USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 39
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This state of things was somewhat relieved by the events that followed. At Col. Bradstreet's earnest solicitations, he was sent by Abercrombie with a strong detachment against Fort Frontinac, on Lake Ontario. On the 25th of August he land- ed with his force within a mile of the Fort, and forthwith pro- ceeded to invest it. On the 26th he had pushed his works so near the defences, that he was able to open upon them a most vigorous and effective fire. Early on the morning of 27th of August the garrison surrendered, having neither hope of rein- forcement or successful resistance. Thus this important for- tress, commanding Lake Ontario and its shipping, and filled with provisions and peltries, fell into the hands of the British and this without the loss of a single man !
And the expedition against Fort du Quesne, was equally successful. Gen. Forbes had been delayed by various causes, and so ill as to be carried on a litter ; he did not arrive at Loyal Hanning within fifty miles of the Fort till the 5th of October.
327
EXPEDITIONS AGAINST NIAGARA, MONTREAL AND QUEBEC.
There a Council of war was held, and it was determined to advance no farther that season. However, Washington was permitted to push foward on the 12th with a brigade of Pro- vincials. At the head of these troops he hesitated not for sleet or snow, but pushed on into the valley of the Ohio.
The French commander, M. de Lignieres, being warned of his approach by his scouts, dismantled the fort, and setting it on fire retreated down the Ohio to the French settlements. On the 25th of November, Washington entered the long covet- ed, but now smouldering fortress, and planted thereon the Brit- ish flag. He immediately set about repairing the fort, and gave it the name of Pittsburg, in honor of the man who had infus- se soul and spirit into the British Colonists. Thus ended the campaign of 1758, brilliant in achievment, save alone the de- feat before Ticonderoga, attributable to the incapacity of a General, selected by Court favor, rather than any merti of his own.
The British ministry determined upon an enegetic campaign for 1759. Gen. Amherst had been appointed Commander-in- Chief, and arrived at New York the 12th of December, and took command of the English forces. His success in the pre- ceding campaign, promised much for the future. The confi- dence of the colonies was restored, and they readily responded to Mr. Pitt's call for troops. New Hampshire in spite of her former losses and disappointments, raised a regiment of a thou- sand men for the campaign. This regiment was commanded by Col. Zaccheus Lovewell, of Dunstable. One or two com- panies were from this immediate vicinity, and Amoskeag was well represented in them. Col. Goffe, of Derryfield, was sec- ond in command. The regiment marched across the country, and joined Gen. Amherst at Lake George.
The plan of the campaign was to send three expeditions against Niagara, Montreal, and Quebec. These strongholds were to be attacked at one and the same time, by powerful forces, thus dividing and distracting the forces of the French. The expedition against Quebec was under the command of Gen. James Wolfe, assisted by Admiral Saunders, with a power- ful fleet ; that against Niagara, was headed by Brig. General Prideaux ; while Gen. Amherst, lead the forces against Mon- treal.
During the winter Gen. Amherst was actively engaged in preparations for the campaign, and in reconnoitering the posts of the enemy, and watching their movements. This last ser-
328
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
vice of course devolved upon the Rangers. The weather dur- ring this winter was severely cold, and the snow in the neigh- borhood of the lakes, averaged four feet in depth, and the duty of scouting was not only dangerous, but extremely laborious. It was performed upon snow-shoes, mostly in the night, with- out fire when near the enemy's posts, and without covering when encamped, save of pine or hemlock boughs. So that aside from the hazards of the fight, the Rangers had to run the risk of frost-bitten limbs, or death itself from the same cause.
On the 3d of March orders were sent to Major Rogers to proceed with a detachment of Rangers, Regulars and Indians, to reconnoitre the enemy's works at Ticonderoga, and Crown Point. Mr. Brheme the engineer was in attendance. The de- tachment numbered 358 men. Major Rogers commenced his march the same day, and encamped for the night at Half-way Brook. His journal of this scout is as follows ;
"On the 4th marched within a mile and a half of Lake George, and halted until evening that we might pass the ene- my undiscovered, if any should be on the hill. We then con- tinued our march until two o'clock in the morning, and halted at the first narrows ; whence several of our party being frost bitten, were sent back in charge of a careful sergeant to Fort Edward.
At eleven o'clock on the evening of the 5th, we reached Sabath-day point, almost overcome with cold. At two o'clock continued our route, and arrived at the landing place at eight A. M. Here a scout was sent out, and reported that two work- ing parties were to be seen on the east side, but none on the west. I judged this a suitable time for the engineer to make his observations ; and leaving Capt. Williams in command of the Regulars, proceeded with the engineer, forty-nine Rangers, Capt. Lottridge, and forty-five Indians, to the isthmus, which overlooks the Fort, where he made his observations. We then returned to our party, leaving five Indians and one Ranger, to observe what numbers crossed the Lake from the east side, in the evening, that I might know how to attack them next morn- ing. At dark the engineer went again to the entrenchments, with Lieut. Tute, and a guard of 10 men. He returned at midnight, having finished his business to his satisfaction. Up- on this, I ordered Capt. Williams and the Regulars, back to Sabbath-day point, they being so distressed with the cold, and having no snow-shoes, it appeared imprudent to march them any farther. Lieut. Tute and thirty Rangers, were sent with them, with orders to kindle fires upon the point. At three
329
SCOUT OF THE RANGERS.
o'clock, I marched with three Lieutenants and forty Rangers, one Regular, and Capt. Lottridge's Indians, to attack the work- ing parties when they crossed the Lake early in the morning. We crossed the South Bay, eight miles south of the Fort, and at six o'clock bore down opposite to it, within half a mile of the French parties employed in cutting wood. A scout of two Indians and two Rangers soon brought intelligence that they were forty in number, and at work close upon the Lake shore nearly opposite the Fort. We ran down upon them, took sev- eral prisoners, and destroyed most of the party in the retreat. Being discovered by the garrison, we were pursued by eighty Canadians and Indians, backed by 150 Regulars, who in a mile's march commenced a fire upon our rear. We halted up- on a rising ground, repulsed the enemy before their whole par- ty came up, and resumed our line of march abreast. Proceed- ing half a mile further our rear was again attacked, but we gained an advantageous post, upon a long ridge, where we made a stand on the side opposite the enemy. The Canadians and Indians came very close, but receiving a warm fire from the Rangers and Mohawks, they broke immediately, were pur- sued, and entirely routed before their Regulars could come up. We now marched without opposition. In these skirmishes one Regular and two Rangers were killed, and one Indian wounded, and thirty of the enemy left dead upon the field. At twelve o'clock at night we reached Sabbath-day point, fifty miles from the place we left in the morning. Capt. Williams was up and received us with good fires, than which, nothing could be more acceptable to my party, several of whom had their feet frozen, the weather being exceisively cold, and the snow four feet deep. Next morning, the whole detachment marched to Long Island, on Lake George, and encamped for the night. During our march, some of the Rangers and Indi- ans had leave to hunt on the Lake shore, and brought us plen- ty of venison.
At Lake George, we met the sleighs, and a detachment of 100 men, with whom we all arrived safe at Fort Edward."
Gen. Amherst arrived at Albany the first of May, and the army was organized for the field.
On the first of June the first division under Gen. Gage, ad- vanced to the Lake. Capt. John Stark with three companies of Rangers accompanied this division, feeling the way through the wilderness for the advance. On the 20th of June the sec- ond division followed, accompanied by the Commander-in-Chief, Rogers and his Rangers forming a part of the advanced guard.
330
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
The army remained in position near the Lake while the 21st day of July, when it embarked for Ticonderoga, numbering 11,130 men. It crossed the Lake in four divisions, the Rang- ers leading the advance and first effecting a landing. The ar- my disembarked without molestation, and the Rangers were ordered across the mountains in the isthmus to secure the well known bridge at the saw-mills. The enemy were posted on the rising ground beyond the bridge, to dispute the passage, but Rogers and his party pushed on across the bridge, in spite of resistance, attacked the enemy in their position, and killing some, and taking several prisoners, routed the whole, before the advance of the main army under Col. Haviland, crossed the bridge. Soon after the main army came up and encamped for the night upon the heights near the saw ·mills.
The army was early in motion, on the morning of the 23d of July, and Major Rogers was ordered across the plain, to Lake Champlain, to take and maintain a position betwixt the lake and the enemy's breast-work. Meantime Gen. Amherst sent a detachment to attack the main breast-work upon the hill, which they carried without opposition, the enemy falling back upon the neighboring fort. The Rangers were equally success- ful, and took possession of a small entrenchment near the lake, with but little loss. The enemy thus hard pushed, and satis- fied that the present Commander-in-Chief, had the will and the ability to accomplish his undertaking, during the following night, deserted the fort and proceeded down the lake, leaving a detachment of 400 men to continue the defence, and thus mask the retreat of the main army. These 400 men performed their part with the greatest gallantry, and the better to cover the re- treat of their comrades, made a sortie from the fort and attack- ed the English in their entrenchments, putting them in the greatest confusion and disorder. Through the 24th, 25th, and 26th they kept up a coutinual fire upon the English works. On the 26th the English had advanced their works within 600 yards of the fort, and Major Rogers with his Rangers and some Indians kept up a most galling fire from them. The besieged could not work their guns without being picked off by his sharp shooters. Thus pressed, the gallant band determined up- on retreat.
To secure a retreat, the French had stretched a strong boom of logs across the lake opposite the fort. This effectually stop- ped the passage of the English boats down the lake, and pre- vented pursuit. On the afternoon of the 26th, Major Rogers and 60 Rangers went up to Lake George, and carried two
331
SURRENDER OF CROWN POINT.
whale boats, and one flat-boat across the land to Lake Cham- plain. With these they embarked upon the lake after dark, for the purpose of sawing off the boom, and thus clear the way for cutting off the retreat of the French down the Lake. Ac- cordingly about 9 o'clock in the evening, they approached the boom upon the eastern shore of the lake. Just at that mo- ment there came a flash, then forked flames shot into the sky, illuminating the whole horizon, followed by a deep, deafening report, and anon the crashing of timbers, the falling of rocks, the splashing of fragments, and the booming of cannon, re- vealed the fact that the coveted fortress had been blown up! The French had deserted the fort, but to render the fortress useless to the English, and to do them as much damage as pos- sible, they had left every gun charged and pointed ; had min- ed the walls ; and had connected these mines with the maga- zine by a lighted fuse ! The scene was horrid and terrific. The retreat would have been accomplished without loss, had it not been for Rogers and his party. After their surprise at the ter- rible explosion was over, lighted by the flames from the burn- ing fortress, Rogers and his Rangers discovered the retreating party and immediately crossed the lake and attacked them to considerable advantage, compelling them to run their boats ashore, and take refuge in the woods in large numbers. This attack was so successful, that on the following morning, ten boats were taken on the eastern shore, in which were 50 bar- rels of powder, a quantity of shot and shells, and a large amount of baggage.
Gen. Amherst took possession of the fort, and at once set about repairing it. Meantime, August 11, he sent to Major Rogers the following order.
"You are this night to send a Captain with a proper propor- tion of subalterns, and 200 men to Crown Point. Where they will post themselves in such a manner as not to be surprised and if attacked they are not to retreat, but to maintain their position until reinforced.
JEFF. AMHERST.
Major Rogers sent Capt. Brewer with this detachment, who after some skirmishing, secured a commanding position, and maintained it. But this precaution was needless, as the Ran- gers soon discovered that the main part of the French army had abandoned Crown Point. This fact was made known to Gen. Amherst on the morning of the 12th, and he forthwith sent foward a detachment and took possession of the Fort. Soon
332
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
after he followed with the main body of his army, and encam- ped, and on the 13th commenced building a new Fort.
While thus employed, Capt. John Stark with 200 Rangers was detached to cut a road from Crown Point to Number Four, now Charleston. This was for the purpose of trans- porting troops and baggage from Charleston, it being the rendezvous for men enlisted in New Hampshire and Massachu- setts.
During the same time, Gen. Amherst sent Capt. Kennedy with a flag of truce to the Indians of St. Francis, proposing to make peace with them, but these haughty Indians perfidiously retained this officer as a prisoner. The British General hearing of this treachery determined to chastise them. He accordingly issued the following order.
"You are this night to join the detachment of 200 men which were yesterday ordered out, and proceed to Missisqui Bay, from which you will proceed to attack the enemy's set- tlements on the south side of the St. Lawrence, in such a man- ner, as shall most effectually disgrace and injure the enmy, and redound to the honor and success of his Majesty's arms. Re- member the barbarities committed by the enemy's Indian scoundrels on every occasion, where they have had opportuni- ties of showing their infamous cruelties, towards his Majesty's subjects. Take your revenge, but remember that although the villians have promiscuously murdered women and children, of all ages, it is my order that no women or children should be killed or hurt. When you have performed this service you will again join the army wherever it may be.
Yours, &c.
JEFF. AMHERST. Camp at Crown Point, Sep. 13, 1769.
To MAJOR ROGERS.
Major Rogers started immediately upon this perilous expedi- tion. His way lay hundreds of miles through the enemy's country, and the same an unborken wilderness. None other than Roger's Rangers, would ever have been thought capable of such an undertaking, and none but them would ever have accomplished the object of the expedition. On the 22d day after the scout left Crown Point, they arrived in the vicinity of St. Francis, the village having been discovered from a tree by one of the Rangers, when three miles distant. His party had now become reduced by various causalities to 142 men. These were ordered to refresh themselves, while Rogers with Lieut.
333
ATTACK ON ST. FRANCIS.
Turner and Ensign Avery went forward to reconnoitre the town. They found the Indians in the greatest glee, celebrat- ing a wedding. Rogers remarks, that they "saw them execute several dances with the greatest spirit." He returned to the camp about two o'clock in the morning, having made a com- plete reconnoisance of the village. At three o'clock the whole party advanced upon the village and halted within 500 yards of it. There they left their packs and prepared for action. Di- vested of every incumbrance, the party formed in three divis- ions, and just as the day broke, they marched steadily upon the right, left, and centre of the devoted village. In perfect secur- ity, not a sentinel set, the entire village was wrapped in the depths of bacchanalian slumbers. The Rangers marched up to the very doors of the wigwams unobserved, and the sev- eral squads made choice of the wigwams they would attack. At length the wished for signal was given, and the attack com- menced. There was little use of the musket, the Rangers leaped into the wigwams, and made sure work with the hatch- et and knife. Never was surprise more complete. They had no time to recover from their surprise, or make any defence. They were almost all completely destroyed. Some few ran to the river and attempted to escape in their canoes, but they were pursued, their canoes sunk, and they themselves shot or drown- ed. They then fired the village, and burned every hut except three, reserved for their own use. Many were burned with their houses, being secreted in the cellars and lofts. Among these were doubtless many women and children, as they made prisoners of only twenty of such, and destroyed none in any other way. Fifteen of the prisoners were suffered to depart, while three girls and two boys were retained. Never was work more thoroughly accomplished. And with but very little loss, as upon parading it was found that only one officer, and six pri- vates were wounded, and but a single private, a Stock-bridge Indian, killed.
From the prisoners, Major Rogers learned that his path had been waylaid, and a council of war having been held, it was determined to return by the way of Connecticut River. This contingency had been provided for, and Gen. Amherst had, at Rogers' request, ordered provisions from Number Four to the mouth of the Amonoosuck River. The party immediately set out on their return, and marched in a body for eight days to- wards the sources of the Connecticut. At length upon the shores of Lake Memphramagog, their provisions failing, the
26
334
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
party was divided into companies, each with a competent lead- er, and ordered to make the best of their way to the Amo- noosuck River. Major Rogers with his party reached the place of rendezvous on the 5th of November. On the way he had been joined by Ensign Avery, whose party had been overtaken by the enemy. , They had taken seven of his men prisoners, but two of them escaped and joined their friends. The rest came in safely with Rogers' party. Upon arriving at the Amonoo- suck, they found no provisions. Lieut. Stevens, who had charge of them, tarried but two days and then passed down the river, foolishly taking with him all the provisions. Most of Rogers' party were unable to proceed any farther. In this dilemma, he left them for Number Four, promising to return with relief in ten days. He was accompanied by Capt. Ogden, a Ranger, and a captive Indian boy. The passage down the Connecti- cut was dangerous in the extreme. Major Rogers in describing it says,
"Captain Ogden, myself and a captive Indian boy, embark- ed upon a raft of dry pine trees. The current carried us down the stream in the middle of the river, where we kept our mis- serable vessel, with such paddles as could be split, and hewn with small hatchets. The second day we reached White Riv_ er falls, and very narrowly escaped running over them. The raft went over and was lost; but our remaining strength en- abled us to land, and march by the falls. At the foot of them Capt. Ogden, and the Ranger, killed some red squirrels, and a partridge, while I attempted to construct another raft. Not being able to cut the trees I burnt them down, and burnt them at proper lengths. This was our third day's work after leaving our companions. The next day we floated down to Wotoqui- chie falls, which are about fifty yards in length. Here we land- ed, and Capt. Ogden held the raft by a wythe of hazle bushes, while I went below the falls, to swim in, board and paddle it ashore ; this being our only hope for life, as we had not strength sufficient to make a new raft, should this be lost. I succeed- ed in securing it, and the next morning we floated down with- in a short distance of Number Four. Here we found several men cutting timber, who relieved and assisted us to the fort. A canoe was immediately dispatched up the river with provis- ions, which reached them in Coos in four days after, which ac- cording to my agreement was the tenth after I left them. Two days after, I went up the river with two other canoes, to relieve others of my party who might be coming that way."
The leaders of the several parties besides Major Rogers, were
335
RETREAT OF THE RANGERS.
Lieutenants Phillips, Campbell, Cargill, and Farrington, Ensign Avery, and Messrs Dunbar and Turner.
Lieut. Phillips brought his party in without the loss of a man. Phillips was a half blood, his mother being a Mowhawk Indi- an. He was commissioned by the Earl of Loudon as a Lieu- tenant, for his meritorious services, and throughout the "Seven Years War," did good service as a leader of the Rangers. His party suffered very severely from hunger and were reduced almost to the terrible alternative of starvation or eating human flesh. One of the prisoners taken at St. Francis was with this party, and they had determined to kill the prisoner the night following, and thus furnish themselves with the means of sus- taining life. In the afternoon however, they killed a muskrat, which divided among the party, relieved them of the horrible alternative.
Sergeant Evans and his party, were not so fortunate. They wandered about in the woods for days, without food save the bark of the birch and other trees. At length they came across the mangled remains of some preceding party of their com- panions, and most of them took portions of them, for food ! Evans' better feelings revolted at the idea of eating human flesh and he refused his portion. However, a night or two after- wards, he laid aside all scruples, and in the night appeased the gnawings of hunger, by eating a steak from human flesh, filched from the knapsack of a sleeping soldier! And pronoun- ced it the "sweetest morsel he ever tasted !"
The party led by Lieut. George Campbell, suffered quite as severely.
"At one time they were four days without a morsel of food ; they had wandered from the direct route and knew not whith- er they went. The weak in mind went mad from suffering and despair; the weak in body sank. They had already de- voured their leather straps, and the covers of their cartouch boxes ; no resources, and but a faint glimmering of hope re- mained. At length on the 28th of October, in crossing a small stream dammed up with logs, they espied some human bodies scalped, and horribly mangled, probably the remains of their companions. Their furious hunger knew no restraint ; they did not even wait for a fire to prepare their ghastly banquet, but ate like beasts of prey ; then collecting carefully the remnants pursued their journey. A squirrel and a few roots helped to keep them alive till the 4th of November, when to tlieir un- utterable joy , they saw a boat on the Connecticut River, sent
336
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
by Rogers to their relief. On the 7th they rejoined their com- panions."*
Benjamin Bradley of Rumford, (now Concord,) came in safe to the Amonoosuck river. After recruiting for a day or two, he and two or three others started for home. After their packs were slung, Bradley remarked, "In three days I'll be in my father's house." The party then started, and this was the last that was ever heard of them. They lost their way, wandered through the wilderness in the neighborhood of the White Mountains, and perished from hunger. Some time after, the bones of Bradley were found in that neighborhood, by certain hunters, from the Merrimack Valley, and identified by the hair and by the leather ribbon with which it was tied.
Robert Pomeroy of Derryfield, was killed by the Indians or perished in the woods on a scout during the Indian Wars. The tradition in the family at the present day is, that he was out with a man by the name of Bradley, of Concord, or its vi- cinity, on a scout, that he was killed or perished, and that his bones were found years after about the sources of the Merri- mack, and were identified by his hair, and some personal eff- ects that had not decayed. It is probable that Pomeroy was one of Bradley's companions in this retreat from St. Francis and that he shared his fate.
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