USA > New York > Pioneer history of the Holland Purchase of western New York : embracing some account of the ancient remains > Part 21
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The seizure of English fur traders by the French; the establish- ment, by the latter, of military posts on the Ohio, and refusal to surrender them on the demand of the colonial authorities, in 1753; the expedition conducted by WASHINGTON* to the western frontiers of Virginia,-and the skirmishes he had with the French and Indians in the Great Meadows, in 1754; the extensive preparations made by both parties for active campaigns; the expeditions planned by the English against forts Du Quesne, Crown Point and Niagara; the forcible expulsion of the French from Nova Scotia; the repulse and death of Col. EPHRAIM WILLIAMS, by Baron DIESKAU, and the final overthrow of the latter by Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON, at the battle of lake George; the occupation and fortification of Ticon- deroga by the French, in 1755, were the principal events that took place in the wide and extended field of operations, before the two contending nations, with their savage allies, began to struggle in earnest for the undivided possessions they had respectively claimed, within the more immediate region of our researches.
* The venerated name of the Father of his Country, is here first incident to our narrative. The reader who has not had the opportunity of admiring Mr. Bancroft's beautiful introduction of it into his pages, will thank us for embracing it in a note. He has seized upon an earlier occasion, and other than a military advent, but his admirable episode is so framed as to admit of being appropriately blended with the events we are tracing :- " At the very time of the congress of Aix la Chapelle, the woods of Virginia sheltered the youthful GEORGE WASHINGTON, the son of a widow. Born by the side of the Potomac, beneath the roof of a Westmoreland farmer, almost from infancy his lot had been the lot of an orphan. No Academy had welcomed him to its shades, no College crowned him with its honors :- to read, to write, to cypher-these had been his degrees in knowledge. And now at sixteen years of age, in quest of an honest maintenance, encountering intolerable toil; cheered by being able to write to a school-boy friend, Dear Richard, a doubloon is my constant gain every day, and sometimes six pistoles;' ' himself, his own cook, having no spit but a forked stick, no plate but a large chip;' roaming over the spurs of the Alleghanies, and along the banks of the Shenandoah; alive to nature, and sometimes 'spending the best of the day in admiring the trees and the richness of the land;' among skin clad savages, their scalps and rattles, or uncouth emigrants 'that would never speak English,' rarely sleeping in a bed; holding a bear skin a splendid couch; glad of a resting place at night upon a little hay, straw or fodder, and often camping in the forests, where the place nearest the fire was a happy luxury ;- this stripling surveyor in the woods, with no companion but his unlettered associates, and no implements of service but his compass and chain, contrasted strongly with the imperial magnificence of the congress of Aix la Chapelle. And yet God had selected, not Kaunitz nor Newcastle, not a monarch of the house of Hapsburgh, nor of Hanover, but the Virginia stripling, TO GIVE AN IMPULSE TO HUMAN AFFAIRS, AND AS FAR AS EVENTS CAN DEPEND UPON AN INDIVIDUAL, HAD PLACED THE RIGHTS AND DESTINIES OF COUNTLESS MILLIONS IN THE KEEPING OF THE WIDOW'S SON."
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Governor SHIRLEY of Massachusetts, who commanded the English forces destined to attack forts Niagara and Frontenac, after much delay, embarrassment and a tedious march through the wilderness, arrived at Oswego, the 21st of August, 1755. Having ascertained that the garrison in the fort was reduced to about sixty French soldiers, and one hundred Indians, but was in daily expectation of reinforcements, the British General made every exertion in his power to attack it immediately. But his scanty means of transportation, the desertion of batteau men, the scarcity of wagons on the Mohawk river, and the desertion of sledge men at the great carrying place, the slow and lingering conveyance of provisions and military stores, occupied about four weeks. The council of war that Gov. SHIRLEY assembled on the 18th of September, recommended that an attempt be made on Fort Niagara. Six hundred regulars were drafted for that object. The artillery and military stores were first put on board the Sloop Ontario, part of the provision on another vessel, and the remainder were to be transported in small row boats. The long and drench- ing rains that now set in, rendered it dangerous to attempt a venture upon the lake before the 26th of the month. Orders to embark were promptly given, but it was found impossible to execute them. Winds from the west blew violently, followed by a rain which lasted thirteen days. Sickness and disease then rapidly began to diminish the strength and numbers of the army, and the Indians to desert. The season for active operations was now far gone. Another council of war was held on the 27th, which resulted in a determination to put off the expedition until next year. Col. MERCER was left at Oswego with a garrison of seven hundred men, with orders to erect two new forts for the better protection of the place. Gov. SHIRLEY returned with the rest of his army.
Thus this expedition, like the others that had been planned, and were to be carried on by the skill and bravery, experience and prudence of the combined colonial and English forces, ended in disaster and failure; to be followed by a brilliant triumph of the arms of France, when she should again make this place the scene of bloody conflict, level to the ground the battlements which England had raised, under the brave but finally unfortunate Marquis de MONTCALM.
Though open hostilities had existed for two years, war was not
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formally declared by Great Britian until the 17th of May, 1756. France not only persevered in her encroachments, but sent out a large armament with troops and munitions of war. Every hope that the questions of dispute could be amicably settled was now gone. The court of France endeavored to conceal and cover their real designs by the most solemn assurances of pacific senti- ments and intentions. To do this more effectually, their ambassador at the court of St. James was deceived, and while he was instructed to give the most positive pledges of the friendship of France, orders were at the same time transmitted to the French authorities in Canada still to strengthen and hold their posts at all hazards. France, true to her policy of erecting a barrier beyond which English territorial authority should not go in North America, was pursuing a similar policy at the same time in India. It soon became inevitable that the fortunes of war must decide the destinies of both nations, so far, at least, as concerned their colonial possessions on the eastern portions of this continent.
MONTCALM, the successor of DIESKAU, as commander in chief of the French forces of Canada, led an army of five thousand men, composed of regulars, militia and Indians, against Oswego. and invested the English fort there. On the 12th. of August. at midnight, after the completion of every necessary arrangement, with thirty-two pieces of artillery besides howitzers and mortars. he opened a terrible cannonade from his trenches. The small amount of ammunition the garrison had, having been exhausted. Col. MERCER, the commanding officer, spiked his guns, abandoned the fort, retreated across the river without the loss of a single man, and took position in Little Fort Oswego. MONTCALM immediately entered the deserted fort, and from it he poured a destructive fire upon the English, during which Col. MERCER Was killed. Dismayed at the loss of their commanding officer, defeated in an effort to open a communication with Fort George, (situated about four miles up the river, under the command of Gen. Schuy- LER,) the English offered to capitulate on the 14th, on condition that they should not be plundered by the Indians, but treated with humanity. The two regiments that surrendered amounted to about one thousand four hundred men. A large quantity of mili- tary stores and provisions, one hundred and twenty-one pieces of artillery, and fourteen mortars, fell into the hands of the French. As soon as MONTCALM was in possession of both forts, he ordered
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them to be demolished and destroyed, in the presence of his enemies and allies. Then was enacted a tragedy, as contrary to every sentiment of humanity, as it was in violation of the faith that had been pledged to prevent it. MONTCALM, against his promise and treaty, gave twenty of his prisoners to the custody and tortures of his savage allies, as victims for an equal number of Indians that had been killed during the siege. The rest of the prisoners were also exposed to the insults of the French Indian allies.
When these calamitous events became known, the British authorities abandoned all plans of further offensive operations that season, which was then nearly passed. The high and splen- did anticipations, that the campaign would end in a series of bril- liant achievments, were all disappointed, and a feeling of gloom and despondency followed, in the English colonies.
Thus was struck down the red cross of St. GEORGE, to float no more over these chequered scenes of desolation and conflict, where many a brave and gallant youth found an untimely grave, until it waved triumphantly over the then entire northern portion of the continent that rallied around a hostile standard-each of which, ere long, in its turn-even before that generation passed away - when friends turned oppressors, and enemies became allies-was to give place to another banner, that was not then in existence,-its emblematic stars had not yet risen above the horizon of empires ;- but which is now the banner of a nation great and glorious, alike in the arts of war, and the far nobler arts of peace.
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 Du Quesne, 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 upon this continent was now at its zenith; henceforward all change tended to decline and final dispossession. The time speedily came. when the victors were to be vanquished, and their dominions ruled by their enemies.
In. 1758, WILLIAM PITT, afterwards Earl of Chatham, was at the head of the British ministry. Soon every department of the
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public service felt the animating influence of his commanding and lofty spirit. His energetic and vigorous measures inspired hope and confidence at home and abroad. The brave soldiers who had been so often humbled in defeat, kindled with ardor for an opportunity to assert their title to honor and fame, and have a share in the glorious deeds which the future promised. Incompe- tent commanders were re-called, and officers of military genius and experience succeeded them. Three expeditions were planned. Louisburg was again captured. The French deserted Fort Du Quesne on the approach of an English army. That against Crown Point and Ticonderoga alone was defeated, and relinquished; but out of its failure arose the successful expedition against Fort Frontenac, at the suggestion of Colonel BRADSTREET, who com- manded it.
At the head of about three thousand men, with eight cannon and three mortars, Col. BRADSTREET left the camp of the defeated army, which had retreated to its former position on the south side of lake George. Arriving at Oswego, he lost no time in embarking his men. Crossing the lake, he landed about one mile from the fort, on the evening of August 25th .* He urged forward his prepa- rations for an attack with such rapidity, that within two days, he opened his batteries so near the French works as to make every discharge produce an effect. The French commander; deserted by his Indian allies, and satisfied that his capture was inevitable, surrendered at discretion, on the 27th. One hundred and ten prisoners, nine vessels, sixty cannon, sixteen mortars, a large number of light arms, great quantities of military stores, provisions, and merchandise, were taken. The fort was dismantled and demolished. The vessels and such other things as could not be carried away, were destroyed. Col. BRADSTREET then marched his detachment back and joined the main army.
The success of this expedition aided that which was marching
* Fort Frontenac is thus described in the "Journals of Major Robert Rogers," an officer justly distinguished as a daring and skillful commander of a company of "Rangers," who visited it soon after it was taken by the English:
"This fort was square faced, had four bastions with stone, and was near three- quarters of a mile in circumference. Its situation was very beautiful, the banks of the river presenting, on every side, an agreeable landscape, with a fine prospect of lake Ontario, which was distant about a league. interspersed with many Islands that were well wooded, and seemingly beautiful. The French had formerly a great trade at this fort with the Indians, it being erected on purpose to prevent their trading with the English, but it is now totally destroyed."
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against Du Quesne. French re-inforcements from Niagara and Frontenac, could not now come. Conscious of their inability to dispute successfully the possession of the fort, with a force so form- idable as that of the English, the French voluntarily abandoned it, silently passing down the Ohio river. With them also departed the powerful influence they had long exercised over the surrounding Indian nations, never again to be revived. No sooner was the British flag floating over the embattlements France had raised. than they called councils, and entered into treaties of peace and alliance with the British. The Indians said that the Great Spirit, having deserted the French, would no more protect them, and would be angry with all who helped them. The French line of communication between the northern and southern extremities of their possessions was now effectually broken. The reverse which took place in the fortunes of the contending nations, was not more striking, than was the change of feeling manifested by the different parties, at the close of the campaign.
In 1759, Major General AMHERST succeeded as commander of the British forces in North America. The success which had attended the British arms, encouraged the adoption of measures which contemplated the entire conquest of Canada. The three strong positions still held by the French were all to be attacked at the same time. General JAMES WOLF, who had distinguished himself at Louisburg, was to besiege Quebec. General AMHERST was to march against Ticonderoga, and Crown Point, and after taking those places, cross lake Champlain, and join WOLF. Gene- ral PRIDEAUX, accompanied by Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON, was to command the expedition against Fort Niagara. General STANWIX commanded a detachment, which was to watch and guard lake Ontario, and reduce the remaining French posts on the Ohio.
Early in the spring, Gen. AMHERST established his head-quarters at Albany, where he concentrated his forces about the end of May. The summer was well advanced before he was able to cross lake George. He reached Ticonderoga, July 22d. When he was ready to open his batteries on the French, who appeared deter- mined to defend this position, he suddenly discovered that after blowing up their magazines and doing all the injury they could, the enemy had retreated during the night, to Crown Point. The British took possession of the fort without firing a gun, the next day. After reparing its damaged fortifications, Gen. AMHERST
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proceeded to Crown Point. On his approach the French retired before him, and took up a position on the Isle Aux Noix, at the northern end of lake Champlain. At that point the French force was about three thousand five hundred strong. They had a large train of artillery and four armed vessels. Gen. AMHERST was anxious to dislodge them, but this could not be done without a naval force able to meet the enemy's. He hastily built two boats, and succeeded in destroying two belonging to the French. The season was now far gone. In October he fixed his winter quarters at Crown Point, and employed the time in repairing the works there and at Ticonderoga.
The arrangements for the expedition against Fort Niagara having been completed, General PRIDEAUX, with an army composed of European and Provincial troops and Indians, marched to Oswego, coasted along the southern shore of lake Ontario, and without opposition landed at the mouth of the Four Mile creek on the 6th of July.
The author derives the following minute accounts of the invest- ment and final capture of Fort Niagara, from files of the Maryland Gazette, published at Baltimore at that carly period of newspaper enterprise in the American colonies, that have been perserved in the archives of the Maryland Historical Society. The preceding accounts, it will be observed, are from English sources, in the form of letters from correspondents, and items of news by the editor, derived either from New York and Philadelphia papers, or from correspondents in those cities. The heading to the account that follows, is sufficiently explanatory of the source from which it is derived. Taken altogether, the reader will probably conclude that it is a much better account of this locally important military enter- prise, than has before been incorporated in history. The author adopts the accounts as he finds them in the ancient newspaper files, believing that a cotemporary relation of the events will be far more interesting to the reader, than any he could derive from other sources:
" NIAGARA, July 25th, 1759
" Yesterday morning a party of French and Indians, consisting of 1500, of which 400 were Indians, about 8 o'clock, came upon our right, where a breast-work was thrown up, as we had intelligence of their coming ; and as ten of our people were crossing the lake above, they began to fire on them, which gave our people time to get all their piquets, the 46th regiment, part of the 44th, 100 New Yorkers, 600 Indians, ready to oppose them: we waited and received their fire five or six times, before our
-
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people returned it, which they did at about 30 yards distance, then jumped over their breast-work, and closed in with them, upon which they immediately gave way and broke; their Indians left them, and for a while we made a vast slaughter. The whole being defeated, the prisoners were brought in, among which were above 16 or 17 officors, several of distinction, and about 60 or 70 men; the whole field was covered with their dead. After the General took the names of all the officers taken, he sent Major HARVEY, by the desire of Monsieur D'AUBREY, the commanding officer of the whole party, to the commanding officer of the fort, who disputed his having them, and kept Major HARVEY in tho fort, and sent an officer to the General; when they found it was true, and all their succors cut off, they began to treat on conditions of surrender, which continued till near 8 o'clock in the evening before they were concluded; however, our grenadiers, with the train, marched in this morning, and the whole garrison was surrendered to Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON, who succeeded to the command after the death of General PRIDEAUX.
" The ordnance stores found in the Fort at Niagara when Gen. JOHNSON took possession of it, were two 14 pounders; 19 twelve pounders; one eleven pounder; 7 eight pounders; 7 six pounders; 2 four pounders; 5 two pounders - all iron: 1500 round 12 pound shot; 40,000 pound musket ball; 200 weight of match: 500 hand grenades; 2 cohorns and 2 mortars, mounted; 300 bill-axes [?]; 500 hand hatchets; 100 axes; 300 shovels; 400 pick-axes; 250 mattocks; [hoes]; 54 spades: 12 whip- saws, and a considerable number of small arms, swords, tomahawks, scalping-kuives, cartouch-boxes, &c.
A letter from Niagara, dated July 25th, has the following particulars :-
"Your old friend Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON, has gained immortal honor in this affair. The army have the highest opinion of him, and the Indians adore him, as his conduct has been steady and judicious; he has carried on the siege with spirit. The Mohawks have done wonders, serving in the trenches and every place where Sir WILLIAM Was."
We are informed, that upon Gen. AMHERST's receiving the news of the death of Brigadier Gen. PRIDEAUX, he immediately appointed Brigadier General GAGE, of the Light Infantry, commander-in-chief of the forces before Niagara; and that Gen. GAGE was at Albany, when the orders from Gen. AMHERST came to him; but it was impossible for him to reach 'Niagara before it surrendered to Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON. Col. HALDIMAN, we are told, embarked from Oswego for Niagara, the very day it surrendered, the 24th ult.
All the prisoners taken at Niagara, amounting in the whole to about 800, are coming down to this city [i. e. New York ], and are on their way; so that we may expect them every day. The women and children taken in the fort, Gen. JOHNSON has sent to Montreal, we are told.
From Oswego we have the following interesting intelligence, dated July 28th, 1759: "This day Lieutenant MONCRIEF, aid-de-camp to the late Gen. PRIDEAUX, arrived here from Niagara, which he left the 26th instant, on his way to Gen. AMHERST. From the said gentleman we have the following particulars, viz :- That after the melancholy accident of the 20th, which carried off the General, the command of the army devolving on Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON, he continued to pursue the late General's vigorous measures, and erected his third battery within 100 yards of the flag bastion; having intelligence from his Indians, of a large party being on their march from the Falls to relieve the fort, Sir WILLIAM made a disposition to prevent them. The 23d, in the evening, he ordered the Light Infantry, and picquets of the lines, to lie near the road on our left, leading from the Falls to the fort; these he reinforced in the morning of the 24th, with the Grenadiers, and part of the 46th regiment, all under the com-
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mand of Lieut. Col. MASSEY: Lieut. Col. FARQUAR, with the 44th battalion, was ordered to the tail of the trenches, to support the guard of the trenches, commanded by Major BECKWITH. About eight in the morning our Indians advanced to speak to the French Indians, which the enemy declined. The action began soon after, with screams, as usual, from the enemy; but our troops were so well disposed to receive them in front, and our Indians on their flanks, that in less than an hour's time their whole army was ruined. The number of the slain was not ascertained, as the pursuit was continued for three miles. Seventeen officers were made prisoners, among whom are Monsieur D'AUBREY, chief in command, wounded; Monsieur de LIGNERY, second in command, wounded also; Monsieur MARINI, leader of the Indians; Monsieur de VILLIE, REPENTINI, MARTINI, and BASONC, all captains, and several others .* After this defeat, which was in sight of the garrison, Sir WILLIAM sent Major HARVEY into the fort, with a list of the officers taken, recommending it to the commanding officer to surrender before more blood was shed, and while he had it in his power to restrain the Indians. The commanding officer, to be certain of such a defeat, sent an officer of his to see the prisoners; they were shown to him; and, in short, the capitulation was finished about ten at night of the 24th, by which the garrison surrendered, with the honors of war, which Lieutenant MONCRIEF saw embarked the morning he came away, to the number of 607 private men, exclusive of the officers and their ladies, and those taken in the action. We expect them here to-morrow on their way to New York.
Saturday afternoon an express arrived in town [New York City] from Albany, which place he left about 6 o'clock on Thursday morning, with the following agreeable news, which was brought to Albany a few hours before, from Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON at Niagara, viz :- That on the 24th of July, as Sir WILLIAM lay before the fort of Niagara, with the forces under his command, besieging it, he received intelligence by a party of his Indians that were sent out on a scout, that there was a large body of French and Indians, coming from Venango, as a reinforcement to the garrison of Niagara. Gen. JOHNSON thereupon ordered 600 chosen men from the 44th and 46th regiments, 100 New York provincials, and 600 Mohawks, Senecas, &c. to march immediately, and way lay them, which they accordingly did, and threw up a breast- work at a place where they knew the French must pass by on their way to the fort; and sent a batteau with 10 or 12 men down the river a little way, to fire when the enemy were near at hand, which would give them warning to prepare themselves for their reception; and in a short time after their breast-work was finished, they heard the alarm given by the batteau, that was sent forward, on which they all prepared them- selves to receive the enemy, each man having two balls and three buck-shot in his gun, and were squatted. However, the enemy perceived them in their entrenchment, and fired six times on them before our people returned the fire; but as soon as the enemy came close, all the English rose up and discharged their pieces, which made the utmost slaughter imaginable among them, and repeated their fire three times, when the enemy's Indians that were left alive, left them; immediately upon which our people jumped over their breast-work, and flew on the enemy, sword in hand, still continuing to make great slaughter among them, and took 120 prisoners, among which were 17 officers, some of which are of distinction, with their chief commander. The havoc we made at the end was great, 500 of the enemy at least being left on the field of
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