USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. I pt 1 > Part 26
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AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATE EXPEDITION TO ALBANY IN THE MONTII OF AUGUST 1696.
[London Doc. X.]
July 31. His Excelly Benjamin Fletcher had certain intelli- gence that the French were on their march against the Indians of the Five Nations.
Sunday Augst the 2d. Intelligence came the French were in the Indian Countrey and that the inhabitants of Albany were ap- prehensive of their marching against that garrison. At the same time came a letter from the R' Honblo the Lords of his Matys Privy Council advising of preparacons made by the French against some part of America. His Excell. the same day did recommend to the Council to cause the guns and batterys to be put in order and about noone took his departure for Albany.
On the 7th of Augst his Excell arrived at Albany and called a Council of such gentl. and officers as were upon the frontiers.
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AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS.
[Council Min. Vol. VII.]
At a Council held at Albany the 7th day of August 1696.
Present. His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher &c.
Coll. Nich. Bayard of the
Coll. Richd Ingoldesby
Council Capt James Weems
Maj" Peter Schuyler of the Council
Capt William Hyde
Capt. Peter Matthews
Matth: Clarkson Secy
Evert Banker Esq"
L' Coll. Charles Lodwick
Dirck Wessells, Esq.
Mr. Dellius the Minister to the Indians
Ilis Excell the Governor said :--
Gentl. As soon as I had certaine notice from you that the enemy were marched into the Countrey of our Indian friends, and by the number of their forces did seeme to threaten this place & Schenectady, I made all the haste I could to yor assistance, loosing no more time but while I wrott to Connecticutt & the Jerseys for such supplys of men as I conceived necessary upon this occasion by this letter which I received at the same time (with those from Albany) from the Lords of His Matyes Council in England, you will see that I could not reasonably draw forces from New Yorke nor be well spared from that place myself ; yet by advice of his Matyes Council there I am come up with a part of my own Company and desire yor advice what is most proper to be done for the King's service and y" own safetyes and for the secureing the Indians in their fidelity and renewing the covenant chain : this we are to consider, that time may not be lost and the Countrey not burthened by an unnecessary charge.
His Excell. further proposed sending thirty men of his own Company now brought up with him with a detachment of twenty out of each of the three Companyes here, into the Indian Countrey to cover the retreate of our Indians and secure them from their fears.
The Council were of opinion the French being retreated it would be an unnecessary charge. And offered their advice that the Sachems of the Oneydes should be sent for (who are here) and their losse condoled, which was accordingly done.
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COUNT FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION
The Council are of opinion that the members of Council present with the officers of the Companyes and principle inhabitants of this place should meet & consult with the chiefe Indians now in town about the propperest methods for bringing back those Indians that are fledd, and settling them firm again in the covenant chain, and make report what they have done therein to His Excellency. Which His Excell. did approve of & order accordingly
May it please yor Excell.
In obedience to yor Excell. order of the 7th instant we under- written have mett & considered about the properest methods for bringing both those Indian Nations vizt the Onondages and Oney- des that are fled, and renewing with them and the rest of the Five Nations the Covenant Chain, and having thereupon sounded the opinions of the Sachims of the Maquaes and Oneydos Nations and severall of their chiefe men now at Albany, do humbly offer as our opinions that since we are informed that it is now twelve dayes ago the French army left the Indian Countrey and that the Senekes and Cayouges are still undisturbed in their own country that the Onnondage Nation upon the approach of the enemy have set their own Castle on fire and all fledd to be out of the enemy's reach, that the Oneydes Nation have in like manner left their Castle and great part of them already are come in here to Albany for reliefe in their wants of provision and ammunicin &c. and that the Ma- quaes Nation or great part of them are in the like manner come in hither, We cannot perceive that it can be any great service to send any great body of men now to the Upper Nations, who are seated at that distance from hence, neither can any men be well spared from Albany, here being only three establisht companyes in garrison with a detachment of yor Excell. own Company now brought with you, besides a few inhabitants ; which we judge to be little enough for the defence of the place : but we humbly sup- pose that its of absolute necessity that small partyes be frequently sent out to clear the coast from such small troops that may come to annoy the adjacent farmes in getting in their harvest ; and lastly with submission we are of opinion that the best method to reduce
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AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS.
the Indians that are fled & to unite them with the rest to this go- vernment as formerly in renewing the Covenant chain, is,-
First, that trusty and faithfull Indians be procured and sent to the Senekes and Cayouges in their Castles and to the Onondages that are fledd, with instruccons to acquaint them that His Excell. the Governor upon the first newes of the French invading their Country came to Albany from New Yorke in order for their as- sistance & releife.
2. That upon his Excell. comeing hither he had intelligence the enemy was already departed out of our Indian Countrey.
3. That it is hardly possible to have a meeting with all the brethren of the Five Nations now to consult with them what may be propper for the common good and to present them with those things which are sent to them from his Excell : great Master the King of Great Brittaine.
4. That therefore yor Excell. do appoint the brethren to meet you thereunto at Albany this day two months, but if it should so happen that by reason of the Onnondages being fledd the brethren could not then meet in a body at that time the Onnondages and Senekes and Cayouges will consult and pitch upon the time, and to give yor Excellency timely notice thereof to the end the bre- thren of the Maquaes and Oneydes may be acquainted therewith accordingly, Dated the Sth of August in Albany 1696.
NICH BAYARD
G. DELLIUS EVERT BANCKER DIRCK WESSELLS Pr SCHUYLER.
Copy of a Commission left by his Excell.
Benjamin Fletcher, Capt. Gen' & Govern" in Chiefe of his Matyes Province of New-Yorke, &c. to Peter Schuyler Esq. one of his Matyes Council for the sd Province, Mr. Godfrey Dellius Minister at Albany and places adjacent, Majr Dirck Wessells and the May" of the City for the time being. I doe by virtue of the power and authority to me given by his Matys Letters Patents under the Greate Seale of England, hereby impower you or any two of you to treat conferr and consult with the Five Indian.
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Nations of the Maquaes Oney des Onondages and Sinnekes who have hitherto been faithful to my Master his Majesty of Great Brittain, France & Ireland, &c. and to hold a correspondence with them pursuant to such instruccôns as you shall from time to time re- ceive from me, so as by yr endeavours they may be confirmed in their fidelity and allegiance. And from time to time you are here- by required to give a constant and minute account of all yor pro- ceedings to me & his Matyes Council for the province of New Yorke, and I doe hereby supersede vacate make null any former warrt or commission granted in this behalfe. Given under my hand and seal att Albany the tenth day of August in the 8th year of his Matyes reigne Anno Dmî 1696. BEN. FLETCHER.
(Copy.)
The Instructions.
Instruccons for Major Peter Schuyler one of his Matyes Council for the Province of New-Yorke, Mr. Godfrey Dellius Maj" Dirck Wessells and the May" of Albany for the time being, commission- ated by me in my absence to conferr with the Five Indian Nations for his Matyes service pursuant to the sd Commission.
To send out trusty and faithfull Indians with one or two Chris- tians that understand the Indian Language to the Castles of the Sinnekes Cayouges and Onnondages who are fled, to acquaint them that upon the first news I had of the French Invasion I came up to their reliefe and assistance.
That att my arrivall at Albany I had intelligence the French were retreated out of their country.
That I am desirous to have a meeting with the Five Nations at Albany to consult with them what may be proper for their com- mon good and safety, and present them with such things as are sent from my Great Master the King.
And that I desire to meet them the Eleventh day of October next, but if it should so happen there be reason of their seperacôn and flight the brethren cannot meet in a body at that time, the Onnondages, Sennekes, and Cayouges being the uppermost Na- tions do consult and appoint a time and give me notice thereof, to the end the brethren of the Maquaes and Oneydes be acquainted therewith that the meeting may not faile.
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AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS.
That if any of the Sachims come down in my absence you hear and answer their propositions as you shall finde most to conduce to his Maty's service and the safety of the Province.
That by all opportunityes you give a minute account of these affairs to me and his Matyes Council for this Province and from time to time follow such further directions and instruccôns as you shall receive from us.
And it is hereby further directed by & with the advice of those of his Matyes Council here present that the sume of One Hundred pounds be lodged in the hands of Mr Dellius towards the defray- ing the necessary charges of these persons thus employed for his Maty's service of which he is hereby obliged to give a particular account to me and for his Matyes Council at New Yorke or to the Governour & Council for the time being. Given under my hand and seale at Albany the tenth day of August in the eighth year of his Matyes reigne Anno Domini 1696.
(Signed)
BEN FLETCHER DAVID JAMISON CI. Concilij.
[Council Minutes VII.]
Att a Council held at his Matyes ffort in New Yorke the 18th of Augt 1696
Present Ilis Excell: Benjamin Fletcher &c.
Steph Cortlandt
John Lawrence
Nich: Bayard
Esq™ª Caleb Heathcote
Esq"
Gabr Monvielle
Resolved the Indians of the two Nations of Onnondage and Oneyde whose Corn is destroyed by the enemy be supplyed the ensuing winter at the charge of this Government.
Ordered no Indian Corne be brought down the river from Albany Vlster and Dutchesse Countyes untill the Indians be sup- plyed this ensueing winter and that the Commisioners appointed to treate with the Indians in his Excell: absence do purchase soe much corne as is necessary for them.
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COUNT FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION
LETTER FROM COLL. FLETCHER TO Mr. BLAITHWAYTE, DATED THE 18th SEPTR 1696.
[Lond. Doc. X.]
Sir-I am not willing to take up much of your time by my scurvy scribblings ; having said all that occurs to my thoughts in this hasty call from the Five Indian Nations, who have been driven by the French from their wooden castles and are returned ; they desire to see me at Albany in a short warning and I am now ready to step on board. The French Count of Canada has made but a very silly businesse of it after three years preparation afrighting a few naked Indians only ; by this, he shews them his strength and his mercy, being this summer recruited from France, he told all he took prisoners, his business was to bring them under the protection of his Master but not to destroy them. Our Chiefe Sachims would not be persuaded to stay and treate, but seeing his force, they fled, and are return'd. I hope to revitt them in their allegiance, by the presents sent from His Majty and an addition sent from this Province ; but yet I want the most congent ar- gument ; a good body of men.
A JOURNALL
OF WHAT PASSED IN THE EXPEDITION OF HIS EXCELL. COLL. BENJAMIN FLETCHER CAPTAINE GENERALL AND GOVERNOR IN CHIEFE OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORKE &C. TO ALBANY TO RENEW THE COVENANT CHAIN WITH THE FIVE CANTON NATIONS OF INDIANS, THE MO- HAQUES, ONEYDES, ONONDAGES, CAYOUGES AND SENNEKES.
Sept. 17, 1696. On Thursday after sunsett his Excell: im- barqued at Greenwich: on Tuesday morning arrived at Albany.
22. This day his Excell. viewed the fortifications of the city and gave orders to ye Mayr and Aldermen for such reparacôns as were found needfull in the blockhouses platformes and stocka- does.
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AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS.
27th Sunday afternoone the Sachims of Oneyde and Onnon- dage arrived at Albany, in the evening they supped with his Ex- cell. giving great expressions of ye joy and satisfaccôn they had in meeting his Excell.
28th His Excell sent Capt James Weems to view the garrison at Schenectady and bring report to His Excell what necessary repairs are wanting which was performed accordingly.
This day the Sachims of the other three Nations arrived and desired time to rest themselves till tomorrow.
29th His Excell. called the Sachims together and spake.
At a Meeting of the Sachims of the Five Nations at Albany the 29th of September 1696
Present His Excell Coll Benjamin Fletcher &c
Coll. Nicholas Bayard
William Pinhorne Esq of the Council
Majr Peter Schuyler
Matthew Clarkson Esq Secretary.
The Mayr Recorder & Aldermen of Albany &c
His Excell said :-
Brethren, It is an inexpressible satisfaction to me that I see you here. I do heartily condole the losse our brethren the Onondages and Oneydes have susteined by the late eruption of the French army from Canida.
Upon the first certaine intelligence I had, I came up in person with | what] I could hastily gather for your assistance.
And I am now here and present you the Onondages and Oneydes these two belts of Wampum as a confirmacon of my sincerity and these kettles to repair your losse in that kinde.
Brethren
Two months agoe I received at New Yorke the first intelligence that the French had made an insult upon your country. I forth- with came up as I said before to yor reliefe and assistance. I had an account before I did reach Albany from some of your people that the French army were retreated and marched back towards Canida. I then sent expresses desiring you all to meet me at this place. Some time after I received yor answer that you would
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meet me about this time in Albany ; and I am now come up a second time this summer in order to renew the Covenant Chain and to consult with the brethren what is most propper and may be most conducing to the common good and safety of the whole House.
I do acquaint you from my most illustrious Master the King of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland, that lie will always extend his gracious protecôn to you and as a seal of it His Majesty has commanded me to deliver you these presents to keep bright the Covenant Chain from all rust and to strengthen it in behalfe of all his Majesty's Subjects, not only of this Province, but those also of New-England, Connecticutt, the Jerseys, Pensilvania, Mary- land and Virginia.
A list of the Presents sent from the Kings Most Excellent Majesty and given to the Indians (viz')
21 blew coats
1 barrell powder
24 laced hatts
400 weight of lead
24 p' shoes with buckles
1000 flints
24 shirts 1 grose of tobacco pipes, wood and tinn
22 dozen hose
30 gunn barrills and locks 2 grose of knives
30 brasse kettles 6 pound of vermillion
Prime cost in England of the above goods £200 sterling.
A list of presents added by the government of New Yorke.
1 piece of duffils 100 hatchetts
2 cask of Swan shott
543 lbs tobacco in roll
7 barrills powder
2 grose pipes
14 large kettles
Wampum £3. 9.
7 pieces of white hamills for shirts 28 gallons rumm
All which cost in New York money, . . £169 5
For provision to the Indians and repairing their arms 130 19 7 Cash for Messengers, Indian Scouts for intelligence of the Enemyes motion pd by Mr. Dellius, Mr.
Barker, Majr Schuyler & Major Wessells 100 00 0 .
From England £200 stg in New York money is . 260 00 0
In all £660. 4 11}
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AGAINST TIIE ONONDAGAS.
1
At a Meeting of the Sachems of the Five Nations at Albany the first of October 1696.
Present Ilis Excell. Coll. Benjamin Fletcher, &c.
Coll. Nicholas Bayard
William Pinhorne Esqr Major Peter Schuyler Matth: Clarkson, Esqr. Secy.
The Mayr Aldermen of Albany &c.
Sanonguirese a Sachim of the Mohaques was Speaker Brother Cayenquiragoe
We returne you thanks for what you have said the day be- fore yesterday in condoling of our losse, and for the kettles which you gave us to boyle our victuals in the room of those that are lost by the enemy as also for the two Belts of Wampum given us as a token of your sincerity, by which our hearts are mightily rejoiced and lifted up in this our poor condition.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
We are exceedingly rejoiced that the great King over the Seas has sent to us in this our low condition, by which our hearts are lifted up, we were ready to sink in a miserable perishing Condi- tion and this makes us revive again. IIe laid down six Beaver Skins.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
We come to desire you to acquaint the Great King that the enemy has brought us to a very low Condition and have distroyed five of our Castles; one is now left, and if that be destroyed we know not what to do ; we know not what shall become of us next ; pray let the Great King know this.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
We desire that since the Great King of England &c has Cannoes of Seaventy gunns a piece and many forces, you may acquaint him that it is a great pity we should be so plagued with soe small an enemy as the French and Indians of Canida. We are not able of ourselves to destroy them.
We are become a small people and much lessened by the warr. If the people of Virginia, Maryland, Pensilvania, the Jerseys,
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Connecticutt and New-England who have all put their hand to the Covenant Chain will joyne with the inhabitants of this place we are ready to go and root out the French and all our enemyes out of Canida. He then laid down a bundle of six Bever skins, and on the outside thereof a draft of the river of Canida with the Quebecq chiefe places thereof marked to show the smallnesse
Montreal of the enemy and how seated upon Canida river ; which Troy rivier
they desire may be sent over and shown to the Great King.
Brother Cayenquiragoe.
We again thank you for the Message you have brought us from the Great King.
And we pray you to send again to him for us with all vigour and speed, and to lay before the King what we have here said, faile not in writing, faile not to let the King know it. We give these five Beavers to the man that writes, to pay for paper, penn and ink.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
We desire you to acquaint the Great King as before, that we are a small people and he has a great people and many can- noes with great gunns, we desire you to write to him to know whether he will send them to distroy Canida or not against the next time the trees grow green ; and if he will not send forces to distroy Canada then to send us word thereof that we may make peace for ourselves, for ever, or for some time.
And we earnestly pray you will desire the Great King to send us an answer by the next time the trees grow green. He laid down a bundle of six bevers.
At a meeting of the Sachims of the Five Nations at Albany Octob. 2d 1696.
Present His Excell. Coll. Benjamin Fletcher, &c. Coll. Nich. Bayard William Pinhorne Esq. of the Council
Major Peter Schuyler, Matth: Clarkson Esq. Secy. The Mayr Recorder & Aldermen of Albany &c Dackashata a Sachem of the Sinnekes was Speaker
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AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
We come to condole the losse you daily receive having daily alarms of sculking partyes of the enemy doing mischiefe. Then laid down a Belt of Wampum.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
I am come with the whole House to consider what tends to the comon good of the whole House
Brother Cayenquiragoe
We come here to quicken the fire, and renew the Covenant chain.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
We come to renew the Covenant chain with all the brethren of New England, Connecticutt, New Yorke, the Jerseys, Pen- silvania, Maryland and Virginia that they may partake of the warmth of the fire.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
We recommend to all that are in the Covenant Chain to be vigorous and keep it up.
Brother Cayenquiragoe.
When all is said I drincke to all yor healths & then I deliver you the cupp.
Brother Cayenquiragoe.
There has been a cloud and we come to remove it, as the Sun in the morning removes the darknesse of the night.
Brother Cayenquiragoe.
The tree of safety and welfare planted here we confirme it. Brother Cayenquiragoe.
As the tree is planted here and confirmed, so we make fast all the roots and branches of it, all the brethren of the Five Nations and the brethren of Virginia, Maryland, Pensilvania, the Jerseys, New Yorke, Connecticutt & New England.
Brother Cayenquiragoe.
We wish we may rest in quietnesse under that tree. We fill it with new leaves, and wish all that are in the Covenant chain may have the benefite to sitt down quiett under its shaddow.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
I do hereby renew the covenant chain with all that have put
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COUNT FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION
their hands in it Virginia, Maryland, Pensilvania the Jerseys, New Yorke, Connecticutt & New England
Brother Cayenquiragoe.
We renew the covenant chain in behalfe of the whole House, the Mohaques, Oneydes, Onondages Cayouges & Sinnekes
Brother Cayenquiragoe.
We have lately had the losse of two Castles by the enemy, we have concluded to do our best to assist them and we desire Cayenquiragoe will doe the same.
Brother Cayenquiragoe
We wish the Cannoes may go to and again in safety that the Great King may know what we have here said and that we may have an answer. We now have made our word good : here is the cup. Then laid down some small bundles of bever saying-it is but small, but [it] is as it were saved out of the fire.
His Excell: stood up and said-
Brethren
I have heard what you have said, and have here renewed the Covenant Chain with all the Five Nations, the Mohaques, Oney- das, Onnondages, Cayouges & Sinnekes in behalf of the Brethren of this Province, Virginia, Maryland, Pensilvania, the Jerseys, Connecticutt & New England and I assure the Five Nations of His Maties proteccôn. I have provided for you some victuals and drink to drink the King's health, and in confirmacon thereof that it may last as long as the Sun & Moon endures I give this Belt Wampum.
The principle Sachim of the Mohaques called-Ohee.
The whole Assembly answered Heeeeee Hogh. The principle of Oneyde called-Ohce.
The whole Assembly answered Heeeeee Hogh. The principle Sachim of Onnondage called Ohee. The whole Assembly answered Heeeeee Hogh. The principle Sachim of Cayouge called Ohee.
The whole Assembly answered Heeeeee Hogh
The principle Sachim of Sinneke called-Ohee
The whole Assembly answered Heeeeee Hogh
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AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS.
In the evening His Excellency did appoint the principle Sachims to meet him at a private conference next morning.
At a private Meeting of the Sachims of the Five Nations at Albany the 3d Oct: 1696.
Present His Excell. Coll. Benjamin Fletcher &c Coll. Nich. Bayard
William Pinhorne Esq. of the Council
Major Peter Schuyler Matthew Clarkson Esq: Sect.
His Excellency said :- Brethren
It was proposed by the Speaker of the Five Nations the first day that I should write to my Great Master the King of England &c concerning the warr that is between the Five Nations and the French & Indians of Canida and that I should gett an answer from the Great King to you the brethren next spring.
Brethren
I must assure you its utterly impossible in so short a time to send over to my Great Master and to receive an answer for rea- sons which I shall now give you.
The way over the great sea is long, the danger and hazards are many, and in the winter season many storms and contrary winds. Brethren,
I do promise you to use all the speedyest means with the first opportunity to write to the Great King and to gett you an answer which I am sure will be to yor content and satisfaction and so soon as it comes I shall communicate it to you
Brethren.
In the mean time I have appointed Majr Schuyler Mr Dellius Major Wessells and the Mayor of the Citty of Albany, to receive yor propositions upon any occasions that may happen in my ab- sence.
Brethren
I do heartily wish you home well to yor own castles and that you may look out and be carefull not to be surprized ; you can never be too watchfull. I now take my leave of you and give each of you a kegg of rumm for a dram to comfort you in
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COUNT FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION
the way home, and a coat to keep you warm in the winter. I shall see you again (God willing) next summer or sooner if yor affaires call, if it please God to continue my health.
The Sachims offer to make some propositions.
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