USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 3 > Part 6
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In the month of April, these were embarked at Montreal, un- der the convoy of six frigates, a naval force with which the English were unable to contend, and which sailing down the river, while the ariny marched by land, reached Point au Tremble in ten days.
The garrison, by the severity of the weather and sickness, was reduced to about three thousand effective men.
To avoid, if possible, the hardships and dangers of a seige, in a town too extensive to be securely defended by the garrison, General Murray took the bold resolution of hazarding a battle.
Having determined on this measure, he marched out with the garrison to the heights of Abram, and with great impetu- osity attacked the French near Sillery. He was received with firmness, and soon finding that he made no impression, and that dispositions were making by M. de Levi to pass his flanks, and to iuclose him in such a manner as to render a retreat difficult, he was under the necessity of calling off his army and retiring into the city. In this disastrous battle, the loss of the English was nearly one thousand men.
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Aware of the value of time, M. de Levi improved to the utmost the victory he had gained. His trenches were opened before the town that very evening, but such was the difficulty of bringing up his heavy artillery, that nearly a fortnight elaps- ed before he could mount his batteries, and bring his guns to bear on the city. By that time General Murray, who had been not less indefatigable, had completed some out-works, and mounted on his ramparts so formidable a train, that his fire was superior to that of the besiegers. The batteries had been opened but a very few days before the garrison was relieved from its perilous situation, by the arrival of a British fleet in the river.
Every hope of success being extinguished by the arrival of the fleet, M. de Levi raised the seige, and retired precipitately to Montreal.
The Marquis de Vaudreuil, governor-general of Canada, whose head quarters were at Montreal, called in all his detach- ments, and collected round him the strength of the colony, in order to resist the storm which threatened to burst upon him.
In the mean time, General Amherst took the necessary mea- sures to secure, with the least possible loss, the utter annihilation of this remnant of French power in Canada. He determined to employ the whole Anglo American force, now under his com- mand, in the accomplishment of this object; and measures were taken, during the winter, to bring the armies from Quebec, Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario, to act against Montreal.
The commander-in-chief having made the necessary arrange- ments for the, expedition, proceeded in person, at the bead of ten thousand men, by the river Mohawk, Oneida Lake, and the river Oswego, to Lake Ontario, where he was joined by Sir William Johnson, with about one thousand Indians. He de- tached Colonel Haviland with a body of troops from Crown Point, to take possession of the Isle Aux Noix, in Lake Cham- plain, and from thence, to penetrate, by the shortest way, to the bank of the St. Lawrence. '
On the tenth day of August, Amherst embarked his army on board of boats, proceeded to the outlet of Lake Ontario, VOL. IIL. 7
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and entering the St. Lawrence, descended it to Oswegatchie, a distance of sixty miles, where he halted, and sent out engi- neers to reconnoitre the coasts and islands in the vicinity of Isle Royale. The enemy had a fortress on this island, which commanded the river. He, therefore, made dispositions to in- vest it.
Batteries being raised on the nearest islands, the fort was cannonaded, and dispositions were made for carrying it by assault, when Pouchart, the commandant, capitulated. This fort is about three miles below Ogdensburg. The general having left a small garrison, resumed the descent of the St. Lawrence, and arrived at the Island of Montreal, on the sixth of September, where he immediately debarked his troops, and marched two leagues, and encamped on a plain before Montreal.
General Murray, who had been directed to advance by wa- ter to the same point, appeared below the town on the same day, and effected a landing.
Colonel Haviland. who had been detached against the Isle Aux Noix, approached from the south.
The junction of these armies presented a force before Mon- treal, to which no effectual resistance could be made, and the French governor, .M. de Vaudreuil, offered to capitulate. In the month of September, Montreal, with all the other places possessed by the French, in Canada, were surrendered.
That colossean power, which France had been so long, and with such infinite labour and expense, erecting in America, and which menaced, 'in future, the demolition of the English colo- nies, and which sought to restrict them to a comparatively nar- row strip of country on the sea coast, and which had been the motive for one of the most extensive and desolating wars of modern times, was now completely overthrown. The causes which led to this interesting event, are to be found in the supe- rior wealth and population of the English colonies, over the French colonies, and in the superior naval strength which * Great Britain possessed over France, and which enabled her to prevent, or intercept, the supplies sent out by the French government. ..
.J to binod . . .
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The greatest joy was diffused throughout the British domini- ons by this splendid conquest, which promised to be the great- est the nation had ever made. It was mingled with a proud , sentiment of superiority, which did not estimate with exact jus- tice, the relative means employed by the two rival powers.
But, in no part of those dominions, was the joy felt in a higher degree, or with more reason, than in America. The war. between England and France had assumed, in that region, a terrific forin, happily unknown to the other parts of the civil- ized world. Not confined, as in Europe, to men in arms-wo- men and children had become its common victims. It had been carried by the Indians to the fire side of the peaceful peas- ants, where the tommahawk and scalping knife, were indiscri- minately applied to every age and to every sex. These scenes, from which humanity recoils with horror, were now, it was fondly hoped, closed for ever.
The Indians, on the frontiers, no longer excited by two rival nations, living on the other side of the ocean, to make war; and depending on the English and the colonies alone for supplies, would, it was believed, leave them to pursue in perpetual peace, those profitable, domestic and agricultural avocations, to which a rich, extensive and unsettled country invited them.
'The legislature of the province of New-York, in the winter of 1760, directed, that the same number of men should be em- ployed to aid in the reduction of Canada, which had been em- ployed in 1759. Sixty thousand pounds, payable in eight years, were voted to aid in this service.
An act was passed at the same session, to lay out a road from Sterling Iron Works, in the county of Orange, across the Highlands to Haverstraw landing, on the Hudson. The enact- ment of the latter act is merely noticed to show to the reader the regular advances of this State in its early stages.
At the same session a law was made, to regulate the practice of physic and surgery, in the city of New-York. We believe that this was the first law which the legislature enacted, in relation to physic and surgery. By this law no person was allowed to practice physic and surgery in the city, 'before an
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examination ; and before such examination was approved and admitted as orthodox, by one of his Majesty's council, the. judges of the supreme court, the attorney-general, or the mayor of the city of New-York, who were all learned in medicine, physic, and surgery: Before the passage of this law, which calls our involuntary admiration, on account of its wisdom in certain respects, every body had a right to practice physic and surgery. The profession of a doctor must have been in low estimation at that time. Root doctors, herbaceous doctors, steam doctors, fascinating doctors, and Indian doctors, who were more skilled than all the rest, engrossed most of the prac- tice. These could neither blister, bleed, nor set a bone ; their skill and knowledge being limited to simples, compounds, steam sweating, and charms.
James Delancey, Esq. the lieutenant-governor, dying on the 30th of July, the command devolved upon Mr. Colden.
From the severe conflicts of the north, the colonies of South Carolina and Georgia had been entirely exempted. As the prospect for establishing peace in the north seemed to brighten, this state of repose, in the south, sustained a short interruption.
When driven from Fort du Quesne, the French troops re .. tired down the Ohio into Louisiana, and employed their address in the management of the Indian tribes, not unsuccessfully, in drawing the Cherokees from their alliance with Great Britain. Their negociations with these people, were favoured by the provocations given to their warriors in Virginia, where they had been employed against the French and the Indians, in the French interest, and probably from not being indulged in a licentious predatory spirit, had supposed themselves to be treated with neglect, and even with hostility.
The ill humour excited by these concurring causes, began to show itself in 1759 ; and upon its first appearance, Governor Lyttleton prepared to march into the Cherokee country, at the head of a respectable military force. Alarmed at the hostile preparations which were making, thirty-two of their chiefs were dispatched to Charleston, for the purpose of deprecating the vengance with which their nation was threatened. Their pa-
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,cific representations did not stop the meditated expedition, but they were taken into the train of the army under the pretence of securing their safe return, where they were in reality confined as prisoners under a captain's guard-and after their arrival at the place of destination, were shut up together in a single hut. This perfidious act of the government of South Carolina was warmly resented by the Cherokees. A temporary treaty, how- ever, was made, in which the government insisted, and did de- 'tain the chiefs as hostages, until an equal number of those who had committed murders on the frontiers, should be delivered in "exchange for them ; and, in the mean time, that they should seize every white or red man, coming into their country, who should endeavour to excite them to war against the colonies.
... +This treaty, if it can be called such, being made, the gover- nor returned to Charleston, leaving the thirty chiefs, (ambas- sadors, for such we consider them,) prisoners in Fort Prince George .. -
Scarcely had the army retired from the frontiers, when the Cherokees began to contrive plans for the relief of their chiefs ; in the execution of which, the captain of the fort was killed, and two inferior officers wounded Orders were immediately given to put the chiefs in irons, an indignity so deservedly resented, by these unfortunate men, that the first persons who attempted to execute the cruel orders, were stabbed, and one of them died. Enraged at this manful resistance, the soldiers instantly fell on the chiefs and massacred them. Thus were these men, - who had come in the character of envoys of peace, detained in violation of the law of nations, and inhumanly butchered. No wonder, then, that their countrymen took up arms to revenge their murder. Inflammed to madness by this event, the whole nation flew to arms, and vented their fury on the inhabitants of the country in indiscriminate slaughter.
Mr. Bull, the governor of-the colony, made every exertion to alleviate the calamities already sustained, as well as to re- move them. .. .. . . Colonel Montgomery, with a detachment of regular troops, arrived to their assistance, in the spring of 1760. This officer,
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with his detachment, and all the force which could be collected, entered the Cherokee country, and destroyed all their lower towns. > Near the town of Etchoe, the first of their middle set- tlements, he was met in a thick wood, by a considerable body of the Cherokees, where a severe action was fought. . Both sides claimed the victory. Montgomery withdrew his army, and retired to Fort Prince George, from whence he prepared to embark for New-York.
c '.The consternation of the province was now extreme, and the most serious apprehensions were entertained, that both the Creeks and Chactaws would be induced by the French to raise the hatchet.
The representations made to Colonel. Montgomery were so pressing, that he permitted four companies of his detachment to remain to assist in covering the frontiers.
, Mean time, the war continued to rage-the Cherokees en- compassed Fort Loudoun, the garrison of which consisted of two hundred men, was compelled by famine to surrender, ou condition of being permitted to march into the settlements. The garrison was attacked on its march, a number of them fell on the first fire, and the remainder were made prisoners. Whe- ther the Cherokees were impelled to violate the convention, in consequence of the murder of their chiefs, or from other causes, is not known.
The war was still carried on with cruel violence on the fron- tiers, and General Amherst was again applied to for assistance. That general detached Colonel Grant, with a strong detach- ment, who arrived late in May, at Fort Prince George. Great exertions were made by the colony to raise a body of its own troops, and of friendly Indians, to co-operate with the British. Early in June, Colonel Grant marched from Fort Prince George, for the Cherokee towns. Near the place where the action had been fought, in the preceding year, with Mont- gomery, the Cherokees assembled, and determined to give bat- tle in defence of their country. The action commenced about eight in the morning, and was kept up with spirit, until eleven, when, they began to give way. They were pursued, and a
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Scattering fire kept up for two or three hours, after which Grant marched to the town of Etchoe, which he burned. All their towns and villages, in the middle settlement, shared the same fate. Their houses and their corn-fields were totally destroyed, and the whole country laid waste .. Reduced to the last extre- meties, the Cherokees sued for peace, and the war was in the course of the year terminated by a treaty.
The preliminary articles of peace, signed between Great Britain and France, at Paris, in November 1762, put an entire end to the war in America.
By this treaty France ceded to Great Britain forever, all the conquests made by that power on the continent of North America. In this treaty the Mississippi was to be the boun- dary line between the territories of Great Britain and France, in the new world, the latter having renounced all her posses- sions on the east side of that river, except the island of New- Orleans. ... And it was agreed, that for the future, the confines between the dominions of the two crowns, in that quarter of the world, should be irrevocably fixed by a line drawn along the middle of the Mississippi, from its source, as far as the river Ib- berville and from thence by a line drawn along the middle of this river, and of the Lakes Maurepas and Ponchantrain.
The legislature of New- York, in April 1761, directed a levy of one thousand seven hundred and eighty men. These were employed in garrisoning the fortresses in the province of Can- ada. Provision was made, at the same time, for subsisting, paying and clothing them
. The legislature, in March 1762, ordered the like number of men to be levied, for the like service. The parliament of Great Britain also made some provision for the levies.
. Robert Monckton, Esq. succeeded Mr. Colden in the govern- went of the province, on the twenty-fifth of June, 1762.
In December of the same year, the assembly made provision for raising one hundred and seventy men, who were to be sta- tioned in the frontier posts. The presidency again devolved on Mr. Colden. ... 3. "
"Sue Colonial Laws, William's History of Vermont, and Marshall's Life of Washington.
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CHAPTER III.
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Settlement of Vermont-grants from New Hampshire-dis- pute between New- York and New Hampshire-submission- " decision in favour of New-York-abrogation of the New Hampshire grants-controversy between New-York and the settlers-disputes between Great Britain and her American colonies-stamp act-mutiny act-proceedings of the assem- . : bly thereon-tea act, &c .- proceedings in Massachusetts- petition to the King, &c .- tumults at Boston-troops quar- · tered in Boston-the Duke of Grafton proposes a repeal of - the duties-dificulties between the people of Boston and the - troops-insurrection in North Carolina-tea thrown into the : i sea at Boston-charter of Massachusetts subverted-arbitrary ". laws enacted against the people of Massachusetts-arrival of · General Gage at Boston.
! . IN 1763, a dispute arose between the provinces of New-York and New Hampshire, in relation to the tract of country, now denominated Vermont. The first settlement made in this State, was in 1724. The government of Massachusetts then built Fort Dummer, upon Connecticut river, in the southeasterly corner of the State. This fort was then supposed to be within the province of Massachusetts ; afterwards it was found to be with- in the province of New Hampshire. A settlement was made in the vicinity of the fort.
In 1731, the French advanced np Lake Champlain, and built Fort Frederick, opposite to Crown Point. They also made a settlement around this fort. These were the first settlements in Vermont. Neither prospered or enjoyed much security till after the reduction of Canada. ..
The lands, however, along. Connecticut river, offered so many inducements, in consequence of their extreme fertility, that many of the people of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, in
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order to better their condition and increase their fortunes, re- solved to settle them. It was generally imagined that they lay within the limits of the former province. The applications were made to the government of New Hampshire for the pur- chase. The governor encouraged these applications, and con- ferred many grants.
The provinces of New Hampshire and Massachusetts had a long controversy about their divisional line, which was refer- red to George the Second, for a final decision. On the fifth of March, 1740, his Majesty determined that the northern boun- dary of the province of Massachusetts be a similar curve line, pursuing the course of Merrimack river, at three miles distance on the north side thereof, beginning at the Atlantic ocean, and ending at a point due north of Patucket Falls, and a straight line drawn from thence due west, until it meets with his Majes- ty's other governments. This line was run in 1741, and has ever since been the boundary between New Hampshire and Massachusetts. By this decision, and the establishment of this line, the government of New Hampshire concluded that their jurisdiction extended as far west as Massachusetts had claimed, that is, within twenty miles of the Hudson. Under this conclu- sion, Benning Wentworth, the governor, made a grant of a township six miles square, situated twenty miles eastwardly of Hudson's river, and six miles north of the Massachusetts line, During the four or five years which followed, he made several other grants on the west side of Connecticut river,
In 1755, war commenced between Great Britain and France, which put a stop to the applications and grants. The conquest of Canada in 1760, closed the war in these parts. In the course of the war the colonial forces of New England opened a road from Charlestown, in New Hampshire, to Crown Point. This road crossed the whole country, nearly from south-east to north- west. In 1761, many adventurers and speculators turned their attention to the lands comprised within, what is now called, Vermont. The governor of New Hampshire ordered a survey to be made on both sides of Connecticut river, for sixty miles, Three tiers of townships were laid out on each side. The op. TOL. HIR
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plication for lands increased and new surveys were made. So rapid was the progress, that during the year 1761, not less than sixty townships, of six miles square, were granted on the west side of the river. The whole number of grants in the years 1762 and 1763, amounted to one hundred and thirty ; and their ex- tent was from Connecticut river westwardly to within twenty miles of Hudson's river, so far as that extended northwardly, and after that as far west as Lake Champlain. The number of settlers was very considerable.
The government of the province of New-York, towards the close of the year 1763, on being apprised of these proceedings, took measures for the purpose of asserting its claims. These were founded upon the rights of the Dutch, the original settlers of New-York, and upon a grant made in the year 1664, by Charles the Second, and confirmed by another in 1674, to his brother the Duke of York. The latter grant contained, among other parts of America, "all the lands from the west side of Connecticut river to the east side of Delaware bay."
To check the encroachments of the government of New Hampshire, and to stop intruders, Cadwallader Colden, the lieutenant-governor of the province of New-York, issued a proclamation, on the twenty-eighth day of December, 1763, reciting the grants of the states-general, the cession,to Great Britain, and the grant to the Duke of York, and its subsequent confirmation, and asserting their validity, and claiming the ju- risdiction and territory eastwardly to Connecticut river, and commanding the sheriff of the county of Albany to make return of the names of all persons who, under colour of the New Hamp- shire grants, had taken possession of any lands on the west side of the said river. The governor of New Hampshire issued a counter proclamation, on the thirteenth, of March, 1764, de- claring the grant to the Duke of York, and all others, obsolete ; that New Hampshire claimed as far west as Massachusetts and Connecticut ; and that the grants made by New Hampshire would be confirmed, if the jurisdiction should be restricted. The inhabitants were directed to remain on their lands, and the magistrates were commanded to exercise jurisdiction as far westward as grants had been made.
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" Upon this collision, the government of New-York made ap- plication to the King of Great Britain, representing all the facts in relation to title and intrusions, for a determination : on the twentieth of July, 1764, his Majesty decided that the western bank of Connecticut river, from where it enters the province of Massachusetts, as far northerly as latitude forty-five, should, for the future, be the boundary line between the provinces of New- York and New Hampshire.
'' Thus the province of New-York became possessed of the whole territory, and might still, had her rulers been actuated by motives of conciliation and good policy. The settlers had no idea of disputing its jurisdiction or opposing its laws, but the rulers were not contented with jurisdiction ; they wished to vacate the grants made by New Hampshire and deprive the settlers of their lands. In the award which his Majesty made, there was no provision in respect to the lands taken up and im- proved. A law was passed by the colonial legislature vacating all the New Hampshire grants. The territory of Vermont was divided into four counties ; the southwestern part was annexed to the county of Albany, the northwest was formed into a coun- ty by the name of Charlotte. On the east side of the principal chain of the Greene mountains, two counties were erected, Cum- berland on the south and Gloucester to the north. The settlers were required to surrender their charters, which they had received from the government of New Hampshire, and to take out new grants. Some complied, but the greater number refused. The lands of those who refused to comply were granted to pension- ers and favourites of government. Possession was demanded of them, but the occupants and rightful owners would not surren- der them. Actions were brought and recoveries had. The sheriff' was sent to deliver possession, but the inhabitants resist- ed, and drove him away. The governor of the province of New-York ordered out a detachment of the militia of the county of Albany, to aid the sheriff in the execution of the law. The owners of the lands assembled and entered into associations, in order to oppose the carrying the recoveries into effect. . The militia ordered out marched with reluctance, and upon the ap-
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Pearatite of an armed opposition, abandoned the sheriff, and re- turued home.
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