USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 42
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"I am, Sir, Your Honour's most obedient and most humble Ser- vant,
"JOHN ARMSTRONG."
"Another Letter to Governor Morris from Mr. John Armstrong. " CARLISLE, 26th May, 1755.
" Honoured Sir:
"Last Tuesday Afternoon I parted with Mr. Peters and Mr. Hockley at the Roads a few miles on this Side of Sideling Hill, who then in good health set out for the Camp. The Representatives of this County and a Majority of the Commissioners was conven'd and in the Presence of the Secretary put the Work under the best Regulations We could, as well with Respect to Frugality that the Province should not be imposed upon, as at the same Time to give the Road all possible Dispatch.
"The Prices of Waggons are fixed at 12s. and 6d. $ Day; of Aqua Vitæ or Whiskey at 2s. and 6d. # Gallon, and Bacon at Six Pence # Pound. The Men put in small companies of 12 or 15 Each, under their respective Overseers, who are also to lend a hand on all Occasions.
"The Road instead of thirty Feet wide at which it was carried about Ten Miles is reduced to Twenty, and all Parts requiring dig- ging or quarrying to Ten. If the General objects to this alteration
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'tis to be widen'd on Return of the Hands. This alteration will expedite the Business much, and answer all the Purposes of a High- way in that Part of the World.
" Mr. Peters by your Honour's Authority has added Two Com- missioners to assist Mr. Burd in the room of the old who could not attend; these are to preside over the Work, keep Accounts, &ca .; A Commissary is put over the Provisions to weigh from the wag- goners, give out to the Men, &ca.
" One hundred and eight were at work a week ago, and now I sup- pose there may be 120. New advertisements are issued tolerating Labourers to return to their several Places of Abode in the Space of two, three, four Weeks, &ca., as they shall agree. Had this been done at first more Men might have been had.
"This Day I received a Letter from my Brother (who is laying out some Lands for the Settlers in the New Purchase), giving an account of Three Indians very much painted who have been last week robb'd and drove off several Settlers from the Valley of Kish- acoquillis. One of the Indians by his skulking Position seemed as if he design'd secretly to have shot, but the White Man discovering him escaped. They took three Horses, three or four Guns, and some Cash. 'Tis said they robb'd another Man up Juniata.
"To-morrow I am to set out for Kishacoquillis, there to decide some Controversies, and thence to proceed to Sasquenannah, near Shamokin, where I expect to meet Conrad Weiser. If he is there he may by the Assistance of the Shick Calamies be of Use in Re- gard to these Robbers.
" I am, Sir, Your Honour's most obedient, humble Servant, " JOHN ARMSTRONG.
A Letter to Mr. Richard Peters from Mr. James Burd. "SHIPPENSBURG, 31st May, 1755.
" Sir :
"I received your agreeable Favours of the 27th Currant. I was then lying in the Gap of the Sideling Hill, and began to cut the Mountain that morning. As I was in want of Tools for digging I sent 3 Overseers with their Companies over the Mountain to cut with necessary Provisions, &cª, and employed all the rest in cutting the mountain, and think I will be able to make a good Wagon Road over the Mountain, such as a Wagon with good Horses may haull 16 cwt. W. It is made in this manner : with a large Swipe for the Waggons at each turn. As this Job will be a Work of 8 days I have discharged the Waggons and made a Store for the Provisions of Bark at the Foot of the mountain, which will do until we can carry our waggons over. To the Foot of the Mountain where We
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now lay is 19 Miles from Anthony Thompson's; but I expect be- fore We finish the Hill the Parties ahead will be 5 or 6 Miles for- ward. I measure the miles with my Chain, and mark every Mile with a marking Iron. It gives me infinite Pleasure that what I have done has met with approbation. I shall punctually observe the General's Instructions communicated to me by You in yours of the 27th Currant, and will not omit an Opportunity to inform You of my Progress from time to time. Our numbers now consist of 150 Men, Overseers included, all in high Spirits. After calling the Morning Roll I mentioned to them the Satisfaction they had already given, and recommended to them to continue in their Duty. They answered me with 3 hurras, God save the King, and scemed willing to tear the Mountain to pieces were they able, or any thing else that should be an obstruction to the Proceedings of the English Army as far as I should lead them. Mr. William Smith, One of the Gentlemen You appointed Commissioner, arrived with me om Wednesday Morning the 28th Instant at Sideling Hill Gap, upon which I applied to Mr. Smith and the People for a Furlow to go home for 8 Days, but they would not grant me no longer Time than from Thursday Morning the 29th Currant to Monday the 2d Proxº, I arrived here on Friday morning about 2 o'Clock, and shall set out again on Monday. The People are all anxious to have arms, and if You can procure me arms I would not trouble the General for a Cover ; but if you can't they will not be willing to go past Ray's Town without a Guard. I shall be glad to have your Opinion of this by Return of Post. In the meantime I am,
Sir, Your most obedient Servant, " JAMES BURD.
The Governor on considering these Several Letters, particularly those of General Braddock, proposed to the Council to consider if it was not expedient to summon the Assembly to meet as soon as possible ; and it appearing to them to be so, Writs issued for their meeting on the thirteenth Instant.
The Governor then in Confidence communicated to Mr. Peters a private Letter he had received by him from the General's Secretary, Mr. William Shirley, and as it contained Truths of Importance he desired him to enter it in the Council Minutes After they were read that it might remain there, and none at present be made acquainted with it :
A Letter to Governor Morris from Secretary Shirley. " FORT CUMBERLAND, May 23, 1755.
" Dear Morris :
" I wrote to you by Mr. Franklin, but I can't let Mr. Peters go without a Line to You. He arrived at the Camp yesterday, and I was extremely glad to see him, not only as an intimate Friend of
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Yours but as a Man of Worth and Sense, and one whom every body else would wish to be upon the same Terms with. He has made Report of his Success in laying out the Road. I think it myself a very great thing. You will receive Proposals for an additional Road to be made of no less Consequence, at least (if you can prevail upon Your People to be of same Opinion) by Way of Communication with the Road now making to Fort Venango or Presqu' Isle, upon Lake Erie, or to Niagara. Mr. Peters proposed an Escort of Sol- diers to be sent to protect the People employ'd in this Work, or at least to preserve 'em from the Apprehensions they will naturally be under. I understand it is not to be allowed. I think it might and ought, tho' it is an infamous Reflection upon your Province that they carry their religious Pretences to so stupid a Height as to have no Militia. I don't know what Description Mr. Peters will give you of our Camp and the principal Persons in it, but as this goes in his Packet I will give You mine, grounded upon the Observation of several Months. We have a G- most judiciously chosen for being disqualified for the Service he is employed in, in almost every respect ; he may be brave for ought I know, and he is honest in pecuniary Matters. But as the King said of a neighbouring Gov- ernor of yours when proposed for the Command of the American Forces about a Twelfthmonth ago, and recommended as a very honest Man tho' not remarkably able, 'a little more Ability and a little less Honesty upon the present Occasion might serve our Turn better.' It is a Joke to suppose that Secondary Officers can make Amends for the Defects of the First; the main Spring must be the Mover. Others in many Cases can do no more than follow and correct a little its Motions. As to them I don't think We have much to boast ; some are insolent and ignorant, others capable but rather aiming at shewing their own Abilities than making a proper Use of 'em. I have a very great Love for my Friend Orme, and think it uncom- monly fortunate for our Leader that he is under the Influence of so honest and capable a Man, but I wish for the Sake of the Publick he had some more Experience of Business, particularly in America. As to myself, I came out of England expecting that I might be taught the Business of a Military Secretary, but I am already con- vinced of my Mistake. " I would willingly hope my Time may not be quite lost to me. You will think me out of humour. I own I am so. I am greatly disgusted at seeing an Expedition (as it is called) so ill concerted originally in England and so ill appointed, so improperly conducted since in America, and so much Fatigue and Expence incurred for a Purpose which if attended with success might better have been let alone. I speak with Regard to our particular Share. However, so much Experience I have had of the Injudi- ciousness of publiek Opinion that I have no little Expectation when We return to England of being received with great Applause. I am likewise further chagrin'd at seeing the Prospect of Affairs in America, which when We were at Alexandria I look'd upon to be
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very great and promising, thro' Delays and Disappointments which might have been prevented grown cloudy and in Danger of ending in little or nothing. I have hopes, however, that the Attempt against Niagara will succeed, which is the principal Thing. I don't know whether there is any Man but yourself to whom I would have wrote some Parts of this Letter, or cou'd at present have justified myself in doing it, but there is a Pleasure in unburthening one's Self to a Friend. I should be glad You would burn it as soon as You have read it. I shall be very happy to have Reason to retract hereafter what I have here said, and submit to be censured as moody and ap- prehensive. I don't comprehend my Father's Reasons for building the small Vessel You mention. I hope, my Dear Morris, to spend a tolerable Winter with You. Pray take no Notice of any Part of this Letter to me in your Answer, for Fear of Accident. I refer You to Mr. Peters for Business.
"Your's most sincerely, "W. SHIRLEY."
" A Copy of General Braddock's Letter respecting the Garri- soning the Fort, if taken, was sent to the Governor of Virginia and Maryland, and a Letter with it."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Friday the 6th June, 1755. PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Licu- tenant Governour.
John Penn,
Robert Strettell,
Esquires.
Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters, S
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Governor having wrote Letters of the Third and Fourth In- stant to General Braddock, in answer to his requesting Governor Morris to purchase Provisions and Flower, and to have them con- . veyed to Shippensburg, and there secur'd in a Magazine to be built for the Purpose, They were read in these Words:
A Letter to General Braddock from Governor Morris. " PHILADELPHIA, June 3, 1755.
" Sir :
" Mr. Peters brought me your Proposals for a Contract for three Months' Provisions for the Army under your Command, upon which We immediately consulted some Men best acquainted with the Trade and Circumstances of this Country, and I am well as- sured the Quantity of Provisions may be furnished in Time to an- swer your Demands.
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"Mr. Turner, a Gentleman of note in this Province, has under- taken to purchase the Provisions necessary upon this Occasion, and has already, at my request, bought one hundred Head of Cattle, one hundred and twelve Barrels of Pork, Twenty Barrels of Rice, and Two Hundred Bushels of Pease; and he is endeavouring to get Two hundred and forty Barrels of Pork more; the rest of the Meat will be supplied in Beeves, which may be had very good in this and the neighbouring Province of New Jersey. All the Pork men- tioned above is of the very best kind, well cured and pack'd, and may be depended on for keeping.
"I send a man into the counties of York, Lancaster, and Cum- berland, to purchase up twelve hundred Barrels of Flower, and to hire or build proper Store Houses at Shippensburg or McDowell's Mill, for the Reception of that and the other Species of Provisions that will be sent from hence, who is to remain at the Place and take a particular account of all the Provisions he receives and sends away. And he is to provide good Pasture for three hundred Head of Cattle, so that what are sent up and remain in his Care may be kept fat and fit for use; and you may have them drove to the Army from time to time in such numbers as you shall judge best.
" Mr. Peters, who on his Way from the Camp came through Cumberland county, judges that a Place called McDowell's Mill, situate upon the new Road, about twenty miles Westward of Ship- pensburg, is much more convenient for the magazine than Ship- pensburg, which, if You approve of, You will let your Secretary notify your Approbation by the Return of this Express, to Charles Swain at Shippensburg, who, by my Instructions, is to wait that Approbation before he begins to build or hire Store-Houses, and in the mean Time he is to employ himself in procuring Pastures and purchasing the Flower.
" I observe that in your Proposals You mention Bread or Flower ; it will be much more easy and cheaper to furnish Flower than Bread, and if you have Conveniences for baking in the Camp it may answer the Purpose as well, but if not, and Bread is abso- lutely necessary, I will order the whole or any Part of the Flower to be baked at the Magazine, and will send Bakers up for that pur- pose, but that will be attended with an additional Expence.
"The Hay and Corn Harvest in this Country begins in this month, which will render it very difficult to have the whole Quan- tity of Provisions laid in by the Beginning of July, but notwith- standing that I can venture to promise that a great Part, at least one-third, shall be ready by the first week in July and the Remain- der by the first week in August; this you may depend upon and govern yourself accordingly.
"The Expence of this Supply cannot be reduced to an exact Certainty till the several Things are bought and delivered at the Magazine, but enclosed I send you an Estimate of the Expence,
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which You see amounts to between six and seven Thousand Pounds, or about four thousand Pounds Sterling, which You must be sensi- ble is more than a Plantation Governor, lately return'd from Eu- rope, and upon bad Terms with his Assembly, can easily furnish. I must, therefore, desire you will send me Bills for that Sum and every thing shall be managed to the best advantage, and the Pub- lick served at as cheap a Rate as any private Merchant in this town.
"I send You enclosed a Copy of the Instructions I have given to Charles Swaine, for the Government of himself in the Management of the Affair I have entrusted him with, to which I shall add such Others as may be from Time to Time necessary.
" I am told that great Part of the Flower sent by the Committee of the Assembly to the mouth of Conegochege, is put up into Casks make of green Timber, which will inevitable turn it sower. I men- tion this to You that You may have it surveyed as it arrives at the Camp, and if not quite spoil'd it may be saved by putting it into Bags or other casks.
" I am, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servant,
" ROBT. H. MORRIS."
Another Letter to General Braddock from Governor Morris. " PHILADELPHIA, June- 4th, 1755.
" Sir :
" The last Accounts I have from Lancaster are that Mr. Leslie has purchased a Quantity of Forage, and had sent forward to the Camp twenty Waggons loaded, and expected soon to send the Re- mainder, which I suppose by this Time he has done.
"I have Bought one thousand Bushels of Oats and one thousand Bushels of Indian Corn in this Town, and have directed sixty Wag- gons to be taken up, and if they can be had shall procure Forage enough to load them all, and send them away in small Parties. Inclosed I send You an Estimate of the Expence of the Forage, made by Mr. Franklin, who I have employed to procure the Wag- gons, and who tells me I may depend on having them. Col. Hunter, in his Way to New York, told me he should furnish me with Cash for this and other Services that You might order, but in his return tells me that Orders from Mr. Johnston, the Paymaster, are necessary for his Justification, which he has lodged Money here to answer. You will, therefore, please to order me Bills for that Service by the Return of this Express.
" I have bought fifty fat Oxen at the Expense of the little Gov- ernment of the Lower Counties, which I shall send forward to- morrow with a Parcel of fat Sheep, the particular Number I cannot
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yet say. I have put 'em under the Care and Direction of a very careful Man, but the Heat of the Season will make their Progress very slow; this small Supply in behalf of that Government I must desire your Acceptance of for the Use of the army under your imediate Command.
" Upon your letter to me of May the 24th, I have summoned my Assembly to meet the 13th Instant, and have wrote to the Governors of Virginia and Maryland to know what Military Stores they have in their Provinces fit for the Service mentioned in your Letter, and propose to divide the Expence equally be- tween Us.
" How consistent the furnishing Cannon and Stores of War may be with the non-resisting Principles of my Quaking Assembly I can't pretend to say, but from their past Conduct I dare not ven- ture to promise that they will enable me to comply with your Demand, tho' the Accounts they have from England of their Con- duct being disapproved by the Ministry and by the Quakers in general, may possibly put 'em into better Temper.
"I received great Satisfaction from the accounts Mr. Peters gave me of the forward State of the Road that is now opening to the Ohiogany, and this is since confirmed by a Letter from one of the Commissioners, wherein he says that they are come to the Sideling Hill, and shall be detained there at least a Week (that is till Yes- terday) in cutting a Road thro' that difficult Mountain, but I am sorry to hear from him that the People will not when they come to Ray's Town proceed farther without a Guard. I have on the Receipt of this disagreeable News applied to the Committee of Assembly to enable me to purchase and send them Arms front this Town, for they have none in the Country, but have not yet received their Auswer, nor do I expect it will be a favorable one, tho' to do them justice they are extremely desirious to have the Roads cut and will willingly pay the Expence. I wish it was consistent with your scheme of Operations, as there is in this Province no regular Militia, to furnishı them with a small Escort or Guard from your Army. If they had one I am persuaded the Road would be soon finished, and an excellent Road it will be, and fit for Wag- gons by the Time You can want your Provisions to come this Way to You.
" I find by Mr. Peters that You have Thoughts of rendering this Road still more useful by making Others from it to Venango and Niagara; none here are acquainted with that Country. If the Country will adunit of Roads the proper Places thro' which they are to go must be settled after an Examination made by the Traders You have engaged in your Service. I have order'd the Commis- sioners when they pass the Allegheny Hills to give it in Charge to their Hunters to view and examine well the Nature of the Country,
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and to report it to You, and to give You their Advice and Assistance if You desire it. I am, Sir,
"Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant,
"ROBT. H. MORRIS."
The Governor then acquainted the Council that he had been so happy as to have pursuaded Governor Belcher to alter the Destina- tion of the Jersey Troops, and instead of sending them to Crown Point to order them to join General Shirley for the Operations at Oswego, and he had a Letter from the General returning him Thanks for that Service, which he read in these Words, viz":
"The addition of Col. Peter Schuyler and the New Jersey Regi- ment to the Expedition under my Command, for which I am obliged to You, was of great Importance to my Success and his Majesty's Service ; and I am now from the best Opinions fully satisfied that the French will muster all the Force they possibly can for securing the Pass of Niagara, upon their holding Possession of which de- pends the keeping of all the Southern Territories and the Great Lakes and Rivers they have at present usurp'd the Dominion of, together with the Influence over the Indians there. And what Proportion does the Value of Crown Point bear to that of the Lakes and Southern Country ? It behoves me, therefore, greatly to augment my Force as much as possible, which I shall endeavour to do, for it is certainly too weak at present. The D-ys have thrown all imaginable obstacles in my Way, and I perceive an open Quarrel with the G -- r is unavoidable."
The Governor likewise read a Letter he had wrote to Governor Sharpe on the same Subject, vizt .:
" PHILADELPHIA, May 30th, 1755.
" Sir :
" Upon my Return from Maryland Governor Shirley requested me to go with him as far as New York, where and in New Jersey he imagined I cou'd afford him some Assistance, and I did not get home again till immediately before the meeting of my Assembly on the 12th Instant, or I should sooner have return'd You my ac- knowledgments for the many Civilities I received while I was in Maryland.
" Finding upon our Return hither that Sir William Pepperell's Regiment was not full, nor like to be so in Time, and that the Crown Point Expedition was resolved on without the five hundred Men raised in New Jersey, We agreed to get the Destination of that Corps so far enlarged as to admit of their being employ'd against Crown Point, which We brought about by staying four or five Days in that Province; and as Niagara is much the most im- portant Place of the two, and where the French will probably draw some Forces to oppose Us, I think this Alteration is much for the
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better, especially as Col. Schuyler who commands that Corps com- manded a Regiment from that Province in the last War, and has some knowledge in Military Matters.
"Inclosed I send You his Majesty's Message to the House of Lords and their Address in Answer to it, whence there is Room to suppose the Government have some Intelligence of an intended Invasion ; but the Spirit that appears in the Nation, and the great Fleet We have equipped in so short a Time, may convince the French that any attempt of that sort will be idle. The Commons I hear have voted a Credit of one Million more than the ordinary Supplies for the Service of the Current Year.
. " My Letters tell me that our Court have sent Proposals to the Court of France, and have limited a Time for their Answer, and if they do not agree to those Proposals that a War will be immediately declared, which the Nation were never been Inclined or so well prepared to carry on with Vigour. In case of a Rupture We are to have Ten Thousand Men in America, which with the Assistance of the Provinces (if they will assist) will be sufficient to drive the French from this Quarter of the World. The Duke of Dorset is made Master of Horse in the Room of Lord Hartington, who is going to Ireland, and as he is connected with the Boyl Family he will easily settle the Affairs of that Kingdom, which in case of a Dispute with France will be a very necessary piece of Service.
"The two thousand New England Forces are sailed for Nova Scotia under convoy of three Men of War, and Shirley's Regiment is to move this Day from Boston to Providence, where Transports are ready to carry them to Albany. Sir William Pepperell is at last arrived at New York and wants nigh half a Regiment, and I am afraid Will not be able to compleat his Corps before he marches.
"I am, Sir, your Honour's most obedient and most humble servant, " ROBT. H. MORRIS."
The Governor then laid before the Board the following Letter from the Commanding Officers at Oswego to Governor Delancey, which he received last Post and ordered it to be enter'd as follows :
"OSWEGO, May the 14th, 1755.
" Sir :
" Yesterday past this in their Way to the Ohio thirty-four large French Battoes, consisting of about three hundred Men (by what I can learn) besides Indians, and understand that a much greater number is soon to follow, which is all the news at present, every thing else being well, and am,
" HITCHEN HOLLAND.
" To Governor DELANCEY."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Friday the 13th June, 1755.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
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