Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

I have required the Governor to send their Arms and Ammunition and proposed to collect the People in this Frontier in a few well stockaded Places inclosing Mills, as a Retreat for themselves, their families & Provisions, to keep possession of the Country, and if the Enemy should penetrate, destroy all kinds of eatables, which could not be secured in these Strong Holds, and might fall in the hands of the Savages, but from the nature of this Government, I suppose nothing will be done in time.

The Second Compy. of the 42d will be here the 5th and I expect the Remains of the two Regts. on the 6th or Seventh.

I have secured all the Provisions I could get in this Country, 100 Head of Cattle; 200 Sheep and about 3,000 lbs. of Fine Powder from the Indian Traders. I expect the Flour and Waggons from Lancaster by the 8th.

I received your Letter of the 25th June and shall continue in the service the men so timely raised by Mr. Croghan which the Province will I hope take into their pay.

[blocks in formation]

I enclose Mr. Croghan's Letter to Sir Wm. Johnson open.

His Excellency Sir JEFFRY AMHERST,
By the Express J. Glen.

H. B.

No. 3.-LIEUT. COLONEL ROBERTSON TO BOUQUET.

(Archives, series A 4, p. 329.)

PHILADELPHIA,

19 July, 1763.

DEAR SIR,-By Sir Jeffry Amherst's Order, I waited upon the Governor here, with a letter of Sir Jeffrys, I added to the arguments he used every thing I thought coud tend to induce The Governor and the Commissioners appointed to superintend the raising of 700 men, to put these under your command, and finding these gentlemen were not determined by what they had read or heard, I left them to consult and went and supplicated the aid & influence of Mr. Norris, as I found that the Governor would readily agree to a measure if proposed by them, that he durst not seem otherwise to favor, I tryd to persuade Mr. Norris, that the Indians coud not by any defensive plan be prevented from ravageing the frontiers which they wond effectually be by The General's plan of carrying the war into their Country, but, that to effectuate this, it was necessary that the 700 men shoud be put under Sir Jeffrey's command, in order to defend the forts & set the regulars at liberty to act. I threatened to abandon the forts, and I urged the Illegality of arming men without their being Subject to the Commander in Chief's orders, that this innovation was a personal affront to Sir Jeffrey, whose actions deserved the confidence of the province, but I found all my pleading vain, and believe Ciceros would have been so, I never saw any man so determined in the right, As these people are in their absurdly wrong resolve.

I hope you have success with the force you have with you these people don't deserve and coud not much relish the honour of shareing a Victory.

T

I am, Dear Sir,

Your obliged friend &
obdt. Servt.,

JAMES ROBERTSON.

No.4-BOUQUET TO GENERAL AMHERST.

(Archives, series A 4, p. 331.)

CAMP AT BEDFORD,
26th July, 1763.

SIR,-1 rec yesterday your Excellency's Letters of the 16th, with their Inclosures. The Signal for Indian Messengers and all your Directions will be observed. I shall procure & transmit to you Lists of the Persons killed or taken by the Savages this way. Three more have been massacred near Shippensburgh since we left it, but we have not perceived yet any of the villains.

The Troops and Convoy arrived here yesterday, where I must give them two Days Rest to enable them to proceed; the Horses having greatly suffered by the bad Roads.

We brought so far all the sick, but one, of the two Regts., to be left by way of Garrisons along the Communication.

We lost some men by Desertion from Carlisle; four of which having been taken up & severly punished, I hope we shall lose no more of them.

The Government of Pensylva having repeatedly refused to Garrison Fort Lyttleton (a Provincial Fort) even with the kind of Troops they have raised, I have stationed some inhabitants of the neighbourhood in it, with some Provisions & Ammunition to prevent the Savages burning it.

The little Post of Juniata being totally decayed & having no time to repair it, I have evacuated it.

I have at this Post one officer of the 77th and thirty men of both Regts, who are unable to march. They will secure it, with the assistance of the Inhabitants; till we can better provide for it.

Having observed on our march that the Highlanders lose themselves in the Woods as soon as they go out of the Road, & cannot, on that acct., be employed as Flankers; I have commissioned a person to procure me about thirty woodsmen to march with us. Their Services are obvious, & if I can get them to go on, I would send them with the Detachment to Presqu' Isle. This is very irregular in me, but the circumstances render it so absolutely necessary that I hope you will approve of it.

Colonel Robertson has communicated to me the bad success of his Representations to the Govt of Pennsylva & his Commissioners; The unanswerable arguments. in your Letters would have made Impression on any other set of men; I hope that we shall be able to save that infatuated People from Destruction, in spite of all their Indeavors to defeat your vigorous measures.

I meet everywhere with the same Backwardness, even among the most exposed of the Inhabitants, which makes everything move on heavily, & is digusting to the last Degree. I have heard nothing from Ft Pitt since the 26th of June, & several expresses sent from hence must have been interrupted. I have sent one of our two Indian Prisoners from hence to the Ohio for Intelligence, who is to meet me on the way; I know him, & having his Wife & Children as Hostages for his Fidelity, I hope he will answer my Purpose.

I have recd. his Majesty's Warrant impowering any of his Field Officers in the 1st Battn. of the 60th Regt. to hold Courts Martial, with a Deputation for the appointing of a Judge Advocate.

If I am obliged to make use of that Power, would you have the Sentences transmitted to you for your Approbation.

The Acct. of the Reduction of the 77th & of several offics of the 2nd Battn. of the 42d Regt. now with me is arrived very unseasonably. We march on the 28th. I shall not write to you before we get to Pittsburgh, unless something extraordinary should happen on the way.

His Excellency Sir JEFFRY AMHERST.

I have the Honor &c.,

HENRY BOUQUET.

No. 5.-BOUQUET TO LIEUT. COLONEL ROBERTSON.

(Archives, series A 4, p. 334.)

CAMP AT BEDFORD,

26th July, 1763.

DEAR SIR, I was favoured yesterday with your Letter of the 19th in which you are pleased to inform me of the Deafness of Gov ard commissioners to the most urgent Arguments of the Generals Letters & your own warm Pleading to support them. This is no Disappointment to me, as I know their Principles & constant Indifference to the Service. Had I been in Town, I may venture to say. from the confidence Mr. Hamilton seemed to have in me, that I might have prevented his consenting to the absurd vote of his Assembly, the bad consequences of which he was not aware of: and if that had been the case, the cries of the Frontier Inhabitants would soon have obliged their Representatives to raise Troops upon the former Footing.

Tho' I find myself utterly abandoned by the very People I am ordered to protect, I shall do my best to save them from Destruction, & should I fail in the attempt, it is a satisfaction to me that nothing has been omitted on the General's side or ours, to obtain that necessary aid which might have left nothing to chance. I think myself sufficiently strong to execute all my orders without them, but I labour under a great Disadvantage for want of men used to the woods, as I cannot send a Highlander out of my sight, without running the Risk of losing the man, which exposes me to a surprise from the Skulking Villains I have to deal with.

I find the last Winter has greatly hurt our Roads & swept off the remainder of our temporary Bridges, which makes me crawl so slowly that I have employed 36 Hours in going 3 miles. I am obliged to halt two Days here to refit my shattered Carriages & tired Horses; We march on the 28th. I have borne, very patiently, the ill usage of this Province; having still hopes that they will do something for us & therefore have avoided to quarrel with them. If they raise Troops at the next meeting of their Assembly, it will be necessary that they be put from the Beginning, under the Inspection of one of the King's Officers; as I know they have no Body able to form them into shape. I am much obliged to you for your good I am most sincerely &c.,

wishes.

Colonel ROBERTSON,

HENRY BOUQUET.

No. 6.-BOUQUET TO GENERAL AMHERST.
(Archives, series A 4, p. 337.)

CAMP AT EDGE HILL, 26 Miles From FORT PITT,
5th August, 1763.

SIR, The Second Instant the troops and convoy arrived at Ligonier where I could obtain no Intelligence of the Enemy, the Expresses sent since the beginning of July, having been either killed or obliged to return, all the Passes being occupied by the Enemy. In this Uncertainty, I determined to leave all the Waggons with the Powder, and a Quantity of Stores and Provisions at Ligonier, and on the 4th proceeded with the Troops and about 340 Horses Loaded with Flour. I intended to have halted to day at Bushy Run (a mile beyond this Camp) and after having refresh'd the men and Horses to have marched in the night over Turtle Creek a very dangerous defile of several miles commanded by high and craggy Hills. But at one o'Clock this afternoon, after a march of 17 miles, the Savages suddenly attack'd our

advanced guard which was Immediately supported by the two Light Infantry Companys of the 42d Regiment, who drove the Enemy from their Ambuscade and pursued them a good way. The savages returned to the attack and the Fire being obstinate on our Front and Extending along our Flanks, we made a General charge with the whole line to dislodge the savages from the Heights, in which attempt we succeeded, without obtaining by it any decisive advantage, for as soon as they were driven from one Post they appeared on another till by continued Reinforcements they were at last able to surround us and attack the Convoy left in our rear; This obliged us to march Back to Protect it, The Action then became General & though we were attacked on every side and the Savages exerted themselves with uncommon Resolution they were constantly repulsed with Loss. We also suffered considerably. Capt. Lieut. Graham and Lieut. James McIntosh of the 42d are killed and Capt. Graham wounded of the R. A. R. Lieut. Dow who acted as A. D. Q. M. G. is shot through the Body. Of the 77th Lieut. Donald Campbell and Mr. Peebles, a volunteer are wounded.

Our loss in men, including Rangers and Drivers exceeds sixty killed or wounded. The Action has lasted from one o'Clock till night and we expect to begin again at Daybreak. Whatever our Fate may be I thought it necessary to give your Excellency this Early Information that you may at all events take such measures as you may think proper with the Provinces for their own safety and the Effectual relief of Fort Pitt, as in the case of another Engagement, I fear Insurmountable difficulties in protecting and Transporting our Provisions, being already so much weakened by the losses of this day in men and horses besides the additional necessity of carrying the wounded, whose situation is truly Deplorable.

I cannot sufficiently acknowledge the constant assistance I have received from Major Campbell during this long action nor express my admiration of the cool and steady behaviour of the Troops who did not fire a shot without orders and Drove the Enemy from their Posts with Fixed Bayonets: The conduct of my officers is much above my Praises.

I have the Honor to be with Great respect,

His Excellency GENL. AMHERST.

Your most obedient & most Humble Servant.

No. 7.-GENERAL AMHERST TO BOUQUET.

(Archives, series, A. 4, p. 365.)

NEW YORK, 25th August, 1763.

SIR,-I am to own your Letter of the 5th Instant, which I received the Day before yesterday, and I should have been very glad had it been Dated from Fort Pitt; Altho' I have no Doubt but you will have Reached that Post the Day after; for the Resolution and steadiness of your Little Army, which you so much Commend, will I trust, have Enabled you to Baffle any future Attempts of the Savages.

The

I Regret the Loss of Captain Lt. Graham & Lieut. McIntosh; and Am Extremely Sorry for those that are wounded.-But I hope the Latter will Recover. Savages, no Doubt, have mustered up all their Strength on the Communication, to Attack you: and their way of Fighting would lead them to fall upon the weakest part; the Rear, when they found they could make no Impression on the Front; your Convoy was too Essential au Article to be Left behind, otherwise the pursuing of the Savages, when once they gave way, would have been the Surest Method of Making the Advantage you had gained Decisive.

Upon this Occasion I have thought proper to appoint Lieut. Balneavis, who altho not the Senior Lieutenant belonging to the Regiment; is the Eldest on Service to the Captain Lieutenancy, and I herewith Enclose you a Commission to him accordingly. The Behavior of Mr. Peebles, on former Occasions, particularly at

Newfoundland, and his being wounded now makes me Break thro' the Orders I Have Received from His Majesty respecting the Reduced Officers, that I may provide for him. As I Flatter myself the King will be graciously Pleased to approve thereof: And I Enclose you a Commission Appointing Mr. Peebles to be Ensign in the 42d Regiment, which you will please to Deliver to him: Acquainting both Captain Lt. Balneavis and Ensign Peebles that they have no Fees to pay for those Commissions,— The Infatuated Obstinancy of the People in Power of the Province of Pensylvania Renders any further Application from me unnecessary, as they have not Paid the least regard to the Pressing Instances, I have from time to time Urged to the Governor for exerting themselves like men, in the Defence of the Lives and Propertys of the Back Settlers: But I have a very Different Account from Virginia: for the Lt.Governor, Immediately on the Receipt of my Letter, Desiring him to Concert the properest Methods for the Protection ofthat Colony, by Virtue of the Militia Law, which happily Subsists there, gave orders for Assembling One Thousand Men, in two Bodys, of 500 Each, giving the Command to Colonel Stephen and Colonel Lewis: The Former, I find by a Letter from Captain Ourry of the 17th Instant and which came to hand with yours, had Reached Fort Cumberland, with about 400 men: And that he had on his March thither, by a Detachment Routed a Party of Indians: Killed and Scalped one; Wounded Several; and Recovered two Prisoners and three Scalps: A Spirit-like this, will soon Intimidate the Villains. And as I am Sensible you will not have men to Spare for Escorting the Provisions &c. When you send forward the troops to Presqu'Isle according to my former orders, I write to Colonel Stephen, desiring him to Employ his men, on the Communication for its Security, and likewise in such Offensive Scouts as may be Judged necessary, for Clearing the Country of Any Partys of Savages that may be lurking for an opportunity to do mischief.

I have also a Letter from Governor Sharpe Informing me that he had furnished the Commanding Officers of the Militia on the Frontiers of Maryland with Arms and Ammunition and likewise sent Instructions to the Commanding Officers for Assemb ling the Militia; and Acting Offensively against the Indians, as occasion Might Require.

Captain Ourry will Inform you that I have Directed Messrs. Plumsted & Franks, to Forward what Provisions he may Demand for the Troops with you, Sir John St. Clair has unluckily been Taken Ill, and is at Newton; but I shall Order him to the Communication again, so soon as he is able to go.

I am in hourly Expectation of Receiving good news from the Detroit; as the Reinforcements with Captain Dalyell and Captain Loring must have Reached that Place long ago. And the 46th & 80th with other Detachments, will be at Niagara in a very Short-time; So that I have no Doubt but you will soon find, that the Spirit of the Savages will begin to fail.

I Have only at Present to add, that the Commendations you give to Major Campbell, and all the Officers and Men under your Command, when Attacked by the Indians, and during the whole of that Affair; give me a Sensible pleasure.

And to Assure you that I am, Sir,

Your most Obedient Servant,

JEFF. AMHERST.

No. 8.-BOUQUET TO GENERAL AMHERST.

(Archives, series A 4, p. 341.)

CAMP AT BUSHY RUN, 6th August, 1763.

SIR,-I had the honour to inform your Excellency in my Letter of yesterday of our first Engagement with the Savages.

We took Post last night on the Hill where our convoy halted when the Front was attacked (a Comodious Piece of Ground and just spacious enough for our purpose) there we encircled the whole and covered our wounded with the Flour Bags.

« AnteriorContinuar »