USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 61
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A Letter from Mr. Croghan to Colonel Stanwix, dated y 11th Inst., from Fort Loudoun.
" FORT LOUDOUN, the 11th June, 1757. " Sir :
"This Day I receiv'd a Letter from Mr. Atkins, the Superinten- dent for the Southern District, with one for You, a Copy of wch. I send you with your's for your Perusal, at his Request.
"I find by his to Me that he does not approve of any of the Governments this Way taking Notice of any Indians without his Knowledge ; in this I think he is Right, not to suffer any of those Governments to interfere in his District. But as this happened accidentally of the Cherokees coming into this Province and falling in with a Party of the Enemy Indians, killing Four and taking two Prisoners, then applying to the Governour to consider their Services, I think it was Right to send them a Present; nor can I think it prejudicial to His Majesty's Service if the Indians belonging to the Southern District shou'd cross Potowmack and annoy his Majesty's Enemys, tho' the Side of Potowmack shou'd fall into the Southern District. I fear Mr. Atkins is prejudiced by the Virginians, who imagine the Southern Indians shou'd only serve them.
" In Order to settle these Matters with Mr. Atkins, for the good of His Majesty's Service, Colon1. Armstrong and myself sett off
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To-morrow Morning for Winchester, to meet him. On Our Return, I shall acquaint You how we have settled the Affair.
"I am, Sir,
" Your most obedt. hble. Servt., " GEO. CROGHAN.
" Colonel STANWIX."
Mr. William Cox, a Merchant of this City, having received a Letter from Mr. Trent, at Winchester, containing an Account of a large Body of French and Indians, with Carriages, being seen by a scouting Party of Cherokees, at Fort Du Quesne, and afterwards Marching towards the Frontiers of this and the Neighboring Pro- vinces, communicated it to the Governor, and the same was read in these Words, viz":
A Letter from Mr. William Trent, to Mr. Wm. Cox, dated the 16th Instant, from Winchester.
" WINCHESTER, June, 16th, 1757. " Dear Sir :
" By an Express arrived here last Night, from Capt". Dagworthy, at Fort Cumberland, we learn that Six Cherokees were arrived there, who report that they lay about Fort Duquense some Days, where they saw a large Body of French and Indians, and a great Number of Carriages & Horses. 'That they were obliged to go a Distance from there in order to hunt, as they were afraid to shoot nigh the Fort, and cou'd get Nothing to kill with their Bows and Arrows. After they had got some Provisions, they returned to the Fort, where they stayed till they see them set off, and dogged them till they crossed the Monongehela, at the Place where General Braddock was de- feated ; then they sent off these Cherokees with the News, and the rest of the Party follow'd them, in order to send Intelligence, from Time to Time, of their Motions. The Virginians, in these Parts, have not above 230 Soldiers. Colonel Washington is sending off to raise the Militia. There is about 80 Indians in these Parts. A Party of Cherokees fell in with Ten ffrench Men, killed & took Six, Four of which were Commissioned Officers; One Officer, the only Prisoner they saved, is expected in Town to Night ; The Swallow Warrior was killed, & his Son wounded, which was the reason of their killing the Prisoners.
" Tis said the French Army consists of Two Thousand.
" In haste, I am, " Dear Sir, Your most humble Servant. " WILLIAM TRENT.
" To Mr. WILLIAM Cox.
" This Night, I expect the French Army is at the Little Meadows about 20 Miles from Fort Cumberland."
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If this Intelligence shou'd prove true, it was thought the Gov- ernor wou'd soon receive an Express from Colonel Stanwix, And that as the House was to meet in the Evening, the above Intelligence might be laid before them, with a Message desiring them not to separate, till it shou'd be known where the Attack wou'd fall. Accordingly, the Governor did receive by Express, about an Hour afterwards, Dispatches from Colonel Stanwix, containing the following Ac- counts, viz* :
A Letter from Colon1. Stanwix to Governor Denny, dated the 19th Instant.
" CAMP NEAR CARLISLE, June 19th, 1757. " Dear Sir :
" By this Express I am to let you know that I only wait for Waggons to march for Shippensburgh, but when I shall be able to set out it's impossible for me to say, as in Two Days' Notice I have yet been able to get but Two Waggons, and these my Quarter Master stopped himself; however, the Magistrates give me to hope I shall be supplied in a day or two. The Reason of my moving is the hearing of Intelligence from Captain Dagworthy, who commands at Fort Cumberland, wch. I give you in his own Words :
"'FORT CUMBERLAND, June 14th, 1757. "'Sir :
"' Six Cherokee Indians who just now came from Fort Duquesne say that Six Days ago they saw a large Body of Troops march from that Garrison with a Number of Waggons and a Train of Artillery,. and by their Rout must intend an Attack on this Garrison. Two days afterwards these Indians saw the Army on their march on this Side the Place where General Braddock was defeated.
""'Sir, Yours, &ca., "'JOHN DAGWORTHY.'
"I inclose you a Copy of Colonel Washington's two Letters of the 15th & 16th. By the last you will find that he has no sort of Expectation, from such an Attack as expected, that it can hold out at all, or any relief come in time; And Colonel Washington does think that their next Object must be Fort Loudoun, likewise in a bad Condition. Colo. Washington intends to pursue the Resolution of the Council of War, which is, vizt : 'That as Reinforcing this Garrison is absolutely Necessary, that the detached, enfeebled Situ- ation of the Garrisons on the South Branch must make them fall an easy Prey to the Enemy, and that as drawing them all to one Place on the Branch wou'd be giving up all the Settlements except that Place, which (supposing it cou'd be maintained) wou'd by no Means be of such Consequence as reinforcing this Important Place, that, therefore, they ought to be ordered hither immediately.
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" If I meet with no Intelligence to determine me otherwise, at or on my march to Shippensburgh, propose from thence to bend my March towards the Potowmack, and even to Winchester, with the Five Companies of Royal Americans and Two Hundred and Fifty of Colo. Armstrong's Battalion, which, in the whole, will be Six Hundred Men, as it appears to Me, Shou'd the French be success- full at Fort Cumberland, that Winchester will be, in all appearance, the Place where we shall be best able to make a Stand.
" I was made to believe at any Time after a Days' Notice I might be sure of Forty or Fifty Waggons, but find myself now vastly disapointed, but shall move the Moment I am able, and with as few Waggons as I can, proposing, if a sufficient Number can't be got, to leave some heavy Baggage behind, proposing to return again to this Station when I can do it consistently, being well aware of the great Borders of this Province being left unguarded ; therefore, have pressed Colo. Washington, Capt Beall, and Capt. Dagworthy to give me the earliest Intelligence of the Motions of the Enemy, wch. must in a great Measure determine me.
" If Lord Loudoun is not sail'd, if you think proper, shou'd be oblig'd if you communicate these particulars to him.
" Colº. Weiser hears that French and Indians have cut a Road within Ten Miles of Fort Augusta, wch. Place they intend to attack immediately-Indians give this Notice.
" By all which we may perceive that the French are busy in all Places, some real and some to amuse. I shall endeavour to do that which shall appear to me the best for the Service, who am truly, Dear Sir,
" Your most obedient hum1. Servt.,
"JOHN STANWIX.
" A Post much wanted from Lancaster here.
"The Honble. WILLIAM DENNY, Esq"."
Copy of two Letters from Colonel Washington to Colo !. Stanwix, of the 15th & 16th Instant.
" FORT LOUDOUN, June 15th, 1757. "Sir :
" I have the pleasure to inform you that a scouting Party, con- sisting of 5 Soldiers and 15 Cherokee Indians, that were sent out the 20th Ultº. towards the Ohio, under Lieutt Baker, returned the 8th Instant to Fort Cumberland, with 5 Scalps, and a French Officer Pri- soner, having killed two other Officers of the said Party. Mr. Baker met with this Party, viz., Ten French, Three Officers, on the Head of Turtle Creek, 2 Miles from Fort Duquesne (the day after they had parted with 50 Shawnese Indians, returning from the War),
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And wou'd have killed and made Prisoners of them all had it not been for the Death of the Indian Chief, who being killed, prevented his Men from pursuing them. One other Indian was wounded, and brought in upon a Bier near 100 Miles by the Party, who had nothing to live upon for the 4 last Days but wild Onions.
" Mr. Atkins and I shall use our Endeavours to have the French Prisoner brought to this Place.
" Capt Spotswood, with 10 Soldiers and 20 Indians, who went out at the same Time with but to a different Place from Lt Baker, is not yet come in, nor any News of him, which makes me Uneasy.
"Our Assembly have granted a further Sum of Eighty Thousand Pounds for the Service of the ensuing Year, And have agreed, I believe, to compleat their Regiment to 1,200 Men, besides Three Companies of Rangers of 100 each. Our Strength, since the Detachment to Carolina has embarked, is reduced to 420, Rank and File only, and these render'd weak by their great Division.
" Governor Dinwiddie is apprehensive that he shall not be able to provide Arms for these Men, and desired Me to advise with You thereupon.
" Yours, &cª., "G. WASHINGTON."
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" FORT LOUDOUN, June 16th, 1757.
" Sir :
" This Moment the enclosed Letter came to my Hands ; I have not lost a Moment's Time in transmitting them to you, As I look upon the Intelligence to be of the utmost Consequence. If the Enemy is coming down in such Numbers, and with such a Train of Artillery as we are bid to expect, Fort Cumberland must inevitably fall into their Hands, as no Efforts can be timely made to save it. I send you, Sir, a Copy of a Council of War held at this Place, and I intend to pursue the Resolutions therein contained, till I receive Orders how to act. It is morrally certain, that the next object wch. the French have in View, is Fort Loudoun ; And that yet it is in a very untenable Posture. They have no Roads for Carriages into any other Province, but thro' this Place ; and there lyes here a Quantity of Stores belonging to His Majesty and this Colony, very much exposed, unguarded. I shall not take up your Time, Sir, with a tedious detail of Facts ; You will be a sufficient Judge of the Posture of Affairs from that which is already related. I shall only add, that if the Enemy attempt this Place, I shall endeavour to defend it whilst there is a Dawn of Hope.
"I have dispatch'd an Express to Govr. Dinwiddie, and another to Govr. Sharpe.
" I am Yours, &ca.,
"G. WASHINGTON."
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The following Message with Colonel Stanwix' Packet, was sent to the House :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"On the Intelligence herewith sent you, which I receiv'd this Afternoon, by Express from Colonel Stanwix, I am obliged to press you in the warmest terms, to encourage the Raising Recruits, by giving the same Levy Money to the Officers for each Recruit as is given in the King's Service, or by the Neighbouring Provinces, The safety of the Country, and the Lives of the Inhabitants de- pending on the Troops being compleated as expeditiously as is pos- sible. I hourly expect further Accounts from Colonel Stanwix, and desire you will not separate till it is confirmed where the Attack will fall.
"WILLIAM DENNY.
" June 23d, 1757."
The Governor sent an Express to Mr. Croghan, with the follow- ing Letter, informing him of the Return of his Messengers from Teedyuscung ; and of his Intention to come to treat with this Gov- ernment, & desiring him to order his Matters so as to be present and assist at the Treaty :
A Letter from the Governor to Mr. Croghan. " PHILADELPHIA, June 23d, 1757.
" Sir :
" The Messengers, Nathaniel and Zacharias, are returned from Teedyuscung with an Answer, that He was One Hundred Miles above Diahogo ; had been very diligent in performing the several Matters he undertook at Easton ; was exceeding glad to receive my Message, and wou'd set out about Eight Days after the Messen- gers. He may be expected here about the first Week in July, or perhaps he may come sooner.
"I give you this Notice by the Express, desiring you will order your Matters, so as to be here time enough to attend the Treaty, which I will not open Unless you be present.
" Teedyuscung desires I shou'd be ready, and not detain him lon- ger than is absolutely Necessary.
" You will be pleased to favour me with your Answer as soon as possible.
"I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant, " WILLIAM DENNY.
" To GEO. CROGHAN, Esqr.
"P. S .- I have acquainted Colonel Stanwix with the Necessity of your Meeting the Delaware Indians, and I have the greater
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Reason to press your hastening on this Occasion because the Cir- cumstances of the Province may be such as to prevent my Meeting the Indians in case they refuse to come near Philadelphia."
The Merchants again most pressingly solliciting the Governor to take off the Embargo, and it appearing that Lord Loudoun had been at Sea since Monday, and the Wind extremely favourable all that while, and by Governor De Lancey's Letter that my Lord had ordered the Embargo to be taken off a Week after he shou'd sail, It was unanimously agreed that the Collector shou'd be ordered to clear all Vessels that applied on Monday next, observing the In- structions, and taking the Bonds required in the Letter of the Lords of Trade respecting the clearing of Vessels.
24th June, 1757.
MEMORANDUM.
The Governor forwarded the Intelligence to Governor Belcher and Governor De Lancey with a Letter to the latter in these Words, viz“:
" PHILADELPHIA, 24th June, 1757.
" Sir :
" I have to acknowledge your favour of the 3d and 21st Instant. Expecting every Post wou'd have brought Me an Account from You of His Lordship's Sailing, I deferred to express my Satisfaction at the Administration of the Government's devolving On You. It will give me a sensible Pleasure to have the Honour of your Corres- pondence; And I shall think myself happy if I can contribute to the Public Service by transmitting Intelligence to you, or by any other Means.
" I shall forward the Letters to the Southern Provinces where the Ports are open. In my Government the Embargo has been strictly observed, and will be till the Day fixed in Consequence of my Lord's Directions.
"The Intelligence I herewith send you came by Express from Colonel Stanwix Yesterday, and I desire you will forward Copies to General Webb, with my Complements and Respects; and I shou'd have wrote to him on this Occasion but wod not detain the Express, having kept it already longer than I shou'd chuse by the Assembly's detaining the Letters. I shou'd be likewise obliged to you to let my Lord know it by the very first Opportunity.
"I have requested the Assembly not to depart till we receive further Accounts, and know for certain the Number of the Enemy, and where the Attack will be made. A Militia Bill with some trifling Alterations, but the same in effect with the one I rejected
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at their last Sessions, has been offered me for my Concurrence and again rejected, which embarasses me exceedingly as to the Defence of the extended Frontiers of this Country. I will, however, do the best I can to awaken this infatuated People to take up Arms and attack the Common Enemy.
"I am, with great Regard, Sir,
"Your most obedient & most humble Servant, " WILLIAM DENNY. " Governor DE LANCEY."
And wrote the following Answer to Colonel Stanwix, viz" :
A Letter from the Governor to Colonel Stanwix. " PHILADELPHIA, 24th June, 1757. " Dear Sir :
"About an Hour after writing my Letter of Yesterday, I was favoured with your Dispatches by the Express, the Contents whereof I laid before the Assembly, and desired them not to separate till we shou'd receive further Accounts, and know where the Attack wou'd be made.
"I shall send a Copy of your Letters to Governor De Lancey to be transmitted to General Webb, and likewise to His Lordship, from whom I have this Morning receiv'd Letters by Express desir- ing the Embargo may be taken off Seven Days after the Time of his sailing, and accordingly all Vessels will have Liberty to sail next Monday.
"I have received an Answer from Teedyuscung, The Delaware Chief at Diahoga, who is expected to be at Fort Allen the latter End of this, or the Beginning of the next Month ; Of this I have given Mr. Croghan Notice as Sir William Johnson's Deputy Agent, and hope he will not fail to come here time enough, being deter- mined not to open the Conferences unless he be present.
"I thank you for your kind Advices; For the future you will have weekly Opportunities of writing by the Post, of which Iknow you will avail your self whenever any Thing occurs worthy of Com- munication.
"In Case the Accounts be confirmed, and I am not supported by the Assembly to do better, I shall order one or more of the Lower County Regiments of Militia to march into the Forts on this side of Sasquehanna, which will give Liberty to the Provincials to move towards you wherever you shall be.
"What can be done in this infatuated Province, whose Assembly have again presented to Me for my Concurrence the Militia Bill which I rejected at their last Sessions, I cannot tell; The Council
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have under their Consideration the State of the Province, and Nothing shall be omitted in my Power to rouse the Inhabitants out of their Lethargy and put them under Arms.
"If the Indians who are coming to the Treaty are really our Friends, they will not refuse to give their Assistance, and they will furnish a considerable Force if their Numbers answer the Account given by the Messengers; You see how Necessary Mr. Croghan's Presence is, And if he be with you please to dispatch him to Me with your Orders forthwith, or if he shou'd have left you and shou'd want your Directions, I request they may be forwarded to him by Express.
" Mr. Atkins' Letter to Mr. Croghan is copying and shall be re- turned You. Inclosed is a Letter from Sir John St. Clair, who sets out for York to-morrow; It is very happy that his State of Health will permit him to assist you in sending up Provisions to the Troops, or doing any other Service in his Power if Sir John's Health wou'd permit.
" May Success attend you wherever you march, and the News of your gaining any Advantage over the Enemy will give infinite Joy to me; I heartily wish myself with you, And Am,
" Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant,
"WILLIAM DENNY.
"To Colonel STANWIX."
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25th June, 1757.
MEMORANDUM.
The Governor wrote the following Letter to the Collector :
" PHILADELPHIA, 25th June, 1757.
" Sir:
"Lord Loudoun having signified to me, by Letter of the 5th Ins'" that the fleet was ready to sail, and that, in Conjunction with Sir Charles Hardy, it was agreed that the Embargo shou'd not be any longer continued, on Account of the Service they were going on, than Seven Days after their sailing; And Governor De Lancey having informed Me that His Lordship was at Sea on Monday the 20th Instant, You are permitted, on Monday next, to clear out all Vessels to their respective Ports; but be extremely carefull before clearing them to conform to the Directions given by the Lords of Trade, in their Letter of the 9th of October last. I am, Sir,
" Your most obedient humble Servnnt,
"WILLIAM DENNY.
"To the Collector."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
The Governor received, to-day, the following Message from the House, in Answer to his of the 22d Instant :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please your Honour :
" The House met at this Time, in Pursuance of the Governor's Summons, sincerely disposed to do the Publick Business with that Unanimity and Dispatch the Good of the People and His Majesty's service required, and expected to find the same Temper of Mind pre- vailing with the Governor. But we were both concerned and sur- prized when we perused his Message, at the beginning of this Sitting, and found in it, among many evident Reflections, two Charges of a most extraordinary Nature-That we had offered to your Honour an 'Anti-Constitutional' and an ' Extraordinary Bill, And that the People of this Province had interfered with His Majesty's Prero- gative of making War and Peace'-Charges that plainly include a Design to subvert the Principles of the Constitution, and to invade one of the most settled Prerogatives of the Crown; And Charges, which, as they were without the least Foundation, Our Duty to His Majesty and a Regard to Truth, oblige Us to repute; which we apprehend is fully done by a fair and impartial Representation of a Number of Facts in our late Answer to that Message. But as the Governor has been pleased, in his Message of the Twenty-Second Instant, to repeat those Accusations, with a Number of additional and aggravating Censures on our Conduct, without any just Rea- son ; and we can have no Room to doubt but the Person who can censure without Cause, will not be backward in misrepresenting our Actions, to support those Censures, even to the 'King's Minis- ters.' We hope the Governor will excuse us if we cannot pass over those Censures in Silence.
" The Governor is pleased to assert, that 'the first Part of our former Message contained Nothing more than Excuses why we wou'd not comply with His Majesty's Demands.' That part of our Message was a plain Narrative of Facts, referring to the Dates of Letters, the Supplies granted, and the known Circumstances and Burdens of the People ; from whence it appeared that His Majes- ty's Demands had been even anticipated by the Loyalty and Zeal of His Subjects in this Province, in granting larger Supplies than they cou'd well pay, and greater than most of the other Colonies have given. This being the Case, we are by no Means doubtfull but His Majesty, when he shall be truly acquainted with the Facts, will be convinced of our Loyalty and Affection to his Royal Person, and our Regard for the People we represent. Nor are we terrified at ` the repeated and numerous Threats the Governor is pleas'd to inter- sperse throughout the most of His Messages, of representing our Conduct to the King's Ministers. We shall take the necessary Care to detect any Misrepresentations, an can chearfully rely on the VOL. VII .- 39.
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Goodness of our Cause, and the Justice of the Crown and a British Parliament, in determining it.
" The Governor's Misrepresentation of our Conduct can appear from Nothing plainer, than the Pains he has taken to prove that we have treated Lord Loudoun 'with Indecency, and unjustly censured him.' Can it be possible the Governor cou'd misunderstand the Words of the Message ? Or cou'd he, whose Duty it is to protect us, unjustly intend to make that Nobleman an Enemy to the Pro- vince, by perverting the most decent and respectfull Sentiments of His Lordship into unjust Censures ? The Words of the Message referred to by the Governor are, 'We cannot doubt, from his Ex- cellency's Activity and Conduct in his Station, of his Concern at the Danger this as well as the other Colonies are exposed to; And we have Reason to apprehend from his known Justice, that had he duly weighed the large Sum of Money already granted by Us to His Majesty, and been fully acquainted with the Circumstances of the People, he wou'd have waved pressing us at this Time for an additional Number of Forces.' Was it unnatural or indecent to presume that His Lordship, a Stranger in the Province, lately ar- rived from Europe, intrusted with Matters of the utmost Import- ance, which must necessarily engross his whole Attention, shou'd be unacquainted with the Circumstances of the People ? Or is it rational to conclude His Excellency cou'd Know the true State of the several Provinces, and particularly that of Pennsylvania, though but a Fortnight in it ? If not, How cou'd the Governor so manifestly misrepresent our Actions, and insinuate that His Lord- ship ' had not escaped our Censures.' But of this his Lordship is to judge, to whose Justice and Honour we chearfully refer this un- kind Reflection upon Us from our Governor, without the least Foundation.
"In Order to justify the Governor's Conduct in rejecting the Militia Bill, he is pleased to assign Two Weighty Reasons, as he calls them :
"First. 'That the late Bill which passed the House of Commons subjected the Militia in Time of Insurrection or Invasion to the Penalties of Death or such other Judgements as a Court Martial shou'd inflict.' It is strange that the Governor cannot discriminate between that Bill and the Bill presented by this House. The former is not a General Militia Bill, nor obligatory on more than Onc-Twentieth Part of the Community at one and the same Time, but every Freeholder was to have the Alternative of Serving or hiring a fit Person in his Room; and if any of the Frccholders did not chuse to subject themselves to the Judgement of a Court Mar- tial, they might by this Means avoid it. From whence we may rationally conclude that Militia wou'd be chiefly composed of hired Persons ; and this seems still more probable from their receiving the same pay as the King's Troops, and their being obliged to mus-
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