USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. I > Part 21
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* Chief Justice Smith, in his History of New York, gives an account of the mea- sures of the Iroquois and the war-parties of Frontignac, which nearly agrees with the above. Hesays that the Indians gave up the French messengers to the English ; that their scouts harrassed the Canadian settlements ; attacked the convoy going to Michilimackinack ; and that one of the Iroquois prisoners taken by the French was delivered to their Indians, who did not burn him, merely, to show their determined hostility to the Five Nations, but ent him. The destruction made by the Iroquois at the Island of Montreal is given principally from Colden. Lientenant-governour Colden gives high praise to the warlike and statesman-like abilities of the Count De Frontignac. He says the French Court chose the men best suited to govern their colonies : " the English seemed to have little regard to the qualifications of the person they sent" to rule, " but to gratify a relation or a friend, by giving him an opportunity of making a fortune ; and as he knew that he was recommended with this view, his councils were chiefly employed for this purpose." Here we have the testimony of one who saw the actors behind the scenes.
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LEISLER'S ADMINISTRATION.
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power to agree with the commissioners of Connecticut on any mea- sures for the public good ; and these gentlemen having proceeded to New Haven, addressed the Governour and Council of Connec- ticut, "and having a deep sense of the danger which Albany and the adjacent parts are in," requested that whatever men should be sent from Connecticut hereafter to Albany, might receive orders to obey the Lieutenant-governour and Council of New York in con- junction with the government of Connecticut, and pay no regard to the convention at Albany. They further request a consideration of the number of men to be sent and their maintenance- whether Massachusetts should not be consulted-and that persons be ap- pointed to treat with the Iroquois.
To this address, the Governour and Council of Connecticut answered that they sent Captain Bull and his soldiers to Albany in compliance with Captain Leisler's wishes and those of the people of Albany, for the security of his majesty's subjects against the French. That being ignorant of any factions or divisions, which they now with sorrow learn, they decline any further interference . or assistance, except to advise " the Honourable Captain Leister and the governour at New York in present power" to take the most peaceable measures for a reconciliation with the Albanians, for the safety of the place, least it undergo the fate of " Shenegdage." And further, as Connecticut considers those " at Albany in present power well acquainted with the Five Nations, and greatly interested in them," they advise " as little altercations" with the Convention of Albany or interruption to their proceedings as is " meet," for fear of disgusting the Iroquois and prejudicing the public peace .* They desire Leisler to send to Albany his 120 soldiers, which he says are ready, as the occasions of Connecticut require the recall of her troops from thence speedily. They tell Leisler that as to the number of men wanted to protect Albany, he must judge for himself; " it lies in your province to do it, not ours." They tell the New York com- missioners that if they want the assistance of Massachusetts, it is their " work to obtayne it. They give their advice, "which at present may be sufficient." As to presents or treaties with the Five Nations, it is not convenient for Connecticut to appear in the business, but the New York gentlemen may "act therein ac- cording to the order and instructions in the king's letter." This is concluded with prayer, and signed, "John Allyn, secretary." A postscript is added in these words : " Gentlemen : having seen his majesty's letter, in your hands, we do not see but the Albanians . may find sufficient reason to comply with you in the same, when they shall receive due information therein." " These for the gentle-
* Letters on file at Hartford.
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182 DISSENTIONS BETWEEN LEISLER AND CONNECTICUT.
men commissioned by Captain Leisler, of New York, Commander- in-chief."
To this, a reply is filed in the Secretary of State's office, at Hart- ford, as " Leisler's scolding letter." It is dated March 1st, 1689, (which means 1690, New Style,) and addressed to the Honourable Robert Treat, Governour of Connecticut. It is from the Gover- nour and Council of New York, and signed by Milbourne, as sec- retary. They say that the commissioners, (naming them,) having been to Connecticut, and made proposals for the good of his majes- ty's provinces, they were not received in a manner either friendly or neighbourly ; but, on the contrary, their courtesy was answered " with coldness, contempt, and disdain." They accuse the Gov- ernour and Magistracy of Connecticut with having abetted and en- couraged the rebellion of the people of Albany, by placing forces under the orders of the convention - so called - and having re- fused to forbid their further proceeding. They state that they are assured that Connecticut, and especially John Allyn, had aided Sir Edmund Andros, to the injury of New York; and formally declare the Governour and Magistrates of Connecticut the uphold- , ers of rebellion, unless they order their forces at Albany not to obey the Albany Convention ; otherwise, they shall esteem said forces as enemies, and treat them accordingly. They require Allyn to be secured and proceeded against for his offences.
On the 5th of March, an answer is made to this, which they call, an "angry letter." And the Governour and General Court of Con- necticut say said letter is "stuffed with unjust calumniating charges;" that they utterly abhor the thought of abetting rebels. That they did last summer send "commissioners and soldiers to York, to countenance King William and the protestant interest," and not knowing of any division, complied with his, Leisler's request, and the urgent call of the people of Albany, and the Five Nations. They call the behaviour of Leisler and his council ungrateful. 'They say that they have advised the people of Albany not to con- tend, but to submit "to the present power in the province of New York, and unite as one man to oppose the common enemy." Allyn is ready to answer the charges made. They decline controversy, and subscribe themselves, " Your neighbours."
On the same day on which the above is written, Leisler wrote to Governour Treat, or any other person in authority, saying that he is informed that Robert Livingston, " who by his rebellion hath caused great disorder in the province, by maintaining that the commissions given by Sir Edmund Andros and Colonel Dongan were good and still in force : and by opposing the forces sent by the government to defend the frontiers," had gone east- ward, on pretence of raising soldiers for the frontiers, but in reality to obey the Albany Convention, - that Leisler has, there-
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fore, sent Lieutenant Daniel Ternair to pursue him with a warrant, and desires the Governour of Connecticut to assist in securing said Robert. He further requests assistance by sea and land for the conquest of Canada and the encouragement of the Iroquois.
Soon after the flight of Livingston it appears that the Albany Convention submitted. Leisler and Schuyler, with the Govern- ment of Connecticut, made strenuous preparation for the invasion of Canada, the Iroquois promising assistance. We shall see that this project of conquest was encouraged by the efforts which Mas- sachusetts was making to attack Acadie, and afterwards Quebec, with a fleet and army under Sir William Phipps.
On the 11th of April, 1690, the government of Connecticut in- formed Leisler that volunteers should be raised for his majesty's interest. They had ordered 135 Englishmen and SO Indians, if they could be raised, to be sent to Albany. They request Leisler to provide ammunition and provisions for them.
'Trumbull, the historian of Connecticut, informs us that on the 6th of May following, Gould and Pitkin met commissioners at the city of New York, and the plan of an expedition against Ca- nada was ultimately formed : the quotas of the several colonies were fixed, and rules agreed upon for regulating the army. A vessel had previously been sent to ask succour from England ; but no attention was paid to the request, although it is evident that the conquest of Canada, at this time, could with ease have been effected by the aid of Great Britain, and her colonies by that means relieved from French and Indian depredations.
Leisler had returned thanks to the Government of Connecticut for their offer of 135 Englishmen and SO Indians, and informed that colony that he had already sent up to Albany 300 barrels of pork, 200 bushels of peas, 600 "skippel" of Indian corn, 20,000 pounds of bread, 100 bushels of salt, 150 deer-skins, for shoes, 2,000 yards of osnaburgs, for tents, 3,000 pounds of lead, 105 pounds of powder, and 260 men. He sent to Connecticut three letters of encouragement from Maryland, and informed the gover- nour that two sachems of the Mohawks had been to New York, and promised him more than 1,000 of the Iroquois to join with 400 of the colonial troops for the purposes of the war. He details a suc- cessful expedition of the French and Indians near Albany, which had encouraged the enemy ; but promises cvery exertion on the part of New York to procure success, calling upon Connecticut for every possible assistance. He says, he has a man-of-war ready, with 20 guns, and 120 resolute men, "commissioned for Canada."
Among the letters of encouragement and friendship from Mary- land, is one from John Coodee, commander of his majesty's forces in that province, in which he tells Leisler that a great design was on foot to betray and ruin the protestant interest in America, and
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that of William and Mary : one proof of which, was the attempt to disarm the protestants of Maryland, in the spring of 1689, and the treacherous combinations of the late governour with the Indians ; which had caused the people of that province to stand to their arms, against the papists. He sends to Leisler a paper, in which King James commands the Marylanders to keep in union with the French of America, with other suspicious circumstances. He asserts his opinion that the "great men" of Maryland, with some of New York and New England, were engaged in a plot against the protest -. ant interest, " as it was and is the endeavours of all the popish world."
By these letters, which exist on file at Hartford, the reader may see the dread of the people of that day in respect to the designs of Rome, and the fears entertained of the influence of Louis, James, and the popish priests. Coodee mentions orders sent from William to Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, to resist the attempts of the French. He promises to assist New York in the war, if he can, but says Virginia declines doing any thing, without orders from William ; and that Nicholson is on his way, as Governour of that province.
Milbourne, who was at Albany, on the 27th of May, 1690, writes to Leisler, desiring him to " stay the ships," (apparently ready to sail for England,) for that he cannot come down (from Albany) "within so short time." . He says, "yesterday, Jannetie and Christagie came with an express from Arnout, and a sachem from Onondaga, that the French send four of their own people, and four of their praying Indians, as emissaries." They bring with them "two of our Indians (an Onondaga and a Cayuga) which were re- turned from France," meaning, as I suppose, the French of Ca- nada. The Indian council, by messengers, have desired the dif- ferent nations of the Iroquois to send deputies to meet two or three men who understand French, for they will not listen to these emis- saries until such men from the colonists arrive. "Whereupon, Messrs. Peter Schuyler and Robert Sanders, MM. Gawsheren and Jean Rose, and two more, are this day despatched, with instruc- tions that they hasten with all possible speed," and instigate the Indians to treat these emissaries as enemies, either by securing them and bringing them to Albany, "or by slaying thiem outright ;" which Christagie and Jannetie are resolved, on their parts, "and hope the rest" (of the Iroquois) " will agree to." He further writes, that "the French captain, who attacked Schenectady, is one," of these emissaries, " with some more noted persons,"-"we have,sent to the Scaticock Indians also to be ready and resolute"- "we this day double the guards, and place Capt. Johnson's men without the town, at Renslaer's Mill." A band of Mohawks are sent to watch upon the lake. He laments that no forces from Ma-
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ryland or New England had arrived, "so that it is impossible to know the time of marching, unless we go without them."
This letter of Milbourne's is forwarded, on the 30thi, to Connec- ticut ; and, at the same time, a letter from the Governour and Council of Connecticut is on the way to Leisler, dated the 28th, informing him that they have intelligence from Albany that there is great sickness among the people, soldiers and Indians ; that dysenteries are supposed to be caused by bad pork, and that the Indians are dying with small-pox. It is suggested whether the expedition shall not be stopped, until the issue of these distempers be seen. About the same time, Leisler wrote to Governour Treat, urging the preparations against Canada, hoping the Connecticut troops would be ready to march with those of Massachusetts and Ply- mouth. He says, that he has been forced to seize all the pork found in New York, and appropriate it to the army. He encloses a copy of the proposals made to the Indians and their answer. He says, that the gentlemen commissioners, on their arrival at New York, urged the government to " make up the number of S00 or 1,000 men, by land," saying they had 800 by sea already, and that they would make it up 1,400 or 1,500. They calculated, New York, 400 by land, and 240 by sea ; Connecticut, 300; Maryland, 100; East Jersey, 50. This force was announced to the commissioners at Albany. But, subsequently, the gentlemen from Boston would not engage that their fleet should go to Quebec, unless successful at Port Royal, whither they were bound ; in that case, they believed they might be sent to Quebec. He says, he shall give orders that none march but such as have had the small-pox.
The fleet from New York sailed the 26th May, 1690, with orders to stop at Cape Ann, and send to Boston notice of their intent, and " if possible, to stop at Port Royal, to invite the Boston fleet along with them." The next day, Leisler writes to Treat, hoping that Major General Winthrop may be obtained for the command of the forces, and saying, he had sent a blank commission to Albany, to be filled up by the commissioners, but recommends Milbourne. He mentions the successes of Sir William Phipps, to the eastward, rejoices in them, and says he has intelligence that the French were fitting out eight ships of war, to conquer New York. Of the Indians mustering at Albany, one half were to march to Cadaraqui, to make canoes ; the remainder to go ".the Canada path," and that the news of Phipps's victories will hasten them.
The fleet, despatched by Lieutenant-governour Leisler from New York, was commanded by Captain William Mason. It con- sisted of a ship, a brigantine, and sloop, commissioned against the French, generally, but ordered to make the best way immediately to Quebec, and there remain, doing all possible injury to the VOL. I.
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PHIPPS'S ATTEMPT UPON QUEBEC.
French, for a month, to co-operate with the land forces advancing by the lakes. 1
It will be seen by the reader, that all these preparations for the attack of Canada by land, were encouraged by, if not founded upon the great armament fitted out by Massachusetts, and com- manded by Sir William Phipps. I shall make use of Mr. Francis Bower's biography of Phipps, and likewise of Charlevoix's history.
William Phipps, a native of Maine, was born on February 2nd, 1651, at Woolwich, on the Kennebec River. Left at an early age, without education, to his own guidance, he apprenticed himself to a ship carpenter, and, in 1673, removed to Boston and worked at his trade. His leisure hours were employed in learning to read and write, and he thus laid the foundation of future fortune on the sure basis of industry and the acquisition of knowledge. He was at this time an English baronet.
Port Royal, the capital of Acadie, was the place from whence supplies flowed to the Indians, and where the French privateers found shelter. Thirty years the French had possessed this country, and Port Royal was defended by a fort. A blow was meditated by Massachusetts against this place. Forces were raised, and Sir William Phipps appointed to the command. With a small fleet, and seven hundred men, he undertook the conquest of Port Royal, and arrived there on the 11th of May. The French were unable to resist, and surrendered by capitulation. Before he returned from Port Royal, the House of Deputies resolved on the armament for the conquest of Quebec, and appointed Sir William the comman- der. A fleet of thirty-two vessels, with twenty-two hundred men, was ready by the middle of July. Disappointed in not receiving munitions of war from England, and destitute of pilots or seamen, acquainted with the navigation of the river, the fleet sailed from Nantasket on the 9th of August. It was not until the 5th of Octo- ber that they appeared before Quebec.
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Frontignac had been actively engaged in preparation to meet the forces advancing from New York, and arrived at Quebec, from Montreal, barely in time to prevent the capture of the place by "Guillaume Phibs," as the Jesuit calls him. The Massachusetts squadron, according to him, anchored before Quebec on the 16th of October, and the governour only arrived on the 14th.
Phipps summoned the town to surrender, giving as the cause of his hostile approach, the barbarities of the French and their Indians, and demanded that every place and thing in Canada should be de- livered to their majesties of England, William and Mary. Fron- tignac replies, that he does not know William as king ; but only as Prince of Orange, as an usurper, a violater of the rights of his father-in-law, &c., and defies Phipps. Charlevoix then says, the English attempted to land, but were repulsed. They cannonaded
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the town without effect. Phipps then effected a landing, and after several skirmishes, re-embarked in the night, leaving his artillery.
. La Hontan, a French writer, who was on the spot, says, that had Phipps effected a landing before Frontignac arrived at Quebec, "or even two days afterwards, he might have taken the city without striking a blow-there being but two hundred regular troops in the place, which was open and exposed in every direction."
Phipps delayed, and Frontignac actively prepared for defence. The messenger who carried the summons, was introduced blind- fold; and the letter being read, the French general threw the paper in the face of the bearer, and gave as answer, that "Sir William Phipps, and those with him, were heretics and traitors ;" adherents "to that usurper, the Prince of Orange ;" but for whom, " New , England and the French had all been one;" and that no other an- swer was to be expected, but ."from the mouth of his cannon."
Another day was lost before attempting to land, which was effected three miles below the town. The River St. Charles was to be crossed before they could advance to the attack. Major Walley was entrusted with the command on shore; Phipps was to second him by a cannonade from the ships, and more men were to be landed, under cover of the guns, for an assault on the lower town. The next day a tempest baffled the plans of the assailants, and one of their vessels was driven ashore and exposed to the fire of the enemy. From this peril she was, however, rescued by the other ships.
The Massachusetts force was now so far reduced by sickness, that they could only land, on the succeeding day, thirteen hundred men, and some of thiem unfit for the service. The weather was already cold, and the troops had to wade from the boats to gain the shore, chilled and dispirited. Near the place of landing, Frontignac had stationed a detachment of Rangers and Indians, in a bog, co- vered by a thicket ; these suffered Walley and his men to approach, and then poured in a fire which disconcerted them for a time ; but the assailants charged and drove the enemy from their covert with some loss. As the landing had not been effected until two o'clock in the afternoon, Walley found night approaching before he had gained the neighbourhood of Quebec, and the ammunition of his men nearly expended before the intended assault was commenced. He, therefore, halted for the night at a house and barn, near a vil- lage, which appeared on his right. By accident, the barn was burnt, the house could only shelter a few of the troops, night came on with a premature frost, and the soldiers were without shelter or food.
While the land forces were thus suffering at a distance from the city, the ships were brought up, and again opened an ineffectual fire upon the lower town, where they expended the powder which Walley wanted for his troops on shore. The French returned the
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salute of Sir William gallantly, and forced him to drop down the river.
When morning arrived, Major Walley found his men dispirited, starving ; some of them sick, and others frost bitten ; and, to add to his discouragement, received intelligence that the New York army having abandoned the enterprize, all the French force of Canada was concentrated in Quebec. That three thousand men were in the town, besides a large detachment posted in a swamp near his encampment, and that a battery had been raised which commanded the crossing place of the St. Charles.
Walley neither attempted to force the passage of the river nor retreated to the ships ; but having received a very scant supply from them, continued skirmishing with the French Rangers that day, and the next, and leaving his men in their encampment, he went on board the commander-in-chief's ship, to consult on further measures. The major's account of obstacles, produced an order to return, and withdraw his men to the beach, to be ready for re-embarkation. The military operation of another day was defending the encamp- ment against the enemy, (now the assailants,) and in the night the invaders silently retreated to the beach where they had landed.
The next day Frontignac pursued his disheartened adversaries to the water's edge, and Phipps did not dare to hazard bringing them off' until night; but withdrew the boats, after sending rein- forcements to check the French advanced force. At night the dis- comfitted troops were conveyed to their ships, leaving five field pieces in the hands of their triumphant opponents.
Some more days were spent in contemplations respecting further attempts, which, if ever seriously intended, were prevented by a storm that drove the fleet out of the St. Lawrence.
The return of the armament was as disastrous, as all the prece- ding operations were imbecile or unfortunate. The fleet was scattered by tempests. One ship was never heard of-another was wrecked-a third was burnt at sea, and four ships were blown so far from their route, that several weeks elapsed, after the arrival of Sir William at Boston, before they were seen or heard of.
Louis XIV was so pleased with this repulse of the Massachusetts armament, that he caused a medal to be struck, which is engraved for Charlevoix's work. On one side is the head of the conqueror, Louis le Grand, with the inscription, "Ludovicus Magnus Rex Christianissimus ;" and on the other, a figure representing France, seated on trophies, and surrounded by the words, "Francia in Novo Orbe Victrix ;" at the bottom, "Kebeca Liberata."
Let us now return to New York, from whence, on the 20th of June, Leisler wrote to Treat, upon hearing of the success of Phipps, at Port Royal, urging " the gentlemen of Boston" to undertake the conquest of Quebec, and offering Mr. John Winthrop the com-
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mand of all the troops prepared for the land service. Ten days after, no troops had arrived from Massachusetts or Plymouth, at Albany, neither had Major General Winthrop arrived. Report said, that Frontignac was advancing by the lakes, and had fitted out a French fleet, destined for New York. The latter threat was not performed, and the Governour of Canada awaited his ene- mies at Montreal, until he was called to Quebec, by the arrival of Sir William Phipps.
On the 31st of July, General Winthrop's instructions are given him by the Commissioners of New York, at Albany : they are signed by J. D. Browne, Johannes Provost, and Jacob Milbourne, in which, the due distribution of plunder is not forgotten.
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