposed in their favour.
The Assembly of Connecticut, in October, dis- banded the troops they had raised, as an attempt against Crown Point. planned by Governor Shirley after the failure of the great expedition, had not been prosecuted.
At their session in January, 1747, an invitation was received from Governor Shirley to aid him in a winter expedition against Crown Point : but this was declined. An address of congratulation was sent to the king, on the occasion of his delivery from the plot by which " the popish Pretender" had been brought to seek the throne.
In the mean time, St. George's in Maine, and Saratoga, had been attacked by the Indians ; and
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1747.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
the other New-England colonies engaged in an en- terprise which proved disastrous to some of them. Having raised 1000 men to re-enforce Annapolis and drive the enemy out of Nova Scotia, those from Massachusetts were captured at Minas, after losing Colonel Noble and a considerable number, but re- leased on parole.
Another French expedition sailed this year, un- der La Jonquière, to retake Nova Scotia. It left Rochelle in company with a squadron for the East Indies under St. George. But, on the 3d of May, it was overtaken by the British squadron command- ed by Admirals Anson and Warren, who captured six ships of the line and four Indiamen transports, with much treasure. This was the last attempt made by France against that part of America.
The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, between the French and the English, was made this year, on the 7th of October; and, although the prisoners were to be restored without ransom, it was not very gratifying to the colonies to find that all the con- quests were also to be restored. They had been involved in a long train of distresses for 10 years, and lost an immense sum. A million of pounds sterling had probably been spent by the northern col- onies alone, full half of which had fallen upon Mas- sachusetts. Connecticut had emitted bills to the amount of £80,000 currency, much of which was of the new tenour ; and the troops she had supplied were so numerous, that it is probable her expenses were as large in proportion. She had maintain- ed a garrison in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and kept up a sloop-of-war with about 100 men. The colonies lost much by the French privatcers.
,
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THE PEACE OF 1747. [1747.
Cuba, Louisburg, and Nova Scotia cost New. Eng- land between 5000 and 6000 young men ; and from 1722 to 1749, Massachusetts and New-Hampshire did not increase in population, when, in a time of peace, the inhabitants would probably have been doubled. These were some of the results of the collisions with the French ; and others were not less lamentable. The colonies were left deeply in debt, with a currency long greatly depreciated, and, worst of all, in some degree demoralized by the contaminating influence of war.
CHAPTER XXXIV. 1747-1756.
A Period of Peace and Prosperity .- The Custom-house Officer of New-London suspected of Pilfering from the Cargo of a Spanish Vessel in store .- A Charge of Participating in the Act made against Governor Wolcott .- Mr. Fitch elected Governor .- The French strengthen and extend their Posts and Fortresses on the North and West .- Their Intentions .- The Ohio Company .- Fort Du Quesne built by the French .- Washington's first Military Expedition .- Its III-success .- The Union of all the Colonies contemplated .- Meeting of Com- missioners at Albany .- Connecticut alone withholds her As- sent to a Plan proposed .- No System adopted .- General Braddock arrives from England as Commander-in-chief .- Three Expeditions prepared and sent against Forts Du Quesne, Frontignac. and Crown Point .- Colonel Monckton obtains Possession of Nova Scotia .- Braddock's Defeat and Death .-- Battle of Lake George, and Defeat and Death of General Dieskau .-- Governor Shirley unsuccessful against Fort Frontignac.
PEACE prevailed from 1747 until 1755, and the colony enjoyed many of the blessings which it usu-
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1753.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
ally confers upon a Christian land. The people be- took themselves, without fear or hinderance, to the cultivation of their farms, the clearing of new fields, the settlement of new towns, navigation, fishing, and the few arts which they were able to pursue with advantage ; the whole population thronged to pub- lic worship, without the necessity of carrying their muskets ; the children might go to school without the fear of Indians behind every bush; and their homes were no more saddened by the sighs of mothers made widows by some recent battle. War often causes events which have an evident influence on important interests ; and these are usually en- larged upon by historians, partly because they are easily perceived, and partly because they are over. rated. But peace has often as really laid the foundation to changes quite as important, and more generally beneficial, as well as less appreciated. We are not able to state with precision the influ- ences which the peace of 1747 brought into exer- cise. As usual, the causes were not local, nor con- fined to a few agents, as in ordinary wars: but they operated in every settlement, and exerted their influence by every family table and fireside. We have, therefore, to pass over, without particular notice, several tranquil years : for it is war which gives History employment for her pen; and she passes by those who are at rest from its ravages, as the physician enters only habitations which are visited by disease.
A Spanish ship, which entered New. London in distress in the year 1753, discharged and stored her cargo under the care of the collector of that port. The supercargo complained, when he began
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ORIGIN OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. [1754.
to reload it a few months afterward, that part of it was not produced ; and refused to retain what he had received until the whole should be delivered up, saying, at the same time, that he would be at no charges for it. The Assembly appear to have been unable to ascertain the facts in the case : but they desired and authorized Governor Wolcott to make search, and see that full justice was done him, "ac- cording to the laws of trade, nature, and nations." Nothing, however, was produced or restored ; and so much blame was cast upon the governor, whether with or without reason, that, at the election which very soon came on, Mr. Thomas Fitch was chosen in his place.
It is well worthy of attention and remembrance, that a governor of Connecticut was removed from his office by the spontaneous votes of the freemen, merely because he was suspected of having con- nived at an act of this kind, when the nation to which the foreigner belonged, then, and for half a century afterward, imprisoned strangers landing in their colonies even from shipwreck, and confis- cated all the property they could seize. It is our duty to be impartial ; and, while we should not apologize for any man clearly blameworthy, we are bound to approve and admire the superiority of those principles which led the freemen of Con- necticut thus to condemn the conduct of which they suspected their chief ruler.
About the year 1741. in the present town of Co. lumbia, Dr. Eleazar Wheelock began the educa- tion of Samson Occum, a pious young Indian of the Mohegan tribe, who afterward was a distin- guished minister of the Gospel for many years.
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1755.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
Dr. Wheelock's school was the beginning of Dart- mouth College, in 1770.
We now approach the melancholy period of the last French War, which was brought about by the encroachments of that nation upon the territory expressly confirmed to Great Britain by the Treaty of Utrecht. In Acadia and Nova Scotia they were now erecting forts and establishing posts, though in previous treaties they had renounced their claims to them. They occupied Crown Point (now far within New-York), and were pre- paring to come down to Ticonderoga; while in the west they were building a line of forts from the lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. A plan like this might well alarm the colonies, who had had so much experience of the bad faith, subtlety, and cruelty of the rulers of Canada. The danger of delay was redoubled by the skill with which those artful men usually enlisted ignorant savages in their service, by the combined powers of blind su- perstition, falsehoood, and hopes of plunder. If the colonies had sometimes barely escaped, by the kind interposition of God alone, from the deadly plots which had been laid for them along the limit- ed northern frontier, what scenes of fire and blood. shed had they soon to expect, when they should be surrounded by the broad semicircle which the enemy were drawing on the land side, and the French fleets and privateers along the coast !
The French laid claim to the great valley of the Mississippi, including all the country whose waters naturally flow into that mighty stream: that is, as far east as the Alleghany Mountains, compre- bending everything west of them, in regions entire.
284 WASHINGTON IN THE FRENCH WAR. [1755.
ly unknown. But a rich association of English noblemen, and merchants, and Virginia planters had recently begun to occupy a part of the banks of the beautiful Ohio ; and they were soon aware of the erection of three forts on the upper portion of the line marked out by the French : on the south shore of Lake Erie, on a branch of the Ohio, and at the confluence of the Ohio and Wabash. Of course they were anxious to put an immediate stop to operations like these. The Pennsylvanians viewed the Ohio company with jealousy, and sev- .eral nations of Indians had their feelings excited on different considerations. Some of the Ohio company had several of their traders taken by the savages ; and the fort they had begun to build at the mouth of the Monongahela was seized by 1000 Frenchmen, and converted into a French fortress, after most of their. men had been killed. Our great Washington here began his military life, as a youth, as little anticipating as his countrymen what a noble career was destined for him by Di- vine Providence. Guided by pure and disinter- ested principles, which had been assiduously in- stilled into him by a superior mother, he was probably, at this early period, excited by nobler motives than those which lead most soldiers to the field. In the wild and perilous scenes which he sought with no selfish hopes, he was doubtless able to bear with noble equanimity the reverse which soon sent him back, bound by a promise not to serve against the French in a year. De Villiers, commander of Fort Du Quesne (now Pittsburg), had brought 900 French and many Indians against him, and forced him to a capitulation.
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1755.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
And now it appeared highly important that au- thority should be concentrated somewhere, to com. bine and command the power of all the colonies. The Lords of Trade recommended a meeting of commissioners from them all to form such a plan. A meeting was held at Albany, and a plan was proposed by a committee, to place the manage- ment of all the great and general concerns of the country into the hands of a Grand Council of Del- egates from the colonies, with a president appoint- ed by the king. The delegates were to be chosen by the colonial legislatures, and the president was to have the right of a negative or veto on all their proceedings. The project was approved by all the commissioners except those sent by " that cautious people," as the venerable Chief-justice Marshall de- nominates them, the freemen of Connecticut. They feared, says he, "that the power vested in the president might prove dangerous to their welfare." The Connecticut Assembly protested, and instruct- ed their agent fully to resist it. The project suit- ed the British cabinet no better : for what security was there that the president should retain his seat and his veto, when the council should have begun to feel the strength of union in council and action ?"
The British ministers next proposed another plan : that there should be an assembly of govern- or sand one or two councillors from each colony, with authority to direct the military force and op- erations, and draw the money from England, which should afterward be repaid by taxes on the Ameri- cans. This plan, however, was too unreasonable to be insisted on ; and things were left as before, dependant on the will of the colonies. The im.
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PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. [1756.
portant object of engaging the Five Nations of In- dians to join the English also failed of satisfactory accomplishment ; and now another campaign was approaching, for which preparation was to be made without any energetic power of general authority.
General Braddock having been sent from Eng. land as commander-in-chief, the governor of Con- necticut was invited to meet him in council in Vir- ginia, with the governors of the other colonies ; and they accordingly met on the 14th of April, 1755. It was there agreed to send three armies against the enemy : one under Braddock against Fort Du Quesne, with the troops he had brought over, and those of Virginia and Maryland; another against Fort Frontignac, by the regiments of Shirley and Pepperell, commanded by the former ; and the third against Crown Point, under Colonel Johnson, of New-York, with the troops of New-England and that colony.
The French were known to be preparing a fleet of 20 sail of the line, besides frigates and transports, with about 4000 men and military stores for Canada ; and Connecticut was informed that she was expected to do her full share in rais- ing an army to co-operate with the British troops. The Assembly, at a special session on the 8th of January, 1756, authorized the governor to comply with all the requisitions that had been made, at the expense of the colony ; and sent the king a letter of thanks for his kindness and care. The Assem- bly emitted £7500 lawful money in bills, at five per cent. interest, to be called in in 1758 ; and to meet them a tax was laid of 2d. on the pound.
In March another session was held, to consider
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1756.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
a plan of Governor Shirley, to raise 1000 men in Connecticut, in order to form an army of 5000, to operate against Crown Point. The Assembly thought their quota much too large : yet they con- sented to furnish it, and also voted to send 500 men more in case of need. To provide for the expense, they extended the time of payment on old bills, with interest, and issued more, to the amount of £12,500 providing for them by another tax. Col- onel Johnson, of New-York, was elected as com. mander-in-chief of the northern army, and Colonel Phineas Lyman, one of the magistrates of Con- necticut, major-general ; while the regiments of the colony were placed under the command of General Lyman and Elizur Goodrich.
We have now, however, to speak of an expedi- tion which proceeded from Boston for Nova Scotia under Colonel Monckton. Many French inhabi- tants were there, who, according to the treaty of Utrecht, were to remain unmolested : but. as they refused to take the oath of allegiance to England, and showed a decided partiality for the Canadians, they were regarded as dangerous inhabitants. Cap- tain Rouse, with three frigates and a sloop-of-war, accompanied the troops up the Bay of Fundy. At Malagash they found the passage of the river dis- puted by a large body of French and Indians, post- ed in a blockhouse, and behind a log breastwork built around it. After an engagement of an hour, the enemy were driven away. On the 12th of June they commenced the investment of Fort Beau- séjour ; and, although it was defended by 26 can. non, it was taken after a bombardment of four days, and the garrison were sent to Louisburg.
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DEFEAT OF GENERAL CRADDOCK.
[1756.
On the Gasperau River, which empties into Bay Verte, was the principal magazine, which was ta- ken. Several hundreds of the Acadians were taken among the prisoners in this campaign; and about 15,000 persons were now disarmed, and required to leave the country, nothing but their moveable property being left to them. Some were desti- tute, and many were brought to New-England. The last object was to dislodge the enemy from the mouth of St. John's River; and, on their ap- pearance, the fort which they were erecting was abandoned. This left Nova Scotia entirely sub- ject to England ; but the expulsion of the inhabi- tants was an act of severity which may be recon- ciled with the laws of war, but cannot be justified by those of humanity.
In the mean time, General Braddock was in vain endeavouring to hasten his preparations in Vir- ginia ; and, hearing that a re-enforcement was ex- pected at Fort Du Quesne, he proceeded with 800 men, leaving Colonel Dunbar to follow with the main army and baggage. He had been faithfully warned, in England and America, to guard against ambushments in the wilderness : but, trusting to his own judgment and skill, he proceeded without sending out scouting parties until the 9th of July, when he was fired upon by a large body of the Indians, who had secreted themselves in the high grass in an open wood. He displayed great cour- age, and had five horses shot under him, in vain attempts to lead on his men in regular columns to dislodge the enemy : but he soon received a mor. tal wound, and his troops fled in the utmost disor- der. Colonel Washington, the only surviving of.
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
ficer fit for service, headed the retreat with the coolness and skill of a veteran ; but the country through which he had to return, being a vast ex- tent of territory now left defenceless, was filled with consternation at the unexpected failure of the expensive expedition.
Colonel Dunbar succeeded to the chief com- mand : but, instead of proceeding with resolution against the enemy, or even providing for the pro- tection of the frontier, he hastily marched off to Philadelphia with the army. Let us now turn to the expedition destined against Crown Point.
More than 4000 men had been collected by Generals Johnson and Lyman at Albany, with a body of Mohawks under their sachem Hendrick, and marched to the Second Carrying-place under the command of General Lyman, where they con- structed a fort. The army proceeded to Lake George in August, and began to prepare batteaux. News was brought that General Dieskau had land- ed in South Bay, a few miles east of them, when a scout of 500 men was sent in that direction, under Colonel Williams. At the distance of about four miles they fell into an ambush, when, after fight- ing bravely, many of them were cut off, including Williams and Hendrick, and the enemy advanced. against the main body, with Dieskau at their head. Colonel Whiting, with great difficulty, brought off the survivors ; and that unfortunate affair was after- ward known in traditions by the melancholy name of " 'The Bloody Morning Scout."
The Americans, having hastily thrown up a breastwork of logs near the spot on which Fort George was afterward erected, and whose ruins
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290 EXPEDITION AGAINST FRONTIGNAC. [1755.
are still to be seen, took shelter within it. Thith- er 2000 French and Indians pursued the fugitives ; and, had they stormed the work at once, they might probably have gained it : but, while they halted, and delayed to fire by platoons in the Eu- ropean manner, the Americans rallied for defence ; and, early in the action which ensued, General Johnson was wounded, and left the chief command to the gallant General Lyman. General Dieskau also was wounded ; and, in a sally made by the de- fenders, he received his death-shot from a soldier, who thought he was drawing a pistol when he was taking out his watch to offer it to him to spare his life. The French suffered a complete defeat, hav- ing lost 700 killed, while the Americans lost only 200.
Connecticut took her customary active part in this campaign. Before the battle, the governor was urged by General Johnson to give a re-en- forcement, and raised 1500 men, and sent them off for Albany equipped in a single week. The re- mainder of the season was spent in erecting Fort Edward and Fort George, and preparing to proceed to Crown Point on the opening of the spring. This being done, in November the troops returned home to spend the winter. The king and people of England greatly praised the colonial troops for their valour ; and General Johnson was created a baronet, and received a present of £5000; while General Lyman received no reward, although he had, in fact, gained the victory.
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