USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 47
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PHILADELPHIA, June 3d, 1755.
SIR-Mr. Peters brought me your proposals* for a contract for three months provision for the army under your command, upon which we immediately consulted some men best acquainted with the trade and cir- cumstances of this country, and I am well assured the quantity of pro- visions may be furnished in time to answer your demand.
Mr. Turner, a gentleman of note in this province, has undertaken to purchase the provisions necessary upon this occasion, and has already, at my request, bought one hundred head of cattle, and twelve barrels of pork, twenty barrels of rice, and two hundred bushels of peas; and he is endeavoring to get two hundred and forty barrels of pork more; the rest of the meat will be supplied in beeves, which may be had very good in this and the neighboring province of New Jersey. All the pork men- tioned above is of the very best kind, well cured and packed, and may be depended on for keeping.
I send a man into the counties of York, Lancaster, and Cumberland, to purchase up twelve hundred barrels of flour, and to hire or build proper storehouses at Shippensburg, or M'Dowell's Mills, for the re- ception of that and other species of provisions that will be sent from hence, who is to remain at the place and take a particular account of all the provision he receives and sends away-and he is to provide good pasture for three hundred head of cattle, so that what are sent up and remain in his care may be kept fat and fit for use, and you may have them drove to the army from time to time in such numbers as you shall judge best.
Mr. Peters, who, in his way from the camp through Cumberland county, judges that a place called M'Dowell's Mill, situated upon the new road about twenty miles westward of Shippensburg, is much more convenient for the magazine than Shippensburg, which, if you approve of, you will let your Secretary notify your approbation by the return of
Proposals for a contract or contracts for supplying the forces under General Braddock's command.
That Gov. Morris, in conjunction with Mr. Peters, do find out some proper persons who may make one or more contracts for furnishing bread, and flour, and beeves, or in want of them, salt beef, pork, or fish, sufficient to subsist three thousand men for three months, to be laid in at Shippensburg until any other more convenient place can be prepared by letters and agreed to by me, which will be necessary in order to avoid the disappointments aad ill conse- quences that must happen through mistakes. These provisions to be in store and ready to be fetch'd or sent to the forces early in July.
In case it should be found impracticable to make such contracts, the most early accounts must at all events be sent to prevent my depending upon them. And I do hereby promise to fulfill and perform my part of the contracts so made in my behalf by Gov. Morris and Mr. Peters for the purpose aforesaid, NEGOand to be accountable for the expense and charge attending them.
E. BRADDOCK.
CAMP AT FORT CUMBERLAND, May 21, 1755.
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APPENDIX-NO. IX.
this express, to Charles Swaine at Shippensburg, who, by my instruc- tions, is to wait that approbation before he begins to build or hire store- houses ; and in the meantime he is to employ himself in procuring pas- tures and purchasing the flour.
I observe that in your proposals you mention bread, and if you have conveniences for baking in the camp, it may answer the purpose as well; but if not, and bread is absolutely necessary, I will order the whole or any part of the flour to be baked at the magazine, and will send bakers up for that purpose, but that will be attended with additional expense.
'The hay and corn, (wheat and rye,) harvest in this country begins in this month, which will render it very difficult to have the whole quanti- ty of provisions laid in by the beginning of July; but notwithstanding that, I can venture to promise that a great part, at least one-third, shall be ready by the first week in July, and the remainder by the first week in August. This you may depend on and govern yourself ac- cordingly.
The expense of this supply cannot be reduced to any exact certainty, till the several things are bought and delivered at the magazine; but enclosed I send you an estimate of the expense, which you see amounts to between six and seven thousand pounds, or about £4,000 sterling, which, you must be sensible, is more than a plantation Governor, lately returned from Europe and upon bad terms with his Assembly, can easily furnish. I must, therefore, desire you will send me bills for that sum, and every thing shall be managed to the best advantage, and the public served at as cheap a rate as any private merchant in this town.
I send you enclosed a copy of instructions I have given to Charles Swaine, for the government of himself in the management of the affair I have intrusted him with, to which I shall add such others as may be from time to time necessary.
I am told that a great part of the flour, sent by the committee of the Assembly to the mouth of Conegochege, is put into casks made of green timber, which will inevitably turn it sour. I mention this to you that you may have it surveyed as it arrives at the camp; and if not quite spoiled, it may be saved by putting it into bags, or other casks.
I am, Sir, &c ..
ROBT. H. MORRIS.
FORT CUMBERLAND, June 9th, 1755.
SIR :- I have, this morning, received a letter from Governor Glen, inclosing bills upon England, payable to myself, for £4,000 sterling. As you have been so good as to advance money for purchasing forage, and have undertaken to make contracts for provisions, for the supply of the forces, I send the bills to you, to be sold at the best price you can get for them, that you may reimburse yourself what you are in advance, and may leave a fund in your hands for further contracts. When I have the pleasure of seeing you, I shall call upon you, to settle accounts with me and others.
Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
E. BRADDOCK.
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BRADDOCK'S AND MORRIS' LETTERS, 1755.
P. S. If you should have it in your power to employ some of the money in raising recruits for me, I should be obliged to you ; and de- sire you would send them after me, as soon as the road from your pro- vince is opened. I want them to complete the English regiment. You may allow them &3 sterling per man. Arms and clothes will be ready for them ; and if you have any body you can confide in to bring them up, he shall be well rewarded for his service,
I beg you would send me advice by the return of the express, of your receipt of the bills.
E. B.
CAMP, FIVE MILES FROM FORT CUMBERLAND, ? June 11th, 1755. Š
SIR :- I received your two letters, by express, last night, and am greatly obliged to you and Mr. Peters, for the steps you have taken towards laying in a magazine of provision for me; as also, for the sup- ply you are collecting of forage.
I shall signify to Mr. Swain, by the return of your messenger, my approbation of the deposites being made at M'Dowell's mill, instead of Shippensburg. . I dispatched an express to you yesterday, with bills upon England, £4,000 sterling, sent me by Governor Glen; and upon notice from you, I will send the draughts, from the deputy paymaster, upon Mr. Franklin, for such further sums as you may have occasion for.
I have ordered a party of an hundred men, as a guard, to the people working upon the new road, which will set out this day.
I am much obliged to yourself and your little government, for the present of oxen they have made me, and am,
Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,
E. BRADDOCK.
PHILADELPHIA, June 12th, 1755.
. SIR :- Governor Delancey, by express, sent me the letter that ac- companies this ; and also a letter from Capt. Bradstreet, giving an ac- count of the passing of some French troops to Oswego, with some cannon. I send you a copy of this letter under this cover, as it is un- certain whether the express which he mentions to have sent through the woods, will get safe to you in time. From this, and other pieces of intelligence sent you, the French seem to be mustering to oppose you ; but whether they will exert their strength on the Ohio or Niagara, I can't take upon me to say, but am rather inclined to think they will choose the latter, as they can, with more ease, draw their forces together and supply them there, than at Fort Du Quesne, and your march through an uninhabited country, will be much longer than to the other, and con- sequently, more liable to be interrupted and harrassed by the Indians and wood-fighters, and your communication with the country behind you, rendered more difficult.
Upon this intelligence, I shall press my Assembly to enable me to escort provisions and other necessaries to you, from time to time, that you may not be under a necessity of dividing or lessening your force ; but I have little reason to expect any thing from them.
On the 13th inst. my Assembly met, agreeable to my summons, and
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APPENDIX-NO. IX.
I sent them a message, strongly recommending it to them, to enable me to supply the cannon and stores you had demanded, and to regulate the hire of wagons, horses and men, and the price of provisions, that private men might not be at liberty to distress public measures, as you will see by a copy of the message under this cover, but I have no hopes of their doing any thing to the purpose. I am, sir, &c.,
ROBT. H. MORRIS.
PHILADELPHIA, June 16, 1755.
SIR :- Your express just brought me your favor of the 9th inst., with Carolina bills of exchange to the amount of £4000 sterling, which are drawn in such large sums that they will not readily sell, wherefore, I have directed the merchant I employ to send them immediately to Eng- land, and draw his own bills to the amount in such sums as may suit the traders here, which he will do at the highest exchange ; but bills are so plenty here and at New York, by means of Shirley's and Pepperell's regiments, the Northern expedition and Col. Hunter's draughts, that I am fearful exchange will soon fall. Before you receive this, you will be informed of what I have done with regard to the forage and provis- ions, which I flatter myself will meet with your approbation. I have done my utmost, and make no doubt I shall have every thing you want in great readiness before you will have occasion for it; my only doubt is about escorts, but I shall try to work upon my Assembly to keep some man in pay for that purpose, for the reasons I have mentioned to you in another letter of this day. As soon as the Assembly is adjourned, and a London ship just going is departed, I shall go into the back coun- ties to settle all matters about the magazine ; and you may rest assured, that every thing that is possible shall be done in the best and cheapest manner.
My intelligence from the roads is, that they have got as far as Rays . town, and I hope they will soon join you. If some log store houses were built nigh the falls of Ohiogany, or at some other more convenient place upon that new road, flour and other provisions might be sent thither from the magazine near Shippensburg ; and you might with greater ease be supplied when you get to the Ohio; but of that you are the best judge.
The getting recruits here is become somewhat difficult, and Shirley's and Pepperell's officers have taken great numbers from here. How- ever, I will try what can be done, and if I had some arms, the recruits might serve as escorts from time to time.
The women you have discharged shall be taken care of as soon as they arrive, if I can prevail on my Assembly to contribute any thing to it.
I am, sir, &c. ROBT. H. MORRIS.
Prov. Rec. N. p. 63.
BEAR CAMP, June 21, 1755.
SIR :- I have this day received your two letters of June 12 and 16, and am much obliged to you for the trouble you have had, as well with regard to the magazine of provisions, as the forage you have procured for [72]
BRADDOCK'S AND MORRIS' LETTERS, 1755.
me. I have a firm dependance upon your care and regard for the ser- vice you have undertaken that: shall meet with no disappointments, and that every thing will be conducted in the best manner.
I shall order the Deputy Paly Master to send Mr. Franklin a draught by this opportunity upon Col .; Hunter, for £1000 sterling, on account of the purchase of forage. Youi will please to let me know what further demands there may be on that account. When I am further advanced, I shall be able to judge bette'r of the expediency of forming a second magazine upon the new road.
The party I have sent for the' protection of your people working upon that road, will, I hope, be a sufficient security for them against all panics.
I am obliged to you for the inclosed from Captain Bradstreet. Here- with I send you some letters which are to go to the northward ; and you will be so good as to forward them in the best manner.
I am, sir, &c.
E. BRADDOCK.
P. S .- As it is perfectly unders tood here in what part the road making in your province is to communicate with, through which I am now proceeding to Fort Duquesne ; I must beg that you and Mr. Peters, would immediately settle it, and send an express on purpose after me with the most exact description of it, that there may be no mistake in a matter of so much importance.
FROM THE CAMP AT THE LAST CROSSING OF THE YOUGHIOGHENY, June, 30, 1755. S
SIR :- I shall be very soon in want of supplies from your province, I must beg you would order all possible dispatch to be made use of in finishing the new road as far as Crow Foot of the Youghiogheny, and immediately afterwards send forward to me such articles of provision as shall be in your power. Some of the inhabitants near Fort Cumberland having been killed, and taken prisoners by straggling parties of Indians, the people in these parts have been deterred from coming in the camp. My chief dependence must therefore be upon your province, when the road will be secure from insults or attacks of that kind ; and lest it should not be in my power to send a sufficient number of wagons or horses, to bring up from the magazine at McDowell's mill* the provisions I may have occasion for, I must desire you to direct Mr. Swaine, or some pro- per person, to have in view such a number of them as may answer that purpose, which shall be conducted to the camp under a proper escort : but I would not have any contract or positive engagement made till further orders, as I am in hopes this measure may not be necessary, and expense consequently avoided.
I hope soon to have an express from you, with an exact account of the place fixed upon for the communication between the two roads,
And am sir, your most humble and most ob't serv't,
E. BRADDOCK.
PHILADELPHIA, July 6, 1755.
SIR :- The packet I have the honor to transmit to you, by this con- veyance, will inform you of the success of our part of his Majesty's
* Franklin county, a few miles from Loudon, Pa .- I. D. R.
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APPENDIX-NO). IX.
forces under your command, and of the tre atment that part of their fleet have received from Admiral Boscawen, Who, with Admiral Moslyn, commanded thirteen sail of the line, now cruising between St. Law- rence Bay and Cape Table. It is said that the French fleet consists of twenty-four ships, and the English of thirty, but I cannot think these accounts are to be depended on ; but as our fleet has fallen in with theirs, I am in hopes we shall have as good an account of the whole as we have of the two that are mentioned in the letters herewith.
I make no doubt Colonel Innis has informed you that some Indians have been murdering some of the inhabitants near Fort Cumberland, and given you the particulars, which I have not yet received. This has struck a panic into the people of the back parts of our country, and I expect it will be difficult to prevail with them to go with provisions to the road cutters without an escort, which I have it not in my power to furnish, not being enabled by my Assembly.
Mr. Franklin tells me that the £1,0,00 you have sent him, will be suf- ficient to pay the forage bought to my order in this town, and for trans- porting it to the camp. He thinks, too, that it will be sufficient to pay for a thousand bushels of wheat, that you have ordered him to buy, of all which, he tells me, he will give me an account. That there will be wanting about £500 sterling more to pay for the forage that was bought and sent from the back counties. I have 330 bushels of Indian corn remaining in this town, which I can sell again for what it cost : but do not intend to do it till I hear from you, which I shall expect to do by the return of the express, when I shall be at Shippensburg ; and beg you would direct me whether any, and what forage must be laid in at Shippensburg, that I may give the necessary orders, when I am in that county.
The panic that has taken possession of the people near the moun- tains, since the Indians have begun to scalp, will make it next to impos- sible to carry the magazine farther back than Shippensburg. However, I shall judg /better of that when I am upon the spot, and fix it either at McDowell's mill, at Shippensburg, or at some place between them, as I shall think will best answer the public purpose.
This express will bring you letters from Colonel Johnson, that will let you into the progress he is making among the Indians, and in which I suppose he mentions the state of things in that quarter, of which I had no account for some time, further than all our troops are in motion. The cutting off this re-inforcement of six batallions, will put it out of the power of the French to hinder the execution of any part of your plan ; and if a war should be the consequence of our success in Amer- ica, and the colonies can be prevailed upon to keep up the troops, they have at present, Canada itself may find you employment for next summer. I am, sir, &c.,
ROBERT H. MORRIS.
CARLISLE, July 14, 1755.
SIR :- I have this minute the favor of yours of the 30th of last month, from the last crossing of the Yohiogany, upon which I congratulate you, and I hope this will find you in possession of Fort Duquesne .- [ 74]
POST'S JOURNAL, 1758.
The opening of the road has been somewhat interrupted by some Indi- ans, who have killed some of the wagoners, and people employed in carrying them provisions, which has generally alarmed this part of the province. And Mr. Burd writes me from Allegheny mountain, that thirty of his men had left him for want of arms. As soon as possible after the people that escaped the Indians returned, a number of cattle were procured, and with a proper quantity of flour, were sent under the protection of sixty-four volunteers, who, I imagine, will meet the thirty now in their way home, and carry them back to their work. As soon as I am informed that the new road is nigh joining your route, which, as I have written, I imagine will be about the Great Crossing, I shall send forward a parcel of oxen, some pork, and some flour; as much of the two last articles as I can procure wagons to carry ; and propose staying in this part of the province (where I came to forward and se- cure the magazine) till that be done. The letter herewith I wrote at Philadelphia, but the bearer has been detained a long time on the road, on account of the murders committed by the Indians, and his hopes of an escort from me'; but for want of militia, it is not in my power ; so he goes round by Winchester, and may be some time before he reaches you with the good news he is charged with.
I am your Excellency's most ob't and most humble serv't,
ROBERT H. MORRIS.
POST'S JOURNAL, 1758. [ No. X. ]
The first Journal of Christian Frederick Post,* from Philadelphia to the Ohio, on a message from the Government of Pennsylvania to the Delaware, Shawanese, and Mingo Indians, settled there, and formerly in alliance with the English ; in order to prevail on them to withdraw from the French interest ; in the year 1758.
THE JOURNAL, &c.
July the 15th, 1758-This day I received orders from his honor, the Governor, to set out on my intended journey, and proceeded as far as Germantown, where I found all the Indians drunk. WILLIAMEGICKEN returned to Philadelphia, for a horse, that was promised him.
16th-This day I waited for the said Williamegicken till near noon, and when he came, being very drunk, he could proceed no further, so that I left him, and went to Bethlehem.
* CHRISTIAN FREDERICK POST was an unassuming, honest German, a Mo- ravian. He came from Germany to Pennsylvania, in 1742. In 1743 he ac- companied the missionaries Pyrlaeus and Senseman to Shekomeko, an Indian village bordering on Connecticut, where he married a baptized Indian woman. (He married twice.) Having preached the gospel among the Indians for sev - ral years ; and after much persecution and personal abuse-having been ar- rested at Albany and imprisoned in New York ; and on his enlargement preached the gospel to the Indians at Pachgatgoch or Skattock, in Connecti- cut, and at the same time working at his trade as a joiner, returned to Eu- rope about the year 1749. He again re-visited this country ; and while at
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APPENDIX-NO. X.
17th-I arrived at Bethlehem, and prepared for my journey.
18th-I read over both the last treaties, that at Easton, and that at Philadelphia, and made myself acquainted with the particulars of each.
19th-With much difficulty I persuaded the Indians to leave Beth- lehem, and travelled this day no further than Hayes's, having a hard shower of rain.
20th-Arrived at Fort Allen.
21st-I called my company together, to know if we should proceed. They complained they were sick, and must rest that day. This day, I think, Teedyuscung laid many obstacles in my way, and was very much against my proceeding : he said, he was afraid I should never re- turn; and that the Indians would kill me. About dinner time two In- dians arrived from Wyoming, with an account that Teedyuscung's son, Hans Jacob, was returned, and brought news from the French and Alle- gheny Indians. Teedyuscung then called a Council, and proposed that I should only go to Wyoming, and return, with the message his son had brought from Philadelphia. I made answer, that it was too late, that he should have proposed that in Philadelphia ; for that the writings containing my orders were so drawn, as obliged me to go, though I should lose my life.
22d-I desired my companions to prepare to set out, upon which Teedyuscung called them all together in the fort, and protested against my going. His reasons were, that he was afraid the Indians would kill me, or the French get me; and if that should be the case he should be very sorry, and did not know what he should do. I gave for answer, "that I did not know what to think of their conduct. It is plain, said I, that the French have a public road to your towns, yet you will not let your own flesh and blood the English, come near them ; which is very hard : and if that be the case, the French must be your masters." I added, that, if I died in the undertaking, it would be as much for the Indians as the English, and that I hoped my journey would be of this advantage, that it would be the means of saving the lives of many hun- dreds of the Indians : therefore, I was resolved to go forward, taking my life in my hand, as one ready to part with it for their good. Imme- diately after I had spoken thus, three rose up and offered to go with me the nearest way ; and we concluded to go through the inhabitants, un- der the Blue mountains to fort Augusta, on Susquehanna ; where we ar- rived on the 25th.
It gave me great pain to observe many plantations deserted and laid waste ; and I could not but reflect on the distress the poor owners must be drove to, who once lived in plenty ; and I prayed the Lord to restore peace and prosperity to the distressed.
Bethlehem, he was prevailed on to carry a message to the western Indians .- Having discharged the duties of a messenger faithfully on both occasions, be again, attempted to convert the Indians west of the Ohio. He chose to take up his abode about the year 1762, a hundred miles west of Fort Pitt, in Tus- carora Town ; he however failed in establishing a mission at that place. He abandoned the project, and left this country for the bay of Honduras, to preach the gospel to the Musquito Indians, who, it is said, were more tracta- ble .- I. D. R.
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POST'S JOURNAL, 1758.
At fort Augusta we were entertained very kindly, had our horses shod, and one being lame, we exchanged for another. Here we received, by Indians from Diabago, the disagreeable news that our army was, as they said, entirely cut off at Ticonderoga, which discouraged one of my com- panions, Lappopetung's son, so much, that he would proceed no further. Shamokin Daniel here asked me, if I thought he should be satisfied for his trouble in going with me. I told him every body, that did any ser- vice for the province, I thought, would be paid.
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