USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 15
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In June, 1757, Mr. Pitt was created Premier of England, and in a very short time showed that in him were combined, in an extraordinary manner, qualities seldom united in one person. His eloquence was of of the highest order, and its effect, both in and out of Parliament, was conviction. His appeals to the patriotism of the British people, to protect the colonies from the power of France, and from the tomahawk of the sav- age, thrilled through the nation. But his talents for action, seemed even to eclipse those in debate, and in directing the most difficult and complica- ted movements of war, on the ocean and the land, over every quarter of the world, he evinced a vigor of mind, a clearness of judgment, and a decision of character, beyond the expectations of his admirers. His plans, partaking of the proud character of his own mind, and the ex- alted opinion he entertained of his countrymen, were always grand ; and the means he employed for their execution, were always adequate to the object. Possessing without limit, the public confidence, he com- manded all the resources of the nation, and drawing liberally from the public treasury, the funds were always faithfully applied to the advance- ment of the public service. Too great in his spirit, too sublime in his views, to become the instrument of faction, when placed at the head of , the nation, he regarded only the interests of the whole people, and over- looking the country or the party which had given birth to merit, he searched only for worth, and employed it whenever it could be found.
The letters of Mr. Pitt to the colonies, were well adapted to produce union, energy, and action in the provinces of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas. They were told that England would soon send to their assistance a powerful army, to act in concert with the pro- vincial troops. That their combined forces should be applied to remove the enemy from the western frontriers, and that the government, unwil- ling to limit their exertions, would leave to each colony to raise, with the greatest possible dispatch, as large a force as was in its power. To render such force efficient, Mr. Pitt recommended to the several Gover-
(1) Craig's Olden Time, Vol. 1, p. 177.
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nors to commission popular men for officers, and in bestowing military appointments, to have regard solely to the public service. (1) The Governors were authorized to issue commissions to the provincial offi- cers from Colonels downwards, and these officers were to hold rank in the colonial army according to the date of their commissions. He stip- ulated that the colonial troops raised for the campaign, should be sup- plied with arms, ammunition, tents and provisions, in the same manner as the regular troops, and at the King's expense ; so that the only charge to the colonies, would be that of levying cloathing, and paying their own men. (2)
Animated by hope, and cheered by the liberal policy of Mr. Pitt, the Assembly of Pennsylvania instantly resolved to place at the disposition of the English commanders, two thousand seven hundred men. The colonies were no longer to be degraded, but their troops were to be com- manded by their own officers, taking rank with those of the regular army To encourage enlistment, the Assembly voted a bounty of five pounds to every soldier enlisting, and one pound to the recruiting officer; and earnestly recommended the Governor to pursue the advice of Mr. Pitt in the selection of officers, and to do every thing in his power to have the forces ready by the month of May, as required by the minis- ter. The members, in their zeal to advance the public service, voted ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS-prepared quarters for the troops, and wagons for their baggage-put the roads in repair, and raised and equip- ped a body of light horse. (3)
The liberal policy of the new ministry had a similar effect upon other colonies. Virginia raised and sent into the field sixteen hundred men, under the command of Col. Washington, and raised money to clothe and pay them. (4) The Assembly of Maryland also voted to raise a thousand troops, but their bill was defeated by the royal Governor, who refused his assent to the mode of levying the tax to defray the expense. (5)
Early in the Spring of 1758, Admiral Boscawen arrived at Halifax, with a formidable fleet of one hundred and fifty sail, having on board about twelve thousand British troops, under the command of General Amherst, who was second in command to General Abercrombie, who previously superceded Lord Loudon as Commander-in-chief in America.
(1) Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, p. 361.
(2) Sparks' Washington, Vol. Il. p. 289.
(3) Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, p. 363.
(4) Sparks' Washington, Vol. II. p. 289.
(5) Votes and proceedings of Maryland Assembly, for March 1758.
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There was now the most formidable army collected to act for the de- fence of the colonies, that was ever seen in the new world. The whole number amounted to fifty thousand men, of whom about twenty thou- sand were provincials.
The plan of the campaign of 1758, embraced three expeditions .- The first against Louisburg, in the island of Cape Breton ; the second against Ticonderogo and Crown Point; and the third against Fort Du Quesne.
The first of these expeditions were successful. Early in June, Gen. Amherst, at the head of fourteen thousand men, aided by a fleet of twenty ships of the line and thirty frigates, (1) besieged and captured the almost impregnable fortress of Louisburg, after an obstinate defence of seven weeks. Five thousand six hundred fire-arms, one hundred pieces of cannon, and a vast quantity of stores and ammunition fell into the hands of the conquerers. The French lost six ships of the line and five frigates. (2)
The second expedition, under General Abercombie in person, with sixteen thousand men, failed. He was repulsed with the loss of two thousand men, killed and wounded ; but afterwards a detachment from his army of three thousand men, under Col. Bradstreet, captured and took possession of Fort Frontegnac, where Kingston, in Upper Canada, now stands, with sixty pieces of cannon, a large number of small arms, provisions, military stores, and goods to a very large amount, deposited here for the use of the French in their western garrisons. Nine armed vessels, some of which carried eighteen guns, also fell into the hands of the English.
Having destroyed the fort, the vessels, and such stores as could not be brought away, Col. Bradstreet recrossed the lake and joined the army. The destruction of this magazine of supplies for the French posts on the Allegheny and the Ohio, contributed materially to the fortunate result of the expedition against Fort Du Quesne. (3)
The command of the third expedition against Fort Du Quesne, was confided to Brigadier General Forbes. His force amounted to about seven thousand men, consisting of twelve hundred Highlanders, three-
(1) Craig's Olden Time, Vol. 1. 179.
(2) Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, p. 358.
(3) The Government of Pennsylvania, encouraged and supported by the Quakers, were unwearied in their exertions, at this time, lo bring about a peace with and conciliate the Indians; and for that purpose sent Christian Frederick Post, with a message to the Delawares, Shawanese and Mingo In- dians, on the Ohio, in the month of July, and also in the month of October, 1758. These missions had a happy effect upon the Indians .- Appendix, p. 75 126.
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hundred and fifty Royal Americans, twenty-seven hundred Provincials, from Pennsylvania, one hundred from Delaware, then called the Lower Counties, sixteen hundred from Virginia, (1) two hundred and fifty from Maryland, one hundred and fifty from North Carolina, and about one thousand wagoners and laborers. The twelve hundred Highlanders were divided into four companies, and the three hundred and fitty Royal Americans into four. (2)
The troops from Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland, were or- dered to assemble at Winchester, under Colonel Washington; and the Pennsylvania forces at Raystown, now Bedford, where Colonel Bouquet had marched the regular troops, in advance of General Forbes, who re- mained at Philadelphia until the combined army would be in readiness to move forward. But the ill health of Gen. Forbes, the difficulties in procuring supplies and means of transportation, and the construction of a new road for the army, the artillery, and baggage wagons to pass over the mountains, detained the expedition until late in the season. Colonel Washington strongly recommended that the army should follow the route of Braddock, as it would take but little time to repair the road, which was the best over the mountains, and remonstrated against cutting a new road, as it might entirely defeat the expedition, by unnecessary delay. (3) Colonel Bouquet strenuously advocated a new route through
(1) Sparks' Washington, Vol. 11. p. 289.
(2) Penn. Gazette, 1759 .- Gordon's Penn'a, p. 366.
(3) General Forbes had at one time determined to take Braddock's route, as appears from the following letter he addressed to Gov. Denny, of Pennsyl- vania, dated New York, March 20, 1758:
SIR :- I have the favor of yours of the 17th. and make no manner of doubt of your doing every thing in your power in forwarding his majesty's service, and therefore must beg that the officers and soldiers raised in Pennsylvania for the service, are able bodied men, and capable of enduring fatigue, and that their arms be the best that can be found in the province. As carpenters and axemen are absolutely necessary upon many occasions, I must recom- mend the sending as many of these as can be conveniently got into the troops. And likewise, that the province will raise fifty good men, well mounted upon tight serviceable horses, and every way 'accoutred to serve in conjunction with those to be furnished by the provinces, and as a body of light horse, from whom I expect very important service.
As the roads from Lancaster to Williams' Ferry, upon the Potomac, may want considerable repairs, and widening of them for the carriages of cannon, &c., I have therefore wrote to the Governor of Maryland for the purpose, in order that those roads may be repaired by the inhabitants of the two provin- ces of Pennsylvania and Maryland, living near those parts.
As I propose assembling the regular troops and those of Pennsylvania at Conegochieque, ahout the 20th of April, you will therefore give orders for all manner of diligence to be used in raising the numbers that your province is to send, who shall be paid at the rate of four pence per diem of provisions, from the time they begin their march until they are furnished with provisions from the King's stores.
I am informed that the inhabitants upon the frontiers of your province being much used to hunting in the woods, would consequently make good rangers.
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Pennsylvania, and prevailed upon General Forbes to adopt it; and on the first of August, seventeen hundred men (1) were employed west of Bedford, in constructing a road across the mountains, to the Loyal- hanna. (2)
Gen. Forbes, after leaving Philadelphia, was detained by sickness at Carlisle, which place he left some time in July, to join Col. Bouquet at Bedford, but on the eighteenth of August, had not proceeded further than Shippensburg.(3) He was at Fort Loudon the ninth of September,* and reached Bedford soon after, where he was joined by Col. Washing- ton from Fort Cumberland, with the troops under his command.(4)
Col. Bouquet had already advanced to Loyalhanna, with two thousand five hundred troops, fifty miles west of Bedford. Gen. Forbes with the main body did not reach Loyalhanna, before the last of October.(5)
In the meantime, Col. Bouquet had sent out Major Grant, of a High- land regiment, with thirty-seven officers, and eight hundred and five privates, to reconnoitre the fort and adjacent country. His instructions were not to approach too near the Fort and to avoid the risk of an attack.
Though the French were apprized of the approach of Gen. Forbes, and had spies out constantly to report the progress of his troops, yet the
In which case I am to beg you will give your directions for the forming of your proposed men into companies of rangers, with good officers, who are well acquainted with the country, to command them.
If it could possibly be contrived to find some intelligent person who would venture to the Ohio, either as a merchant, or a deserter, and would bring us intelligence what was going on in those parts, I should certainly reward him handsomely. Perhaps such a one might be found in some of your provincial companies, up at Fort Loudon.
I should be obliged to you if you will give orders to send me some account of what provincial troops you have now on foot, and where they are for the present, and likewise what number (in the whole) your province is to raise for the service of the present year.
I must beg the favor that you will order your secretary to send the enclosed packet express to Virginia. And I shall have the honor to be with great regard, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,
JO. FORBES.
Prov. Rec. N. p. 206.
(1) Sparks' Washington, Vol. II. p. 307.
(2) Changed from La-el-han-nec, the Indian name.
(3) Sparks' Washington, Vol. Il, p. 308.
* Gen. Forbes, in a letter dated at Fort Loudon, Sept. 9, 1758, says : " The laying in of provisions for the support of the army, I attempted to do without even being obliged to impress any carriages. The quantity of provisions to have been collected at our principal magazine has fallen greatly short of what I had reason to expect; because most of the wagons were not loaded with more than fourteen hundred weight, and took a third more time in the car- riage than they ought to have done, which obliged us to break in upon the stock of provisions laid in at Raystown, while the troops were opening a road over the mountains, and securing its communication, which is now effectually done to within forty miles of the French Fort."
(4) Sparks' Washington, Vol. 11, p. 313.
(5) Washington's Letter in Sparks Vol. 11, p. 314.
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detachment under Maj. Grant, leaving Loyalhanna on the eleventh of September, completely succeeded in reaching Fort Du Quesne, fifty miles distant, unobserved. The third day after their departure they arrived within eleven miles of Fort Du Quesne, and halted until three o'clock in the afternoon. The troops then quietly marched to a point about two miles from the Fort, where they left their baggage under charge of Capt. Bullet, two subalterns and fifty men. It was already dark, and at eleven o'clock at night, Major Grant appeared with his troops on the brow of the fatal hill which still bears his name, between the two rivers, about a quarter of a mile from the fort.
From the apparent stillness of the enemy's quarters, and meeting with neither French nor Indians on the march, Major Grant supposed that the forces in the fort must be comparatively small, and at once de- termined to make an attack. Two officers and fifty men were accord- ingly directed to approach the fort and fall upon the French and Indians that might be lying out, if not in too great numbers. They saw none, nor were they challenged by the sentinels. As they returned they set fire to a large store house, but the fire was discovered and extinguished.
At break of day Maj. Lewis was sent with two hundred men princi- pally American regulars and Virginia volunteers, to take post about half a mile back, and lie in ambush on the road on which they had left their baggage, under the pretension of fears that the enemy would make a bold attempt to capture it. But the secret of it was-Major Grant who was jealous of Major Lewis, wished to have the glory alone of capturing an enemy who had so signally repulsed Gen. Braddock, with his thou- sands.(1)
Four hundred men were posted along the hill facing the fort, to cover the retreat of Capt. McDonald's company, who marched with drums beating towards the enemy, in order to draw a party out of the fort; as Major Grant believed that there were not above two hundred men in- cluding Indians in the garrison.
As soon as the garrison was aroused from their slumbers by the music of the invaders, both French and Indians sallied out in great numbers to the attack. Their whole force was immediately separated into three divisions. The first two were sent directly under cover of the banks of the river to surround the main body under Maj. Grant- and the third delayed a while, to give the others time, and then dis-
(1) Patterson's History of the Backwoods, p. 110 .- The facts of this whole affair are mostly taken from a letter published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, dated October 5, 1758.
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played themselves before the fort, as if exhibiting their whole strength.
The attack then commenced, and Capt. McDonald was immediately obliged to fall back upon the main body, and Maj. Grant received and returned a most destructive fire. At this moment he suddenly found himself flanked on all sides by the detachments from the banks of the rivers. The struggle become desperate. The provincial troops con- cealing themselves behind trees made a good defence, but the High- landers who stood exposed to the enemy's fire without cover, fell in great numbers, and at last gave way and fled. The Provincials, not being supported and being overpowered by numbers were compelled to follow.
Major Lewis fearful of an unfavorable issue of the conflict, hastened forwards to the relief of Maj. Grant, but soon found himself attacked and flanked on both sides. His men at length gave way and the route of the troops became general. Several of the men were driven into the river and drowned, and Major Lewis was taken prisoner.
Major Grant retreating to the baggage where Capt. Bullet was posted with his fifty Virginians, again endeavored to rally the flying soldiers. He entreated them in the most pathetic manner to stand by him, but in vain, as the enemy were close at their heels. As soon as the enemy came up, Capt. Bullet attacked them with great fury for a while, but not being supported and most of his men killed, he was obliged to give way. The resistance shown by this little company served to check the pur- suers and give an opportunity to many retreating to make their escape. Major Grant and Capt. Bullet, were the last to desert the field. They separated and Major Grant was taken prisoner.
In this conflict, which took place on the fourteenth of September, two hundred and seventy were killed, forty-two wounded and several taken prisoners. It was, says Washington in a letter to the Governor of Vir- ginia, " a very ill concerted, or a very ill executed plan, perhaps both ; but it seems to be generally acknowledged, that Maj. Grant exceeded his orders, and that no disposition was made for engaging."
Emboldened by the defeat of the detachment under Major Grant, the enemy resolved to attack Colonel Bouquet, in his camp at Loyalhanna, before the arrival of the forces from Bedford under General Forbes .- Accordingly a force estimated at twelve hundred French, and two hun- dred Indians, under the command of De Vetri, assailed him on the twelfth of October, with great spirit. After an action which lasted four hours, the French were compelled to withdraw with considerable loss. A. second attack was made during the night, but some shells thrown from the camp, compelled them to retreat. The loss of Colonel Bouquet in
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this engagement, amounted to sixty-seven, rank and file, killed and wounded. (1)
On the twenty-third or twenty-fourth of October, General Forbes and the rear division of the army, left Bedford and advanced towards Loyal- hanna. He arrived at the latter place about the first of November, when it was determined in a council of war, that it was impracticable to pursue the campaign any further, until the ensuing spring. The weather had be- come cold, and the summits of the mountains were white with snow .- Shortly after, three Frenchmen who had been sent out to watch the move- ments of the English army were taken prisoners, and their report of the weak state of the garrison at Fort Du Quesne, changed the determination of General Forbes, and it was resolved in another council to prosecute the enterprise as speedily as possible. (2)
It was learned that the Indians had now mostly deserted the French, and returned home. After the failure of the attack upon Col. Bouquet, at Loyalhanna, the greater portion left to prepare for their winter hunt.
Colonel Washington was now sent forward in advance of the main army, to take command of a division employed in opening the road. (3) On the twelfth of November, he fell in with a number of the enemy, about three miles from camp, and in the attack, killed one man, and took three prisoners. Among the latter was one Johnson, an Englishman, who had been captured by the Indians in Lancaster county, from whom was derived full and correct information of the state of things at Fort Du Quesne. (4) A most unfortunate occurrence happened to the provincial troops, on this occasion. The fire of Col. Washington's detachment being heard at the camp, Col. Mercer, with a number of Virginians, were sent to his assistance. The two parties approaching in the dusk
(1) Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, p. 367.
A letter from Loyalhanna, dated October 14, 1758, and published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, contains the following :
" We were attacked on Thursday the 12th, by 1200 French, and 200 Indians, beginning at II A. M., and continuing until 3 P. M., when I had the pleasure of seeing victory attend the British arms. The enemy attempted to attack us again at night, when in return for their melodious music, we gave them some shells from our mortars, which soon made them retreat.
The following is a list of the killed, wounded, and missing :
Highlanders, one killed; First Virginia Regiment, four killed, six wounded ; N. Carolina Companies, three missing; Maryland Companies, two killed, six wounded, eleven missing; First Pennsylvania Regiment, four killed, five wounded, twelve missing ; Second Pennsylvania Regiment, one killed, four wounded ; Lower Country Company, one missing. Total, twelve killed, sev- enteen wounded, thirty-one missing.
It will be seen that the number is less than reported by Gordon.
(2) Sparks' Washington, Vol. II. p. 316.
(3) Sparks' Washington, Vol. II. p. 315.
(4) This is inaccurately printed Quebec, in Gordon.
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of the evening, mistook each other for enemies. A number of shots were exchanged, by which a Lieutenant and thirteen or fourteen Vir- ginians were killed. (1)
On the thirteenth, a force of one thousand men under Col. Armstrong, pushed forward to assist Col. Washington in opening the road for the artillery and baggage. On the seventeenth, General Forbes followed with four thousand and three hundred effective men, leaving strong gar- risons at Bedford and Loyalhanna.
The army progressed slowly. 'The weather was damp and chilly, and the road, though cut as the army proceeded, was extremely bad from falling rain. A number of friendly Indians were constantly kept out as scouts, and every precaution was taken to guard against surprise.
When the army had arrived within twelve miles of the fort, they were met by some of the Indians who had been reconnoitering in advance, with a report that the French had set fire to the fort.(2) A dense cloud of smoke had been discovered ascending from the place and extending along the Allegheny bottom. Shortly afterwards, other scouts arrived, who had approached sufficiently near on the hills to see the place, with certain intelligence that the fort was burnt and abandoned.(3)
A company of cavalry was immediately sent forward, with instructions to extinguish the fires and save as much as practicable.(4) The whole army followed as speedily as possible, and arrived at the ruins on the twenty-fifth day of November, after a hurried march of five days from the fort on the Loyalhanna.
The abandoned fortress Du Quesne, and the cabins around it, were principally destroyed, while the blackened chimnies of more than thirty tenements stood in desolate relief from the smouldering ruins.
There were two fortifications, about two hundred yards distant from each other-one constructed with immense labor, and at great expense, -small but strong, and calculated to concentrate great powers of re- sistance within a small space, and standing on the point of land at the confluence of the two rivers. 'The other stood on the bank of the Alle- gheny, and was built in the form of a parallelogram, not so strong as the first, and its outworks having the appearance of being unfinished.
(1) Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, p. 367.
(2) Already on the 21st of November, when the English army was yet fifteen miles from the fort, the French uncovered their houses, and laid the roofs round the fort to set it on fire, and made ready to go off .- Appendix, p, 109.
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