USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 51
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" Hond. Sir :
" I must inform you that on the same Day you left John Harris' about Twenty-Five Indian Women and Children arrived from Ackweek, only one Old Man wth. 'em. They say that it was agreed upon when their Husbands and Young Men went to the English Army under General Braddock they shou'd come down to the inhabited Parts, where they shou'd be provided for, And as they had no Body to hunt for them they cod not live without being
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somehow assisted by their Brethren the English, And that a good many more were on their way coming down.
" I bought 500 Weight of Flower and gave it to them, and gave Orders to John Harris that when the rest arrived to give them some ·Flower also, till the Governor's Pleasure shou'd be known, weh. I desire your Honour will signify to me or John Harris as soon as possible.
" Jonathan and John Shickalamy will stay among the Inhabitants till they hear from your Honour concerning the English Army and Gen1. Braddock.
" Our People are very malicious against our Indians ; they curse & damn 'em to their Faces and say, 'must we feed You and your Husbands fight in the mean time for the French,' &ca.
"I am Your Honour's most obliged and faithfull h'ble Servt.,
" CONRAD WEISER.
" To the Honble Governor MORRIS.
" Heidleberg, in Berks, July 21st, 1755."
His Honour also laid before the Board Copy of a Letter sent by him to Colonel Dunbar, and of another to General Shirley, wch- were read in these Words :
Copy of a Letter from Governor Morris to Colonel Dunbar.
" PHILADELPHIA, July 24th, 1755.
" Sir :
"I am heartily concern'd at the shocking Accounts I have re- ceived of the Defeat of the Forces under the immediate Command of General Braddock, at the untimely Death of that Gentleman, and the many others that fell in yt. fatal Action. I hope this will find you returned in Safety to Fort Cumberland with the Remainder of the Troops, where I shall be glad to afford you any Assistance in my Power.
"I did by Direction of General Braddock provide a Quantity of Provisions and live Cattle for the Use of the Army, And have now at a Place called Shippensburgh, in this Province, Two Hundred and Twenty barrels of Pork, One Hundred and Sixty Fat Oxen, and some Flower, the Quantity uncertain ; And I have in and near this Town Forty Oxen, some more Pork, some Pease, & some Rice. If you shou'd have Occasion for any of the Provisions at Shippens- burgh you will send your Orders to Mr. Charles Swaine, who has the Charge of the Things there, and has Directions to deliver any thing you shall order. He will also assist any Person you may send in procuring Waggons for transporting the Provisions to You. Shou'd You want a Part of the Provisions remaining here, or any thing else in this Town, you will favour me with your Commands,
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And I shall take a Pleasure in doing any Service to You or the Pub- lick, and am,
" Sir, Your most obedt. and most h'ble Servt ,
" ROBT. H. MORRIS. " Coll. DUNBAR."
Copy of a Letter from Governor Morris to General Shirley. " Dear Sir :
"The inclosed Letters will inform You of the Defeat of our Forces under General Braddock near Fort Du Quesne ; That the General died of a Wound thro' the Arm into his Body, and that your worthy Son and my dear Friend fell in the Engagement. Upon this Melancholly occasion no one can feel more for you than I do, wch. in Addition to my own Grief for the Loss of a Friend I most sincerely lov'd makes my mind unfit for Business. A better Man never existed; his Understanding was clear, his Judgement great, and his Heart as good as ever lodged in human Breast. But he is no more, and those that know him best will lament him most. You who have gone thro' various Scenes of Life have weighed and considered the Uncertainty of Human Affairs, will look upon this Stroke of Fate as a Philosopher ought to do, and bear it as becomes a Man of your Understanding.
" The Defeat of our Troops appears to me to be owing to the want of Care and Caution in the Leaders, who have been too se- cure, and held in too great Contempt the Indian Manner of Fighting; even by Capt. Orme's Account they were not aware of the Attack. And there are others that say the French & Indians lined the Way on each Side and in the Front behind Intrenchments, that we knew Nothing of till they fired upon us. To be thus surprized, and as it were surrounded by ye Enemy without knowing that there were any near Us, argues an uncommon Neglect some where; And the Panick of the Soldiers is not so much to be wondered at. The Vic- tory they have gained is certainly very compleate, having taken all the Train of Artillery, Baggage, and Amunition that was with the General, And obliged us to make a hasty Retreat and to destroy the greatest Part of what was left least it shod fall into their hands.
" Give me Leave my good Sir to beg for your own Sake and yt. of the Publick that you would be cautious in every motion you make that You may not be surprized, for unless the Enemy can get some Advantage of that kind they stand no Chance. The Wood Creek, down web. You are to pass, is a narrow crooked Stream covered with Trees on each Side, where you will be liable to be attacked to great Disadvantage, and where the French will doubtless endeavor to surprize you if you give Or their Indians the least Opening. I imagine they will move from Ohio to oppose You at Niagara or
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in your Way to it, as they must now be fully acquainted with Your Design and no longer afraid of an Attack upon the Ohio. What their Strength at Du Quesne was is quite uncertain at least to Me, and from anything that appears was very much so to the Gen'l, who seems to have had no Intelligence of the Enemy's Numbers, but to have held them in high Contempt, and to have been too sure of Success ; Upon this Rock I am afraid he split, for otherwise how can we acct for what has happened.
" You will receive this by a special Messenger who I have sworn to observe the Instructions I have given him, which, among other things, are to take no Letters but from Me, and to mention Noth- ing of the Defeat of the Forces, the death of the General, or any other Circumstances relating to our Forces to the Westward, Unless to You or in your Presence ; I thought this Caution necessary that you might if you thought proper conceal this Matter from your own Forces and Indians, or publish what part of it You thought fit.
" By the Death of General Braddock the Chief Commander of y". Forces devolves upon You, and you will doubtless resolve upon some Measures to retrieve the Blow that has been given us, web. I am in hopes the Season will Yet allow You time to do. I have summoned my Assembly upon ye Occasion, And have laid before them the Distress that this Defeat will bring upon their Country, and have some hopes that they will do something for their own Safety while they are under the Influence of their Fears; And if they should not, I've some expectation of raising Twenty or Thirty Thousand Pounds by way of Loan to the Government for the De- fence of the Province, which the Lenders will desire to be repaid by a Tax laid equally upon the Province, or in any other way the Crown may direct. Till this is done I can take no steps, but as soon as I am enabled shall leave no means unessayed to put the Af- fairs of the Province upon the best footing possible, and if I am furnished with sufficient Cash, make no doubt of raising at least 2,000 Men, which with what may be soon levyed in the Neighbor- ing Governments, the remainder of the English Troops, & the As- sistance from New England that I shall mention below, will under a proper Commander and with a sufficient Train of Artillery, still make the Ohio too hot for the French, wch. will reflect great Honour upon you & put it in your Power the next Summer, in Case of a War, to drive 'em intirely from this Continent.
" As the 2,000 Men raised in new England & sent to Nova Sco- tia have already taken the French Forts at Chignecto and St. John's River, and have Transports, Convoys, and every thing necessary with them, will it not be easy for them to come immediately to this. Province by Water, and as there is an open Waggon Road from hence to within 5 miles of the French Fort, and as this Province & New Jersey abound with Horses, Carriages, Cattle, and Pro- VOL. VI-32.
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visions, will it not be the best and most effectual way of driving the French from the Ohio, weh. You're sensible is a Point the King and Duke have much at Heart. As to a Train we have here a number of fine Iron 18 Pounders and Strength of Horses to transport them any where; and the new England Troops have Mortars & shells with them, and Ammunition may easily be supplied.
"You know best what Terms those Men were raised upon, & how far (all Circumstances considered) it will be right to employ them upon this Service; if an Encouragement of Money will make that easy to ye Men, I am in hopes I shall be enabled to give them an additional Pay, & mention these things to You with no other View than to give you Time to consider these Matters, for if our People, either in a public or private Capacity, enable me to do any thing to the Purpose I shall imediately write You fully upon these Matters.
"General Braddock some time ago desired me to raise him Men for the Two Regiments under his immediate Command, in wch. Ser- vice I employed Mr. Bewzill, the Gentleman I introduced to You at New Castle, and he has in few Days got 25 Men, and I shall keep him employed in the same Service till I have your Directions to the Contrary, And I take the Liberty to recommend him to your favour in the Disposal of the Vacaneys the late Defeat has made.
"I am sorry I have been laid under a Necessity from the Situa- tion of Affairs to treat of Matters of Business to You at such a time, But the Safety of the Colonies, the Regard you have for them, and yr present Command, subjects you to this as it done & will do to many other Inconveniences. I am, with great Regard,
" Dear Sir, Your most obedt and most affect'nate h'ble Servt.,
" ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" To His Excellency General SHIRLEY."
At a Council held at Philadelphia on Monday the 28th July, 1755. PRESENT :
The Honble. ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor.
John Penn, Joseph Turner,
Robert Strettell, Richard Peters, Esquires.
Lynford Lardner,
A Letter from Colonel Dunbar of the 16th Inst. from the Camp near the great Crossing, and one from Mr. James Burd of the 25th
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were read, & follow in these Words, And a Message form'd thereon to the Assembly :
A Letter to Governor Morris from Coll. Dunbar.
" From the Camp near ye great Crossings, July 16th, 1755. "Sir :
" Your Letter with some Papers relative to your Assembly, & a new Map of part of this Country, came to me Yesterday ; as they were directed for His Majesty's Service I open'd them. General Braddock & Sir Peter Halket being killed, with too many more of our Army in our Engagement wth. ye French near Turtle Creek, Six Miles from Fort Du Quesne, as now called. All of y' Army that cou'd come back joined me at about 40 Miles Distance. I have now with me 300 wounded officers & Soldiers. I propose leaving as many of them at Fort Cumberland as it's possible to provide for, and leave the Independant Companies to Garison that Place. The Virginia Company I design sending to their respective Provinces to be recruited as soon as possible.
"I have sent an Express to Captain Hogg, who is covering the People cutting Your New Road, as I can't think his advancing that Way safe, to retire imediately. I send this Letter to him to for- ward, and will very soon give You a more particular Account of this unhappy Catastrophe in the best Manner I can collect; as I was not there I can only tell you what I hear from others.
" It was General Braddock's Intention to quarter the 2 Regi- ments with You this Winter, and I am now on my March for that Purpose, & beg You'll be so good as to provide Quarters for about an Hundred Officers & I believe 1,200 Men will do-An Hospital will be absolutely necessary. I can't say when I shall have an Opportunity of kissing your Hand, but it shall be as soon as my Situation will permit. I am, with the greatest Regard, Sir,
" Your most humble & most obedt Servant,
"THO. DUNBAR.
" I'll do myself the Honour of writing to You soon & be more particular. I never underwent such Hardships of late.
" To the Honble. ROBERT H. MORRIS, Esq"."
-
A Letter to the Governor fron Mr. James Burd. " SHIPPENSBURG, 25th July, 1755.
" Hond. Sir :
"On the 17th Currt when on the Top of the Allegheny Mount". We received an Express from Governor James Innes from Fort Cum- berland, giving us an Account that Gen1. Braddock had been
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attack'd & had met with a very considerable Loss; That he was wounded badly, ST. John St. Clair wounded, and ST. Peter Halkett killed, And that the Army was upon a Retreat and desired that we might immediately retreat. We began our Retreat on Wednesday the 18th currt and march'd that Day 18 Miles to a House web. I formerly mentioned to You we had kept our Stores in for some short time ; We carried all our Provisions and Cattle with us so far. On Thursday Morn". I begged of the People to assist me with their Horses to carry our Provisions to Fort Cumberland, wch. they absolutely declined, upon web. I employed 17 of our Carryg. Horses and loaded them with Flour, and marched with them and Captain Hogg's Company to Fort Cumberland. The Re- mainder being 52 Baggs of Flour and 1 Bagg of Salt I left at said House, not being able to carry them along. The Cattle were all lost in the Woods, as I cou'd not prevail upon a Party to hunt them up. Sunday at Noon I arrived at Fort Cumberland with 13 Bags of Flour, the other 4 we eat upon our March. As I had your Honour's particular Commands to endeavor to please and fol- low the Instructions of General Braddock and Sr. John St. Clair, upon my Arrival at the Fort I waited on ST. John St. Clair and let him know what I had done, and that I was there ready to do what- ever he and the General shou'd think necessary to be done by our Province with regard to Roads. He told Me that I had done my Duty, and did not doubt but I wou'd continue so to do, but as the General was dead that I must wait the arrival of Coll. Dunbar, who was Commanding Officer, web. I agreed to do; And accordingly immediately upon the Arrival of Coll. Dunbar I was sent for. The
Collonel told me He intended to march the Troops imediately to Philada. I told the Colon1. that if it was thought necessary that I cou'd open the Road from our Road at Ray's Town to Fort Cum- berland in a Fortnight or 3 weeks at farthest (imagining that a Fort wou'd be imediately erected at that Place to shut up the other Road to save our Back Inhabitants). The Collonel told me that as there was some sort of a Road from Fort Cumberland to the Mouth of Connegochegue that it wou'd be better to make use of that for the March of the Troops than to wait the Opening of the Road I pro- posed, And that He wou'd send his Waggons round by Winchester and from thence to Philada. He enquired of me what Provisions I thought there might be at Shippensburg. I told him I cou'd not well answer the Question, but that I believed there was 100 Head of Cattle. I gave him the Name of the Comissary Mr. Swaine, and He told Me he wou'd send an Express to Mr. Swaine wth. Orders what to do, and that I shou'd meet him and the Troops at the Mouth of Connegochegue, and endeavour to assist him in his March, web. I promised to do. Then he desired ine to go to dinner with him that he might relate the whole Affair that has happened, that I might be able to communicate it to y". Honour, and is as follows : ' On Wednesday the 9th Currt. there was a small Body of French and
C
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Indians (about 500, and never was any more on the Ground) dis- covered by the Guides at a small Run called Frazier's Run, about 7 Miles on this Side the French Fort (this is over the River Monon- gahela); they were on the Side of a Hill. The Guides immediately informed the General, who marched the Troops on and formed them. The Battle began at 1 o'clock after Noon, and continued 3 Hours. The Enemy Kept behind Trees and Loggs of Wood, and cut down our Troops as fast as they cou'd advance. The Soldiers then in- sisted much to be allowed to take to the Trees, which the General denied and stormed much, calling them Cowards, and even went so far as to strike them with his own Sword for at- tempting the Trees ; Our Flankers and many of our Soldiers that did take to the Trees were cut off from the Fire of our own Line, as they fired their Platoons wherever they saw a Smoak or Fire. The one-half of the Army engaged never saw the Enemy, particu- larly Capt. Waggoner, of the Virginia Forces, marched 80 Men up to take Possession of a Hill, on the Top of the Hill there lay a large Tree about 5 Feet Diameter, web. Captain Waggoner intended to make a Bulwark of; he marched up to the Logg with the Loss of only 3 men killed by the Enemy, and all the Time his Soldiers carried their Firelocks shoulder'd, when they came to the Logg they began to fire upon the Enemy, As soon as their fire was dis- covered by our Line they fired from our own Line upon him, that he was obliged to retreat down the Hill, and brought off with him only 30 Men out of 80; and in this Manner was our Troops chiefly destroyed. Sir Peter Halket and one of his Sons was killed in the Beginning of the Action, Sir John St. Clair was presently after wounded by a Bullet in the Right Breast; the Gen1. had 5 Horses shot under him, and at last was shot thro' the Belly, he was car- ried off a considerable way from the Field of Battle and dyed of his Wound, and was buryed across the Road. The General had with him all his Papers, which are entirely fallen into the Hands of the Enemy, as likewise about Twenty-five Thousand Pounds in Cash, All the Waggons that were with the General in the Action, All the Ammunition, Provisions, Cattle, &ca., Two 12 pounder Can- non, Six 4 Pounders, Four Cohornes, and Two Hortts, with all the Shells, &ca. The Loss of Men as nigh as Col1. Dunbar cou'd com- pute at that Time is 700 killed & wounded, the one-half killed ; about 40 Officers, a list of which as far as I at present can give Your Honour, you have below. Coll. Dunbar retreated wtb. 1,500 effective Men, He destroyed all his Provisions except what he cou'd carry along with him for Subsistance ; He arrived on Tuesday about 2 o'Clock at Fort Cumberland with the Troops; He likewise de- stroyed all the Powder he had with him, to the Amount I think of Fifty Thousand Weight; His Mortars and Shells, &ca., he buryed, And brought with him to our Fort Two Six Pounders ; He cou'd carry nothing off for want of Horses. This is as good and just an Account as I at present can give Your Honour, as I arrived here
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late last night ; And I hope you'll excuse Blotts and Blunders as I am much confused with a Party of the People from the Roads that are still here and interrupting Me; and believe me with great Es- teem,
" Your Honour's Most obedient humble Servt.,
" JAMES BURD.
"Killed .- His Excellency General BRADDOCK, ST. PETER HAL- KITT, Do. Son, Captain H. POLSON, Capt. PERENEE, Lieut. SE- MAINE, Lt. WAGGONER.
" Wounded .- ST. JOHN ST. CLAIR, Capt". ORME, Ist Aid de Camp, Capt. GATES, Lt. HOWARD, Lieut. STEWART, Lieut. GRAY.
"The above are all the Gentms. Names I heard mentioned. As Coll. Dunbar was just arrived and quite fatigued, he cou'd not give me a List, but I will endeavour to procure a particular List and send your Honour. Enclosed are sundry Letters from Coll. Dun- bar, &ea., which the Gentlemen beg Your Honour's particular Care in forwarding immediately.
" Governor MORRIS."
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly. -
" Gentlemen :
"I have just now received Information from Fort Cumberland that Colonel Dunbar arrived there on the 22d Inst. with the Army, having about 300 wounded Officers & Soldiers, and that he intended, as soon as Circumstances wou'd admit, to march to this City, for which he is already making the necessary Dispositions. The Re- moval of the Army from the Frontiers will leave the Back Settle- ments entirely exposed to the Incursions of the French & Indians, who are flushed by their late Victory, & will be encouraged by the Retreat of the Forces to penetrate deep into the Province, and the People being defenceless will immediately quit their Habitations.
"I lay these Matters before You that you may as soon as possible fall upon Measures for the Protection of the Western Frontiers, in which You may assure yourselves my best Assistance shall not be wanting.
" I think it highly necessary that His Majesty and his Ministers shou'd as soon as possible be informed of what has happened, and of the State of the Province, that they may take proper Measures for our Security, And therefore recommend it to You to enable me to Dispatch a Vessell to England for that Purpose.
" ROBT. H. MORRIS.
"Philadelphia, July 28th, 1755."
The Secretary inform'd the Council that the Clerk of the House
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acquainted him, immediately after delivering the Governor's Mes- sage of the 25th Inst., that the House thought proper Mr. Weiser shou'd be sent for, and wou'd pay all reasonable Expences, and that an Express was accordingly dispatched for Mr. Weiser and had brought his Answer, by which it appear'd that he was indisposed, but had sent his Son to supply his Place.
A Letter of the 23d Instant from the Justices of Berks County concerning the Roman Catholicks there, was likewise brought by the Express and read in these Words, viz *. :
" Sir :
" As all our protestant Inhabitants are very uneasy at the Be- haviour of the Roman Catholicks, who are very numerous in this County, some of whom shew great Joy at the bad News lately come from the Army, We have thought it our Duty to inform Your Honour of our dangerous Situation, and to beg Your Honour to enable Us by some legal Authority to disarm or otherwise to disable the Papists from doing any Injury to other People who are not of their vile Principles. We know that the People of the Roman Catholick Church are bound by their Principles to be the worst Subjects and worst of Neighbours, And we have Reason to fear just at this Time that the Roman Catholicks in Cussahoppen, where they have a very magnificent Chappel and lately have had large Proces- sions, have bad Designs, For in the Neighbourhood of that Chappel it is reported and generally believed that 30 Indians are now lurk- ing, well armed with Guns and Swords or Cutlashes. The Priest at Reading, as well as at Cussahoppen, last Sunday gave Notice to their People that they cou'd not come to them again in less than 9 Weeks, whereas they constantly preach Once in 4 Weeks to their Congregations ; Whereupon some imagine they've gone to consult with our Enemies at Du Quesne. It is a great Unhappiness at this Time to the other People of this Province that the Papists shou'd keep Arms in their Houses, against which the Protestants are not prepared, who, therefore, are subject to a Massacre whenever the Papists are ready. We pray that your Honour wou'd direct us in this important Business By the Return of the Bearer, whom We have sent Express to your Honour. We are, May it please your Honour,
"Your Honour's most obedt. h'ble Servt., " HENRY HARVEY, "JAMES READ, "WILLM. BIRD, "JONAS SEELY, "CONRAD WEISER.
" To the Honble. Gov". MORRIS.
" Heidleberg, July 23d, 1755."
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And the following Message was thereupon sent to the House by the Secretary, who, addressing himself to the Speaker, said :
" Sir-
" The Governor commands me to acquaint You that the Express is returned from Mr. Weiser, who you will see by his Answer is indispos'd and cannot come himself, but has sent his Son to meet and accompany Jagrea and the other Indians by his House to this Town.
"Mr. Weiser reminds him of the Contents of the Letter lately communicated to You concerning the Support of the Indian Wo- men from Aughwick, and as he presses for an Answer You will be pleased to enable the Governor to give one.
"The Governor lays before you a Letter signed by Mr. Weiser and some other Justices of the County of Berks, representing the State of the Roman Catholicks in that Neighbourhood, and praying that certain Measures may be taken, concerning which he wou'd be glad to have your Advice & Assistance."
The Governor acquainted the Board that he has taken into Con- sideration his Powers, Instructions, and Letters from the Propri- etaries, and finding himself at Liberty to make an Offer of Lands for the Encouragement of Volunteers to serve in the present Emer- gency, had drawn up the following Message to be forthwith sent to the Assembly if it shou'd meet with the Council's Approbation, which was read and very much approved, and afterwards sent to the House :
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