USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 3 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
Statement of votes given for governors since 1789 449
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAPTER I.
": The legislature provide support for the garrison at Oswego, &c. -approximation of the English and French colonies-differ- ences-acts of hostility-French posts on the lakes, & c .- the French seize some of the British traders-in 1753, the gover- 'nor of Virginia sends Major Washington on a mission to the French commandant on the Ohio-preparations by Virginia to resist the French-Major Washington defeated by the French and Indians at the Little Meadows, &c .- the assem- bly make provision for founding a college in the city of New- York-Mr. Delancey succeeds Mr. Clinton in the government of the province-renewal of the covenant with the Agoneaseah -England and France prepare for war-operations in Nord Scotia-in 1755, the assembly vote £45,000 for putting the province of New- York into an attitude of defence-arbitrary and sanguinary law in relation to slaves-the assembly order a lery of S00 men, &c .- arrival of General Braddock in Ame- rica-convention of the colonial governors-plan of the cam- paign-defeat of Braddock-Washington saves the remains of the army and falls back-troops assemble at Fort Edward, and the head of Lake George-Colonel Williams defeated be- tween Glen's Falls and Fort George, by the Baron Dieskau --- defeat of Dieskau by the provincials at Fort George-expedi- tim against Niagara fails-campaign closes-meeting of all the colonial governors to devise means for the ensuing can- paign-arrival of Sir Charles Hardy, as governor, in Sep- , tember, 1755, &c.
VOL. 111.
+
2
HISTORY OF THE
IN November, 1750, the legislature provided for the support - of the garrison at Oswego. The acts in relation to this post were continued from year to year. Hitherto the Indian trade at this place had been very profitable, to such as were concerned in it. An act to prolong the currency of the provincial bills of credit heretofore emitted, and for a further emission, was also passed.
In the mean time, the English and French colonies were ap- proximating ; forts and trading houses were constructed on the Indian lands in advance of the settlements. Differences arose between the traders of the respective nations. The comman- ders of the posts fomented them. Acts of hostility were com- mitted. Each charged the other as being the aggressor .- The governors took part, and it soon became evident that war would follow. The whole power of France was united under one governor, who could give it such direction as he chose.
The aborigines, with the exception of the Agoneaseah, were mostly in the French interest. The British colonies, on the other hand, were divided into a number of separate govern- ments, jealous of one another, and did not act in concert, if we except those of New England.
. The governors of Canada were military men, possessed of great talents. They judiciously selected and fortified such places as would give their nation most influence with the Indi- · ans, and enable them to repel and make attacks. New-York, from its situation, was more exposed to the inroads of the enemy than any other colony.
The French had the command of Lakes Champlain, Ontario and Erie. They had a military chain of posts from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to Detroit. Their intention was to con- nect these with those which they had on the Mississippi.
The execution of this plan was probably accelerated by the grant of a large tract of land situated on the Ohio river, by the British government, to several individuals of wealth and in- fluence, residing in England and Virginia. These associated. ,
·
3
STATE OF NEW-YORK.
and formed a company, and adopted measures to take posses- sion. They erected several trading houses, and caused the lands to be surveyed.
The government of Canada having obtained early intelli- gence of these proceedings, and considering them intrusions upon France, wrote immediately to the governors of New-York and Pennsylvania, informing them that the traders had en- croached upon the French territories, and warning them that if they did not desist, he should be under the necessity of seizing them wherever they should be found.
The menace of the governor of Canada being disregarded, he put it into execution, by seizing the British traders among the Miamies, and sending them as prisoners to Presqeile, (Erie) on Lake Erie, where a small fort was then erecting. The French opened a communication from Presqeile, (Erie) down French creek and Alleghany river, to the Ohio. Detachments of troops were stationed at proper distances from each other, and secured by works which would cover them in case of at- tacks.
Dinwiddie, the lieutenant governor of Virginia, in the year 1753, considering these measures tantamount to an invasion, dispatched Major Washington, (who afterwards conducted his (ountry to independence and glory,) with a letter to the com- mandant of the French forces on the Ohio, requiring him to withdraw from the dominions of his Britannic Majesty. This letter was delivered at a fort on Fort La Beuf, the western branch of French creek, to M. De St. Pierre, the commander on the Ohio, who replied that he had taken possession of the country by the directions of his general then in Canada, to whom he would transmit the letter.
Preparations were immediately made in Virginia, to assert the rights of the crown, and a regiment was raised for the prosecu- tion of the frontiers. By the death of the colonel, the command devolved on Major Washington, who attempted to pre-occupy the post at the coalescence of the Alleghany and Monongahelia rivers; but on his march thither, he was met by a body of French and Indians, at a place called the Little Meadows, and defeated
€
4
HISTORY OF THE
and obliged to surrender after a gallant defence. The French, a short time before, had surprised Log Town, which the Virgini- ans had built upon the Ohio below Pittsburgh, and made them- · selves masters of the block-house. At the same time, M. De Contrecœur, with a thousand men and eighteen pieces of can- non, arrived at the junction of the Alleghany and Monongahe- lia rivers, in three hundred canoes, from Venango, and reduced a fort which the Virginians had erected there.
These operations were followed by divers skirmishes between the people of both nations, which were fought with various suc- cess. At length the governors of the English colonies receiv- ed orders from England, to form a confederacy for their mutual defence.
The assembly of the province of New-York, in June, voted that one thousand one hundred and twenty pounds should be raised by lottery, in order to aid in the founding of Columbia College. At the same session, they directed that five hundred pounds should annually be paid out of the excise . revenue, to the trustees of said institution, for the space of seven years, in furtherance of the same design. Commissioners · were appointed to examine in relation to the encroachments made upon the eastern borders of the province, by the colo- nies of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Mr. Clinton was superseded in the government of the pro- vince by Mr. Osborn, on the tenth of October, 1753, but as the latter did not arrive till some time after, Mr. James Delancey acted as lieutenant governor. The assembly convened soon after the accession of Mr. Delancey. They voted at this ses- sion, that one thousand one hundred and twenty-five pounds should be raised for Columbia College, by lottery. An act ' was made at the same session, which authorized the inhabi- tants of Rochester and Marbletown, in the county of Ulster, to have two constables in cach town instead of one. The people, in these times, could dispense with a third or fourth part of the constables that we now have. There were then fewer justices, in proportion to the population, than there are now. Litigation has, in general, increased with the increase of justices, and will
-
1
1
STATE OF NEW-YORK.
5
continue to increase so long as the office is sought, rather on account of its emoluments than its honour. Some neighbour- hoods, where there were not five law suits in a-year, before they had justices, have not unfrequently, as many hundreds.
The lienteuant governor, Mr. Delancey, was directed to confer with the Agoneasean chiefs, with a view to detach them from the French interest. A congress was accordingly ap- pointed at Albany, to which place Mr. Delancey repaired, ac- . compained by commissioners from the other colonies, but a small number of delegates attended on the part of the Agoneaseah, and even these seemed to be quite indifferent to the advances and exhortations that were made to them. 'The French, by their superior address, had, in a measure, detached them from our interest. The Agoncaseah, however, accepted the pre- sents given to them, and renewed the ancient compact, intimat- ing, at the same time, that they should demand assistance to drive the French out of the country.
Both nations, by this time, perceived that a rupture would be inevitable, and each resolved to make suitable preparations. France continued to send reinforcements to Quebec, for the prosecution of her projects. The governors of the provinces were exhorted to unite in their endeavours for repelling the incursions of the enemy, but such an union was not easily effected. The different colonies were divided by different views and interests. Besides, every colony was more or less distract- ed by factions, formed by the governors, and the demagogues of the assembly.
In August, the legislature of the province of New-York," voted five thousand pounds towards aiding the colonies of Pennsylvania and Virginia, in an expedition against the French, in the country of Ohio.
A law was passed to prevent malicious informations in the Supreme Court. Before this, it had been customary to begin, and carry on prosecutions for trespasses, batteries, and other misdemeanors in this court, by way of information. The act made the informer liable for costs wherever he did not sustain his complaint, unless the judge certified that he had probable
1
-
1
€
HISTORY OF THE
cause. This was a very necessary restricting law, in as much as it checked the propensities of men disposed to vex their neighbours with groundless complaints.
Ample provision was made for the support of the garrison of Oswego. The militia act was also prolonged. At the same session, measures were adopted to adjust a controversy which had been pending for some time, between New-York and New-Jersey, in relation to the partition line.
In the beginning of the year 1755, the assembly of Massa- . chusetts passed an act prohibiting all correspondence with the French .at Louisburgh ; and early in the spring they raised a body of troops, which was transported to Nova Scotia, to aid Lieutenant Governor Lawrence, in driving the French from some places which they had made themselves masters of in that province. These troops were placed under the command of Colonel Mockton, who proceeded to the river Massaguash, where he found the passage opposed by a party of French and Indians, part of whom were posted in a block-house. The Massachusetts troops attacked with such spirit that the enemy were obliged to fly with precipitation, and leave them in pos- session of the block-house and all their works. From thence, Colonel Mockton advanced to the French fort, Beau Sejour, which he invested and took by the middle of June. Mockton then proceeded to the other fort, on the river Gaspereau, which the enemy abandoned. By these successes the English be- came masters of all Nova Scotia.
In the month of February, 1755, the legislature of New- York, voted forty-five thousand pounds for the purpose of putting the province into a proper posture of defence, and also for furthering his Majesty's design against the French in Ca- nada. As the sum voted was wanted, immediately bills of credit were issued, and made redeemable as soon as the money should be collected by taxation.
A law, regulating the militia, was enacted. By it, every male, between, sixteen and sixty, was required to enrol him- self. In cases of imminent danger, slaves had to do military duty. The act declares, that if any one or more slave or slaves,
-
:
:
:
2
STATE OF NEW-YORK.
above the age of fourteen, shall in time of alarm or invasion, be found a mile or more from the habitation or plantation of his or their owner or owners, without a certificate from the owner or owners, signifying the business he or they may be sent on, it shall be adjudged felony, without benefit of clergy : and further, that it should be lawful for the person or persons finding such slave or slaves, to shoot or destroy him or them without being impeached or prosecuted for the same. The philanthropist must feel indignant at such inhuman legislation law. The same act provided, that centinels should be posted in different parts of the province to sound alarms, in cases of invasions.
The house passed a law, on the third day of March, to ena- ble the inhabitants of Schenectady, to fortify it with stockadoes. This town had been fortified on several occasions, in the same. manner. Stockade fortifications were then, and had been from the very origin of the colony, common, and were in general, sufficient defences against the undisciplined and illy armed na- tives. Stockade fortifications, consisted of posts, set in the ground, side by side, with their tops sharpened. In some instances, ditches were formed around the outsides. Within these stockades, there was one or more block-houses, and now and then a fort. In the settlements, along the Mohawk river, and Schoharie creek, and along the Hudson, at Saratoga, and on Hoosack river, and in the counties of Ulster and Orange, there was usually but one block-house, and this was near the middle of the enclosure. The ground enclosed, varied from one, to two or three acres. Albany aud Schenectady were exceptions. The enclosures were extended, as these places increased in po- pulation. A few of the block-houses, erected in the Mohawk country, during the revolution, still exist, but they are now in very ruinous conditions.
When these works were directed to be made, Schenectady * as an inconsiderable town, standing in the midst of a vast for- est, the narrow settlement, along the Mohawk river, scarcely forming an exception. There were no improvements beyond the ravine or valley, except Stone Arabia, and now and then a
-
.
8
HISTORY OF THE
· settlement, containing two or three families. The fine country, without the ravine, was still covered with woods.
In May, the legislature ordered a levy of eight hundred men to co-operate with the troops from the other provinces, and from England, in the reduction of Canada. Ten thousand pounds were voted towards defraying the expense. A law was made to impress ship carpenters, joiners, and all other artificers and labourers, to aid in building boats. The same law authorized the taking of horses, wagons, boats, &c. into the public ser- vice.
A very active campaign had been meditated in America. One of the first measures adopted by General Braddock, after his arrival, was a convention of the several governors for the purpose of settling the military plan of operations. This was held in Virginia, on the 14th of April, 1755, where three expe- ditions were resolved on.
1
The first was against fort Du Quesne .* This was underta- ken by Braddock, in person and the British troops, with such aids as could be drawn from Virginia and Maryland.
The second was designed against Forts Frontenact and Nia- gara. This was to be commanded by Governor Shirley. The American regulars, consisting of Shirley's and Peperel's regi- ments, constituted the principal force relied on for the reduc- tion of these places.
The third was against Crow Point. . It was to be executed by the colonial forces, raised by New-York and New England. The command was given to Major General William Johnson, then one of the council of the former province.
As soon as the several governors who met Braddock for the purpose of fixing the plan of the campaign, had separated, that general proceeded from Alexandriat to a post at Will's creek, since called Fort Cumberland, near the source of the Potomac, which was at that time the most western post held by the Eng- lish in Virginia or Maryland, and from whence the army destin-
* Now Pittsburgh -; Kingston in Upper Canada-# In. the District of Columbia.
.
9
STATE OF NEW-YORK.
ed against Fort du Quesue, was to commence its march. So great were the difficulties of obtaining wagons and the necessary supplies for the expedition, that the troops could not be put in motion until the middle of June, and then the delays occasioned by opening a road over the mountains, were such as to produce sonie apprehension that time would be afforded the enemy to collect in great force at Fort du Quesne, and thereby put the success of the enterprise in some hazard. Influenced by this consideration, it was determined to select twelve hundred men from the different corps of the army, at the head of whom the general should advance in person, as speedily as possible. Their baggage was to be carried on horses, and no greater number of wagons was to be attached to them than was neces- sary for the transportation of the military stores. The residue of the army, under the command of Colonel Dunbar, with all the heavy baggage, was to follow in the rear by easy marches.
This disposition being made, Braddock pressed forward in the confidence that no enemy existed in the country capable of opposing him with effect.
Although divested of every necessary incumberance, his march was so much retarded by the natural impediments of the country, that he did not reach the Monongahelia until the eighth of July. The succeeding day, he counted on investing Fort du Quesne, and such a disposition of his forces was made in the morning, as he supposed best adapted to his situation.
The Provincial troops, composing a part of Braddock's army, consisted entirely of independent and ranging companies. 'The regiment commanded by Washington, in 1754, had been improvidently broken into companies at the close of the cam- paign, and he was now with the general, in the capacity of aid. Braddock was cautioned of the danger, and advised to advance the Provincials in his front, for the purpose of scouring the woods, and discovering any ainbuscade which might be formed for him. But he held both his enemy and the Provincials. in too much contempt to follow this salutary advice. Three hun- dred British regulars, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gage, VOL. III. 2
1
4
10.
HISTORY OF THE
composed his van ; and he followed at some distance with the main body of the army divided into columns.
Within about seven miles of Fort du Quesne, immediatly after crossing the Monongahelia the second time, in an open wood, thick set with high grass, as he was advancing entirely unappre- hensive of danger, his front was suddenly and unexpectedly at- tacked by an invisible enemy.
The van was thrown into some confusion, and the general having ordered up the main body, which was formed three deep, and the commanding officer of the enemy having fallen, the , attack was suspended for a short time, and the assailants were ' supposed to be dispersed. This momentary delusion, how- ever, was soon dissipated. The attack was renewed with increased fury ; the van fell back on the main body ; and the whole was thrown into utter confusion. The general, who possessed personal courage in a very eminent degree, but who was without experience in that species of warfare, and who seems not to have been endowed with that fertility of genius which adapts itself to the existing state of things, and invents expedients fitted to the emergency was, in the present crisis, extremely unfortunate in his choice of measures.
Braddock neither advanced upon the enemy nor retreated, but used the utmost of his power to rally and form his broken troops, under an incessant and destructive fire. In his abortive efforts to restore 'order, every officer on horseback, except Washington, was killed or wounded, and at length, the general himself, after loosing three horses, received a mortal wound, and his regulars fled in the utmost confusion. Fortunately, the enemy was arrested by the plunder found on the field of battle, and the pursuit was. soon given up. The Provincials, under these trying circumstances, exhibited an unexpected degree of courage, and were among the last to leave the field.
.
The defeat was total, and the carnage unusually great ; sixty- four, out of eighty-five officers, and about one-half of the privates were killed and wounded. The cannon, military stores, and even the private cabinet of the general, containing his instruc-
. .
$
11
STATE OF NEW-YORK.
tions, fell into the hands of the enemy. The force of the French, in this action, was computed at about three hundred men.
The defeated army fled, precipitately, to the camp of Colonel Dunbar, where Braddock expired of his wounds. The terror excited by this unexpected defeat, seems to have been communi- cated to the residue of the army. As if the situation of their - affairs had become desperate, all the stores collected for the cam- paign, except those necessary for immediate use, were destroyed, and not long after the death of Braddock, the British troops were marched to Philadelphia, far in the interior, where they were put into winter quarters, leaving the inhabitants to pro- tect themselves, or fall victims to Indian warfare.
Upon the retreat of the, discomfited army of Braddock, the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, were exposed to the inroads of the savages. The back settlements were gen- erally broken up, and the inhabitants driven into the interior country.
'The two northern expeditions, though not so disasterous, were neither of them successful. For that against Crown Point, which was to be carried on entirely by Provincials, was retarded by insuperable delays. .
The rendezvous of the troops, for both these expeditions, was appointed to be at Albany, where most of them arrived before the end of June-but the artillery, batteaux, provisions, and other necessaries, for the attempt upon Crown Point, could not be prepared before the eighth of August, when General Johnson set out with them from Albany, for the Carrying Place, from Iludson's river, to Lake George .* There the troops had al- ready arrived under Major General Lyman, and consisted of be- tween five and six thousand men, besides Indians, raised by the colonies of New-York and New England. Every thing was then prepared as fast as possible for a march ; and towards
* Fort Edward was built in 1755, by the colonial forces-it was then called the Carrying Place. A road was opened from Sandy Hill, by Glen's Falls, to the head of Lake George, the same year, where the troops formed a camp. which was fortified by a rampart and ditch. Its ruins are now faintly marked out.
-
12
. HISTORY OF THE
the end of the month, General Johnson advanced about fourtren miles forward, with his troops, and encamped at the head of Lake George. Here he resolved to await the arrival of bis batteaux, and afterwards proceed to Ticonderoga, near the out- Jet of the lake, from whence it was about fifteen miles to Crown Point, called by the French, Fort Frederick. While he was thus encamped, some of the Indians brought him intelligence that a considerable number of the enemy were then on their march, by the way of South Bay, towards the fortified encamp- ment, since called Fort Edward, which General Lyman had built at the Carrying Plare, and in which four or five hundred Pro- vincials 'had been left as a garrison. Upon this intelligence, Johnson sent two expresses to Colonel Blanchard, their com- mander, with orders to call in all his out parties, and to keep his whole force within the intrenchments. About twelve o'clock at night, those who had been sent out upon the second express, re- turned with an account of their having seen the enemy within four miles of the camp, at the Carrying Place. Early the next morning he called a council, wherein it was unadvisedly resolv- ed, without knowing the number of the enemy, to detach one A thousand men, and some of the Indians, to interrupt them in their retreat. Between eight and nine o'clock in the morning, a thousand men, with two hundred Indians, were detached under the command of Colonel Williams, but they had not been gone two hours when those in the camp began to hear a close firing, about three miles distant-as it approached nearer and nearer, they rightly supposed that the detachment was overpowered, and retreating towards the camp, which was soon confirmed by some fugitives, and presently by whole companies, who fled back in great confusion. In a very short time after, the enemy appeared, marching in regular order, up to the centre of the · camp, where the consternation was so great, that if they had at- tacked the breast-work directly, they might probably have thrown all into confusion, and obtained an easy victory ; but, fortunately for the Provincials, they halted for some time about the distance of one hundred and fifty yards, and from. thence, be- gan their attack, with platoon firing, too far off to do much hurt,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.