USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. I > Part 24
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I am with respects
Thy assured Friend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
the Lords of the Regency now in the Kings ab-
1 Tournay, invested by Marshal Saxe.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
sence are the Arch Bishop of Cantebury Ld Chancelor and 18 more of the Privy Council
WILLIAM GREEN Esq! Governour of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations New England.
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO GOVERNOR WANTON.1
BOSTON May 18. 1745
Sir,
I am oblig'd once more to make Application to you for the Assistance of your Governm' in the im- mediate raising of some Troops for supporting the Expedition against Cape Breton ; which the General of our Land Forces, and the Commodore of the Fleet have represented to me very necessary for the Reduc- tion of the Place : How far Providence has hitherto favour'd us in this Attempt, and what Encouragemt we have to proceed in it you will find by the inclos'd Copy of a Letter I have just now received from the General of our Forces :2 And as I am inform'd it is pretended, to colour the Backwardness in some of the Colonies and Provinces to join with us in this Enterprize, That the Undertaking of it without his Majesty's express Order would be so far from recom- mending us to his favour that it would rather incur his displeasure, I am now able to remove that Objec- tion and to acquaint your Honour, That upon my
1 Printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 134.
2 See the following document.
--- -----
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Letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle inform- ing him of our Resolution to undertake this Affair, and how far we had proceeded therein (which Let- ters were laid before his Majesty) his Majesty and his Ministers were pleased so far to manifest their Approbation of our Undertaking that without the least Loss of time two Ships of War were ordered to proceed directly to Louisbourg to support us herein ; as they had before upon my more general Inti- mation of a Design of this Nature, ordered Com- modore Warren to come from the West Indies and attend this Service ; who is now before Louisbourg with five of his Majesty's Ships of War,1 and will in a few days be joined with two other of his Majesty's Ships one of sixty and the other of forty Guns which are already saild from hence upon that Service: And I am fully assured that his Majesty has the Success of this Expedition much at heart. And now, Sir, as this Province has, (in Conjunction with the Province of New Hampshire and the Colony of Connecticut) at an immense Charge undertaken this important Expedition, and so far proceeded therein under the favourable Aspects of divine Providence, and the gracious Approbation and Assistance of his Majesty I must desire that your Governmt would maturely consider how great a Benefit the Requisition of this Place will be to the future Safety and Tranquility of all these Northern Colonies; And how justly his Majesty may resent a Refusal of any of 'em to join in the common Cause, and how much such Gov-
1 Warren sailed from the West Indies with three ships, the Superbe, Mermaid, and Launceston, and reached Louisbourg late in April.
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ernmt may hereafter regret their unseasonable Fru- gality, if by denying at this Crisis to contribute their just Quota for the carrying on and Support of this Expedition, which is now brought so near to an happy Event, they should prove the Means of its fatal Miscarriage. This Representation of the State of our Case my Duty to his Majesty obliges me to make. And I must earnestly press your Governm! to give it a full Consideration, and send me a speedy Answer as to their Resolutions thereupon.
I am Sir,
Your Honours obedient humble Servt
W SHIRLEY
The honble GIDEON WANTON Esq!
GENERAL WILLIAM PEPPERELL 1 TO GOVERNOR SHIRLEY.2 May it please Your Excellency.
The Letter herewith inclosed contains an Account of the State of the Army during our Stay at Canso: since which a more agreable Scene has opened, I have now the pleasure to inform Your Excellency
1 Sir William Pepperell was born in Kittery, Maine. His early career was that of a prosperous merchant. When thirty he was made colonel of the Maine militia. He represented Kittery in the Massachusetts legislature, and in 1727 was a member of the council. When the expedition to Cape Breton was planned, the command was offered to Pepperell, who accepted it after much hesitation. For his exploits before Louis- bourg he was made a baronet, and was appointed colonel of one of the two regiments which it was proposed to raise in America on the English establishment. He re- mained at Louisbourg during the winter, and returned to Boston in 1746. Not long afterward, he retired from business, with the reputation of being the richest man in the colonies. In 1749 he went for a year's stay to England. He died at Kittery in 1759. See preface to the volume of " Pepperell Papers " in the Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. 2 Enclosed in letter of May 18, 1745.
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Correspondence of the
that on the 29th Ult™º We set Sail from thence with hopes of reaching Chappeauroge Bay1 that Night, but the Wind failing rendred it impossible and obliged us to lay aside the thoughts of a Surprize : The next Morning about Eight o'Clock, We were off the Mouth of the Bay upon which the Enemy made an Alarm by firing off a Number of their Cannon. We came to Anchor with all Expedition, and tho' it was a difficult Time, determined immediately to land the Troops under Cover of Fletcher's Bosch's and Saunders's Gunns. a party of about 150, of the Enemy sally'd out to annoy our Landing who were well received by the boats first on Shore who killed Six or Seven, and took as many Prisoners (among whom were some persons of distinction) without Loss of any on our side, and one or two slightly wounded, The Enemy soon retreating to the Garrison. We landed about 2000 men the first day, during which time the Enemy burnt a Number of Houses between the Town and Grand Battery, and sank some Ves- sels in the Harbour the next day landed the re- maind'r of the Troops and proceeded to put the Army into a proper disposition for such Operations as should be found most expedient.
Next morning found that the Enemy had deserted the Grand Battery in a very precipitate manner, hav- ing spik'd up the Guns, but left the Trunnions on, and many of the Carriages whole and a Quantity of Shott, upon which I immediately ordered a Regi- ment there, the Union Flag to be hoisted, and work-
1 Also called Gabarus Bay, a spacious outer harbor, immediately adjoining Louis- bourg.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
men to drill the Cannon, who soon got several of them cleared, and turn'd them on the Town with good Success, almost every Shot lodging in the Town, and a considerable Number among which was the 3ª 4th and 6th fell into the roof of the Cita- del : We have now got about Twenty of them ready for Service, four only of which can bring to bear upon the Town, most of the Others Command the Mouth of the Harbour, hope soon to get the whole Number drill'd which will be Twenty five 42 Pound- ers and two 18 Pounders; three of the 42 Pounders being split, cannot conceive of any reason why the Enemy should desert so fine a Fortification but ex- tream want of men, The Enemy return our Fire from thence with some Cannon and more Bombs, some of which have shatter'd part of the Wall and building but hurt none of our Men. The landing and transporting of the Artillery and Stores, prove very difficult, have got the small Mortars and Cohorns to a hill about four hundred Yards distance from the Town and the large one to another hill near that, from which have thrown some Bombs into the Town, but the bed of the large One, on which Our chief Dependance is, has twice given way, and put us to Difficulty. The Enemy have twice sally'd out towards that Battery, but were repulsed by the Detachment Posted for the Security thereof, without Loss on our Side, and only one man wounded, but by some Can- non they have turned upon it from the Town, we have had one man killed and 2 or 3 wounded. We have also thrown up a fascine Battery at the West part of the Town where expect this Night to have
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Correspondence of the
mounted the Eight 22 pounders. On the seventh instant, by advice of the Council, at which had the Pleasure of Commodore Warren's1 Presence, A Sum- mons was sent in to the Commanding Officer at Louisburg, Copy of which with the Answer have inclosed : upon which determined to proceed in the most vigorous manner, and to Attack the Island Bat- tery in boats the first favourable Opportunity, to the Assistance of which Commodore Warren offered to send a Number of his Sailors and marines, but as yet have not had Opportunity to prosecute it I had the Pleasure of meeting with Commodore Warren on my Passage to Chappeauroge Bay, who assured me of his readiness to contribute to his utmost in any Shape for the good of the Expedition, and since our Landing he has been so good, as to come on Shore with the kindest Offers of the same, which are very acceptable and Engaging. Yesterday I received your Excellency's Letter of the 10th and 22ª Ulmo by Express from Canso, Cap: Bradford being detain'd there by the Loss of his Boom; delivered to Com- modore Warren his inclosed Pacquets - what relates to that Gent: in your Excellency's Letters is per- fectly agreable to me; I shall on all Occasions be fond of the Assistance and Advice of a Gent whose generous Attachment to the welfare of the Colonies in general, and this Expedition in special, added to
1 Sir Peter Warren, who was sent with a 20-gun frigate to guard the American coast off the Carolinas in 1735, and remained there nearly six years. Early in 1745 he was ordered north with his squadron to cooperate with the colonial troops in the attack upon Louisbourg. When Warren finally forced his way into the harbor, the fortress surrendered (June 27). He was promoted to be rear-admiral in August, 1745, and took part in the battle of Cape Finisterre in 1747. Later, he was elected member for Westminster. He died in 1752.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
his well known personal Merit in his Active and suc- cessful Service of our Nation intitles him to the high- est Esteem from Every well wisher to New England.
I had, before the receipt of yours, wrote to Cpt Tyng, that he should, with the Vessels under his Direction wait upon the Commodore for his Orders, and strictly to observe the same, have acquainted him of your Orders to me, relating to sending Smeth- urst 1 to New England. I make no doubt of his Majesty and the Ministry's intire Approbation of your Excellency's Conduct in Setting on foot this Expe- dition, and that they will Support it, but hope we may Accomplish our Design without waiting for any Additional force from thence. I imagine that it would be fruitless to send to Annapolis for any part of their Strength at a Time when they may Appre- hend themselves in danger of a Seige.
Col. Moulton has joined us with the Detachment sent to St Peters, having destroyed that Settlement, taken some Plunder and prisoners, burnt four Schooners, and brought off one. He lost one Man and had one wounded, the greatest part of the In- habitants made their Escape. Have also Advice from Capt Donahew of his return with Becket from the Bay Vert, in going up the Gutt he met with a party of Indians, upon which Captains Jaynes and Stani- ford with their Companies going on Shore, tho Con- trary to Orders, the former had the Misfortune to be killed, and the other wounded, the Indians were beat off without other Loss on our Part. In the Bay of Vert he took two small Vessels, that were Empty, the
1 Captain Smethurst of the Massachusetts militia.
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Correspondence of the
others were hall'd up, where he could not come at them; he burnt a Considerable Number of Houses and birch Canooes : but was not so fortunate as to meet with any further Success. I find Chappeau- roge Bay a fine Harbour for the Transports, which have Ordered to remain there under the Care of Captain Saunders, I should have dispatch'd a Ves- sell to y: Excellency immediately upon our Success at the Grand Battery, but the Wind has proved Con- trary, and I was in hopes of being able to give your Excellency an Account of some Addition to Our Acquisitions By Advice of the Council this Day have determined to incamp in a regular Manner near the Northeast Harbour, and throw up a Battery there, and mount the New York Train of Artillery and some of the Guns from the Grand Battery, and to leave one Regiment at the Grand Battery, to Sup- port and repair it, which may be soon done in such a Manner that 200, Men will defend it against 2,000, and with that and the other Battery proposed, I ima- gine that We command the Harbour against any Thing that will Attempt to get in, and by posting two Regiments to protect the Battery on the west Side and intercept any Recruits getting in by Land, We shall intirely cut off any Communication with the Town, as it has been judged not adviseable to Atempt the storming the Town at present, and as a considerable Reinforcement may be daily expected by the Enemy from Canada, as well as force from France which it is possible may find means to get in, I am advised by the Council to move to your Excellency the sending us the Reinforcement of a thousand
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
men, also another large Mortar, and a Number of Shells, and a spare bed for the large Mortar, shall send you up fourteen of our Transports under Con- voy of Cpt Smethurst for that purpose, and by him and them shall send up the Prisoners, a List of which have inclosed, am much Obliged to your Excellency for your Care in regard to Us, I have just recd yours of the 23ª wch Cap: Donahew brought down from Canso, by whom I am informed that five of the Ves- sels with Provisions for the Army are arrived there, having narrowly Escaped the French Ship that has been upon the Coast sometime, who had obliged one of them to strike, which afterwards Escaped by meet- ing with Rouse,1 who to prevent the Transports fall- ing into the Enemy's hands gave the Ship opportu- nity to chase him, by which means those of them got safe to Canso. I am fearful that one or both of the other are taken, The French Ship having made use of Our Signals for a Decoy, have not yet heard fur- ther of Rouse, hope Cpt Cutler will be able to give you a good Account of him by this Opportunity, have desired Com! Warren to Send up a Convoy to Canso to bring down the Provision Vessels there : shall write y: Excellency again by Cp: Smethurst, whom I expect will be here very soon in the mean time must pray that multiplicity of business may excuse what is want- ing in this. I am with all duty and Respect.
Your Excellency's most obed humble Servant
WM PEPPERELL
Copy Examª per J. WILLARD Secretary.
1 Compare this with Fones's account of April 26, 1745.
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Correspondence of the
BEFORE LOUISBURG May 12h 1745
I have had great Satisfaction in the Conduct and Vigilance of the General Officers and Col. Brad- street, and hope all the others will merit the Thanks of their Country, there was a Scout contrary to Orders Stragled and Eighteen of them were killed, there is near two hundred of our Soldiers taken sick since the inclosed List was taken
His Excellency Gov! SHIRLEY
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
LONDON 4th mo. the 13. 1745 To Friend Gideon Wanton 1
I expect by the information I have had that this will meet thee in quality of Governour of Rhode Island and Provide Plantations and therefore I lookt upon it my duty early to take this opportunity of assuring thee of my readiness to continue to serve the Colony wth faithfulness as I have hitherto done according to the best of my Capacity flattering my self it has met with their approbation and intend hereafter to advise thee of the most material Occur- rencys relating to the Colony. there has not the least attack on your Charter or the Priviledges of it been made by any person whatsoever that I have heard of (save the Paper Currency Bill in Parliamt wch is over till next Sessions) and it may be depended on, that I shall be on the Watch and endeavour to pre-
1 A nephew of William and John Wanton, and the third governor of that name.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
vent any thing of that kind wch may be attempted to their prejudice, and exert myself in the preserva- tion of their Rights and Libertys which hitherto they have enjoyed before and ever since the Colony have thought fitt to continue me in their Agency. I have not long since writt concerning the Col- onys Affairs to the late Gov:, Deputy Gov: and As- sembly wch I expect will be communicated to thee. And as the Lord President is gone to His Country Seat nothing further is like to be done very soon therein.
I have had no letter from any of yo! Colony as I remember for a considerable time, tho' there has been an opportunity this Spring from Boston to Bris- tol and also very lately via Whitehaven by whom others have received Letters. I am with due respect to thyself and the Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives
Thy and their assured Friend
RP PARTRIDGE
5 month the 2ª 1745
Governour Wanton
Agreeable to my information in the foregoing Let- ter I am now advised of thy being elected Govern- our of the Colony of Rhode Isld &cª in which Sta- tion I wish thee success, and that thou mayst be endued with wisdom to Govern to the Contentment of the People and to thy own ease and happiness. with regard to the Affairs of the Colony which have been depending here - they are yet at a stand. the Lords Committees Report to the King in Council
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Correspondence of the
on the Boundary Cause is not yet confirmed tho' we have strove hard to get it done, it being retarded by a long Petition wch the Massachts Agent has exhibited against it praying for the Reasons therein set forth that a Review of the Cause may be granted, that is for a Rehearing in N. E. against wch we have pre- pared a Counter Petition and am in great hopes we shall give it a Turn, however I intend to exert my- self to the utmost wth my Sol' and Council and leave no stone unturnd to get their restless proceeding sett a side
The Matter of the Naval Officer lyes still dor- mant as it did.1 I am waiting in Expectation for a Plan of yo! Fortification agreeable to what is ex- pected by the Ministry here which I wrote for some time since, that a grant may be obtained of those Stores proposed in the Office of Ordinance Report of wch I sent over a Copy.
Its expected that the Affair of the Paper Currency Bill will be resumed in the next Sessions of Parliamt when I shall with the proper assistance of my Law- yers do my best to ward off any thing that shall tend therein to the prejudice of the Colony, being as I think pretty well furnished wth Argum's for the Opposition. I do not doubt but the Colony will furnish me in the mean time with the Supplys wch will be absolutely necessary for enabling me chear- fully to pursue their respective depending Interests. I think it is now upwards of 2 years since I have had any Remittance from them, but am in expec-
1 The reference is to Lockman's appointment.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
tation of something considerable with the Mast Fleet.1
And now I shall give thee some hints of the National Transactions wch probably will be expected (especially as it is now a time wherein great part of Europe are involved in the Calamity of Wars and bloodshed wch as far as I see are likely to continue till divine Providence shall see Cause to put an End to them by graciously interposing in favour to Man- kind and Stop the Effusion of Blood amongst the Contending Powers.
The French have an Army joined wth the Spands in Italy to favour Don Phillips pretentions to Parma and Placentia belonging to the Q. of Hungary, they the French have also Two other powerfull Ones on the Rhine in Germany, and in Flanders, where they have lately taken Tournay a Strong fortified Town of the Said Queens, being a Dutch Barrier, in doing of wch its judg'd they have lost 20000 Men, but they had been attacked before that by the Army of the Queens Allies under the Duke of Cumberld con- sists of English, Dutch, and Hannoverians wherein the Allies came off with the worst.2 the Queen of Hungary has a large Army on the Rhine in oppo- sition to the French under Prince Conti. And an other in Bohemia under the Command of Prince Charles employd agst the King of Prussia between whom there has also been a Battle wherein the Prus- sians had the better of it, and gained a great advanta
1 The mast fleet sailed annually from Falmouth, with masts for the royal navy. In times of war ships were frequently ordered to Falmouth that they might cross the ocean under the protection of the mast fleet.
2 The battle of Fontenoy, May 11, 1745.
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over the Austrians ;1 So that our Affairs as to the Land War go on but discouragingly. Our King is still at Hannover, probably he will go to the Army in Germany.
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
Sir,
I have just now received Letters from General Pep- peril and Commodore Warren ; by which I learn That tho' we have suffered some Loss of Men (between I and 200) in an Attack on the Island Battery, which miscarried; yet that we have obtained considerable Advantages against the Enemy in taking several of their Provision Vessels and worsting them in some Skirmishes, our Parties have had with them; and by the Intelligence they have received from Prisoners (which is confirmed by other Circumstances) the Enemy are short of Provisions and Ammunition : But as the Number of our Men is not equal to the Greatness of the Enterprize, and therefore the Duty is heavy on the Officers and Soldiers, they press im- portunately for at least Three thousand Troops as absolutely necessary to reinforce them, and a con- siderable Number of Seamen for Manning the Ship Vigilant :2 But altho' the Land and Sea Forces need these Recruits, yet I find the Officers full of Hopes, of a good Issue of this Affair by the reduction of
1 In the battle of Hohenfriedberg, June 3.
2 Letters of Shirley to Wanton, upon the necessity of manning the Vigilant, writ- ten June 1 and 6, 1745, are in the Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 135, 136. See the action of the Rhode Island Assembly, Ibid., V. 117. The Vigilant was a 64-gun ship, carrying 560 men, and loaded with stores from France. She was captured on May 19.
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Louisburg. And as the Success thereof is of the utmost consequence for the best Interests of these Provinces ; and which (as I find by Letters which Commodore Warren has received from His Majestys Ministers) his Majesty and his Ministers have much at Heart : I must therefore with great Earnestness press your Honour to have as many Soldiers and Seamen raised in your Colony, as can possibly be spared, and that without the least Delay : And I do assure you that I find the Assembly here well spir- ited to support the Expedition to their utmost, and that they will do all that they can to furnish the necessary Recruits ; but it [is] not possible, nor can it be, expected that we should answer these Demands of Recruits without very great Assistance from our Neighbours.1 If you have good Experienced Gun- ners with you, send them hither without Delay for this Service.
I desire to hear speedily from you for the Encour- agement of our Friends at Cape Breton.
I am
Your Honour's very humble Servant
W SHIRLEY
BOSTON June 16. 1745
I must earnestly recommend this to the Consid- eration of your Governmt as a matter in wch the fate of New England is wound up, and upon which the present and future Interest of your Colony in every respect is most deeply concern'd in particular.
W S.
The Honble GIDEON WANTON Esq.
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 119.
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Correspondence of the
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
BOSTON June 20. 1745
Sir,
About 8 o'clock this Evening I reciev'd Your Let- ter by Capt" Prince, and a Copy of your Act of As- sembly for raising Seamen to man the Vigilant ; And according to your request inclose you a Certi- ficate,1 which I hope will have its proper Effect.2 If it is defective, be pleas'd to let me know it, and I will make it fuller, if I can; tho' I have taken care, I think, to leave no room for any doubt or Scruple.
I wish you success in the Execution of your Act, and that it may promote his Majty's service at this very Critical Conjuncture ; and am Sir
Your Honour's most Obedient, Humble Serv:
W SHIRLEY.
Gov! WANTON.
Certificate by Governor Shirley.
By his Excellency the Governour.
Whereas the General Assembly of the Colony of Rhode Island did on the second Day of June Instant pass an Act for Raising Seamen for the manning of his Majesty's Ship Vigilant belonging to the Squadron under the Command of the Honble Commodore Warren now before Louisbourg, promising thereby a Bounty of seventeen pounds Old Tenour to be paid by the said Colony to every such able bodied Seaman, as shall enlist in the said Ser- vice, not exceeding the Number of two hundred Men : Now for the further Encouragement of Seamen within the said Colony vol- untarily to Enlist in his Majesty's aforesaid Service, I do hereby Certify that all Seamen, who are or shall be so rais'd in the afore-
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