Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 11

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

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Fort Bull, a small work guarding the carrying-place between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, was captured on the 27th of March, by a party of 400 French, Canadians and Indians. Its brave commander refusing to surrender, the little garrison of seventy or eighty men was ruthlessly butchered, and the large quantity of stores were thrown into the water. The post was an important one, as it aided in maintaining communication between Albany and Oswego. Closely following upon this incident Sieur de Villiers, a French captain who had shown good qualities in the vicinity of Fort Duquesne, was dispatched with a party of 900 French soldiers, Canadians and Indians, instructed to operate anywhere about Oswego, on the Oswego River, at the carrying-place (Wood Creek to the Mohawk), to weaken any preparations the English might be making to operate against Niagara. De Villiers made his headquarters at what is now Henderson Bay and for some time harassed the Mohawk valley settlements and the vicinity of Oswego.

Formal declaration of war was made by England on the 18th of May, 1756, which was responded to by France on the 9th of June, and warlike operations went steadily forward. Near the last of May Com- modore Bradley, naval commander at Oswego, made a short voyage of exploration towards Niagara, with a few small vessels, but was soon driven back by bad weather. He went out again with a larger fleet a month later, and on his return was chased by four French vessels and a small schooner of his fleet was captured. In the mean time De Villiers, whose vigilance and activity were unceasing, determined to make a demonstration against Fort Ontario [Oswego], provoke a sortie by the garrison and destroy it by ambuscade. His force arrived be- fore the fort on June 15, and on the following morning moved cau-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

tiously forward, his Indians ordered not to fire until a sortie was made. Discovering a party of eight workmen outside of the fort, the tempta- tion was too much for the savages, and with a whoop they sprang for- ward and fired, killing five of the English on the spot. The French were then driven off by the garrison and failed in their main purpose.

In the mean time Pouchot prosecuted his work on Fort Niagara with vigor and received commendation from all quarters. De Vaudreuil wrote concerning him on June 8, 1756, as follows:

I must render you the best report in particular of M. Pouchot, captain in the Bearn regiment. He was so good as to take on himself the direction of the forti- fications I proposed constructing at Niagara, and applied himself so closely thereto . . that that fort, which was abandoned and beyond making the smallest resist- ance, is now a place of considerable importance, in consequence of the regularity, solidity and utility of its works. M. Pouchot has surmounted all obstacles, . . his zeal has suggested resources to accelerate his labors; he has even accom- plished all with an economy whereat I cannot but feel agreeably surprised.1

It is clear that this Captain Pouchot possessed traits which were un- common in French officers of that time, particularly in that his ad- ministration of affairs was characterized by honesty to his king and a degree of economy in the expenditure of his means that was as re- markable as it was unusual. He sought to restrain extravagance and increase income by every means in his power, and did not always meet with encouragement from his immediate superiors.

On the 29th of July the incompetent Earl of Loudon arrived at Albany and succeeded Abercrombie as chief in command of the Eng- lish forces. He poorly appreciated the importance of Oswego, but after being importuned by officers whose opinions he could not ignore, he sent one brigade under Colonel Webb to strengthen its garrison. The brigade never reached its destination.

The gallant Montcalm left Montreal on July 19 for Crown Point and Ticonderoga, but returned in about two weeks with his plans perfected for an assault on Oswego. On the 29th he arrived at Frontenac and in six days had his army of 3,000 (given by some English authorities as high as 5,000) ready for the campaign. A part of the force consisted of the Bearn regiment which was withdrawn from Niagara. Between the 8th and the 11th of August Montcalm's forces reached a position before Ontario, the military genius and efficiency of the commander having been displayed at every step of the expedition. While this

' Hough's translation of the Pouchot Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 54 (note).

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was being accomplished, Colonel Mercer in Fort Ontario received in- telligence of the approach of the French and took such steps as were possible to prepare for defending his post. The assault on the works was thus vividly described by Montcalm:

On the 12th at daybreak, the regiment of Bearn arrived with the batteaux of artil- lery and provisions. These batteaux were forthwith unloaded in presence of the English barks which cruised in front of the camp. The battery on the beach was increased-the park of artillery and the depot of provisions established, and Captain Pouchot . . received orders to act as Engineer during the siege. Arrangements were made to open trenches that very night ; six pickets of workmen, fifty men each, were under orders for that night; two companies of grenadiers and three pickets to support them. . The enemy's fire, which had been very brisk since the break of day, ceased about 11 o'clock at night, and it was perceived that the garrison evacuated Fort Ontario and passed over to that of Chouaguen at the opposite side of the river. They abandoned, in retiring, eight pieces of cannon and four mortars. The fort having been immediately occupied by the grenadiers of the French, the workmen were commanded to continue the communication of the parallel to the river side, where, at nightfall, was commenced a large battery, placed so as to batter Fort Chouaguen. the road from that fort to Fort George, and take the in- trenched camp in the rear. Twenty pieces of cannon were conveyed during the night, in men's arms, a labor which occupied the whole army, with the exception of the pickets and the camp guard.

14th. At daybreak the Marquis of Montcalm ordered Sieur de Rigaud to ford the river to the other side with the Canadians and Indians, to occupy the woods and harass the communications with Fort George, where the enemy appeared making considerable preparations. At six o'clock we had nine pieces ready to bear, and though the fire of the besieged, up to that time, was more brisk than ours, they hoisted the White flag at 10 o'clock and sent two officers to demand a capitulation.1

The brave Colonel Mercer was killed in this defense of Oswego. The number of prisoners captured by the French was 1, 700, with seven war vessels and a large quantity of cannon and other munitions. Mont- calm ordered the destruction of the whole fortification; this was done, in part at least, to show the Indians that the French did not desire to maintain a military station in their territory. The capture of Oswego had the effect of turning many of the Indians from the English to the French, causing great rejoicing by the latter and corresponding de- spondency among the English.'

' Col. Hist., Vol. X. pp. 442-3.

" " The capture of Oswego produced the greatest effect upon all the Indian tribes, because the English had affected a decided superiority over us, and by their braggadocio on their power and courage, sought to make the Indians believe that we should not be able to resist them. The latter saw with what ease we took the post which had as many defenders as assailants, and their brisk cannonade, of which they had never heard the like, did not disturb the French troops. We 11

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Moreover, the moral effect of the victory was disastrous to the Eng- lish, and their offensive operations ceased for a time. It removed what the French regarded as the chief danger to their plans for whole- sale conquest, and left unbroken their possession of the valleys of the St. Lawrence, the great lakes, the Ohio, and the Mississippi.'

The Indians hastened in large and small bodies to Niagara and other French posts. So many arrived at Niagara as to give Pouchot (who returned to that fort in September with a picket (company) of the Bearn regiment) much difficulty in providing for their subsistence.' Mont- calm saw this change in the attitude of the Indians, concerning which he wrote the Count d'Argenson, April 24, 1757, as follows:

All the news from Detroit, Forts Duquesne and Niagara assure us of the disposi - tions of the Indians of the upper countries, which is principally owing to the fall of Choueguen. Captain Pouchot, of the regiment of Bearn, who commands at Niag- ara, is wonderfully liked by the Indians, and conducts himself much to the satisfac- tion of the Marquis de Vaudreuil .*

Under Pouchot's administration Niagara was still further strength- ened, as shown in the following abstract from dispatches :

Niagara is also well fortified. It had only six guns. Choueguen has furnished 24 of the largest caliber which are now mounted. People are busy supplying Forts Duquesne, on the Beautiful river, Niagara and Frontenac with provisions, in order to be no longer obliged to employ the best men at such work when they may be re- quired elsewhere.

The greatest point is that the English keep on the defensive and do not come to attack us. M. de Montcalm writes that they will never be able to come at a more favorable time for us, holding, as we do, all the important posts.

The harvest in New England is said to be very bad and all the prisoners assure us that if the English do not take Carillon and St. Frederic, this year, New England is swamped and unable henceforth to contribute anything.‘

On December 13, 1756, M. de Vaudreuil held a conference at Mon- treal with a hundred Indians representing all the Five Nations except

may say, that since this event, they have redoubled their attachments and friendship for the French."-Pouchot Memoirs, Vol. I, p 70.

1 The victories of the French gave them command of Lake Champlain and Lake George. Their success at Oswego confirmed their control over the western lakes, and the valley of the Mississippi. Their occupation of Fort Duquesne enabled them to cultivate the friendship, and continue their influence over the Indians west of the Alleghanies. Their line of communication reached from Canada to Louisiana, and they were masters of the vast territories that spread out beyond it. Their supremacy on this continent was now at its zenith ; henceforward all change tended to their decline and final dispossession.

" Pouchot Memoirs, Vol. I, pp. 61-62. 'Note from Col. Hist., X, 38, in Pouchot Memoirs, I, ". 4 Col. Hist., Vol. X. r. 481.

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the Mohawks and including several minor nations. The Indians, as usual, wanted assistance and made apologies for their remissness and promises of future fealty to the French. On the other hand the French officials reprimanded them for their past failures to keep their agree- ments and made new compacts with them.

In January, 1757, a large body of the Loups of Tioga assembled at Niagara to hold a council. Scattering bodies of other nations, even of the Senecas, were present, from whom it was learned that Sir William Johnson had sent belts to the Senecas and Loups, promising supplies and protection in return for their allegiance. Nevertheless, the Indians adhered to the French, and as a consequence, "small parties of Indians and some French went out from almost every post from Frontenac to Fort Duquesne, devastating frontiers of New York, New Jersey, Penn- sylvania, Maryland and Virginia." '

In a communication dated at Quebec September 9, 1757, Montcalm wrote as follows to the Marquis de Paulmy :

Our latest dates from Fort Duquesne, of the 7th 7ber, confirm the good disposi- tions of the Indians, the continuance of their forays, which spread desolation throughout the English colonies. Sieur de Liniery, a Colonial Captain in Command there, writes me that the different parties brought him in recently 200 prisoners or scalps. The same is nearly the case at Niagara, according to the letter of M. Pouchot, who commands there.

"On the 1st of July there was held a grand council at Niagara, at which the Iroquois informed by a fine belt the Hurons, Ouias, Miamis and Outaouaes, that they had taken up the hatchet for their father (the French king) and that they would not quit again. These nations always distrusted the Iroquois and loved them not. Each jealous of the superiority of the other, could only regard the Five Nations as the allies of the English."?

Pouchot notified M. Vaudreuil that the fortifications at Niagara were finished. He was soon afterward relieved of command at that post and was succeeded by Captain Vassan, a brilliant and capable officer. This was against Montcalm's advice, and from this time onward there is noticeable in the correspondence of both Vaudreuil and Montcalm a growing feeling of opposition and distrust.' 'The policy adopted by

1 Pouchot Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 78. " Ibid, 1, 84.

' Captain Pouchot, of the Bearn regiment, who has long commanded at Niagara, was accom- plishing wonders among the Five Nations and Delawares. The Marquis Vaudreuil admits it, and has frequently told me he wished him still there. Why did he recall him? Why does he not

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Pouchot's successor was not such as to retain the good will of the In- dians in minor matters, or to advance the larger interests of his superior officers.

The campaign of 1757 as a whole terminated disastrously for the English, leaving their affairs in a worse condition than at any former period. Fort William Henry fell before Montcalm's army in August, and the French still controlled the western region. But a change was at hand, which was brought about to a considerable extent by the suc- cession of William Pitt to the prime ministry of England. He was a man of great ability and a devoted friend to the American colonies. He promptly gave assurance that ample forces should be sent over and recommended that the colonists raise as many men for the armies as possible. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York voted from 5,000 to 7,000 men each, and so inspiriting was the outlook that those troops were ready for the field in May, 1758. The impotent Loudon, after endeavoring to shift the blame for past reverses upon other shoulders, returned to Europe, and the command of all the Eng- lish forces in America devolved upon Gen. James Abercrombie. Three expeditions were planned for this year. neither of which directly in- volved the frontier in Western New York. The one against Louisburg was successful, and the post was taken by Major Gen. Jeffrey Amherst; the second against Ticonderoga and Crown Point was under Abercrom- bie in person, who was defeated; the third was directed against Fort Duquesne and was successful.

General Bradstreet, who had been commissioned a brigadier-general, endeavored early in the season to gain Abercrombie's consent to an expedition for the capture of Fort Frontenac, but was refused. After the Ticonderoga battle, however, Abercrombie reversed his decision. Bradstreet, accompanied by Maj. Philip Schuyler, took command of 3,000 troops who were engaged in building Fort Stanwix (on the site of Rome), proceeded to Oswego, built a schooner in three weeks, and on the 25th of August landed his troops near Fort Frontenac. There he constructed a battery and began the siege on the 27th. The Indians had already deserted the post and the garrison of 120 men surrendered the same day. Bradstreet lost only four or five men. '

send him back? Many officers, exempt from suspicion, have proposed to him to send Captain Pouchot back, as being one of the officers best qualified to manage the Indians .-- Col. Hist., Vol. X, p. 693.

1 They soon breached the wall and the garrison of ninety men and thirty voyageurs surren- dered upon condition of being allowed to descend to Montreal. The English took away part of

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One authority says that the English found nine vessels, two of which they sent to Oswego. Pouchot says (vol. I, p. 125,) that they took away a bark and a brigantine and " the rest of our marine they burned." The destruction of property and abandonment of this post by Brad- street was censured in some quarters, it being thought the fort could have been held permanently, greatly strengthening the English position.

The capture of Frontenac was one of the most important events of the war. It facilitated the fall of Duquesne, discouraged the French, gave joy to the English, and reflected honor on the provincial soldiers. So powerful was its effect on the French that a cry for peace went up throughout Canada, the resources of which were becoming exhausted. There was almost a famine in that region and men and officers of good judgment, who were aware that a turn had come in the tide of English affairs, foresaw approaching disaster. A letter from Quebec under date of June 15, 1758, says:

The twelve thousand barrels of flour which have arrived in no wise relieve the scarcity [of provisions]. They enable us only to march to oppose the enemy's plans; this is the most essential point. Of 36 ships that sailed from Bordeaux in 3 divisions, 24 are missing, which were all freighted with provisions and other necessary supplies. Not a single vessel has yet made its appearance from Rochelle, whence many are expected; neither from Bayonne, nor Marseilles, from which ports several had sailed. The sea swarms with English privateers and we have not one. These privateers are supported by men of-war and there is hardly a frigate to escort twelve of our mer- chantmen. All this affords every reason to believe that we shall be worse off the next winter than the last. To crown the misfortunes, this year's harvest cannot fail to be bad. Little has been sown for want of seed; and sowing was scarcely com- pleted when the land was inundated with rain, which has continued nearly a month. It is since cold, and now freezes at night so hard as entirely to destroy all the vege- tables, which are, so to speak, the sole resource of the people who, since a year, are in want of bread. This, my Lord, is a situation the more cruel, as it is not ex- aggerated; the result is an advance in prices so horrible as to entail suffering on the most comfortable. We are all in the same category.1

The vigilant foresight and military genius of Montcalm enabled him to clearly appreciate the increasing adversities of the French. In July of this year (1758) he reported to Marshal de Belle Isle the numbers of the French forces, recounting how little they could depend upon the Indians excepting for haphazard forays, concluding as follows:

the artillery which we had captured at Oswego, and destroyed what they could not remove .- Pouchot Memoirs, Vol. 1, pp 124-5.

' M. Doreil to Marshal de Belle Isle, minister of war, Col. Hist., Vol. X, p. $18.

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With so small a force, how preserve, without a miracle, from the Beautiful river, [Ohio] to Lake St. Sacrament, and attend to the descent on Quebec; 'tis an impossi- bility. Whoever will write to the contrary of what I advance will deceive the king. However so unpalatable soever it be, 'tis my duty, as a citizen, to write it. This is not discouragement on my part, nor on that of the troops, for we are resolved to bury ourselves under the ruins of the colony.1

De Vaudreuil did not share Montcalm's apprehensions; indeed the two were clearly at cross purposes, as indicated in the records of the time. How prophetic were Montcalm's words the sequel shows .?

De Vaudreuil reported the capture of Fort Frontenac to his war min- ister on the 2d of September, and made the following statement:

The enemy have found at Frontenac considerable provisions, goods and artillery, which were intended for the posts on the Beautiful river and at Niagara. One of the sloops [two of their largest were captured by Bradstreet] was loaded with those articles; that fort being the entrepot of our Lake Ontario navy, it could not happen otherwise; even though I should have had 5 or 600 men at that post, they could not defend it in consequence of its construction.

As soon, my Lord, as I was aware that the sloops were in the hands of the Eng- lish, my uneasiness for Niagara increased in consequence of the difficulty of getting to that place. I have at the moment dispatched 30 bark canoes to overtake M. Du- plessis and have ordered him to deliver them to M. de Montigny whom I have en- trusted to repair to Niagara with 5 to 600 men, some additional gunners and 20 thousand weight of powder. I hope if time be given this detachment to arrive at Niagara, 'twill be out of danger, and that, as the bark canoes can be hid in the woods, they will escape the vigilance of the sloops. . Peace appears to me an absolute necessity for this colony.8

The foregoing reads much like an apology. The fact is, the capture of Frontenac was due to thorough efficiency on the one side and ineffi- ciency on the other. More forcibly than anything else this event indi- cated the changing fortunes of the two nations who were in conflict for dominion.

On the 9th of the same month Montcalm wrote Belle Isle, war min- ister, regarding the capture of Frontenac as follows:

What is most unfortunate is, that they the English have taken considerable pro- visions, quantity of merchandise, eighty pieces of iron cannon, large and small, many of which they left after breaking the trunnions, and destroyed the navy, for which we were indebted to my capture of Choueguen; burning five of our sloops and carrying two of them away. That navy assured to us the superiority on Lake Ontario, which we now lose. 'Twill be still worse should the enemy reduce Niagara, which is a strong post for this country.4

1 Col. Hist., Vol. X, p. 761.

? See correspondence between Doreil and Belle Isle, Ibid. pp. 708-9.

' Ibid, pp. 823-24. 4 Ibid, p. 831.

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Montcalm had been called to Montreal from Carillon to confer with Vaudreuil, and in his letter from which we have quoted does not hesi- tate to impute to his superior officer the assured loss of Fort Frontenac and all that went with it, and the possible future fall of Niagara.

Everywhere the French were growing despondent; it would seem that if the English had been prepared and had pushed their operations vigorously in the latter part of the summer of 1758, the war might have closed earlier than it did. M. Doreil wrote M. de Massiac, minis- ter of marine, on August 31, 1758, from Quebec, as follows upon the gloomy prospects:

Things have greatly changed, my Lord, since the signal victory gained by the Marquis de Montcalm and the French troops on the 8th of July-a day ever mem- orable, which has saved the colony for the time [referring to Ticonderoga]. The capture of Louisburg, the movements of the enemy on the Oyo [Ohio] and at Fort Duquesne, those which they are making on Lake Ontario, where our posts are abso- lutely bare, and General Abercrombie's powerful army, which continues opposed to the Marquis de Montcalm, place it in great danger this very year, and will bring down its total ruin if peace be not concluded this winter. 'Tis evident that the In- dians of the Five Iroquois Nations and even some of our domiciliated tribes have deceived the Marquis de Vaudreuil, who has perhaps confided too much in them, and who, on the strength of their promises, had scarcely any person at Niagara or at Fort Frontenac. The English have actually more troops on foot in this Continent than Canada has people, old men, women and children included.

The enemy are masters of Frontenac since the 27th of August; and what is worse, of our barks which have not been burnt; and of the provisions and goods stored at that post for the Upper countries. . The Indians have begun attacking us. Fears are entertained for Niagara and for the Marquis de Montcalm's army. like- wise for the Beautiful river.1

The rapid increase of population in the English colonies and the ex- pedition with which they had enlarged their armies, added to the anxiety of the French. High officers began to doubt their ability to hold Niagara, although it was considered the most tenable of their re- maining posts. In the late months of the year (1758) plans were laid by both powers for the campaign of the next year, which it was be- lieved would end the conflict. It was held by Montcalm to be of the highest importance that Lake Ontario should be controlled by sufficient vessels to keep the English in check. He estimated, upon authority of De Vaudreuil's memoir, that about 3,000 men were available for service in what he called the " Lake Ontario district," and continued as follows upon the plans and prospects:

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Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 11

Author: Truman C. White Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017