USA > Michigan > History of Michigan, civil and topographical, in a compendious form; with a view of the surrounding lakes > Part 8
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ocean, and on the west by the river St. Croix, under the title of Nova Scotia .*
These rival claims of the two governments were the na- tural ground of jealousy between the French and English colonial establishments ; and in fact, as early as 1632, a party of French from Acadie committed a robbery on a trading post, established in 1627 by the people of New Plymouth at Pe- nobscot. Information was also received that Cardinal de Richelieu had ordered companies to that station, and also priests, Jesuits, and other parts of the colonial machinery. In 1644, the apprehensions of the English were quieted by a treaty of peace and commerce between the Governor of New England and M. D'Aulney, lieutenant-general of the king of France in Acadié.
The design of the English and French powers was to un- dermine the influence of each other, and to grasp the domi- nion of the country. The territory, claimed by the En- glish, embraced the vast region bordering the St. Lawrence and the north-western lakes. It was maintained, on the other hand, by the French, that the St. Lawrence was the centre of Canada, and that the Apalachian mountains had always been regarded as the bounds of their colonies. The English occu- pied the country included in New England and New-York, and south upon the eastern maritime frontier; while the French settlements were comprised mainly in New France.
The conquest of Canada had therefore been long a favorite object of the English colonists; and as early as 1628, Charles I. had granted to David Kertk acommission to effectuate that object. The expedition was undertaken, and in 1529 Que- bec had been captured. 'This was, however, restored by Charles in 1632.
The French were found gradually extending their settle- ments into the disputed territory, by constructing forts, and sending ont colonies, which should connect their possessions in Canada with Louisiana by a chain of fortifications extend- ing from Quebec to New Orleans. The progress of their
See Marshal and Pitkin, passim.
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colonies was viewed with apprehension and jealousy by the English, and at an early period Sedgwick dislodged them from Penobscot, where they had made settlements and had subdued Acadie. New-York and New England, during this period, were exposed to a desolating Indian war : while the English crown viewed with indignation the influence of that voluptuous monarch, Louis XIV .- which was believed to en- courage those hostilities in this country.
War soon broke out at home, between France and England, and its influence was extended to their possessions in America. In 1688 De Calliers had projected a military expedition against New-York. While this was pending, however, he embarked for Quebec, and found Canada in the utmost con- sternation. During the preceding summer the Iroquois had landed twelve hundred men on the Island of Montreal, who destroyed about a thousand of the French. In October the Island was again attacked, and the lower part laid waste. In consequence of these incursions, Fort Frontenac on Lake On- tario was evacuated. The savages roused the country into such a state of dread, that agriculture could not be practised. The projected attack on New-York was accordingly pre- vented.
Count Frontenac, then in his sixty-eighth year, but possess- ing all the animation and vigor of youth, embarked in a ca- noe for Montreal, for the purpose of encouraging the Cana- dian inhabitants, and terrifying the hostile savages. Sending out hostile parties against the English, he held a council with the Iroquois at Onondaga. This council, however, resulted in no permanent league. The expedition sent out, against New-York, to which allusion has before been made, was con- stituted of a few Indians and about two hundred French. These travelled through a wilderness covered with deep snows, with their packs upon their backs, by the aid of snow- shoes ; and on the Sth of February, 1690, at eleven o'clock at night, they arrived at Schenectady in New-York. Here they divided themselves into small parties of six or seven, and, entering each house at the same time, they massacred the oc- cupants ; and, slaying the mothers, cast the unborn infants
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into the flames of the burning village. At this attack, sixty persons were killed and twenty-seven made prisoners. Hav- ing burned and pillaged the settlement, and killed all the cattle which could be found, the invaders retired. The weather was intensely cold, and in their flight twenty-seven lost their limbs from the cold, and twenty-five of the French were killed and captured by a party of young men from Al- bany, who followed in pursuit, accompanied by a body of Mohawks.
The general court of Massachusetts well knew that these disasters originated in Canada and Acadie, and they accord- ingly soon planned an expedition against Port Royal and Quebec. To carry out that project, eight small vessels, car- rying seven or eight hundred men, were despatched early in the spring for Port Royal, and took possession of that point, together with the whole line between it and the English set- tlements. On the 30th of May the fleet returned. On the other hand, Count Frontenac made a descent from Quebec and Trois Rivières upon Salmon Falls and Fort Casco, and took a number of prisoners ; while the frontier was kept in a continual state of consternation by the incursions of the sa- vages.
The importance of the conquest of Canada was urged upon the English monarch, but his mind was too much oc- cupied with domestic affairs to attend to the American colo- nies, and it was soon conceived to be necessary for the colo- nies to adopt vigorous measures for self-defence. It was agreed that New-York and New England should furnish troops to march by the route of Lake Champlain to attack Montreal, and that a force from Massachusetts should proceed to Quebec by sea, for the purpose of its capture. That fleet sailed from Nantasket on the 9th of August. It consisted of forty vessels, containing in all about two thousand men. The largest vessel carried forty-four guns. The troops from Con . necticut and New-York were unsupported by the Iroquois, who rendered them no assistance by their warriors, or fur- nished canoes to transport them over the lakes ; and, in con- sequence, they returned without attacking Montreal. The
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fleet, under the command of Sir William Phipps, was delayed in its passage to Quebec, and was obliged to encounter the whole French force. After an unsuccessful attack upon Mon- treal, where he received more injury than he inflicted, on the 13th of November he returned to Boston. That expedition thus failed.
A desultory war continued to be carried on for some time between the two nations, backed by savages, producing great damage and individual suffering. Canada was deemed the main source of the evils which were incurred ; and at length King William, in 1603, determined to employ a force for the reduction of Quebec ; but the plan was not carried into execu- tion. On the conquest of Acadie by Sir William Phipps, Mas- sachusetts extended its jurisdiction over that region ; but as no body of troops could be retained in that quarter to maintain the allegiance of the French, their affections soon returned to their native country, and the government of Massachusetts was shaken off. Villebone had recovered Port Royal, and held a commission from the king of France as governor of Acadie. About the same period a fort at Pemaquid was taken by a body of French and Indians, by Iberville, while England as yet rendered but little assistance to the war. In 1696 a pro- mise was made to that effect, but this promise was not per- formed.
During the same year a plan originated with the cabinet of Versailles for an expedition to be carried on in the year fol- lowing against the English colonies. Its design was to grasp the dominion of North America. Count de Frontenac was ordered to hold in readiness fifteen hundred men, to co-operate with the troops which should arrive from France ; but that expedition was also relinquished. In December, peace was declared between England and France ; and the hostilities be- tween the subjects of those nations ceased also. During the war, New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New-York were more particularly exposed to the depredations of the savages ; but the latter colony was covered by the Iroquois, who con- tinued firm allies to the English notwithstanding the arts and address of the French.
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By the treaty of peace between France and England, it had been agreed that each nation should restore to the other the conquests made during the war ; and it was also stipulated that commissioners should be appointed to determine the claims of both monarchs to the places in Hudson's Bay, while the possession of places which had been taken by the French, and which were retaken by the English, should remain with France. The boundaries of these places, however, were not clearly defined, and the consequences soon became manifest. The English claimed the whole country west of St. Croix as a part of the colony of Massachusetts, and France determined to exclude the English from the fisheries on the coast, and from the possession of the country east of Kennebec. Hos- tilities were therefore soon re-commenced for the establish- ment of these claims. A treaty of neutrality was negotiated by the French with the Iroquois ; and New-Hampshire and Massachusetts were obliged to struggle with the whole weight of the war. Numerous projects were discussed for the subju- gation of the French, and depredations on the frontiers con- tinued to be committed until the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, terminated for a time the colonial troubles. By this treaty, France ceded to England all Nova Scotia or Acadie, with its ancient boundaries ; as also the city of Port Royal, now call- ed Annapolis Royal, and all other things in those parts which depend on the said lands.
The French missionaries, comprised of the Jesuits, priests, and Recollets, acquired great influence among the Indians ; and in the exercise of a principle common to our nature, in a few instances excited the prejudices of the savages against the Anglo-Saxon race. Evidence is produced to show that in 1726 M. Vaudreuil exercised his influence for the same ob- ject. After the cession of Nova Scotia to Great Britain, it was proved that Father Ralle, a Canadian missionary, had exerted an agency in rousing the resentments of the Indians against the English ; and a force was detached to the village where Rolle resided, to seize his person. But Ralle had fled. His papers were, however, found-which clearly demonstrated that a correspondence had taken place between himself and Vau-
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dreuil, the Governor of Canada, in which the Canadian Go- vernor had promised to furnish the Indians arms and ammu- nition in case they made an attack upon the English posts. That fact was charged upon Vaudreuil, which he at first de- nied, and affirmed that the Indians were independent tribes, and could do as they pleased ; but when the evidence was . exhibited, nailing upon him the falsehood, he stated that he would use his influence to suppress any future disturbances. A treaty of peace was then concluded with the Indians in Canada, in which they engaged to terminate hostilities.
But war again sprang up in Europe between the English and French, and the peace of the English settlements was soon disturbed by an attack from Cape Breton on the part of the latter nation. The Governor of that place, having receiv- ed information of a war between France and England, con- cluded upon the destruction of the English fishery at Can- seau. Duvivier accordingly, with a force of armed vessels and about nine hundred men, attacked the island, and made its inhabitants prisoners of war. An attack was also made upon Annapolis, but without success.
The French had made great exertions to extend their do- minions in this country, by sending out colonies, and erecting forts at points which could command the largest extent of territory. During the year 1721 they had made large grants of land on the banks of Lake Champlain, which was claimed by New-York, New-Hampshire, and Massachusetts ; and they had also built a fort at Crown Point, on the shores of that lake. They subsequently advanced southward from the great lakes, and constructed Fort Duquesne on the Ohio River, and had stretched their establishments from Quebec to the mouth of the Mississippi." It was claimed by the French, that the Ohio, or La Belle Rivière, was the natural channel of communication between Canada and Louisiana ; that it had
* In 1753 George Washington, then twenty-one years of age, crossed the ice and snows of the Alleghany mountains to deliver a letter to the commandant of Fort Duquesne, remonstrating against these advancing establishments. He was despatched for that object by Lieut. Governor Dinwiddie. For his journal on that expedition, see Sparks's Washington, vol. 2, p. 432.
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never been occupied or appropriated by the English ; and that, moreover, it was originally traversed by their own people, and discovered by La Salle as early as 1679. It was also alleged that some English traitors had passed the mountains of Virginia, and wanted to carry on a trade with the Indians on the Ohio, and that the French took and carried them back to France.
The belligerent measures of the French induced the En- glish colonies to establish some system of measures by which the French power might be overthrown, and the English combined into a well-organized system of co-operation. In 1745 Louisburg was captured by a force of combined troops from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut ; and this conquest saved Nova Scotia, because Duvivier-who was intending to procure an armament for the subjugation of that province, and who was ordered to proceed to Louisburg, and thence advance in the execution of his plan, as soon as he had heard of its surrender set sail for Europe and gave up the project.
The rival projects of France and England soon became manifest. The former contemplated the conquest of Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, and the devastation of the sea-coast, as well as the conquest of the whole of New-England ; while Great Britain anticipated the expulsion of the French from the continent, and the subjugation of all Canada. A fleet, con- sisting of forty ships, had been despatched under the Duke d'Anville, with the necessary armaments, to co-operate with the French and Indians against the English colonies ; but tre- mendous storms wrecked a greater part, and dispersed the other during their voyage ; in addition to which, the troops on board the vessels which arrived in port were attacked by a deadly sickness, which carried off a great number. The French also intercepted a letter which had been despatched to Louisburg, informing the English Admiral that a British fleet would follow that of France. The commander-in-chief suddenly died, and the command of the French colonies de- volved upon M. Le Jonquiere. The war soon grew hotter. The power of France in Canada was under the direction of
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one governor, and the genius of the people was military ; while the English colonies were scattered over a wide extent of territory, and the inhabitants, unaccustomed to arms, were jealous of the crown.
In September, 1753, the Board of Trade sent instructions to the Governor of New-York to hold a treaty with the Iroquois, to satisfy their complaints and adjust their claims ; and also to seek commissioners to be present, and unite with New-York ; so that all the English provinces might be comprised in one general treaty to be made in his Majesty's name. The Earl of Holderness, secretary of state, at the same time recommend- ed that the commissioners of this meeting should form a ge- neral plan of colonial union against the encroachments of the French. In accordance with this recommendation and the instructions of the Board of Trade, commissioners from the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Con- necticut, New-York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, met at Al- bany in June, 1754 ; and having effected a treaty with the In- dians, resolved unanimously that a union of the colonies was absolutely necessary for their preservation. They clearly fore- saw that if the French were suffered to advance in their plans of dominion, their extending establishments would soon become too formidable to be undermined. A plan of colonial union was framed by Doctor Franklin, and submitted to the British Government ; but it was rejected, on the ground that it granted to the colonists too much of that power which be- longed to the crown. But, notwithstanding the plan of union had failed, the colonies continued to co-operate in vigorous defensive measures ; and twenty-five thousand men were raised for that object-five thousand of whom were from Con- necticut, and seven thousand from Massachusetts. Two hundred thousand pounds sterling were also granted from the British treasury by act of parliament; and this sum was distributed among the English colonies in proportion to the number of troops which each had in the service.
In 1755, General Braddock embarked for America, and im- mediately on his arrival convened a council of the governors of the different English colonies, for the purpose of determining
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a plan for the military campaign. The objects of their attack were Fort Duquesne, Niagara, Fort Frontenac, and Crown Point. An expedition, which was projected in Massachusetts, was also carried out against the French posts in Nova Scotia. A force consisting of about three hundred British and three thousand colonial troops, conquered and took possession of that province; and the inhabitants, who were found in a state of rebel- lion against the British arms, were dispersed among the English colonies, and reduced from affluence to the uttermost depths of poverty. Since the arrival of Braddock, the British arms had been unsuccessful ; and his defeat and death in 1755, from an invisible force of French and Indians at Fort Duquesne, co- vered the land with gloom. The Marquis de Montcalm, a gal- lant officer, who had succeeded Dieskeau in the command of the French troops, advanced with about five thousand French and Indians upon Oswego, conquered the garrison, and des- troyed the fort .*
In the year 1757, the vast and splendid genius of the Earl of Chatham was at the helm of England, and projected a vigorous campaign on the American continent ; and during the same year a military council was held at Boston, at which the Earl of Loudon opened his proposition with a speech which was intended to bring the English colonies into a sys- tematic and vigorous co-operation. Montcalm had captured Fort William Henry, and had thus opened a way for the French to Lakes Champlain and George, and by the destruc- tion of Oswego, had acquired dominion of the lakes which con- nect Canada with Louisiana. Fort Duquesne had beencap- tured, and by this means the French held ascendancy over the Indians west of the Alleghany mountains, and the En- glish settlements were driven to the Blue Ridge. The exter- mination of the French power in the North American pro. vinces was soon determined on. The Earl of Loudon, who had been invested with the command of the English forces, returned to England, and his successor in command was General Abercrombie. Twelve thousand British troops also
* For facts in this part of the work I am mainly indebted to Marshall and Pitkin.
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arrived, under General Amherst, from England. Bodies of rangers were trained to the hardships of the forest, or what was called the wood service. By these decisive measures, Louisburg was taken as well as Crown Point ; and Ticonde- roga was attacked without success, with the loss of Lord Howe, a young and gallant soldier .* The expedition against these two last places was undertaken by General Abercrombie in person. About the same time General Bradstreet captured Oswego with a force of about three thousand men ; and Fort Duquesne had been deserted, and left to the possession of Gen. Forbes.
Colonel Robert Rogers had been commissioned by General James Abercrombie, in 1757, under instructions from the Earl of London, to raise a body of rangers, who were accus- tomed to the desultory mode of fighting peculiar to the sa- vages ; and, in conjunction with General Putnam, backed by royal troops and Indian allies, to advance into Canada, for the purpose of pushing the Engish conquests in that quarter. For the purpose of securing the attachment of the tribes favorable to the English cause, he wrote to Uncas, the chief sachem of the Mohegan tribes, in the following terms, sending him, at the same time, a belt of wampum :--
" BROTHER UNCAS,
" As it is for the advantage of his Majesty, King George, to have a large body of rangers employed in his service the en- suing campaign, and as I am well convinced of the sincere attachment you have to him, I therefore obey General Am- herst's orders to me, to engage your assistance here early in the spring.
" I hope you will continue to show that ardent zeal you have all along expressed for the English ever since you have been allied to them, by raising a company of your men with the greatest expedition.
" Should you choose to come out a captain, General Am- · herst will readily give you the commission for it; if not, I shall expect Doquipe and Nunnipad. I leave to you the
* A splendid monument to his memory, to be erected in the collegiate church of Westminster, was voted by the Assembly of Massachusetts.
GENERAL VIEW OF OPERATIONS ABROAD.
choice of an ensign and two sergeants, but I hope you will en- gage the fittest men for their stations. I would have the. con :- pany consist of fifty private men, or more if you can get them ; and if those men that deserted from Capt. Brewer will join you, the General will pardon them. You may employ a clerk for the company, to whom General Amherst will allow the usual pay .*
" I heartily wish you success in raising your men, and shall be exceedingly glad that you join me with all the expedition you possibly can.
" I am, Brother Uncas,
" Your most obedient, humble servant,
"To King Uncas. ROBERT ROGERS."
An energetic campaign was projected in 1759, designed to demolish at a blow the French power in New France. Three grand divisions were made in the English army, and Canada was to be entered by three different routes. Brigadier-gene- ral Wolfe, a young and brave officer, was ordered to ascend the St. Lawrence and lay siege to Quebec ; Major-general Amherst was to attack Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and then advance over Lake Champlain and down the St. Law- rence, so as to form a junction with Wolfe under the walls of Quebec ; and the third division of the army was to be com- manded by General Prideaux, and was designed to attack Niagara, embark on Lake Ontario, and thence proceed to the attack of Montreal. If Montreal should surrender before Quebec, he was then to join his forces with the grand army at that place. General Amherst, after making great exertions to accomplish his object, was obliged to retire into winter- quarters. Prideaux advanced against Niagara, where he found a body of French troops from Detroit, Venango, and Presque Isle. The place was besieged, and soon surrendered.
In the month of June, 1759, the English fleet under Wolfe, containing eight thousand men, reached the Island of Orleans. The French force, exclusive of the garrison of Quebec, com- prised about ten thousand, with a reserve of two thousand. General Wolfe first made an attack on Montmorenci, and * Rogers's Journal, p. 126, 7.
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landed his troops under the cover of a fire from the ships of war ; but he was repulsed, and after some delay it was deter- mined to gain the heights of Abraham. This daring enter- prize was effected on the 12th of September.
It is well known that the city of Quebec stands on the north side of the St. Lawrence, and is comprised of an upper and lower town. The lower town is situated on the strand, while the upper town is bulwarked by an immense rock, which stretches along the St. Lawrence with a bold and pre- cipitons wall. On this side it is inaccessible, and on the west it was protected by the river St. Charles. The position was defended by the French army of ten thousand men, command- ed by the Marquis de Montcalm, and strengthened by float- ing batteries and armed vessels. The British ships of war sailed nine miles up the river above Quebec, as a stratagem to draw off a portion of the French army under M. Bougain- ville. This stratagem was successful ; and a detachment of the French army moved along the banks of the river to pre- vent the English from debarking. About midnight, boats de- tached from the British ships, and filled with soldiers, floated in silence down the current of the St. Lawrence. On the lofty banks of the river picket guards were stationed. As the boats passed along the shore, they were hailed by a French sentinel then on duty, " Qui vit-who comes there ?" " La France," said a soldier who understood the French language. "Quel regiment-to what regiment ?" " De la reine-the Queen's," said the soldier, who knew the name of one which was with the force of Bougainville. "Passé," said the sentinel, supposing it to be a French convoy of provisions, which was expected to pass down to Quebec; and the boats passed on. Another sentinel, who distrusted the aspect of the boats, ran down to the water's edge, and cried ont, "Pour- quois est ce que vous ne parler plus haut-why don't you speak louder ?" " Jai toi nous serons entendres-hush, we shall be overheard and discovered,"* said the Englishman, and the boats floated along without further interruption.
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