USA > New York > A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants > Part 11
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Considerable difference of opinion had, for some time, existed between the governor and the assembly. Much warmth of feeling was manifested, and this increasing dissension was productive of serious inconvenience to the warlike operations of the colony.
The governor charged the house with culpable neglect in providing for the defence of the colony. This was highly re- sented by the assembly, who, in return, charged the governor with fraud and mismanagement in the administration of the government. The embarrassed state of the finances, arising from the expenses of the war, and the predatory excursions of the Indians, imposed a heavy burthen upon the inhabitants.
An event occurred, during the present season, which tend- ed not a little to keep up the controversy between the govern- or and the legislature. On the refusal of the commissioners, appointed to purchase provisions for the forces raised by the colony in the expedition against Canada, to appropriate certain provisions for the supply of four independent companies of fusileers, the provisions were forcibly seized and appropriated by order of the governor. The house was highly inflamed by this act of violence, and passed several spirited resolutions, declaring the seizure to be arbitrary, illegal, and a manifest violation of the rights and liberties of the subject. After some concessions on the part of the governor, the assembly were, however, apparently conciliated .*
SEC. VII. 1747. The French fitted out * Smith.
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another expedition, consisting of six ships of the line, six frigates and four armed East India ships, with 29 merchant ships and transports. They were overtaken by a superior British squadron · under admirals Anson and Warren, and, after a sanguinary engagement, were compelled to sur- render.
During this season, Saratoga again experi- enced an incursion of the French and Indians. The village, containing 30 families, was destroy- ed, and the inhabitants massacred. Towards the close of this year, a general inactivity char- acterized the measures of the belligerent powers. Both parties, mutually exhausted, appeared verg- ing towards a general pacification.
SEC. VIII. 1748. In April, the prelimina- ries were signed at Aix la Chapelle, and a cessation of hostilities was soon after proclaimed. The definitive treaty was completed on the 7th of October. Prisoners, on both sides, were to be released without ransom, and all conquests to be restored.
After the close of the war, the colony enjoyed, for several years, a period of general tranquillity. Released from the apprehensions of hostile ir- ruptions, the inhabitants vigorously addressed themselves to the arts of peace ; and, by industry, economy and enterprise, they, in a great measure, repaired the losses sustained by the preceding war. The increase of commerce, and the rapid extension of their settlements, evince the success that attended their exertions.
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FROM 1743 TO 1756.
In 1750, the entries at New York were 232, and the clear- ances 286. Above 6000 tons of provisions, chiefly flour, were exported, besides large quantities of grain.
SEC. IX. 1753. Governor Clinton having resigned, sir Danverse Osborne was appointed to succeed him, as governor of the colony. He took his seat at the council-board on the 10th of October, and died on the 12th. James Delancey, who had been appointed lieutenant- governor by one of the last acts of governor Clinton, assumed the administration of the gov- ernment.
The tragical fate of governor Osborne deserves a more particular notice. He put an end to his existence by hanging himself in the garden of Mr. Murray, with whom he resided. The act was supposed to have been perpetrated under the in- . fluence of insanity, occasioned by embarrassments, which, he apprehended, would attend the exercise of his commis- sion.
Mr. Smith; after detailing the particulars relative to this event, observes, " A point of honor and duty, in a foreseen difficulty to reconcile his conduct with his majesty's instruc- tions, very probably, gave his heart a fatal stab, and produced that terrible disorder in his mind, which occasioned his laying violent hands upon himself."
SEC. X. The colony had scarcely begun to realize the benefits of peace, when they were again menaced with foreign war. By the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, the controversy between the two crowns, relative to their claims in América, was referred to commissioners, to be appointed by the two sovereigns, for that purpose. These commissioners met the preceding year at Paris, and, after making laborious efforts to establish
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the claims of their respective sovereigns, were unable to come to any agreement.
The settlements of the English and French colonies were, in the mean time, approximating nearer to each other, and their respective lead- ers were anxious to secure the most eligible sit- uations for trading-houses and forts. Mutual complaints of aggression were soon followed by acts of open hostility. The British ministry, on being made acquainted with the claims of the French, without a formal declaration of war, directed the colonies to resist their encroach- ments by force of arms.
SEC. XI. 1754. A convention of delegates from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecti- cut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Maryland, with the lieutenant-governor and council of New York, was held at Albany, for the purpose of uniting upon some scheme for the common defence of the colonies.
A plan of union was adopted, in several of its features resembling the present constitution of the United States ; but it had the singular fortune to be rejected by the provincial assem- blies, because it gave too much power to the crown, and, at the same time, to be rejected by the crown, because it gave too much power to the people.
" According to this plan, a grand council was to be formed of members chosen by the provincial assemblies, and sent from all the colonies; which council, with a governor-general, appointed by the crown, and having a negative voice, should
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FROM 1743 TO 1756.
be empowered to make general laws, to raise money in all the colonies for their defence, to call forth troops, regulate trade, lay duties, &c. &c."
" The plan, thus matured, was approved and signed on the 4th of July, the day that Washington surrendered fort Neces- sity, and 22 years before the declaration of independence, by all the delegates, excepting those from Connecticut, who ob- jected to the negative voice of the governor-general."
"One circumstance, in the history of this plan, deserves here to be recorded, as evincing the dawning spirit of the revolution. Although the plan was rejected by the provincial assemblies, they declared, without reserve, that, if it were adopted, they would undertake to defend themselves from the French, without any assistance from Great Britain. They required but to be left to employ their supplies in their own way, to effect their security and predominance."
During the present year, several gentlemen in the city of New York, at the head of whom was lieutenant-governor De- lancey, made exertions for the establishment of a college. An act had been passed, in 1753, appointing trustees for this purpose, and making some provision for a fund by a succession of lotteries. In October of the present year, a charter was passed, incorporating several persons ex officio, and 24 prin- cipal gentlemen of the city, including some of the clergy of different denominations, and their successors, by the name and title of " the governors of the college of the province of New York, in the city of New York, in America." Dr. Sam- uel Johnson, a learned and respectable minister of the Epis- copal church in Stratford, Connecticut, was appointed in the charter the first president, and the president was ever after to be in the communion of the church of England. An institu- tion was likewise, the same year, projected, for promoting a spirit of inquiry among the people, by a loan of books to non-subscribers. The trustees were annually eligible by the subscribers, and had the disposal of the contributions, with the appointment of the librarian and clerk. Nearly £600 were raised, and a foundation was laid for an institution, ornamental to the metropolis, and useful to the colony. The
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books were deposited in the town hall. Gov. Tryon after- ward gave the trustees a charter .*
SEC. XII. 1755. Sir Charles Hardy arrived in September with the commission of governor, which was published with the usual solemnities. During his residence in the colony, he appears to have been principally under the influence of Delancey, to whom, on leaving, he committed the government. In 1757, he embarked with a command in the expedition against Louisburg, and Delancey resumed the administration, as lieutenant-governor.
The raising of revenue for defraying the ex- penses of the civil list, and of supplies for the defence of the country, and the prosecution of the war, in common with the other colonies, comprised, during this period, the most impor- tant acts of government. The city of New York contained, at this time, 2000 houses, and about 12,000 inhabitants.
Liberal appropriations were made for putting the province in a posture of defence, and for the prosecution of the de- signs against the French. In February, 1755, 45,000 pounds were voted for these objects, and bills of credit to that amount, redeemable on the collection of the money by taxes, were immediately issued. In May, a levy of 800 men was ordered, by the legislature, to cooperate with the forces from the other colonies in the expedition against Canada, and 10,000 pounds appropriated towards defraying the expense of the enterprise. Laws were also passed authorizing the impressment of ship- carpenters, joiners and other laborers for building boats, and the seizure of horses, wagons and boats for the public ser- vice. By another act, passed the same year, every male, between
* Holmes's Annals.
FROM 1743 TO 1756. 145
16 and 60, was required to enrol himself in the militia. Slaves, in cases of imminent danger, were required to do military duty. By the same act, any slave or slaves, above the age of 14, who should be found a mile or more from the plantation of his or their master, without a certificate signifying the business he or they might be sent on, should be adjudged guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy. It was, also, made lawful for any person or persons, finding such slave or slaves, to shoot or destroy him or them, without being liable to prosecution or impeachment for the same.
SEC. XIII. Early in the spring of 1755, the colonies made preparations for vigorous exer- tions against the enemy. An expedition was planned against the French in Nova Scotia ; another against the French on the Ohio ; a third against Crown Point ; and a fourth against Ni . agara.
SEC. XIV. The first expedition resulted in the entire reduction of Nova Scotia, and the acquisition of large quantities of provisions and military stores. That against the French on the Ohio, owing to the imprudence of general Brad dock, the commander, was peculiarly unfortunate When within seven miles of fort du Quesne,* they were surprised by a body of French and Indians, and, after an action of three hours, Braddock, under whom five horses had been killed, was mortally wounded, and his troops defeated.
When within 12 or 14 miles of fort du Quesne, Braddock was advised by his officers to proceed with caution; and was earnestly entreated by colonel Washington, his aid, to permit him to precede the army, and guard against surprise.
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* Now Pittsburg.
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
" Had he attended to those precautions, he would not have been thus ambuscaded; or had he wisely retreated from a con cealed enemy, and scoured the thicket with his cannon, the melancholy catastrophe might have been avoided. But, obsti nately rivetted to the spot on which he was first attacked, he vainly continued his attempt to form his men in regular or der, although, by this means, a surer prey to the enemy, until, being himself wounded, he could no longer be accessary to the destruction of human life.
" A remarkable fact in the history of this affair remains to be told. General Braddock held the provincial troops in great contempt. Consequently, he kept the Virginians, and other provincials, who were in the action, in the rear. Yet, although equally exposed with the rest, far from being affected with the fears that disordered the regular troops, they stood firm and unbroken, and, under colonel Washington, covered the retreat of the regulars, and saved them from total destruction.
"The retreat of the army, after Braddock was wounded, was precipitate. No pause was made until the rear division was met. This division, on its junction with the other, was seized with the same spirit of flight with the retreating, and both divisions proceeded to fort Cumberland, a distance of nearly 120 miles from the place of action.
"Had the troops, even here, recovered their spirits, and re- turned, success might still have crowned the expedition. At least, the army might have rendered the most important ser- vice to the cause, by preventing the devastations and inhu- man murders perpetrated by the French and Indians, during the summer, on the western borders of Virginia and Pennsyl- vania. But, instead of adopting a course so salutary and important, colonel Dunbar, leaving the sick and wounded at Cumberland, marched, with his troops, to Philadelphia."*
SEC. XV. The expedition against Crown Point. commanded by general William Johnson, though unsuccessful in its main object, served, in some measure, to dispel the gloom which followed the defeat of Braddock.
* Goodrich.
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FROM 1743 TO 1756.
Johnson encamped, the latter part of August, at the south end of lake George, where he was informed, that a body of the enemy, 2000 in number, had landed at South bay, under the command of baron Dieskau, and were marching towards fort Edward, for the purpose of destroy- ing the provisions and military stores at that place. A party of 1200 men, under colonel Wil- liams, were detached to intercept them, but were unfortunately surprised by Dieskau, who was lying in ambush, and, after a signal slaughter, were compelled to retreat. Colonel Williams, and Hendrick, a renowned Mohawk chief, with many other officers, were killed.
Dieskau, with his troops, soon appeared be- fore the encampment of Johnson, and com- menced a spirited attack. They were received with. great intrepidity, and the cannon and musketry did such execution among their ranks, that the enemy were forced to retire in confusion. Dieskau, after being severely wounded, fell into the hands of the English. The loss of the French was about 800; that of the English did not exceed 200.
The rendezvous for the projected expeditions against Crown Point and Niagara had been appointed to be at Al- bany. " Most of the troops had arrived at that place before the end of June; but the artillery, batteaux, provisions, and other necessaries for the attempt on Crown Point, could not be prepared until the 8th of August, when general Johnson set out with them from Albany, for the carrying-place between the IJudson and lake George. General Lyman, with the troops, amounting to between 5000 and 6000, had already
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
arrived there, and begun a fort at the landing on the east side of Hudson's river, which was, at first, called fort Lyman, afterward fort Edward. Toward the end of the month, gen- , eral Johnson, with the main body, moved forward more · northerly, and pitched his camp at the south end of lake George, previously called St. Sacrament. Here he learned by some Indians, who had been sent out as scouts, that they had discovered a party of French and Indians at Ticonderoga, situated on the isthmus between the north end of lake George and the southern part of lake Champlain, 15 miles on this side of Crown Point; but that no works were thrown up. Johnson was impatient to get up his batteaux, intending then to proceed with part of the troops, and seize that important pass. During the delay, the French furnished him sufficient employment at his own camp.
" A body of French troops had lately arrived at Quebec under the command of baron Dieskau. The French court, apprized of the importance of Oswego, had given instructions to the baron to reduce it. Proceeding immediately to Mon- treal, he thence detached 700 of his troops up the river, intending speedily to join them with the remainder; but, just before he had made the necessary preparations, Montreal was alarmed with news that the English were forming a numerous army near lake St. Sacrament for the reduction of fort Fred- erick at Crown Point, and perhaps to penetrate into Canada. In a grand council, holden on this occasion, the baron was importuned to pass through lake Champlain for the defence of the threatened fortress. Dieskau, after waiting a while at fort Frederick for the approach of the English army, resolved to advance toward it, and, in case of victory, to desolate the northern interior settlements, lay Albany and Schenectady in ashes, and cut off all communication with Oswego. For the execution of this design, he embarked at fort Frederick with 2000 men in batteaux, and, landing at South bay, proceeded toward fort Edward. By an English prisoner he was informed, .hat the fort was defenceless, and that the English camp at the lake was, a few days before, without lines, and desti- tute of cannon. When arrived within two miles of fort Ed- ward, he disclosed to the troops his design of attacking it;
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but the Canadians and Indians, fearful of the English cannon, . were averse to its execution. On their declaring, however, their willingness to surprise the English camp at lake St. Sa- crament, the baron changed his route, and began to move against the main body at that lake.
" In the mean time, general Johnson, having learned from his scouts, that the French had departed from South bay toward fort Edward, despatched separate messengers to that fort, with advices of the enemy's approach. One of the messengers was intercepted and killed; the others returned with intelligence that they had descried the enemy about four miles northward of the fort. A council of war resolved, the next morning, to send out a large detachment of men to intercept the enemy in their return from fort Edward. This service was committed to colonel Ephraim Williams, a brave officer, who, at the head of 1000 men, with about 200 Indians, met the baron within four miles of the camp. That able commander had made an advantageous disposition of his men to receive the English. Keeping the main body of his regulars with him in the centre, he ordered the Canadians and Indians to advance on the right and left, in the woods, in such a manner as to enclose their enemy. When the American troops were considerably within the ambuscade, Hendrick, an old Mohawk sachem, who, too late, had been sent out with his Indians as a flank- guard, was hailed by a hostile Indian ;* and instantly there commenced a smart fire, which soon became general. The provincials fought bravely ; but, finding the enemy, who were of superior numbers, endeavoring to surround them, they were forced to retreat. The loss of the Americans was con- siderable. Colonel Williams was among the slain. Hen- drick was also killed, with a number of his Indians, who fought
* " The Indian called to Hendrick, ' Whence came you ?' 'From the Mohawks,' he replied. ' Whence came you ?' rejoined Hendrick. 'From Montreal,' was the answer. The firing that now began brought on the action sooner than was intended by Dieskau, who had ordered his flank- ing parties to reserve their fire until a discharge from the centre. It was his intention to let the advancing troops get completely within the am- buscade before the firing commenced ; in which case, the whole detach ment would, probably, have been cut off. These, and some other partic . olare of the action, are from authentic verbal information."
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
with great intrepidity. The loss of the enemy was also considerable, and among the slain was M. St. Pierre, who commanded all the Indians. The retreating troops joined the main body, and waited the approach of their assailants, rendered more formidable by success.
" About half after eleven, the enemy appeared in sight of Johnson's army, which was encamped on the banks of lake George, and was covered on each side by a low, thick-wood- ed swamp. General Johnson had mounted several pieces of cannon, which he had most opportunely received two days before from fort Edward ; and trees had been felled to form a sort of breastwork, which was all his cover against an attack. The enemy marched along the road in very regular order, directly on the English centre, and, when within about 150 yards of the breastwork, made a small halt. The regular troops now made the grand and central attack, while the Ca- nadians and Indians dispersed on the English flanks. The baron continuing, for some time, a distant platoon-fire withi little execution, the English recovered their spirits, and de- termined on a resolute defence. As soon as their artillery began to play, the Canadians and Indians fled into the swamps. The French general was obliged to order a retreat; and his troops, retiring in great disorder, were followed by a party from the camp, which fell on their rear, and precipitated their flight. The English not continuing their pursuit, the enemy halted about four miles from the camp, at the very place where the engagement happened in the morning, and opened their packs for refreshment. At this juncture, about 200 men of the New Hampshire forces, which had been detached from fort Edward to the assistance of the main body, fell upon the French, and completely routed them. Captain M'Ginnes, the brave commander of the provincials, fell in the action."*
" At the time it was meditated to send a detachment, under colonel Williams, to intercept Dieskau, the number of men pro- posed was mentioned to Ilendrick, the Mohawk chief, and his opinion asked. He replied, "If they are to fight, they are too few. If they are to be killed, they are too many." The number was, accordingly, increased. General Johnson
* Holmes's Annals.
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FROM 1743 TO 1756.
proposed, also, to divide the detachment into three parties. Upon this, Hendrick took three sticks, and, putting them together, said to him, "Put these together, and you cannot ' break them; take them one by one, and you will break them easily." The hint succeeded, and Hendrick's sticks saved inany of the party, and, probably, the whole army, from de- `struction .* .
Early in the action, general Johnson was wounded, and general Lyman succeeded to the command, which he held through the day. To this gentleman's gallant exertions the success of the day, under Providence, was chiefly to be as- cribed. Yet it is remarkable, that general Johnson made no mention of general Lyman in his official letter, announcing the intelligence of the victory. The ambition of Johnson was too great, and his avarice too greedy, to acknowledge the merits of a rival. General Johnson was created a baronet, and parliament voted him 5000 pounds sterling, in consideration of his success. The reward of general Lyman was the esteem and honor of the people among whom he lived.
Among the wounded of the French, as already stated, was the baron Dieskau. He had received a ball through his leg, and, being unable to follow his retreating army, was found by an English soldier, resting upon the stump of a tree, with scarcely an attendant. Dieskau, apprehensive for his safety, was feeling for his watch, in order to give it to the soldier, when the man, suspecting that he was feeling for a pistol, levelled his gun, and wounded him in the hips. He was carried to the camp, and treated with great kindness. From the camp he was taken to Albany and New York, whence, some time after, he sailed for England, where he died. Ile was a superior officer, possessed of honorable feelings, and adorned with highly polished manners. One stain, however, attaches to his character. Before his engage- ment with colonel Williams's corps, he gave orders to his troops neither to give nor take quarter.
" The repulse of Dieskau revived the spirits of the colonists, depressed by the recent defeat of general Braddock ; but the
* Dwight's Travels.
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
success was not improved in any proportion to their expecta- tion. General Shirley, now the commander-in-chief, urged an attempt on Ticonderoga; but, a council of war judging it unadvisable, Johnson employed the remainder of the cam- paign in fortifying his camp. On a meeting of commissioners from Massachusetts and Connecticut with the governor and council of New York, in October, it was unanimously agreed, that the army under general Johnson should be discharged, excepting 600 men, who should be engaged to garrison fort Edward and fort William Henry. The French took possession of Ticonderoga, and fortified it."*
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