USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 5
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" In order that You may not place too great a Reliance on the assistance You had Reason to expect from this Province, I now think it incumbent on me to acquaint You that in my Opinion it is alto- gether uncertain whether any Thing will be done by our Assembly at their next Meeting that may contribute to the Success of the Ex- pedition. But as I still entertain Hopes of it I must desire the Favour of your opinion, upon a Supposition that they give either of the forementioned Sums, in what manner it may be disposed of most to the advantage of the Service, and to the Scheme formed by You for his Majestie's Interest.
" After so long a Delay as this adjournment must occasion it seems scarce possible that a Body of Men from hence can be raised, armed, victualled, and marched through such an Extent of rough country so as to arrive in time to give you any assistance in the making a Lodgment or in the building your Forts, since if the French are really bent on obstructing your Settlement after having had notice of your Intentions, they will undoubtedly endeavour to
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bring a Superior Force against You before You can have effected it; and considering the little assistance you have had from the other Colonies I am fearful they will be able to prevail. But even taking it for granted that I was able to raise a Number of Men for this Service, yet as it is not possible from the religious Scruples of our Assembly to procure an Act to establish military Discipline, How could the Troops be made serviceable or kept together longer than themselves thought fit ?
" Upon these Considerations I must again request that You will be pleased to think Seriously upon this Subject and inform me how I may be most useful to You in case the Assembly here should put a Sum of Money into my Hands to be disposed of for his Majestie's Service. I must also desire You will please to acquaint me whether your Forces are actually marched towards Ohio and in what Number, whataccounts you have of their Proceedings or of those of the French, what assistance You can now depend on from the other Colonies, and in general whatever shall occur to You as necessary for my In- formation with respect to this affair, in which You may be assured I will co-operate with You to the Extent of my Power.
" I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, "JAMES HAMILTON."
A Letter to Governor Hamilton from Mr. Washington, received the 3d May.
" Honoble. Sir :
" It is with the greatest Concern I acquaint you that Mr. Ward, Ensign in Capt. Trent's Company, was compelled to surrender his small Fort in the Forks of Mohongialo to the French on the seven- teenth Instant, who fell down from Weningo with a Fleet of Three Hundred and Sixty Battoes and Canoes, with upwards of One Thousand Men and Eighteen Pieces of Artillery, which they planted against the Fort, drew up their Men and sent the enclosed Sumons to Mr. Ward, who having but an inconsiderable Number of Men and no Cannon to make a proper Defence, was obliged to surrender. They suffered him to draw off his Men, Arms, and Working Tools, and gave Leave that He might retreat to the Inhabitants.
" I have heard of your Honour's great Zeal for his Majestie's Service and for all our Interests on the present occasion. You will See by the enclosed Speech of the Half King's that the Indians expect some assistance from You, and I am persuaded You will take proper Notice of their moving Speech and of their unshaken Fidelity.
" I thought it more adviseable to acquaint your Honour with it immediately than to wait till you could get Intelligence by Way of Williamsburg and the young Man as the Half King proposes.
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L
" I have arrived thus far with a Detachment of one hundred and fifty men. Col. Fry with the Remainder of the Regiment and ar- tillery is daily expected. In the mean time We advance slowly across the Mountains, making the Roads as we march fit for the Carriage of our Great Guns, &ca., and are designed to proceed as far as the Mouth of Red Stone Creek, which enters Mohongialo about Thirty-Seven Miles above the Fort taken by the French, from whence we have a Water Carriage down the River, and there is a Store House built by the Ohio Company which may serve as a Recepticle for our Ammunition and Provisions.
" Besides these French that came from Weningo, We have credi- ble Accounts that another Party are coming up Ohio. We also have Intelligence that Six Hundred of the Chippoways and Ottoways are marching down Scioda Creek to join them. I hope Your Honour will excuse the Freedom I have assumed in acquainting You with these advices. It was the warm Zeal I owe my Country that influ- enced me to it and occasioned this Express. I am with all due Respect and Regard,
" Your Honour's most obedient and very humble Servant,
"G. WASHINGTON."
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A Summon by order of Contrecœur, Captain of one of the Compa- nies of the Detachment of the French Marine, Commander-in Chief of his Most Christian Majestic's Troops now on the beauti- ful River, to the Commander of Those of the King of Great Bri- tain at the Mouth of the River Mohongialo.
" Sir :
" Nothing can surprise me more than to see you attempt a Settle- ment upon the Lands of the King my Master, which obliges me, now, Sir, to send You this Gentleman, Chevalier Le Mercier, Cap- tain of the Bombardiers, Commander of the Artillery of Canada, to know of you, Sir, by Vertue of what Authority You are come to fortify Yourself within the Dominions of the King my Master. This action seems so contrary to the last Treaty of Peace concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle between his Most Christian Majesty and the King of Great Britain, that I do not know to whom to impute such an Usurpation, as it is incontestible that the Lands situated along the beautiful River belong to his Most Christian Majesty.
"I am informed, Sir, that your Undertaking has been concerted by none else than by a Company who have more in View the advan- tage of a Trade than to endeavour to keep the Union of Harmony which subsists between the Crowns of France and Great Britain, altho' it is as much the Interest, Sir, of your Nation as Our's to preserve it.
" Let it be as it will, Sir, if you come into this Place charged
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with Orders, I summon you in the Name of the King my Master, by Vertue of Orders which I got from my General, to retreat peace- ably with your Troops from off the Lands of the King (and not to return, or else I find myself obliged to fulfill my Duty and compel You to it. I hope, Sir, You will not defer an Instant, and that You will not force me to the last Extremity) ; in that case, Sir, You may be persuaded that I will give Orders that there shall be no Damage done by my Detachment.
"I prevent You, Sir, from the Trouble of asking me one Hour of Delay, nor to wait for my consent to receive Orders from your Governor; He can give you none within the Dominions of the King my Master. Those I have received of my General are my laws, so that I cannot depart from them.'
"If, on the contrary, Sir, You have not got Orders, and only come to trade, I am sorry to tell you that I cannot avoid seizing You and to confiscate your Effects to the Use of Indians our Child- ren, Allies, and Friends, as You are not allowed to carry on a con- traband Trade. It is for this Reason, Sir, that we stopped two Englishmen last year who were trading upon our Lands; more- over, the King my Master asks nothing but his Right, he has not the least Intention to trouble the good Harmony and Friendship which reigns between his Majesty and the King of Great Britain.
" The Governor of Canada can give Proof of having done his utmost Endeavours to maintain the perfect Union which reigns be- tween Two Friendly Princes, as he had learned that the Iroquois and Nepissingues of the Lake of the Two Mountains had struck and destroyed an English Family towards Carolina, he has barred up the Road and forced them to give him a little Boy belonging to that Family, which was the only one alive, and which Mr. Wlerich, a Merchant of Montreal, has carried to Boston ; and what is more, he has forbid the Savages from exercising their accustomed Cruelty upon the English our Friends.
"I could complain bitterly, Sir, of the Means taken all last Winter to instigate the Indians to accept the Hatchet and to strike Us while We were striving to maintain the Peace.
"I am well persuaded, Sir, of the polite Manner in which You will receive Monsieur Le Mercier, as well out of Regard to his business as his Distinction and personal Merit. I expect You will send him back with one of your Officers, who will bring me a pre- cise answer. As You have got some Indians with You, Sir, I join with Monsieur Le Mercier an Interpreter, that he may inform them of my Intentions upon that subject.
"I am, with great Regard, Sir,
"Your most humble and most obedient Servant,
"CONTRECŒUR.
" Done at our Camp, April 16th, 1754."
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April the 18th, 1754. From the Fort on Ohio.
A Speech sent from the Half King Scruneyattha*, and the Belt of Wampum sent to the Governor of Virginia and Governor of Pennsylvania :
" Brothers the English, the Bearer is to let you know how We were used by the French. We have been waiting this long time for the French to Strike Us, now we see what they design to do with Us; we are ready to strike them now, and wait for your Assistance. Be strong, and come as soon as possible You can, and You shall find Us your true Brothers, and shall find Us as ready to strike them as You are. We have sent these Two young Men to see when You are ready to come, and then they are to come to Us and let Us know where You are that we may come and meet You, and We would desire if you could that the Men from both Provinces would meet at the Forks of the Road. And now, if You do not come to our Relief, We are gone entirely, and shall never meet, I believe, which grieves my Heart. To confirm this to be Truth here is my Wam- pum I have sent."
Gave a String of Wampum.
The Half King made this speech to me, now I depend upon You to go with these Two young Men to both Governors yourself, for I · have no dependance on those that are gone so long and have never returned or sent any Word.
Delivered to me by John Davidson and Interpreter.
A Letter from Governor Dinwiddie to Governor Hamilton. "WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia, April 27th, 1754.
" Sir :
"I received your Honour's Letter of the Eighteenth Currant. The Proceedings of your Assembly gives me real Concern; this Ex- pedition to the Ohio is of so interesting a Nature, so warmly recom- mended by his Majesty, so strongly urged by his Ministry, and so evidently calculated for the Welfare of all the Colonies, that I can- not forbear expressing my Desire that your Honour's Attachment to his Majestie's Service may be again repeated, and that you may again lay before your Assembly the Necessity of a Supply. What- ever may be their religious Scruples, I think they should consider the first Laws of Nature Self-Preservation, and not to remain inac- tive when likely to be invaded by the common Enemy. Men We could have raised enough, but Money was wanting.
"In this great and national Concern had I met with assistance
* The Name of an Indian Chief.
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equal to the Importance of the Service, Had the Strength of the British Colonies been properly and timely exerted, We must by one brave and vigorous Effort have entirely defeated all the Machinations of France.
" I cannot help observing that Two Proprietary Governments should distinguish themselves on this Exigency of our Affairs, in not contributing their assistance agreeable to his Majestie's Com- mands, and more so from your Province when it is in Doubt if the Land We are going to possess is not in your Grant. If they grant You Money and if You cannot raise some Men, it may be applied for Food, Raiment, and other Necessaries for the Soldiery.
" The Plan of my Operations is agreeable to his Majestie's Com- mands to take Possession of the Lands on the Ohio in his Name to build Two Forts. My Orders to the Commander-in-chief is to be on the defensive, but if opposed by the Enemy to desire them to retire; if they should still persist, to repel Force by Force. If You should raise Men they may be told to submit to the Rules and Regulations of the other Forces.
"Our Forces are all marched to the Number of 350 Men ; from North Carolina 300 men now on their march to join them. I daily expect Two Independant Companies from New York and one front South Carolina when collected together will be near 1000 Men. I think your Colony much nigher the Place of Action than this, and . a much shorter March than those from North Carolina.
"It is reported South Carolina Assembly had voted £100,000 their Money, which if so is near ££20,000 this Money. I wrote the Governor as it may be chargeable to transport the Forces hither I could raise Men if qualified by a supply of Money from him.
" The last accounts I have of the French is, that they have about 300 Men at the Fort they built last Year, and that they expected 400 Men from Mississippi up the River Ohio to join them ; but the Informations from the Frontiers are not to be depended on; I have often been deceived by them.
"And if your Honour, whose Zeal for his Majestie's Service is well known, could prevail with your Assembly to grant a Supply for the Purposes before-mentioned, it will I am satisfied be no less a Pleasure to You than it will be to,
" Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, "ROBT. DINWIDDIE .-
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A Letter from Governor De Lancey to Governor Hamilton.
"NEW YORK, 19th April, 1754.
" Sir :
"Having lately received some Intelligence from the Officer at
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Oswego which I thought necessary to forward by Express to Mr. Dinwiddie, I could not omit to give your Honour Part in it by the same Conveyance. The Deserters the Officer mentions are since arrived here, who say the French propose sending 3 or 4,000 Men this Spring to reinforce their Settlements towards the Ohio, and to build a Stone Fort on that River to the Westward, having prepared Stone for the Purpose. I have also Advice from Albany that the French have built a Fort at Coas, near the head of Connecticut River, about 80 or 90 Miles above Fort Drumer.
"The Assembly have only voted £1000 for the Ohio Expedition, to be laid out in the Transportation of the Two Independant Compa- nies to Virginia, and subsisting them with Six Months' Provisions. They urge as Reasons for their not contributing more liberally to this Service the Great Expence the Province was put to in the late War, not as yet wholly discharged, and the Necessity they are under of granting a considerable sum for repairing Oswego and the other advanced Forts, and sending a double Garrison to the former; also the building Forts in the Indian Countries to fix them in their Dependance, and others on the Northern Parts of the Province to guard our Neighbors and Us from the Incursions of the Enemy in Time of War.
"Their Resolution on the two last-mentioned heads I enclose, and as I doubt not of your agreeing in Opinion that the building Forts in the Countries of the Six Nations is an essential Step towards securing them and their Allies in his Majestie's Interest, in which all the Colonies are much concerned, You will, I am per- suaded, use your Endeavours to bring your Assembly to join in this necessary Expence. We cannot have a more favorable oppor- tunity to concert a scheme for this purpose than at the Albany Treaty, where I shall probably see Commissioners from most of the Gov- ernments, and I hope You will make this a Part of the Commission to the Gentlemen from your Province. I am,
"Sir, Your most obed. & most humble Servant, " JAMES DE LANCEY."
Extract of a Letter from the Commanding Officer at Oswego. " OSWEGO, March 27th, 1754.
" Sir :
" Some Days ago arrived here an Indian from Cataraqui, who in- formed Us the day before he left that Place arrived there Four Hun- dred French in their Way to Ohio, and that he understood from them that a few Days after Two Hundred more were to follow by Land, and as soon as the Ice would permit a free Navigation Eight Hundred more were to go up by Water to that Place; he said upon VOL. VI .- 3.
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enquiring the Reason of their going up he was answered that they understood the English began to be a little too saucy and bold, and talked as if they had a mind to fight, and that they were going to chastize them for their Presumption, but desired no Assistance from the Indians, being Men sufficient of themselves for that Purpose.
"Ten Days ago arrived here Five French Soldiers who deserted from Niagara, and confirm the above Report by saying the above Party was daily expected when they came away, and Two Indians who passed this Yesterday confirm their safe Arrival at the Fort of Niagara.
" HITCHEN HOLLAND.
"New York, 19th April, 1754.
" A true Extract. Examined by
" GEO. BANYAR, D. Sec'ry."
Resolution of the Assembly of New York.
" ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, the 17th April, 1754.
" Resolved, That inasmuch as the securing the Five Indian Nations and those in Alliance with them in the British Interest is of the utmost Consequence to all his Majestie's Colonies on the Con- tinent, and as they have requested to have Forts Built among them to secure their Wives and Children when they go out to War in behalf of the British Nation, and as the building such Forts and some Others on the Northern Parts of this Colony will cover and in a great Measure secure the Settlements of several other of his Ma- jestie's Colonies against the Incursions of the French and their Indians, his Honour the Lieutenant Governor be humbly ad- dressed to use his Endeavours with the neighbouring Governments to join with this Colony in the Expence of erecting and maintaining such Forts, and to assure him that this House will readily come into any well-concerted Scheme for that Purpose.
" Ordered, That Mr. Thomas and Mr. Miller wait on his Honour with the said address.
" By Order of the General Assembly.
ABRM. LOTT, Jun"., Cl.
"New York, 20th April, 1754.
" A true Copy. Examind. by
" GEº. BANYAR, D. Sec'ry."
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A Letter to the Governor from Conrad Weiser, Esquire. " May it please the Governor :
" Last night I arrived safe from my Journey to Shamokin and
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Wyomink, of which I think I am obliged by your Honour's Orders to lay before You a just and distinct Account, which is as follows : April the seventeenth I set out from home and went by the way of John Harris' and Thomas McKee's, being afraid of the two high Mountains and the bad road that leads from them to Shamokin. I arrived at Shamokin the twentieth of April, found that Two of the Shick Calamys being about Thirty Miles off on the North West Branch of Sasquehannah, commonly called 2 Machson. I sent a Messenger for them, there being a great Number of Indians at and about Shamokin. I thought fit to send my Son with James Logan, the lame Son of Shick Calamys, with another Indian, to Oskohary, Nishkibeckon, and Woyamock, Three Indian Towns on Sasque- hannah (North-East Branch), with your Honour's Message. They set out from Shamokin on the Twenty-Second by Water, because there was no Fodder to be had by the Way for Horses. On the twenty-sixth they came back again and reported that they lodged the first night at Oskohary with Lapackpitton the Chief Man, and Sammy interpreted your Honour's Message in Mohock to James Logan, and he to Lapackpitton in Delaware. That Lapackpitton was well pleased with the Message, thank'd them very kindly, and gave them the String of Wampum back again which they had given him, and told them that it was best to leave the String at Niski- beckon where there were more Indians, with old Nutimus their Chief. When they arrived at Niskibeckon old Nutimus was from home, but the Rest of the Indians received the Message very kindly, and said they would lay it before Nutimus and the Rest of their Indians after they should come home. At Woyamock it was just the same, Paxanosy the Chief Man there was from home also, the Message with another String of Wampum was taken well by those that were at home. It is supposed they will have a Council together when they all come home, which will be at their planting time. 1209430
"In the mean time that Sammy was gone up to Woyomock I went up the North-West Branch about Twenty Miles to see some Indians, in particular one that came from the Cayuga Country, but missed him; however, John Shick Calamy told me all the News he brought from Cayinkquo, which is inserted in the Paper of In- dian News herewith sent.
" The Indians on Sasquehannah and about Shamokin saw some of the New England Men that came as Spies to Woyomock last Fall ; and they saw them making of Draughts of the Land and Rivers, and are much offended about it. They asked me about them-I told them we had heard so much as that, and that we had Intelli- gence from New England that they came against the Advice of their Superiors as a parcel of head strong men and Disturbers of the Peace. They, the Indians, said they were glad to hear that neither their Brother Onas nor their own Chief Men had sent them, and
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they hoped they would not be supported by any English Govern- ment in their so doing. The Nanticokes are gone up the River to live at Olsenencky, a Branch of Sasquehannah, where formerly some Onondagors and Shawonese lived.
"The Indians in general about Shamokin enquire strongly about what the English are doing against the French on Ohio; they seemed too mightily pleased when I told them that the Govern- ment of Virginia had sent Five or Six Hundred Men and that a great Number would be sent by North Carolina, but they won- dered why Pennsylvania would not assist their Brethren; I told them that I hoped they still would, though perhaps not at this time; they said, perhaps it will be too late then, for the Indians said they will not engage before they see the English fight the French couragiously with one accord. I have nothing to add, but am,
"Sir, Your very obedient and humble Servant, " CONRAD WEISER.
" Heidleberg, in Berks County, May the 2d, 1754."
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News that the Indians told Mr. Weiser at Shamokin.
Canadehnia, son of Sakuchsonyout, deceased, came from Cayukoe about the middle of April, and brought News that some of the Senecas in their way to the Southern Indians met at Ohio with Three Parties of French praying Indians, who came from the in- habited Part of Virginia and had a great many Scalps and four Prisoners, one thereof they knew was a Son of Col. Cressap; the Senccas asked them why they did so, they made answer that they did it not themselves but their Father Onontio had ordered them so to do-that they did not know where they had been, being led by a Frenchman, but supposed it was upon James' River or Pa- towmack ; that they had also Two Indian Scalps which they gave to the Senecas and told them they might now go home, as these Scalps would answer their End, and the Senecas turned home ac- cordingly.
Item ; that a large Belt of Wampum, one End black and the other White, was sent by the Shawonese and Delawares on Ohio to Onondago, with the following Speech, by the black Part the Shawonese spoke : "Brethren the United Nations, hcar Us; The French your Father's Hatchet is just over our Heads, and We ex- pect to be struck with it every moment; make haste, therefore, and come to our assistance as soon as possible, for if you stay till we are killed You won't live much longer afterwards, but if you come soon we shall be able to fight and conquer the French our Enemy." The Delawares said by the white Part: "Uncles the
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United Nations, We expect to be killed by the French your Father ; We desire, therefore, that You will take off our Petticoat that we may fight for ourselves, our Wives and Children; in the Condition We are in You know we can do nothing."
Newmoch, an old Delaware Indian from the Big Island, came to Shamokin while I was there, and brought the News that above one hundred Men, Delawares, where by the Way from Ohio to settle upon the Big Island upon Zinacksy River for Security of their Wives and Children; that as many stayed at Ohio and are moving towards the Shawonese, that the Shawonese had sent a Message to the Delawares when they heard of their Intention to move to Zinachsy with a Belt of Wampum, and said: "Grand- fathers," so they stile the Delawares, "Don't leave me, but let Us live and die together and let our Bones rest together, let us die in Battle like Men and fear not the French;" that Capt Trent had surprised and taken Six French praying Indians, but that Three of them made their Escape afterwards by Carelessness of their Guard.
Canadehnia also said that Three Column of French Men passed the Lake Ontario towards Ohio-the First Column of Four Hun- dred, the Second of Three Hundred, and the Third of Four Hundred Men-in all Eleven Hundred Men, and it was said that more would come.
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