USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 48
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" To His Excellency EDWARD BRADDOCK, Esq".
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A Letter to Governor Belcher. " PHILADELPHIA, 6th July, 1755.
" Sir :
. " As there are certain Accounts that a French Fleet is arrived at Louisburgh with a Number of Land Forces intended against His Majesty's Colonies, to prevent any Provisions being carried to them or the Possibility of their being supplied from this Province by Means of the Dutch or from English Vessels that their Cruises
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may meet at Sea, I have thought it my Duty to lay an Embargo upon all Provisions for one Month, or untill the Accounts from the Eastward shall render such a Precaution no longer necessary. But as the Orders I have issued for that Purpose will fail of their Effect if the Vessels of this Port are suffered to clear from the Ports in New Jersey, I must desire your Excellency will give Directions to the Custom House Officers of the Ports in your Government upon Delaware River not to clear any Vessel whatsoever belonging to any of the Ports or Places within this Province or the Lower Coun- ties, and more especially such as may have Stores of War or Pro- visions on Board more than are necessary for the Defence and Subsistance of their respective Crews during the intended Voyage. Your Excellency's Zeal for His Majesty's Service, and your warm Inclinations to secure these His Colonies against our natural Enc- mies the French, are such that I need say no more upon the Head.
" General Braddoek, by my last Letters from the Camp was within 20 Days' march of Fort Du Quesne, But will be some time before he gets there, as the Indians have fallen upon and destroyed some of the Baek Inhabitants of Virginia, Maryland, and Penn- sylvania, and taken several Prisoners; the particular Number of Persons killed and taken is not yet known. This will cut off the Communication with the Army, and obstruct all.Supplys that are sent without strong Guards, the supplying which must greatly retard the General's Motion.
" My best regards attend Mrs. Beleher, and I am' w'h. great Respect,
" Your Excellency's most obedt. h'ble Servt. " ROBT. H. MORRIS."
" To His Excellency GOVERNOR BELCHER."
A Letter to Governor Shirley. " PHILADELPHIA, 6th July, 1755.
" Dear Sir :
" It is with the Greatest Joy that I Congratulate You on the Success of his Majesty's Arms employed for the Recovery of Nova Seatia, and what gives me greatest satisfaction in the thing is that the Plan was originally laid by You and carried on under your Eye and Direction till the Embarkation of the New England Men, and since by your Direction and Advice, And I make no doubt but the other Parts of the Plan as they are equally well laid will be equally successfull. I am also very much rejoieed at the good News of Adm1. Boseawen's having taken Three Seventy Gun Ships. These things I think will bring on a War or oblige the French to give up their Encroachments.
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" I was honoured with Yours of the 23d Ultº. from Boston, and agreable to your Request have sent Copies on to Maryland and Virginia by Express. My Assembly were not sitting when yours came to hand; and having taken no Notice of what I recommended to them upon your Letter to prohibit the Exportation of Provisions to New Foundland, I concluded it wou'd be in vain to call them on Purpose; and before they cou'd meet all the Vessels in the River might be loaded and sent away. I therefore ventured to lay an Embargo on all Provisions and Warlike Stores by my own Authority for one Month. However, as the Jamaica Sloop of War is going from hence to Providence, all the Vessels that are full and ready to sail for our own Islands I have admitted to go under his Convoy as far as Providence, And laid them under Bonds to land their Cargos at the particular Places mentioned in the Bonds, and to produce Certificates of their having so done. I have also permitted One Vessel with Provisions for the Forces at Halifax, and Two for the Troops under Your Command, to be cleared, But have suffered no other to go out of Port.
"This Measure, if it is pursued by all the Colonies, will greatly distress the French, and our own Fleet and Forces may be supplied by sending Men of War to convoy such Provisions and Stores as they may want.
" Last Night I had by Express your Packet for your Son, and others for the General, which the same Officer goes on with this Morning. The Indians have been scalping on the back of this Province, Maryland, and Virginia, and have killed and taken be- tween Thirty and Forty Persons, Men, Women, and Children ; But I have not Time to tell you the particulars. This will render the Communication with the Army very difficult and a Number of Escorts necessary, which my Assembly will not enable me to furnish. I am, with great Regard, Dear Sir,
" Your most Obedt. & most h'ble Serv.,
"ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" Governor SHIRLEY."
MEMORANDUM.
The following Letters were receiv'd in the Governor's Absence, to wit:
A Letter from Governor Lawrence of the 21st June in these Words : " HALIFAX, 21st June, 1755. " Sir :
" I have the Honour to transmit to You the enclosed Letters for General Braddock, and am to beg you will take the first Opportunity of forwarding them. I also enclose you an Extract of Admiral
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Boscawen's Letter to me, which You will please to communicate to the Neighbouring Governors. By this Time I hope the Admiral has fallen in with several more of M. Macknamara's Squadron.
" I congratulate your Ex". on this most agreable News, and am with great Respect and Esteem,
"Sir, Your most obed'. h'ble Servt.,
" CHAS. LAWRENCE.
" GOVERNOR MORRIS."
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A Letter from Governor Dinwiddie, dated the 5th Inst. " WILLIAMSBURG, July, 5th, 1755. " Sir :
" I am sorry I have Occasion to acquaint You that Two Parties of French and Indians, to the amount of 130 Men, are come into the Frontiers of this Dominion and Maryland. They have already murdered Nine Families. They burn and destroy all they come up with. This corresponds with the General's Letter wrote to you and Me some Time since. On Receipt thereof I wrote to the Lieuten- ant of the Counties on our Frontiers to keep Patrolers out, and when they saw a Number of French or Indians to raise the Militia and to alarm the Neigbouring Counties to do the same. But I have Reason to think the People are seized with a Pannick, otherwise They might easily suppress that few in Number who I believe were sent by way of Diversion, thinking the General wou'd send some of his Forces after theni ; but He knows better. I have now ordered Two Companies of Rangers, consisting of fifty Men each, and shall very soon order Two Companies more, to protect our Frontiers. But as this affects all the Colonies, I hope your Assembly will qualify You to raise some Men for Protection of the poor People on the Frontiers of the different Governments.
"In Compliance with the General's Desire I have sent to Rock Creek Ten Cannon to be carried to Connegocheege, from thence to Fort Cumberland. That on the General's Success in taking the Fort on the Ohio they may be transported there to be mounted on that Fort; which, as it is proposed that the supporting of that Fort (if taken) is to be at the Expence of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and this Dominion, I therefore hope Your People will readily agree to pay their Quota of the Charge, and enable You to send what may be wanted for that Service ; and that as our Danger encreases by these Banditi invading our Frontiers, plundering & murdering our Fellow Subjects, I hope your People will be alarmed, and join Maryland and this Colony in defeating the villianous Designs of these rascally Murderers and Robbers. It will give me much Plea- sure to have a line from You of their Resolution to help and sup- VOL. VI .- 30.
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port us in driving these People from our Borders. Our Assembly has voted £10,000 more towards conducting the Expedition, and they enable me to raise 200 in four Companies for the Protection of our Frontiers. These Supplies are not sufficient for the Services now entered on, but I cou'd not prevail with them to grant more at this Time. I shall be glad to hear of a perfect Reconcilement between You and the Assembly.
" I hear the General was at the great Meadows the 24th Ultº, & hope by this Time he is in Possession of the Fort; if so it lies with Us to be very earnest with Dispatch to send proper Supplies for the People he may leave there, that He may not be retarded in ex- ecuting the further Plan of Operations concerted at Alexandria. We have no late News from England whether War is declared; all my Letters say they think War is inevitable. Pray write me fully.
" I remain with very great Esteem and Respect Your Hon's. Most obed' hble. Servt,
" ROBT. DINWIDDIE.
"P. S. The Colony of So Carolina voted ££6,000 Sts Exped". and sent the Bills of Exha. to Gent. Braddock.
" Gov". MORRIS."
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A Letter from Mr. James Burd, Commissioner of the Roads, of the same date.
"FROM THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS, - 5th July, 1755.
"Hond. Sir :
" We have now got this far with the Road, but at present are under a very great Dilemma, the Cause of which is as follows : We had thought it necessary to make use of an empty House 47 miles from Anthony Thompson's for a Store House for our Provisions, and we sent a Guard of 7 Men armed to said Store House ; they immediately forti- fyed the House and had receiv'd some of our Provisions. We were like to be short of Meat, &ca, And hearing that there were Waggons, and supposing Cattle upon the Road, One Mr. Robert McCay who had the Command of the Store and the People there, sent a Boy called James Smith, about 16 Years of Age, down the Road to hurry up the Cattle and Waggons. Said Smith meeting a Man sent up by Mr. Adam Hoops at Ray's Town, received Information that the Waggons were just at Hand, upon which the Boy returned with Mr. Hoops' Man hither, the Waggons at this Time being behind. The Waggons arrived at the Store the 3d Currt at Noon. Inquiry was made of the Waggoners where Mr. Hoops' Man and the Boy were, and they replied they had not seen them; upon wch. they went out to search for them. They first found the Boy's Hat and then Mr. Hoops' Man's (named Arnold Vigorous) Gun, and
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about 10 Perches from thence Arnold lying dead, being shot thro' with Two Bullets and scalped. Mr. McCay Immediately dispatch'd an Express to Me to the Camp, about 12 Miles from the Store. I went down wth. a Party of 12 Men of Cap'. Hogg's Company, and saw the Corps and got it buried, But can find Nothing of the Boy, only his Horse we have got. That Night, being the Evening of the 3d Currt., we mounted Guard at the Store ; About 9 o'Clock we were attacked by Indians, their Num- bers we cou'd not know. Two of our Centinels fired at Two of the Indians which they saw, and I myself pursued singly the said Two Indians, but being dark amongst the Trees I cou'd not see them nor overtake them, but heard them plainly about 15 yards before Me. The next Day, being the 4 Currt., I returned to our Camp and was under a Necessity to call the People together, and made use of all the Arguments I cou'd to induce them to continue in the Service untill we had finished; But unfortunately we had an Alarm Last Night, One of the Centinels on the Picket Guard challenged 3 times and fired His Musket, which has struck a great Terror into the Labourers, 30 of them are gone Home this Morning and the re- mainder are very much dissatisfied as they have no Arms, and I am really afraid we shall not be able to keep them much longer. How- ever, the Governour may depend upon my utmost Endeavours to carry on the Work, and that I won't leave my Duty while I have Ten Men to work, or am recalled by yr. Honour.
"We are obliged to send off this Morning a Guard of 12 Men & a Serjant of Captain Hogg's Company for a covering Party for our returning Waggons, and to bring up our Provisions from the Inhabitants, as we can't so much as hunt up our Horses but with a Guard. Our Roads are all Waylaid in order to cut off our Provi- sions and any stragling Men they can. Mr. William Smith is like- wise under a Necessity to go home this Morning, as the Boy that is taken Prisoner (as we suppose) is his Brother-in-Law. We have now about 3 Day's Provisions.
" Please to excuse unconnections.
"I am, respectfully Your Honour's most obdt. h'ble Servant,
" JAMES BURD.
"To the Honble. Governor MORRIS."
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A Letter from Mr. Weiser of the 9th Instant. " Honoured Sir :
" According to your Order I came to this Place last Monday and found the Indians waiting for Me. Yesterday I distributed about 200 Bushels of Meal among them, after that was over they enquired how Things stood as to the War. I told them what had happened
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to some of the Back Inhabitants, and that the French Indians were like to do a great deal of Mischief, &ca. They seemed to be very much concerned. There were about 30 of them, out of which Number 9 offered themselves to go with Me or my Son Sammy to Wills' Creek and serve as outscouts against the French and their Indians, and to protect the poor People settled about them parts; and it was agreed that they shou'd meet me or my Son at this Place in Ten Days hence, And that in the mean Time I was to obtain your Honour's Leave, and a proper Pass. This Morn" Captain Glassier, Express from the East, arrived at this Place with the agreeable News of the Defeat of the French at Nova Scotia, and the taking of the French Men of War by Admiral Boscawen; I read and explain'd the printed Paper to the Indians, and they expressed a good deal of Satisfaction & pleasure with the News. Capt Glassier gave me to understand that He shou'd be very glad if some of these Indians wou'd accompany him to the English Camp with the Dispatches He had for the Gen- eral, in this dangerous Time. I proposed it to the Indians, they ap- proved of the thing; But having Intelligence of your Honour's coming up, and that you wou'd be in Lancaster this Day, they wou'd hear and receive your Approbation; and have accordingly desired me to stay with them at this Place till your Honour's arri- val, which I have promised to do, and have sent the Bearer here of Express to let your Honour know of this, and to receive further order.
"I am, Sir, Your very Obed' h'ble Servt. " CONRAD WEISER. - " JOHN HARRIS' FERRY, July the 9th, 1755, At 11 o'clock. " To The Hon'ble Gov". MORRIS."
"P. S .- Capt. Glassier is in a great Hurry, and if it is not con- venient for yr· Honour to be up here in such Time as is expected, let your Order and Passport for this End come.
A Letter from Mr. Dan'l Claus, of the 10th Inst. directed to the Secretary :
" CANAJOHARRE, July the 10th, 1755, " Hond. Sir :
"I hope Jamey Kelly delivered the Letter I sent by him to y". Honour when he left this. A few Days after I went down to Gen- eral Johnston's to be present at the Congress of the different Na- tions of Indians, which indeed was the greatest Convention that ever was known. The 7 united Nations with the Onehaghguagy Indians, Some of the Diahoga, and a Party of Missisagas, made out a Number of almost 1,100; Many of the Sachems of the Nations came down that this many years past refused to meet the English
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Governors at Albany. Two speeches were prepared for them, the Contents of which I will undertake to give your Honour a brief Detail of, and as I have not the English Original I must make it out (as near as I can) of my Indian Translations : The first Speech was an Introduction to the Treaty, and contained the Journey of General Johnson wth. the different Governors to General Braddock; His being appointed to the sole Management of their Affairs; And what Troops and Armaments the King their Father had sent to these Parts in Order to recover their Hunting Grounds again, which the French their antient Enemies had taken from them without their Consent; Then the Tree of Shelter and Friendship for all the United Nations, their Allies and Dependants, was raised, to come and seek their Protection under its Shadow. The Council Fire was lighted with such Wood as never wou'd burn out, and the Em- bers removed from Albany and brought to Mount Johnson to burn there forever; a Continual Unity, Concord, and Brotherly Friend- ship, was recommended to all the united Nations, &ca. To all these Propositions they answered very thankfully, and showed a great Joy to have General Johnson for the Management of their affairs.
" The second and Chief Speech contained the following Belts :
" Belt 1st. A General Rehearsal of the first acquaintance with. the English and the Six Nations, and how the Chain of Friendship took its Original, now almost an Hundred Years ago. At the same time they were reminded of the inveterate Enmities, Cruelties, Treacheries, and Deceits of the ffrench comitted among their People, and how their fforefathers, seeing themselves near such a dangerous · Enemy, gave all their Lands under the Protection of the King of England their Father by a Deed signed by all the Sachems then living.
" Belt 2d. They were exhorted sincerely to consider and to ask themselves in their Hearts who had been and who were yet their truest Brethren, the English or the French ? which to consider they cou'd not be one Moment in doubt if they were the true Posterity of them honest People their Forefathers, And as long as they wou'd confess themselves to be such they might be sure of the everlasting Brotherhood and Amity of the English ; wherefore they ought to take this well to Heart and make an Open Confession of it to every Body.
"Belt 3d, of Union. They were admonished not to listen to any Reports the ffrench might Disperse among them ; they were com- monly false and only intended to make then Enemies with the Eng- lish. It had always been their only Maxim to have the upper Hand in these Parts, wherein if they once obtain'd their End they the 5 Nations wou'd soon discover their Ruin, which at present the French kept hid in their Heart, as everything they make them believe came only from their Lips. . Gen1. Johnson then by taking the Almighty to his Witness that neither He nor any of their Brethren the Eng-
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lish had any ill Design against them the Six Nations, & promis'd that if they wou'd be as true Brethren to the English as their Fore- fathers had been neither wou'd any more keep any underhand Treaties with the French to the Detriment of the English. He was now ready with this Belt of Wampum to renew and make more strong and bright than ever the Chain of Friendship with all the English upon this Continent and them the united Nations, their Allies, and Dependants.
" War Belt 4. They shou'd not imagine that the English were afraid of the French or any of their Enemies, no! But these En- gagements were only made to them because their Father the King had such a Regard for them in remembering their honest Forefa- thers ; he was able and willing to defend them from the Enmities of the French, and fully resolv'd to drive the French to Canada, their own Country, ffor which Reason all these Preparations were made among the English. If they, therefore, wou'd shew that Respect and Love to him their Brother which they always professed, and Who never deceived them yet in any thing, They shou'd listen to His Proposal as it was intended for their own Interest, which was that he wou'd hereby desire them to assist their Brethren the Eng- lish at this present Occasion, and not to break the Chain of Friend- ship subsisting so many Years between them and the English Nor listen to ffrench Boastings and Lies. It was true the English had been long asleep, but now they were thoroughly awaken'd. They were slow to Spil Blood, But when they once begun to rise they were like a furious Wolf, and wou'd drive the ffrench Men afore them like Deer; wherefore they ought previously to consider how to act. It was tending to their future Happiness and Welfare.
"N. B .- Here a Speech was inserted wch. Skaronyade sent from Awkwick, wrote by George Croghan, wherein he paid the Complimt. to Gen1. Johnson of his having the sole Management of their Affairs, And that He with his People was upon the March to join Gen1. Braddock, under the Command of Mr. Croghan ; Also that a great Number of the Western Indians were daily expected to join the Army, &ca.
" All this was clearly explained to them, and this Reflection made, ' that if they alone after all these Admonitions were to shew themselves cool and inactive on this Occasion and not join their Brethren the English, every Body wou'd doubt the good Character they ever sustain'd, and they openly must be charg'd with breaking the Chain on their Side.'
" Gen1. Johnson then continued and sayd, That he was in a short Time going out against the ffrench with a great Body of Men given under his Command, taking along with him Great Guns and other Warlike Implements, intending to drive the French from the Encroachments on their Hunting Grounds in this Province. If, therefore, they had yet any Esteem for the King of England their
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Father, and also were true Brethren to him, and at the same time wou'd consider their own Interest, They shou'd take up the Hatchet, go along with him, and assist their Brethren against their Enemies the ffrench. Gen' Johnson added and sayd : Brethren, I know the Caghnawagies are your Flesh and Blood, and have lately declared themselves our Brethren also. To shew you, therefore, what Regard I have for them, and how I have their Safety at Heart, if they will hear me (at the same time I expect your Advice), I am going to send a Message to them, whereby I will take them by the Hand and lead them aside, that their Blood may not be shed.
" He proceeded and sayd, That as many as wou'd join him he wou'd treat like Brethren, also take Care of their Families in their Absence, And they might already see the King their Father's Care in sending so many Troops to Oswego to defend them from the Attacks of the French. After all this if they yet wou'd be insensible of his sincere Promises, and like blind Men wou'd not see their own Interest, He was fully determined to drop the Man- agement of their Affairs and leave this Country.
"Sir William threw down the Belt of Wampum.
" After this a Speech of Gen1. Braddock's was delivered to them written upon Parchment, with the General's Seal fixed to it, and directed to the Chief Men and Warriors of the 6 Nations, And runs thus :
" Belt 1st. That the King their Father was firmly resolved to punish the French with the utmost Severity for invading their hunting Grounds in so unjust a Manner; Also, That He did intend to punish those Indians who dared to take up the Hatchet against the English and join the French. As the King of England knew well the French were too treacherous to be confided in and too weak to support their Indians, Wherefore He was sent with a great Body of Men, and also all Sorts of Warlike Instruments, to recover the Lands the French had taken from them the Six Nations, And to drive them from their Hunting Grounds; And that as they knew what Friendship and Love ever subsisted between them & the Eng- glish, and how often the French had tried to break that Friendship, he now was resolved to renew and brighten the Silver Chain of Friendship in such a Manner that its Lustre might endure as long as the Sun and Moon shall give Light.
" Belt 2d. That the Amity and Friendship now proposed shou'd last as long as Mountains remain and Rivers run.
" War Belt 3d. This Discourse was directed to the Head Men & fighters of the 6 Nations, and they were desired to remember and take Notice of what he was going to say. That he expected they wou'd immediately take up the Hatchet against the French aral those Indians that shou'd join them, and Assist their Brethren the
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English as their Forefathers had done, which wou'd please the King their Father whenever it shou'd come to his Ears, And they might be assured he wou'd soon enough be inform'd of their Be- haviour; And that He for his Part promised that as long as he continued in these Parts they might be assured of his Protection, Wherefore he expected they wou'd have a good Will towards him; And as he was thoroly inform'd of their Character He hoped they wou'd not consider long but imediately join their old Friends the English in defeating their Enemies.
" Belt given.
" The Chiefs Answers upon these Speeches will be seen in the following made to them :
" ' Brethren :
" 'Belt 1. Yesterday You engaged to assist us in this present Difference with our Enemies the French. You have acted like Dutiful Children to the King your Father ; also, you do like your Forefathers have done. I hope you will stand firm to y". Engage- ments, otherwise you will be detested by all the World.
"' Belt 2d. I expect you will acquaint your Friends and Allies wherever they be of this Your Engagement, and desire them to do as you have done.
"'3. As You requested to go home and settle your Families, afore you go out I won't be against it; at the same Time I desire some of you will immediately go to Ohio and join your Brethren there with General Braddock. . Also, some of You will join Gene- ral Shirley, who is going to Niagara in order to intercept the French from going to Ohio or carrying any Provisions there, and to open the Road for the southern Indians that they may come and trade at Oswego. I myself shall be ready in a short Time to go to Crown Point ; I therefore desire that a Party of every Nation will follow Me; and in Case I shall want more afterwards I expect them that · stay at home may be ready at a Call.'
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