USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 75
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It does not appear that there was at the time of Washington's visit to ) this place, a single white resident within the limits of the city. A Mr. Frazer, an Indian trader, resided at the time at the mouth of Turtle creek.
In the spring of 1754, the Virginia and Ohio Company made arrange- ments to take permanent possession of the country near the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. ' The seventeenth of February, Mr. Trent arrived at the forks of the Monongahela, from the mouth of Red-stone creek, where he had built a strong house, and met Mr. Gist and several others, expecting in a few days all the people down, and as soon as they arrived, they were to lay the foundation of the fort, ex- pecting for that purpose about seventy or eighty men.
"On the 17th April, 1754, before this redoubt was completed, Mon- sieur de Contrecœur, a French officer, with three hundred canoes, con- taining one thousand French and Indians, and eighteen pieces of canon, arrived here from Fort Venango and compelled Ensign Ward, who com- manded the party engaged in erecting the redoubt, to surrender. 'The capture of this small detachment of troops was the first open act of hos- tility committed by the French, and may be considered as the com- mencement of a war which continued for nine years, and which agitated the two continents, from the banks of the Ganges to the head of the Ohio."
The French then proceeded to erect a Fort called Du Quesne, after the French Governor of Canada.
The following letter of Capt. Robert Stobo, to Governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania, accompanied by a plan of the Fort, and M'Kinney's description, afford a pretty accurate idea of its extent. Captain Stobo had been sent here on the surrender of Fort Necessity, as a hostage :
FORT DU QUESNE, July 28, 1754.
SIR :- The Indians are greatly alarmed at a report said to be brought
* See Appendix, p. 37.
** Washington, in company with Dr. Craig, Captain Crawford and others, arrived, on their way down the Ohio, at Fort Pitt, October 17, 1770. " We lodged," he says in his journal. " in what is called the town, at one Mr. Sem- ple's, who keeps a very good house of public entertainment. The houses, which are built of logs, and ranged in streets, are on the Monongahela, and I suppose may be about twenty in number, and inhabited by Indian traders. The fort is built on the point between the rivers Allegheny and Monongahela, but not so near the pitch of it as fort Du Quesne stood. The garrison consists of two companies of Royal Irish, commanded by Captain Edmonson." [294]
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up by an Indian named Tuscarora John. He reports that the Half- King, Monecatootha, and a Shawanese King, &c., to the number of thirty-seven, were confined by the English and carried as prisoners, that John Meinors, alias Jacob Cork, of Montour's company, told him so soon as they got them to the inhabitants they would hang them all, and advised him to escape. This was industriously reported the day before the Shawanese counselled with the French, and their Indians. The French made them a very long and elegant speech, telling them they did not come to make war with any; but the English would not let them alone ; that they expected their children would not see their fathers abused in their own old age; but, that if they had a mind to join the English, they might; if not, and to live in peace with all. There were good for them. This was all I could pick up. The French gave two very large belts of wampum, and as many strings ; their Indians gave an equal number. The French gave them, likewise, a large present, viz : Sixteen very fine guns, two barrels of gun powder, and bullets in proportion ; sixteen fine suits of clothes, several of a meaner kind, blankets, strouds, &c. The Shawanese made no answer at that time, nor have I heard they have as yet. It is now reported for certain, that the Half-King, &c., are killed, and their wives and children given up to the barbarity of the Cherokees and Catawbas ; of whom they say there are three hundred at the new store ; true or false, it has greatly alarmed them. And had it not been for that report, I believe a great many In- dians of several nations could have been with you now ; if true, (which I cannot think,) there will be no further dependence on any Indians this way, and will make our return very hazardous ; but that is not to be considered.
The Shawanese, Picts and Delawares have had a grand council by themselves ; what they have determined I know not, but I am persuaded some of them will venture to see you, by assuring them they will be used in the best manner, and that there are large presents for the Indian nations at the new store. A present well-timed now will be of great service. If peace be made with their Indians, Catawbas and Chero- kees, I hope all will go well. I assure you there was not any of those In- dians we call ours, at the battle except six or seven, I believe, of the Min- go nation. They were two fellows not regarded by them, particularly one English John; he was a guest with those that were suspected as spies. I am informed he intends to see you with some of the rest ; take care of them.
I send this by Monecatootha's brother-in-law, a worthy fellow, and may be trusted. On the other side you have a draught of the Fort, such as time and opportunity would admit of at this time. Its garrison consists of two hundred workmen, and all the best went in several de- tachments to the number of one thousand, two days hence. Mencin (a fine soldier) goes, so that Contrecœur, with a few young officers and cadets, remain here. A Lieutenant went off some days ago with two hundred men for provisions. He is daily expected. When he arrives the garrison will then be four hundred.
La Force is greatly wanted here; no scouting now ; he certainly must have been an extraordinary man amongst them! He is so much regret-
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APPENDIX-NO. XXX.
ted and wished for. When we engaged to serve the country, it was expected we were to do it with our lives-let them not be disappointed ; consider the good of the expedition, without the least regard to us. For my part, I would die ten thousand deaths to have the pleasure of posses- sing this Fort but one day. They are vain of their success at the Mea- dows-'tis worse than death to hear them. Strike this fall; as soon as possible make the Indian ours ; prevent intelligence ; get the best, and tis done. One hundred trusty Indians might surprise this Fort ; they have access all day and night; lodge themselves so that they might secure the guard with their tomahawks-shut the sally-gate, and the Fort is ours. None but the guard and Contrecœur stay in the Fort .-- For God's sake communicate this but to few, and those you can trust. Intelligence comes here unaccountably. If they should know I wrote, I should at least lose the little liberty I have. I should be glad to hear from you. But take no notice of this in yours. Excuse errors, bad diction, &c., and believe me to be, Your's, ROBERT STOBO.
Pray be kind to this Indian. Shingas and Delaware George have been here."
The following is inserted as a further description of Fort Du Quesne:
Description of Fort Duquesne in 1756, taken from the mouth of John Mckinney, who had been taken prisoner in February, 1756, and carried to Fort Du Quesne, thence to Canada, from whence he made his escape to Connecticut.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 17. 1756.
Fort Du Quesne is situated on the right side of the Monongahela, in the fork between that and Ohio. It is four square, has bastions at each corner ; it is about fifty yards long and about forty yards wide : has a well in the middle of the fort, but the water bad : about half the fort is made of square logs, and the other half next the water of stockades. There are entrenchments cast up all around the fort seven feet high, which consists of stockades drove into the ground near to each other, and wattled with poles like basket work, against which is earth thrown up, in a gradual ascent; the steep part is next the fort, and has three steps all along the entrenchment for the men to go up and down, to fire at an enemy. These entrenchments are about four rods from the fort and go all around, as well on the side next the water as the land. The outside of the entrenchment next the water, joins to the water. The fort has two gates, one of which opens to the land side, and the other to the water side, where the magazine is built ; that to the land side, is in fact a drawbride, which in daytime serves as a bridge for the people, and in the night is drawn up by iron chains and levers.
Under the drawbridge is a pit or well the width of the gate, dug down deep to water. The pit is about eight or ten feet broad, the gate is made of square logs ; the back gate is made of logs also, and goes upon hin- ges, and has a wicket in it for the people to pass through in common. There is no ditch or pit at this gate. It is through this gate they go to the magazine and bake house, which are built a little below the gate, within the entrenchments. 'The magazine is made almost under ground, [296]
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APPENDIX-NO. XXX.
ted and wished for. When we engaged to serve the country, it was expected we were to do it with our lives-let them not be disappointed ; consider the good of the expedition, without the least regard to us. For my part, I would die ten thousand deaths to have the pleasure of posses- sing this Fort but one day. They are vain of their success at the Mea- dows-'tis worse than death to hear them. Strike this fall; as soon as possible make the Indian ours ; prevent intelligence ; get the best, and 'tis done. One hundred trusty Indians might surprise this Fort ; they have access all day and night; lodge themselves so that they might secure the guard with their tomahawks-shut the sally-gate, and the Fort is ours. None but the guard and Contrecœur stay in the Fort .-- For God's sake communicate this but to few, and those you can trust. Intelligence comes here unaccountably. If they should know I wrote, I should at least lose the little liberty I have. I should be glad to hear from you. But take no notice of this in yours. Excuse errors, bad diction, &c., and believe me to be, Your's,
ROBERT STOBO.
Pray be kind to this Indian. Shingas and Delaware George have been here."
The following is inserted as a further description of Fort Du Quesne:
Description of Fort Duquesne in 1756, taken from the mouth of John Mckinney, who had been taken prisoner in February, 1756, and carried to Fort Du Quesne, thence to Canada, from whence he made his escape to Connecticut.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 17. 1756.
Fort Du Quesne is situated on the right side of the Monongahela, in the fork between that and Ohio. It is four square, has bastions at each corner ; it is about fifty yards long and about forty yards wide : has a well in the middle of the fort, but the water bad : about half the fort is made of square logs, and the other half next the water of stockades. There are entrenchments cast up all around the fort seven feet high, which consists of stockades drove into the ground near to each other, and wattled with poles like basket work, against which is earth thrown up, in a gradual ascent; the steep part is next the fort, and has three steps all along the entrenchment for the men to go up and down, to fire at an enemy. These entrenchments are about four rods from the fort and go all around, as well on the side next the water as the land. The outside of the entrenchment next the water, joins to the water. The fort has two gates, one of which opens to the land side, and the other to the water side, where the magazine is built ; that to the land side, is in fact a drawbride, which in daytime serves as a bridge for the people, and in the night is drawn up by iron chains and levers.
Under the drawbridge is a pit or well the width of the gate, dug down deep to water. The pit is about eight or ten feet broad, the gate is made of square logs ; the back gate is made of logs also, and goes upon hin- ges, and has a wicket in it for the people to pass through in common. There is no ditch or pit at this gate. It is through this gate they go to the magazine and bake house, which are built a little below the gate, within the entrenchments. 'The magazine is made almost under ground,
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and of long logs, and covered four feet thick with clay over it. It is about ten feet wide, and about thirty feet long. The bake house is op- posite the magazine. The waters at some times rise so high as that the whole fort is surrounded with it, so that canoes may go around it. He imagines he saw it rise at one time near thirty feet.
The stockades are round logs better than a foot over, and about eleven or twelve feet high, the joints are secured by split logs. In the stock- ades are loop holes made so as to fire slanting towards the ground. The bastions are filled with earth solid about eight feet high. Each bastion has four carriage guns about four pound ; no swivels, nor any mortars that he knows of. They have no cannon but at the bastions. The back of the barracks and buildings in the front are of logs, placed about three feet distance from the logs of the fort. Between the buildings and the logs of the fort, it is filled with earth about eight feet high, and the logs of the fort extend about four feet higher, so that the whole height of the fort is about twelve feet. There are no pickets nor pallisados on the top of the logs or wall of the fort. The houses are all covered with boards, as well the roof as the sides that look inside the fort, which they saw there by hand. There are no bogs nor morasses near the fort, but good dry ground, which is cleared for some distance from the fort, and the stumps cut close to the ground. A little within musket shot of the fort in the fork, is a thick wood of some bigness, full of large timber.
About thirty yards from the fort without the entrenchments and pick- eting, is a house which contains a great quantity of tools, such as broad and narrow axes, planes, chisels, hoes, mattocks, pick-axes, spades, shovels, &c., &c., and a great quantity of wagon wheels and tire. Oppo- site the fort, on the west side of the Monongahela, is a long and high mountain, about a quarter of a mile from the fort, from which the fort might very easily be bombarded, and the bombarders be quite safe - From them the distance would not exceed a quarter of a mile. The mountain is said to extend six miles up the Monongahela from the fort. Monongahela opposite the fort is not quite musket shot wide. Neither the Ohio nor the Monongahela can be forded opposite the fort. The fort has no defence against bombs. There were about 250 Frenchmen in this fort, besides Indians, which at one time amounted to 500, but the Indians were very uncertain, sometimes hardly any there-that there were about 20 or 30 ordinary Indian cabins about the fort.
While he was at Fort Du Duesne, there came up the Ohio from the Mississippi about 20 batteaux, and about 150 men, laden with pork, flour, brandy, tobacco, peas and Indian corn. They were three months com- ing to Fort Du Quesne, and came all the way up the falls without un- loading. (1)
From the 17th April, 1754, to the 24th November, 1758, the French retained possession of this place ; and this position gave them an influ- ence over the neighboring tribes of Indians, which was so used as to inflict upon the frontier settlers much distress and bloodshed. The im- portance of this position in a military point of view, was duly appreciated, and early and energetic measures were adopted to expel the French .-
(1) Haz. Reg. VIII, 318-19.
[297]
APPENDIX-NO. XXX.
The expedition and defeat of General Braddock, on the 9th July, 1755, are notorious events, the account of which is not necessary to repeat in this sketch. In 1758, a formidable army was assembled at Carlisle, under the command of Gen. Forbes. On the 14th September, 1758, Major Grant, who had been detached in advance from Loyalhanna, with eight hundred men, was surrounded by the enemy, on the hill which has since borne his name, and lost above three hundred men, killed or taken prisoners, and himself shared the latter fate. General Forbes, however, undismayed by this disaster, pressed forward, and having on the 24th November, 1758, arrived within one day's march of Fort Du Quesne, the French having set fire to the fort, abandoned it, and de- scended to their posts on the Mississippi. On the next day General Forbes took possession of the abandoned post. The next, and the day following, several letters were written here : one addressed to William Allen, Esq., Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and the other to Governor Denny, which are replete with interest, and are here introduced, with several others of the same date.
FORT DU QUESNE, 25th Nov., 1758.
DEAR SIR :- I take, with great pleasure, this first opportunity of in- forming you of the reduction of this important place, persuaded that the success of his Majesty's arms on this side, will give you a great satis- faction, and reward you for all the pains you have taken for the difficult supply of this arıny.
We marched from Loyalhanna with 2,500 picked men, without tents or baggage, and a light train of artillery, in the expectation of meeting the enemies, and determining by a battle who should possess this coun- try. The distance is about 50 miles, which we marched in five days, a great diligence, considering the season -- the uncertainty of the roads, entirely unknown, and the difficulty of making them practicable for the artillery. 'The 23d we took post at 12 miles from hence, and halted the 24th for intelligence. In the evening our Indians reported that they had discovered a very thick smoke from the fort, extending in the bottom along the Ohio. A few hours after they sent word that the enemies had abandoned their fort, after having burnt every thing.
We marched this morning and found the report true. They have blown up and destroyed all their fortifications, houses, ovens and maga- zines -- all their Indians' goods burnt in the stores, which seem to have been very considerable.
'They seem to have been about 400 men ; part is gone down the Ohio, 100 by land, supposed to Presque Isle, and 200 with the Governor, M. de Ligney, to Venango, where he told the Indians he intended to stay this winter, with an intention to dislodge us in the spring. We would soon make him shift his quarters, had we only provisions, but we are scarcely able to maintain ourselves a few days here to treat with the neighboring Indians, who are summoned to meet us. The destruction of the fort, the want of victuals and the impossibility of being supplied in time at this distance and season of the year, obliges us to go back and leave a small detachment of 200 men only, by way of keeping pos- session of the ground.
This successful expedition can be of great service to the provinces, [298]
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provided they will improve and support it. It is now the time to take vigorous measures to secure this conquest, and unless Virginia and Penn- sylvania can agree upon an immediate assistance, all our pains and ad- vantage will be lost.
An immediate supply of provisions, clothing and necessaries, should at any rate be sent up for the support of the troops, and measures taken for the formation of magazines on the frontiers, (Raystown and Cumberland) for the supply of an army to act early in the spring.
The succors and directions from England would be too late, and if the colonies do not exert themselves to the utmost of their power, I am afraid they will have occasion to repent it.
Indian goods ought to be provided without delay, with a commissary, or proper person to dispose of them, either for trade or presents, as our new friends cannot remain long unprovided, and would soon return to the French were we to leave them in want. Some artificers are also greatly wanted, such as carpenters, smiths, masons, gun-smiths, and chiefly ship builders.
A number of cows and bulls, mares and stallions, garden seeds, corn, &c. Every moment is precious, and the land so rich and the pasture so abundant, that every thing would thrive, and the garrison would soon be able to support itself.
Fish nets and hooks would likewise be of great use for people re- duced to salt meat, and some rice, barley, &c., to prevent scurvy among the men.
I enter into all those details with you, because I think the safety of the post depends upon it; and in the plenty you are used to live, they would not so readily occur to you as to us, who are deficient of every necessary of life. Could you diffuse into the Assembly the public spirit that directs all your actions, I would be very easy about the con- sequences. But I know the disposition of the people in general- always indolent, and ready to fall asleep on the smallest gleam of ease and quiet. You must rouse them, and make them sensible that this business is but half done. We have acted our parts, let you do yours. It is now in your power to enjoy in peace and quietness your lands and possessions, if you will only lay out some money,-which may save you ten times more, and the lives of thousands of your poor in- habitants.
After God, the success of this expedition is entirely due to the Gene- ral, who, by bringing about the treaty with the Indians at Easton, has struck the blow which has knocked the French on the head, in tempo- rizing wisely to expect the effects of that treaty, in securing all his posts, and giving nothing to chance, and not yielding to the urging instances for taking Braddock's road, which would have been our destruction. In all these measures I say he has shown the greatest prudence, firmness, and ability. Nobody is better informed of the numberless difficulties he had to surmount than I am, who had an opportunity to see every step that was taken from the beginning, and every obstruction that was thrown in the way. I wish the nation may be as sensible of his service as he really deserves, and give him the reward that can flatter him the pleasure of seeing them pleased and satisfied.
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APPENDIX-NO. XXX.
I expect the satisfaction to see you this winter and to talk more at large upon this subject. I beg you will present my compliments to Mrs. Allen, and believe me, with true respect, dear sir,
HENRY BOQUET. FORT DU QUESNE, 26th Nov., 1758.
SIR :- I have the pleasure and honor of acquainting you with the sig- nal success of his Majesty's troops over all his enemies on the Ohio, by having obliged them to burn and abandon their Fort Du Quesne, which they effected upon the 24th inst., and of which I took possession with my little army, the next day : the enemy having made their escape down the river, part in boats and part by land, to their forts and settle- ments on the Mississippi,-being abandoned, or at least not seconded by their friends, the Indians, whom we had previously engaged to act a neutral part, and who now seem all willing and ready to embrace his Majesty's most gracious protection. So give me leave to congratulate you upon this public event of having totally expelled the French from this fort and this prodigious tract of country, and of having in a manner reconciled the various tribes of Indians inhabiting it to his Majesty's government.
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