Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York; Procured in Holland, England and France [10]

Citation preview

DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO THE

COLONIAL HISTORY STATE OF NEW-YORK; PROCURED

IN

HOLLAND, ENGLAND AND FRANCE JOHN ROMEYN BRODHEAD,

ESQ.,

AGENT, TIETTTE OF AN ACT OF THE LEGISLATUEE, ENTITLED " AN ACT TO APPOINT AN AGENT TO PEOCUKE AND TEANSCBIBE DOCUMENTS IN EUROPE RELATIVE TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE," PASSED MAY 2, 1839.

UNDEE AND BT

PCBLISHED UNDER AND BY TIRTUE OF AN ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE, ENTITLED " AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUELIBHING OF CERTAIN DOCCMENTS RELATING TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OP THE STATE," PASSED MARCH 30, 1849, AND AN ACT ENTITLED "an ACT IN RELATION TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE, AND THE PDBLICATION AND DISTBIEBTION PASSED APRIL 12, 1856. EDITED BT

E. B.

O'CALLAGHAN,

VOL.

M.

D.,

LL. D.

X.

ALBANY: WKED, PARSONS AND COfPANT, 1858.

PEINTTsHS.

Volumes

III.,

IV., v., VI., VII. and IX. of this

work were published under the

Secretary of State and Comptroller of the State of New-York under the authority of the Regents of the University,

;

direction of the

Govehkor,

and the publication has been completed

in virtue of the

Act of the Legislature

to that effect,

passed April 12, 1856.

The Documents employed

in

Dutch and French were translated by E. Bi O'Callaghan, M, D., LL. D., who was

for that purpose,

and to superintend the publication generally.

1136147

TEANSCRIPTS OF DOCUMENTS

ARCHIVES OF THE "MINISTERE DE LA MARINE ET DES COLONIES;" OF THE "MINISTERE DE LA GUERRE," AND IN THE " BIBLIOTHEQUE DU ROI," AT PARLS.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: IX-XVII.

1745-1774.

LIST OF [

THE FRENCH MINISTERS OF STATE:

1655—1774.

Anuoaire HiBtorifviLLE. Chaufelin, * D'Aguesseau. * De Lamoignow de Blancmesnil.

De

1750,

1737,

1750,

* Voisin. * D' Agcesseau.

1722

1720,

* Boucheeat. * PuELippEAUX, de Pontchaitrain.

1714,

De

2 February,

MACHAor.T d'Aruonville.

Louis 1761, 13 October, 1762,

1

October

1763,

1768,

September,

October,

1763,

XV.

is

himself Keeper of the Seals.

Berrier.

1762, 15 August,

1768,

*

1774, 24 August

*

Fevdeap de Brou. De Madpeou ( Rene-Charles) Chaucellor De Maopeou ( Ren-Nic-Ch-Aug.). ;

iu 1768.

MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. 1663,

1671,

1671,

1679,

1679,

1696,

1689,

1715

1715,

1718,

1718,

1723,

1

September,

De Lionne ( Hugues ). De Pomponne ( Amaud ). Colbert de Croissy. Colbert de Torcy, son of

September,

the preceding.

D'Uxelles, Marshal of France. Dubois, Archbishop of Cambrai,

afterwards

Cardinal.

1723,

1727,

1727,

1737, 21 February,

De Fleuueiau D'AR&iENOtfviLLE. De Chauvelin, also Keeper of the

1737, 22 February,

1744, 17 November,

Amelot, de Chaillou.

Seals.

LIST OP

FRENCH

Ministers of Foreign Affairs

:

Continued.

To. 1744, 15 November, 1747,

1747,

3 January

2 January

September,....

1751,

De Voyer de Paulmy, Marquis d'Argenson. Bbulaut de Sillery, Marquis de Puisicux.

1751, 11 September,

1754, 24 July,

Bauberie de Saint-Contest.

1754, 28 July

1757,

De Rouili.e', de Jouy. De Pierre, Cardinal de De Choiseul Stainville. De Choiseul Praslin.

1757, 25 June,

1758,

November,

1761,

1761,

October,

1766,

1062,

4 February,

1758,

1

Bernis.

MINISTERS OF THE MARINE AND COLONIES. 1669,

February,

1683,

6 September,

1690,

6

1699,

6 September,

November,

1715, 13 September,

October,

1718, 1722,

9 April,

.

De

February,

1669,

—

1683,

6 September,

1690,

6

1699,

5 September,

November, ....

1715, 13 November,

Phelipeaux

Jerome), Count du Pontchartrain.

XV.

1723, 12 November,

1749, 26 April

1754, 28 July, 1757,

1

February

De De De

1749,

Maurepas. Maciiault.

1

February

1758,

1

June,

Peirenne de Moras.

1758,

1

June,

1758,

1

November

De

1758,

1

June,

1758,

1

November,

Lenormand de

1

November,

1761, 13 October,

Berryer.

1766,

De De

1758,

1766,

8 April,

a Council of Marine.

Rouille'.

1757,

1761, 13 October,

;

Fleuriau d'Armenonville. De Morville.

We We

5,326.

may

estimate 1,200 heads of families, merchants, mechanics,

masters, and other mechanics keeping store, day laborers, &c. shall divide

them

into five classes

1"

themselves and wives, viz: 100 Merchants, the most wealthy,

2'">

100 Master tradesmen, &c.,

3"^

400

4"'

600 Carters and Laborers,

5""

5,326 persons, children of

less

vants,

;

these heads will pay for

wealthy

whom we

all

"6,000

@.

60",

@^ @,

30",

3,000

10",

4,000

%

3,

1,800

(^

20,

ages and ser-

believe ought not to

be reckoned but as 3,000 paying, in consideration of the children under seven years and the deficient,

3,000

32,650

8,000

Montreal

4,000 souls.

;

500"

The Governor, The Commissary, The Lieutenant-Governor, The Major,

400 150 100 1,150 Clergy.

Seminary of

2,000

@, 100,

St. Sulpice, 20,

Jesuits, 4,

Nunneries.

—

@;

60,

200

(a

15,

375

(a

15,

@:

15,

Hospitalieres.

25 Nuns, Congregation.

50 Nuns, Grey Nuns.

10 Nuns, Military

14 Companies, which The Surgeon Major,

The Captain

will give, at the rate

of the gates

Officers.

we have

fixed at

Quebec,

2,842

100 (

50

partes),

Officers

The Judge, The Lieutenant-Particular, The Attorney-General, The Clerk

of

Justice.

58 40 25 100

223 Vol. X.

35

:

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

274

Clerks.

The The

125^

Storekeeper,

60

Treasurer,

6 Clerks

@,

30",

180

«350 India Company.

\

The Agent,

150

2 Clerks,

@,

30

60

'

210 186 persons,

600 heads,

)

600 women.

\

^ ^

^^^ heads of families divided into 5 classes 1" 60 of the most wealthy merchants,., d, Idem,

S"*

'

1,386 2,614

master tradesmen,

less wealthy,

S-i

250 Day Laborers,

4'"

290

&c.,

Idem,

'i

60",

3,600

@.

30,

3,000

d,

10,

2,500

(S,

3,

870 18,370

2,614

persons,

remain

to

and

children

servants

be computed only at 1,500,

@^

1,500

20eoufl

4.000 so uls.

Three Rivers and the Forges The Governor, The Lieutenant-Governor, The Major,

;

800

souls.

150''

100

250 The

Ursulines.

20 Nuns,

@,

200

10",

Military Officers.

4 Companies, which will give 1 Surgeon,

812" 10

822 The Royal

Jurisdiction.

40 "

The Judge, The Attorney-General,

A

25 20

Clerk,

One Storekeeper ( he

is

85 80

King's Attorney), Forges.

One Director, One Furnisher, 2 Men,

100" 100

d,

30",

60

I

i

1

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XL

275

28 persons,

20 heads, 20 women,

732

20 heads of families, one with another,...

732 Persons, of

all

descriptions, to be

puted at 400,

800

(^

20",

@,

20

"400

com400

.on.,

souls.

2,997

The Rural Districts. may be rated, one with

91 Parish Priests, whose livings another, at

@, @,

75",

1,500 Wealthy farmers,

40,

60,000

1,500 Less wealthy,

(S,

25,

37,500

@,

15,

30,000

(^

6,

18,000

2,000 4,200

•'

«'

Women, who

6,825

pay, with their husbands.

3,000 Voyageurs, hired men, volunteers, 29,909, Including heads of families, their wives, children and servants,

down

as 18,000, on consideration that

the children are under 7 years,

(^

20»ous

18,000

"170,325

42,200 souls.

Recapitulation.

Quebec, Montreal, Three Rivers and the Forges,

Rural Districts

8,000

"32,650

4,000

19,870

800

2,997

42,200

170,325

55,000 souls.

M.

de MacJiauU to

"225.842

M. Duquesne.

Sir,

The movements which took

place last year in the direction of the Beautiful river, have

made

considerable noise in Europe, and Sieur de Viiliers' expedition has occasioned a particular

ferment

in

England.

Things have been carried there so dispatch

far,

that the British Court has taken the resolution to

Virginia two regiments of Regulars, with

officers, arms and clothing, for the levying of two others there, and this reinforcement sailed on the thirteenth of last month from

some

to

Irish ports.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

276

That Court hath, meanwhile, caused the most positive assurances to be given, that it continues to adhere to the dispositions it has manifested, up to the present time, for the preservation of peace

that, in sending those troops to Virginia,

;

it

had no other object than

to

tranquilize that and its neighboring Colonies in regard to the attacks to vehich they believed

themselves exposed, and that

has given the most precise orders that they stand on the most

it

exact defensive. is, indeed, persuaded that his Britannic Majesty's intention is not to come to any His Majesty does not despair even, that the propositions which have some time ago

The King rupture.

been reciprocally interchanged on the subjects occasioning to

some conciliation. But as, whilst disposed

that object, he

himself to

to lend

all

those movements, will lead us

all

just and reasonable arrangements to accomplish

equally resolved to defend his possessions and his rights, he has thought

is

proper, notwithstanding the assurances given by the Court of England, to send, likewise,

reinforcement to Canada to protect that Colony from any attacks to which

This reinforcement consists of three thousand men,

six battalions of troops of the line,

commanded by

a Mareclial de Camp^,

embarked

Tliese troops will be

General's orders.

corresponding to the

list I

transmit you

I

;

expect

in his

who

which

some

might be exposed.

will form a corps of

will be subject to the

Governor-

Majesty's ships, convoyed by a fleet

will sail in the

it

it

beginning of April from

the harbor of Brest, where the troops are to embark, and from the character of the vessels

composed

will be

and the season of navigation, that

of,

its

voyage

the fact; this letter will reach

of the Navy,

de

la

who

with the to give

in

which

M''

Bigot, the Intendant,

month

fifteenth or twentieth of next

Commmandant

your attention

First, to

there

it

The King

be short.

commission

will sail immediately from Rochefort.

Jonquiere, and

same port on the

will

La Fiddle put in to advise you of you by La Diane, commanded by Captain Froger de I'eguille, La Fidelle, commanded by Lieutenant

has, meanwhile, had the frigates La Diane and

is to

return to the Colony, will leave the

M' de Vaudreuil

will

afterwards embark

of the squadron, and, in the meanwhile, his Majesty

recommends you

to four principal objects.

watch the conduct of the English.

in sufficient

;

time to act before

those

Quebec, and we must await their action

;

for,

The

troops they have sent to Virginia will arrive

Majesty dispatches to Canada can reach even on the supposition that they have, in fact, his

orders to remain on the defensive, the pretensions of the English, however unjust they be, will serve them as a pretext to wish to have whatever they will undertake to do in the localities in dispute, regarded as purely defensive. hostilities, 'twill be, at least in the

only, without extending

them

There

is

reason to believe, however, that

if

they resume

present conjuncture, in the direction of the Beautiful river

to the other frontiers, and, according to the account

rendered of the arrangements you have made, and of those you were proposing to will possibly be,

make

in

you have been informed, as of the movements which were making from the beginning of last autumn

that quarter, they will not find our posts defenceless, especially

you

you have

if

in the English Colonies.

However

that be, his Majesty's principles and dispositions regarding the conduct

you have and possessions against the attacks of the English, you carefully avoid affording them any just subject of complaint; that you conduct yourself on the occasions wherein there will possibly be recourse

to observe, are always the same.

'

Major-General. James saya

it is

He

wishes that, in maintaining

his rights

the rank next below a Lieuteuant-General. Military Dictionary.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XI.

377

such a manner as not to appear the aggressor, and that you confine yourself the adoption of all measures possible to enable you to repel force by force. to violence, in

to assure that defensive

If,

on your

part,

you should judge necessary

to

make

to

the Indians

act offdnsively against the English, his Majesty will

approve of your having recourse to that But he desires that you determine on that course only so far as the conduct of the English will render it indispensable to the safety and tranquillity of the Colony. Suppose, in the mean time, that the movements of the English were carried to the extent that they must be regarded as a veritable rupture on their part, his Majesty, in such case, leaves you at liberty to make the arrangements which will seem to you the most suitable for the good of his service and the glory of his arms. Such are the principles on which you are to continue to regulate your conduct in this regard so long as you are entrusted with the government, and such are still the orders his Majesty will give your successor. But as 'twill not be any contravention of these principles to destroy the fort which the expedient.

English have erected

last

summer

in the direction of

Naurautsouak,' inasmuch as that will

be an absolutely defensive operation on your part, the King's intention

continuance of a post so dangerous and so contrary

to his rights.

is,

not to allow the

Therefore, supposing that

the Indians have not executed the project they had formed of expelling the English thence, and that you find yourself able to undertake it yourself, openly, his Majesty desires that you

immediately adopt the measures necessary thereunto; but be necessary, then, that the officer

It will

of success.

commence by summoning

shall

must be only

it

who

will

in case you are sure have charge of that expedition,

the English to evacuate and abandon the

and that he do

fort,

not proceed to any forcible attack until they refuse to surrender to the summons, whereof

you

him the

it

will

and in which you will appear to act without having consequence of the obligation you are under to defend the received any order, and government confided to you against such like usurpations, which can be possessions of the be necessary

for

to give

draft,

solely in

regarded only as contrary to the intentions and orders of both Kings for the maintenance of peace and good harmony between the two Nations; should the undertaking succeed, the fort

must be destroyed

The second

in

such a manner that not a vestige of

object you are to attend to

on their arrival in the Colony.

By

is

the copy

I

subject to M' Varin, you will learn the orders

person to judge of respecting

all

all

that

his operations,

arrival of M'' Bigot,

who,

is to

remain.

it

the arrangements for the reception of the troops

send you of the letter which I

You

give him.

be done in that regard.

and provide in like

for those that

you

M""

I

write on this

are better able

than any

Varin will consult with you

will consider necessary, until the

manner, will have orders

to

arrange with you on

all

that matter. I

send you,

also,

an extract of the instruction given to Sieur de I'Eguille, whereby you will

see that he will have to return to Bick, in the River St. Lawrence, to wait there for the fleet, for

which

I

have furnished him signals; you will be careful,

also, to

send him back without

delay to that rendezvous, and to cause Sieur Pellegrin, the Lieutenant of the Port, to embark

with him, accompanied by some of the best of the river pilots, to conduct the fleet, reserving some of them for the frigate La Fiddle, which will have orders to come also and wait for the fleet at '

another rendezvous, of which you will have been informed.

Fort Halifax, in the town of Winslow, Kennebec county, Maine. Williamson's Maine,

II.,

300, 392, 694.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

278

navigation of that same river will form the third object of your attentions. It is, in proper that you examine whether, in order to avoid the risks that may be incurred in running large vessels up that river as far as Quebec, it would not be proper to let them remain

The

fact,

at

some

of the

good anchorages that are known, whence the troops could be transported in Quebec; and on this point you will

the frigates and other vessels which might be collected at

have

to

communicate your

reflections to

Lastly, the fourth object

and

to the

Commander

is

Count Dubois de Lamotte, the Commodore of the

down

squadron, by the frigates you will send

him.

to

to prepare a plan of operations to

of the troops, at the very

first

be proposed to M' de Vaudreuil of their arrival, and that plan

moment

must be relative to the principles I have just reminded you of, and to the circumstances in which the affairs of the Colony will then be. As for the rest, his Majesty does not prescribe anything to you in regard to the effects the first intelligence of the reinforcements in question will produce in Canada and in the English Colonies.

On

the one hand,

it

may

be proper to keep the secret

rise it will possibly create in provisions

their guard

;

but on the other hand,

it

may

who might

prevent both the

be necessary to announce before hand the arrival

of this reinforcement, in order either to tranquilize the Indians restrain those

in order to

and goods of the country, and the English being on

who

are faithful to us, or to

allow themselves to be debauched by the English

as the latter will

;

vaunt the superiority they might derive from the troops sent to Virginia; or to arrest the English themselves in the execution of the projects they might be induced not

to

fail

to

undertake by the confidence inspired by that superiority.

different considerations,

'Tis for

you

to

and his Majesty refers to your zeal and prudence as

weigh

to

all

these

what you

will

consider most advantageous in this regard. 17"-

February, 1765.

M.

de Machault to

Commissary Varin.

Sir,

The King of England having sent two regiments of Regulars to Virginia, under pretence of defending that Colony against the attacks to which it is supposed to be exposed on the part King has thought fit to send also three thousand men of his troops of the Canada, although there is reason to hope that all these movements will pass off without occasioning a rupture between the two Nations, and that the two Courts will succeed in of the French, the

line to

terminating in a conciliatory manner the differences which are the subject and cause thereof.

These three thousand men, composing six battalions, are to be embarked on board some of the King's ships which will sail from the sixth to the fifteenth of April, from Brest, under M' Bigot will precede them in a frigate that is to sail about the the convoy of a squadron. but in the meantime it is necessary that you attend to the arrangements fifteenth of March ;

necessary for their reception at Quebec.

The

first

must be

for the sick that will possibly

be among them on their

of the wards the Hotel Dieu can furnish, you will cause

Hospital for the reception of one hundred and

fifty

to one

some

arrival.

Independent

to be prepared at the General hundred and sixty sick ; but 'twill

PARIS DOCUMENTS: be necessary only to arrange the wards, to

mark the

279

XI.

places and to have bedsteads constructed,

because the Hospital in the Fleet will deposit in the King's store, sheets, mattrasses and other hospital furniture.

You

will cause to be

some made You will

visit

will be in

want

fifty to

;

number

your arrangements

one hundred and sixty

barrack bedsteads, and order

of them.

the houses of the city to ascertain the

the officers of the troops for some days

hundred and

new

immediately repaired the old and

wards that

for the

and you

officers,

of rooms capable of lodging

in this will

regard ought to be for one

prepare in advance a

list

of

these lodgings.

You if

will cause to be collected flour or

there be a desire to

sell

wheat equal

twelve thousand quintals of flour, and fail to be the case the

to

the one and the other too dear, which will not

'twill be known in the Colony that troops are about to arrive, you will adopt, in concert with the Marquis Duquesne, the necessary measures to secure, by authority, that

moment

quantity of provisions, the price of which will be regulated on M' Bigot's arrival.

You

will

observe also, thereupon, not to lose any time in having the wheat ground, in order to take

advantage of the

You

fine season.

will take the

same precautions

thousand quintals of

for a supply of three

And, seeing the increase these troops

will occasion in the

salt pork.

consumption of every description

of articles, it is the intention of the King that [the exportation of] all sorts of Colonial provisions be interdicted, without your having the power, under any pretext whatsoever, to allow any to be put on board, except what will be necessary for the subsistence of the vessels

which will possibly be dispatched in the Colony; for the ships which will proceed from France to Quebec, will be notified that they will not be permitted to take in any sort of provisions there.

You which

will

employ the coopers

of Montreal to

will not be put in small bags,

the troops that will possibly be sent into the

You

make

barrels both for the transport of the flour

and of the liquors

to be furnished to the

detachments of

field.

will cause the large store in the gate opposite the Intendance, to be prepared for the

storage of the flour and other provisions and effects, which will be landed from the fleet for

the magazine.

You

will set

have others

men

built,

to

work

at the

caulking of the bateaux both at Quebec and Montreal, and

should there not be sufficient of them for the transportation of from two to

three thousand men, and the effects they will require for a campaign.

You

are to provide yourself also with bark canoes for the

same purpose, and

particularly for

the navigation of the River au Boeuf and the Beautiful river; and bateaux being capable of

serving on Lakes Ontario and Erie, you will see

if

there be enough of

them

carrying place, for the passage to Presqu'ile, so that, should any be wanting,

at the Niagara

some may be

constructed at that carrying place, or supplied by bark canoes. In a word,

you

will

occupy yourself

until M'' Bigot's arrival,

with

all

the arrangements that

will possibly be necessary as well for the reception of the troops as for the execution of the

operations in which they will happen to be employed. in

all this until

you

shall

You

have conferred and agreed upon

it

are,

however, not

being informed of the King's intentions respecting the destination of the troops,

judge of the precautions

to

M. Duquesne happen not be

be taken in advance relative at

Quebec when

do anything

to

with the Marquis Duquene, who,

to the

is

circumstances.

this letter will reach you,

you

will

qualified to

Meanwhile,

if

aqd even are

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

280

without waiting

at liberty,

make

supplies of provisions and

him, to lay in

for

the other

preparations I have mentioned to you for the reception of the troops and stores, which will be

disembarked from the

But until

fleet.

you are

in all cases,

as

much

M. Duquesne thinks proper

For the

M' Bigot,

rest,

as possible to

whereby you

the frigate,

keep the sending of the troops a secret

allow the news to be circulated. will receive this letter,

are to return to the lower part of the river to await the

M. Duquesne, to between these two frigates. as I inform

17'"

to

distribute all the

good river

and that which It

fleet.

pilots that

you

will

is

to convey

be necessary,

will be able to find,

February, 1755.

M. To M' de Bompar, Governor

M.

de Machault to of the

Windward

de

Bompar.

Islands.

Versailles, 17'" of February, 1755. Sir,

The public news will have informed you of the movements which have for some time been making on our Canada Frontiers, and particularly towards the River Ohio. The Court of England having dispatched two battalions of regulars to Virginia, and made other arrangements in that Colony and in the adjoining Provinces, the King has taken the resolution to send a reinforcement of six battalions of troops of the line to Canada, and his Majesty proposes that they shall sail in the month of April next, under a convoy of a fleet of his ships.

The King

of England has caused the most positive assurances to be given that the troops

sent to Virginia, and the other arrangements

making in that Country, have no other object than to defend his Colonies against the invasions with which they pretend Canada is threatening them. His Majesty, on

He

neighbors.

his

very

part, is

from suffering any attempt

far

at the invasion of his

orders that the most exact defensive be observed

will give

in

Canada, but,

although sincerely resolved to confine himself thus to the defence of his right and possessions,

he cannot

what has occurred

flatter himself, especially after

River Ohio, that he will not be obliged to

The

make

last

year in the direction of the

use of the forces he

is

sending to Canada.

his Britannic

Majesty does not cease to manifest for the preservation of peace, must, meanwhile, encourage the hope that all the discussions concerning the boundaries dispositions

of the respective Colonies in North America, will possibly be settled without coming to an

open rupture. in

tills

There

is

even queslion at present between the two Courts, of

new

propositions

regard.

But, in the incertitude of events, his Majesty has ordered that his intention

is,

that you prepare yourself for

attention to provide, as

government

;

much

all

that you adopt precautions to be informed of

Colonies in your vicinity

;

me

to

inform you, in his name,

events; that you redouble the care and

as possible, for every object relating to the defence of

that

what you guard yourself against every

is

your

passing in the English

surprise

;

but you are to

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XL observe, at the

same

time, in all the dispositions

281

you make, not

to allow

to

it

be suspected

you have received any orders to this effect. will be so good as to render me an account of what you will do in the matter, and I shall take care to inform you of the circumstances it will be proper for you to know, with the that

You

new

orders they

But the

may

require.

in all cases, 'tis

may interest me by the first

necessary that the King be in a position to decide on what

His Majesty desires that you send

of your government.

security

opportunity, and with proper precautions, a report of the arrangements you propose

making

in case of

its

condition in reference to that object

war, and the estimate of the assistance you

will possibly require.

Should

his

Majesty approve of writing this letter to the Governors of his Colonies,

of Canada,

exclusive

it

appears necessary to add, (to that) to Mr. de Bompar,

Governor of the Windward Islands, the following

And,

as in

all

cases, also,

it

is

to

article

:

be expected that the English will not lose sight of their

projects on the Islands in dispute, particularly St. Lucia, the

the orders his Majesty has already given

you on that

King

desires that

you conform

point, not only in case the English

an attack on any one of those Islands, but also on the

first

certain intelligence

to

make

you may receive

of a rupture on their part.

The

orders referred to in this article relate to St. Lucia.

M' de Bompar,

has, in

been directed on several occasions to be always on his guard in relation to that Island, in order not to allow himself to be surprised by the English ; to adopt, for that purpose, all measures possible to be informed of the movements they may have fact,

recourse

to,

Same

and

to

be

in a position to anticipate

Marquis de Vaudreuil and

to the

them himself on the

to M''

first

opportunity.

de Kerlerec', suppressing the

first

article.

Mefisi's.

Copy

de

Drucour and Pvevost

to

M. Dvquesne.

of the letter written by Mess" de Drucour and Prevost, from Louisbourg,

to the

Marquis Duquesne, on the twenty-seventh of February, one thousand

seven hundred and

fifty-five.

Sir, It is certain

that

the

English

are

make their appearance on the lands know that there have been for a long time

preparing to

bordering on the Ohio, or Beautiful river;

we

also

frequent meetings between the Governors and deputies of the Provinces of Boston, New-York, 'M. Keblereo was a Captain in the Royal Navy.

He had He

general engagements, and had received several wounds.

February, 1753, and administered

its affairs

until June, 1763

been twenty-five years in active service; had been in four sueceeced M. de Vaudreuil as Governor of Louisiana, 9lh

— that

is

ten years and five months,

when he returned

to France,

where, on his arrival, he was thrown into the Bastile on a charge of peculation. Qayarr^a Louisiana under the French, I.,

96.

— Ed.

Vol. X.

36

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

282

Merylan and Pensylvania, both

for the purpose of agreeing on the projected operations on the and of urging the Court of London on this subject, and perhaps to demand of it reinforcements and orders generally in regard to the navigation and to the provisions exporting

frontiers,

from

New

England

to

You may have

our Colonies.

preparations on the part of our neighbors are of too

measures you have respecting them

to adopt, for us to neglect

which

;

also

makes

learned, Sir, something about

much importance

communicating

them

;

these

and to the

to the service

you everything that we learn

to

us conclude to dispatch, this day, Sieur de la Saussaye,

officer of this garrison, by sea to the River St. John, whence he will proceed to place in your hands the despatch we have the honor to write you, whereunto we annex the extract of an enigmatical letter that M' Prevost has received from New-York three days ago, written by a man of your acquaintance who has spent a part of the winter of seventeen hundred and fifty-

an

three and seventeen hundred and fifty-four in Canada, and as he has since

same

had to communicate

style in the advices he has

to that

together for the meaning this last

may

that extract.

every appearance, and

In fine. Sir, there

be vigorously attacked

in

harassing the posts they

is

the spring

may

made use of the

Commissary, we have looked

contain, which you will find reported in the margin of

we

believe, that your

new

posts will

making a diversion and

the English are desirous of

;

be able to reach by the rivers situated on the East of their

may have destined for the upper you what knowledge we possess in this regard, and we believe that M' de Drucour could not confide it to any person more capable than Sieur de la Saussaye of making an expeditious journey it is moreover, a new occasion of improving the zeal and services of that officer, whom you, yourself, have already employed, if you are Continent, in order to oblige you to diminish the forces you

We

part.

lose not an instant to transmit

;

satisfied

with them.

Perhaps you are ignorant,

Sir, that Governor Shirley is at present at New-York, and that he has dispatched thither the regiment bearing his name.' We are, also, informed that the Governor of Halifax^ has furnished six officers of the troops of his garrison to organize and drill

the

As

new

militia.

we have had no news Meanwhile Sieur de la

for the rest, everything appears quiet in Acadia, but 'tis true that

from there since the end of November or beginning of December. '

Tbis was the old 60th Regiment, or "Dirty Half-Hundred," as 'twas called by the populace.

consequence of iu surrender at Oswego.

William Shirley, Colonel

The following were

the

Lieutenant- Colonel, John Littlehales

;

;

names of the

officers

Major, James Kinneer

;

It

on half-pay

in

was broke

in 1756, in

1758: Miijor-General

Captains, David Patton, Jolin Vickers,

Benjamin Barber, Richard Hutchinson, Robert Armstrong; Captain- Lieutenant, ioha Garden; Lieutenants, Thomas Irwin, George Graham. Joseph Goldthwaite, William Fellon; Ensigns, Milbourne West, William Coker; Chaplain, Philip Francis; Surgeon, John Gee. '

Army

List, 1758, p. 167.

Brigadier-General Charles) Laweence was sworn in a

time he was a Major

burned

in

the British army.

town and

member

of the Council of

In the spring of 1750 he

him

was sent

Nora

Scotia, July Slat, 1749, at

which

to reduce the French at Chignecto, but they

summer he returned to the attack, and erected a fort at the head of the Bay of Fundy, which was called Fort Lawrence. On the retirement of GoTcrnor Ilopson, in 1763, Major Lawrence administered the government; he w.is appointed Lieutenant-Governor in 1754 and Governor of Nova their

retired before

Scotia in 1756, being third in succession

into the

who

filled

woods;

in the

that oflice.

course of the

In September,

1757, he

was api)ointed one of the Colonels

commandant fruitless

of the 60th Royal American Regiment, and Brigadier in America on the Slst December following. In Loudou's campaign, of 1757, he commanded the Reserve, and at the siege of Louisbourg, in 1768, the second Brigade. After

the reduction of that place he returned to the seat of his government, where he died of inflammation of the lungs, on the 19th October, 1760, deeply regretted by every individual in the Province. The House of Assembly causid a monument to be erected to his

memory

in

the Parish Church of St. Paul, Halifax.

It

was during the administration of Governor Lawrence

that the cruel policy of expatriating the Acadians was had recourse to and executed. HalibuTlon's

Nova

Scotia, L, 150, 169, 170, 175, 183, 196, 199, 204, 210, 229, 317, 319.

Knox

— Ed.

Journal,

I.,

21,

170,

204;

PARIS DOCUMENTS: Saussaye

will call

XI.

account of events, and of the situation of our posts in regard If

283

on Father Germain and Sieur de Boish^bert,

your operations require any assistance

in provisions

in

to

order to render you a faithful

our neighbors.

on our

part, 'tis essential, Sir, that

you inform us of it very early, for you will perceive yourself how much difficulties will increase to providing them from New England, and one Prevost will have precautions to take, in that case, in order to obtain and furnish what you may demand. A snow, belonging to Quebec, coming from Martinico has wintered here ; it will probably first opportunity of writing to you, and then we shall have received news from Europe and America, which we'll communicate to you. We have the honor to be respectfully, Sir, your most humble and most obedient servants.

furnish us the

Chevalier de

(Signed),

We

Drucour and Prevost.

we mention concerning the movements of the and we believe even that the number of nine thousand men is excessive in the conjuncture, and in view of the expenses such an armament entails but if you are in possession of other advice, this will serve to compare with it, and you will be able, always, to draw conclusions therefrom relative to the reports which will be made to you, so as to keep you always on your guard, and to have an eye on the movements making P. S.

observe to you. Sir, that what

English, do not

amount

to certainties,

;

in

New

England.

Extract of the letter written from

New-

Interpretation

York on the eighth of January, one thousand seven hundred and fiftyfive, to M' Prevost, Commissary at Isle

letter

which we give

on the other

to the

side.

Royale.

Sir,

I arrived here in safety after a passage of

seventeen days, which appeared to

me

the

longer in consequence of the continual bad

weather

we

experienced during

the

entire

voyage, nothing less than the recollection of

your kindnesses, &c., was needed to bring any respite to my misfortunes, which have only

my

changed their nature on

arriving

here,

being obliged to submit to the general

lot of

the Frenchmen in the country, who, two days before

I

houses

;

it is

came, were ordered not to leave their therein

it

is

very different from what

with you, since not only have they per-

mission to come thither, and to

but even to reside there. myself lucky, nevertheless, in

by the pleasure every day at their house,

I

work

there,

must esteem

my

arrangement

hostility occurring in

we have justify,

fact until

a

in regard to the acts of

the Upper country, and

learned that the English, in order to

no doubt, their mancEuvres or to excite

misfortune,

the populace, are circulating the report that

me

the Marquis Duquesne has sent six thousand

procure for etc.

This order has been issued in definite

men

to the

Ohio.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

284

M' Prevost

I expect to leave here in the beginning of

May

at farthest

;

nothing will remain but

business of the twelve thousand

which

has

strong

livres

brother must perceive

security,

and even a Meyracq and

indications,

certainty, of being interrupted.

my

they

already,

it

my

it

here given to understand that

is

not be practicable for the writer to

will

supply the slaughter-house of Louisbourg with cattle, for the performance of which engagement the contractor had given 12000"

English

security, and, apparently, that not only

the

must not expect any more proper order has been applied thereto therefore I advise them,

that the English had, moreover, been forbid-

etc*.

den to come

;

;

exportation of cattle had been prohibited, but

Louisbourg, and

to

this is ob-

served in pointing out that the Judge and the

King's Attorney of the Admiralty must perceive that hardly any vessels of that Nation

have come during the winter.

know whether you have had any

don't

I

news from your he

will

Marseilles friend, and whether

have sent back

the

you had sent him

lures that

one thousand

livres for

nine for

thousand

me, namely,

Sieur Ignan, six thou-

The Marseilles friend must be the Marquis Duquesne, whose new posts will be attacked by 9000 men, and we believe that these will men

be distributed, by sending 1000

where,

St. Frederic,

M"'

to Fort

Prevost thinks, M' de

Pean and Mercier, and two for Sieurs Chaudiere and Company this does not fail to disquiet me, as I have had no news by the ships that have arrived from London. Perhaps I shall receive some by the first that will arrive, and which

Lusignan commands, or

are expected daily, being fully persuaded that

Beckancour; the uneasiness of the writer may, besides, arise, from the fact of his re-

sand

for

livres

thousand

livres

;

Mess" de Vismes and Son

my to

letters to

them

for

me

me.

of

London

will

send

here, if any be transmitted

As

I

doubt not but you will

have an opportunity to write to that gentleI request you to write expressly to him about this matter in order tiiat, by early spring,

man,

may I am do me a

myself provided with

at latest, I

find

goods which

to

you

favor to mention

will

partner,

M''

have

for these funds,

to his

Brest, having particular reasons

which prevent me writing subject.

it

and

to

him on that

River St. John,

to the

but he insists on the former interpretation

6000 men will go

to the bnl,

Beautiful river, or the Ohio

men

will find

are

in

;

way by

their

all

the vicinity of the

ceiving no intelligence of

Canada, and from

;

which is on the and lastly, 2000 the routes that

Chaudiere

what

is

his desire that

fails,

passing in

you may be

informed there of the projects of our neighbors and of the course they will pursue

would

desire to give

they are waiting

it

to be

for intelligence

in order to operate,

but

it

is

i(

;

he

understood that

from London

more

likely that

he means that he has had no news from Canada, and that he is under the impression This

that they are safe there.

why

Marquis Duquesne that in

may

he

the spring,

where to

is

the reason

he proposes sending an express to the

;

and

in

a military

to let

him know,

in order

oppose these irruptions early

by

offering resistance

every-

the fear that a letter written

man would

excite

too

curiosity in existing circumstances, our

much man who

dares not risk a notice to M' de Drucour, is

designated

Prevost

is

as M"" Brest,

and

to

whom M'

requested to communicate this

letter.

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

Draft of a Commission for DSpartement do

[

To

Louis, by the Grace of God, &c.

Baron

285

de DiesTcaii.

la Guerre, Paris. ]

who

all

the

XI.

shall see these Presents, Greeting.

Having

resolved to detach six battalions of our troops of the line for the purpose of sending them to

Canada, v?here they are

franches),

{comjmgnies

be

to

at present

employed,

conjointly

maintained there

for

direction of our Governor-General of the said Country, of said battalions

on a general

officer

on

with the Independent

companies

the service of our Colonies under the

We have concluded to confer the command

whom we may

rely for care, to attend to their support

service

command them on when our Governor-General shall think proper to employ them for the good of our in said country, and We, particularly confiding in the valor, experience, capacity,

fidelity

and affection to our service, of our dear and well beloved Baron de Dieskaw, Major-

and preservation,

to

maintain street police and discipline therein, and to

occasions

General {Marcchal de Camp)

We,

in

our armies, &c., considering the proofs he has given us thereof

For these causes and other considerations us moving, Dieskaw have made, constituted, ordained and established, do make, ordain and establish by these presents, signed witb our hand, Commander, under

in the various

commissions he has held.

the said Baron de

constitute,

the authority of our Governor-General in said country, over the said troops which are to go to

Canada, and to him have given and do give power to order them all whatsoever they shall to do, and to employ them everywhere need shall be, to give effect to our intentions; to cause them to live in good order, police and discipline, according to our military regulations and ordinances; to cause the same to be kept, maintained, and observed inviolably in all to cause those to be punished and chastised who places where said troops shall be employed

have

;

will

dare to contravene them

ordered, be

made

for

them

;

to

pay attention that

exactly,

by those who

generally to do and order in regard to said troops,

all

all

shall

the furniture which will have been be appointed for that purpose, and

that he shall think necessary to

the whole by and under the authority of our Governor-General in

command

Canada.

command

We

;

hereby

Sieur de Rostaing, Colonel of Infantry employed with said battalions, the Lieutenant-

Colonels, Captain, Lieutenants and Ensigns thereof; the Commissaries, Engineers

and

all

who will accompany said troops to acknowledge Baron de Dieskaw in said Commander, and to obey and hear him in all things concerning said power. For

other officers quality of

such

is

our pleasure.

In witness whereof,

we have

caused

our seal to be

affixed to

these presents.

Given at Versailles, on the of our Reign the XI"".

first

day of the month of March,

in

the year of Grace 1755, and

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. Baron

Instructions to [

The King's

Departement de

la

de Dieslcau.

Gaerre, Paria.

]

Camp

Instructions for the Baron de Dieskaw, Murechal de

Majesty's

armies, chosen

to

command

the corps of troops which

of his is

to

enibarii at Brest.

That corps of troops being destined to sustain the Colonies of Canada in conjunction with who are employed there, the orders and instructions of said Baron de Dieskaw are to be directed to these two points: one relating to the command of said corps of troops of the line, its maintenance, police, discipline and daily service; the other to the said Baron de Dieskaw's authority over the marine troops, and the operations they will have to carry out both on land and water for the preservation of said Colonies. As this latter part depends on the Minister of Marine, Baron de Dieskaw will ascertain from him the King's intentions in this regard, and the present instruction will be confined to what relates to the troops of the marine

the former.

Baron de Dieskaw to be issued for the

Canada, the

will find

annexed hereunto, a commission which his Majesty has caused

command

of said corps under the authority of the Governor-General of

letter of service of Sieur de Rostaing,

quality of Colonel of Infantry,

that

of Chev. de

who

employed under him

in his

Montreuil, Adjutant-General, and

those

will be

of Sieurs

He

partisan captains.

will receive,

corps, and will shall

same and

also, the return of

embark

at Brest in the

the battalions which are to

said military

have been inspected by Sieur de Cremille, Inspector-General of Infantry; on board the ships will be embarked, also, two Commissaries, three Engineers, one Surgeon-Major Surgeons.

six other

Said troops will have to be victualed by the vessel in

the

compose the

beginning of the month of April next, according as they

which

officers in

it

will sail,

command

where they are not

Navy

except the

Navy during

the voyage, each on board the

have any duty

to

perform, being, as well as

of them, regarded only as passengers.

They, as well as the Colonial troops, of the

to

shall be, also, victualed at the King's

fund, during their stay in Canada, both whilst in garrison and

officers

who

will live in garrison

on their pay, and they

expense out

when

shall receive

detached,

independent of

that ration the pay in silver, as

it is explained more in detail in the annexed table. Exclusive of pay and rations, the Navy will, also, cause these troops to be supplied with

clothing and utensils, and the sick and

wounded officers and soldiers to be received and treated Marine in the memoir, copy whereof is hereunto annexed. All payments and distribution of provisions, clothing and utensils, as well as the maintenance of the hospitals, will be made by orders of the Intendant of the Marine, on the abstracts of the reviews of the Commissaries intrusted with the Military Police, who are to address themselves

in the hospitals of the country, agreeably to the decision of Minister of the

to

him on

all

occasions

when

there will be question of providing necessaries for said troops,

him

in every matter which will relate to accountability. Baron de Dieskaw will, nevertheless, pay attention that all these supplies be made in proper order, and whenever he shall direct the oldest of the Commissaries to make representations thereupon to the Intendant of the Marine; which is not to prevent himself speaking to him

and

will be subordinate to

PARIS DOCUMENTS: when judged

about the matter

necessary.

The same

XI.

287

will be the case,

whenever there

is

question distributing munitions of war, and of asking said Intendant to replace arms, or of

him any extraordinary expenditure.

proposing to

He

will take care that the subsistence

money be

regularly paid to the soldiers every five or

ten days, according as he shall think proper to order.

His Majesty leaves him, soldiers' pay,

the

also,

at liberty to order such stoppage as he will

please on the

as far as one sous at the utmost, including therein the half sous {six denurs)

King allowed

France for linen and shoes, which stoppage will be expended in purchasing he may want, independent of what will be furnished him by the

in

for the soldier the articles

Navy, observing

in this case that the soldier

and of the time when the balance of possible, even the suspicion that there

As the

rule

which

is

observed

in

it

is

be always informed of the object of the stoppage,

will be paid him,

in

order to prevent, as

much

as

a design to do him the slightest wrong.

the Infantry in France,

that the officers rank

themselves according to the seniority of their corps, cannot be put in execution the mixed service which the troops going there will be daily

employed

Colony, His Majesty has issued the annexed ordinance, both

for the

in

among

Canada,

in

on, with those of the

purpose of regulating

the officers' rank there according to their seniority, and of establishing the parity of grades

between the officers of the Line and those of the Colony, but his Majesty's intention is, that the Baron de Dieskaw do not publish it until the arrival of the troops in Canada. This same ordinance regulates the manner in which the Courts Martial are to be held for the purpose of trying military crimes, either in garrison or in the

drawn

field,

and

in

the detachments, with the

where crime will have been committed between of the Line, and those wherein the troops of the Line and those of the

distinction that is to be

in the cases

and soldiers Colony will be equally interested. As regards the misdemeanors in which Colonists

officers

his absence, will be in

command

inasmuch as they are Baron de Dieskaw and those who, in

will be interested,

plainly within the jurisdiction of the ordinary judges.

of the land forces, are to refer them to the said judges

whensoever required by them so to do. As there are misdemeanors naturally requiring but a momentary punishment which it is within the attributes of the Commanders of the corps to determine, Baron de Dieskaw will take care, when complaints are made to him in such cases, either by Colonial officers or by the Colonists, that they receive

We

recommend,

in like

full satisfaction

on the spot, after the facts are substantiated.

manner, to the Commandants of the troops of the

line, to

apply,

Commanders of the Colonial forces and to the local Magistrates, on their part, said Commandants will report thereon to Baron Dieskaw,

in such conjuncture, to the

and

in case of denial

who

will apply to the

Although,

from

strictly

Governor-General and the Intendant

for redress.

speaking, no officer ought be court-martialed without express permission

his Majesty, nevertheless,

Canada has the power of having Majesty has been pleased to grant Baron of the troops of the line, under his command,

as the Governor-General of

the officers of the Colonial troops tried there,

Dieskaw the same authority over the

officers

iiis

on condition, however, that he will previously communicate thereupon with the said GovernorGeneral in order to obtain his consent, as this course is not to be resorted to except in very serious cases which require an example for the maintenance of subordination, but he will be in no case, at liberty to pardon the officers or soldiers who shall be found guilty by the

Court Martial, the Governor-General himself not having that

privilege.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

288 Baron de Dieskaw

will

commission, under his

own

signature, such officers as he shall have

selected, until commissions, orders, letters patent, or royal brevets of the

sent

him on the report he

will

In regard to vacancies in the suitable for such

commanded by

He

same

date, can be

have made of them.

commands

of battalions, he will submit such as he will judge

grade to his Majesty, until whose decision the vacant battalion will be

the oldest Captain thereof.

will also report the

rewards which,

under his orders will have

in his opinion, the officers

by transmitting to the Secretary of State, at the head of the War Department, a memorandum of the motives which will induce him to demand them, and the detail of the actions wherein such officers will have served, in order that the same may be deserved

for their services,

to his Majesty, and the King's grace be communicated to him. His Majesty expects that Baron de Dieskaw will see that the battalions under his orders be exercised on the principles adopted by his Majesty for the whole of his Infantry. If, however, he think it proper that they should learn some particular manoeuvres in regard to the species of war they will have to make in Canada, and to the nature of the enemies they will have

submitted

to encounter there, his

Majesty allows him every liberty

in that respect.

be the case that these battalions will have suffered a considerable loss either by the fortune of war, disease, desertion or otherwise, his Majesty permits Baron de Dieskaw to equalize all the companies of the same battalion, by transferring soldiers from the strongest

Should

it

He also approves that in case of need, he unite two weak to the weakest companies. battalions in order that they perform the service of one battalion, without, however, this change depriving the Commandants of the battalions so united of the authority they are always

to retain over their troops, as this junction is to

furnishing detachments and fighting.

be made only for the purpose of

In case of such junction of

two

battalions,

Baron de

be at liberty to reduce the number of their colors, and to retain only one of In regard to the grenadiers they will both be retained. those belonging to each battalion. Each battalion is to keep up its own on such footing as Baron de Dieskaw will judge proper

Dieskaw

will

to determine in regard thereto,

it

being his Majesty's intention that the soldiers belonging to

one battalion shall not be transferred to another. Although it be his Majesty's intention that the soldiers

who

are willing to clear lands, be

permitted to remain in Canada, he nevertheless desires that no absolute discharge be granted on this or any other pretext whatsoever, until the motives for which he has sent said battalions

having ceased, he think proper soldiers

the lime

to

cause them to return to France. In order to indemnify the to Canada, will find themselves obliged to serve beyond

who, on account of their going

when they ought

to be discharged,

had they remained

in

France, his Majesty has

caused the annexed ordinance to be issued, agreeably whereunlo one pistole shall be paid to

each of those so circumstanced.

The manner of Canada, to

in

which Baron de Dieskaw

whom

is

to conduct himself

the nature of his commission renders

towards the Governor-General

him necessarily subordinate, remains

The Governor will leave to him all the details of the command, discipline, and interior service of the land forces, but Baron de Dieskaw will be bound, nevertheless, to render him an account thereof, in order that the Governor-General be acquainted with their strength, situation, and, generally, with all that can contribute to put him in possession of the to be disposed of.

police

advantage he may derive therefrom,

on

foot.

for

the success of the operations he shall have to set

PARIS DOCUMENTS It is

therefore indispensable that the Baron de

with the Governor-General, acting in concert in possible, all separation

:

XI.

289

Dieskaw maintain the all

things,

best understanding

and that he avoid, as much as

from him, unless the Governor-General put him

in

charge of some

expedition requiring his presence.

In case Baron de

Dieskaw

shall find himself necessarily separated

from the Governor-

General, he will so arrange that Sieur Rostaing remain with that Governor, in order that the

correspondence which ought always subsist between them,

may

be kept up through him.

Should the Governor-General think proper to assemble a council of war concerting the operations of the campaign, he will invite to

for the

purpose of

without hesitation, Baron de company with him, if he so desire.

Dieskaw, or Sieur de Rostaing

it,

in his absence, or even in But whether the Governor-General take the advice of a council of war or content himself with conferring in private with Baron de Dieskaw, or decide independently without any previous communication, the said Baron shall be bound to obey the orders and instructions he shall give him, either for marching detachments or heading an expedition himself, and he will not be at

liberty to

make any change

General will have shall be reported to

in what shall be prescribed to him, only so far as the Governorhim free so to do, or in urgent and unforeseen circumstances, which him on the spot. Said Governor-General shall be at liberty to send new

left

orders pending the expedition, and to repair, should he desire, to the spot, to assume the

command and terminate what will have been commenced. The local Governors of Montreal and Three Rivers having also

chief

these places, but also of the detachments that proceed from

the

them by

command

not only in

their authority, in urgent

Baron de Dieskaw will recommend the commanders of battalions that will be garrisoned towards them and the Lieutenant-Governors and Majors of these places, according down for the staff of fortified places in France, which is also to be observed in regard to the Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, who commands there in the absence of the cases.

there, to act

to the rule laid

Governor-General.

On

the

other hand,

said

local

Governors,

Majors will be recommended to act towards Baron de Dieskaw as fortified

Lieutenant-Governors and is

the custom in France in

towns, in regard to superior officers employed on the frontiers by letters of service,

without, however, Sieur de Rostaing nor even Baron de Dieskaw having the power to order

by command of the GovernorGovernor of the place where he will happen to be. Whenever the battalions will form one corps, with the Independent companies (compagnics

off

any troop belonging

to the garrisons of said places, unless

General or consent of the

local

franclies) of the Colonies, the

without

Adjutant-General will make out the detail in chief of the whole,

difficulty.

The Governor-General, in the distribution of the detachments, will so arrange that the command be divided proportionally between the officers of the line and those of the Colonies, and when both partisan officers will be detached, that no officers be sent with them who might dispute their

command.

Baron de Dieskaw will recommend all detached officers to inform him of whatever will occur, whether they be in command of the detachments or not, and he shall communicate to the Governor-General any intelligence he will receive, and any matter to provide for, which will require the intervention of such Governor's authority.

He

will

likewise pay attention to inform the Secretary of State at the head of the

department, of the actual situation of things, at

and of everything of Vol. X.

interest that occurs.

37

all

times

when

War

a vessel will be sent to France,

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

290

M. Duque-sne

to

M.

de Dvucour.

Extract of a letter written by the Marquis Duquesne to Chevalier de Drucourt, the

A

8"" of

March, 1765.

circumstance has occurred at the Beautiful river which seems to promise

me

that there

The Chouanons, who compose the strongest Nation in that quarter, have attacked the English, taken seventeen scalps and made ten prisoners, whom they have distributed among different tribes who have taken up the will

be less difficulty in consolidating our

new

post.

Nothing could be so advantageous under existing circumstances,

hatchet.

barriers equal

to

such

defenders

;

but

with

such

the same) the Indians must be sustained, as they

work was

left to

them.

a fine

would soon march

Private In-stmctions Private Instructions for

to

M.

let

(

for

off

for there are

my movements

go did they think that

detachment on the

I have, in consequence, sent off a

the opening of the navigation, cause (others) to

game

by brigade,

ice,

all

no are

the

and

shall, at

to

observe

as usual.

de Vaudreidl.

M' de Vaudreuil regarding

the conduct he

is

towards the English. Versailles,

To

respecting the conduct he

been

1*'

of April, 1756.

enable Sieur de Vaudreuil to conform to what his Majesty has to prescribe to him,

for

some time

is

agitated,

to observe in regard to the it is

movements with which Canada has

necessary to explain to him everything that relates to the

pretensions the English have formed to the principal frontiers of that Colony, and which have

given rise to

By

all

these movements.

article 10, of

named on both

the treaty of Utrecht,

sides

it

had been agreed that Commissioners should be between the French and British American

to settle the boundaries

Colonies.

On

occasion of an expedition that the English fitted out, in 171S, against the fishing posts

which the French had in the Islands of Canso, the two Courts did, in fact, nominate Commissioners to decide the property of these islands. The Commissioners met at Paris. At the very first conference, those of the King of England, who claimed that the Islands of Canso were dependent on Acadia, which was ceded to the English by the Treaty of Utrecht, were convinced, on inspecting the Map, which they presented themselves, that those islands were, on the contrary, included in the reserves expressed in the article of the Treaty of Utrecht containing the cession of Acadia, and that, consequently, France had retained the property thereof.

not again

They withdrew, saying they required new instructions from their Court, and did make their appearance. Although there had been question on different occasions

naming other Commissioners in execution of the treaty, war ; and Sieur de Vaudreuil is better informed than any person how they abused the moderation which had always governed his Majesty's

that since presented themselves, of

the English had always eluded

it,

until the last

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XI.

291

proceedings and views, since he has been a witness of their unceasing usurpations, on the territory of

Canada, during the long peace which followed the Treaty of Utrecht.

His Majesty did

flatter

himself that he should eventually succeed in placing bounds to their

and securing tranquillity

enterprises,

to his

Colonies by a definite fixation of the respective

whereby that of Utrecht has Commissioners have been named on both sides, and did meet at Paris to regulate all the disputes concerning the French and British possessions. But whatever earnestness and facilities his Majesty had lent to the this settlement, the success of the labor of these Commissaries is far from responding, up to the present time, to the hopes he had entertained thereof, from the dispositions his Britannic Majesty had caused to be evinced in In consequence of the last Treaty of Aix la Chapelle,

limits.

been renewed.

that regard.

Commissioners have not entered upon the limits of Canada further than what The demands the British Commissioners have made on that subject, have laid Under pretext of the cession which has bare the ambition and unjust views of their nation. been made to England of Acadia, by Article 12 of the Treaty of Utrecht, they have claimed

As

yet, the

regards Acadia.

not only

the Peninsula in which Acadia happens to be situated, but moreover that the

all

cession included on the one side,

all

the territory extending up to the South shore of the River

Lawrence, and embraced on the other side the territory which touches the frontiers of New England. But it has not been difficult for his Majesty's Commissioners to destroy ideas St.

so chimerical, and they have

shown

that the cession of

Acadia ought

to include only a part of

the Peninsula.

The English have been meanwhile put

fortii

by

their

Commissioners

;

for,

considerable fort at Beaubassin, which

Acadia.

It is

desirous to sustain,

by

on the Acadia

they have already erected a pretty

is,

side,

acts of violence, the pretension

in fact, in the Peninsula, but

even probable that they would have extended their posts

beyond the Isthmus which separates the Peninsula from

without the limits of to the

Continent

itself

without waiting

for the decision of

the Commissioners, had not his Majesty adopted the resolution of stopping

them by causing a

fort to

it,

be erected at Beausejour, and establishing other posts on that frontier

undertaken

year to build on the

last

New England

side,

by force of arms, a

;

and they have fort at

Naurant

But the Marquis Duquesne is to take measures to destroy this fort; and perhaps that expedition will have been terminated when Sieur de Vaudreuil will arrive in Canada. He is informed of what has occurred in the direction of the Beautiful river, which the English Souak', which

will

now

is

include within the dependencies of Virginia.

with endeavoring off the

only 35 leagues distance from Quebec.

to

But he

is

not aware that, not content

penetrate in that direction, into the interior of the country, and there cut

communication between Canada and Louisiana, they preliused the Governor, five times consecutively, to be

But having answered that he was resolved

Commander

all

therefore

;

the outer works were carried.

any quarter either

to surrender, threatening him, in case he refused, not to grant

garrison.

in

to

first

him or

to

defend himself to the

ordered a general assault for the following morning.

Scotch regiment that was the

summoned

And

it

was the

last,

fine

his

our

Royal

to scale the walls, between 4 and 5 o'clock in the morning,

followed by one hundred and sixty Canadians and three hundred Indians, who, on entering the

town, seized the Governor and hung him over the breach.

and

all

the inhabitants were slaughtered and burned.

after a siege of three

Of

all

The

Thus

it

garrison

was

was put to the sword town was captured

that the

weeks.

the forts on that island, ooe only, called Jerabelle,

has been carried at the end of nine days.

The

was approached

in form,

and

it

garrison shared the fate of that of the town

of Manton.

As

this place

was the magazine of almost the entire country belonging war and provisions were found there,

prodigious quantity of munitions of

and four brass guns

fit

for service,

six mortars, three unserviceable;

thousand shell;

five

twelve spiked and thirty iron pieces

to the English, a

two hundred

viz:

for the vessels

;

seventy-

twenty-nine thousand seven hundred balls; twenty-three

thousand four hundred and seventy-eight barrels of powder; four hundred fit for use; four hundred and

and forty-four thousand six hundred and seventy-nine muskets sixty-six unserviceable, and provisions for three years.

We

sixty-seven officers killed and twenty-six wounded in this expedition and one hundred and one wounded, including Frenchmen, Canadians and Indians. M' de Lery is Governor until the appointment of another by the King. This account is conformable with the despatch which the M. de Vaudreuil's Principal Secretary has had the honor to write to the King from Manton, the twentieth of July, one

have had four

;

soldiers are dead

thousand seven hundred and fifty-six. Although it is excessively hot in that country, our Frenchmen are well pleased with in this connection it will not be irrelevant to give a brief description of the place.

it,

and

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

430 Tt consists

of

two

islands formed

by two sand banks

of a square form.

than three or four hundred leagues in circumference, and

Here stands the town

about four leagues.

handsome, and

its

all

The

first is

more

entered by an arm of the sea of

Though not very

large

it is

pretty

harbor, though only two hundred and thirty-three toises in circumference,

capable of receiving

is

the support of

of Manton.

is

all

Wheat

sorts of goods.

inhabitants

its

but as an

;

is

scarce in that country, and insufficient for

possesses abundance of sugar-cane and

offset, it

wild grapes; the vine twines around elm trees, and

takes three men's arms to span

it

it

at the

Quantities of oranges and lemons grow there also.

base.

In regard to the other island four thousand, including the

it

only consists of forests, and has a population of not quite

towns and

forts.

cloves, cof!ee, nutmegs, oranges, cotton, &c.,

All the trees there bear fruit, such as pepper,

which the people barter with French and other

European merchants.

Names and Rank

of the Officers killed at the siege of Fort St. Philip,' in the

attack of the 27"" and 23"" June,

1756, according to the order of the

regiments and companies, as sent to the King. Regiment of Britiany

M. de

:

Regiment of Vermandois

:

St.

Alby, Captain of grenadiers, and M. Duperier, Lieutenant.

Captain de Kejan and Lieutenant de Charmont.

Regiment of Royal Artillery: Captain Dupinay and Lieutenant Dutore. Rfgiment of Medoc

:

Sub-Lieutenant Gerard.

Royal Comlois Regiment: Captain Desartre and Sub-Lieutenant Dusard, both of the grenadiers. Regiment of Cambis : Captain Pigius of the grenadiers. Regiment of Rochefort : Lieutenant de Luce, of the grenadiers, and Captain Des Bords. Regiment of Hainaut : Lieutenant Maille.

Names

of the Officers

wounded, with the number of

soldiers killed and

wounded.

Royal Regiment: Captain de la Grationnage of the grenadiers, very dangerously wounded by a shot in the hip; Captain de la Revertison wounded in the face by a piece of a stone ; Captain de Montenoust, dangerously wounded by a shot

in the jaw Captain de Chievres, dangerously wounded in the head by a piece of a shell; Lieutenant de Chatal of the

grenadiers,

wounded

the face by a mine.

Rfgiment of Br iqueville

in

;

the face by a piece of a shell; Lieutenant de la Filtre, burned in

Thirteen soldiers killed and

fifty-six

wounded.

Captain Cuilliere adjutant, dead of his wounds; Captain de Sella wounded in the head and arms; Captain de Mongeot wounded in the ribs; Captains de la Motte and Moreux both wounded in the face; Lieutenants Poirrin, de S'* Croix, de :

Magendre and de Rupiere wounded

in the

feet

years, son of the Lieutenant of grenadiers,

by the

fire

of a mine; M. Baudot, aged

wounded by

the explosion of a mine,

At Port Malion, in the Island of ilinorca, at the siege of which place the regiments in this list served. Gentleman'/s Mngazine, XXV.. 320, et seq. From this return of the killed and wounded being annexed to the account of the siege of Manton (which is but a slight alteration of " Mahon "), and from the description of the products of the country, we infer that the ' General Detail of the recent Victory," on the preceding page, is a squib, based on the capture of Port Mahon by the '

French

in June, 1756.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: having already received a gunshot hundred wounded.

XII.

431

Thirty-seven soldiers killed and two

in the shoulder.

Rrgiment of Briltanij : Captain Belgarde and Lieutenant du Bose. ninety wounded.

Royal Regiment of the Marine : Captain de Campden wounded Forty soldiers killed and thirty-three wounded.

Three

in the leg

soldiers killed

by a splinter of a

and

shell.

Regiment of Vermandois : Captain Chataignier of the grenadiers; Lieutenant de Laudeote ofthe grenadiers; Captain Croilson, who has had a leg broke. Nine soldiers killed and ninety-six wounded.

Royal Rrgiment of Artillery : Lieutenants Melac-Charbont, Chevalier V^errier, Carpiole, du Gravier, M. Mery and Cadet Chevalier de Rozan, all six mortally wounded Captain ;

Isarn

;

Lieutenants de Lairac Lambart, de Goulet, Chevalier de Capriole, Pupilgoirand,

Epondallian,

Chevalier

dangerously wounded killed, ninety-seven

;

Missol

;

Mess" de

la

Rocque and de Lambard have

and M. de Goulet has been wounded twice.

been

Seventy gunners

wounded.

Regiment: M. Modon, Captain en second, mortally wounded

M. Patrisi, Captain, M. Thenesoti, M. Pierarde, Count Monaldi, Captain en second, dangerously wounded Captain of grenadiers, M. Botta, Captain, and M. Cancelli, Lieutenant of grenadiers, sligiuly wounded. Eleven soldiers killed and thirty-three wounded.

Royal

Italian

;

;

Regiment of TaJaru : Lieutenant Hubert of grenadiers, Captains Bellon and de Jon. eight soldiers killed and

fifty

Thirty-

wounded.

M. de Valin, Captain of grenadiers, wounded by a gunshot in the M. de Monvein wounded by a splinter of a shell in the hip; Captain de Bellecombe wounded by a stone in the leg and knee Lieutenant Miirille of the grenadiers, wounded by a gunshot in the thigh Lieutenant Chodois wounded by a stone in the leg Lieutenant Berail, wounded by a gunshot in the arm Captain Douse slightly wounded. Forty-seven soldiers killed and seventy-six wounded.

Regiment of Mtdoc: belly;

;

;

;

;

Royal Comtois Regimevt: Captain Beaumenis wounded of the grenadiers, killed

wounded by

in

the

left

thigh; Lieutenant Alexandre,

a splinter of a shell and three pieces of stone.

Four

soldiers

and twenty-six wounded.

Regiment of Trainel: Captains de Cremon, de Chevignis, des Hayats and Lieutenant Parron. Fifteen soldiers killed and thirty-eight

wounded.

Regiment of Cambis: Lieutenant Saulveboeuf dangerously wounded.

Eight soldiers killed and

thirty-two wounded.

Regiment of Rochrfort : Captain Daine, of the grenadiers, wounded by a musket shot; Captains Dannelle and Latfrilte wounded in the face and breast by a stone; Chevalier de la Porte and Remainel wounded in the chest and thigh Lieutenant Deseau Dnures wounded by a ;

gun shot through the arm.

Fourteen soldiers killed and sixteen woimd^H

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

432

Captain de Rochemont, of the grenadiers, wounded by a gun shot in the thigh; Captain d'Hommieres, of the grenadiers, has had a leg broken by the explosion of a mine; Captain Manburon wounded in the knee and leg; Lieutenant de St. Leger, of

Refimeif, of Nice

grenadiers,

:

wounded by

a

musket shot

head

in the

has had an arm broken and been shot

;

Lieutenant Mennier, of the grenadiers,

the thigh

in

;

Lieutenant Duverdist dangerously

Sixteen soldiers killed and thirty-five wounded.

wounded.

Regiment of Hainaut : Lieutenant Palle dangerously wounded ; Lieutenant Caby wounded by a shot in the shoulder; Lieutenant Montesquieu wounded in the neck by a splinter of a Lieutenant Bonnot wounded shell ; M. Vassimont wounded by a musket shot in the hand ;

by a musket shot in the leg; Captain de la Briere, captain of grenadiers, wounded by Captain Monderin wounded in the head M. d'Ormesson, wounded slightly. a mine Sixteen soldiers dead and eighteen wounded. ;

;

Regiment of La Marche: M. des Colonnes, Captain en second, wounded by a stone. soldiers killed

Thirty-seven

and thirty-two wounded.

Regiment of Soissonnais: Captain de Gorindelle, of the grenadiers, wounded by a mine; Lieutenant de Farremont, of grenadiers, wounded dangerously; Lieutenants de^onrepos and de Caumont wounded slightly. Eleven soldiers killed. Total wounded, two hundred

and

forty.

M.

de

Montcalm [

to

Count cfArgenson,

D^partement de la Qnerre, Farig. ]

Montreal, 20"- July, 1756.

My

Lord,

yon on the SG"" of March last [on] my departure with Chevalier I remained there from the 3rd, the day of our arrival, until the IS"". I left there by order of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, and arrived yesterday at Montreal, having traveled night and day, and I start to-morrow to repair as quick as possible to Frontenac. 1 was not unoccupied the fifteen days 1 remained at the camp; ambulances in a horrible I

had the honor

de Levis

for the

to write to

camp

at Carillon.

condition; provisions, to wit, the article of bread, bad; the works of Fort Carillon, begun

very little advanced; a number of necessaries wanting in the store; order to be introduced everywhere; reconnoissance of the locality, of the passes through which the enemy last year,

can come, and the arrangements for the defence of that frontier, which

is

always supposed to

be threatened.

The southwest winds, which have almost delay

the transmission of everything that

repaired to Montreal, has essentially aided

men's

No

lives.

liitendant.

constantly prevailed this year, had contributed to

was wanting.

me

in restoring

The

presence of M. Bigot,

who

order to matters so necessary to the

person could employ more activity and expedition in his labors than this among the Militia. Sieur Arnoulx, Surgeon-

Sickness was increasing, especially

Major of our troops, very useful to

me

in

whom

1

took with

what regards the

me and

hospitals.

brought back,

is

very zealous, and has been

PARIS DOCUMENTS The

fort

garrison in

commenced

layers,

bound together with

my

earthen works; but

it is

it

be in a condition to

The

not durable.

site of the fort is well

timber in

Such construction

much

as good as masonry, and

is

risk a

necessary to use the same

is

fort consists of pieces of

traverses, the interstices filled in with earth.

proof against cannon, and in that respect

is

That

fortnight.

433

at soonest,

And moreover,

an untoward event.

introduced there during

1

month

last year, cannot, before a

in case of

it,

activity that

XII.

:

adapted as a

better than

first line

at the

head of Lake Champlain. I sliould have wished it to be somewhat larger, capable of containing five hundred men, whereas it can accommodate, at most, only three hundred. To understand the ground, I took two long walks afoot with Chevalier de Levis. I am indebted to him for a

Mohawk

tliird,

sleeping three days in the

woods

Europe who are obliged

in

which was necessary

to acquire a

knowledge of a

road, of which every one speaks without being acquainted with

to

Bivuk.

a^l

I

do not believe there are

knowledge, good sense,

not have believed that he had so

somewhat

is

many

part called the

He

has been

superior officers

would be impossible for me, my genius, he has considerable quick-sighted, and though I had served with him, I could

make such journeys

afoot.

It

Lord, to speak too highly of him to you; without possessing practical

it.

much

readiness.

He

much

has derived profit from his campaigns.

would not do so with the same frankness to M. de 1 left him fully aware of it as Mirepoix.' His present position does not fail to be difficult. well as of his resources. It may be delicate if we have to contend against an enemy aware of

Though

I

write you

[fully]

I

and able to attack him with a very superior force. I wished he had at least 3000 good men, exclusive of the Indians who come and go. I left him only 2000, fourteen or About 400 fifteen hundred of whom are Regulars or Marine forces; the remainder, Militia. I urge M. de Vaudreuil to recruits, soldiers or Militiamen are on the march to join him. augment them still further. During my sojourn at the Camp at Carillon, we had, as usual, some parties of Indians and

their advantages,

Canadians detached, rather

observe the enemy's movements than to make any attack. An English detachment in 7 prisoners and 6 scalps.

to

Nevertheless one of these parties brought captured two

little

Lake Champlain.

we began

event that

And

bateaux belonging to

us,

and eight men, at the mouth of Otter creek,

'Tis fortunate they did not take any more, for to see the necessity of using a little

the Marquis de Vaudreuil has approved of the orders

having dispatched a detachment

to

it

was not

more precaution with our convoys. I

issued on that occasion, and of

reconnoitre the whole of that

is

combined, and

a project that appears to I

me

sufficiently military, if all

and Niagara, and some Canadians who are on shore the siege of that place, or at least, to

during

my

make

Beam,

in the vicinity of

a diversion.

for

the details be well

leave without being either assured or convinced of that.

proceed with the three battalions of La Sarre, Guyenne and

my

part of Otter creek, to

examine whether the English were not designing to form some settlement there. The object which has recalled me to Montreal so soon, and causes my departure Frontenac,

in

until after that

It is

proposed to

stationed at Frontenac

Chouaguen,

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

to

attempt

has issued,

absence, several orders relative to this expedition, the success of which

is

of the

CnARLKS Pierre Gaston Fbancois dk Levis, Marshal, Duke de Mirepoix, after a military career of eome yearis, wa» appointed Ambaaaador to Vienna in 1737 was promoted to be Lieutenaat-General in 1744, and served with distinction Id He was appointed Ambassador to London in 1749, when he was created a Duke, and two ytars afterwards Italy, we marched over land to form^the advance of the Frontenac army, and to resume our bateaux at La Chine and to get canoemen qualified to extricate us from the bad places we had to pass. We made scarcely six leagues when we were obliged to ascend three steep rapids to reach the camp designated for us. We had been wading continually up to the waist in the water and had to travel thirty leagues before we got half way. The soldier, with whom we all have reason to be pleased, did not lose courage; his ardor redoubled at every difficulty, and though repeatedly forced to carry our canoes, landed us at La Presentation where the river assumes its ordinary course. On the 1st of July, we arrived at the rendezvous, where the regiment of Guyenne was encamped. La Sarra took its right, with its flank under the cannon of the fort. The bad position of the latter. Sir, is inconceivable; all the works our new Engineers are laying out there do not render it defencible. It is commanded on all sides; no magazine protected. At first view it appears to have been constructed only for trade. We were very quiet there, being covered by a considerable party of Canadians and Indians; and although we had only pork to eat, the attention we paid to our good friends the Algonquins, procured for us either fish or game. We expected to be fixed there, when the operations of the campaign changed all

;

;

appearances.

was informed

M"^

de Vaudreuil,

who had

disposed of the General officers at our departure,

of the projects of the English.

He

had sent Chevalier de Levi, Brigadier, with

men collected camp we were occupying the

three French battalions to the point of Lake Saint Sacrament, to oppose 8000 there.

Colonel de Bourlamaque, with the other three, to the

;

Marquis de Moncalme was reserved to take post wherever he would be most necessary. Previous to his departure he was at Fort Carillon, where he found the enemy in force. He wrote to that

effect to M""

M. de Moncalme

de Vaudreuille,

who knew how

and proceeded

set out again

to join his

necessary

army

it

was

to create a diversion.

at Montreal, in order to arrange

there everything his troops had to do, so as to prevent our being attacked. in consequence, to 1,600 Canadians to follow

report spread throughout

would come and the reginr.ent of

to

all

The

issued orders,

its

situation.

who

camp with an order for The Engineer who had reconnoitred

captain of artillery arrived at our

proceed to the Bay of Niouare.

Fort Chuagen informed us of

He

the artillery in motion, and had the

the Indian nations that there would be plunder for those

all

fight with us.

La Sarre

him; put

PARIS DOCUMENTS

On

we

the 29"",

left to

encamp

at Isle

mix

aillo,^

:

XII.

455

and arrived on the

30"" at

our rendezvous.

The scouts reported everything to us, and w^e rendered a faithful account thereof. The Marquis de Moncalme, who, by his instructions, was at liberty to profit by the favorable moment, if he should perceive any, thought proper to seize it in consequence of the intelligence he received of the enemy. We had orders to send our bateaux back to Frontenac for the regiment of Guyenne and that of Beam, and the artillery necessary for that expedition. We was no longer

learn that Colonel Johnson

Chuagen, and that he had left one of his Aids-deof 1,500 men. Our army altogether amounted only to a force of 3,000, including French, Canadians and Indians. We labored several days at the construction of ovens, and nothing escaped the vigilance of our Generals in order to

Camp, named Mer

provide for the wants of an army which any accident might starve.

On Lake

the

8""

the

army had

at

command

Ler,^ there in

that ought always to be

accompanied by

its

supplies,

and

arrived at Niosar^, after having experienced rough weather on

M' de Rigaud detached advance

Canadians and M. de Moncalme hospital was at company La the head of the Regiment, the four pieces of cannon and of that of Guyenne. We marched the whole night between the 9"" and lO"" when we overtook M' Rigaud at Uance aux barraques. We left Beam the heavy artillery. The army cooked provisions at the River aux Sables, where it halted until the night in order to be able to take up a position at the investment of Ontario.

It left

on the

9"".

parties of

Indians through the woods; twenty Abenakis constituted our van-guard.

followed the grenadier

the fort.

Sarre, M. de Bourlamaque, the

of

M' de Moncalme ordered the

artillery to be

order to be less exposed in our manoeuvres.

We

field

landed in the course of the night,

disembarked with

within three-quarters of a league of the ground without any opposition

all ;

in

imaginable success

bivouacked through

some grenadiers and pickets in advance, to mark our camp. day Mess" de Bourlamaque and Senezergue accompanied the two Engineers

the night, after having sent out

Two

hours before

to reconnoitre the

who was

chief,

ground suitable

for

was unfortunately

Decombles, by one of our most trusty Indians, who was

opening the trench and placing the batteries.

killed there

overpowered by the desire to procure a scalp, and did not recognize the officer until he was This event appeared to throw a damper on our hopes. The willing disposition of our soldiers made up for it we continued our labors without any interruption the army was occupied in making gabions we had not the least knowledge of the enemy, who appeared

killed.

;

;

;

ignorant of our designs, other day into the lake.

when we were It

discovered by a

canoe which they sent out every

little

army; on the report

did not suppose that 'twas the

it

made

at

Chuagen, the Commandant dispatched two Our guns did wonderful execution and obliged them to return to their harbor. On the night of the 12 and IS"" we opened the trench at a distance of a pistol shot from Fort Ontario. The fire of the besieged was pretty lively, without, however, disturbing our large sloops to batter our bateaux on the beach.

workmen; we evacuating the

lost fort

side of the river.

;

in the course of the morning; they fired astonishingly when discovered their retreat by the trips they were making from the other Curiosity got the better of us and we seized the fort without fear of

some men

we

we were assured it was mined. Their precipitate retreat made them abandon a quantity of stores, the greatest part of their papers and whatever they could not remove in the first trip. We became that day acquainted with their situation by an express

consequences, although

'

Sit. Isle

aax

Callots.

'

Sic.

Mercer.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

456

our Indians took, intercepting their

M' de Johson

They demanded reinforcements, and besought The feeble resistance they offered determined our The soldiers were encouraged a new trench was opened letters.

send some to them.

to

Generals to invest Chuagen closely.

;

was resolved to discharge all our guns en Barbtt^ at the break of day on the 14"" of November, and the rest on platforms which had been hastily constructed. Our troops distinguished themselves on the occasion by incredible diligence. Those who worked by day were half covered. I entered the trench at three o'clock in the morning, and day had hardly broke when our cannonade began. They answered us with an unparalleled fire, well served, and we could not persuade ourselves that people who had abandoned Fort Ontario would and

it

We

defend that of Chouagen.

and the very moment

persisted in that opinion

we were

we

me, when their

of our labors.

building;

we

arrived at that which

picket, seven

of Vive

cries

le

men were

either

Roi communicated the tidings to the trench.

commander and of their artillery officer; the tears such as saw their husbands exposed to the same danger,

We

surrender.

have taken

1,640

everything, supply us wherewith to subsist the

England's

prisoners, 120 of

120 pieces of ordnance and six large sloops.

standards,

loss is

estimated at 20,000,000.

success to Providence.

meanwhile,

lost

New England was

women;

prevailed on the are

women;

five

Their magazines, provided with

army during

the next campaign.

Those who are the

little

The King

of

least superstitious attribute our

somewhat longer. We have, army would have been swept away, had the valor so

Old England extended as

far as their

We

it.

Colonies.

Lake Ontario

flourishing than ever, trade entirely reestablished,

being able to oppose

whom

of their

'Tis true. Sir, that they could hold out

80 men, and our

justly attributed to the troops of

of

my

of their

garrison to

more

In

a half, and I had yet the entire of the day before heard the rayfel beat and saw the White flag waving from the tower of

crenellated loss

the terror of

is

our artillery battered their camp,

wounded within an hour and

killed or

The

;

thinking only of our destruction

witnessed the glorious termination

The bulwark

are recovering with difficulty from our surprise.

at first only a

Ours to-day

ours, without their

house the Iroquois permitted a private individual to build,

which the King seized some years after, to trade in he had strengthened it with all the works we are demolishing. Their losses are unheard of; the Canadians and Indians have had a very considerable slice of the cake. The latter have supped full of horrors; and have massacred more than 100 persons who were included in the capitulation, without our being able to prevent them or having the right of remonstrating with them. These species of animal, whom I look on as mad dogs, are, when drunk, beyond control. We are waiting orders for our destination ; either to go down to the Point, or to occupy the quarters which the Marquis de Moncalme ;

reserves for the three battalions that have formed the siege, and sort of emulation to follow in the footsteps of

From

all

these events

I

conclude that peace will be near, and that

to resist all these checks. '

When

We shall

the breastwork of a battery

James' Military Dictionary.

which have exhibited every

Marshal de Richelieu

— Ed.

is

it is

in the

Mediterranean.

impossible for England

be the sooner in France.

only three feet high, eo that the guns

fire

over

it,

they are said to

fire

" en Barbet."

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

Journal of

An Account

tlie

XII.

457

Siege of O.i-wego,

of the Capture of the Forts of

Choueguen, or Oswego; and of what

occurred this year in Canada.

The new

preparations the English have

made

to

invade Canada, notwitiistanding the

success of their expeditions last year, have been as public in Europe as in America.

were expected

there,

and independent of the arrangements made

in that

the King sent thither a reinforcement of troops with provisions of

From

own

defence,

New

made arrangements

France,

He

Colonies.

for the continual

harassing of the English in

kept, throughout the winter, in the field, detachments of Canadians,

These detachments made excursions on all sides. The Indians number of people, and a great quantity of cattle have been driven off. considerable number of houses and stores have been burnt. In divers places on the

soldiers

have

A

for its

all sorts.

the close of last year's campaign, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor and Lieutenant-

General of their

Colony

ill

They

and Indians.

killed a great

English

the

frontiers of

movements have by the injustice difficulties

the settlements

Colonies,

have been abandoned, and

effectually served not only to increase the discontent

of their

all

which have prevented the execution of those projects

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

himself to

has not confined

in

this.

the spring. In taking

all

the other

precautions which appeared to him practicable in order to provide for the security of

Canadian

these

engendered among them

Governors' projects, but have also created embarrassments and

all

the

formed the project of attacking the English themselves in their establishment at Choueguen on Lake Ontario. frontiers, he has

knows that this establishment is an encroachment made by them in a time of They contemplated, at first, only a simple trading post. It was with this they made the proposition in 172S, to the Iroquois Indians, who would not have

All the world

profound peace. sole

view that

looked quietly on

Canada;

it

if

they saw,

Their true design

habitations.

was

to put

them

at once, a fortification erected in

all

in that

the vicinity of their

establishment was, however, perceived at the time in

in a position not

only to usurp the commerce of the lakes which

the French had never shared with any European Nation, but also to cut

off,

in the very centre

of the Colony of Canada, the communication with the posts dependent thereon.

Nevertheless,

the French Governors contented themselves with protesting against that usurpation.

King caused complaints

against

it

to be

they have been constantly renewed on

all

made,

at the time, to the

occasions.

The

Court of England, where

But the English, not troubling themselves spirit of peace which has ever

about the justice of these complaints, and always abusing the

regulated the conduct of France, fortified themselves, by degrees, at

Chouaguen

;

so that they

had constructed three It

forts there, to wit 1" Fort Ontario, situate on the right of the river in the centre of a very high plateau of land. consisted of a square of thirty toises on each side, the faces of which, broken {brisces) in the

were flanked by a redent placed at the point of the brisure. It was constructed of pickets in diameter, hewn on both sides, perfectly well joined the one to the other, and 8 to 9 feet out of the ground. The ditch that surrounded the fort was IS feet wide and S deep. The excavated earth was thrown up as a glacis on the counterscarp, and as a very steep talus on centre,

IS inches

the berm.

Loop-holes and embrasures were cut in the pickets on a level with the earth thrown

Vol. X.

68

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

458

up on the berm, and a wooden scaffolding ran all around, so There were S guns and 4 mortars for double grenades. 2^ Old Fort Choueguen, situate on the left bank of the machicoulis, and perforated on the ground floor and thick,

and surrounded

at a distance of three toises

first

as to

admit of

firing

over the top.

river, consisting of a

story, the walls of

by another wall 4

house with

which were 3

feet

and 10 high,

feet thick

There was likewise a raised work which Here the enemy had placed 18 pieces of cannon and 15

perforated and flanked by'two large square towers.

protected the fort on the land side.

mortars and howitzers. Fort George, situated 300 toises beyond Fort Chouaguen, on a height by which the

S"*

was commanded. It was of pickets, and very poorly intrenched with earth on two faces. was principally by means of the advantages this establishment afforded the English that they flattered themselves to invade Canada. Their design, at first, was to seize Forts Niagara and Frontenac. Masters of these two posts, they would have absolutely cut off the communication not only with the Upper countries, but also with Louisiana; they would have

latter It

destroyed one of the principal branches of Canadian trade, and by depriving this Colony of a portion of

its

Indian

allies,

would be

in a position to attack

it

in its establishments

from

all sides.

The Marquis

de Vaudreuil was informed in the beginning of the winter that, in order to

execute this project, the

enemy were causing

troops, with considerable supplies of

He

munitions, to be collected in the forts of Choueguen.

command

at first

all

sorts of

dispatched a detachment

which by assault in the month of March, and destroyed, with all the buildings dependent thereon; and all the stores, found there The Marquis de Vaudreuil in great abundance, were carried off, burnt or thrown into the river. sent out another detachment of 700 men, under the command of Sieur de Villiers, a Provincial Captain, to go and intercept the transports which were to pass by the Choueguen river; this detachment did, in fact, destroy there, in the forepart of July, a convoy of about 200 vessels, in which more than 500 English were killed or taken prisoners. The success of these expeditions confirmed the Marquis de Vaudreuil in his design against Choueguen. He could succeed therein only so far as it should not be suspected by the enemy, and he would not afford them time to throw into that post the new succors they destined for Therefore, in the distribution he had made in the the attack on the two French forts. of Canadian troops and of Indians, under the

was

the principal entrepot of these supplies.

This

fort

beginning of the spring, of the forces of the Colony directed his principal attention towards

of Sieur de Lery, to attack a fort

was

carried

for the defence of all

his frontiers,

he

Lake Ontario.

Under pretence of necessary reinforcements

for the particular defence of Forts

Niagara and

Frontenac, he concentrated troops there and had conveyed artillery thither, with munitions of

war and

provisions.

He

reinforced Sieur de Villiers' detachment on the

Choueguen

river,

and, after being assured of the actual condition of the English post and of the reunion of the troops he destined for the expedition, and of everything necessary for

its

execution, he recalled

the Marquis de Montcalm from the frontier of Lake Champlain, for which he had destined him, as being the post

where the most interesting operations were

to

take place, and

made him

set

out immediately for Fort Frontenac, with the orders and instructions necessary for the expedition against Chouaguen, with which he

The Marquis de Montcalm, on with the exception of Sieur de

was

to

be entrusted.

arriving at Frontenac on the 29"' of July, found Villiers'

all

assembled

detachment, which the Marquis de V^audreuil had

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XII.

459

and the command of which had been taken by Sieur de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, Governor of Three Rivers. This detachment had already been as far as the Choueguen river and the Bay of Niaoure, which the Marquis de Vaudreuil had designated as the reinforced,

general rendezvous.

The troops destined for the expedition consisted of about 3,000 men, including the detachment commanded by Sieur de Rigaud, which was to act as the van-guard. The Marquis de Montcalm did not lose any time in getting ready to set out from Fort Frontenac. After having made the necessary provision to secure a retreat, in case a superior two armed sloops on Lake Ontario, one of Choueguen arranged a chain of scouts, Canadians and Indians, on the route between town of Albany, for the purpose of intercepting expresses, and embarked on the 4"" of August with the first division of his troops, consisting of the battalion of La Sarre and that of Guyenne, with 4 pieces of cannon, and arrived on the 6"" at the Bay of Niaoure, where the second division, composed of the battalion of Beam, of Militia and the bateaux, with the artillery and provisions, arrived on the 8"". On the same day, the Marquis de Montcalm sent off the van-guard, under the command of force rendered that inevitable, he gave orders to

12 and the other of 16 guns,

to cruise off

;

that place and the

Sieur de Rigaud, of Choueguen.

advance

to

The

first

to

a cove

called L'anse aux

division having reached there at

two

cabannes, within three leagues

o'clock of the

morning of the

10th, the van-guard repaired by land and across the woods, four hours afterwards, to another

cove situated within half a league of Choueguen, in order to cover the landing of the artillery

and troops there.

The

first

division reached this cove at midnight.

The Marquis de Montcalm

succeeded in posting immediately a battery on Lake Ontario, and the troops bivouacked during tlie

night at the head of the bateaux.

On

the llth, at day-break, the Canadians and Indians advanced to within a quarter of a

league of Fort Ontario, situated, as has been stated, on the right bank of the River Choueguen,

and invested it. Sieur de Combles, the Engineer, who had been sent at three o'clock in the morning to determine this investment and the front of attack, was killed on returning from his scout, by one of our Indians who had escorted him, and who, in the dark, unfortunately mistook him for an Englishman. Sieur Desandrouins, another Engineer, laid out across the woods, partly through swamps, a road reconnoitred the evening before, for the passage of the artillery; and this road, begun on the morning of the ll"", was pushed on with so much zeal, that it was completed the next day. Meanwhile, the camp was laid out, the right resting on Lake Ontario, covered by the battery thrown up on the preceding evening, and which protected the bateaux from insult; the left rested on an impassable swamp. The march of the French, which had up to that time been concealed from the enemy by the precaution of proceeding only by night, and of entering and halting in the rivers where they were hid, was announced to the English on the same day by the Indians who went up to the foot of the fort to fire. Three armed sloops went out of the Choueguen river at noon and came to cruize in front of the

forced

The

them

to

move

camp ; they

discharged some of their guns, but the

fire

from our battery

off.

the break of day, the Beam battalion arrived with the bateaux of artillery and which were landed forthwith in presence of the English sloops that were cruizing before the camp. The beach battery was increased the park of artillery and the provision depot were arranged, and Captain Pouchot, of the regiment of Beam, received orders to act as Engineer during the siege. Preparations were made to open the trench that very night. 12"", at

provisions,

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

460

The Marquis de Montcalm committed

the superintendence of it to Sieur de Bouriamaque,

Colonel of Infantry, and ordered out six pickets of workmen, of

fifty

men

each, for that night,

with two companies of grenadiers to support them.

The work midnight.

at that trench, with

was rather a

the diligence possible, could not be

all

about 100 toises

commenced

before

opened within 90 toises of the and trunks of trees. This parallel, completed at five o'clock in the morning, was perfected in daylight by the working parties, who constructed the zigzags and began forming batteries. The enemy's fire, which was very brisk since the break of day, ceased about six o'clock in the evening, and it was perceived that It

parallel of

encumbered with

ditch of the fort, in ground

front,

abattis

the garrison had evacuated Fort Ontario and passed to the other side of the river to Fort

Choueguen.

It

abandoned on

and four mortars.

retiring eight pieces of artillery

The fort having been immediately occupied by the grenadiers of the trench, pioneers were commanded to continue the communication of the parallel to the river's side, where, at the was commenced,

setting in of night, a grand battery

Choueguen and the road between the

latter

and Fort

so

St.

placed as not only to batter Fort

George, but also to take in the rear

Twenty pieces of cannon were the retrenchments which surrounded the first of these forts. conveyed on men's shoulders during the night, and this labor employed all the troops, with the exception of the pickets and guards of the camp.

On

Montcalm ordered Sieur de Rigaud to wade across to gain the woods and harass the communication to Fort St. George, where the enemy appeared to be making great preparations. Sieur de Rigaud executed this order at once. Notwithstanding there was considerable water in that river and the current was very rapid, he plunged in, crossed over with the Canadians and Indians, some swimming, others wading up to the waist or neck, and the 14"", at day-break, the Marquis de

to the other side of the river

with the Canadians and Indians,

reached his destination, without the enemy's

fire

being able to arrest one single Canadian

or Indian.

At nine

o'clock the besiegers

had nine guns

in a position to bear,

the garrison was, then, superior, the white flag

was

and although the

hoisted at ten o'clock.

fire

of

Sieur de Rigaud

officers whom the Commandant of the fort had which was concluded on the spot, and the conditions were that the garrison should be prisoners of war and that the French troops should take immediate possession of the posts. It has been already stated that they had occupied that of Ontario the evening before. Sieur de Bouriamaque, appointed Commandant of Forts George and Choueguen, took possession of them with two companies of grenadiers and the pickets of

forwarded to the Marquis de Montcalm two sent to

him

to

demand

a capitulation,

:

the trench, and he artillery

The

was charged with

the demolition of

the posts and the removal of the

all

and munitions of war, and provisions that were there.

celerity of our works, in

ground considered by the enemy impracticable

;

the rapid

number of the French the death of Colonel Mercer, Commandant of Choueguen, who was killed at eight troops and, still more than all, Sieur de Rigaud's bold manoeuvre and the o'clock in the morning construction of our batteries; the idea those works conveyed of the ;

;

dread of the Canadians and Indians, the besieged not to

They have

lost

make

who were

already firing on the

fort,

doubtless determined

a protracted defence

one hundred and fifty-two men, including some soldiers killed by the Indians woods. The number of prisoners exceeded sixteen hundred,

in attempting to escape into the

eighty of

whom were

officers.

Seven vessels of war have

also

been taken, of which one

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XII.

461

carried fourteen, one ten, one eight guns; the other three carrying swivels craft for transportation;

and the

officers

;

besides

two hundred

and crews of these vessels have been included in the two regiments of Regulars, Shirley's and

capitulation of the garrison, which consisted of

The artillery captured consists of fifty-five howitzers and forty-seven swivels, which have been removed,

Pepperel's, and Schuyler's regiment of Militia.

cannon, fourteen mortars,

with a vast quantity of

five

ball, shell, bullets

and powder, and a considerable amount of provisions.

The Marquis de Montcalm

has lost but three men, namely, one Canadian, one soldier and a gunner, exclusive of Sieur de Combles; and only about twenty have been wounded in the different corps of Regulars under his orders. All those wounds are very slight. Sieur de

Bourlamaque, Captains Palmarol of the grenadiers, and Duparquet of the regiment of La Sarre, are of this number.

On the 21st of August, all the forts having been razed, the prisoners, artillery and provisions removed, the Marquis de Montcalm embarked with his troops and proceeded, in three divisions) Bay

to the

indicated to

whence the different corps repaired to the respective destinations them by the Marquis de Vaudreuil, who has caused the four colors of Shirley's

of Niaoure,

and Pepperel's regiments, and that of Schuyler's regiment of Militia

to

be deposited in the

churches of Quebec and Three Rivers with the ordinary ceremonies.

The

success of this expedition has diffused universal joy throughout the Colony, where

advantages are better appreciated than anywhere

its

else.

Canada

finds

itself,

all

thereby,

relieved from well founded uneasiness caused by the establishment of Choueguen.

It

sees

the communication with the Upper countries and all the Indian Nations, its allies, protected from the troubles to which such communication was exposed. The Colony has no longer any fear of being attacked from that quarter, at least with the superiority the English possessed by the establishment just wrested from them and which placed them in a position to dominate

on the lakes, where they had already organized a navy. It is, henceforth, able to concentrate its forces for the defence of its frontiers, and has the satisfaction of being indebted for this

happy change send It

to the

in its situation

powerful succor the King has had the goodness

to

it.

has given expression to the most touching sentiments of respect and gratitude for these

new marks

of his Majesty's protection, and seconds, with

all

the zeal to be expected from a

people, the most faithful and attached to their Prince, the indefatigable pains taken for

defence by the Marquis de Vaudreuil and the Marquis de Montcalm, and the other

its

officers

intrusted therewith under that Governor's orders.

M.

de

Montcalm [

Count iV Argenson.

to

DSpartemcnt de

la

Guerre, Paris.

]

Montreal, 2S"" August, 1756.

My I

Lord,

communicated

to you, in

my

direction of Chouaguen, and the

preceding letters, the project of creating a diversion in the

whole of the preparations

to

besiege that place, notwithstanding

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

462 all

the obstacles which naturally presented themselves.

men and

inferior artillery

It is,

perhaps, the

who

have besieged eighteen hundred

first

time that 3000

could be promptly reinforced

by 2000 and could oppose our landing, having a superior navy on Lake Ontario. The success has been beyond all expectation, as you will see by the Journal I have the honor to transmit to you.i I will add, that the necessity of success demanded by the safety of the Colony, the honor of the King's arms and by myself, had determined me, and the principal officers of the two regular regiments concurred in the resolution, to go with all the Canadians and Indians, the grenadier companies and four pickets per battalion, to meet and give battle to the enemy at a portage three leagues from my camp; I had small scouting parties of Canadians and Indians continually out, but I was not put to that trouble. The precaution I had taken> before leaving the

with

whom

Colonel Mercer,

about

to

Bay

of Niaoure, to

no one can stand better,

Commandant

of

make my

known

intentions

and intercept every

to stop

Chouaguen, who had no idea

be besieged, should write on the ]2*\ at four o'clock

in

to

my

friends, the Indians,

me

that

until the ll"", that he

was

letter,

procured for

the morning, to divers English

My hopes Generals, and his despatches were handed to me at ten o'clock by some Nepissings. were increased by the manner in which the Commandant expressed himself. Nevertheless, were it not that this Mercer had been killed, the capture of Chouaguen had been deferred a day or two at most. You will remark by the Journal I transmit to you, that I had thrown the Canadians and Indians across the river that as early as the morning of the 14"' I had nine guns in battery. My arrangements were made to have thirteen more on the 15'\ with a battery of mortars and howitzers. I had issued my orders for the regiment of Beam to proceed at nightfall, with three pieces of cannon, outside by the lake and land above Chouaguen at an anchorage I had had reconnoitred and sounded, for the purpose of making an attack in the direction of Fort George by communicating with M. de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, who was in command of the Canadians and Indians. My whole conduct on that occasion, and the arrangements I had concluded on, in the face of eighteen hundred men, are so utterly at variance with ordinary rules, that the audacity with which that expedition has been executed, must be considered rashness in Europe. Therefore, I beseech you, my Lord, as a particular favor, to assure his Majesty, should he ever, as I hope he will, employ me in his armies, that You can even assure him that, at all events, I I shall conduct myself on different principles. should have secured my retreat, saved his artillery and the honor of his arms, sacrificing, perhaps, two or three hundred men. The nature of the country, the weakness of the English ;

troops, the dread they entertain of the Indians,

that the English,

my Lord of

some

when

Loudon's Scotchmen, prisoners from

Our land

forces

my

for

it

certain of

it.

It is to

We

be concluded

must look

at

appears that General has arrived, according to the report

whose representation

a sad state during his whole Therefore,

made me

transplanted, are no longer like those in Europe.

I should infer that

Baron de Dieskaw

will be in

life.

acquitted

themselves with incredible

Lord, I beseech you to grant

me

the favors

zeal, I

of

all

I

required of them.

ask of you for them.

I address

you a Memoir on the subject, to which I have annexed a very long letter in order to detail, more fully, the special reasons for each favor. I have one request to make in favor of Captain le Mercier, of the regiment of the old Marine, and brother of Captain le Mercier, of the Colonial troops, who commands the artillery. If it be possible for you, my Lord, to grant it on my recommendation, it will give me influence '

Supra,

p.

ISt.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: among

the Colonial officers,

XII.

will believe that chance

The Marquis de Brancas

favors for them. I

who

will present

463

^

may sometimes

you a special

letter

on

have usefully employed them and the Militia of the country, not, however,

exposed

Within

to

six

placing as

much

too first

the enemy's

'Tis a troop

fire.

months I would make grenadiers much dependence on them as the

knowing neither of them, and

And my

discipline

would

I

to procure

this occasion. at

any works

nor subordination.

carefully abstain from

unfortunate M. de Dieskaw did, by having given

ear to the confident talk of Canadians,

nation in the world.

now

me

enable

who

believe themselves, in

respectable Governor-General

all

respects, the

a native of the country

is

is everywhere surrounded by relatives. To have ordered Canadians have proclamation made by beat of drum, on the day following the capture of Chouaguen, forbidding, on pain of death, the Canadians who brought up the bateaux for

has married there, and to be punished

me,

to return

—

to

home, appeared very strange

to the officers

and even

do the Marquis de Vaudreuil the justice to say that he approved of firmness, which

a good

effect.

1

The

knew how Indian

is

to

my

I

must

The

tone

M. de Rigaud. proceedings.

to accompany more than once with mildness and patience, has

enraptured of me, and, learning that

I return to the

camp

at

The Canadians are satisfied with me their to march thither. me, and would be well pleased could Frenchmen and their General esteem me, be dispensed with, which would gratify me also. I have deemed it my duty to express myself pleased to the Keeper of the Seals, with all the Colonial troops, and not to appear dissatisfied with anything. The Missionaries ofSt. Sulpice, to the number of two, have always accompanied them

Carillon, has induced

Abbe

their Indians. to the

King, came

vincunt;

;

fear

officers

to

Picquet,

who had

Chouaguen

and a pole on one side

some years ago, to present three Indians which has been affixed In hoc s'ig7i.o with the King's Arms, and the inscription + Manibus date the honor,

to erect a cross there, to

lilia iilenis.

I do not give

you any description of the

forts of

Chouaguen.

The

Engineer's letter and

plan supply that.

As for the rest, my Lord, the success of this expedition is decisive for the Colony. the manner in which Chouaguen has been the apple of discord. Its position on Lake Ontario the facility the Indians experienced at that place, to the English were fortifying themselves

—

—

dispose of their peltries to much better advantage than in our forts all these reasons created the apprehension that, sooner or later, England would possess the superiority in the trade The capture of Chouaguen destroys their projects in this regard. It of the Upper countries. ;

is

a loss to them of fifteen millions.

The

greatest joy I experience at having succeeded in this

expedition, emanates from the circomstance that such success

is

due to a general

officer,

whose

you alone have determined. The Account I transmit to you has been submitted to the Marquis de Vaudreuil. He is of opinion, as I have mentioned to the Keeper of the Seals, that it would be proper for the government to have it printed, as it has done that of the events of the last campaign, in order to afford publicity in Europe to an event of the greatest brilliancy and. most important consequences in North America, and for which the Marquis de Vaudreuil has deemed it a duty

selection

Te Veum and public rejoicings. annex to this despatch copy of the articles of capitulation granted to M. de Lithleales, I beg you to Shirley's Lieutenant-Colonel, who commanded on the death of Colonel Mercer. observe that no inventory of the artillery has been made, which, at all events, will dispense

to order a I

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

464

The King from ten thousand Uvres, which will preserve to us the affection of the Indian Nations more than ever; and there is nothing that I would not have done rather than commit an No

with any restitution on our part. Indians wished to violate eight to strongly

act contrary to

You

French good

capitulation will ever be so difficult to enforce.

have put an end to that

I

it.

from you that there has been a themselves {/aire une

very

it is

will cost the

It

faith.

ammunition and provisions. I it was even necessary

will also find a return of the artillery,

are not in Europe, and

affair.

plunder, which

little

difficult to

to tolerate.

We

prevent 300 Indians and 1500 Canadians regaling

Moreover, this

curee).

shall not conceal

is

the custom in the Colonies, on one side and the

other, but the property of the English officers, as well as the munitions of

war and

provisions,

have been saved.

M. Bigot, who concurred with the best grace in all I had proposed to him for the good of made arrangements for the payment, on my order, of all the extraordinary expenses I should deem proper. He had advanced me thirty thousand Uvres for that. As it was necessary to stimulate my little army, every sort of labor, either for the siege or for the demolition of tiie works, has been paid higher than in Europe, and this, joined to gratuities and

the service, had

considerable sums given to the Indians, amounts to eleven thousand eight hundred and sixty-

two

The

Uvres.

military chest captured at Chouaguen, and delivered, with a minute, to the

Treasurer, contained the

As soon I left

sum

and some Uvres. Chouaguen was completed, I hastened

of eighteen thousand

as the evacuation of

nothing behind but Lieutenant-Colonel de

the

march of the troops.

regiment of Beam,

I'hopital, of the

whom

I

ordered to Frontenac with some pickets as a guard over six hundred prisoners removed thither in the sloops until they can be forwarded down here with a portion of our artillery.

The regiment

of

La Sarre

is still at

Niaoure, through want of bateaux, and for the purpose

of evacuating the depot of provisions I had formed there under the supposition of a longer

Beam

in full

march hence

follow with the grenadier

company and

sojourn.

nine hundred

is

men

to

for the defence of that frontier,

whole of

this reinforcement

account of

difficulties in the

Guyenne

Carillon.

a picket of

La

Sarre.

will leave in

This

which appears

will

I

make

a halt here for a

few days

I

addition of

to be threatened; but the

cannot arrive there before the 12 to the

matter of provisions, roads and transportation.

are busy with their harvest.

two days and

make an 15""

September, on

All the

to expedite this

Canadians

movement,

and desire the end of the campaign as much as any other person. My health no longer bears up against excessive fatigues and traveling three hundred leaguesin two months. Chevalier de Levis has rendered

He

is

me

a very precise report.

hastening the fortifications of Carillon;

enemy and they

are

making

prisoners.

His order of

which

He

neglects nothing on his part.

has detachments out continually against the battle, in case of attack,

ought to parry

enemy, m 20"' and 21"; 21" and 22"^, whatever was outside the fort, more than 300 bateaux, 4 sloops, one of which was pierced for 16 guns, a saw-mill, a large pile of building-timber and fire-wood; two storehouses full of articles for the troops, and provisions; ajittle stockade work containing a dozen houses and barracks to lodge the troops and their sick. Despite the fire of musketry, some shells and cannon-shot which they discharged, we lost, in these diffijrent operations, only five soldiers. We had six men slightly wounded, including two Indians. This success is the more important for the Colony, inasmuch 'Tis to as the enemy were in a condition to take the field, in that quarter, earlier than we. be hoped that their operations will be thereby retarded, and that the Canadians, who are here both farmers and soldiers, will have time to sow their grain. This detachment has, moreover,

provisions on sleds which can be drawn, in good roads, by dogs; sleeping on the bear's skin, with a simple sail

;

make itself certain The Canadians have been

served to

them

astonished to see that our officers and soldiers have yielded to

in nothing in this sort of

in fact,

for

of the exact position of Fort George.

march

to

which they were not so much accustomed. in which one

be admitted, that no idea can be formed in Europe of the fatigue

It is

must,

obliged,

weeks, to march and sleep almost continually on the snow and on the ice; to be reduced

PARIS DOCUMENTS: to bread it

with

and pork, and often

much who commanded our detachment.

Paulharies,

Do

not,

my

He

is

Lord, suspect the zeal of the superior

command

de Levis would have accepted the urgently

XIII.

555

dragging or carrying provisions for fifteen days. Our troops bore gaiety, and without the smallest murmur. I cannot speak too highly of M. de to

demanded

and

too had offered to

an

officer of

officers

high distinction.

belonging to the Line.

of that detachment; M. de

manage

Chevalier

Bourlamaque had

which might, according had submitted on the IS"" January a Memoir containing a plan of surprise, and for the execution, at least, of what has been effected ; and I required only eight hundred men for that purpose. But the Marquis de Vaudreuil wished it,

I

t0 circumstances, be of the greatest importance.

For

this business,

I

to entrust that operation to his brother.

We

are led to hope that the hospitals attached to our

managed than

camps and in the forts will be better This department and that of provisions, which up to the present

last year.

time, had been in Canada, in the hands of Commissaries {en regie), have just been put out to contract, as in France.

The winter has been of the most severe character. The river St. Lawrence has been frozen December and still remains closed this S"" of April so as to admit of the passage of sleighs over it. The thermometer, which in the year 1709, in France, marked in since the forepart of

the greatest cold only 15 degrees, has been repeatedly at 27, often IS @^ 20, and continually 12 @^ 15. A great quantity of snow has fallen.

am

I

with respect,

my

almost

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Montcalm. P.

S.

battalions

We

have just received a

may

from Louisbourg, dated the

letter

3"*

February.

be considered complete, accordmg to the statements sent me.

I

Our

observe by

M

de Dreucourt, Governor of Isle Royale, that there is no more trouble with the M. de la Grive, the Commissary, whom the English had taken and sent back to Halifax in exchange for the one taken at Chouaguen, has some difficulty with M. Prevot, Commissaire Ordonnateur of the Marine. I flatter myself that the letters M. Bigot, the Intendant the letters of

battalions, but

of Canada, M. Doreil and which is highly necessary.

Since the declaration of

I

write on this occasion will communicate a spirit of conciliation

War, some small armed vessels have gone from Louisbourg, which prizes amounting to one hundred thousand ecus, according to what

have not failed to bring in the Governor of Isle Royale writes.

An Account

of the

Embassy

of the Five Nations,

annexed

to

M. de Montcalm's

letter of 24"- April, 1757. [

The

DSpartement de

la Gaorre, Paris.

]

success of the last campaign had determined the Five Nations (A.) to send an embassy

to Montreal.

Some

of their Ambassadors, 40 in number, with about GO

women and

children,

The Five Nations, or Confederates, or Iroquois, a species of League or Association, formed by five peoples who, Iroquois by origin, compose only one single house, which is called the Iroquois Cabin, or the Grand Village. These peoples (A.)

are the Senccas, Cayugas, Onnonlaguis,

Mohawks and

Oneidat.

They speak

as

many

diifcrcnt dialects of

one laoguogo, aud

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

556

The 9''", and demanded an audience for the SS"-. Marquis de Montcalm and Chevalier de Levis were invited to this audience. When all were assembled, a Cayuga arose and, after a moment's meditation and silence, said that as yet they were only Onondagas and Cayugas, that they were accompanied by some Cherakis, a Nation bordering on Carolina, which has been conquered and since adopted by them; that their arrived there on the night of the 27"' of

:

brethren, the Senecas and Oneidas, would

speak of good

come immediately,

after

whose

arrival they

would

affairs.

He then expressed the customary compliments, and concluded by recalling a message which had been given them with two strings of Wampum (B.) by the Commandant of Catarakoui. (C.) He demanded a private audience for the 29"" in order to explain at it their answers on the The speaker adroitly insinuated, into his harangue, that they had subject of their Strings. been suprised that no person had come to meet them, and that they had not been received with the usual ceremonies. (D.) The Marquis de Vaudreuil answered by compliments, assurances of protection and kindness and in regard to the ceremony, of the omission of which they complained, he told them that they had arrived late and unexpectedly in Montreal. The audience granted for the 29"" was postponed to the 30"". The speaker, after having repeated the usual

compliments and asking provisions and equipments, insinuated, when

speaking of the causes of the delay of their voyage, that they had expected to remain at Montreal only four days; but that these four days may well become four months, and that at all events they

New- York, and on

tlie

Lalies

the south by the Apalaches.

which form the River

of these conquered tribes

and given

although by these adoptions their league Nations, as they originally were. neutral.

A

;

but as shrewd

not allow them to want for

Lawrence, and all

now composed

is

bounded on the

those countries.

politiL-ians as

There

is

east

by

not an

the Romans, they have adopted

tliem, so to say, the right of Iroquois citizenship

is

on their mat.

As

for the rest,

of ten different Nations, they are continued to be called the Five

portion of these Nations has declared for

The Mohawks only have accepted

Wampum

St.

Tliey are the greatest warriors of

Indian Natiou that they have not attacked and subjugated

some

who would

had to do with a good Father

inhabit that part of North America, south of

us,

another portion appears desirous to remain

the English hatchet.

New- York coast; they are Burgos or periwinkles, some of which are white, The while are of little value the violet more in demand, and the more they incline Wampum, for state affairs, is shaped into small cylinders, a quarter of aninch long, to black the higher are they esteemed. And proportionably thick. They are worked into two forms. Strings and Belts. The Strings consist of cylinders strung, without any order, one after another, like the beads of a rosary. The Belts are wide sashes, in which the white and purple (B.)

is

a sort of shell found on the

others violet, verging towards black.

beads are arranged and color are

rows and

in

tied

;

by

little

leathern strings, whereof a very pretty tissue

proportion to the importance of the affair to be negotiated.

in

is

formed.

Their length, width

Ordinary Belts consist of twelve rows of 180

beads each.

These Belts and Sirings of

and

for registers;

Wampum

are the universal agent

among

Indians, serving as money, jewelry, ornaments, annals,

the bond of nations and individuals; an inviolable and sacred pledge which guarantees messages,

'tis

among them, they make a local memoir by means of these belts, each of which signifies a particular affair, or a circumstance of affairs. The Chiefs of the villages are th.- depositaries of them, and communicate them to the young people, who thus learn the history and engagements of their Nation. In addition to the name Oaionne, which is most used to signify these Belts, the Indians gave them, also, that of Oarihoua,

promises and treaties.

which means, an

As writing

is

not in use

Affair; that of Onouenda, as speech or message,

and OninnJeren-iera, which implies greatness or

nobility,

affairs treated by Belts; they it is who furnish the Belts and Strings, whenever presents are made to the villages and answers are given to the speeches

because Chiefs only are competent for the great

and

it is

among them

that they are divided,

of Ambassadors. (C.) The name given to Fort Frontenac by the Indians. (D ) T e Five Nations are the only ones for whose reception there is an established etiquette. An Interpreter is sent to meet them, who presents them with some Strings of Wampum, and when they enter the town they are saluted by five

discharges of cannon.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: anything; that

their

if

would await the

XIII.

Father pleased, they were ready

arrival of their brethren, the

The speaker then produced, according

to

557

to spealt of

good business;

if

not,

they

Senecas and Oneidas.

custom, the Invitation Belt, which the Marquis de

who came this summer, and in order to give himself name of 8 Nations. the Commandant of Calarakoui, delivered with two

Vaudreuil had furnished the Ambassador

more importance,

said he

was speaking

Finally, he explained the speech of

Wampum,

Strings of

in the

reassure them against reports propagated by

to

some Indians

in

the

English interest, with the design to indispose them against the French and to dissuade them

from coming despised

all

" whilst

we

to

Montreal.

He

added, that these intrigues did not stop them, and that they " Perhaps," he then added in a proud and animated tone,

the false reports.

are here, our wives and children, deprived of our protection, are exposed to the

" resentment of the English.

Perhaps Colonel Johnson, weary of the vain

" with us, speaks no longer to

them

efforts he

mild terms, but in threatening tones.

What

has

made

matters

it

Let him threaten, let him even act we will know how to avenge ourselves, defend ourselves, to die if needs be, and the dust we shall raise in fighting will ascend

" to us, after •'

in

to

all ?

;

" even to the heavens."

The speaker continued his harangue by referring to the care they had taken to restrain their young men, by applauding the wisdom with which they had acted up to the present time, and by praying their Father to give them only wine in the morning so that they may preserve their senses throughout the entire day, but at night to give them some milk out of his left breast (E) because being nearer his heart, 'twould convey to their heads only agreeable ideas on which they would sleep in peace. The Marquis de Vaudreuil, after having acknowledged the Invitation Belt as his, and thanked them for having come, presented them six Strings of Wampum to wipe away their tears, to open their ears and cleanse their throats. He afterwards supplied their wants and told too much shrewdness not to have discovered the artifice of the English, who are accustomed to deceive them, whose threats were vain that only the weak threaten

them they had

;

and the powerful strike without threatening; that them, the General

who

for

the

rest,

if

the

has razed Chouaguen, was able to defend them

Marquis de Vaudreuil presented

to

the

Ambassadors the

;

English

attacked

and thereupon the

Marquis de Montcalm,

who

sat

beside him, and mentioned the kind conduct of that General towards two Indians of their Nation,

who had been

found carrying letters to the English, and the gracious reception he had

given to those of the Five Nations,

who had come

to

pay him a

visit

on the ruins of Chouaguen,

although they had no part in the success of that expedition.

We were the first to announce Chouaguen was no more. They were coming with their army to fight you. stopped them on their way, telling them your warriors were as numerous as the leaves of

Father, resumed, then, with animation the Iroquois orator. to the English that

We

the trees

;

that they were crushing the earth beneath their feet, and that nothing could resist

The

them.

English perceived in us so

little

disposition to second them, that they themselves

destroyed their storage forts (F.) as being thenceforward useless; thus. Father, a share

in

the good business, at least by conveying to the English

we have had

news which had astonished

and dismayed, and determined them to avoid you and to destroy their forts, which, doubtless, would not have resisted you, but would at least have been difficult for you to take. Brandy.

(E.)

(F.

)

Forts William and Bull, creeled on

tlie

territory of

tlie

Five Nations, about twenty leagues from Cliouoguen.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

558

The orator terminated the session by presenting six Strings of Wampum, exactly of the same dimensions as those the Marquis de Vaudreuil had given them, and said, in presenting them Father. We thank you for having veiped avcay our tears, cleansed our throats, opened our ears; although the Master of Life has favored you and you have lost few vparriors, the least :

among them is dear to you, and his loss afflicts you. We present you these Strings to wipe away your tears, to clear your throat, so that you may speak to us, and to open your ears, that you may hear your children, who reckon on your treating them as your late -Father treated them, whose Belts we bring back to you, in order the better to bind his messages. The other Ambassadors from the Senecas and Oneidas arrived at Montreal on the G"" of X*"', and the deputation then amounted to ISO persons, including women and children. All the Deputies requested of the Marquis de Montcalm a private audience, which passed in reciprocal compliments, and which terminated with a glass of brandy to the Ambassadors, and a present The Ambassadors of tobacco and vermilion from the Marquis de Montcalm to the young men. invited

The

him

to attend the grand meeting, at

which good business was

to

be transacted.

Iroquois of the Sault St. Louis, those of the Lake, the Algonkins, Outaouacs and

Pouteotamis were

in like

manner

invited to this sort of Congress, the

held on the IS"" in the large Government hall.

first

The Ambassadors

session of

of the

which was

Five

Nations

assembled in the parlor of the Seminary of St. Sulpice, whence they proceeded in order to the Government house. The Grand Chief at their head, entered, dancing and weeping. They presented their 16 words— 14: with Belts, the other two with Strings of Wampum. Some of the Belts were divided in two, so as to serve for

They

gave a Belt

first

in the

name

two words.

of the Eight Nations, to cover the deaths of Baron de

Longueuil, Governor of Montreal, and of Baron de Longueuil, his son, killed at the affair of Lake St. Sacrament ; another on the behalf of the Onnontagues and Tascarorins in particular,

Nation to continue to participate in good aff"airs, as the deceased had always done a third to wipe away the Marquis de Vaudreuil's tears for the loss of his warriors during this campaign. They next presented several other Belts to kindle in Montreal a perpetual fire ; to infuse

to pledge those of that ;

life into

the sap of the Tree of Peace there, whose leaves were ready to wither, and to replace is obscured by the clouds of bad affairs, by a new sun which should enlighten

the sun that

to induce all the French who were adopted by their cabins to concur with them in all good business; to offer to their Father, according to the ancient custom of their ancestors, a medicine capable of dispelling his humors; to sweep off all filth which disfigured the Council mat here since the ancient Councils ceased to be held; in fine, to recall to mind that the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Senior, had given them a large platter with a beaver's tail, being desirous

them

;

make them eat with their brethren all out of the same dish, and that he had also given them a tobacco pouch, with a plug of tobacco, recommending them to make use of it when the Great Pine would be fallen, in order to have only good thoughts and to form only one

to

single family.

The

orator spoke of the danger to which they were exposed

eye, and the French likewise.

He

;

the English having a scowling

says that, notwithstanding this critical position, no motive

could induce them to quit the Belt of Peace; that their weekness alone, when compared with us, prevented them offering themselves as mediators that as for the rest, they would always preserve that spirit of peace except towards the Flatheads and Chicachas ; they demanded a continuance of the permission to attack these, which had been granted them by ;

PARIS DOCUMENTS the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Senior. this

A

Governor-General had given them a

The

:

XIII.

559

Belt was then presented, in order to recall to mind that

bow

to shoot those Nations.

orator presented another Belt in congratulation for the

fall

of

Chouagen, and as a pledge

of the joy that event had caused them, asking, at the same time, by four Strings of that as the English refused

Wampum,

them everything, even powder, some may be supplied them

low

rate at Frontenac and Niagara, as well as the merchandise of

He

adroitly thanked the Marquis de Vaudreuil for having, by the destruction of

at a

which they stand in need. Chouaguen, reestablished the Five Nations in the possession of a place that was their property. He spoke of the establishment of carts at the Carrying place of Niagara as being prejudicial to them, inasmuch as formerly they did the transportation over th%t Carrying place themselves.

He

said, that

thift their

and

all

although the Deiawares were not present, he answered for their intentions, and

heart was sound.

He

concluded by inviting the domiciliated Iroquois, the Nepissings

the other Nations present at that meeting, to join in sentiment and affection with them,

to labor in

common

at

good business, and,

in

order to determine them to this union, he called

their attention to the family alliances contracted

by reciprocal marriages since the elder Marquis

de Vaudreuil had engaged them to eat the beaver's

The

tail

out of the same dish.

session terminated by the orator of the Sault St. Louis,

who spoke

in the

name

of the

domiciliated Iroquois, congratulating the Five Nations on the good dispositions in which their heart appeared to be

;

that he believed their words to be sincere

;

that for themselves, true

always support him; that they were numerous ; that such was the determination of the Outaouais and Pouteotamis also, and that Ononthio had thousands of Indians, attached and faithful to his word, from the countries where children of Ononthio, they had

upheld, and should

the Sun rises to the Great Lake in which

it

sets.

were explained one by one by the Interpreter, recorded by the Secretary of the Government, and the Belts numbered according as received, The second session, which had been fixed for the 14"", was postponed to the 15"". The same ceremony was observed at it as at the first. The Cayuga orator, speaking in the name of the Five Nations, presented 3 Strings and 5 Belts of Wampum, which had been sent them before and after the foil of Chouagen, by the

The words

of the Five Nations

in his own name and in that of the Eight Indian Nations, who were with the army. He explained the messages represented by these Belts, the object of which had been, 1*'. To notify them that they were to restrain their young people; to confine themselves to their mats and not to afford any aid to the English otherwise, that their very brethren, the Iroquois of the Sault, would treat them as enemies. 2°*. To communicate to them the fall of Chouagen, and to tell them to remain quiet unless the English should wish to reestablish that place, which we destroyed in order to remove the war from the cabin of the

Marquis de Montcalm, both

;

Five Nations.

The

orator protested that, since the receipt of these messages, they had not

English any aid, either in provisions, conveyances or scouts. presented a Belt of the Marquis de Vaudreuil the elder, which they preserve in their village as a preventive of bad affairs. In presenting it, he asked for the reestablishment of the

and should not

afford the

He

among them, as a resident officer, one of their relatives, that is, one of their tribes, to be a witness of their fidelity, the Interpreter of their messages to their Father, and his organ with them ; that they were answerable for the person of such officer and of the ancient custom of keeping

Iroquois of the Sault and of the

Lake who would accompany him;

that

it

was necessary,

also,

should notify his arrival at the River aux Ecorces, five leagues from Chouaguen, and that they would send for him with the customary honors. that,

pursuant to the ancient custom, this

officer

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

560

He

finally

gave two Strings of

presented the young

man

Wampum

to -announce the death of their

destined to replace him.

Grand

Chief, and

This young man, about 16 years of age,

rose up"hnd saluted the Marquis de Vaudreuil.

The Oneida orator then spoke of the ancient attachment of his Nation for the French. He memory of a famous Oneida Chief named Tharea, who, in the time of the elder Marquis de Vaudreuil, came twice to Montreal to treat of good affairs, which, indeed, they recalled the

had since ceased to speak about, but their dispositions towards the French were always the same, and such as might be desired. He gave a Belt as a guarantee of his word. He likewise

who had succeeded the old Chief and four Strings of Wampum, to between them aad the Cheraquis, who entertained similar sentiments

presented the young Chief notify

the union

towards

us.

The Cayuga

by

orator terminated the session

when

he

repeated in cadence by

all

to its rank, and,

named

it,

calling, in a

loud voice, each Nation according

the chief thereof uttered the cry of thanks which

was

the Indians.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil said to them that he would communicate to them the day on which he would give his answer. On the 21*' a Council was held for that purpose. The Marquis de Vaudreuil, resuming all the words of the Five Nations, answered them in the same order. The result of these answers was to grant them an oblivion of all the past whilst exhorting them not to fall again into their errors. He showed them that the English were seeking only to deceive them, and pointed out to them the example of the Senecas, many of whose warriors had come to join the French. He promised to have all their necessities supplied at Frontenac and Niagara, and to restore the Carrying place of the latter post to

them on condition that they should conduct themselves better than they had done hitherto, inasmuch as they had stolen some of the King's property there.

He permitted them to wage war on the who are now allies of France. Finally,

Chicachas and forbade them

to strike the Flatheads,

them an them that is to say, of the families of Longueuil, Jonquiere and de la Chauvignerie, whensoever he should have proposals to make to them. All these different speeches were accompanied by Belts and Strings of Wampum.

officer related to

he told them that he consented to send

;

After the Marquis de Vaudreuil's answer, the Iroquois of the Sault and of the Lake, presented the

Five Nations with a Belt felicitating them on their dispositions, exhorting them to

persevere therein and inviting them to bring back the Mohawks, and thereby spare them the

pain of shedding their brethren's blood.

An

name of his Nation and of the Nepissings, addressing the We, who were the first in this world that beheld the light of the sun and our Father's look; we, the first children of this land, we warn you, for this last time, that we strike whomsoever does our Father harm. Remember this word; there's a Algonkin, speaking in the

orator of the Five Nations, said

Belt to prevent you forgetting

Aouschik, a Neppissing

:

it.

chief,

he

who

at the

commencement

of the siege of

Chouagen

killed

the unfortunate Decombles,* then rose, his looks, his gesture and expression denoting furious

anguish.

What

I hate the

need, said he, of Councils, deliberations, proposals,

Englishman.

I

thirst for his blood.

I

am

going

war-song at the same time. * An Engineer

killed in a mistake.

to

when

bathe in

it.

action

is

needed?

And chanted

his

PARIS DOCUIHENTS

An

We

XIII.

:

561

Outaouais chief next rose, and, after having presented a Belt

to the

Five Nations, said

:

you have just solemnly delivered. If you falsify it, we will make a sacrifice of you, and your bloody mat will reproach you for your lack of faith. I am but a young chief; you see me now accompanied by few warriors, but in the spring the number of our warriors will make the earth tremble. Thereupon he sung his war-song. The Pouteatamis orator, speaking more mildly, presented a Belt to the Five Nations, saying to them: Brethren, do not have sweet lips and a bitter heart, for we should be sorry to cease regarding you as brethren. notify you, for the last time, to be faithful to the speech

The Cayuga Five Nations.

orator, then rising up,

He

thanked the Marquis de Vaudreuil

assured him of their good intentions

cabin the Mohawks, whose heart was wholly English their head, to

He

make them

then called the

The

roll

of

;

;

in the

name

of (he

of their having cut off from their

yet he hoped, by dint of shaking

recover their lost senses and to bring them back to their Father. the Nations and the Assembly adjourned.

all

morrow

session has been fixed for the

;

but the young

the Ambassadors excused them and requested that

it

men having

lost their reason (G.)

be postponed until the following day.

The Oneida

orator opened the meeting by presenting a Belt to the Marquis de Vaudreuil to him that his words had persuaded them that consequently, they had discharged from among them whatever evil might remain; that they brought in two medals the English had given them, and which they wished to trample in the dust at the same time treading tliem under foot. He next gave a Belt to say that a Nation dwelling near them, which is neither

assure

;

;

English nor French, nor Indian, but supports, with impatience, the English yoke, had proposed to unite with them, to live in

ought always

independence under the shelter of their cabin; that as children

to consult their

Father before acting, he delivered the Belt of that Nation, in

order that their Father should prescribe to them what they ought to do.

The

this last

proceeding of the Five

of the domiciliated and

Upper Indians, on the

orator of the Sault St. Louis appeared penetrated

Nations

congratulated them in the

;

favorable dispositions he beheld

longer than they had at to their Father's will,

first

name

them

by

in; that his people did

not regret having remained

designed, since they witnessed the submission of the Five Nations

and the manner they had rejected the marks of distinction with which

the English wished to fascinate their eyes.

The Cayuga

and Upper Tribes, in the name of the Eight was not yet ready; but that on the morrow they would be able

orator, addressing the domiciliated

Nations, said, that their speech

to answer the Belts received from them.

fixed the meeting for next day, that he may answer himself the and that the Five Nations might answer the domiciliated and Upper Indians. On the 24"" was held the last session of this Grand Council. The Cayuga orator opened it by presenting a Belt in answer to that which the domiciliated Indians had given them.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

last Belts,

Brethren, said he,

we

shall

convey your Belt

to the

Mohawks

to bring

them back

to their

Father's arms; and in order to add more weight to that invitation which you send them, shall join

one

in

the

Then addressing he said

:

name

we

of the Five Nations.

himself to the Algonkins and the Nepissings, and presenting them a Belt,

Brethren, you counseled us to observe, religiously, our words, and to do our Father's (G.)

Vol. X,

That

is

to say, having got druDjc.

71

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

562 Our words

will.

be also

He

are sincere, and our Father will be satisfied of our fidelity

yours and show us the example of obedience to his

satisfied of

act so that

he

You have told us that you were number, and that you were expecting many warriors. We for modesty is the cliaracteristic of great warriors. We follow

presented another Belt to the Outaouais, and added

but young people and small

;

will.

:

in

believe you to be great chiefs,

your speech.

them Brethren. We shall follow what has just occurred here, be careful to be exact, for many, on arriving at their villages, whether through forgetfulness or some other motive, do not tell things as they are, and a word changed becomes

Then he presented

a Belt to the Pouteotamis, saying to

your words as true children of Onontliio, but

:

in reporting

of consequence.

When to

the orator of the Five Nations

He

the English medals.

was

He thanked them

answer the Oneidas.

seated, the ^larquis de Vaudreuil presented a Belt for their

good dispositions and

bringing back,

for

assured them that he would give them marks of distinction as soon

as he should have received proofs of their affection,

and should take care of them as they are

his real children.

He

caused a second Belt to be presented to them in answer to that of the Nation which

knew

neither English, nor French, nor Indian, and added, that he part of a people (H.) dwelling

saw

whether the word of the people was sincere

them with themselves,

as children of a

;

in that

common

;

that

it

is

was a

Great King that he them examine attentively case they would do well to incorporate

beyond the Great Lake and

allies of the

domination was becoming odious

clearly the English

that Nation

Father

;

;

;

let

that even should that Nation desire

would receive them with open arms and give them lands; but if that people made such propositions only to ward off war from the country they inhabited, these false pretences should not stop him ; that he would go all over in search of the English and to to

remove

to him, he

continue good business.

The Oneida

orator then thanked the Marquis de Vaudreuil and assured him his message

should be conveyed to the Palatines, and that

Chouagen, the Five Nations could

if

the English

were desirous of again settling at were not so

effectually defend themselves; that the English

them through the woods that, as for the rest, they would come to notify their Father of the movements of the English. The Marquis de Vaudreuil caused the Five Nations to be thanked for the manner they had terminated the good business, and added, that it seemed to him they had conversed together long enough he had no more to say to them he was going to have them fitted out and furnished with the usual presents; that affairs of importance would call him to Quebec, and that he allowed them to take advantage of the ice to return home. He next had the domiciliated Indians and those of the Upper country thanked for the part they had taken in the good business, and expressed to them his satisfaction at seeing them all reunited with the Five Nations and how delighted he was to be able to regard them all as

redoubtable, that they never dared to follow

;

;

;

Onontiiio's children.

The

orator of the Sault St. Louis, speaking in the

Indians, expressed the joy they (

H.

There

end

)

is

They are some

families

which

felt at

left

name

of the domiciliated and Upper

seeing matters terminated so happily; and he thanked

the Palatinate on acoount of religion, amouDting, at most, to two hundred men.

no certain information respecting their dispositions. What is sure is, that the English, as we learned in the latter had committed to jail, in Orange, one of their principal men, and have planted, in the midst of these European

of March,

families, a garrison of

200

men

in a stone

house which they have converted into a

fort.

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XIII.

563

the Five Nations for consenling to add in their names, a Belt to that the domiciliated Iroquois

were sending

Some

to the

Mohawks.

La

Iroquois from

Presentation (I.) were present at

all

the sessions of this negotiation,

but never spoke separately nor in their proper and special name. domiciliated only a very short time, they regarded themselves

Nations

who

La Presentation

call

regard

In

the

to

Bells

still

The reason is, that being mat of the Five

as of the

the confines of the Five Nations.

presented

by the

each of them furnished

latter,

in

turn

and

contributed equally to that expense, and as the Indians are very particular in exhibiting the sliare they possess in

these presents, at the end of each speech, the orator

is

careful,

when

name of the Canton, or Nation, which has furnislied it. Ambassadors of the Five Nations had their audience of leave. Some On one of some importance. The particular affairs were again transacted on that occasion Oneidas presented the Cayugas a Belt from which an English scalp was suspended. This proceeding had been the thought of an Iroquois, a shrewd politician, to get an English scalp introduced into the cabin of the Cayugas, where, as yet, there have not been any. The Ambassadors asked to remain until the morrow, New-Year's day, because they had handing the Belt,

to cry out the

the 29"' the

;

been told that on that day the Pale faces kissed each other and that liquor was furnished.

Such has been occurred for

this

famous embassy of the Five Nations, the most important that has

long time, and which ought be regarded indeed as important under existing

a

circumstances.

The Ambassadors,

their

women and

children, have been fitted out entire

and

entertained at the King's expense from the

moment

They had

and provisions for their journey, and the civil and These expenses are unavoidable. The neutrality

war

also been furnished with supplies

chiefs

have received special presents.

of those Nations

is

of their arrival to that of their departure.

one of the greatest advantages we could obtain over the English.*

M.

Ihveil [

to

Count

DSpartement de

la

d'^

Avgenson.

Guerre, Tarls.

]

Quebec,

My

5'"

May, 1757.

Lord,

I learn, at

whence an

this

moment, when the navigation opens,

officer is to

proceed to Louisbourg.

I

am

that a vessel

is

being sent to Acadia

unwilling to allow this opportunity to

pass without having the honor to give you some signs of

life. I do so in great haste. Notwithstanding the rigor of the most severe winter, during which the snow has been as

as ten or twelve feet deep, an expedition was set on foot which has partially succeeded. detachment of 1,200 men and 300 Indians, under the orders of M. de Rigaud, a brother of M. de Vaudreuil, has burned the sheds and magazines outside of Fort George,^ on Lake Saint Sacrament, a great many bateaux and three sloops, one of which was on the stocks and

much

A

pierced for IG guns. (I.

)

A

Mission planted in the upper part of the River St Lawrence

has attracted thither

many

'

The

-

Fort William Henry

official

by Abb6

Piquet, a Missionary of Saint Snlpice,

Iroquois of the Five Nations; a settlement as advantageous for religion as for the state.

Minutes of the above Conference are

to

be found mpta,

p.

658,

(i teq.

— Ed.

who

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

564

but the only knowledge of the design was to scale the fort if it could be surprised was derived from the report of some prisoners and deserters. We had in that detachment

The place

;

orders of Captain de Poulharies of the Royal Rousillon

300 of our Regulars under the M. de Bourlamaque bad

grenadiers.

offered to execute this

enterprise.

The Marquis de

Montcalm bad given a Lieutenant-Colonel as second, but the Marquis de Vaudreuil preferred M. de Rigaud, his brother, and M. de Longueuil,i the King's Lieutenant at Quebec. It was hoped that this expedition would put off, considerably, the opening of the campaign and afford us time to receive, before its commencement, the supplies of provisions which are expected from France and are greatly needed. Meanwhile, everybody is in motion M. de Bourlamaque 400 Militia leave here for the Beautiful river, and the French is about to proceed to Carillon ;

;

troops are going to Carillon and St. John.

my place at Montreal whilst I am dispatching the troops which are await the vessels from France and the reinforcements we are expecting. Letters received last month from Louisbourg have informed us that M. de la Grive des He Assises has been sent thither from Halifax as far back as October, doubtless in exchange.

My

here,

secretary supplies

where

I

shall

nor to Mess" de Montcalm and Bigot. The latter has communicated a he has received on business from M. Prevost, Commissary of the Marine, I OrdoriTMteur at Isle Royale, containing a detail of the difficulties which exist between them. write in consequence to M. de la Grive, to whom I give such advice and instructions as

has not written to letter to

me

me which

I consider necessary for the good of the service and to the point;

1

exhort him to concur in

the promotion of peace and union in order to effect that ; to sacrifice even some prerogatives, which one must learn to give up, so as to yield to the customs of the Colonies. This is the 'tis often necessary to dispense with them and to dissemble. means of pleasing you. M. de Montcalm likewise writes to M. Bigot gives him this Commissary, and we have communicated our letters to each other. I would have the honor to transmit you copy of my letter orders, which he has let me see.

•way I get along. I

think,

had

I

my

In

my

position,

Lord, that this

had time.

On

is

a

the 30"" of June, of last year, I had written to M. de la Grive

congratulation, of detail and instruction, and I addressed

it

to

my letter

of

M. d'Ortoman, Adjutant of the

regiment of Burgundy. of dead during the current winter has not been so considerable as I had feared. be particular, my. Lord, to send you, by another opportunity, the minute thereof, with This occasion does not allow me time to do so. the return of the strength of the battalions. We have had a great many marriages of soldiers and two of officers, viz'., of Captains Douglas and Larfoura, of the battalion of Languedoc. The former married a young lady, and

The number

1 shall

the other a citizen's daughter.

Pursuant

to

my

intention,

I ordered

the sale this winter

of the

effects

of M. de DiesJcaw, of M. Bernier,

Aid-de-Camp, and of those of the late M. de Combles ; the whole was disposed of most advantageously. Everything continues horribly dear, and if prices keep up to the same figure ever so short a

his

will be

time,

it

seem

in France.

I

no longer possible

to live

on the King's allowance, however liberal

it

may

am, with most profound respect, your most humble and most obedient servant, DOREIL.

Le Moine, and brother of Charles, second Baron of Longnenil. He was a natiTe of Canada, Captain in the troops of the Marine; Commandant of Detroit in 1747 Lieutenant-GoTernor of Three Rivers, and snbseqnently of Quebec. He remained in Canada after its surrender to the English, in whose faror he fought '

Tim. Joseph di Longokcii.

-was son of Charles

;

in 1775.

He

died, eventually, at Tours, in France, 12th

May, 1778. jBi6o«A

— En.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

M.

Montcalm

de

565

Count cVArgeiimn.

to

[DSparlement do

XIII.

:

la

Guerre, Paris.

]

Montreal,

My I

SS'-"

May, 1757.

Lord,

have had the honor

to write you by

way

of Louisbourg, under date 24"" April, in order to

render you an account of the divers events of the winter

:

An

important embassy of the Five

Nations, the consequences whereof are perceptible in the present dispositions of the greater portion of these Indians to attack the English,

which we should not have dared

to

hope

for

a

year ago.

An in

English detachment of 77 men entirely defeated, on the 21"' January, by one of ours, which were only some officers of the Line, under the orders of Captain de Basserode, of the

Languedoc regiment. We have had likewise a strong detachment of 1,500 men, commanded by M. de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, Governor of Three Rivers, including 250 men, under the orders of Captain This detachment has been 60 leagues on the ice to burn Poulharies, of the Royal Rousillon. some sloops, bateaux and stores the enemy had under the protection of Fort George, which they possess on Lake St. Sacrament. I shall have the honor, when vessels will be sent to France, to address you duplicates and even triplicates of those letters of the 24"" April, which will inform you in detail of everything I have been very glad to write relating to the Colony, our troops and the conduct I observe. you again by Louisbourg to inform you of our situation; it would be good were it not for the want of provisions and the non-arrival, as yet, at Quebec, of ships from France; the people Were provisions arrived at Quebec, it are in want of bread; the ration had to be reduced. would still require time to have them arrive at the entrepots. M. de Bourlamaque is in command of fourteen hundred men at Carillon; the remainder of the troops are in camp or quartered so as to march thither in case of need. 'Tis fortunate that the enemy has not moved on Lake St. Sacrament; our advices by Indians and prisoners state that they are towards Fort Duquesne. In consequence of want of provisions, no other reinforcement than four hundred Canadians can be sent thither. I do not write by

this occasion to

I

am

M. de Machauts.

respectfully,

my

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Montcalm.

M.

de Vmidreuil to

M.

de Moras. Montreal, 1" June, 1757.

My I

Lord,

have the honor

letter I

to report to

had the honor

to

address

you whatever of interest has occurred at Carillon, since the 22°'' of April, to inform him to the Keeper of the Seals on the

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

566

of the success gained by Mr. de Rigaud de Vaudreuil in the important mission

him against Fort George. A party headed by Sieur de Langy de Montegron was

to

to Kouarinet,

had confided

I

where

took

it

five

prisoners.

A

party of Outaouais and Nepissings,

commanded by

Sieur Bleury, took three scalps and

three soldiers prisoners, in the vicinity of Fort Lydius.

Another party of twenty-four Iroquois and seven soldiers of the detachment of Marines, Sieur Langy de Montegron, took two prisoners in the vicinity of Fort George. Twenty-five English embarked' near Carillon, about two hundred paces from the clearance.

commanded by

Three carpenters who had

left

without waiting

for the escort, fell into this

ambush

;

one was

M. de Bourlamaque immediately dispatched different detachments, but Sieurs Le Borgne de Boucherville and Langy de Montegron, at the head of five soldiers, were the only persons that could overtake the English, in the rear_ of Bald Mountain. They fired at once at them and raised the warwhoop. The terror of the English was so great that they abandoned their prisoner and their small field implements. The small force Mr. Le Borgne had with him did not admit of his continuing the pursuit of taken, the other two returned to the camp.

the English.

This action, though

trifling,

preserves for us the tone of superiority.

Sieur Laforce at the head of four Indians of

La

Presentation, killed an Englishman near

the River Corlac, a short distance from the town.

The

result of the report of all these prisoners is:

as soon as the English learned that Mr. de Rigaud was marching against Fort George, they called out six thousand men, to wit, the Scotch,^ the two regiments of Halquet,^ and Dumbar^ and other troops, but learned, when on the point of marching, that the French had

That

terminated their expedition.

New

England provinces was computed to be fiftyhad arrived, escorted by two 70-gua This is a great ships; that the English were expecting some more in five other transports. exaggeration of the enemy's forces in the item of Regulars. That none but the infirm remained in the settlements, and that those who were unwilling

That the number two thousand men

of Regulars in

;

all

the

that five transports full of them,

march, paid five hundred pounds. That the English were slowly repairing the damages Mr. de Rigaud had caused them that there is neither bateau nor wagon at Fort George, nor at Fort Lidius; that the garrison of this latter fort consists of three hundred men, many of whom are sick, and of the first, the same as this winter, exclusive of three companies of Regulars and thirty-six Militia. to

;

That the policy of the English is to keep on the defensive in that quarter. That they intend operating on the coast; that Lord Lawdun is expecting a

fleet of fifteen

ships for the expedition against Louisbourg.

The

scouts

whom

I

have sent to Fort George have assured

nor bateau, nor any extraordinary '

Sic Qu? S'embxisquirent

=lay

in

movement

me

that there

was neither

tent

there.

ambush.

U4th.

'42d Highlanders.

'Lieutenant-General TnOMAS Dunbae had been Lieutenant-Colonel in the 18th or Royal •when he was appointed Colonel of the 48th

foot.

retreat after the discomfiture of that General,

appoiuted Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar.

He accompanied Braddock's expedition, but

Irish,

in

previous to April, 1752,

consequence of his inglorious

was superseded in the commund of his regiment, lUh November, 1756, and Though never again on active service, he became Major-General in January,

1758; Lieutenanl-General December 18, 1760 (Sargent's Expedition of Braddock, 267

),

and died

in 1767.

Army

List

Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS From up

all

these reports,

my

Lord,

it

XIII.

:

project of attack on Carillon and St. Frederic,

tlieir

Rigaud's expedition has scattered

567

appears that the English are nowise active in following

which proves what confusion Mr. de

among them.

'Tis indeed certain that they cannot dispense with replacing the bateaux, and whatever of theirs

we have

burnt

;

'tis

no small work.

This circumstance would be one of the most favorable

have been constantly occupied with

George;

I

greatest

portion

of the Indian

Nations

expecting about twelve hundred.

from anxiety in regard myself

to

it

me

to

undertake the siege of Fort

belonging to the Upper countries,

All preparations are

to provisions.

for

at the outset of last winter

;

The

scarcity

is

made, but, unfortunately, so great that I

am

keeping a camp at Carillon of the battalions of La Sarre and

sent for the

I

am daily am not free

and I

obliged to confine

Beam

;

again

I

am

what is purely necessary to subsist them, and I fear, with reason, that in a short time a number of them will be sick, from the bad quality of the pork issued to them, as I have no other. As it is important that the enemy should not perceive our situation, I have established a camp at the head of the Carrying place, of about two hundred men of the Colonial troops, Canadians or Indians. I have posted another camp of about one hundred men at the Fall, and have laid down, for the Commanders of these two camps, the necessitated to reduce the troops to

manoeuvre they were

to have recourse to, in order to deceive the enemy. At the same time I provided for the safety of Carillon by encamping the battalion of Royal Rousillon, on the Fort St. John road, where it is at work repairing the road between La Prairie and that fort, and the Guienne battalion at Chambly, where it, too, is at work repairing the road from St. Therese to port Gebeaucour. I have had prepared, at Fort St. John, the number of bateaux necessary for the quick conveyance of these two battalions to Carillon, the moment Mr. Bourlamaque will demand them. Such, my Lord, is the best that I can do. I could not economize, too much, the small quantity of provisions we have in the Colony which otherwise would be exposed to absolute want, unless those I had the honor to ask you for last fall and those of the contractor

reach us forthwith. 'Tis greatly to be desired that

employ our

forces to resist the

I

be not obliged, before the receipt of these provisions, to

enemy,

remains with each individual and farmer

for

then

in the

I

would be forced

to seize the little

that

Colony, and to support the towns and villages

cattle, which would destroy the race. am, with most profound respect, my Lord,

on the domestic I

Your most humble and most obedient

'

(Signed),

Adjutant MalaHic [

to

I

Vaudreuil.

Count dW^rgen-son.

Dfipartement de la Guerre, Paris.

]

Camp

My

servant,

at Carillon,

June

IG, 1757.

Lord,

have the honor to address you hereunto annexed two copies of the judgment rendered two deserters of the second battalion of the Beam regiment. They have been read

against

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

568

troops of this camp, and will

the head of the

be affixed in the places of the Colony wherever necessary. Permit me to have the honor of rendering you an account of what has occurred since the opening of the campaign at this camp which 1 superintend. It is composed of the Royal at

Beam

La Sarre, two pickets of Languedoc and a have not the honor of sending you a return of their condition, because I am ignorant of the fate of my letter. M. de Bourlamaque, destined to command on this frontier, arrived hereon the 13"" May, the Royal Rousillon on the 14"", the detachment of the

Rousillon and

regiments, one picket of

detachment of the Marine

;

I

which proceeded on the IS"" to camp at the Carrying place on the 20"" the pickets had passed the winter there with a detachment of the Marine, or had remained there on returning from Fort George. The troops of the Line are encamped near the fort, they commenced work on the IG"", and furnish, daily, more than 400 pioneers or workmen, who are employed to finish a curtain, to construct two half-moons, to dig their trenches and the covert-ways. I doubt not, my Lord, you have

troops of the Marine on the

and the Falls

the plan of

A

it.

of the Falls, its

16"",

the regiment of

;

;

considerable abatis has been thrown up on the right bank of the river

secure

to

Beam

its

navigation, and

another

fort in front of

the fort, to

command

approaches.

On

the

]

of last month, the English came, to the

7"'

and carried

who had

number of 26, within

half a league of this

M. de Bourlamaque heard two by land and one by water, as far as the Falls of Lake St. Sacrament. Two officers and five soldiers of that detachment overtook the English five leagues from here came so close to them as to force them to abandon the carpenter, whom they did not injure; also their provisions and a part of place,

of

it in sufficient

off a

carpenter

set out before the escort.

season to send three detachments, each of 20 men, in pursuit

—

;

their baggage.

On

the

7""

M. de Gaspe, who commands the camp at some guns whenever he is certain that the enemy designs the Commandant of the Falls to make the same signal tonotifyM. de Bourlamaque

of this month

we had

the Carrying place, has orders to to attack

him

;

of the enemy's arrival.

small mortars

We On

a trifling alarm.

fire

heard a considerable

firing,

followed by several discharges of

to be beaten whenever the hoetes Bourlamaque proceeded by water to the Fall, with two companies of grenadiers and three pickets the Royal Rousillon is within a league of this place, on the right of the fall Beam at the Falls in the camp it occupied last year. These two regiments are intrusted with the defence of a front by which the enemy must pass, in order to be able to intersect the two advanced camps. On disembarking, M. de Bourlamaque caused the grenadier company of Beam, with the three pickets, to march some minutes after that of the Royal Rousillon, with two pickets of the Beam, which followed to reinforce or extricate M. de Gaspt;, of whom there was no intelligence. He. found the camp very quiet learned that a troop of nearly 200 men had approached it before the departure of the scout had responded to the challenge by several shots, and had retired on the first discharge of the boctes to embark within a league of that place in fourteen barges; that twenty-five men, sent on their trail, a quarter of an hour after their departure, discovered them lying in the middle of the lake. M. de Bourlamaque dispatched some Indians who had arrived the previous evening with some officers and soldiers, to the north and south, to be certain of the retreat of the enemy, and to send orders to the troops to return to the camp. The detachments returned at four o'clock and informed M. de Bourlamaque that they had seen the barges stop near the Sugar loaf. (boctes).

hearing the general, which

are fired, M. de

;

;

;

;

is

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

A

XIII.

569

party of 90 Outaouas, Iroquois, Nepissings, Algonkins and Sauteurs,

Nations,

officer attached to these

whom

seven soldiers of the Line

Fort Lydius and Fort George attacked on the lO""

who had demanded

of M. de

they returned in detail

;

Bourlamaque a sergeant and make an attack between on the 12"", and reported that they

he knew, proceeded on the

some pioneers and

commanded by an

5"" to

their escort, took four prisoners

and three scalps

;

that

the English had hotly pursued them and forced them to disperse; that, wishing to return to their canoes, they discovered a good many trails which obliged them to abandon that to leave one of their chiefs, wlio is wounded, under the care of five young men abandon a sergeant and two soldiers who could not march, and to proceed slowly by land to Cape Diamond, whence they made a signal to send in search of them. M. de Bourlamaque did not place entire confidence in their statement; reproached them with having abandoned their chief and the soldiers whom they had so urgently requested.

intention also

;

;

to

The depositions of the four prisoners agree New-York with almost all the Regulars and a that there are at Forts

and that

The the

as

They

assuring that General

many

Loudon embarked

Militia, to lay siege to

at

Louisbourg

George and Lydius only 7 @^ SOO Regulars, near two thousand

many more

;

Militia,

are expected.

sergeant and two soldiers

14"".

in

great

assure that

tiie

who were supposed

to

have perished of hunger, arrived on

English followed them only for half an hour; that the Indians

had taken fright without cause; that they quitted the spot on the IS"" where the canoes are Some Indians who are all w^hich are safe as well as what has been left in them. on their return from a scout to Fort George, report that they have seen some forty tents, and

concealed,

laborers working at the fortifications.

This confirms that the English have conveyed the major

part of their forces to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and will keep on the defensive in this quarter.

This,

my

Louisbourg I

Lord,

is all

the

news we have of the English.

will possibly lead us to organize

have the honor

to be,

one on

I

think that their expedition against

this frontier.

with respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and

Most obedient servant Malartio.

Account of two Expeditions in Canada, in

the course

of the winter of

Vlh^l.

1757. 21" January. At nine o'clock in the morning, Mr. de Rouilly, an officer of the Colony, acting as Major at Fort Carillon, received orders from Mr. de Lusignan, the

Commandant

to

Fort St. Frederic, and have some brandy and forage loaded there on eight sleighs, having eight horses harnessed to each, under an escort of fifteen soldiers and one sergeant.

proceed

to

Mess" de Liebot, an officer of the Royal Rousillon, Varennes, a Colonial officer, two sleighs, with ten men, had gone ahead being at Presqu'isle, Mr. de Rouilly discovered the enemy issuing from the wood to the number of seventy or eighty men, who captured there two ;

sleighs,

The

and seven out of the ten men who were in charge of them were taken prisoners. The enemy, to the number of one hundred and

other three escaped on horseback.

Vol. X.

72

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

570

twenty, then advanced at great speed, detached the swiftest runners

among

their

men

to cut

Under these circumstances M. de Rouilly sent off a man on the Commandant at Carillon, with news of what occurred. The latter, not

off our people, but in

horseback to

vain.

wishing to have anything

to reproach himself with, forthwith dispatched a detachment of one hundred men, including Indians, soldiers and Canadian volunteers to intercept them, under the command of Captains de Basserode, of the Languedoc, La Granville of La Reine, Lieutenants

Dastrel of the Languedoc, and Langlade, a Colonial officer, with five Cadets; half an hour

men were sent off to convey, to our detachment, provisions and ammunition, which it required. About three o'clock in the afternoon this party halted and waited for the English, within three leagues of Fort Carillon, and seeing them come singing, allowed them to approach to within musket-shot, then saluted them with one-half of our musketry, the other having missed on account of the rain. This ceasing, the firing became brisk on both sides until nightfall, vi^hen the enemy, after retreating some time, posted themselves very advantageously. In this interval two Canadians went to notify the fort that the ammunition was exhausted ; the Commandant immediately ordered off a detachment of twenty-five men, under the command of Mr. Le Borgne, a Colonial officer, to carry some to them. In the course of the night the enemy abandoned the field of battle, in order to retire, which they effected, leaving their provisions, ammunition and the arms of the wounded. The English have lost thirty-four men vs^ho remained on the field ; of these, three were officers. On our side we lost two soldiers of La Reine, two of the Royal Rousillon, two of Languedoc, and one Colonial. We have taken six prisoners, who report that the English in the two forts of Lake St. Sacrament number one thousand men, and that Governor-General Leudon is to send a afterwards ten

considerable

army

to attack

Fort

we have

St. Frederic.

on this occasion, eleven soldiers in all, including Regulars and Colonists and one Rauteur Indian, and that we have had twenty-seven wounded, among whom are Captain Basserode, of the Languedoc regiment, and M. Clapier. It is calculated that

The Marquis de

lost,

Vaudreuil, Governor-General, determined in the month of January

send a considerable detachment to Lake

St.

last, to

Sacrament, to burn some sloops and bateaux

which the English had had

Lake

St.

stockaded

built under the guns of Fort St. George, situate at the head of Sacrament, the storehouses full of provisions, with other buildings and a little fort occupied by an independent company; the object of this was, to prevent the

enemy making any attempt at the opening of the spring, on Fort Carillon. He confided the command hereof to M. de Rigaud, Governor of Three however, he ordered, should circumstances be favorable to do all in his power to profit by them.

for

Rivers,

whom,

carrying Fort George by escalade,

This detachment was composed of fifteen hundred men, to wit five pickets of troops of Line, one of which was grenadiers drawn from four companies under the command of Captain de Poulalieres of the Royal Rousillon grenadiers; three hundred Colonials and six :

the

hundred and fifty Canadians, one company of which consisted of fifty volunteers, together with four hundred Indians. This detachment marched from Fort St. John between the 20"'

and it

23''

February, and did not arrive at Carillon until the

tarried at that fort until the 15"",

St.

Sacrament.

when

it

started

7"'

and went

of March to

;

the

camp on

thaw continuing, Lake

the shore of

PARIS DOCUMENTS

571

XIII.

:

one hundred Indians set off, at day-break, on a scout. The detachment On the debouched, two hours after, on the lake in three columns; the company of volunteers formed the scouts returned, having observed no trail. the van-guard 17"" Marched at early dawn the corps set out at three o'clock in the afternoon to approach 16""

;

;

under cover of the night, and at seven o'clock in the evening found a league and a half from Fort George. IS"" Mr. de Rigaud detached Mess" Poulailiieres, Dumas and

Frenchmen and

Indians, to observe the fort from a

The

a league's distance. telescope.

It

condition of the fort

itself

by

Lemercier, escorted

overlooking

hill

beneath a mountain

it

within less than half

was thoroughly reconnoitred by means of a

did not appear accessible by ladder except at half of one of

its

faces

;

and the

on the works, excited the suspicion that the enemy were informed of

activity perceptible

the march of the French.

On

de Rigaud made a twofold arrangement

this report, Mr.

supposition that the security of the the

enemy was

same moment on the outworks agreeably

favorable to

it

to scale the fort,

;

;

to his orders; the

if

under the

unfavorable, to operate at

army moved,

in

consequence,

in the beginning of the night of the 1S"'-19"'.

Mess"

Du

Mars, Lemercier, Savourin and Charly, escorted by twelve "grenadiers, were

detached to reconnoitre the approaches of the

fort, to

observe,

more

closely, the

facility or

inconveniences of the projected operation and to determine, with more certainty, whether the

detachment was discovered or not. The ice was so smooth that night that the scouts could not walk without making noise the Those hous of the English commenced early according as the party approached the sentinels. ;

gentlemen observed the uneasy curiosity of the guard of the wait until midnight

was not

less alert

to

on the

first

which determined them

fort,

approach nearer; but though gliding on

silently, the

motion of our scouts, which made the

guard of the

latter resolve

to

fort

on returning

Mr. de Rigaud the vigilance of the sentinels.

to report to

That Commander, to the sloops

to

whom scaling appeared no He sent some gunners

and bateaux.

burn the enemy's marine

;

longer practicable, turned his attention

with fascines and

artificial

fire-works to

but those fascines not being sufficiently combustible, day

before they had burnt anything but a few bateaux.

The enemy kept up

dawned

a pretty brisk

fire

whereby two men were killed and one Indian wounded. ao"" On the next day Fort George was invested on all sides a detachment of Indians repaired to the Fort Lidius road to cut off the communication with Fort George, and the main body occupied itself in making new fascines. that night,

;

Mr. de Rigaud dispatched Chevalier Le Mercier to verbally to surrender.

appeared adapted

campaign, against

He

He had

to effect a

summon

the English

Commandant

recourse to this ruse to obtain information of a spot which

landing in case our offensive operations were directed, next

this place.

passed it, as it were, in little army to make a movement at the same time make it appear considerable and let the enemy see the ladders. The Commandant of Fort George answered Mr. Le Mercier that he should defend himself as long as possible. On the next night the fires were lighted without interruption, the enemy

caused his

;

review, so as to

discharging only a few cannon-shot and some shells.

More than three hundred bateaux were burnt that night by the company of Canadian three sloops caught iu the ice shared the same fate, together with a store full of

volunteers

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

572 and implements

effects

campaign, and over three hundred cords of wood designed

for the

fuel for the garrison of the fort

the slightest

;

wind would have reduced

for

this fort to ashes, but

were calm. During the night of the 21" and 22""^ such an abundance of moist snow

that and the following nights

it

was

could not catch

fire,

fell

that

impossible to continue operations.

The as

last

was

it

made

to

sloop whose bowsprit touched one of the bastions of the

the largest and

destroy

to Carillon. 22nd. The

fort

spite

in

it,

was

fort,

on the stocks. M. de Rigaud ordered every effort to be of the thaw which was threatening the return of the army still

always blockaded, new fascines were prepared.

upon himself

Mr.

Volff, a partisan officer

burn the sloop; several Colonial officers set fire during the night, to two large stores full of provisions, which still remained standing; to the hospital, to a stockaded fort containing seventeen houses; and a large store full of building timber, a saw-mill and several houses which were going up under that fort; a sort of Lower Town, and to two species of 30-oar galleys all were consumed. The whole of these, as well as the bateaux and sloops, were so near the fort that the of the regular troops, took

to

;

musketry defended its approaches; their fire was, notwithstanding, momentary. Only five Frenchmen, in all, were killed one officer and an Indian were wounded. ;

The of

pillage

all sorts,

was considerable; the Indians were

all

night removing, to the camp, clothing

guns, tents, a quantity of kettles, boxes, medicine chests, and barrels of various

kinds of liquor, on which they got so drunk that they would have remained around the

fort,

wrapped in the sleep of drunkenness, had they not been removed before day. On the 23"' the thaw always continuing, the little army set out on its return march to Carillon, where it arrived on the following day.

Intelligence

from Cape

Breton. Louisbourg,

We who St.

have eighteen

men

of

war

in the

bears here the flag of Vice-Admiral, and Mr.

Domingo, bears the

these ships.

28""

of June, 1757.

command of Mr. Dubois de la Motte,' Beaufremont, who came, with his fleet, from

harbor under the

flag of Lieutenant-General.

I

send you, hereunto annexed, the

list

of

This formidable army puts us at ease respecting all the attacks the English would

make in that quarter. You cannot believe how

it

makes us

belong to us; perhaps the opinion

is

settle affairs of state;

everybody already wants Acadia to

founded on the commission given to Chevalier de Grasse,

to proceed hence in a skiff to Halifax to ascertain the enemy's movements and strength.

He

accompanied by two most excellent experienced pilots and two Indian chiefs, in case He is expected every day. to abandon his craft and save himself in the woods. The King's ships Le Bizafe and Le Celebre, and the flyboat Le Fortune, with two transports, sail to-morrow for Quebec, to convey the two battalions of Berri, with their effects to is

he be obliged

that place. '

For a

list

of the

fleet,

see JSeatson'a

Naval andMUHary Memoirs,

III.,

161.-

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

A

XIII.

573

and observation camp has been established at Cabarrus for the reception of our enemies there, in case they wish to mal^e a landing at that place. It is commanded by Mr. Joubert, a very experienced officer, and who will do good business should the enemy show flying

He has two hundred Indians, exclusive of the troop. Mr. Boishebert moreover expected there every day with eight hundred men, Indians and Canadians. their faces there.

is

Louisbourg, 1" July, 1757. Chevalier de Grasse' has returned without having been able to reach the environs

of

Chibouctou, to make the observations he was charged with, but he has sent two Indians and a Canadian over land from Port Toulouse.

31. de

Montcalm [

to

D6partement de

M.

de

Paulmy.

la Guerro, Paris.

]

Montreal, ll"- July, 1757.

My I

Lord, to write to you and to Count d'Argenson, by way of Louisbourg on You will receive duplicates of those letters with this despatch. I had also the write him on the 22""' May; I expected to profit likewise by the way of Louisbourg,

have had the honor

the 24"' April.

honor to but as

my

it

you

failed,

will receive the letter

with

this,

which

will serve as a continuation of

last.

We

have not yet received any of your despatches or orders. By the only letter the Marquis I perceive that eight companies are sent to reinforce the battalions of

de Vaudreuil has had,

La Reine and Languedoc. They have not yet arrived. I likewise observe that many drafts from the Foreign volunteer corps are sent over to serve equally in completing the Marines and troops of the Line; in forming ten additional companies for the Marine and to increase ours to The arrival of the whole of these reinforcements, or at least of the greater part of them, 60. is

much

of

whom From

desired

;

but I begin to be alarmed.

have been given the date of

my

to

last

Up

to this date only

600 men have arrived, ISO

complete the land troops, which will be nearly 120. until the first instant, our troops have been in the same position.

M. de Bourlamaque has continued in command of the principal camp, that of Carillon; where the regiments of Beam, Royal Rousillon and a Canadian corps are encamped, to the number '

Francois Joseph Paul, afterwards Count, de Geassb and Marquis de Grasse Tilly,

Count

who

afterwards distinguished himself

was born in 1723, and entered the Naval service at an early age. In 1778, he Eobuste, 74, in the French fleet undtr Count d'Orvilliers, and in 1779, in the same ship, as C/ief d'eseadre, joined d'Estaing at Martinico and was present at the engagement off Grenada on the 6th of July of that year, and in September

war of commanded le in the

the American Independence,

In In April, of the following year, he fought against Rodney, in the West Indies. commanded the French fleet and engaged Admiral Hood and reduced the Island of Tobago, and in September same year, defeated Admiral Graves off Chesapeake bay. Admiral de Grasse afterwards returned to the West Inies where he was taken prisoner by Rodney in April. 1782, on board his flag ship la Ville de Parh. He published a justificative BeaUon'i Naval of his conduct in that engagement, and died at Paris 11th January, 1788. Biographic UniverselU ;

following at the siege of Savannah. April, 1781, he

of the

Memoir and Military Memoirs.

— Ed.

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

574 men

of about 2,000

La

;

Sarre

encamped

is

under the superintendence of

Guyenne

been occupied

lias

of war, and that work.

at

Chambly

La Reine has remained

of the Colonial troops in garrison

M. de Bourlamaque, whose best regulations in his

camp

la

Desandrouins, of

Quebec and Languedoc

at

Royal

the is

its

corps.

required in time

Pauze, Adjutant of that battalion, has charge of at Montreal

;

the major part

the Canadians busy farming.

;

and talents

zeal

I

to hasten the Carillon

expedition against Fort George, which

had

The

prevented us pressing the enemy.

— without the

John, and employed in increasing

constructing a road there, which

M. de

of use in time of peace.

is

St.

at

Captain

fortifications

cannot too highly extol, has observed the

works

to

;

make

preparations there for an

been certain, had the want of provisions not

soldier's ration

had

to

be reduced

;

he submitted to

it

murmur. We have had continually small parties of the enemy, which have brought us some prisoners. M. de Malartic, Adjutant of the regiment of Beam, has made the detail of that camp. He and Adjutant de la Pauze, of the Guyenne, are two officers of high distinction. Such have been our I have been on a tour to our camps and posts with Chevalier de Levis. arrangements up to the first of July. Our news excited fears, at first, for the Beautiful river we heard from that quarter that the enemy, who had been considerably reinforced, was meditating a naval expedition which we supposed threatened Louisbourg. The intelligence which we just received from there, reassures us, whilst waiting the arrival of our squadron. But the situation of this Colony is always very critical. But few of the provisions required from France have reached us up to the present time. Yet 'tis necessary that we have abundance

with a good

will

slightest

of them.

Last month a thousand Indians arrived here from the Upper country

;

many

of them

come

'Tis necessary to endeavor to turn to account the onerous sojourn of

from 4 to 500 leagues.

such a troop; therefore, the Marquis de Vaudreuil finally determined to search up provisions

among

We

Sacrament.

About the

20"'

Colonial, and

General

my Lord Loudon

believe

we

shall call

is at

Alifax.

together some 7,000 men, viz:

1,500 Indians with 2,500

2,000 of the Line;

Our Indians

Canadians.

determining in a quarter of an hour the gain or all

we are going to try to keep the field, Webb' is concentrating about Lake St.

the farmers, which produced something, and

although with forces inferior to those

loss o/

an

affair.

We

1,000

are equally capable

have a train of

of

artillery

ready for the siege of Fort George, should circumstances permit. Chevalier de Levis set out on the

Webb

'Lieutenant-General Daniel

February, 1747, and joined,

it is

of the 48lh foot, on the lllh

to

S"-*

who

here to gratify the Indian Nations,

make

the last preparations.

will not leave

army

without me, and

on the

at

New- York from England, 7th June,

of the fort he

One would think

1756, vpith the rank of

In succeeding to the regiment of Colonel Dunbar, he seems to have inherited

least

appearance of danger;

for

force to the relief of Oswego, as soon as he got as far as the Carrying place, fall

was sent

to relieve, that

he

tilled

being dispatched in 1756, with a considerable

now Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., he became so Wood creek with trees to prevent the approach

that this would prevent his being again put in any position of responsibility, but no; the

next year he shamefully abandoned Colonel Munro at Fort William Henry, though at the head of 4,000 men. ordered

home

in consequence,

promoted to be Major-General

;

my

as

November, 1755, and arrived

also his disposition to take to flight,

of the enemy.

have been obliged obliged to pass

Ensign of the Coldstream Guards, 29th May, 1745, but resigned in supposed, some other regiment. He succeeded Colonel Dunbar {supra, p. 566 ) in the command entered the

Brigadier-General, to relieve General Shirley.

alarmed on hearing of the

I

am

but was protected in

in

some inexplicable way from censure.

June, 1761, became Lieutenant-General

;

in

On

He was

25th June, 1759, he was

December, 1766, was appointed Colonel of the

8th or King's regiment of foot; on the '20th October, 1772, Colonel of the 14th Dragoons, and died in October or November, 1771.

McKimmon's Colddream Guards,

SG,etseq.; Mante

;

Army

II.,

484;

Knox Journal,

I.,

43, 118;

Lists; Gentleman's Magazine, XLlll., oil.

— Ed.

II.,

444; Conduct of Major-Oeneral Shirley

slated'

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XIII.

575

time with them in ceremonies as tiresome as they are necessary. I

was

war and made

to chant the

On

the day before yesterday

Lake of the Two Mountains; Upper Indians. I general Council to reunite them all, by

a feast for the Indians of the

yesterday, for those of the Sault St. Louis; to-day held a Council with the start

to-morrow and

on

shall,

my

arrival, hold a

Wampum

presenting them a large Belt of

in the

name

of the Great King, for

most profound respect and veneration. have been very careful not to mention to them the horrible attempt on

whom

they

entertain the

We It

caused us

all

to

his sacred person.

shudder with horror, and these barbarians so ferocious in war, so humane in their esteem for us, seeing us capable of producing such monsters.

in their lodges, might waver

Must Henry the Fourth and Louis the Fifteenth,

to the disgrace of

humanity, experience

like fury?

We

we can reassure ourselves this campaign as regards the Beautiful river, and that the 400 men we have sent thither will be sufficient, with those already in those parts, and the Indians who are within call. We shall even be able to spread desolation into the Provinces think

bordering thereon, such as Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Beam

Captain Pouchot, of the

pickets of the troops of the Line. of the Five Nations,

regiment, continues in

He

is

command

at

Niagara with some

very useful there, and has attracted the confidence

domiciliated in the neighborhood,

and with which he keeps up a

considerable correspondence.

Six

officers of

the Corps Royal and four young

Quebec

arrived at

for the

regiment of

La

Reine.

men with commissions

of Lieutenant, have

Possibly they have arrived without their

it seems to me, it had been equally convenient to embark them. M. Doreil is at Quebec. I left him there with a Captain and two Lieutenants to receive our recruits, companies and augmentations, and to forward them to us according as they arrive. This Commissary continues to acquit himself of his duties with much assiduity.

companies, with which,

I

have the honor

return to France. here, that

We

I

to

render you an account, in a separate despatch, of the soldiers

They

are

D'herce, of the is

incapable of serving.

pay the most scrupulous attention

have had no change

eye, and

all

La

in

to

'Tis so difficult to get

threatened with the loss of the other. filling

up of

his

will

them.

our battalions since the close of the campaign.

Sarre regiment, has asked to return to France.

honor of submitting to you the

who

any conveyed

He

Lieutenant

has already lost one

At the end of the campaign I shall have the all those which may occur.

vacancy as well

I am, with respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant

Montcalm.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

576

M.

Montcalm

de

My

M.

to

de Moras.

One thousand seven hundred and

Montreal, the eleventh of July,

fifty-seven.

Lord,

Although

1

have had the honor

render you the reports considered

my

it

duty

give you proofs of

my

owe

I

to write

you

direct to present

you

my

compliments and to

you, as I have the honor to serve under your orders;

to transmit this private letter to

I

have

you through Madame Herault, and

to

respectful confidence.

Occupied by my principal mission, I omit not to instruct myself respecting a country little known, and which people, I believe, have sought not to make known. M. de Bougainville, still more than I do, in accomplishing that object, and will, perhaps, be able, some day, if we ever return to our country, to be useful to it and to this Colony, by depositing in the breast of an enlightened Minister, some memoirs which, probably, would never have seen the light, had he not come into office. My commission is a delicate one; I am very subordinate and must be so in comparison with the Intendant, a man of genius and intelligence. I have only to congratulate- myself on the with whose sagacity you are acquainted, labors

With

circumstance.

the General no one will ever perceive that

the service will always proceed as well as 'twill be in

my

have to complain, and

I

He

is a kind man, mild, own, surrounded by men who seek to destroy all confidence he might have in the General of the land forces; 1 am extolled overmuch in order to excite his jealousy, foster Canadian prejudice, and to oblige him not to deal openly with me, and not to

with no character of

adopt I

my

power.

his

ideas except of necessity.

dare say that

my

conduct has always been as uniform as

it

has been respectful.

Lord, alone can apply a remedy, without in any wise changing a

strict

You,

my

subordination which

is

necessary by writing in such a manner as to inspire confidence, to manifest some esteem for

me, and

to desire that

my

opinions, as regards military operations,

This would at once determine

to.

What would

my

be at the same time necessary, would be a sealed

case of the Marquis de Vaudreuil's death, wherein

of the Colony, and of

all

may

be somewhat listened

influence in this country. letter, to

be opened only in

should find an order to assume the

I

command

the troops until you had nominated a Governor-General.

The contingency had been nigh occurring this winter, the Marquis de Vaudreuil having ill. The public mind was agitated to learn whether I should have the command in

been very the

Colony, which would be the wish of everybody, even of the Intendant, seeing the him on whom the government of the country would have devolved, namely,

incapacity of

M. Rigaud,

who must assume

always led by the

first

the reins as senior Deputy-Governor; and this shortsighted man,

comer, would have seriously embarrassed the Intendant; failing him,

would have been a simple King's Lieutenant, and

Colonial Captain, in preference to a general officer who, by his commission,

under the Marquis de Vaudreuil's orders, and who,

The Before

precaution I suggest to I

left

Paris, I

you appears

knew enough

foreseen this difficulty, but

I

to

in the field,

me

you that

I

government of

in procuring

my

only nominally

is

all

the others.

this

him about

it.

Lord, that you will be pleased to concur with the Marquis de

some marks of favor

service.

Colony to have

did not believe myself sufficiently the choice

or the intimate of the Minister of Marine to dare speak to I flatter myself,

commands

necessary for the good of the

of the form of the

confess to

it

so on from one to another, to even a simple

for a corps of land troops

which now belongs

Paulmy

to you.

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XIII.

577

have nothing to say to you respecting Chevalier de Levis you know him, and I cannot have a better second but you are not acquainted with M. de Bouriamaque, whose selection I

;

;

has been more blamed than approved.

Count de Maillebois' and M. de Chevert* were nevertheless justified in proposing him I was never acquainted with him in Europe; our troops were not prejudiced in his favor; they now render him as much justice as I he is a most excellent officer he has acquired much ;

;

;

and gained a great deal within a year. M. de Bougainville transmits you, through merely a prelude peace,

when

it

more ample

to

will

M*"*

Memoir on

Herault, a

this

Colony, which

is

details to be transmitted to you, but to be postponed to the

be necessary, without losing a moment, to correct the abuses and encourage

the military state of the Colony.

What

a Colony!

What

a people,

when

called

on!

What an advantage

could a Colbert

turn them to; you occupy his post, and are his worthy successor.

They

possess talent and courage at bottom, but up to the present time, nothing has

all

animated that machine or served to develop the existing germs. M. de Bougainville will likewise send you, at the close of the campaign, a Memoir on the Boundaries. As he communicates his ideas to me on this subject, and as we confer on it, you will learn therefrom

them with the

my

opinion, and whether his differs from mine.

He

will

submit both of

reasons.

I have requested only two favors from the Keeper of the Seals ; some allowances for my third Aid-de-Camp, who has none 'twill be more agreeable to him and me to receive them from ;

the King.

A

commission of Clerk of the Marine

for Sieur

Esteve Jeune, a gentleman and

and the nephew of him who was Advocate of the clergy.

intelligence,

goodness, in the labor you will have performed for the Colony, to grant present you

once more, I

my my

thanks

in

advance;

you have considered

if

it

your duty

If

me

man

of

you have had the

these two favors,

to defer

them,

I

I

shall

Lord, renew the request at the close of the campaign, and more in detail.

take the liberty to

recommend

to

you M. de Montcalm de

the Navy, in the department of Toulon

;

St.

Veran, an old Lieutenant of

he has sacrificed everything up to the present time-^

property, fortune, law suits, to the love of serving. Count de Maillebois, son of the Marquis de M., Marshal of Frauce, was born in 1715, and served wars of Italy. He was appointed Lieutenant-General in 1748; was employed in the war of Spain, at the taking of Port Mahon. He served next in Germany, under Maishal d'Estrees, against whom he brought charges of inefficiency, which, however, brought only disgrace on the accuser, who was committed to thp Citadel of DouUene. He was recalled to active service in 1784, but was denounced in 1790, and indicted for having drawn up a plan '

YvKS Maeie

under

eIksjiaektz,

his father in the

and distinguished himself

of counter-revolution.

—

He

fled in

consequence to the

Low

Countries, and died at Liege, 14th December, 1791. Biographic

Ed. 'Lieutenant-General Fbancois de Chkvert was born at Verdun sur Meuse, February, 21st 1696, and was

l/niverselle.

early

life

;

left

an orphan at

he joined a marching regiment at the age of eleven years, and served as a private soldier until 1710, when he was He reached the grade of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1741, and made the campaign of Bohemia, and

appointed Sub-Lieutenant.

commanded

the Grenadiers

when

scaling the walls of Prague,

consequence; next distinguished himself as Governor of that

with the honors of war. Lieutenant General in 1748. in 1758,

and served

He

is

first to

enter;

in his turn, besieged,

due the victory of Hastembeok, in 1757

He had

January, 1769, aged sixtyfoijr years.

Vol. X.

when,

afterwards served with distinction in Italy;

To him

until 1761.

which he was the city,

was created Brigadier and marched out

was created Major-General in ;

in

in 1743,

1744,

and

he obtained the Grand Cross of SL Louia,

the good sense of never being ashamed of his humble origin, and died at Pari^ 24tlf

Ibid.

73

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

578

and

dare assure you that he has a great many campaigns and favorable notices in your bureaux, I fear not to say to you with all confidence that I request your permission to entertain in

my

Minister, that he will have either to be

I

long time in the service

Company

of the

;

qualified for

is

promoted

or put on the retired list; he has been a

more than one employment

;

has been long an Ensign

of Gardes Mariries, and had the reputation of being loved, feared and respected

by those young nobles. Mess''' de Maurepas and E. that company.

desired

Rouille,

successively

to

enrol

him some day

you sustain his emulation, and any of his juniors have been promoted.

I notice in his letters a latent disgust unless will not arrive in time to check

it,

if

I

fear

my

in

answer

mine, being the son of a Montcalm his name is La Deveze and he have received a good report of him he has appeared to me to have I asked him of M. de Machault, who had put him on board the frigate that application. brought me to America. I ask you in his name, my Lord, to let him see a great deal of service and to grant him protection, should you receive a good account of him. I shall be very

He

is

who

has a nephew

Ensign

in the

you

grateful to

Navy

;

is

;

I

;

and

in return,

shall consider the favors

you

will

be pleased to grant them, as

conferred personally on myself.

As

me,

for

my

Lord,

1

ask no other favor than

my second,

my

recall at the earliest

moment

possible.

European general officer, would succeed better as Chief, I would always quit without difficulty a country where 1 am wasting my health where I fear not to be as expeditious in the King's service as I would desire, and where the Should

it

be the opinion that

or any other

General will be occupied only in detracting from the share the Land forces and I may have in which may be unsuccessful.

successes, and in rendering us responsible for those events

he must I wish the unfortunate and too much to be pitied M. de Dieskaw were in Paris have made some reflections, and has no other fault than to have been ignorant of the Colony, and to have placed too much reliance on what had been told him. Therefore, my Lord, recall me as soon as possible; if, however, there be, at the peace, an interval between the news and the departure of the troops, were it but of three months, I offer to go and look, with military and political views, at Detroit and the Beautiful river but without ;

;

should be refused permission to go and reconnoitre any part of the Colony where the business of the war will not per force take me, and I greatly wish never to have any for going to defend or retake the Beautiful river, although I have already drafted a plan, should

an order from you,

I

the case ever occur.

My

pay

is

only twenty-five thousand

or Intendants of

beneath,

my

Canada,

I

livres ;

must support a

I

have none of the perquisites of the Governors do nothing beyond, neither do I anything

Staff; I

station.

no person seeks to give me any they would fain try to deprive me of it, but they will not succeed. M. de Machault admitted that I was not adequately paid he promised to make it up to me and to attend to it. in the T did not come here to carry home money; but should be sorry to make a hole here I

am

here

obliged to give myself importance, single handed

;

;

;

little I

six children.

patrimony of

have, nevertheless, expended ten thousand francs beyond

since the expense

I

incur

is

necessary.

I flatter

my

myself you will

allowance, and shall continue assist

me

to

pay

my

debts.

PARIS DOCUMENTS have not the honor

I

men

of the most virtuous

of our age, and for

possible respect; wherefore

all

XIII,

:

to write this letter to the Minister of

whom

579

Marine, but to M. de Moras, one

entertain the most profound esteem and

I

request that this letter be only for him and not for his bureau.

I

am, with respect.

1

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant,

Montcalm. P. S.

My

Lord,

to express to his step.

I

I

have just seen the promotions of the Marine, and

my

you

it

gratitude for having been pleased to procure M. de Montcalm St. Veran

request the continuation of your protection both for him and myself.

M.

Vaudreuil

de

to

M.

de Moras. Montreal,

My

me

only remains for

IS"" July, 1757.

Lord,

I

resume the

details I

have the honor to report

you of whatever occurred of

to

interest

around Carillon.

A

party of ninety-two Indians and eight soldiers of the Marine,

commanded by

Sieur

d'Anglade attacked near Fort Lidius, some wood cutters who were out with an escort, he at first took, four prisoners and a number of scalps, but we had one Indian dangerously wounded,

and whilst a

litter

was making

our party, which could not

d'Anglade

did

abandon

not

accompanied only by

to

remove him, a strong English detachment came consequence of inferiority of

resist in

the

wounded

six Indians.

A

Indian

whom

he

force.

brought

in pursuit of

Nevertheless Sieur to

Fort Carillon,

party of Iroquois found the five canoes which had

conveyed Sieur d'Anglade's party and brought them back to Carillon, so that the English had not even the satisfaction of having captured a single one of our conveyances.

A

party under the

command

of Sieur

Langy de Montegron, took two Englishmen on

the

river of Orange.

A detachment

of

two hundred and

thirty-five cadets

A

and Indians having proceeded

who Were

the

to

ambush at M. de Richerville la Coulonnerie was killed. the mouth of the Wood creek, fired on our men We had some Indians wounded mortally, and others less severely. As the river is lined at this point by inaccessible rocks, it was impossible for our detachment to land on the side where On the day following it went in hot pursuit, but could overtake only two the enemy was. Moraingans and one wounded Englishman. Our Indians were so furious that they tore one of

head of the Bay, hid their canoes.

party of sixty English,

lying in

;

the Moraingans to pieces.

A

party of our Indians encountered a detachment of English scouts, and attacked

vigorously and firmly, that the English found safety only in loss of It

twelve prisoners, and three English killed,

appears from the report of the

England with considerable

artillery;

whom

last prisoners,

flight.

it

They escaped with

so

the

our Indians scalped.

that several ships have arrived from old

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

580

That Lord Lawdon embarked on a naval expedition against Louisbourg or Canada. That he has taken with him the regular troops, only a few remaining on the frontier; that the Scotch have followed him along with the rest; That there are abont two thousand Militia at Fort George, and two thousand five hundred at Fort Lidius; that there are, at the former fort, thirty pieces of cannon, two barks carrying twelve swivels (pierriers), about forty bateaux that considerable provisions have been conveyed ;

thither, but that these prisoners

was apprehended

as an attack

That General

Webb

three or four thousand

that

an

this artillery

was

to

be removed

to Philadelphia,

at that place.

appeared

men;

at the other side of the river,

that, nevertheless, the

side; but that if Fort George

Orange, and

had heard that

and that he was attended by

English did not expect any attack on our

were besieged, a gun was to be fired from fort to fort, as far as reinforcement of two or three thousand men perhaps

additional

would come. That the English were not occupying the islands opposite Fort George, and that no person

was

there.

Finally, that small-pox I

was

prevailing in both the forts and at Orange.

am, with most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient (

M.

de

Vaudreuil

to

M.

Signed

servant,

),

Vaudreuil.

de Moi^as. Montreal, IS" July, 1757.

My

Lord,

You

have seen, by the despatch

will

the 18"" of April, whatever I

have adopted

was of

I

had the honor to write

interest in the posts

to the

on the Beautiful

Keeper of the Seals on river,

and the measures

for the greater security of that quarter.

M. de Ligneris,

in

consequence of

my

orders, has had parties

constantly out to harass

the enemy.

He

lost

no time in obtaining satisfaction

for

the loss of the Canadian

who was

killed,

and

detachment commanded by M. de Niverville, came, after a campaign of thirty-three days, within reach of Fort Cumberland, and though it was impossible for him to approach it, in consequence of the dread our Indians had of the one

who was

taken near Fort Duquene

;

for a

of being surrounded, there being considerable snow on the ground, he nevertheless, took four prisoners in the settlements bordering on the river called Potsmak, in Virginia, about fifteen

leagues from Fort Cumberland ; burned ten houses and the like number of barns full of wheat; This trifling success ought to show the enemy that the severest killed twenty horses or cows. season of the year does not protect them against our incursions. Another party, headed by M. de Montmidy, returned with eight scalps and seven prisoners taken on the frontiers of Pennsylvania.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XIII.

581

Mr. de Rocheblave returned, likewise, with a prisoner taken on the bank of

same River

tiie

Potowmak, three days' march from Fort Cumberland. M. De V'erger St. Blin took two scalps and one prisoner near Fort Cumberland. of Indians of Kanaouagon,' which was to join M. de St. Blin by another road

A to

party attack

on returning overtook a party of English and Indians, of whom they killed one, wounded another and took a third prisoner. These Indians had scalped several English and another

fort,

Catabas, but were obliged to abandon them, not being able to resist the superiority of the

enemy's forces.

A

two

party of eight Poutcoutamis and four Outaouas has returned with

scalps and one

prisoner.

A

whom

party of Senecas attacked a fort beyond Cumberland, killed four men, two of

only

they could scalp, because they were surrounded by an English detachment.

Another party of the same Nation

killed eight English, but

a hundred English or Indians; lost three

As the Catabas,

men

on returning was overtaken by

including the chief of the party.

or at least a part of that Nation, joined the English,

of the Five Nations to

make war on them

in the

I

sent several parties

view of inducing them

to

abandon the

English, which I would dare hope from the blows inflicted on them.

M. de Normenville, who was

in the field

since the IS"" of April, arrived about a

month

afterwards at Fort Duquesne with three scalps, one of an Englishman and two of Indians or

some other Nation. He met, a short distance on this side of the height of land, five men who appeared to him to be scouts, whom he pursued, killed three and could not overtake the other two. He lost a Seneca who was killed on that occasion. M. de Montisambert, who was at the head of a party of two hundred men of different His party divided itself before Nations, did not meet the success that might be expected. That officer was unable to continue his journey as he fell coming to Fort Cumberland. dangerously ill about the height of land, where he remained waiting for his Indians. He arrived at Fort Duquene with three scalps, which a party of twenty men had brought him from the vicinity of Fort Cumberland the other sections of the same party returned with two prisoners and one scalp. Three Delawares^ were attacked fifteen leagues from Fort Duquene by about fifteen English, three of whom they killed but brought away only one scalp, not having time to remove the others, one of these Indians having been wounded. A party of Senecas and Cayugas struck a blow in the country of Northampton, in Pennsylvania, ;

and brought back only one scalp habit of going to

war

;

the reason they alleged for this was, that not being in the

against the English, they had considerable recruiting to do; to effect

which they had given three men and three repeated their attacks several times.

They

women

;

that they had killed ten English, having

are highly pleased with their journey

that they have also killed an officer; that they have been obliged to go

cleared country to effect a blow

;

that they have burnt a

number

down

;

they state

very far into the

of houses and

killed

an

infinity of cattle.

M. de Montcourt, a Cadet returned, after eighty-five days' absence, with two scalps taken in Pensylvania. '

Allegany comity, New-York.

°

Called Zoupa by the French, as they belong to the tribe of the Wolf. Pennsylvania Archives, 307.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

582 Other parties

who have been on

same

forays in the

direction,

have come back with

five

prisoners and four scalps. Finally, the Delawares captured a fort in the winter, within four leagues of the one taken by Chevalier de Villiers. Last year they attacked a convoy, killed all the conductors, took

away a considerable

A

part of the provisions and concealed the remainder.

party of the same Nation carried a prisoner to M. de Ligneris.

Our losses in the other rencontres we have had with the English, Chaouanon and three Delawares.

The lost

consist of

two Senecas, one

English have not had any other advantages over us up to the IS"" of June,

Mess" de

la

Saussaye, St. Ours, and Belletre, the

an Ensign of foot

first

in

when we

the troops of

and the two others seconded Ensigns in those of this Colony. These three were returning with three Canadians from Fort Cumberland, where they had no opportunity to strike, and were killed with the three Canadians, a little on this side of the height of land, by twenty Englishmen or Indians who were lying in ambush there, and who shot them point blank. M. de Ligneris sent a Belt to the Delawares at the other side of the mountains to engage them in my name to come immediately to join their brethren and to range themselves under our flag. The two Indians he entrusted this Belt to, belong to the same Nation and the same village they saw the Delawares at the end of the fall and spent the winter at Chiningue. If we rely on what they told M. de Ligneris before their departure, there would be reason to believe that the whole of that Nation is firmly resolved to abandon the English forever, and to unite with us, but a prisoner has reported tiiat these Delawares who have fought with the This merits English, have gone, notwithstanding, to talk with them and make their peace.

Isle Royale, officers

;

confirmation.

The

prisoners have reported to M. de Ligneris:

That

the English have eleven forts to cover the settlements of Virginia

forts besides, the

in

number

of which

is

unknown

each of those forts except one which

is

only

to the'm

five

;

that there are other

;

that there are about

twenty Militia

leagues from Fort Cumberland.

That in the Province of Maryland there is a fort called Frederic' garrisoned by five hundred men, whither considerable provisions have been conveyed. That the English are fortifying themselves at Wenchester. That the English were making every effort to conclude peace with the Nations on the Beautiful river and its environs, to whom they had sent messages everywhere to induce them This report is true; it cost me no little trouble to acquire a knowledge of to remain quiet. all these messages and to withdraw them from the hands of our Indians.

M. de Ligneris took pains

who have

height of land, the tracks of

him It

to

to

have scouts abroad

in

every direction, and has learned by those

been, since spring, in the direction of Pennsylvania and Maryland, that towards the

men and

send scouts frequently

horses showed two main roads

in that direction,

might well be that the English were forming

entrepots.

may be. Some roads, on

I

;

this

circumstance induces

without, however, neglecting Fort Cumberland.

have recommended M. de Ligneris

to

new

establishments to serve them as

do his best

to ascertain

what the

real object

Indians have also reported to M. de Ligneris that they have discovered some High

which they have seen a number of the enemy. '

On

the north

bank

of the Potomac, iu

Washington county, Maryland.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

He

XIII.

:

583

learned at the same time, from a prisoner that the English are

collecting provisions of

Duquene;

and horses

sorts

all

men

preparations,

the difterent Provinces, for an attack on Fort

in

that they have three hundred Indians

four hundred

making

who

are continually on the mountains; that

are at another post in Pennsylvania, and four hundred at

prisoner has added that he did not

know where

their rendezvous

Maryland but this was; that he had seen only ;

wagons in a small village of Pennsylvania that the English hundred Regulars, one company of which are Grenadiers. but though they make some movement I do not think the English will attack M. de Ligneris this year, I have neglected nothing to place him in a condition to resist them, for, independent four pieces of cannon with twenty

have

;

five

;

of his garrison, of the Militia and Nations inhabiting the Beautiful river, and of the Militia

I

have sent him from this Colony, he has actually, at his disposal, some Militia and some Indian Nations of Illinois; and, for greater security,

Commandants

of Niagara and of

all

and

rotation, from one post to the other,

other mutual assistance. expedition, they will

But

for the

to enable

it

issued orders in the month of April to the

me

to

keep themselves always

'tis

indispensable that

There

to sustain a siege.

is

we

fortify

Fort

1755

;

to the

enemy

;

would be

Fort Duquene, in

'tis

abandoning that the rivers.

new

fort.

that

it

I

it

The

Besides,

fort.

is

so

on

fire,

its

is

the posts

attempt

organize.

it,

especially if

'Tis less difficult

General Bradock opened the road for for us, his vast

present condition, could not offer any resistance

that 'twould be impossible to extinguish

A it

single

because

garrison would then find itself under the painful necessity of 'tis

so near the confluence of the Beautiful river with the

always exposed

M. de Ligneris

being had to

will

too small to lodge the garrison necessary on such an occasion.

sufficient to get

the houses are too close.

Malangaillee,

may

all

such a manner as

in

he came within three leagues of Fort Duquene, and fortunately

projects aborted there.

shell

Duquene

no doubt but the English

than ever for them to penetrate so far with an army. in

each

fail.

defer placing ourselves in a position to resist the forces they

them

in readiness to afford

reason to hope that, should the English^ organize any

preservation of the Beautifnl river, on which depends the security of

of the Upper countries,

we

This gives

I

the posts on the Beautiful river, to send their forces in

to

be entirely submerged

having such repairs done

by the overflowing of

to that fort as it is susceptible of, regard

bad situation; but that will not enable us to dispense with the erection of a have incontrovertibly established the necessity thereof, in my letters of 1755

its

and 1756. I feel less apprehension for

campaign, than for the future. victualing that post from this

Fort Duquene and the other posts on the Beautiful river, this I have this year fortunately surmounted the impossibility of Colony, through my foresight in supplying any deficiency in a

great measure, by having provisions sent from Detroit and also from the post of the Illinois; and had I neglected these two resources, ever so little, that is to say, had I not issued and

repeated, during the winter, the most urgent orders to the the Beautiful river all

would be

at present

Commandants

of those

two

posts,

wholly unprovided with provisions, and consequently

our forts abandoned.

The extreme scarcity we are suffering, only not fail to make itself felt but too sensibly on

too severely, in the interior of the Colony, will the Beautiful river.

'Tis absolutely impossible

gave M. de Ligneris to send off a detachment of one hundred and fifty or two hundred men to the Illinois, and to disperse the This winter, perhaps, will he be obliged even to garrisons of the forts under his command.

for

me

to

remedy

it,

otherwise than by the orders

I

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

584 reduce them

to a

very small number.

I

have already written several

of Detroit and Illinois, to put themselves at that

moment

Commandants

letters to the

in a condition to transmit, at the

opening of the navigation, for the victualing of the posts on the Beautiful river, the largest all descriptions that they could spare, by restricting the settlers to

quantity of provisions of their

mere subsistence.

have likewise issued orders

1

and Indian Nations of the

I

am

when

Commandant demand

officer will

of Fort Chartres, of him, in Militia

Illinois.

'Tis impossible for me,

people are reduced,

to the

any reinforcements that

to forward to M. de Ligneris

my

Lord, to demonstrate more distinctly to what extremity the

a scarcity of provisions frequently prevails.

with most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

(Signed),

M.

de Vaiidreuil to

M.

Vaudreuil.

de Moras. Montreal, IS"" July, 1757.

My

Lord,

You

will see by one of Sacrament since the

St.

my first

letters of this day's date,

whatever of interest occurred on Lake

of June, and the result of the reports of the prisoners of Fort

George and Fort Lidius.

you did me the honor to write me on the 28"' of February, has greatly contributed me to defer no longer the marching an army capable of reducing these two forts. I have, in fact, my Lord, seen by that letter that the troops and ammunition which his Majesty has destined for this Colony otight to have sailed in the month of March. I doubted not that such would be the case with the transports freighted for the contractor; which makes me confident that provisions would soon be abundant in the Colony. That the information you received had forewarned you of the designs of the English against

The

to

letter

determine

Louisbourg and perhaps on Quebec, but that

his

Majesty had provided

for

the security of these

two places, and destined naval forces capable of resisting those of the enemy. That his Majesty's intention was that I should not lose sight of the operations

I

might have

meditated in the direction of the frontier. I

therefore decided on

Having formed

making a powerful

effort to

reduce Fort George and Fort Lidius.

that project towards the end of

autumn,

movement depended, English should really come

Quebec,

I felt

the necessity of

it

more than

ever and that on that

incontestably, the safety of the Province; for

supposing that the

to

same time on all sides. was not less preoccupied with the consequences of

I

could, with difficulty, resist

them

at the I

a check, should

we have

the misfortune

of experiencing one on the frontier, as nothing could then prevent the English penetrating to

Montreal whilst the other forces of the Colony would be engaged

in the

defence of Quebec.

PARIS DOCUMENTS Our

:

XIII.

585

been another of

situation, also, in respect to provisions has

my

motives to press this

we have would be equally But by that economy I would leave, in a state of inactivity, eighteen hundred Indians who have an extreme desire to assist at a siege, and I should afford the enemy time to provide everything he might require to come to attack us; and supposing that then we should not have received any provisions, I should find it really impossible for me to provide for the subsistence of the army which I should be obliged to oppose to the enemy. The consequences of this scarcity would be still more unfortunate. I should witness, under my eyes, our grain that would have arrived at maturity, languish on the land with no one to expedition, for whilst remaining on the defensive, those which

consumed; indeed,

harvest

a

I flatter

all

we shall find in the English forts will indemnify have consumed on the expedition, and I am sure of the return

myself that the provisions

we

us twofold for those

our Canadians

in

The more important its

more slowly.

it.

Besides,

of

little

shall

season to save their harvest. is

this expedition, the

more bent am

I

on doing

my

best to assure

success.

For that purpose,

I have placed at the disposal of the Marquis de

Moncalm an army of

about nine thousand men, composed of Regulars of the Line, the detachment of Marines, Canadians and Indians, with a respectable train of artillery. He set out to-day for Carillon. I hope he will be able to begin his march towards Fort George before the end of this month, Chevalier de Levis and M. de Bourlamaque having accelerated everything agreeably to the orders I had given them. I

have had the greatest

facility in

organizing that

Regulars, Marines, Canadians and Indians.

the army, which this

I

The

army through

only obstacle

I

the good disposition of the

experienced was in victualing

could effect only by sending circular letters throughout the parishes of

government.

The Canadians have been so moved thereby, that they have voluntarily given up the little made for their subsistence. They actually live on Indian corn, milk and

reserves they had

vegetables; have neither flour nor pork; they have surrendered what they possessed with as generosity as zeal for the King's service; but 'tis very essential, my Lord, that M. de Moncalm's departure be not subjected to any delay, so that he may anticipate the enemy and not consume in vain the provisions of his army, which it would be absolutely beyofld my

much

power

to

renew.

I have expressly enjoined on

To march with

1"

him:

all his force,

so as not to run the risk of receiving

any check.

Not to confine himself to the reduction of Fort George; to reduce Fort Lidius also; to pay particular attention carefully to preserve the munitions of war, artillery and arms to be found in these two forts, and to have them all removed to Carillon, after the total destruction 2""*

of both forts and S"''*

all

their dependencies.

Afterwards to disband

all

the Indian Nations and to form them into detachments for the

purpose of laying waste the settlements of Orange and Corlac.

M. Rigaud de Vaudreuil makes the same campaign with the troops of the Marine; the Canadians and Indians have earnestly requested me to place him at their head, which has gratified

him

so

much

the more, as the Marquis de

Moncalm had already expressed

to

me

the

pleasure he would feel at being accompanied by him, especially having perfectly recognized

Vol. X.

74

:

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

586

winter the part in which he

last

activity

in

executing

operate.

is to

Marquis de

the

new

opportunities of affording

I

am

well persuaded of his exactness and

Moncalm's orders

and

ardor

his

proofs of his zeal for the King's service

in

seel^ing

for

and attachment

to Fatherland.

have reason to believe, M. de Moncalm fulfill his mission according to my orders, have no more to apprehend from the enemy on the frontier who, as a necessary consequence, will be forced to abandon, also, his project against Quebec, being no longer able If,

we

as

I

shall

to operate a sufficiently considerable diversion of our forces. I

am

my

with the most profound respect,

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, (Signed),

M.

de

Vavdreiiil to

M.

Vaxidreuii..

de Moras. Montreal, 13"" July, 1757.

My

Lord,

Since

him

to

I

had the honor of writing to the Keeper of the Seals, on the

my

17"" of April, to report

negociations with the Five Nations, I have continued to keep the domiciliated

tribes of the Beautiful river busy.

They have

sent

two English

scalps to the Five Nations

with a message whereby they remind them of their promises to succor those tribes should any

They have

Nation trouble them; and that time presses.

This proceeding, joined to

About

fifty

my

to

keep their word.

eifect.

Senecas, headed by one of the principal chiefs of the Five Nations, on

When

can rely, arrived at Niagara.

Senecas one of " Here's

them

called on

other negotiations, has had a good

the

my

Belts,

and speaking

axe our father

" treacheries of the English

;

I

whom

I

the Council assembled, that chief presented to these to

them and the Five Nations,

has presented to us

have accepted

it

with

all

said

we may avenge those who have been

that

the continued at Montreal, I

you and invite you to follow my example." The tribes of the Bear and Beaver it to the two other tribes of the Wolf and the Tortoise, who all accepted it. 'Twas afterwards carried to the five other tribes who received it with pleasure and all with " We are going to try M. de Vaudreuil, our Father's, axe on the one accord unanimously say *'

present

accepted

it

it

to

and offered

:

English, to S3e

A

Cayuga

if it

cut well."

Chief, for

whom

M. Pouchot had

sent, to

penetrate the real dispositions of the

Five Nations, told him that they required time to withdraw for 1

which purpose they had sent one chief from each had instructed that chief

the Nontagues.

He

to report to

failed not to attend

Council might be of long duration; that,

all

village to

the

Mohawks from

the English,

them.

me

all the deliberations adopted in the Council of and told M. Pouchot that the deliberations of that meanwhile, the war parties were not less active.

it,

This chief assures, that since he and the other chiefs had reported*lo the Five Nations the all resolved to recognize only the Master of

Council I held with them at Montreal, they had Life and their Father, Ononthio

not willing to receive them.

;

that the English had sent three Belts to them, but they

were

PARIS DOCUMENTS: Some Oneida Deputies came a Belt, not to have other speeches to

my

me

587 MaVi who

requested of me, by

They made many was no more satisfied

axe carried between their village and the Fork.

to assure

with them than with the I told them that did

XIII.

to Montreal in the beginning of

me

of the purity of their sentiments, but

I

first. I

love

them

utterly opposed to the sentiments

I

less,

knew

I

would not have received that Belt

their ancients entertained

me

forgotten the Belt which the Five Nations had given

;

that

;

it

was

that they could not have

Great Council I held with them which the English have built in that they their villages not razed on their arrival home, they were resolved to burn them would not suffer the English to come among them, and that they would aid, by all means in

at the beginning of last winter, to

tell

me

that,

were

in the

tlie forts

;

their power,

my

warriors and children of the other Nations,

when

passing over their territory

to strike the English. I

made them

all

the reproaches they deserved for the non-performance of their promise, and

repeated to them that, whenever I thought proper,

should send war parties everywhere the

I

English would happen to be. I had several secret conferences with the chiefs and the

'Twould be too honor

to

long,

my

inform you, that the upshot of these Deputies, in the

fact, all

most

influential of these Deputies.

Lord, to report them to you precisely.

name

hatchet with ardor, and expressed to

song with expressions which permit

all

these conferences

Suffice

it

was agreeable

that to

T

my

have the

wishes

of their Nation and of the Thaskarorins, accepted

me me

;

in

my

They chanted the war an extreme desire to use it. not to doubt the sincerity of their desire to strike

the English.

Since the settlement of the Colony, the Five Nations have never been known to take up the hatchet against the English, whilst, on the contrary, experience has only too well shown that those Nations were

much more

partial to

them than

to the French.

Independent of the blows which the Five Nations have

inflicted

on the English, report

have the honor to render you in other despatches, there are at least twenty parties of Senecas and Cayugas in the field, to wage war against the English and against the Catawbas. The Senecas have told M. Pouchot that some of the first parties had returned to the village

whereof

I

with some English prisoners.

One

of these parties had killed sixteen Englishmen.

Several other parties have returned with a considerable number of English scalps and prisoners, and again start immediately on the

A

party of fifteen Senecas

was

war

less fortunate

;

path.

after

having scalped two,

hundred English and one hundred Indians of the Dog English and two Indians, but lost three of its own men.

of three fifteen

it fell

tribe.

into an

The

ambush

party killed

Colonel Johnson had recourse to every means to prevail on the Five Nations to postpone any attack,

and

to

induce them to return

my

had been presented, have, despite the

axe; but the warriors to

fair

whom

this Colonel's Belts

promises accompanying them, refused

to listen to

had cleared a good path for them, which they would stick to. These first overtures having been unsuccessful. Colonel Johnson sent word to the Five Nations, at least to let my hatchet sleep for an instant. He had the weakness to tell them that it was very painful for him not to be able to go out of his house without exposing himself him, and had him told that

to the risk of

I

having his skull cracked; how ungrateful they were to kill his cattle, which he finally, he invited them to go to Orange to receive some

regarded as their foster mother;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

588

promised them that they wowld be clothed there and that he would give them anything they would require. The Five Nations have laughed at this speech ; they sent word something to Colonel Johnson that he was beginning to cry very early ; that he would soon see

He

presents.

very different; that they had made up their packs; that they would not

and were about starting I shall neglect

to try

my

listen to his proposal

hatchet.

nothing to maintain the Five Nations

in,

and even to

increase, their present

favorable dispositions.

am, with most profound respect,

I

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, VAUDREUii. ( Signed ),

M.

de

VaudreuU

to

M.

de Moras. Montreal, IS'" July, 1757.

My

Lord,

In

my

letter of the IS'* of April, I

have had the honor

whom

to report to the

Keeper of the

had attracted to Niagara, had informed M. Pouchot that the English had nine forts around them, one of which contained a garrison of six hundred men ; this exacted the more attention on my part, as an English prisoner had already made the same report to me. As these forces are within reach of Presqu'ile and the River au boeuf, I gave orders to the Seals that the Delawares of Th^oga,

Commandants

of these

two posts

to

I

have scouts constantly abroad in that quarter. I caused all the Indians, and particularly to the Delawares, to

express recommendations to be given to

of the first post at which they might arrive, of the enemy's movements any should be perceptible. M. de la Chauvignerie sent M. de St. Ours with six Canadians and fourteen Indians on a This fort is on the upper scout to the English fort containing a garrison of six hundred men.

inform the

Commandant

as soon as

Sieur de St.

part of the River Zinantchain and positively in the proximity of Fort Machault.

Ours took two scalps within sight of that fort, but he was unable to make any prisoners. A party of fifteen Loups of the same village of Th6oge, which is in the vicinity of the fort in question,^ brought to M. Pouchot, at Niagara, a German prisoner belonging to Bathleem, in Pennsylvania, with

five scalps.

Another party of the same

tribe brought another prisoner.

was informed that the English had caused five hundred bateaux to be constructed at Skamoken, on the River Canestio; that a Delaware had even seen them; that the English were still busy building other bateaux and were giving out that they would march ten 1

thousand '

The

men

to

reduce

fort in questibn is

all

the forts on the Beautiful river.

supposed to be Fort A//

\l

gl

r 1

TORT

1

d

I

I

r / I

.dv 11

/

/ /

/

/

/

7 //

/

f 'Ki

ti

I

//

/

/

77

/

S

T

/ ri

/

I

/

/

II

U

r

J

/

WJ jIjxIAJM HKIS^RY,

r

/

IS

Vi Ji

/ / I

I

// rrl

/ /

hf

/

/

/

//

f

y

/

//

/

(/S

II

/

()

Q T

7

/

I

^

/

/ t

V T

J /

H 7 I

7"

7

/

f

II

/

I//

/

II (

/

\\V

//

H

//

(

7^ /

III

/

\

s

/

//

/

I

/ I I

I f/

-r

II

//

/

/ot

I

/

77

J

^

Jl

h

JC

T

\

T/

/^

Mr

^

T

I

I

I

/

V

X %

I

I

/

.

I

>

I

I S

/

J U / II If

'///,/

50

)

Soldiers,

.79

75/

Soldiers,

Sergeants,

''^

3 V

Sergeants

^

53

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

624

Regiment of

New

Jersey.

Colonel,

1

Captains,

2

Lieutenant,

1

Ensigns,

3

Sergeants,

20

Drummers

7

Soldiers,

267

Company

of the

New-York Regiment.

Captain,

1

Lieutenant

1

Sergeants,

4

Drummer,

1

Soldiers,

57

50

Detachment of the Regiment of Royal Americans. Lieutenant-Colonel,

1

Captain,

1

Lieutenant,

1

Ensigns, Sergeants,

Corporals,

2 7

^

§

,

Soldiers,

jq^.

Drummer,

2

Company

of Mounted Rangers.

Lieutenants,

2

Ensign,

2

Sergeants,

^ gg

Soldiers,

Detachment of Royal Captain-Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Corporal,

Gunners,

Bombardiers Artillerymen,

Artillery.

2 2 2

24

^ g

24

Muster-master,

2

Clerks,

g

I

Lieutenant-Engineer,

2

'

Assistant Engineer,

2

"\

J

PARIS DOCUMENTS: Regiment of

New

625

XIII.

Hampshire. '

Lieutenant-Colonel,

1

Major,

1

Captains,

3

Lieutenants,

5 3

Ensigns,

12

Sergeants,

Drummers,

3

202

Soldiers

Commissary of Provisions, Deputy Commissary and Assistant

1

Surgeons,

2

2

2,372

Total,

41

Soldiers killed, to be deducted,

Remainder, including 71 wounded

Return of

the

2,331

at the siege,

Army commanded

hy

M.

de Montcalm.

Return of the French Army before Fort George, called by the English William Henry, 3 August, 1757. Eeglments.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

626

and Provisions in Fort WUliam Henry.

Stores

Return of the Warlike Stores and Provisions found in Fort George 9""

capture,

after its

August, 1757. [

D^partement de

la

Guerre, Paria. ]

17 pieces of cannon, from 32 to five-pounders, of which two brass and three iron are unfit for service.

2 9-inch mortars, burst during the siege. 1 6-inch iron howitzer. 1 6-inch iron mortar.

13 small iron swivels. 1 shot grating.

227 barrels of powder, of 100"=' «' " " 50 226 2,308 shot, of divers calibre.

360 6 d, 9-inch 185 12-inch

4 cases

shell

"

>

I

of balls, of

2001"'= 800.

1

"

of grenades.

6

"

of fire-works. Artillery of the Intrenchments.

6 brass guns,

viz.,

2 of 12, and 4 of 5"".

4 iron swivels. 214 shot. 75 barrels of powder, of 25">«=1835. 80 gun charges, in

600

50

caissons.

lbs. of ball.

lbs. of

match. Recapitulation.

23 cannon, of which 8 are brass. 1 fire howitzer. 1 mortar.

17 swivels. 35,835

lbs.

of powder.

2,522 shot. 1,400

lbs. of ball.

1 grenade chest.

6 chests of fire-works.

Grapeshot of divers

calibre,

and

3,000 barrels of flour or pork. All this property has been conveyed to Carillon.

)

22,700

3

n,300

34,000.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

[D^pBrtoment de

4""

— Detail

XIII.

627

Caiwpmgn of 1757.

Detail of the

North America

:

of the

Gaerre, Paris.]

la

Camaign

of 1757, from the 30"" of July to the

September.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil having formed Sacrament, to secure Forts Carillon and

a plan of offensive operations towards

St. Frederic, sent, in

Lake

St.

the month of March, a corps of

hundred Frenchmen, Canadians or Indians, under the command of M. de Rigaud, Governor of Three Rivers, to burn the sloops, bateaux and storehouses under the guns of Fort George, called by the English, William Henry. That expedition having been attended with all the success that was anticipated, the Marquis de Vaudreuil determined to open the campaign by the siege of Fort George, and consequently

fifteen

ordered betimes the necessary preparations.

The delay

want of provisions rendered this operation very doubtful, the June and in the course of July having been insufficient, the Marquis de Vaudreuil ordered a strict inquiry to be made among the farmers as to what of the fleet and the

ships which arrived at the end of

provisions they might have in their possession.

Each farmer reduced himself to which supplied what was lacking

a small allowance until the harvest,

and gave the

surplus,

for this enterprise.

After assuring himself in the matter of provisions, M. de Vaudreuil issued his orders to collect

Lake St. Sacrament, where a corps of Canadians was stationed since the month of May, under the orders of Mr.

the troops destined for the siege in the course of July at the portage of

Gaspe, a Colonial Captain.

The army being assembled extent,

of

was occupied from

the

at the appointed time at the portage,

moment

of

its

which

is

half a league in

arrival in transporting artillery, bateaux, munitions

war and provisions. July 30"' Everything being ready. Chevalier de Levis set out with two thousand eight

hundred Frenchmen or Indians on there the Marquis de Montcalm, eight hundred

Frenchmen

march for the Bay of Ganaouske, to await embark on the 1" of August with four thousand

his overland

who was

to

or Indians.

August 2^ At three o'clock in the morning, the army, consisting of seven thousand six hundred men, formed a junction at the Bay of Ganaouske, whence it took its departure on the same day. Chevalier de Levis' detachment led the van to reconnoitre a favorable place for landing the artillery and the force commanded by the Marquis de Montcalm. S'"* At four o'clock in the morning all the troops landed within two leagues of Fort George. in the morning the artillery being arrived, the army set out to invest it. Meanwhile, the Marquis de Montcalm having been informed by two prisoners taken the preceding evening, that the enemy proposed to come and meet him, marched with the intention

At seven o'clock

of giving them battle.

Chevalier de Levis, commanding the van-guard, approached the fort without opposition. advanced towards an intrenchment, which appeared well fortified and guarded by a

He

considerable force.

After having reconnoitred

Marquis de Montcalm, his troops.

who

did not

it,

deem proper

he made a report of its condition to the to attack it, being unwilling to expose

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

628

But on the same day caused the Commandant arrangements were made

The

to

be summoned,

who gave him

defend themselves to the death.

that his troops were determined to for the siege,

for

answer,

answer,

After that

and the army was encamped.

troops of the Line, resting on the lake, formed the

left

wing

;

the Canadians and Indians

formed a separate camp at some distance on the right of the troops, so as to be ready to repair promptly to the road from Fort Ledius, called by the English Fort Edward, at the earliest notice that may be received of the enemy having dispatched a corps from that quarter to the relief of this place.

Chevalier de Levis, intrusted with that duty, was continually sending Indians out, in order

movements. Every time he marched with his force, on the intelligence he received from his scouts, M. de Montcalm set out immediately with a certain number of Regulars to support him, and left behind only enough to secure the trench, which he had ordered opened near the lake on the night of the fourth and fifth.

to be informed of the enemy's

success of this expedition, depending on the celerity of the works, the Marquis de

The

Montcalm ordered

that the greatest

number

of

workmen

possible be furnished, and that they

be paid daily from the Military chest, on the certificate of the Engineers, or officer of the detail of the trench, countersigned by Chevalier de Montreuil, Major-General.

We

e""

charge

in

had eight guns and two mortars in battery.

One of our Indians intercepted Monrau, Commandant of the troops of 7""

a letter

which General Oueb was sending

Notifying him that he had dispatched orders to the diligence possible

;

as soon as

to

Colonel

the intrenchment and of the garrison of Fort George.

any should

Militia to

march with the greatest

he would not lose a moment in sending him

arrive,

a reinforcement.

He solicited him by the delay of the This General,

to surrender his post on honorable conditions, should he be forced to do so Militia.

who commanded

a corps of four thousand

within six leagues of Fort George, informed the

men, encamped before Fort Lidius, that, owing to the situation of

Commandant

power to send him any troops. M. de Montcalm, correctly judging the effect such a letter would produce, forwarded the Commandant of the post this morning, after having ordered a second battery, equal

his fort, 'twas out of his 8""

to

the

first,

to

be discharged.

The Commandant two

of the post, after having thanked M. de Montcalm, continued his fire; our

batteries kept up, in like manner, a continual

g""

The Commandant

M. de Montcalm for eighteen

it

to

offered

of the

fort,

cannonade during the day.

seeing our works so far advanced,

demanded

to capitulate.

him the honors of war and one cannon, with the clause not

to serve

months.

Whilst these things were proceeding, he had the Indian chiefs called together his design, which they approved.

to

whom

he

communicated

The

capitulation having been accepted, Chevalier de Montreuil, Major-General, repaired

immediately by orders of M. de Montcalm to the

fort

and intrenchment,

to take a list of the

and to see to the security of the provisions and warlike stores. The grenadiers and pickets of the French were ordered to proceed and relieve the garrison of the fort, which was to march out to join the troops encamped in the intrenchment.

troops,

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XUI.

:

629

Everything having been regulated, Colonel Monrau applied

march with

for leave to

his

troops at nightfall, so as not to be annoyed by the Indians.

M. de Montcalm ordered out an escort and directed M. de

St.

Luc de

Corne, commanding

la

the Indians, and several Colonial officers conversant with their languages, to

garrison in order to protect

These

officers

it

accompany the

against insult from the Indians.

having learned that the greater portion had gone

ambush on

to lie in

the

Lidius road, where the English soldiers must necessarily pass, advised Colonel Monrau not to set out before the break, of day, so as to be better able to control the Indians

;

but they were

no longer masters of them on the morrow.

A

party of Englishmen were plundered on leaving the intrenchment

;

to be

among

were happened

four hundred

taken on the road and brought to the camp, the greater portion of the English

officers

these.

M. de Montcalm rescued the major part of them, paid them great attention and sent them back with an escort after the Indians had

left.

M. de Vaudreuil caused the others to be given up at Montreal, when the Indians were passing through, and will send them back by the first opportunity. men, 13 We have lost at tliis siege, in killed, 40

wounded,

And

the enemy,

men, 41

in killed,

71

wounded,

The French army,

including Indians, consisted of 7,626, and the garrison of Fort George

and the troops encamped

Our

intrenchment, of 2,372. 31 pieces of cannon, 1 mortar, 3 howitzers, 10 grenade mortars,

in the

artillery consisted of

70 thousand weight of powder shell and shot in proportion. And that of the enemy, 23 cannon, of which 8 were brass, ;

1

iron howitzer, 1 mortar, 17

swivels, 35,835"" of powder, 2,522 shot, 545 shell, 1,400"" of ball, one case of grenades, 6

some grape shot of divers calibre. Over 3,000 barrels of flour or pork, which have been forwarded from Fort George to Carillon 10"" Fort George being entirely destroyed, our artillery, that of the enemy and all the munitions of war, and provisions being sent to the Carrying place, the army embarked and cases of fire-works and

arrived there on the

same day.

M. de Montcalm not having bateaux enough and

Beam

battalions to

encamp on one

for the entire

of the islands of

army, ordered the Royal Rousillon

Lake

St.

Sacrament, and he sent

to

bring them along the next day. 17""

The Marquis de Montcalm

has sent

away

and has retained the Land and Marine forces

all

the Canadians in order to save the harvest,

to transport to Carillon the artillery,

bateaux,

warlike stores and provisions.

This transportation which forms a land carriage of half a league,

is

to

the M"" of September, after which the battalions will leave in order to of the campaign, at the forts and roads which

Names

of the Indian Nations

it is

work

until the close

essential to put in order.

who have

expedition against Fort George

be completed about

served with the French

army

:

Nepissings.

Abenakis.

Iroquois.

Algonkins.

Amalecites.

Hurons.

in

the

NEW.YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

630

Indians of the Upper country.

Tetes de Boules.

Folles Avoines.

Outaouats. Mississagues.

Miamis of St. Joseph. Puants of the Bay. Foxes from the Mississipi.

Aoais, from the Western sea,

Sacs.

Chagouamigon.

who

Delawares.

never before appeared in the country.

Pouteouatamis of

St.

Joseph and Detroit.

—

Note. The capture of Fort George has been preceded by the defeat of 300 English, who were taken or killed on Lake St. Sacrament, the 24"" of July, by 400 Indians or Canadians without the loss of a man.

M.

de

Montcalm t

D6partement de

to

M.

de Pcmlray.

la Guerre, Parlo. ]

Montreal,

My

S'"

of September, 1757.

Lord,

my Aid-de-Camp, whom convey the intelligence of the fall of Fort William Henry, and whom I had instructed, at the same time, to write to you by the ship which M. de Vaudreuil was to dispatch to France, has, it appears to me, left nothing to desire in the Relation he has had the honor of addressing you. Therefore will I content myself with transmitting a duplicate of it to you, annexing M. de Bougainville,

thereto a return of

months

I had sent to the Marquis de Vaudreuil to

what composed the English garrison which

after the capitulation

;

is

not to serve for eighteen

a return of the artillery, vessels taken from the enemy, and

the article of provisions forms, under the circumstances, a most precious object Colony where we are suffering a real scarcity; finally, a return of the killed and wounded. I also annex thereto a letter from Sieur des Androins, the Engineer, with whom I am more and more satisfied. He has the honor to address you a most exact plan of the fort

provisions

;

for a

and of his approaches, with his journal of the siege. The Marquis de Vaudreuil, being apprehensive that the English, whose bad well

known

to us,

would seek

to elude the capitulation

and

to justify

faith is

only too

themselves by ill-founded

reproaches, in consequence of the inconsiderate attack of the Indians, after the capitulation had

been signed, has most readily communicated the most of State for the department of the Marine.

I

trivial

circumstances to the Secretary

have drawn up a

letter in the

name

of the

Marquis de Vaudreuil, which he has been pleased to adopt. 1 have the honor to transmit you a copy of it and of the Articles of the capitulation. I believe the simple recital of the facts will place

him

in

a position, should the English wish to ascribe any odious imputation to us,

prove to the entire of Europe that the conduct of the troops, of their General, and of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, is not only exempt from all reproach but may merit some eulogiums to

and much gratitude on the part of the English, who saw me expose myself much more them from the fury of the Indians than to capture their fort.

to save

PARIS DOCUMENTS: The Marquis de Vaudreuil has annexed mentioned

in the

they add nothing

one he writes

exhibit therein to General

appear to I

me

to that Minister.

to the reality of the facts

Webb

XIII.

631

M. de Moras, copy of divers letters have not the honor to send them to you

to his letter for I

I paid great attention in vpriting them, to and Lord Lawdon the dignity, firmness and politeness which ;

besides,

proper.

am, respectfully,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant,

Montcalm.

You

P. S.

will perceive,

my

Lord, by the extract of a letter of the

Bigot, Intendant of Canada, that circumstances obliged

me

16"' of

August, from M.

to stop after the capture of Fort

William Henry. "

The

resolution you have taken not to besiege Fort

" prisoners of war,

Edward and

not to

make

the garrison

is the wisest in every point of view we could not feed them. 'Twould " be greatly to be feared that the harvest in the government of Montreal would have been ;

" lost had you detained the farmers any longer. You had not provisions enough at Carillon " for that enterprise. I could not have subsisted our army on Lake St. Sacrament after the

" month of August. We must consider ourselves very fortunate to have been able to set on " foot the array that you commanded and to have provided for its subsistence for forty days " in a year in which people are, so to say, without bread. The Colony must feel all the " obligations

The

it is

English,

under to you."

my Lord,

will ]oe only too well

therefore, should they intercept us, in truth,

much worse

off

than

M.

we

they will learn nothing from

me

;

;

they suppose

are.

de Vmidre^iil [

Copy

informed of our situation as regards provisions

my despatches,

D^parlement de

to la

M.

de Moras.

Gaerre, Paris.

]

of the despatch written by the Marquis de Vaudreuil to the Secretary of

State for the Marine.

Montreal, the

My

?'«',

1757.

Lord,

could not refrain from informing you succinctly, by my despatch of the , of everything connected with the capitulation granted by the Marquis de Montcalm to Fort I

William Henry. If the English possess the least spark of justice, they cannot

occasion

;

they will believe their

own

officers in

regard to

make us any reproach on that who are satisfied with our

it,

proceedings, as far as they are concerned, and the capitulation will be respected, on their part, in every particular. faith,

may wish

who has given us but too many proofs of its bad may even seek to justify itself by ill-founded reproaches,

As, however, that Nation,

not to execute

it,

and

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

632

I thought it my duty to supply you with means to prove to all Europe, if necessary, that the conduct of the troops, of their General and mine, is entirely irreproachable, and may even merit some eulogium. The simple exposition of the facts suffices, without proceeding to recrimination, and without entering into the detail of all their treacheries towards the Indians,

a people who forget and forgive nothing, that the English have violated almost all the capitulations concluded in America, particularly at Fort Necessity, which was reduced by us in

.

.

,

and

at Beausejour,

which was taken by them.

The Marquis de Montcalm, who had already experienced the difficulties of making the Indians observe the exact laws of a capitulation at the time Chouaguen was reduced, was afraid he should be less able to control them at a siege, where there were 2,000 of them, of 33 different Therefore, he caused the Commandant to be summoned on the very first day Fort Nations.

George was invested

;

you

will see

by

his letter

annexed to

this report, that

he was led

to that

course by humanity, and that he did not conceal the apprehension created in his breast by the cruelty of the Indians.

The Commandant

of the fort having sent Lieutenant-Colonel Yonck,'

commanding

a battalion

American regiment, to him on the morning of the ninth, with an offer to capitulate, and the Marquis de Montcalm having agreed with him respecting the terms, stated to Lieutenantof the Royal

Colonel Yonck, that the sincere desire he in his

mind by the Indians on that

felt to

point,

promises before holding a Council with

observe his capitulation, the uneasiness created

and his honor did not permit him these Nations and obtaining their

to

make any

promise.

He

immediately convoked, in that officer's presence, the Nations to a General Council; explained to them the conditions on which the English offered to surrender, and those he had resolved to grant them ; asked the consent of the chiefs, and whether they could answer to him that their

young men would not violate those terms. The chiefs unanimously assured him that they would approve whatever he would do, and that they would prevent their young men committing any disorder. After this promise had been solemnly given by all the chiefs, the capitulation was signed. In order not to omit anything that prudence dictated on a like occasion, the Marquis de Montcalm had ordered Sieur de Bougainville, his Aid-de-Camp, who was with Lieul'-Colonel Monro the

Commander

of the fort, to have the wine, brandy,

rum and

all

the intoxicating liquors spilt

camp, where they were to remain, according to the the next day, when they were to be conducted to Fort Edward, notifying

to confine the troops to the intrenched

capitulation, until

liim that otherwise, 'twould not be possible to restrain that multitude of Indians; a precaution,

the importance whereof ought to be perceived, however so

America.

He

little

it

had been attended

to in

sent to the intrenchment, for the security of the English, as had been agreed on,

a Lieutenant-Colonel with 200 to the Indians to remain in

it

men

;

finally,

he ordered the

and interpreters attached Such was the position of

officers

until the departure of the English.

noon of the D"". Lieutenant-Colonel Yonck having, at the tim6 of the capitulation, told the Marquis de Montcalm that he had the honor to be attached to my Lord Lawden, and that he was afraid affairs at

the clause not to serve during 18 months might militate against his promotion, as he

was

to

be Governor of Virginia, the Marquis de Montcalm, who had anticipated herein my intentions, gave him a letter to Lord Lawdon, copy whereof I transmit you, permitting Lieutenant-Colonel Yonck, notwithstanding the capitulation, to be at liberty to perform the civil functions of '

Sic.

See note, supra,

p. 614.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: The Marquis de Montcalm

Governor of Virginia. of the

9"",

English to

XIII.

ran to

633 intrenchment on the afternoon

tlie

on being notified that the Indians wished to plunder the baggage belonging to the

and that the

officers,

prayers,

interpreters

latter

had made several of them drunk with rum

had recourse

;

menaces, caresses, councils with

the

who

these barbarians; to everything to stop and

restrain them.

possess

Tiiis

some authority over

chiefs,

interference of the

beginning of disorderly conduct appeared in

officers

and

and the Marquis

fine abated,

de Montcalm retired to his camp at 9 o'clock at night, after having agreed that the English should march at the break of day with an escort, to the Indians

and two

was superadded

the officers and interpreters attached

all

chiefs of each nation, to restrain the

to all those that

had been adopted

young men

;

a precaution which

the morning.

in

During the night several Indians got drunk on the rum which, notwithstanding all that could to the English, the latter were furnishing, under the supposition that they would by such course render those people more favorable to them, of whom they entertain an The same dread determined them to set out on their march before our inconceivable terror. The Abenakis of Panaouske in Acadia, who escort was entirely assembled and ready. be recommended

pretend to have experienced, this very year, some to insult

ill

treatment on the part of the English, ran

Scarcely had they uttered their whoop, than the English troops, in place of

them.

evincing an air of confidence, took fright and

fled helter-skelter,

throwing down arms, baggage,

of women this garrison

was bringing back, contributed emboldened to excess by this very panic of the English, set about plundering them, and I know not what would have been the result, had it not been for the promptness with which all the officers ran forward. The escort, which commenced collecting, opposed the outrage we even had some grenadiers wounded on the The English themselves publish that the Marquis de Montcalm, Chevalier de Levis, occasion. and even their clothes.

not a

little to

increase

The

great

number

The

its terror.

Indians,

;

Mess" de Rigaud, de Vaudreuil, de Bourlamaque and several

others, had run the risk of their

Finally, the Marquis de Montcalm calmed the riot, put the entire of that garrison on its march somewhat worried, and on the same day, had more than 1,400 English conducted to Fort Edward, with very few lives to save

them,

for in

officers indeed, for the

such cases the Indians respect nobody.

dread of the Indians caused

beginning with the Commandant, to

all,

prefer remaining in the camp.

He

surrender about 400 English.

The

greatest respect, and the most

ample apologies on the part of the

Montcalm had

all

the clothing

recovered also on the same day, and

possible

Article VII. of the capitulation, he sent

taken of them. of the Nations

repurchased

all

to

fit

of the Indians to die out. garrison that you

can

tell

may

chiefs.

wounded what had just happened, and

the

12""

to

Montreal.

and

13"", to

During the whole of that time, he paid

who

Agreeably to

notified

me

was

that those

the English to him, had even gone away,

their officers, the ll'S

expect from any one

The Marquis de

out the English.

contrary to usage, without taking leave, and carried their prisoners all

the Indians

to Carillon, and the greatest care

He next sent me advice of who were unwilling to surrender

the English he had recovered and

made

majority of the Nations gave them up to him with the

all

He

retained

allow the fury

the attention to that

thinks like the Marquis de Montcalm

;

but I

you, from the acknowledgment of the English, that he was well seconded by

all

the officers. 14"" Everything appeared to him quiet, and as there was only a few domiciliated Indians with the army, he sent M. Amilton,' an English officer, under the escort of 30 grenadiers, Vol. X. 80

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

634

commanded by Lieutenant Savourin,

of the

La

Sarre regiment, with Sieurs de St. Luc and

Marin, officers attached to the Indiana and two interpreters, and confided to them two letters,

one for General Webb, who was at Fort Edward, and the other to be forwarded to Lord I have the honor to transmit you copies thereof and of General Webb's answer.

Lawden.

ail the officers recovered by the Marquis de Montcalm from the Indians, set 15"", escorted by 250 men, commanded by Captain de Poulharies grenadiers, who delivered them up to a like detachment, sent halfway Royal Rousiilon of the by General Webb. These troops took with them the cannon which had been allowed to them,

The

English, and

out on the following day, the

agreeably to the

9""

Article of the capitulation.

The Marquis de Montcalm

whom

he might send

to

requested of

Montreal to

me

Lieut'-Colonel

observe the capitulation, by collecting together again carried thither. to

me.

That

him an officer which I should the Indians might have

to furnish

ail

those

whom

Captain Fesch, of the Royal Americans, was selected and immediately sent

officer

has seen with what zeal

previously taken in the fight that occurred on

have ransomed

I

included in the capitulation of Fort George, but

latter

Monro

to witness there the exactness with

all

the English, not those

those, also, of that garrison

all

Lake

St.

Sacrament on the

who had been The

24"" of July.

were, incontestably, prisoners of war and belonged even to the Indians according

to

the

laws of war established among the most civilized nations. It has cost the King considerable, but I am too well aware of the intentions of his Majesty, who has always won the respect and admiration of his enemies by his moderation in the midst of his triumphs, not to have employed every means to enforce the capitulation granted by the Marquis de Montcalm and to afford proofs of his exactness in keeping his word, and of the generosity and humanity which to form, if I

may be allowed

seem

the expression, the special character of our nation.

It had been agreed, by the 1" Article of the capitulation, to send back the English to Fort Edward, but at their request and for greater security, I have just armed a vessel or express boat, and sent them to Halifax with Captain Fesch. Of that garrison there remain with me only one wounded Captain and about 50 sick or wounded, of whom I shall take great care

until they

be

in a condition to be sent

back agreeably to Article 7 of the capitulation. The feel the more grateful for what we have done on that

English, far from complaining, ought to

whom the Indians had taken, are restored Marquis de Montcalm and of all his officers, the disorder has been promptly arrested and only 6 or 7 English soldiers killed. I annex to this letter, copies of those I have just written to the Commandant of Halifax and to Lord Lawden, occasion, inasmuch as

belonging to that garrison,

all

to them, and as, thanks to the activity of the

of that which the Marquis de Montcalm wrote to that General ; of on delivering the English over to him to be carried away, and of a note explaining to you the proceeding of which the Abenakis of Panaouske complain, and which has been one of the principal causes of the event, all the particulars whereof I have just now

in sending

M. Fesch's

back M' Fesh

;

receipt,

detailed to you. I

am, &c..

My

Lord,

Your, &c. '

lieutenant William Hamilton was appointed

to the 35lli foot, 15th April, 1756.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

M.

de

Montcalm [

M.

to

D^partemcQt de

635

XIII.

de

la Guerro, Paris.

Paidmy. ]

Letter of M. de Montcalm to the Minister, witii a copy of the circular letter from

M. de Montcalm

to the

Commander

of the battalions, of the 25"" July, 1757.

Quebec,

My

IS'"

September, 1757.

Lord,

By my

last,

of the fifteenth of August,

S""

7*"",

and that of M. de Bourgainville of the

twentieth of August, you have been rendered a most exact account of everything relative to the capture of Fort William Henry.

I

now

continue the detail of the

little

that remains to be

men of war, Le Bizarre and Le Celebre, which are returning to France, after touching at Louisbourg. The demolition and evacuation of Fort William Henry being entirely completed on the fifteenth of August, I brought back the army on the 16"" to occupy the camp of the Lake St. written to you up to this day,

Sacrament portage.

I

left

when

the packets are to be put on board the two

that place on the 29"" in order to repair to the Marquis de Vaudreuil

at Montreal.

Chevalier de Levis organized a detachment on the 31", with six companies of grenadiers, seven pickets and 100 Canadians, with the sole view of reconnoitring of the

Bay and the

defiles

He

towards the enemy.

left

the

camp

Wood

creek, the head

at Carillon, himself,

on the

and brought back the battalions of La Reine, La Sarre, Languedoc and Guienne encamped at Carillon until the close of the campaign, together with the Royal Rousillon and Beam There exists the greatest dearth of provisions. battalions, some Colonial troops and Canadians. We have lost so great a number of ships and the harvest is so bad, that this interesting item

3'''',

excites serious apprehension.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil tiian last,

proposes to terminate the campaign this year somewhat earlier

about the fifteenth of October.

viz',

The winter

quarters are already fixed upon I

have determined

to

approximate them

voyage.

These companies Such is not the

four battalions in the government of Quebec, four in that of Montreal.

Quebec government those

station in the to their

in a

Brest.

left at

The

at Montreal

bad

my

battalions of Berry,

which

will

four battalions of in its

La

environs.

Sarre,

The

to

remain also near Quebec.

These, including

men

since sailing from

Louisbourg, are reduced to 913 men, having lost 141

and

last year,

after a long

very feeble condition, with few sick, having only 255 men.

two

case with the

men

La Reine and Languedoc,

companies which arrived only a few days ago

have landed 91

of

Royal Rousillon, Guienne and

Beam

will be stationed

military hospitals have been as effective as they were

a circumstance owing to the attention which has been paid by the Intendant to memoirs and to those of M. Doreil. The latter, who performs his

representations and

duty as well as any needed,

in

man

Grive, Commissary of is to

come

The English

mad

can, spent the

summer

in

Quebec, where

order to receive our recruits and companies.

hither,

latest fleet

War

at

M. Doreil

intelligence

in

his presence has

been much

the arrival here of Sieur de la

your letter of the 20"" of March, he will have to perform.

will see to the regulation of the duties

from Louisbourg

was preparing

determination.

Louisbourg, who, you state

On

to

is

of the 20"' of August.

cope with ours, or

to

attempt a landing.

It

appeared that the

That enterprise

is

a

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

636

Our latest news from Fort du Quesne and Niagara are of the 15"" of August. They only make mention of small parties which continue to harass the enemy, and it appears that the Five Nations are always favorably disposed and at least inclined to an exact neutrality; many young men go out to fight on our side. came to Quebec to review the regiment of Berry, to see the new companies of La Reine and Languedoc and our recruits. I shall wait for the Marquis de Vaudreuil who is coming of their I

Considerable has been done to the fortifications at have not been consulted. I had offered to come and pass eight days here in the beginning of spring. Neither have the officers of the Corps Royal. Nevertheless I am now going to see actually what has been done. It might have been of more use to have instructed me to look at it before. M. Levis has remained at Montreal, near hither in the early part of next month.

Quebec

in setting

up

batteries there.

1

the Marquis de Vaudreuil, and within hail of our four battalions at St. John and Chambly. the reviews I made of I annex to this letter the return of our six battalions, according to

them on the

22"^

and

23'^

of August.

the companies to 39, including the

Lord, that 25'"

am La Reine and Languedoc.

Since our receipt of 326 recruits, I

new

ones of

enabled to raise

You

perceive,

all

my

are very far from thinking of the augmentations authorized by the order of the Up to the present time we have received fix all the companies at 50.

we

February, 1757, to

whom have been taken by the troops of the Colony for their ten augmentation companies, or to render them complete. 'Tis asserted that the English have captured about 600 recruits in divers ships; 'tis much to be feared that no more will arrive. 1 annex to this despatch copy of a letter I have written to Mess" the Commandants of the only 1,100 recruits, 750 of

marched on the expedition against Fort William Henry. 'Twill afford you an difficult circumstances under which the war has to be waged. I also annex hereunto a memorandum of those letters you have done me the honor to write to me, and which I have received this year, and another of those I have had the honor to

corps, idea,

when

my

I

Lord, of the

write you.

have received the commissions and letters for the nominations to the vacant employments. have filled up, according to your intentions, those blank ones you have sent me, and shall forward you a memorandum thereof by the latest ships, with a memoir of the proposals for the I I

which will be vacant in the course of this year. have received the duplicate of the despatch advising that the King had granted me a place of Commander in the Order of St. Louis, and the list of favors granted to the officers who are serving in Canada. 1 have to repeat to you my thanks, and to assure you of my entire

situations 1

gratitude; but I have as yet received neither the private letter respecting the favors, nor the Crosses ; not even that of Commander, which was announced to me by your despatch of the ll'*-

of March.

have received the Colors I had the honor to request of you for the regiments of Guienne and Beam. It only remains for me to express to you my entire satisfaction with the assurance of your approval of my conduct, which you are pleased to give me in the letter you have honored me with on the 20"" of May ; and I have to thank you no less for the letter with which you honored me on the 10'" of April. It requires a special answer which I have the honor to send you. I

I

am, with respect,

my

Lord,

• Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Montcalm.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: Copy

XIII.

637

camp at Carillon, on the 25 Commandants of Battalions.

of the circular letter written from the

by the Marquis de Montcalm

to the

July,

Sir,

You

are not ignorant of the nature of the expedition

we

are about to undertake

;

your

experience in the profession sufficiently informs you that celerity principally must cause its success. Besides, the circumstances of detail, peculiar to this Colony and which are not

unknown also

to

you, render

aware what are the

from transport

indispensably necessary for us to act with promptness.

them

to

army march overland.

have few bateaux; the warlike stores and provisions

such an extent that

Is

it

You

are

embarrassments, and consequently the slowness inseparable

We

in this country.

the greatest portion of of the

it

difficulties,

we

are obliged to

make

fill

a large division

not rendering justice to your zeal. Sir, and to that of the

be convinced that they will cooperate cordially and heartily in whatever will hasten

officers, to

the termination of our expedition

?

They

will themselves perceive that what,

under other

circumstances, might be regarded as a matter of necessity, would on this occasion be a luxury prejudicial to the good of the service. it

my l'»

duty

to

The

following, then,

make, respecting what each person

All the soldiers will leave their vests here

;

is

the regulation, which I consider

will carry along.

they will march with their coats and blanket

they will carry tents and kettles, and as the companies of the Regular troops are reduced, they will carry only three tents per

them

company.

They

will be

to carry several days' provisions; therefore 'twill

aware

that

it

will be necessary for

be for their advantage not to overload

themselves with articles of superfluity. a canvass awning {canonniere) for every example in this instance as I have done in the Chouaguen campaign for servants, one awning for every eight. A blanket and bearskin are the bed Age and infirmities may of a warrior in such an expedition. Yet, I forbid not a mattrass. render it necessary to some. I shall not carry any, and I doubt not but all who will be able, Provision will be made for some in the suite of the army for the will willingly imitate me. 2"^ Officers of

two,

and

I

whatever grade will carry with them

shall

furnish the

;

sick

and wounded.

Every sort of coop is absolutely prohibited, and the Majors will receive orders on embarking to throw away those which might be presented. Some fowls can be conveyed in a less cumbersome manner; it even seems that a soldier's fare ought to be sufficient for us; every two officers 15 quarts of wine, or if they prefer it, a case of wine per mess. 2^

4""

Finally, as soon as the order of

marching

is

are that are to go by land, arrangements will be

issued, and

made

it

becomes known who those

in the battalions for

those going in

bateaux to take charge of the provisions and baggage of their comrades, so as not rejoining them. Such,

sir,

to

delay

are the regulations which circumstances render necessary for an expedition which,

in other respects, is to

to commtinicate

it

in

be regarded as a tour of 15 days, or 3 weeks at farthest.

advance

to the officers of I

your regiment.

have the honor

to be, &c.

I

request you

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

638

M.

cle

Montcalm

to

M.

de

Pauhny.

Dfipartement de la Guerre, Paris.

[

]

Quebec,

My 10""

;

You order me be as I

18'" 7"", 1757.

Lord,

owe an answer and thanks for the private despatch with which you honored me on the of April. You write me graciously I shall omit nothing to render me worthy thereof.

I

you with confidence; I would not have awaited your letter, fori would inviolably attached to you as to the Count d'Argenson, and that is saying everything. to write

had been so already

my

disown

which

made use

I

I shall he so

;

all

my

life,

to

whatever

and will again have recourse

of,

to,

your name, and

will bear

Your uncle and

son were he not of the same mind.

should

1

I had agreed on an address

should you write

me

that

it

is

not

you particularly, making use of the cipher with which he had furnished me. You will receive, by the last ships, a very lengthy and very minute despatch, which will leave you nothing to wish for in point of the most subject to any inconvenience.

You

interesting details.

The wise

Meanwhile,

yourself for the success of his part

shall write

will receive it in triplicate

me

counsel you give

recommend on

I

is

my

proves to

You can

mission.

and therein assure the

exactly followed on mine

;

or in camp,

I

have the

With

I

my

so strictly

acquired to the highest

the former,

Tribune of the people;

air of a

are pleased to interest

King that what you

therefore have

degree the confidence of the Canadians and Indians.

march

will consist the greatest security.

my mind how much you

I am on the which any other

when

success,

might have had, and the intimate acquaintance with the manners of the Indians, the attention I pay them, has won for me their affection. This is so strong that there are moments when,

my

perhaps,

General

is

astonished at

He

it.

is

a native of Canada, and his system and that

of his friends has ever been to proclaim that his

confidence of the Nations.

I

should fancy that I

the Colony esteem, consider and believe

me

to

name

alone would suffice to attract the

am now

The oflScers of many fear me but

as sure of mine.

be just and severe, and

these are neither a Villiers, nor a Contrecoeur, nor a Ligneris, nor

many

;

others.

In regard to

our troops, I have established the greatest political harmony.

between our

else

we

There will never be anything and theirs. Nothing remains to be wished for on this head, as far as we meet all the expenses and are prodigal in officiousness to serve. Our

officers

are concerned, for

accompany the Indians, and the Governor-General does not care he would fain retain this, at least as an exclusive merit Colony; nevertheless I send some out occasionally and I select them judiciously. M.

officers are not all qualified to

about

my

for the

de

sending any of them out often

La Rociiebeaucour

detachment. all

is

Although but few of our

are attentive in treating

soldiers,

than

;

gaining a great reputation in this

them

in

line,

officers are qualified to

and is about to enter on his S"" accompany the Indians in war,

camp with much kindness and

affability.

As

for

our

who esteem them much more Colony, called detached troops of the Marine. In regard to the

they are like brothers with the Canadians and Indians, soldiers of the

the

who

good but unsteady, our solders do not entertain sufficient respect and esteem therefore, and I have always omitted to render you an account of it, I very ; soon held a court-martial and ordered a Corporal of La Sarre to be hung on the 14"" of last month, who was wanting in respect to a Colonial officer. This is the exact truth. I neglect

latter,

are

for their officers

nothing

to

please

my

General and

to

deserve his confidence.

The

letter

you wrote him

PARIS DOCUMENTS wherein you mention whatever and

effect,

who,

if

M. de Moras,

had written

I

his Minister,

XIII.

:

to his brother's

from wliom

639 advantage, has had a marvelous

iiave not as yet received a letter,

I

despatches to him, has not yet mentioned my name, ever speak to him of to inspire him with confidence, the King's service will be benefited thereby. in his

His brother,

many

'tis said,

is to

have the government of Montreal.

The Colony has

and so as

it,

received a

more than we, seeing that they number only 30 Captains. Five Crosses of St. Louis; two pensions; they never have had any; a sum of two thousand great

favors, proportionably

They have, 'tis true, more service than we. People are have rendered of their services have had a considerable share in As for the rest, nothing is better than to have given Montreal to M. Rigaud that this. government is worth II 12,000 Hires. It must be reserved, for the sake of emulation for ecus in gratuities for the subalterns.

persuaded that the reports

I

;

@

the officers of the Colony, but at least of superior talents of Montreal should go higher, and

'tis

;

not necessary that the Governor

believe this to be the case in point.

I

For the

rest,

should

the Governor-General happen to die, as the government of the Colony belongs to the senior

Governor, by devolution, and so on, even

The

to their orders.

down

sealed packet to be then opened to confer the

de Levis. office,

to a

simple Captain, certainly I cannot be subject

case will not occur; but at

I write to this effect to

all

command

M. de Moras, in a

events 'twill be one for despatching a

my

on me, and in

which

letter

absence on Chevalier

will not pass

but indeed through the hands of M. de Herault; for the Colonial

relations of interest

many

The former, indefatigable, man of talent, of detail,

Chevalier de Levis and M. de Bourlamaque are good seconds. ;

the latter, a

gains immensely this winter and this campaign, in public esteem. to

through his

has too

and correspondence with the Colonies.

courageous, possessing an excellent military routine

promotion, but

office

speak

to

you of

it

seems

be mentioning

to

my

I greatly desire their

own, on which

The King

I

have only

me so well that make me Lieutenant-General only in the ordinary course, I so, I shall never make a precedent of it I am about entering on my 36"* year of service I date from 1721. I am the only Major-General commanding in chief a corps of troops and small armies 1,500 leagues oflT, having made two successful campaigns and sieges. But if I be made Lieutenant-General, can I be under the orders of a Captain of a Can I be promoted ship; he is Governor-General, and I was well whilst Major-General. without favors being conferred on the Marquis de Vaudreuil I know not. At all events make him Commodore; he ranks the Captains of ships; this grade was conferred on him to say two words to you, and to meet two objections.

has treated

I have nothing to ask; should he have nothing to say ; should he do

;

'

;

;

ad

without his ever having served at sea; or, what he will like better and does not money, give or promise him the honors of the Grand Cross. Had I not been advanced

honores,

cost any

in years, I should feel less desire for the

best of his ability, and

who on

grade

his return

;

man

but a

of rank

have some hope of reaching the highest step

in his old age.

Lieutenant-General or not, [[shall feel] the same zeal for for

my

Minister,

and

let

The Major-General

2

is

a

my

Marechal de Camp.

to Africa, if desired,

me

ever stop the promotion

orders.

very worthy man,

but

'

Chevalier de Montreuil

he

will

Mess" de

Fortunately I have here some very good adjutants. '

serves his master to the

must However, whether I be made the service, the same attachment

not the consideration of what concerns

of the superior officers under

who

from America will go

;

never la

be a ]\rajor-General.

Pauze and de Malartic are

Major-Oeneral, or Brigade Major.

— Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

640

of the 1" order, and M. d'Hert

is

very good

;

yet I shall ask you, at the close of the campaign,

he has performed that duty during three years in America. M. Doreil, on the contrary, is a good Commissary, a great worker. 'Tis a pity he has not more to do, for the Commissaries of the Marine do, as it were, the whole. All the favors you

to pension

him

will consider

There 'tis

is

;

it

proper to confer on him will be well conferred

one, he has greatly at heart, and which

the Cross of St. Louis; you will find

when we

arrive in France, but

me

The Cross

T

;

love

shall

you

be very glad of them.

will solicit at

your hands

as forward as they can be in asking

of importance that

it is

as he will continue in America.

many who

you should not grant

of St. Louis

is

it

to

of

it

him

;

you

as long

held in greater veneration here

Red ribbon is in France, and the latter is more esteemed than the Blue ribbon. Should the Colonial oiRcers and the Marquis de Vaudreuil see it conferred on him, they would be confounded, and I believe you will be obliged to me for advising you of the fact beforehand. than the

•

I

am, with respect.

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

Montcalm. If

you have any

of Louisbourg.

particular order to give me,

you can write

Despatches are received there at

which we receive by the end of February

Document annexed

to [

or

all

to me,

my

seasons, and letters are sent us

of provisions.

The

probably necessary to reduce

M. de Montcalm's despatch.

DSpartement de

la Gaerre, Paris.

]

IS"-

September, 1757.

people reduced to a quarter of a pound of bread. further the soldier's ration.

still

way

by land

March.

Quebec,

Want

Lord, earlier by

Little

It will

powder, no shoes

;

be

those

coming have been taken. We have apprehensions for Louisbourg it would require man of more strength than those who are there. Is M. Franquet as able as is reported? Saint Julien doubts it. He has good sense and experience. The seamen of the Some ought to be sent Provisions, powder, ball and shoes early. fleet may be interrogated.

that were

;

a principal

in the very

commencement

An

Account of [

The Marquis

of March.

tJie

Annexed

Campaign of 1757 in North America.

to the letter of M. d'Abadie de St. Germain.]

de Vaudreuil having formed a plan of offensive operations in the direction of

for the security of Forts Carillon and Saint Frederic, sent, in Ihe month body of fifteen hundred Frenchmen, Canadians or Indians, under the orders of M. de Rigaud, the Governor of Three Rivers, to burn the sloops, bateaux and storehouses,

Lake Saint Sacrament, of March, a

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XIII.

641

placed under the cannon of Fort Saint George, called by the English, William Henry, situate at the head of Lake St. Sacrament, six leagues from Fort Ledius, called Fort Edward. That expedition having had all possible success, M. de Vaudreuil determined on opening the campaign with the siege of Fort George, and consequently gave orders early for the

necessary preparations.

The

delay of water conveyance and want of

doubtful; as the

first

July did not bring

ships that arrived at sufficient

to

Quebec

provisions rendered this operation very in the

end of June and

in

the course of

allow the siege of Fort George to be undertaken, M. de

Vaudreuil commissioned Sieur de Martel, the Inspector of the King's stores, to make a search in the farmers' houses for

Every farmer,

full

all

strict

the provisions they might possess.

of zeal for his country, voluntarily reduced himself to a very small portion,

barely adequate for his support until the harvest, and whatever

was

over, supplied the

wants

of the siege.

M. de Vaudreuil,

after being sure in the matter

of provisions,

issued his orders for the

concentration of the troops in the course of July, at the Little Carrying place of Lake Saint

Sacrament, which

is

half a league long,

month of May, under the orders The army being assembled there

the

where a corps of Canadians had been stationed since Gaspe of the Colonials. the appointed time, was employed after its arrival in

of Captain de at

transporting artillery, bateaux, warlike stores and provisions. 27"" July.

The Marquis de Montcalm had

the chiefs of the Indian Nations assembled, and

presented them, in the King's name, with a belt of 6,000 beads of

Wampum

to

bind

all

the

Nations to each other and to him, in order that they might not separate from one another nor quit him before the expedition

was terminated.

30"" July. Things being ready. Chevalier de Levis set out with two thousand eight hundred Frenchmen, Canadians or Indians, on his march by land for the Bay of Ganaouske, situate on He had orders to the left shore of Lake Saint Sacrament, four leagues from Fort George. wait there for M. de Montcalm, who proposed embarking on the 1" of August with four thousand eight hundred men, to be followed by the entire artillery. These two divisions having formed a junction at three o'clock in the morning of the second Chevalier de Levis commenced his march at ten of August, again advanced during the day.

o'clock in the morning, and proceeded within a league and a half of Fort George.

Montcalm

set out at

M. de

noon, and arrived at five o'clock in the morning of the third, with the

troops and artillery at the place of landing, which had been reconnoitred by Chevalier de Levis

he was told by two prisoners on arriving, that the enemy, informed of our new movement, were to march from Fort George on a signal gun being fired, to come and meet us. merely had his troops landed, and prepared to march against the enemy whenever the gun would be heard. At seven o'clock in the morning several guns were, indeed, fired at Fort George. M. de Montcalm immediately marched out at the head of his army, and left five hundred men, under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel Privat of the Languedoc regiment, to guard the bateaux and artillery. Chevalier de Levis, forming the van-guard with a party of Canadians, all the Indians, and the same detachment he had liad previously under his command, approached unopposed within

He

first

cannon-shot of the

Vol. X.

fort,

and took up a position on the Fort Lidius road 81

to intercept all relief.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

642

M. de Montcalm repaired

to the

van-guard at one o'clock

in

the afternoon,

and having

perceived with Chevalier de Levis that 'twas impossible to attack by main force an intrenchment

which communicated with Fort George, without compromising the King's troops, concluded to Commandant summoned who returned him for answer, that the troops of his garrison and those of the intrenchment which he commanded, were resolved to defend themselves to liave the

;

the death.

M. de Montcalm issued the necessary preparations for the siege. The trench was opened on the night of the 4"" (3. 5"" of August, 350

close to the Lake, within

toises of the fort.

The

encamped at a short distance from the tail of the by Lake Saint Sacrament and their right in the depths of

troops of the Line and Marine were

trench, with their left flanked

the forest.

The Canadians and Indians commanded by M. de Rigaud, M. de

Vaudreuil's brother, under

Chevalier de Levis, formed a camp at some distance from the right of the troops of the Line

and Marine, in order to be ready promptly to repair to the Fort Lidius road on receipt of the notice of the

first

enemy marching

to the relief of Fort George.

Every time Chevalier de

Levis marched out on the occasion of some alarms, M. de Montcalm and the Major-General followed him very closely at the head of the brigade of La Reine, composed of three battalions,

one of which was formed of the soldiers of the Marine. The La Sarre and Royal Rousillon brigades, of two battalions, remained each in camp under the orders of Colonel de Bourlamaque, to defend the trench in case of a sortie. 5"" The Indians intercepted a letter of General Web, written at Fort Lidius, and dated at midnight of the 4'\ informing the Commandant of the fort that he would advance to give battle to the French army immediately on the arrival of the Provincial Militia, which he had

ordered to come and join him at once; in case, however, the Militia should arrive too late, Commandant was to look to obtaining the best conditions possible; he added, that the

the

situation of Fort Lidius did not permit

however, that that General was 6"* 7""

a

fire

We have A second

the

to

of a

detach any of his troops.

'Twas known,

of four thousand men.

camp

battery of eight guns, one mortar and

first

at eight o'clock in the

salvo,

Commandant

first

On

him

command

eight guns and one mortar in battery, which fired with considerable success.

was opened

Alter the to the

in

two howitzers was

M. de Montcalm had a Red

flag hoisted

of the place, who, after having thanked

shot on our part before opening his

the night of the

7'"

(^

quantity of fascines across a

8"",

finished from

which

morning.

and sent General Web's letter in writing for it, waited for

him

fire.

our working party was occupied constructing a road with a

swamp

30 toises in width, which a

hill

protected from the guns

of the fort.

The works on 9""

the night following

At eight o'clock

were advanced

in the forenoon, the

to within

Commandant

about sixty toises of the

of the fort had the

White

fort.

flag hoisted

and demanded to capitulate.

M. de Montcalm consented on the following terms: r' That the troops of the garrison and intrenched camp should march out with their baggage and the honors of war. 2'^ That they should retire on the following morning to Fort Lidius; and in order to be protected from the Indians, they should be escorted by a detachment of our troops and the principal otticers

and interpreters attached

to the Indians.

PARIS DOCUMENTS S"*

That these troops should not be

Mnjesty or his

months

either against

all

the French, Canadian and Indian prisoners hostilities,

should be brought

capitulation having been approved by the Indian chiefs assembled for that purpose,

signed at eleven

immediately

iiis

allies.

taken on land in North America since the commencement of back to the French forts.

The

(343

at liberty to serve for eighteen

That within the space of three months,

4"-

XIII.

:

o'clock,

to the fort

after

was

which Chevalier de Montreuil, Major-General,* proceeded to prepare a list of troops and to provide for the

and intrenchment

security of the provisions and warlike stores.

The troops of the garrison were relieved by the grenadiers and pickets of the trench, and conducted to the intrenchment where a guard of our troops was posted. Chevalier de Montreuil proceeded to execute the orders of the Marquis de Montcalm and arranged, the Commandant demanded to march out with his troops at

when everything was nightfall, in

order to avoid the Indians.

M. de Montcalm immediately ordered an escort and directed M. de Haint Luc de la Corne, commandant of the Indians and several Colonial officers who were conversant with their language, to accompany

that he and his troops

it,

may

protect the English against

all

insult

on the part of the Indians.

These officers having learned that the greatest portion of the Indians were lying in ambush on the Ledius road, where they must necessarily pass, advised the Commandant to postpone his departure

The

till

day-break.

next morning the English were attacked on their retreat by the Indians

the greatest part of their baggage, took about six hundred

and

killed

some

men whom

who plundered

they carried to the camp

thirty.

The Marquis de Montcalm, Chevalier de and several

officers

Levis, M. de Bourlamaque, Chevalier de Montreuil rescued about three hundred of them from the hands of the Indians and

had them placed in safety in the fort. The Marquis de Vaudreuil ransomed

at

Montreal those English which could not have been

rescued out of the hands of the Indians.

The

former have been sent back from the

from Quebec to Alifax, by

camp

of Fort George to Fort Ledius; the others

sea.

The loss of the French, Canadians and men killed and forty wounded that of

Indians during the expedition amounted to thirteen

the enemy to forty-one men killed and seventyone wounded. The French army, including the Indians, numbered 7,626 men, and the troops of the garrison and intrenchment to 2,372. ;

Our

artillery consisted of

31 guns, 2 mortars, 3 howitzers, 10 grenade mortars, 70 thousand

weight of powder, shells and shot in proportion. In the fort and intrenchment were found 3,000 barrels 8 were brass, shell,

1

of flour or pork,

iron howitzer, 1 mortar, 17 swivels, 35,835

1,400 pounds of

ball, 1

23 cannon, of which

pounds of powder, 2,522

shot, 545 grenade case, 6 cases of fire-works, and some grape-shot of divers

calibre. '

See note

2, p.

639.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

644 The

capture of this fort had been preceded by the defeat on

Lake Saint Sacrament on the

300 English, who were taken prisoners or killed by 400 Indians or Canadians, under the orders of Lieutenant de la Corbiere of the Colonials, without losing a man. 16"" Fort George being entirely destroyed, our artillery, that of the enemy and all the 24"" July, of

warlike stores and provisions having been transported

to the Little

Carrying place of Lake

Saint Sacrament, the army embarked and proceeded thither on the same day.

accommodate the whole of his army sent Lake Saint Sacrament to encamp until the return of the bateaux which he sent them the day after his arrival. l?"" The Canadians were sent home to save the harvest. The Land and Marine forces remained at the camp of the Little Carrying place to transport the artillery, bateaux, warlike stores and provisions, after which they have been detached to work at the fortifications of Fort Carillon and Saint John and at the Chambli roads. The expedition against Fort George is the most brilliant ever made in Canada; its success M. de Montcalm not having enough of bateaux

the Royal Rousillon and

Beam

to

battalions to one of the Islands of

due to the excellent arrangements of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, to the experience of the Marquis de Montcalm and to the activity with which Chevalier de Montreuil executed his orders. The troops of the Line and those of the Colony, as well as the Indians, furnished ou the occasion the greatest proofs of their zeal and courage.

is

Siimmary of

the preceding

Accounts.

Capture of Fort George, called by the English William Henry, situated on Lake St. Sacrament.

The army destined to attack this fort, under the command of the Marquis de Montcalm, was composed of 7,300 men, viz': 5,500 French Regulars and Militia, and 1,S00 Indians. The enemy, including those in the fort and in the intrenched camp, who could continually recruit the garrison of the fort, numbered 2,500 @^ 3,000 men. It was invested on the 3"* of August; the trench was opened on the night of the 4"" (^ 5"'; and at 8 o'clock of the morning of the Q"" the besieged hoisted the White flag. The principal conditions of the capitulation were: That the

troops, both of the garrison

Edward with

their

and of the intrenched camp, should

retire to

That they should not be at liberty to serve for 18 months either against the King or his That they should be escorted to Fort Edward to guarantee them against the Indians.

And

that,

since the

within the space of 3 months,

commencement

all

allies.

the French prisoners taken on land in America,

of the war, should be sent into the Colony of Canada.

The French have had only 13 men killed and 40 wounded. The enemy have lost lOS men. In the fort were found 23 were 32-pounders, 4 mortars, shells,

Fort

baggage and the honors of war.

1

pieces of cannon,

some of which

howitzer, 17 swivels, 34 thousand weight of powder; shot,

grenades, fire-works and implements

of artillery.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XIII.

:

645

Likewise a considerable quantity of provisions of every description but pillage on the part of the Indians, which was inevitable on this occasion. In spite of the escort furnished to the fell

on them

;

enemy

to

was some

tliere

;

conduct them to Fort Edward, the Indians

the Marquis de Montcalm has been obliged to expose himself in order to restrain

He has advised Lord Lowdon and General Webb of the fact. M. de Montcalm was busy razing the fort, and had already sent away the Militia for the purpose of saving the crops. In consequence of the destruction of Fort George the English have remaining on that frontier only Fort Edward. them.

October, 1757.

IS"-

Reduction of Fort William Henry.

An Account

of the Capture of Fort George, or William Henry, situate on

Lake

Saint Sacrament, and of what occurred this year in Canada. [From

The

ill

in profound

them.

the printed Pamphlet.]

success which the English have experienced in the attempts they have made, either

peace or since the declaration of war,

No one

is

to

invade Canada, have not discouraged

ignorant of the immense preparations they had

The

simultaneously by sea and land.

made

to attack it this

year

naval force which the King has destined for the defence

of that Colony has caused the miscarriage of their sea project; and the arrangements adopted in the country,

have equally put

it

out of their power to

make any attempt

against the frontiers.

the close of last year's campaign, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor and Lieutenant-

At

General of

New

France, set about making

them on every side. He adopted measures to have

the arrangements in his

all

power

to enable

him

to

repel

during the winter.

many

great

The

parties of

Canadians and Indians continually

incursions of these detachments on the

enemy have

cost

in the field tiie latter

a

people, and spread alarm throughout the Colonies, which have been extensively

ravaged.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

likewise applied himself to managing the favorable dispositions

up against the injustice of the pretensions and Those in ancient alliance with France have not ceased and have been continually in the field against the enemy.

of the Indian nations, which, in general, rose

the violent proceedings of the English. to furnish

new

proofs of their fidelity,

Other numerous nations have entered into this

whom

alliance,

and have taken part

in

the war.

The

Europe as their subjects, animated by similar motives to the other Indians, have taken the same side, notwithstanding all sorts of efforts the English Governors have had recourse to, in order to persuade them to observe the neutrality to which they had adhered in the preceding wars between France

Iroquois themselves, those nations

the English represent to

and England. It

was

in

view of the advantages the Marquis de Vaudreuil saw himself

derive from the dispositions of

He had come Lake

all

enemy would Lake Champlain and he has

to the conclusion that the

Saint Sacrament and

in a position to

those Nations, that he regulated these operations.

;

direct their principal efforts towards

paid particular attention to strengthen

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

646

The enemy having been informed

the forts which defend that frontier.

that

some provisions

conveyed from Fort Saint Frederic to Fort Carillon, under the escort of a small detachment, sent a party of eighty picked men, which captured tlie advanced sleighs of this

were

to be

convoy and seven soldiers; but the Commandant of Fort Saint Frederic dispatched another

detachment which intercepted that of the enemy on its way, utterly defeated it, three men only escaping, and recovered the sleighs that had been seized and three soldiers, the remainder of those that had been captured.

This action took place

in the

month

of January.

Captains

de Basserode and de la Grandville of the regiments of Languedoc and La Reine, performed the principal parts in

it.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

learned at the same time, that the

collecting considerable supplies of

had

built

under the cannon of that

all

sorts at Fort

fort a large

enemy had been

again

George, on Lake Saint Sacrament, and had

number of

sloops, bateaux

and other

craft,

not

only for the transportation of these supplies, but also to secure the navigation of that lake to themselves. He was of opinion that all these preparations were intended for some operations which the enemy were proposing to execute in the spring. To deprive them of the means to accomplish their design, he dispatched in the month of March, a detachment of fifteen hundred Regulars, Canadians and Indians, under the orders of Sieur Rigaud de Vaudreuil, Governor of Three Rivers, who succeeded so well in his expedition that he burned all the water craft, all the stores which were filled with every description of munitions of war, and implements for an army of fifteen thousand men, and generally whatever the enemy had collected under the fort, which remained isolated. The Marquis de Vaudreuil did not confine himself to the obstacles he was opposing at that point to the execution of the enemy's projects on Lake Saint Sacrament; he renewed the garrisons of the posts on that frontier, and, by means of the reinforcements and other aid the King had ordered to Canada, found himself in a condition to operate offensively against the enemy. In the direction of the Beautiful river, he caused many small forts to be destroyed which they

had erected

in that quarter.

In order to profit effectually by the advantages of Sieur de Rigaud's expedition, and of the situation in

which the Colony was placed on the sea-board, he formed the plan of seizing on

Fort George.

The

erection of that fort which

the English are in the habit of afforded

them the greatest

is

only of quite a recent date, was one of those invasions

making

facilities to

in times of peace

attack

Canada by

on their neighbors' possessions, and its

centre.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil committed this important expedition to the Marquis de Montcalm, Major-General {Murkhal de Camjj). The troops destined therefor consisted of six battalions of infantry of the Line, one detachment of Colonial troops, several detachments of Militia, and

many

All these troops were collected together on the 20"' of July at where Colonel de Bourlamaque of the infantry had already made the preliminary arrangements for the march of the army. The Marquis de Montcalm had repaired thither some time previously. Before the army was ready to march, he had detached Sieur Rigaud dd Vaudreuil to occupy the head of the portage of Lake Saint Sacrament, with a corps of Colonial troops, Canadians and Indians. Sieur Rigaud de Vaudreuil having established himself in that post, sent out three parties of Indians.

Carillon,

scouting parties.

PARIS DOCUMENTS The

:

XIII.

647

which consisted of only ten men, was attacked on Lake Saint Sacrament by several canoes containing one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty Englishmen. Although Lieutenant de St. Ours of the Colonials, who commanded the party, was wounded first,

at the first volley,

he defended himself with so

much

firmness as to oblige his enemies to retire.

was commanded by Sieur Marin, another Lieutenant; he sent ahead eight Indians who composed his van-guard, and fell in with forty English. At the first brunt they let fly at the enemy, killed their Commandant and put the

The

second, which

pretty considerable,

Sieur Marin, having rejoined his van-guard, reduced his detachment to one

rest to flight.

hundred and

was

picked

fifty

men

reached the vicinity of Fort Edward, a few leagues from Fort

;

George, without being discovered, where he ordinary guard of

fifty

men and

enemy, who marched out accompanied him

whom

forty of

to the

during two hours.

sustained

to retire.

number of

defeated a patrol of ten

first

several laborers.

He showed

three thousand

men

;

next, an

himself before the camp of the

men

firing at

him, which

Indeed, 'twas with difficulty that he obliged the Indians

he

who

In this action, he killed more than one hundred and fifty men, He did not lose a man, and only two Indians were

the Indians scalped.

wounded.

The third detachment, commanded by Sieur Corbiere, another Colonial officer, lay in ambush during one day. At nightfall, he descried on the lake twenty barges and two skiffs containing more than three hundred and fifty English under the command of Colonel Parker, The Indians who accompanied M. Corbiere raised their five Captains and six other officers. whoop and fired at the same time. The enemy ofliered a feeble resistance. Two barges only the others were taken or sunk. Sieur Corbiere returned with one hundred and escaped sixty-one prisoners; more than one hundred and fifty Englishmen were eitiher killed or wounded whilst of the French detachment only one Indian was slightly wounded. The Marquis de Montcalm was in the meantime busy arranging his march. He divided the Militia into several battalions, the command of which he gave to some officers of the Colonials ;

;

and of the detached companies of the latter troops he formed a battalion to roll with those of the He also gave a corps of three hundred Canadian volunteers to Captain de Villiers of the Colonials, known by various expeditions he has led in the course of this war, so that Regulars.

the brigade of La Reine, composed of the of three brigades of Regulars, viz' La Reine and Languedoc, and of that of the Colonials; the brigade of La Sarre, formed of the battalions of La Sarre and Guyenne; that of Royal Rousillon, composed of the battalions of Royal Rousillon and Beam; of six brigades of Militia; of three hundred of tiie

army consisted

:

battalions of

and of one detachment of Artillery and Engineers, consisting of seven and about one hundred and twenty gunners, bombardiers and laborers. All these, notwithstanding, formed altogether but five thousand five hundred fighting men, exclusive of the Indians who numbered about eighteen hundred, because the Marquis de Montcalm was obliged to take some datchments from the troops both to garrison Fort Carillon and for some

Villiers' volunteers, officers

other posts.

convey by land, and on men's shoulders, from Carillon to Lake Saint artillery, warlike stores and provisions of all sorts, but even more than four hundred bateaux and canoes; and that operation was attended by so much zeal that it was accomplished on the night of the 31" July and 1" of August. It

was necessary

to

Sacrament, not only the

On

the SO'" of July, the Marquis de Montcalm dispatched Chevalier de Levis, Brigadier, at

the head of a corps of

two thousand

five

hundred men, composed of

six

companies of grenadiers.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

648

eight pickets of Villiers' volunteers, about one thousand Canadians and five hundred Indians,

march across the woods, secure the passage of the army by water, reconnoitre and cover debarcation. Which officer, notwithstanding the difficulties and fatigues of that march, took up his post on the evening of the following day at the Bay of Ganaouske, four leagues from Fort George. On the first of August the army embarked and, at three o'clock on the morning of the 2°'' to

its

arrived in the

same bay.

Chevalier de Levis marched from there with his detachment at ten

o'clock, repaired to a cove about a league fort,

the position of the

enemy and

from the English

fort,

and went

the landing proper for the artillery.

to reconnoitre

The army

the

arrived

about eleven o'clock at night in the same cove, and everybody bivouacked.

Some the

prisoners, taken

number

by Canadians and Indians

enemy may amount

of the

to three

in the course of the night, reported that

thousand men,

actually in the fort and the remainder in an intrenched

hundred

toises of the fort

added, that

On

all

and convenient

for the

camp

five

hundred of

located on a

hill

whom v?ithin

continual relief of the garrison.

were two

They

the troops were to take to their arms on the firing of a signal gun.

this report,

which corresponded with the observation Chevalier de Levis had taken of

the enemy's position, the Marquis de Montcalm issued, at once, the order of march for the

army, which was adapted they not come out,

to receive the

to invest the place

enemy in case they came to meet him, and should and even to attack the intrenched camp, were it

considered capable of admitting of an attack by assault. S"*

The army marched

at

day-break. Chevalier de Levis forming the van-guard with his

corps, a part of the Militia and all the Indians.

The

battalions and the remainder of the Militia

marched next .in column, Sleur Rigaud de Vaudreuil on the right, Sieur de Bourlamaque on the left, and the Marquis de Montcalm in the centre. Lieutenant-Colonel de Privat had been left with five hundred Regulars and a brigade of Militia to guard the bateaux and artillery. At noon the place was completely invested. The Marquis de Montcalm, who joined the van-guard, having perceived the impossibility of attacking the enemy's intrenchment without compromising his forces too much, sent orders to Sieur de Bourlamaque to lay out the camp of the army with the left on the lake, the right on some almost inaccessible ravines, and to convey thither, at once, the brigades of La Sarre and Royal Rousillon. For himself, he bivouacked throughout the night with the brigade of La Reine and one of

Militia,

convenient

camp occupied by Chevalier de Levis with the van-guard on the road between Fort George and Fort Edward. 4"" As the van-guard was posted at too great a distance from the siege, bateaux and provisions, it drew nearer this morning. The Marquis de Montcalm brought back the two brigades he had with him to take their place in the camp. The army destined to form the siege was then posted and consisted of seven battalions of Regulars, and of two brigades of to the

Militia.

Chevalier de Levis and Sieur Rigaud de Vaudreuil, with the rest of the Militia,

Villiers' volunteers

and

all

the Indians, were ordered to cover the right of the camp, to observe

movements in the direction of the Fort Edward road, and by continual movements to impress them with the belief that that communication was still occupied. In the afternoon of the same day, the 4"", the depot of the trench was laid out; the road from this depot to the camp was made also, the fascines, gabions and saucissons necessary and a cove where the depot terminated was put in order so as to be for this first night's work able to land the artillery there in course of the night according as it would be needed. the enemy's

;

;

PARIS DOCUMENTS: In the

niglit of

the

i"*

(a

5""

XIII.

649

the trench was opened within 350 toises of the front of attack,

embracing the northwest front this trench was a sort of first parallel ; two batteries were also commenced with their communication to the parallel. During the day of the S"' the day-squad perfected the night work, but the left of the camp ;

of the army, which was found to be too

much exposed

withdrawn a little farther back. On the same day the Indians intercepted a

Edward and

letter

to

the

fire

of the

fort,

had to be

from General Webb, written at Fort

He advised the Commandant of Fort George, that he French army immediately after the arrival of the Militia he had sent orders to come immediately and join him; if,

dated the 4'\ at midnight.

would advance

to give battle to the

from the Provinces,

to

whom

however, these Militia should arrive too the best conditions he could.

This

late,

letter

the

Commandant

should so manage as to obtain

determined the Marquis de Montcalm

to accelerate

working party was increased. On the night of the 5"" (& e**", the left battery was completed and in condition to open its It consisted of eight guns and one mortar and battered the front of attack fire at day-break. and the harbor; the communication between the right battery and the parallel was also completed, and that battery considerably advanced. On the night of the e"* (& 7'% a boyau was run 150 toises forward towards the capital of the Western bastion and the right battery was completed. It consisted of eight guns, one mortar and two howitzers; its fire formed an acute angle with the front of attack and ricocheted the intrenched camp. It was unmasked at seven o'clock in the morning, and after a double salute from both batteries, the Marquis de Montcalm thought proper to transmit by Sieur de Bougainville, one of his Aids-de-Camp, General Webb's letter to the Commandant of the fort. On the night of the 7* (& 8*, the working party, advancing towards the place by continuing further the construction of the batteries; and the

the boyau

opened

at

commenced

some muskets

on

in

it.

to within

100 toises of the

fort,

also

About midnight, three hundred men made a sortie from the intrenched fell on them with a small number of Canadians and Indians, killed

took two prisoners and forced the remainder

The hill

was run

Sieur de Villiers

camp. sixty,

the evening before, which

the end of this boyau, a crochet in order to set another battery on, and to lodge

night's its

exposed

work had

led to a

to return to the

marsh of about 50

toises

irt

camp.

width, which was protected by a

fort, except for a distance of 10 toises where it was Although broad daylight, the Marquis de Montcalm

margin, from the batteries of the

to the fire of those batteries.

had that passage constructed themselves to

it

like

one over a ditch

filled

with water.

with so much vivacity that, notwithstanding the

fire

The

sappers applied

of the enemy's cannon

and before night a road was constructed of the Canadians and Indians who aimed at the embrasures of the fort, silenced considerably that day the enemy's fire. At four o'clock in the evening the Indian scouts reported a strong body of men coming to and musketry, across the

it

swamp

was completed

that very morning,

capable of bearing artillery.

the relief of the place by the Fort

The musketry

Edward road

;

Chevalier de Levis proceeded thither

forthwith, with the greatest part of the Canadians and

all

the Indians.

The Marquis de

Montcalm did not delay joining with the brigade of La Reine and one brigade of Militia. He was advancing in order of battle, ready to receive the enemy, the battalions in column on the high road flanked by the Canadians and Indians in the woods, when he learned that it was a false alarm. He dismissed the troops to their camp. This movement did not interrupt Vol. X.

82

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

650

the operations of the siege; and the promptness with which effect on the minds of the Indians.

it

was executed, produced

a

good

In the night of the S"" and 9"', the men issued from the swamp by a boyau communicating with the second parallel which was opened towards the crest of the hill, and pushed considerably forward in the night. This parallel was to form the starting point whence the breach batteries were to be set up, and, by prolonging it, the fort was to be enveloped and its communication with the intrenchment cut off which up to that time had been open. The

They

besieged did not give time to carry this plan out. in the

hoisted the

White

flag at eight o'clock

morning.

The Marquis

de Montcalm told Colonel Yong,

who was

sent

by the Commandant to negotiate

the capitulation, that he could not sign any, without having first communicated its articles Two motives led him to be thus cautious; he considered he owed it to the to the Indians.

confidence and submission with which they had applied themselves, since the commencement of the expedition, to the execution of the orders issued, and of all the proposals made, to

and he wished to place them thereby under an obligation not to do anything contrary which would be agreed to. He thereupon immediately called together a General Council of all the Indians; explained to the chiefs the terms on which the English

them

;

to the capitulation

offered

to surrender,

and those he had resolved to grant them. The chiefs submitted to promised to conform thereto and to prevent their young men

whatever he would do; contravening

it

either directly or indirectly.

The Marquis de Montcalm, immediately

after the council, sent Sieur

prepare the capitulation with Colonel Monro, the

camp.

The

Commandant

de Bougainville to

of the fort and of the intrenched

principal articles were:

and of the intrenchment, should march out with their baggage and the honors of war and retire to Fort Edward. That in order to be protected from the Indians, they should be escorted by a detachment of

That the

troops, both of the garrison

French troops, and by the principal officers and interpreters attached to the Indians. That they should not be at liberty for IS months to serve either against the King or his allies. And that all Frenchmen, Canadians and Indians, taken prisoners by the English on land in North America, since the commencement of the war, should within three months be conducted French forts on the frontier. This capitulation was signed at noon, and the garrison immediately marched out of the fort the troops from the to join the troops of the intrenchment; and Sieur de Bourlamaque, with The Marquis de Montcalm sent a guard at the same time trenches, took possession of the fort.

to the

to the intrenched camp, at the request of Colonel Monro,- and ordered the officers and interpreters attached to the Indians, to remain there until the departure of the English, who numbered 2,264 effective men. In spite of all these precautions, and notwithstanding the

when the capitulation was discussed, the Indians created The Marquis de Montcalm ran thither with a detachment The Indians had already made a great number of prisoners, some of whom

assurances given by the Indian chiefs some disorder in the English camp. of his troops.

they had even carried away. He caused those that remained to be given up, and the Marquis de Vaudreuil had the others sent back. The Marquis de Montcalm ordered the fort to be razed, and everything connected with it to

be destroyed, agreeably to the instructions the Marquis de Vaudreuil had given him. In the and intrenched camp were found twenty-three cannon, several of which were thirty-two

fort

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XIII.

:

651

pounders, four mortars, one howitzer, seventeen swivels, about thirty-six thousand weight of powder, a great quantity of shot, she!!, grenades, balls, with all sorts of ammunition and

A

implements.

artillery

pretty

considerable stock

of

provisions

was

also

found

there,

notwithstanding the pillage committed by the Indians.

The French had only le

thirteen

men

killed

and forty wounded during

Febvre of the Royal Rousillon grenadiers

shell; his

wound

enemy have

lost

is in

the hand.

No

is

this siege.

Lieutenant

of the latter number, from the bursting of a

other officers have been either killed or wounded.

The

one hundred and eight men on the occasion, and have had two hundred and

wounded. During the entire siege the army has been, almost night and day, on service either in the trenches, or in the camp, or in the woods constructing the necessary fascines, gabions, and With the pick, the axe and the saw, six hundred toises of trench were made saucissons. sufficiently wide to admit of two guns being carried abreast; the fallen trees with which all the ground was encumbered prevented them being carried around. The success of this expedition is due to the wisdom of the Marquis de Montcalm's arrangements, and to the activity with which he followed up the execution of them. He has been perfectly seconded in all his operations by Chevalier de Levis, Sieur Rigaud de Vaudreuil and Sieur de Bourlamaque. The fifty

particular details of the artillery and engineering have been very well performed

Mercier,

le

who commanded

The officers and soldiers of the Regulars and Colonials, as who commanded them, have furnished the greatest proofs did the Indians manifest so

by Chevalier

the artillery and Sieurs Desardouin and Lotbini:re, Engineers.

much

firmness and constancy

well as the Militia and the officers of valor and good will, and never ;

they had applied to mount the

moment to do so. This new triumph which has diffused a general joy throughout the Colony of Canada, has animated, more and more, the zeal wherewith the farmers are endeavoring to respon to the

breach with the grenadiers and were waiting with impatience for the

1

measures the King has the goodness to occupy himself with for the defence of that Colony, and to second the care the Marquis de Vaudreuil unceasingly bestows on everything that may concern

it.

Pakts:

From

the Bureau d'Adresse, at Uie Galleries of the Louvre, opposite Saint ThomaB-slreet;

the 18th of October, 1757.

With Koyal

M. Doreil [

to

Dipartement de

Privilege.

M. la

de

Paulmy.

Goerre, Paris. ]

Quebec, Sa" of October, 1757.

My

Lord,

Intendant when he is making out his requisition on wants of the Colony, of every description, he has consulted me in regard the necessaries for the French troops. I have given him my opinions and Memoirs, whereof

As

I

am,

this year, within reach of the

his Minister for the to

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

652

have informed the Marquis de Montcalm who, on his side, has been pleased to occupy himself seriously with that matter. "We are assured that nothing has been omitted therefore, my Lord, I shall not enter into any detail here on this subject, persuaded that M. Bigot writes 1

;

conformably to

all

you on

supplicate

that

my

has been

agreed

M

part, to induce

.de

to.

It

appears to

Moras to order

all

me

sufficient,

ray

Lord, to

the demands of that Intendant

to be supplied. I must not dispense treating of one very interesting article relating to the cessation of payment of the French troops in specie; have the goodness, my Lord, to cause the Memoir I had the honor to address you in the fall of 1755, to be laid before you again, also my letter of the 30"" of October, 1756, to Count d'Argenson. You will see the difference it makes for the troops to be paid in French coin or in paper of the country, and the means I had proposed last year to M. de Machault as well as to Count d'Argenson to continue the payments in specie, without however having the trouble of sending any from France; a very advantageous means, besides, for the King's interest, since they would save not only the expense and risks attending the transport of silver, but even advancing the necessary funds one year. The Marquis de Montcalm having made the same representations, it could not be supposed that I was alone in

But

the

my

opinion.

The

critical

moment

is

arrived

;

the funds are exhausted

the battalions of

;

La

Guyenne and Beam no longer receive their pay in French coin since the first of September, and the two battalions of Berry, respecting which I my the honor write you, Lord, a letter in detail on the 15"" of August last, which have had to I beg you to cause to be laid before you again, have not been able to get their pay due since Reine,

La

Sarre, R. Rousillon, Languedoc,

the 11'^ of April, the day they embarked, except in paper of the Colony.

We

cannot doubt that the Court has paid attention to

all

our representations, and, being

aware of the time the funds would be exhausted, if it has not judged proper to transmit some new ones, that it has at least issued provisional orders equivalent thereto. But we must believe and are persuaded in fact, that the letters which determined an object so important, have been lost on the passage, like the list of the promotion of the Colonial Staff and the Ribbons and Crosses of St. Louis granted to the two corps. By paying in specie, the King intended to procure for the expatriated French troops an advantage, and it was real. With coin the officer procured all the necessaries of life cheaper, either by purchasing them in the Colony, or by causing them to come from France, by means of some merchants' bills of exchange which he could procure for specie without any discount, and could not obtain with the country bills of credit, except by submitting to delays and To afford you, discounts which are scarcely compatible with the small fortune of the soldier. my Lord, a clear idea of the difference, suffice it to inform you that the bills of exchange drawn perfectly

this

year by the Treasurer of the Colony, for value of the

bills

of credit and notes which

constitute the currency of the country, have been, as has been proved for

payable in three terms, one-fourth

in

some

years, viz.

1758, one-half in 1759, and the remaining fourth in

1760; which, in negotiating these bills necessitates a discount of IS per cent on one-fourth, of at least 12 per cent on one-half, without speaking of the first term for one-fourth which falls

due only next June. By what fatality does it require that the pay of the officers should diminish in consequence of the prolongation of the sojourn of the troops in Canada? And that, by a concatenation of circumstances which succeed each other, which concur therein, and one

after

another render themselves so

much

the

more

sensible.

the point that such pay can no longer be regarded as advantageous

;

Things have reached on the contrary,

it

is

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XIII.

653

nowise proportionate to the excessive dearness of every commodity, which is daily increasing and will advance higher, whereby the officers are, after having exhausted the King's at present

much

allowance, reduced more and more to means so

inasmuch

no additional pay;

his

allowance

in

Canada

is

more

the

as their resources are in another hemisphere.

and burdensome,

diiflcult

In regard to the soldier,

propose

I

only too good whilst that of the officer

is

insufficiently so.

These considerations, the

zeal of the troops, their usefulness in a country they defend so

well, the multiplied successes

we hope

the

King

have already sustained,

change

in the

his

am

of opinion,

my

when or,

300"

granting that indemnity, will

what would, perhaps, be This tenth, which

to each Captain,

and so

augmentation not render the

when

still

an excessive

carries to

it

all

them

rate.

by an

officer,

might be the

the officers of the superior or

which compose the General

will place

it

the very least that can be granted, would

advantageous as you appeared

officers' lot as

I took leave of you,

is

make

determine to

tlie

life,

better, in the form of an annual gratuity,

proportion to

in

inferior grades, as well of the troops as those

desire,

the last place, on account of

Lord, that one-tenth increase of the actual pay of each

rule to follow in this regard.

give about

in

the Colony, joined to the war,

afflicting

Majesty,

augmentation of salary, I

and

at divers periods, in their pay,

nature of the payments and of the dearness of articles indispensable to

which the scarcity

Whether

which have crowned their valor and labors, are titles to which indemnity for the disadvantageous differences the officers

will not refuse an

Staff.

to

Should

my

me,

this

Lord, to

at least in a condition to support with less

regret and trouble the excessive expenses, extraordinary fatigues and other disagreeablenesses

they necessarily experience in a country so rude and so bare of resources as Canada. I

my

have had the honor to inform you,

time

afflicting this

prompt

poor country, which

Lord, that

all

the scourges are at one and the same

on the eve of being of

is

as they are just, be not adopted for its relief.

Upon

itself

destroyed,

the troubles of

if

measures as

war has supervened

an epidemic disease which has been introduced by the ships that brought the soldiers.

It

these two misfortunes suffering for several

might and ought

is

superadded the most

months

to

past,

capped as

it

have been anticipated.

of mouths was considerably increased

frightful famine, the

horrors of which

we

harvest of 1750 had been bad; the

number

'twas notorious that additional reinforcements in

;

are

This misfortune

has been by an ungrateful harvest.

The

has

To

already committed great ravages, and apprehensions are entertained for the consequences.

men

were demanded for 1750, and that the number of Indians which were to come down from the Upper countries would be considerable nor were people ignorant of the English prisoners and Acadian refugees. Under these circumstances a bargain is made with a contractor who was ;

to enter

on duty on the 1" of January, 1750; that contract as well as the conditions and

of which

we

was kept

prices,

had sailed. 'Tis reported that this contractor, who the year preceding was the butcher employed to furnish meat to the troops, had sent to France for immense quantities of flour and seventeen ship loads of which were to come to him alone ; not a bit of it, only three of them have made their appearance, and they are not loaded exclusively for him. The extreme want of provisions that prevails, and the delay in the arrival of the first ships, prevent the Marquis de Montcalm opening the campaign, the first operations of which he cannot commence before the middle of July, and he is obliged to terminate it with the capture of Fort William Henry. At the very are

still

ignorant,

secret until the vessel

,

beginning of the winter, each inhabitant of Quebec was restricted to a certain quantity of [bread] this was further diminished in the month of April and finally in July, some persons ;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

654 were reduced

to

People were consoled

four ounces.

like

the inhabitants, are exposed

been called

;

it

who

General,

is

in

the face.

'Tis only at this

became necessary

to

of the

arrival

the other have failed, and the troops,

of hunger before the winter

to perish

September came, there was no means to dissimulate. be looked straight

by the hope of the

The one and

contractor's flour and an abundant harvest.

When

over.

is

This melancholy condition had then to

moment

Montcalm has

that the Marquis de

reduce the soldier and his authority was required.

This

directed by no motive but zeal for the King's service and the preservation of

the Colony, has been obliged to consent to this reduction and to other arrangements without

example and unknown elsewhere.

my

Lord,

leave to invite

you

to

Ignorance exists as to or

me

As

I

am aware

cease here the recital of facts, but

1

I

that he renders

you an account of them,

my

zeal the taking respectful

cannot refuse to

converse with M. de Moras, verbally, on our melancholy situation. true cause

its

which

not proper for either the Marquis de Montcalm

it is

attempt to instruct him on, the rather as our representations would not probably

to

The remedies must be powerful and prompt, squadron blockade the entrance of Virginia' early in the spring,

reach him.

for

if

unfortunately a British

would perish here of hunger and misery, and it would be beyond our power to oppose the most trifling surprise on the part of the enemy. If all the King's subjects served him with the same zeal and disinterestedness as we, his possessions, his service and the glory of his armies would not be thus compromised. These are sad truths, my Lord, which I consider it my duty to deposit in your breast. Were it suspected here that I give you the least hint of them, I should be regarded with a very sinister eye, and the mission I have been given in charge would suffer thereby. I am easy on that head. I aspire only to the happy moment when, with the King's permission, I shall be at liberty to return to France,

and be no longer an

all

monstrous as

idle spectator of things so

those which are passing before our eyes. I have received, my Lord, the two packages oi cartouches which thank you and which you had the goodness to have sent to me; i

commenced coming

to

distributing

them among the Majors.

Canada, to bring printed muster-rolls

they have been obliged to furnish them to

me

None

of

I

had demanded

for

them.

I

last year,

have already

them has had the precaution, on and up to the present time

{controles de revue),

in writing.

Besides the trouble of making them

up, they use paper of various sizes pnd such as they can procure here, and

when

they send

them to me, the most of them are informal and such as I am obliged to have made over again. Although 1 am aware that 'tis the duty of the corps to supply themselves with these sorts of blanks, I shall be personally very iiave sent

me

much

obliged to you,

my

Lord,

to

have the goodness

to

next spring, by three different ships, three packages of them of 200 sheets each.

will be sufficient for one year and something more. am, with profound respect, my Lord, your most humble and Most obedient servant,

This I

DOREIL. P. S.

I

had caused

nearly exhausted. battalion ships.

may be

We

abstracts

to

Dare

be addressed at Brest some printed blank muster-rolls, but they are I

beg of you,

my

Lord, to give orders that 300 sheets of them per

senV to me, and 60 for two battalions, in

have no printing press here, and

made by hand.

I

sent

some

to

I

two packages, by two

have too much writing to be able

Louisbourg

in

to

different

have these

1755.

DOREIL.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

Memoir of

Chevalier

Le Mercier on

Article first

The town

is

at present sufficiently provided

655

the AiiiUeyij

— Concerning

should have a proportionate quantity of shot.

which w^re of

XIII.

:

of Caiuuhr.

Quebec.

with cannon, but

it is

highly necessary that

Seventeen iron mortars arrived

A

have not the necessary vent.

requisition

was made

last

it

this year, 4 of

12-inch, 5 of 8, and S of 6-inch, and only a few shell came, the most of

which

year for four Cominge brass mortars

mortars of 12-inch Hi. diameter, with conic chamber capable of containing 11 (IL 12"" of powder; they have not been sent; 'tis certain, however, that had we mortars of this

and

for four

description, no ships could anchor in the basin of Quebec.

The mortars

wiiich

we

received were intended for sieges and for the forts

;

reason that they were required to be brass, as they were easier of transportation iron,

this ;

was the

tiiey are of

and 5 and S inches; some of them had their trunnions broken in France, the thickness They had to be fastened to their carriages is lessened nearly an inch at this point.

of the metal

with iron bands, which renders the transport of them

difficult; it is,

moreover, impossible to

elevate them, as they are immovable.

Although there are none

Canada who can manufacture

in

however, have been made at the forges of supply the metal necessary 'tis

useless to think of

it;

for the castings

St.

needed

should the King order

from France some moulders in clay and sand

Men have been employed that of the country

;

in

shell

and

shot,

some might,

Maurice; but that establishment can scarcely for the service in the it,

Colony.

Tiierefore

however, 'twould be necessary to send

for the shells.

putting in order the batteries as well on the river side as on

and the guns are mounted on their carriages and placed

in battery.

The

greatest part of the plank in store has been used for the construction of the platforms and for

the city gates and posterns. in the

A

that business in charge to

M. de Lery

officers.

small wharf has been built in the direction Pointed Quarcy^ for the reception of three

pieces of

This

The General had given

absence of the artillery

cannon which bear on the basin,

so necessary that there

is

is

until the projected battery at that point be erected.

reason to believe that the Engineer will set about

it

as soon

as circumstances will permit. 6'".

It is

the

absolutely necessary to send to

list,

Quebec by the

first

ships the munitions

demanded

in

marked N"

' Point 4 Carey is that part of Quebec where the River St. Charles unites with the River St. Lawrence. It is a large, now covered by docks and wharvis, the latter called Aj-lmer and Leadeohall streets, and in the immediate vicinity of the Exchange. Plan de la CiU da Quebec, par P. L, Morin, 1854; Bouchette's Topographical Description Ed. of Lower Canada, 8vo., ed. 1805, p. 462.

irregular ridge of flat rock,

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

656

Artillery at Montreal.

This town

wholly bare of any, yet

is

therefore, be desirable that a

magazine be located there.

many

a coup de main, a great

capable of serving as a general depot.

'tis

good arsenal,

a

handsome armory,

artillery of Fort

Duquesne

is

sustain a siege, but 'twill oblige the

Should the King desire to secure

enemy

to

which are

sodded {en gazon);

12'.

Its

artillery is

That

make some

only against

'tis fortified

'tis

all

post

too small to be able to

is

preparations and to open trenches.

on the Oyo,

his possession

Of fort is

would,

river.

always the same.

respectable fort there to deprive the English of

This

It

workshop with large powder

small guns are required there.

At the Beautiful

The

a

All the platforms are to be remade, and as

be necessary to have a

'twill

desire to go thither.

Niagara.

reported good;

has thirty pieces of cannon, 12 of

it

mounted on campaign guns;

in

other respects

'tis

pretty

well provided.

Of Fort Frontenac. It is in itself

expense.

very bad and

'twill

never be possible to make anything good of

'Tis the arsenal for the vessels on

provided, particularly as

'tis

Upper

fort is

is

well

Frontenac

is

the entrepot

Carillon.

the return of the artillery at this post,

it

may

be seen that

'tis

well provided.

not yet finished the batteries are, for the most part, merely temporary.

sufficiently

it

countries around the lakes.

Of

By

without vast

not probable that the English will be able to get up an attack on

that side, so long as they will not be in possession of Choueguin.

of the

it

Lake Ontario, on which account

annoy the enemy, who cannot possibly besiege

it

As the

'Twill always

without the Colony concentrating

succors there. St.

Frederic

Has as much artillery as it needs, but the place is by nature such as not to confer honor on the Commandant and officer of artillery who will be stationed there, should it ever be attacked. Of

The equipage

of the

field

train

is

St.

John.

being repaired here so as to be

fit

for use, should the

Marquis de Vaudreuil judge such to be necessary either for offensive or defensive operations. But 'twill be observed that 'tis impossible to make any attack until shells and a part of the other munitions of war required, be received from France.

Done

at

Quebec, the

30"" October, 1757.

(Signed),

Seen. (Signed), Vaudreuil.

Chevalier Lemercier.

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

657

XIII.

Ministerial Minute on a Scheme

to

attach Quebec.

Canada. His Majesty has been informed

Ambassador

in

last

winter of the advice received by Count D'Affry,' his

Holland, on occasion of a plan pretended to have been furnished the English

Quebec. Canadian named

to surprise

A

Du

Souchet, and

known

in Holland

by the name of La

Salle,

was

suspected of having furnished that plan.

Which consisted of sending up the river, as far as Quebec, a great number of Indian canoes having on board some Regulars dressed like Indians, who were to seize in one night some of The expedition was likewise to be sustained by 6 men of war. the principal posts of the place. .Though considered

this plan it

his

appears undeserving of any attention, at least as submitted, his Majesty to order advice thereof to be sent to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, with

duty

directions to find out

the Colony, as

'tis

The Marquis de supposing

it

if

the individual reported to be the author of

it

pretended he boasted of having such, to the Minister

had correspondents of

England

in

in

Holland.

Vaudreuil's answer, annexed, demonstrates more and more that the project,

ever to have been presented, would have been really impracticable.

The information

man named La

furnished by that Governor confirms that already received in regard to the

Salle.

Moreover his Majesty has, in like manner, been instructed that the information which had been given him against this individual by the man named Mesnil, sent hither with the details thereof, was soon disproved, at least in part, since La Salle, instead of crossing to England as Mesnil has assured he intended to do, took the road to Petersburg, where he

He

is

at present.

has even found means to introduce himself to the Marquis de L'hopital and to insinuate

himself into his confidence. In regard to Mesnil, he

is still in

the Bastile, whither his Majesty had ordered

him

at the

time of his committal. 1" November, 1757.

M.

de Vaudreuil to

M.

de Moras. Montreal, the 13"" of August, 1757.

My I

Lord,

have received the

letter

you have done me the honor

to write

me on

the ll"" of April,

with the detail annexed by you thereunto of information you had received respecting the 'Lonia Atjouste Atjgdstiji d'Affrt beloDged to one of the most ancient families of Fribourg. He was son of LieutenantGeneral Fran9oi8 d'Affry, and was born at Versailles in 1713; was appoiuted Captain of the Guards in 1734, and served at He served with distinction »l»o in the campaigns of 1747 and

the battle of Guastala, where his father was iilled in 1746.

1748, at the close of which he was appointed Major-General. In 1765, he was sent Ambassador-ExtraordiLary to the StatesGeneral, and remained at that court until 1762, when he was sent to the army of Hesse as Lieutenant-General. In 1780, he was appointed Colonel of the Swiss Guards. He served Louis XVI. with zeal at the breaking out of the French Revolution in 1789, but when the King set out for Varennes, General d'Affry offered his services to the National Assembly. He retired 'rom public life in 1792, yet was arrested and put in prison in August of that year. He was liberated sometime afterwards, and retired to his seat in the Canton de Vaud, where he died in 1793. Biographic Universelle. Ed.

—

Vol. X.

S3

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

658 enemy's plans.

have carefully examined

I

residing in Holland, for attacking

impossible to execute

my

it,

at least

The

it.

Canada

plan submitted to the English

this year,

is

so

ill

conceived that

Ambassador it would be

from the sea.

would be impossible for the English, in consequence of the care I take, to find a number of Indians, such as they would require, to put on board 50 @^ 60 canoes with For such a purpose they would require the same number of Regulars dressed like them. Mikmacs or Abenakis, who alone are accustomed to make their appearance in the River St. Lawrence, and these two nations are positively, even in time of peace, at war with the English. Besides, our Canadians who are settled at the mouth of the river are certain, from experience, that no other nation ever appeared there except Mikmacs and Abenakis, whose attire even differs from that of our other Indian nations; they could not have failed to take umbrage at In fact,

Lord,

it

those of the enemy.

1" They would not have understood their language. S""". They would not have recognized any of them, from which moment the project of the English would incontestably have aborted. For the same reason it would not have been any easier to surprise the inhabitants of Quebec. 'Tis the invariable custom with Indians, when they arrive, to present themselves to the Commandant, who is always able to speak to them of the quarter they came from, and

who

is

The English

acquainted with what transpires there.

Indians could not escape this

custom; they would then at once have been recognized as enemies. The six English ships which would have followed these Indian canoes, could not have made their appearance simply at the mouth of the river without my being informed of it, and then all

The orders I had enemy would have very quickly

the Militia along the banks of the river would have taken up arms.

given would have been executed at the same time, and the discovered that he had gone on a

How

wrong

expedition.

Regulars who would accompany by consent or force, the principal posts of the town of Quebec at the hour appointed and set fire to the powder magazine and some houses? For, supposing that those Indians should comport themselves so as to deprive us of all suspicion, they could not leave their designated quarters without the Commandant of Quebec being notified of the circumstance, and without their being even arrested by the patrols he has out by my orders. How could a mine be made to blow up the Royal bastion without our knowledge ? That's

them,

would

it

have been possible

to seize, at night,

absolutely opposed to

As

for those Indians, or the

common

by land,

for the attack

sense. I

perceive in

it

sufficient

similitude and conformity with the

reports of prisoners. 1" 'Tis certain that Lord

Lawdun's plan was

Frederic at the opening of the navigation.

to render himself master of Carillon and St.

All his preparations

desirable remained but the breaking up of the

ice,

when my

were made and nothing

brother burnt

all

the outer

establishment around Fort George, the barks, galleys, barges, bateaux, and generally the provisions of

all

sorts,

clothing,

arms and

field

implements destined

for

an army of about

15,000 men. S""*

That General had

duquene, and

sufficiently

that purpose had

for

meditated cutting

off"

our communication with Fort

caused some 500 bateaux to be constructed at a

fort

opposite and about 100 leagues distant from Fort Machault, but he has not been able to keep his plan a secret

;

I

have been informed of it by the Delawares of Theoga, whom I have among the English and who never had the least connection

attached to me, although settled

PARIS DOCUMENTS: You

with the French.

you on

this subject, that

constantly

parties

in

have observed,

will

my

659

XIII.

Lord, by the letters

I

have the honor

have broken up that plan by the attention

I

that

who have even

quarter,

carried

to write

paid to having Indian

I

consternation

into

the

rural

settlements and obliged the English to abandon them. 3"^

I

was likewise preadvised

Lord Lawdun was

that

to dispatch a'considerable

party of

English and Indians to attack Fort Duquene, but that project did not succeed any better for

him you

;

he derived no other advantage from

will

have seen by the reports

of interest in that quarter

The author

;

I

it

than some scalps, but they cost him very dear, aa

have had the honor of rendering you of whatever occurred

even hope they will not get

off so cheap.

of that project has been very easily recognized,

him which you have drawn

Company

I

at the

Quebec

Company

me

for

office.

he

;

The

is

one Dusouchet,

estate of

M. de

la

my

Lord, by the portrait of

who was

a clerk of the India

Gorgeandiere has been obliged to pay

who went to where he had himself called the Marquis de Rivet; he spent some money there which had been intrusted to him by an individual of this town, and, doubtless, having no further resource nor expectation of playing any new tricks at Paris, he withdrew to Holland where he has imposed on the English Ambassador by entertaining him with chimerical projects; but his imperfect knowledge of the Colony will soon make him be found out as an impostor, and, I think, in the end, the English will have him hanged. As for the rest, my Lord, I have known that the said Dusouchet has no correspondents at Quebec, the Island of Orleans, Fort Saint Frederic or in any other part of the Colony. a

sum

to that

France

in

on account of the malversations of the said Dusouchet,

1751; he sojourned sometime

in Paris

I am, with most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant. Vaudreuil. (Signed),

Mimsterial Minute on

the neglect

of the Marqiuis de Montcalm

to

attach Fort

Edward.

Canada. His Majesty

is

already informed that the Marquis de Montcalm was, pursuant to the Marquis

to attack Fort Lidius or Edward, after having reduced Fort George or William Henry. Such was the plan of the expedition laid down in the Marquis de Vaudreuil's instructions to M. de Montcalm, and the attack of Fort Lidius was the object of a special letter he wrote him on the seventh of August, in consequence of the information he had received that General Loudon had gone to Acadia.

de Vaudreuil's orders,

Copies of

that

letter

and

of

the

instructions

transmitted

by M.

de

Vaudreuil

are

annexed hereunto. M. de Montcalm's reasons for having confined himself to the capture of Fort George are, the wanting provisions, the necessity of sending back the Canadians to save their crops and

fear of

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

660

was defended by

the difficulties of reducing Fort Lidius, which

a strong garrison,

and within

reach of prompt succors.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil submits

in his letter,

which

is

also annexed,

some observations

that do not accord with those of the IVIarquis de Montcalm.

He

appears

much

pained that Fort

Edward had not been

attacked, persuaded, as he

is,

that

it

will

would have been taken.

it

The

destruction of that fort

would have been,

in fact, highly important.

stand, 'twill not be possible for any peace to exist on that frontier.

As long

as

'Twill facilitate whatever

enemy will wish to execute there, and more than that, whatever diversions in case they will attempt the attack of Quebec. Could it have been destroyed like Fort George, the enemy would have been obliged to make Albany the entrepot of their expeditions, where 'twould have been easy even to force them to keep on the defensive, since nothing would have prevented our attacking that place or making expeditions the

they will like to set on foot

other attacks in that quarter. 1" November, 1757.

Coj)ics

N"

of Letters transmitted by

M. de Montcalm

1.

to

M.

de Vaudreuil.

M. M. de Moras. Montreal, 11"' July, 1757.

[

N"

For

this letter, Bee supra, p. 576. ]

Extract of the letter written by the Marquis de Vaudreuil to the Marquis de

2.

Montcalm, the seventh of August, 1757. I

am

confident that this courier will join

favorable for your laying siege to it; you troops, and he

so

is

much

Should

we

fail to

fine

at

Fort Lidius

that General

the less to be feared, as he

Motte's squadron, which intercepts

have such a

you

know

all his

is

it

is

at Alifax

with

all

the la

succors.

Indeed, General

next campaign, and then, far from

circumstances are more

blockaded by Count Dubois de

we may give it Lawdon and all

reduce Fort Lydius this year,

opportunity.

;

Lawdun

being in our power

to

up, as

we

shall

never again

the Regulars will occupy

assume the

offensive,

we

shall

it

be

it will be the same expenses and the same movements in the Colony over again. You hence perceive. Sir, that tranquillity depends directly on the reduction of Fort Lydius; nothing ought to be an impediment to you in that regard, even though the Canadians should not return soon enough to save their harvest, we shall not want provisions, and besides, 'twould

constrained to confine ourselves to the defensive, and consequently

be better

for

them

to be a little short than to be obliged next year to see themselves at the

same trouble to guard their frontier. I communicate my thoughts to you, Sir, with so much the more pleasure, persuaded that you will receive them as evidence of my attachment, &c.

True copy. (Signed),

Vaudreuil.

as

I

am

fully

PARIS DOCUMENTS

N»

:

XIII.

661

Instructions for the Marquis de Montcalm, Marshal of the the King.

3.

Camps and Armies

of

campaign in the reduction of Forts Chouaguen and the continual incursions we had collected together at the Beautiful river, on several English forts and on the rural settlements, justly warranted us in supposing that General Lawdun was occupying himself particularly with the Lake St. Sacrament quarter, and that he would succeed in completing the great preparations he had commenced the last year at Fort George, to enable

Our success

last

of the Indian Nations

him

and St. Frederic with a considerable army, before our rivers were should be able to send from the Colony the necessary forces to defend these especially as our situation in regard to provisions was so critical that we could not

to attack Forts Carillon

we

navigable and

two

forts,

victual them.

Such were the considerations which led us to dispatch a detachment of about fifteen hundred men, Canadians and Indians, under the orders of M. de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, Governor of Three Rivers, in the month of March, when the enemy would be least on his guard, to destroy his preparations and reduce him to the absolute necessity of restoring them before he could be able to undertake anything against our frontier.

This expedition succeeded so

far that

Fort George remained totally isolated, and

its

sloops,

bateaux, storehouses and other establishments were reduced to ashes by

galleys, barges,

the flames.

We

have not

our

first

event which gave us the advantage over the enemy, but

lost sight of that

have not been able

to profit

by

it

in

despatches from the Court; the different advices

we

receive therefrom, joined to the

report of English prisoners, and to the circumstances in which it is

vastly the interest of the

we

consequence of the scarcity of provisions, before receiving

Colony

we

to act offensively against

are placed, prove to us that

Fort George.

For which purpose we have ordered a levy of provisions in all the parishes of our government, where we have had the inquiry for them made as exact as it was easy through the good dispositions of our Canadians, in consequence of the confidence with which we have assured them, and we ourselves feel, that the supplies the Court designed for this Colony, and we urgently demanded in our last despatches, will not fail to reach us.

The forces we destine for this important expedition, the command whereof we confide to the Marquis de Montcalm, will consist of about eight thousand four hundred men viz' two thousand five hundred Regulars; twelve hundred of the Marine detachment; three hundred Canadians and seventeen hundred Indians, exclusive of a company of bombardiers, a company ;

of pioneers, the recruits

we

sent to Carillon from Quebec,

and the Indian Nations we are daily

expecting from the Upper countries.

This army of this

month

vyill ;

be completely collected at Fort Carillon between the fifteenth and eighteenth

the Marquis de

the siege of Fort George, and

We

Montcalm

all

will find there also a suitable train of artillery for

the other preparations relative to this expedition.

doubt not but that the portage road has been constructed, and the artillery and bateaux thither, having given our orders accordingly to M. de Bourlamaque, and

transported

successively to Chevalier de Levis and to M.

le

Mercier, but in case the whole be not done,

the Marquis de Montcalm will not lose an instant in completing

may

delay his departure with

all

his forces for Fort

George.

all

these works, so that nothing

NEW-YOEK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

662

We

him to entrust the command of Fort Carillon to such officer as he will think proper with the number of men he will consider necessary. We observe to the Marquis de Montcalm that the Fort George expedition is the most We have essential object we could have in view for the benefit and security of this Colony. communicated to him all our reflections in the conferences we have had together on this subject; we have taken pains to hand over to him an army capable of not being intimidated by the enemy, whatever its situation may be, and with that view have selected the best men in the

We

leave

Colony. leave the order of march of this

him not

to divide

army

to the

Marquis de Montcalm, but we recommend

it.

We have handed him the sketch of the distribution we have made of the Marine troops and of the Canadians, as well as of the Indian Nations. We have attached to them officers of the Marine whose experience is known to us therefore 'tis for the good of the service that such arrangement be carried out. We have appointed M. de Rigaud de Vaudreuil to march at the head of the Colonial troops, ;

Canadians and Indians under the Marquis de Montcalm's orders at to hope that these Indians will keep the word they have given

his request; us,

we have

reason

and that they will not

separate until after the expedition.

We

likewise hope that the Marquis de Montcalm will not delay

with the

real state of the

deserters

may make

beyond a doubt, on

enemy

at F'ort

making himself acquainted

George; but whatever reports prisoners or English And supposing that he perceives,

him, he will not postpone his march.

his arrival at

make such manoeuvres

Fort George, that the enemy's force

as he will judge best to

is superior to his, he will endeavor to force them from their position and

them with advantage.

to fight

Should the Marquis de Montcalm succeed in reducing Fort George, by force of arms, or in case the

enemy surrender by

capitulation, he will grant terms

more or

less favorable, according

as circumstances will require.

He will pay particular attention to the careful preservation of all sorts of provisions, artillery, arms and warlike stores, and will cause the best measures to be adopted for the safe transportation of the whole to Fort Carillon. We will not doubt, should the Marquis de Montcalm be successful in the first instance, but Fort Lydius will be intimidated to the degree that 'twill oflfer only a feeble resistance; therefore, the Marquis de Montcalm will leave some troops at Fort George, and consider nothing more pressing than to present himself with his army before Fort Lydius and lay siege to it, unless it be evident that the forces of the Colony would be compromised by this second expedition.

He

perceives as fully as we, that so long as Fort Lydius stands, the English will

always possess means to threaten our frontier, whilst, should that forced to abandon that project, and by a necessary consequence,

fort

be razed, they would be

all

their ambitious projects

against this Colony would vanish.

Fort Lydius being reduced, the Marquis de Montcalm will execute what to

him

in relation to Fort George, regarding the provisions, artillery,

he will have Fort Lydius and

George

in the

same manner,

its

precribed

dependencies burnt to the foundations, and will treat Fort

as soon as he will return thither.

In regard to the Indian Nations, he will then permit into platoons, to each of

we have

arms and warlike stores;

which he

them

to depart and to divide themselves

will attach officers, cadets

and soldiers belonging to the

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XIII.

663

detachment of Marine troops, and some Canadians, for the purpose of laying waste the English settlements, either in the vicinity of Orange or Corlar.

But

in case

the Marquis de Montcalm perceive

and be under the absolute necessity, forces, to retire

in

it really impossible to reduce Fort George consequence of the too great superiority of the enemy's

under Fort Carillon, he will occupy the most favorable position there to

enemy making any progress; we warn him beforehand that avoid sending back about the end of the month of August,

prevent the

'twill not

power

the

to

Nations and the greatest part of the Canadians,

be in his

Upper country

have our crops saved.

to

The Marquis de Montcalm will be at liberty to assure the officers belonging to the detachment of the Marine, that we shall pay most particular attention to the reports he will be pleased to make of the manner they will distinguish themselves under his orders. As for the rest, we shall rely entirely on the Marquis de Montcalm's knowledge, prudence, experience and zeal, in all what concerns the important mission we have confided to him, and in

all

We

the cases

we cannot

foresee.

are well assured that nothing will escape his foresight, and that he will adopt the

best measures to protect himself against repulse.

He

will

diligently

inform us of everything of interest that will occur, and on our side

communicate

him

to

all

the

news which

we

will relate to the situation of the

shall

Colony

and our expedition.

Done

at Montreal, the ninth of July,

one thousand seven hundred and

fifty-seven.

(Signed),

Lower down

is

written

Vaudreuil.

:

Copy, and (Signed),

N"

4.

Vaudreuil.

M. de Vaudreuil

to

M. de Moras.

Montreal, the eighteenth of August, Oixe thousand seven hundred and fifty-seven.

My

Lord,

I flattered myself with reason that the success of M. de Rigaud de Vaudreuil's campaign on Lake St. Sacrament, would determine that of my expedition against Fort George, which was the more important to this Colony, as on it and the reduction of Fort Lydius, depended the

peace of our frontier.

The success of Mess" Marin and Corbiere's detachments, organized by M. de Rigaud, supplied M. de Montcalm with a confidence equal to that I had always felt. But, my Lord, his expedition has terminated by the reduction of Fort George, on the ninth of this month, he transmitted to me by M. de Bougainville, one of his Aids-de-Camp, the Relation of that affair, whereby you will be informed of the order of his march, his arrangements and operations up to the moment the place surrendered. I must, however, my Lord, report to you divers facts which are omitted or badly reported in that Relation and of which I have been informed by the Marquis de Montcalm's letters.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

664 At

nightfall,

on the second of August, some barges appeared

;

our Indians had nothing more

pressing than to go in pursuit of them, and however alert the English were

themselves ashore, our Indians took three prisoners

had just arrived

at

Fort George and that

all

who

in battle array at the discharge of the signal gun, in order to

'Tis certain,

my

in

throwing

reported that twelve hundred

men

the English Militia were to arrange themselves

come

to

meet

us.

Lord, that, instead of scouts, could M. de Rigaud de Vaudreuil have succeeded

in obtaining permission to proceed

forward with a strong detachment of our troops, Canadians

and Indians, not a single Englishman would have entered Fort George 'twould have been fortunate for us to defeat the twelve hundred men in question, because Fort George would then have been incapable of resistance but 'twas not even until after many entreaties that M. de Rigaud had permission to go and join Chevalier de Levis on the Fort Lydius road. ;

;

On the third of August the Marquis de Montcalm decided on summoning Lieutenant-Colonel Monro, the Commandant at Fort George, who answered him like a soldier. (This is omitted in the Relation.) It was not until that day that they began making fascines and saucissons; our Canadians were not those who made the fewest. Therein they displayed their natural genius, and proved that their good will and zeal for the King's service, were equivalent to experience at this description of work. The Canadians and Indians fired the whole day into the intrenched camp some detachments Our Canadians of the enemy sallied out of it, but were obliged to return very quick with loss. and Indians took two hundred oxen and a hundred sheep under the cannon and musketry of ;

the

enemy whom

they, thereby, obliged to burn their outworks.

M. de Rigaud was ordered

army, with our Canadian volunteers,

to attend to the safety of the

four brigades of our troops and Canadians, and a party of our Indians.

The Canadians and

Indians

whom

the

Marquis de

workmen and continued besieged less, the work of the

constantly covered the

had annoyed the

Montcalm

The

had retained

by him,

due them that if they night of the fourth and fifth would not have

firing.

justice

is

been so considerable. is badly reported. Three hundred men made a sortie from the M. de Villers attacked them with a small number of Canadians and Indians and called for a reinforcement, holding the enemy in check and securing unto himself the liberty of entering and carrying the intrenchment. But notwithstanding all his entreaties he could not obtain any reinforcement. There is no doubt but M. de Villiers, had he had a strong detachment of Canadian troops and Indians,

The

affair

intrenched

of the seventh

camp

;

would in an instant, have carried the intrenchment; but he had no other success than to kill sixty Englishmen and to take two prisoners in the stead of the two deserters already mentioned. Our Canadians contributed at least as much as the Regulars to accelerate the works constructed over a

little

swamp

for the passage of our artillery.

Our Indians posted themselves within sight of the embrasures of the fort, and took such good aim that the gunners abandoned the guns were it not for this, 'twould not have been possible to work at the swamp. The dread the English entertained of our Indians, who were excited to such a degree that they would not have yielded to the grenadiers the honor of being the first to mount the breach, did not contribute less to the reduction of the place, than the celerity of our works and ;

tiie

circumstances, which were most favorable for us.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

665

XIII.

At the moment Lieutenant-Colonel Monro asked to capitulate, our Indians handed to the Marquis de Montcalm a letter they had iutercepted, wherein the Commandant was advised that Colonel Johnson had arrived at B'ort Lydius with two hundred Indians and two thousand men, and that an additional reinforcement of Militia was expected. As it was not possible that Colonel Johnson had any Indians with him, this letter was looked on with suspicion. The most essential articles of the capitulation are 1° That the garrison of Fort George shall march to Fort Lydius with the honors of war; and not serve for eighteen months either against his Majesty or against his allies. :

2°

That

all

the French, Canadian, and Indian prisoners taken on land since the

war

in

North America,

of the

very unfortunate,

It is

had, by their

own

fault,

my

shall

commencement

be surrendered at Carillon within three months.

Lord, that the soldiers belonging to the garrison of Fort George,

put some of our Indians in the condition to insult them.

Had

the

Indians not been furnished by the English with rum, with a view to appropriate their plunder to

themselves, they would have remained quiet.

The Marquis de Montcalm took, alone, the precautions he considered proper; he consulted only his own judgment, and perhaps the occurrence would not have happened had he condescended

devolve on M. de Rigaud, the Missionaries, Officers and Interpreters the care

to

of restraining the Indians; but he

alone

as he wrote

;

me

was

so prejudiced, that he placed confidence ia himself

as early as the sixth of that

month

:

and Missionaries are in general Republican spirits, and I have " the misfortune that the Indians appear to have confidence only in me." I have ransomed, on the King's account, the English who are in the hands of our Indians, "

The

Officers, Interpreters

whose obedience reasons

is,

I cannot but

The Marquis de Montcalm of this in his

I

commend. They wished to justify themselves, and one of their same liberty to pillage as the troops who entered the fort.

that they have not had the

incident;

little

it

Lawdun and General Webb on the subject who remained

has written to Lord

appears that he sent back to Fort Lydius the prisoners

power.

am making

arrangements,

send back also those

at present, to

I shall neglect nothing in order that the

the Indians.

whom

I

have delivered from

En^ish may execute, on

their side, the

articles of capitulation. I

am

fully persuaded,

my

Lord, of the satisfaction you will

feel in

informing the King of

the reduction and total destruction of Fort George; mine would have been complete had such

The

reduction been followed by that of Fort Lydius.

de Montcalm, will prove

to

you the desire

instructions I had given the Marquis

had that such should have been

I

hope that you will recognize therein the zeal which animates

me

effected,

and

for his Majesty's service

I

and

the glory of his arms. T have no reproach to make myself on this head I even wrote to the Marquis de Montcalm, on the seventh of this month, to make him more easy and to impress upon him still more the importance of this second expedition; you will perceive, my Lord, that I took pains politically ;

to reassure

He

him

in regard to provisions, so that he

had only about six leagues of a very

confident that the reduction of the

first

fine

fort

might act without the

least uneasiness.

road before reaching Fort Lydius, and

I

am

would have inevitably drawn down that of

the second. I

would have only wished that the Marquis de Montcalm had presented himself; he had

everything according to his desire, and was sure at

Vol. X.

84

all

events of his retreat.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS,

666

The Marquis Militia and

and

it,

de Montcalm wrote

Cavalry had

is it

they did not

me

that he learned from eleven deserters that the Provincial

Fort Lydius; that Colonel Johnson had likewise returned from

left

natural to suppose, after the precipitate retreat of these Militia, at a time

know even

when

of our being on the march to attack them, that they would have offered

any great resistance?

The worst we had

apprehend on going

to

Fort Lydius, was. to be obliged to turn back

to

But whatever had happened, our Indians were too much excited and too well disposed to abandon the party, and ultimately, could the enemy's camp protect itself against their attacks? this objection would have been It cannot be objected that it would have cost us provisions of very trifling weight, especially when we consider the pile of them we would have been, able ;

to collect at I

Fort Lydius.

am, with the most profound

My

respect,

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant.

Vaudreuil.

M. Bigot

to

M.

de Moras.

Quebec, 3* November, 1757.

My

Lord,

you honored me with on the 21* July. You have campaign on occasion of Fort George on Lake Those incurred in building forts St. Sacrament, but not with the expenses incurred in Canada. and works both on the Beautiful river and at other posts, cost the King many millions,* without my being able to know whether the money be honestly laid out; it is expended by orders of the Commandants, whose judgment must be relied on. As to the expenses incurred under my eyes and by my authority, I do my best to maintain order therein, and by that means produce ^ 'i^^^ rcceivcd the letter

Eead

to the King, 2i3t January, 1758.

appealed

a diminution of them

;

Satisfied

with

last winter's

but I shall not succeed in that, since

we must

continue to purchase in

the Colony this year and in the beginning of spring, our supplies of merchandise for the posts.

The

British took, in the ships

La

Sieur Gradis, to our serious injury.

without

my

being able to avoid

Besides, the

number of

last

year by the King,

The

it.

whom

I

estimate the

I

one thousand tons belonging to King additional expense,

dearth will occasion the

rations for the

instead of ten thousand persons

La Remmmee,

Swperbe and

King's account has considerably increased, and,

had calculated were rationed throughout the whole of

number

to

have been between 14 and 15 thousand,

including the posts, regard being had to the last augmentation of troops and of Indians,

cooperate with us.

They

are

more numerous

in

summer, but

as they are less in

reduce them on the average to that number.

who

winter,

I

This alone forms an item of about 5 millions. For the rest, a part of the expenses (which have been immense this year, inasmuch as the bills of exchange have nearly doubled those of last year), has been caused by the preparations *TI;e

bills

of exchange

drawn

in 1151,

amount

to 12,33'7,'74lU. 43.

6i

PARIS DOCUMENTS: made Upper

for the siege of

countries

I hope,

Fort Williams Henry and the arrival of 2 or 3 thousand Indians from the

their sojourn

;

667

XIII.

and return have cost considerable sums.

however, that the expenses will not amount so high next year, as I do not anticipate

Should circumstances draw us into them, I have the honor to assure would not regard the cost, but solely the glory of the King's arms, and I shall always contribute as much as will be in my power, both in advice and the execution of my charge, to render them glorious in this Colony. I study that much more than economy, although this latter object greatly interests me, and I am persuaded that you will approve my mode

such vast movements.

you

I

of thinking. I have the honor to be with most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

Bigot.

(Signed),

Captain PoiicJiot [

DSpartement do

to

M.

cle

Paidmy.

la Guerre, Paris. ]

Montreal, this

My I I

arrive from Niagara

where

have been relieved by the Marquis de Vaudreuil.

I

have finished that place, according

the IS""

S'"'^

There remain

to the

It will

my

be essential,

moment

'tis

Lord,

exposed to the

would have wished much,

my

details attached to the

command

to superintend

to

soil

sod the

river,

fall,

scarps and

;

say

on the

and both the traverses of the place counterscarps of the ditches, in

which, notwithstanding

Lord, to be able

could never find a

;

was alone

may

its

hardness, wastes extremely

air.

situation of that place

I

I

be sodded only a small portion of the interior parapet

to

consequence of the nature of the

I

9"*% 1757.

plan I had the honor of transmitting last

epaulement from the gate to the covert-way along the of arms, salient from the half moon.

the

3"*

Lord,

for

moment

to

to

transmit to you a plan of the present

draw

it,

in

consequence either of the

the Indians, or the assiduity those works required, as I

them.

am astonished, my Lord, at being able to bring them to their present perfection, with the few men I have had for so many different operations as were necessary to be executed. I I

have had them done with all the economy of a gentleman cultivating his farm, and I dare assert that I have saved more than fifty thousand ecus, according to the estimate of connoisseurs. I have made some changes in the location of the buildings on the plan I had the honor to transmit you last year.

There are now two large barracks, one church, one powder magazine, and merchandise. Barracks will have to be built in the course of the men additional. I can assert, my Lord, from all I have seen, that that fort influences extremely all the bordering Nations. 'Tis not for me, my Lord, to praise my work. The Marquis de Vaudreuil and the M" de Montcalm will have the goodness to render one store

for provisions

winter to lodge one hundred

you an account

of

it,

which, I dare believe, will be of advantage to me.

They have not allowed

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

668

me

remain ignorant of the favor the King has been pleased to grant me.

to

my

your goodness,

Lord, that you will be pleased

fortunate enough to be in a peculiar position,

what 'tis

is

my

passing,

to do,

procure

me

Lord,

for I

am 46

Might

hope from

I

an augmentation of

which may procure

for

me some

it.

I

years of age.

more

still

and

usefully,

You have had the goodness

to

;

when

proposals to, and treatment

and

to

my

promise

you would be favorable to me I dare hope for your confidence. I assumed the command at Niagara, the Marquis de Vaudreuil wished engage the Five Nations to observe neutrality. I dare flatter myself that I have, by Lord,

am

exception to

and when I desire the commission of Lieutenant-Colonel,

myself the advantage of serving his Majesty

in Paris that

My to

majesty has proposed

to procure for

time

me

his

to

make them

of,*

them, contributed not a

little to

decide on waging war against the enemy.

me

my

embroil them with the English, I

my

do not pretend,

detract from the merit therein of M. Chabert Joncaire, a Colonial officer,

who

is

Lord, to

much beloved

by the Senecas. have been

in

since last year.

I

I

with which

have had

I

are solid proofs thereof.

have been

same

the

laid

Loups who were become very cold had gained their confidence as well as that of all the Nations

position in regard to the

dare say that

I

treat. The number of parties, prisoners, and scalps I have had They have principally infested New Jersey and Pennsylvania which

to

waste by them.

I applied myself,

my

Lord, throughout the whole of

my mission,

to

be

a position to render

in

an account of the state of the country as regards the frontier of the English of the Indians, and of the advantages

arrangements I

that can be derived

;

of the disposition

from them, as well as of the

for the safety of those parts.

ardently desire,

my

Lord, that the knowledge I have acquired

may

merit your approbation

and the honor of your confidence. I

am, with the most profound respect,

my

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

POUCHOT,'

C '

Captain PotiCHOT,

whom

Mensel styles tbe French "Mante," was born at Grenoble

Tolunteer Engineer in 1788.

aptain in the

in 1712,

Beam.

and entered the serTice

In the following year he was transferred to the regiment of Bcarn.

He

as

a

soon attracted the

work at the intrenchments of Borgo-forte, and at those of Ferrara on Mount Baldo. He was next employed in fortifying and laying out roads in Corsica, and served in Italy, Flanders and Germany. In 1744, he was appointed to reconnoitre the Tyrol road, of which he prepared a map; and in 1746 intrenched the camp of Tournay. He was, in return, promoted to a Captaincy and decorated with the Cross of St Louia. M. Pouchot accompanied his regiment to Canada, and was for the most part employed on the Lake Ontario frontier. He acted as Engineer at the siege of Oswego in 1756, and planned and superintended the erection of Fort Niagara in 1757.

notice of M. de Maillebois {supra, p. 577) by his acquirements, and

was

set to

In 1758. he distinguished himself at Ticonderoga, and, though recommended for a commission of Lieutenant-Colonel, was

only rewarded with a small pension, as he had no friends at Court.

In 1759, ho sustained a siege of 19 days at Niagara,

and capitulated after a loss of 117 out of 450 men, when he was conducted prisoner of war to New-York, where he was detained until November, when he was exchanged, and joined M. de Vandreuil at Montreal on Christmas ere of 1759. In 1760 he made another gallant defence at Fort Levis, which was situated on an island a little below Ogdensburgh, and reduced

by General Amherst after about a week's siege, when Captain Pouchot, with his little garrison, was sent by way of Oswego Here, instead of rewards, he encountered most base calumnies, to New-York, whence he returned to France 8th March, 1761. and whilst enjoying some repose in the bosom of his family at Grenoble, learnt, with some astonishment, that an order was made out to commit him to the Bastile. He presented himself at once to the Minister, and by his frank and honest bearing removed all suspicion. Sometime after, Captain Pouchot was sent to Corsica where he was suitably employed. Whilst reconnoitring a post on that island, he was killed by some Corsicans lying in ambush, on the 8th of May, 1769, in the 58th year of his age.

JiJloge

prefixed to M. Pouchot's Mcmoircs sur la derniire Guerre de I'Amerique Seplenlrionate.

—Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

Montcalm

J/, de [

Dipartement de

M.

to

la Gnerro,

66

XIII.

:

de Pauliny.

Tans.

]

4"- Q*-",

Quebec,

My Lord, My last

were of the

letters

We

in this Colony.

Nothing of much interest has since occurred Our troops have

25"' 7''".

and

IS""

have remained, on both

1757.

sides, in a state of inactivity.

John and Chambly, on the 20"' S''"; they will November; we shall have four battalions in the government of Montreal and four in that of Quebec. "Chevalier de Levis will be at Montreal M. de Bourlamaque here. As for me, my Lord, I shall divide my time between both these towns. The Marquis de Vaudreuil, who is at present here, and who will return shortly to Montreal, has seemed desirous of my remaining sometime at Quebec during his absence, so that he might have a chief man there in the sad circumstances in which we find begun

to defile

from the camps of Carillon,

have arrived in their quarters

all

in

St.

the forepart of

;

want

ourselves through

M. de Bourlamaque,

That

officer,

the troops.

of provisions.

whom

I

cannot too highly praise, has closed the campaign at Carillon.

who is extremely zealous, writes me that he will not leave for He will remain with the garrison and some workmen to try and

a few days after finish

the works

necessary for their quarters and for the security of some external stores.

me

Chevalier de Levis continues always to aid

in

my

necessity, with as

much

zeal for the

King's service as friendship for myself. I

have been

make

to

the inspection on the North shore.

I

have handed the Marquis de

thought, in case the English would wish to

Vaudreuil, in consequence, a

Memoir

make

the arrangements I propose are well followed,

an attack on Quebec.

If

of

be desirable they should come there, and

what I

I

annex

to this letter

my

I

believe 'twould

opinion, in a few words, in

cipher, on a separate sheet.

M. Doreil has the honor battalions on the 1" of

another

;

that the

8''=^

to

transmit to your address an exact return of the strength of our

You

will see that our

two battalions of Berry have

reinforcements necessary to complete the

we

on the footing of the augmentation

ordered.

shall require

transmission of reinforcements and provisions

We

for their

considerable

regiment of Berry on

battalions on their ordinary standing,

and have taken preference of us

companies are only 39 strong, one with

lost

therefore, estimating the original

fooling

500 men, and 750 more

to place

There ;

;

a great

is

besides, the

its

fatality this

our

;

them

year in the

Marine troops are not completed,

augmentation.

en 1" of the Corps who is come with a commission of Engineer-in-Chief of New France, in place of Sieur de Lery, who died two years ago. His presence here will be of great utility, if he performs his duty as he appears to me to wish, and if he be allowed to do it, which I do not warrant. He reckons on belonging always to you and to write you on whatever concerns himself. If he

have received news from Louisbourg by Sieur de Pontleroy, Captain

Royal,

have no better advantages than Sieur de Lery, his place (which will furnish him considerable work, and perhaps also some little bickerings, notwithstanding the good dispositions I perceive in him to avoid them), is not worth him more than 2,000", one hundred ecus lodging money,

and 30 cords of fire-wood. This Engineer

left

Louisbourg on the

27'"

7""; he has reassured us

attack on Isle Royale on the part of the English, the

more

for this

especially as there

year against

all

was a squall on

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

670

some English ships, and must have caused great damage and inflicted You will be advised of it from Louisbourg. No exact account had been

the 25'^ which wrecked injury on their

received

New

when

fleet.

Engineer

tiiis

Will not the English winter their troops at Halifax and in

left.

England, in order to be beforehand with us next year, [

We Our

Here

follows, in the original, a

paragraph in cipher, which

if

they can

from Fort Duquesne, of the 7*

latest dates

Colonies.

7^^',

?

omitted in the French

have recently had news from Louisiana of the month of April.

Indians, the continuance of their forays,

test. ]

Everything

is

quiet there.

confirm the good dispositions of the

which spread desolation throughout the English

command there, writes me that the different The same is nearly the case at Niagara, who commands there. That officer, having finished the

Sieur de Liniery, a Colonial Captain in

parties brought

him

recently 200 prisoners or scalps.

in

according to the letters of M. Pouchot, fortifications and'buildings

which were

to

be erected

at Niagara, returns to his

We

relieved by Captain Vassan, of the Colonial troops.

belonging to the Regulars on the frontier this winter of

is

La Reine, who

will be in

part, consist of our troops.

command

My

esteem

at Carillon,

regiment and

is

have only one solitary Commandant

— Captain d'Hebecourt, of the regiment

where the garrison

for that officer

and

my

will, for the greatest

confidence in his activity and

me to select him. Besides, he is conversant with the manner the Indians are be managed, and some of these are coming and going throughout the winter at that post.

intelligence, led to

Although the English have only a few Mohawks and Mohegans on their side, some occasionally their appearance and take scalps. We had four soldiers killed by one of their parties a few days before the close of the campaign.

make

The Onnontagues pretend that bateaux are building night and day at Corlar; that Colonel Johnson is urging on this work. M. de Pouchot gives almost the same intelligence, and adds that the Indians of the Five Nations have told him that it was proposed to surprise one of our forts, by means of the Indians of the Five Nations who would come there under pretext of trading. It must be observed that the Five Nations appear generally disposed in our favor since we have been successful but the English, who are nearer to them than we, have a great ;

many

among them. However that be, the Marquis de Vaudreuil sent Commandants of the posts to be particularly on their there are Colonial officers who know more about field service than of the be taken to avoid a surprise of a post, I have also written to them. Our

partizans and emissaries

off a canofe

immediately

guard, and as

precautions to

to advise all the

garrisons there are very weak, but the scarcity of provisions and difficulty of transportation

do not admit of their augmentation. We have at present in the direction of Corlar a war party of 300 men, commanded by Sieur de Belhetre, a Colonial officer. Two hundred belong to our domiciliated Indians; the remainder are officers, cadets, Canadians and soldiers. This detachment, which left Montreal in the forepart of

October, will not return before the end of November;

Ontario as far as the River Choueguen, which

English possessions.

detachment

It will

will be sent

it

will run

quarter, and

its

no

risk.

will

it

proceeds by Lake

ascend, in order to penetrate into the

traverse that of the Five Nations, and an officer belonging to that

with Belts and Strings of

us, in order to strike the English. at least

it

We

Wampum

to invite their

young men

to follow

Should that detachment not effect anything considerable, shall have more reliable news of what is going on in that

march might well derange the

projects of the English, should they have any.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

671

XIII.

:

You know, my Lord, that it had been agreed that the Regulars should be paid, in Canada, The failure in the transmission of specie causes their not being paid except in in silver coin. paper since the

La

I'"

of September.

brought us clothing at the end of three years, for all the Regulars, even on the footing of the augmentation therefore, we have nothing to wish for, on that head, between this and 1761. I hope we shall have returned to France before that time. A portion of the cloth required for distribution among the officers on paying therefor, has arrived at the

The

ship

Liberie has

;

same

time.

write on

I

these various points to M. de Moras, by agreement with

all

INI

de Bigot,

content myself with annexing to this despatch a memorandum of my demands and representations. Our campaign hospitals have been very well administered this year, and this good administration is due to the confidence M. Bigot has been pleased to

Intendant of Canada, and

I

repose in Sieur Arnoux, Surgeon-Major of the Regulars; the Montreal and Quebec hospitals have always been very good, thanks to the attention of the Hospital Nuns who have charge of them.

We

would have nothing to desire, were it not for the frightful scarcity of provisions This Colony is lost unless occasioned by the intercepting of the succors and a bad harvest. France make powerful efforts to procure us, very early in the season, salted and other provisions, by having them conveyed at least to a certain latitude. 'Twould be well, also, were some seed

wheat

to arrive at the

Quebec, and

in

end of April, there would yet be time to sow

order to be adapted to that purpose,

French grain does not succeed [

in the

government of

in this quarter.

Here

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

it

should be Northern wheat, as the

it

is

is

omitted anotiier paragraph in cipher.

come

to

Quebec

]

to hold a general Court-Martial

which had

been ordered in February, 1756, to try the Colonial officers who had surrendered Fort Beausejour and the pretended Fort Gaspareaux to the English in 1755. Although the affair was not mixed, as the Marquis de Vaudreuil showed me an order empowering him to call to it

some

of the principal officers of the Regulars, Chevalier de Montreuii, Adjutant-General, Sieur

of the second battalion of the Regiment of Berry, and Captain Grenadiers of the Regiment of Languedoc, took seats at it. The unanimous finding has been to send them back acquitted. In the case of Fort Beausejour,

de Trevis,

Commandant

d'Aiguebelle, of the

regard was principally had to the fact that the Acadians have

who had

threatened to have them hanged for violating

stockaded inclosure, with only one fort

capable

of sustaining

a

officer

siege;

and nineteen

it.

my

annexed,

Lord,

all

is

will detail to

that

I

am

way

to be

you what

vessels, this is probably

despatches by

is

accordingly the English

all

I

until

communicated

to

it

was

you.

it

it

and preserved only

when we The sheet in in

end of April, when we

As

I

shall

occupied

it.

cipher, hereunto

write you by the last

transmit our earliest

of Louisbourg.

with respect,

my

Lord,

«

Your most humble and Most obedient 'This unsigned letter

to

could not be considered a

burnt

think on the next campaign. the

Commandant

In regard to Gaspareaux, a large

soldiers,

Beausejour, which they placed in a better condition than This,

forced the

the oath of allegiance to the English,

They had formerly taken

capitulate to save their lives.

is

servant.^

presumed, by the copyist in Paris, to have heen written by the Marquis de Montcalm.

—Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS,

672

Memorandmn

of the Representations and Mequisitions made [D^partement de

Document annexed

presumed

to the letter

Minister, and dated Quebec,

You know, my Lord,

that

when

to

M.

de Moras.

la Guerre, Paris.]

4"- 9"",

to be

from M. de Montcalm to the

1757.

the troops of the Line were sent to this Colony, orders had

been given that they should be paid in

They ceased

silver.

to

be so paid on the 1"

7''";

the

allowance which had been made to them in the preceding campaign has been stopped on this one.

I

request you to

occasion.

call for

had addressed

I

it

the communication of the

pain, that according as the prices of

pay them

for that alteration in the first

all

of

9''"

Memoir

of

my

of last year to M. de Machaut.

in paper,

mode

I

see,

with

sorts of provisions increase, the allowance granted to

'Tis, nevertheless, the King's interest not to hazard

the officers diminishes. specie, and to

4""

on the

representations on that

but would

it

my

not be more just,

sending any more

Lord, to indemnify them

of payment, and for deducting the allowance determined on at

during the campaign, by allowing them supplementary pay,

pay of a Captain, which amoupts

2760" might be raised

to

to

in

form of a gratuity.

The

one thousand ecus; the same

proportion to be observed for the other grades.

The

ship

La

Liberie having brought

wherewith

to

renew the clothing of our troops

at the

end of three years on the footing of being complete, including the augmentations, and furnish uniforms to a certain

Bigot to ask you

for a

number

supplement

of officers, at the cost price in France, I requested

for

what regards the

officer, in

order that each

may

share

that advantage, otherwise the officers cannot be obliged to wear the uniform regularly.

have also requested that Intendant an establishment, what horn, etc.

I

is

to apply to

you

for

something

to

I

renew, on the footing of

called the soldier's small equipment, such as belt, cartouch,

powder-

have likewise asked him to request of you an immediate supply of shoes.

cost ten francs a pair,

to

M.

They

and the country, besides, would not supply enough of them.

French Attack on [

Summary

the

German

Dfepartement de la Guerre, Paris.

of M. de Belletre's

Campaign;

Flats, 1757. ]

28""

November, 1757.

detachment of about 300 of the Marine troops, Canadians and Indians, arrived notwithstanding all the obstacles of the season and the greatest scarcity of provisions, at the River a la Famine, where he met seven or eight Nontagues who, on a message which he gave them in tbe General's name, expressed delight in uniting with him. He continued his route and after inexpressible fatigues and suffijring, reached the victnity of the Oneida village, whither he sent four influential Indians as bearers of the General's word. He continued his march as far as the River Corlaer, and had the satisfaction of examining five English forts abandoned, by command, for that erected, since the reduction of Chouaguen, on the site of old Fort Bull.

M. de Belletre with

his

PARIS DOCUMENTS: The

Indians

when informed

that there

673

XIII.

was a garrison

of 350

men

in a fort

named Kouari,

situate on the said river about a quarter of a league from the village of the Palatines, did not fail to

them that their Father dispatched a picked blow of some interest, they recovered their ardor, except some young warriors and aged men who gave in,

exhibit fear, but M. de Belletre having told

detachment, so well selected, only courage and evinced a lively

to strike a

already fatigued by a weary march.

The

four Indians sent to the Oneidas returned with the six warriors of that tribe,

our detachment, and told M. de Belletre ll""

November. At three o'clock

in

tliat

afternoon M. de Belletre,

the

who

joined

they had no other will than that of their Father. preceded, as was his

custom, by scouts, crossed the River Corlaer with his detachment, partly swimming, partly He encamped at nightfall in the woods, a league and a half from in the water up to the neck. the

first

12""

of the five forts that covered the Palatine settlements.

At three o'clock

in the

morning he gave

his

detachment the order of march and attack,

so as to surround the said five forts and the entire Palatine village, consisting of sixty houses.

Though M. de

Belletre

knew that the English got notice the day preceding, yet, in order that may not receive the least check, and to show them that he would

the courage of the Indians

not rashly expose them, he liberated an Indian of the Five Nations

detained

under suspicion.

But

this

whom

he had until then

Indian could not injure M. de Belletre, because he

commenced at the same time to attack the five forts and the Palatines' houses. At sight of the first fort he determined to take it by assault. The enemy kept up

the most

which M. de Belletre, with all the officers detachment, advanced, coupled with the warwhoop of the Indians,

active fire of musketry, but the intrepidity with

and Canadians of terrified

commanded

his

English to the degree that the Mayor of the village of the Palatines,'

the

the said

opened the doors and asked

fort,

who

for quarter.

M. de Belletre lost no time in repairing to the second, the third, the fourth and fifth, which were not less intimidated than the first by his intrepidity and the cries of the Indians. They all surrendered at discretion and were entirely burnt. During

this

time a party of Canadians and Indians ravaged and burnt the said 60 houses of

the Palatines, their barns and other out-buildings as well as the water-mill.

In

all

these expeditions about 40 English perished

The number

of prisoners

is

nearly 150 men,

of the village, the Surgeon and some Militia officers. Lorraier, an officer,

The damage

was wounded

inflicted

in the right side

on the enemy

is

;

women and by a

they were either killed or drowned. children,

We ball,

among whom

had not a man

is

killed

;

the

Mayor

hut M. de

and three or four Indians

slightly.

estimated, according to the representations of the

English themselves, to wit In grain, of

all

sorts, a

much

larger quantity than the Island of Montreal has produced in

years of abundance.

The same

of hogs.

3,000 horned cattle. 3,000 sheep.

'

All these articles

were

JoHAN JosT Peteie

Bupposed to have immigrated to

18

to

have been sent, in a few days, tliis

to Corlaer.

country in 1710, and to have

moved

to the

German

Flats

His is the first name in the patent of that tract, where he was one of the leading men. He remained in Canada a prisoner until the close of 1768, and died before the breaking out of the war of the Revolution. He was one of tlie co-patentees of the tract called Henderson's purchase, in the present towns of Columbia and Warren. Benton's History of Herkimer County, 176. Ed.

in 1720.

—

Vol. X.

85

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

674

number consumed

1,500 horses, 300 of which were taken by the Indians and the greater for the support of the

The

detachment.

property in furniture, wearing apparel, merchandise and liquor, might form a capital of

The Mayor of the village alone has 400,000. livres. The French and Indians have acquired as rich a booty as they could carry off. One Indian alone has as much as 30,000. in specie more than 100,000 livres. 1,500,000

likewise plundered

a quantity

may form

merchandise, which All this

of

Wampum,

in the said Fort Kouari,

In fact, on

M. de Belletre made provision to be been observed, were to the number of 350 men

short of 48 hours.

enemy, who,

to resist the

cloth and otiier

&c., scarlet

a capital of 80,000 more.

damage could not be done

always able

bracelets,

silver

They have There was

as has

about a quarter of a league from the field of battle. the morning, 50 Englishmen, accompanied by some

the 13"", at 7 o'clock in

Mohawks, left the said fort, but as soon as they were perceived, our Frenchmen and Indians went to meet them double quick, and forced them to swim across the river, after receiving The number that perished cannot be estimated. At noon, several discharges of musketry. the same day, M. de Belletre gave orders to his detachment to commence their return march. On the IS"" he sent an Oneida, who is much attached to the General, with some chiefs from the Sault and St. Francis, to bear his message to the Oneidas, by which he communicated to

them the success he experienced invited them to persevere in their good sentiments and not Our Oneida delegate rejoined M. Belletre at the River Ati Sable, and told him that the Five Nations had sent three Belts to the Oneida villages, which they ;

to fear the English.

wished him

to take as a present to the

General.

By

these they

demand

assistance to resist

the English, being about to experience their resentment, inasmuch as they refused to allow four of their chiefs to enter Fort Kouari, having fired several shots at them.

the Oneidas to withdraw their will protect

women

and children from the lake

side,

This had obliged

hoping their Father

them.

Topogi^aphy of the Country between O&wego Itinerary from the the

Oneida

;

mouth

and Albany

of the River Choiiegen, in

Lake Ontario,

then up Vilcreek to the summit level, which

River of the Moack, or

des Agnies,

we

by which

is

to

Lake

the source of the

can descend to Corlar or

Chenectedi, whence Albany or Orange can be reached.

The entrance had a

fort

of the River

on each side of

From Chouegen is intricate,

to the

Chouegen

this river,

Great

fall

is

easy

;

the harbor

is

is

an ascent of four leagues.

the river rapid and encumbered by large rocks.

shoals, are requisite to be able to pass through

where a portage occurs

formed of a cove.

The English

by which this entrance was defended.

it.

of about 40 to 50 paces.

In this space the navigation

Good

pilots, familiar

Bateaux must be unloaded

The

at the

with the Great

fall,

bateaux are dragged along the ground.*

The ordinary bnteau load is only 14 to 1,500 weight to Fort Bull is estimated to be about 36 leagues. days to ascend the river from Chouegen to Fort Bull, and three and a half from Fort Bull to Chouegen. The river of the Five Nations rises in little lakes near which, about six leagues from its entrance into the River Chouegen, the Indians of the Five Nations reside. That river divides into two branches. That from the right rises in the lake of iha *

From Chouegen

It takes five

Senecas and Cayugas

;

that from the left beyond the lakes of the Onontagufcs.

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

675

XIII.

Tt is estimated to be about four leagues from the Fall to the mouth of the river of the Five its navigation is good. About a quarter of Nations, which mouth is called the Three Rivers ;

a league before coming to the Three Rivers, there is

From the river is

is,

hovrever, a current, where precaution

requisite.

Lake Oneida

the Three Rivers to is

about 60 paces wide;

the outlet of

Lake Oneida.

Lake Oneida

is

There

is

the lake, which

is

fall

at 8 leagues; the navigation

nor rapid at

its

is

good

;

This river

limes with loaded vessels. entrance.

Rs navigation

be a strong contrary wind.

It is best

is

beautiful

on the right of

on the north side.

From Lake Oneida we

enter the River Vilcrick,* which empties Into that lake, and ascend

This river

nine leagues to Fort Bull.

with trees fallen from both banks.

however, passable

neither

all

twelve leagues long by about one league wide.

at all times, unless there

and practicable

computed

is

passable at

it is

of sinuosities, narrow and sometimes embarrassed

is full

Its

navigation

is

when

difficult

the water

is

with an ordinary bateau load of 14 to 1,500 weight.

at all times

low.

R

When

is,

the

waters of this stream are low, an ordinary bateau load cannot go by the river further than a

R

league of Fort Bull.

becomes necessary then

and make a carrying place of the

to unload

remainder by a road constructed to the Fort, or to send back the bateau for the other half load. Fort Bull, which was burnt in 1756 by a detachment under the orders of M. de Lery, was situated on the right

From Fort Bull

to

bank of

this river

Fort Williams

They were

near

its

source, on the height of land.

estimated to be one league

The English had

place across the height of land. carriages passed.

is

and a

This

quarter.

the Carrying

is

constructed a road there over which

obliged to bridge a portion of

il^

all

extending from Fort Bull

small stream near which a fort bad been begun though not finished

;

it

was

to

the to a

be intermediate

between the two forts, having been located precisely on the summit level. Fort Williams was situated on the right bank of the River Moack or dcs Agnies, near the source of that river on the height of land. It was abandoned and destroyed by the English after the capture of

Chouegen.

which the English used to drive horses and cattle. Chouegen. The Five Nations' river is passed after which the road proceeds along the edge of the right bank of the Five Nations' river to the village of the Onnontagues, whence it proceeds across the country to the village of the Caskarorins and Oneidast whence we can go to Forts Bull and Williams; also to fort Kouary without being obliged to pass the said two forts. The path or road taken by M. de Belhetre in his expedition against the village of the Palatines may be also used. He went from the mouth of the River de la Famine ten leagues below Chouegen; ascended this river for the distance of four leagues, and leaving it on the left, Leaving Chouegen, there

It

follows the border of the

at a

fall

near

its

is

left

a road over

bank of

outlet into the River

the River

Chouegen,

followed the path leading to Oneida lake, which he

left

on

his right,

and came to the summit

level at Fort Williams.

The country soft

through which he passed

is fine,

He

only in the latter part of the season.

* The

river of the Killed Fish flows also into this lake

;

there being but few mountains..

The

soil

is

forded three rivers, the waters of which were

the English used

it

formerly

;

they abandoned

it

because there was

a portage, and have preferred Vilcrick which they have cleared. f

The road goes

to the

Great Oneida village, about two leagues from the lake.

constructed in this village by the English.

It

picket

fort,

with four bastions, had been

was destroyed by the Oneidas in observance of their promise given at a Each of its sides might have been one hundred paces. There is on the bank of the lake. There is no fort at the latter.

Council held between them and the Marquis de VauJreuil.

a second Oneida

A

village, called the Little village, situated

NEW-YOEK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

676

very high during the four days he was going from the River a la Famine to Fort Williams, a distance estimated at 24 to 30 leagues.

From Fort Williams

the

Moack

river is navigable.

River Vilcrick to the portage at the Little Falls, which

Bateaux carry the same load as in the is about two leagues below the village

of the Palatines and Fort Kouari.

From Fort Williams to Fort Koiiari, situated on the right bank of the Moack river, is 12 leagues. The road follows the right bank of the river which is the South side.

estimated

to be

Leaving Fort Williams, there

The road

The road

marshy.

is

is

a road that joins that by

The road

Fort Kouari to Chouagen.

is

which horses and

cattle pass

the Forks of

from

about four leagues after leaving Fort Williams.

for

at all times,

though

in

some places there

leagues on this road, which

two roads one of which,

is

five

it

a great deal of

is

After these four leagues, carts can easily go as far as Fort Kouari.

traveled three

Moack

bad

passable for sleds in winter and during the summer, and

can be easily passed on horseback

mud.

is

After having

we come

leagues from Fort Kouari,

to the left, lead^ to the Palatines' village

to

by fording the

river.

Continuing along the high road, which

is on the right bank of the River Moack, to reach must be forded. Here was a grist-mill that has been burnt. One league before reaching Fort Kouari another small stream is encountered, over which there is a bridge. This stream is fordable at almost all seasons. On this creek was, also, a sawmill which has been burnt. Fort Kouari is situate on the right bank of the Moack river, on a small hill on the scarp of

Fort Kouari, a creek

that river.

is

met

that

house with port-holes

a large three-story stone

at each story and likewise in There are some small pieces above. The house It was built as a store and depot for Chouegen, It is surrounded with a ditch of about 30 feet from it. This ditch is 6 feet deep and seven wide. The crown of the ditch inside is planted with palisades in an oblique form ; they are well It is

the basement, for the purpose of cross-firing. is

covered with plank and shingles.

jointed one to another.

Behind these is a parapet of earth to fire from over the palisades. The which is at the back of the ditch, form, as it were, four little bastions

four angles of this parapet,

that reciprocally flank each other. On the West side is a house apart from the large one. It backs against the parapet of the palisades, and serves as a barrack and guard-house. There are two doors to the large building; the one at the North is a small swing door. It is used

only in going to the river for water.

At

this side of the

fixed in planks set in the scarp of the right

bank of

gate of the house

it

on the South side;

is

is

house there

the" river, to

is

no

ditch

;

only palisades

support the earth.

folding but not ironed.

To

The

large

go outside the

palisades and ditch through this large door,

the Eastward

where

there

is

you must leave the house to the left and turn to ditch has not been excavated at that point. The There are palisades to the right and left, on both sides of

a passage.

earth serves as a bridge and road.

The

the way, the whole width of the ditch.

Outside the ditch

other barrier nor chevaux-de-frise in front. paces.

Opposite this

fort in the river is a

The

is

a

folding

There

ga,te.

nearest house outside the fort

is

is

no

about 150

small cultivated island, which can be reached at low

water by fording.

From Fort Kouari

to

that of Caiinatclwcary, is four leagues.

Some twenty houses

at a distance one from another, within the space of one league of this road,

are located

which is through a flat country. After making this league, we go up a mountain that occupies two hours to ascend and descend. The country throughout the whole of this space is covered with wood.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: somewhat

After descending, two houses to

677

XIII.

which

distant one from the other, are in the league,

is

be traveled to get to Cannatchocari. dwell above the Fall on the other side of the river, which

all sorts

company with some This company these two forts is good for a

the left bank.

is

the one to the other of

of carriages.

Fort Cannatchocari

is

Moack

situated at the border of the

river,

on the right bank.

It is a

bastions of upright pickets (joined together with lintels), fifteen feet high, about

of four

square

The road from

men.

consists of about SO

w ith

one foot square, fire

They form

inhabitants of this country are Palatines or Germans.

The

who

port-holes inserted from distance to distance, with a stage

all

round

to

from.

This

one hundred paces on each

fort is

some small pieces store

Cannatchocari

pass over it;

side.

It is

at each of its bastions,

not surrounded by a ditch.

and a house at each curtain

Five or six families of Moack Indians reside outside the

and barrack.

From Fort

cannon

of

to

Fort Hunter

about 12 leagues

is

the road

;

About

continues along the banks of the Moack river.

it

fort.

pretty good

is

There are

to serve as a

;

Some

greater or less distance from one another, are found within this length of road.

The

situated also about half a league in the interior.

who compose two companies Fort Hunter

is

Cannatchocari, with the exception that

The cannon

curtain.

men

of about 100

at

it is

are

inhabitants of this section are Germans,

each.

Moack

river,

and

twice as large.

It

situated on the borders of the

carriages

a hundred houses, at a

The

each bastion are 7 and 9-pounders.

is

of the

same form

as that of

likewise has a house at each pickets of this fort are higher

There is a church or temple in the middle of the fort; in the of the fort are also some thirty cabins of Moack Indians, which is the most considerable This fort, like that of Cannatchocari, has no ditch there's only a large swing gate at

than those of Cannatchocari. interior village.

;

the entrance.

Leaving Fort Hunter, a creek

is

forded and crossed in bateaux in

passed at the mouth of which that fort

summer and on

the ice in winter.

is

located.

outside under the protection of the fort, in which the country people seek shelter fear or learn that an Indian or

From Fort Hunter

French war party

to Chenectedi

or Corlac

along the right bank of the Moack river.

is

is

to

The

They, with some other inhabitants of the

form a company about 100

men

when

they

public carriage

way

continues

30 houses are found within this distance,

separated the one from the other, about a quarter or half a league. section are Dutch.

can be

in the field.

seven leagues.

About 20

It

There are some houses

left

The

inhabitants of this

bank of the Moack

river,

strong.

is a village of about 300 surrounded by upright pickets, flanked from distance to distance. Entering this village, by the gate on the Fort Hunter side, there is a fort to the right which forms a species of citadel in the interior of the village itself. It is a square, flanked with four bastions or demi-

Chenectedi or Corlac, situated on the bank of the Moack river,

houses.

It is

bastions, and

constructed half of masonry and half of timbers, piled one over the other above

.is

the masonry.

It is capable of holding 2 or

battery on the ramparts. gate,

which

point, the

The

lifts

fire'

up

It is

from the

fort

300 men.

not encircled by a ditch.

like a draw-bridge.

By

There are some pieces of cannon in entrance is through a large swing

The

penetrating the village in attacking

can be avoided.

greatest portion of the inhabitants of Chenectedi are Dutch.

-

it

from another

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

678

Chenectedi to Albany or Orange

From all sorts

only a few

hills.

a tavern.

A

is

is

estimated to 6 or 7 leagues.*

The

road

excellent for

is

There are

of carriages; the soil sandy and the country covered with open timber.

A

league and half from Chenectedi, there

league and half farther on, that

is

a house on the road which

say half way, another house

is to

is

is

met, which

also a tavern.

Orange

is

situate on the right

bank of the River Orange, otherwise called Hudson.

It is not

on the forest side except by an inclosure of walls or pickets, without a ditch, which It is calculated flanked at certain distances the river defends the entrance on the other side.

fortified is

;

to be smaller than the inclosure of the

This is

is

is all

In the interior of Orange

town of Montreal.

men

a sort of citadel, capable of containing 300

is

a fort,

here are some cannon.

;

that relates to the right bank of the river.

Let us pass

to the left

bank, which

the north side of that river, starting likewise from near its source at Fort Williams. Leaving Fort Williams by the left bank of the River Moack, the village of the Palatines

estimated to be 12 leagues.

The

river

is

whence a path leads whose borders are so marshy

fordable near Fort Williams

to the interior, half a league from the shore, parallel with the river

hay can be had from them. This path leads over hills and small mountains and can be traveled only a-foot or on horseback. Eight leagues must be traversed by this path before reaching the forks of the high road that comes from the other side, or right bank of the river. After having traveled this that nothing but

high road a quarter of an hour, a small creek

is

found, called Rassedot.

It

can be forded.

There were two houses on the left bank of this creek which were burnt, and nothing but their Having passed this creek, the high road is followed for a distance of four ruins remain. leagues to the village of the Palatines.

The

Palatine village

t

was

All sorts of vehicles travel this road.

situated on the left

bank of the Moack

river,

not directly opposite

Fort Kouari but about half a quarter of a league above it. You go from this village to the the river can even be forded in several places. fort by bateau The Palatine village which consisted of thirty houses has been entirely destroyed and burnt ;

by a detachment under M. de Belhetre's orders. The inhabitants of this village formed a company of 100 men bearing arms. They reckoned there 300 persons, men, women and children, 102 of whom were made prisoners and the remainder fled to Fort Kouari, except a few who were killed whilst fording the river. From the Palatine village to the Little Falls, still continuing along the left bank of the river, In this distance there had been eight houses which have is estimated about three leagues. been abandoned. The inhabitants of these houses compose a company with those of Fort Kouari

The

at the opposite side of the river.

portage at the Little Falls

is

a quarter of a league, and

is

passed with carts.

There

a road' on both sides of the river, but that on the left bank is preferable, being better. From the portage at Little Falls, continuing along the left bank of the river, there a foot path which

is

is

is

only

Three leagues must be made over

traveled with difficulty on horseback.

Canada creek where we meet the high road that passes from the termination of the Little Falls portage, along the right bank of the Moack river, where there There is also a of the Canada creek. is a ford above Fort Cannatchocari, opposite the mouth

this path to arrive at the

ferry boat at this place to put carts across

when

the river

is

high.

from ChouegeD to Orange is 78 @ 79 leagues. the river with bateaux from Fort Bull to the Palatine village and three to return; and to f It requires a Jay to descend go down from the Palatine village to Corlac requires [ a day and ? ] a day and a half to return. *

The

total distance

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

679

XIII.

After fording Canada creek, we continue along the left bank of the Moawk river and high road which is passable for carts for 12 leagues to Colonel Johnson's mansion. In the whole About 500 houses are erected, at a distance one from of this distance the soil is very good. The greatest number of those on the bank of the river are built of stone. Those the other.

from the river

at a greater distance

in the interior are

about half a league

off;

new

they are

dwellings built of wood.

There

not a fort in the whole of this distance of 12 leagues, and but one farmer's house

is

built of stone that

is

somewhat

fortified

and surrounded with pickets.

on the

It is situate

where the Canada creek empties into the Moack river. The inhabitants of this country are Germans. They form companies of 100 men each. Colonel Johnson's mansion is situate on the border of the left bank of the River Moack the river three leagues from

bank of

;

is

three stories high

;

built of stone,

it

with port-holes (crenehcs) and a parapet and flanked with

which are some small guns. In the same yard, on both sides of the mansion, two small houses that on the right of the entrance is a store, and that on the left is designed for workmen, negroes and other domestics. The yard gate is a heavy swing gate from this gate to the river is about 200 paces of well ironed it is on the Moack river side The high road passes there. A small rivulet, coming from the north, empties level ground.

four bastions on

are

;

;

;

Moack

into the

river about

On

200 paces below the inclosure of the yard.

mill about 50 paces distance from the house

;

below the

mill

this stream is a

the miller's house

is

where grain

and flour are stored, and on the other side of the creek, 100 paces from the mill, is a barn in which cattle and fodder are kept. One hundred and fifty paces from Colonel Johnson's mansion, at the north

side,

on the

bank of the

left

little

a small house with port-holes, where, ordinarily,

men, which

From all sorts

serves, also, as an

advanced

creek,

is

a rise of ground on

counted seven leagues

About twenty houses

it.

is

which

is

kept a guard of honor of some twenty

post.

Colonel Johnson's house to Chenectedi of vehicles pass over

is

;

the road

is

good

;

are found from point to point on

this road.

The Moack

river can be forded, during

Opposite Chenectedi the traverse

The

is

summer,

a league and a quarter west of Chenectedi.

usually in a ferry boat and bateaux.

inhabitants of this country are

Dutchmen.

They form

a

company

of about 100 men,

with those on the opposite side of the river below Fort Hunter.

Between Chenectedi and the mouth of the Moack river, where it discharges into that of is the Great fall which prevents the passage of bateaux, so that everything on the

Orange, there

river going from Chenectedi to Orange, passes over the high road that leads there direct.

From Orange Orange.

There

Sloops from New-York ascend to

to

New-York

is

also a high road from one to the other of these

is

counted 50 to 60 leagues.

The country is thickly inhabited on both eides. mostly Dutch like those of Chenectedi.

The

the river. also,

From Orange to Boston is considered about 60 leagues. From Boston to New-York is reckoned the same

country.

towns on the

left

bank of

inhabitants of Orange are,

The road

thither is across the

distance following the road along

the seaside.

New-York, on a tongue

situate on the left

bank of the Orange

of land forming a peninsula.

river,

It is fortified

near

its

mouth

at the sea, is located

only on the land side.

York is a large island, very well inhabited and very wealthy. merchantmen anchor between the town and that island.

Opposite

All sorts of vessels of

New-

war and

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

680 NoTA, — In the

the

command

whole country of the River Corlac there were nine companies of

of Colonel Johnson; eight only remain

being no longer

in

— that

Militia,

under

of the village of the Palatines

existence, the greater portion having been defeated

by M. de Belhetre's

Colonel Johnson assembles these companies when he has news of any expedition

detachment.

which may concern the Moack

river.

the- Indians that there was a Lawrence and entering Lake Ontario, he assembled these companies and went to the village of the Palatines, where he was joined by another body of 11 @^ 1,200 men, sent him by the Commandant of Orange; this formed in all a force He entrenched himself at the head of the Palatine village, where he remained of 2,000 men.

In the latter part of April, 1757, on receiving intelligence by

strong detachment ascending the River St.

in

camp

fifteen days,

and did not

retire until he received intelligence that the

French detachment

Lawrence, had passed by and taken the route to the Beautiful river. This was the detachment of 500 men that had been sent last year to reinforce the Beautiful

seen on the River

river,

and had

left

St.

Montreal

in the latter

days of the month of April.

Militia of Canada; 1758. Inconveniences

may

in the

Constitution of this Militia, and means whereby advantage

be derived therefrom in the next campaign.

January, 1758.

The Militia of Canada is well adapted to bush fighting, to navigating rivers and lakes, to summer or winter marches. Nevertheless, since the year 1756, when the war began to be waged in America on the European plan, much advantage has not been derived from that Militia for the following reasons

Up

1"'

to that

voyages, of long continuance it

was

to

remain

six

consequently stable.

and the craving

:

time those Militiamen, ordered out only for parties of short duration, or for 'tis

true, but

months assembled

Whence

after their

it

which required continual action, did not know what and often in camps of observation and

in a body,

them ; becomes

follows that in our armies, disgust takes possession of

homes, crops, harvest, induces them to plead sickness.

It

necessary to send them back home, or they desert. gnd

When

they enter on the campaign, the King furnishes them with an

outfit,

viz',

shirts,

home to wear it on their return, persuaded that they will be absent only, for a short time, and in warm weather. Besides, they carry along with them only their worst musket in the expectation that when with the army, the King will of necessity be obliged to have it mended or to supply them with another.

coat, pantaloons, stockings, &c.

Now, they

leave this outfit at

This imposes a serious expense on the King, a twofold waste of arms, a matter so precious,

and fall

in addition to this, those

sick

when

Canadians

who have

only a shirt and breeches on their bodies,

the cold sets in, and even from the cold alone of the

summer

nights.

Then

they become a burthen instead of being useful. 3° trees,

They

are without tents; and have no other covering than cabins

a very good shelter

when

the

war excursions

made

of the bark of

or parties continue at most a month,

PARIS DOCUMENTS

2°"*

XIV.

:

when

inclemency of the weather

insufficient against the

681

the campaign lasted six months.

cause of sickness.

As nobody watches

4""

cook whenever the operations of the war permit,

to see that they

they feed on pork almost raw, which was

and

in the country,

In

S""

fine, 'tis

the Indians

this

Independence.

now

a

example

;

which

service that activity

is

of waging

those extensive deserts

The

which nourishes

air

everything inspires, everything

;

among

those Militia.

them? where are they to be relied on? how infuse still more necessary when we are inferior in force?

What is the remedy for these abuses ? To correct their source, 'twould be necessary The

consequently the work of peace.

and permits 1" To make an exact census of

war

cause of sickness and of the useiessness of these Militia.

Neither order, nor subordination exists, therefore,

then, derive advantage from

mode

admissible in the ancient

still

not arranged that they respect their Militia officers.

their

;

is

3"*

following

to alter their constitution is

the

remedy which

;

this

ofiers

How,

into their

would be

the season of war allows

:

bad

effective, middling,

;

them into three classes would make this census

the farmers and to divide

all

me

de Vaudreuil told

in fact, the M''

that he

this winter. 2'"'

it

To

order that

all

the effective

being well understood that those

of those on duty

To

1°

make

who

the next campaign in toto, in

will

remain

and well armed;*

all

commanded

the Militiamen

review them for the

to

on the

at the last entrepot

first

frontier, a third

To

2°

who

divide

all

will

to

shall

manner following:

—

do the sowing and harvest

march, shall leave home well equipped

time at the

in a

manner

to support the vicissitudes of

have bad muskets.

these Militiamen into three corps, one of

for the

place of muster, a second time

first

time on their joining the army; to chastise severely

and even corporally those who will not be clothed

our battalions

home,

:

order that

the seasons, or

at

campaign

which

the second into those of the Marine

;

will be incorporated into ;t

the third will form the

distinct corps of Militia.

By

means,

this

1°

Those who

will

be incorporated will quarter with the soldiers; being

well clothed, tented and fed like them, they will fare well

—

;

the officers and sergeants of the

less desertion and more by this incorporation, each company will possess effective soldiers, excellent marksmen, good canoemen and good axemen. Each company would be furnished also with a certain number of tools, for which the officers would be responsible. Thus, 'tis plain the service would proceed rapidly, each detachment being entirely formed, and having everything necessary for the war of the country.

companies

will see to their

subordination.

The

2°

*

On

If

who

to their service

;

consequently

Besides,

Militia corps being less

at its head,

discipline

conduct

will be invested

and sanitary police

numerous,

'twill

be

less difficult to place

with the same authority as

will

officers

be more easily established in

good Militia

have over

soldiers.

officers

Order,

it.

urning from the campaign, they or their families shall be presented by the King with the acouatomed equipment,

or shall be allowed the discount according to the fixed price. f

The Minister need not

the farmer, they

know and among

that have wintered

Vol. X.

fear thai the farmers will not agree

loTe each other.

with the

soldiers.

As

the soldiers pass their winters with

Indeed, attention would be paid to attaching the ililitiamen to the battalions

them.

S6

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

682 3°

Orders

will

have

to

be issued

tliat

the farmers not in the

draft, shall

first

have by them

an equipment, a good gun, one pound of powder, 2 pounds of ball, ten days' provisions in biscuit and pork, with a certain number of bateaux, and their rigging and some kettles per parish, so

may

that they

make an

be ready to march at the

inspection twice a

Captains of parishes will receive orders to

first call.

week throughout

all

who

the houses, and those

have

will not

munitions and provisions shall be severety punished. (In such cases, the civil officers, priests, monks,

must perform the work of the to

The wives

field.

women,

children and

of the chief

men and

all

people,

officers

ought

show the example.)

That the Governor-General be authorized to give Royal commissions to the Militia officers have greatly distinguished themselves, or else some sort of mark of honor ; to the Militiamen who will have performed some brilliant action or will be wounded, a gratuity ; to 4°

who

those

will

who

Such

is

will be lamed,

means

the only

some to

trifling

pension.

render the Canadian Militia useful

Minister approve the preceding arrangements and wish

;

the crisis

them put

into

is

urgent, and if the

execution, he must

transmit his orders relative thereto and precise, to the Generals.

List of Britisli Foot Regiments in America^ 1758. [

1'*

Royals, 2^ batt.

l?'",

Otway's.

40"",

Hopson's.

Blakeney's.

Kennedy's.

44"',

Abercrombie's.

List. ]

Warburton's.

47"", Lascelle's.

4S'^ Webb's. 65'\ Howe's. 58"", Anstruther's.

42°^ Ld. Murray's Highlanders. 43'^,

Army

46'^ Murray's.

28'\ Bragg's. 35'",

the

45"",

Forbes'.

27"", Inniskillings, or

From

60"", 62"'',

Royal Americans, 4 battalions. or 1" Highland batt", Montgomery's.

63"*, or 2'"' Highl. battalion, Frazer's. SO"",

Baron

Gage's Light Infantry.

de Dieskcm to Chevalier de Montreuil.

Bath Springs,

The

My

26"'

in

England,

January, 1758.

dear Chevalier, have just learned that the Ministers have been indisposed towards you on my account, namely, because you did not have me removed after hating seen me wounded at the foot a party of 50 rangers

;

whose

killed 23,

scalps

were brought

in

by the Indians, and

'Tis almost certain that the remainder, dispersed through the woods, have

took 5 prisoners.

wounds received in the action. same officer, at the head of another detachment of Canadians and Indians, again repaired to the environs of Fort Edward. The Indians being unwilling to continue the proposed route, his expedition was reduced to making one single but 3 or 4 Indians who remained behind, fell in with a convoy of 30 sleighs loaded prisoner with provisions, which they plundered and dispersed, taking 4 scalps. They would have had greater success, had one of them not been dangerously wounded. March 13. Robert Roger, the partisan, returning with 200 men to try and strike a blow in the environs of Carillon, was discovered by some Indians sent out by M. d'hebecourt, who came This officer immediately dispatched a detachment of 200 in all haste to advise him of the fact. Canadians and Indians who had arrived the evening before from Montreal. This detachment perished of hunger or of

Towards

the end of February, this

;

The Indians brought back 144

scalps and There were 12 in the party. Robert men and two officers. There is reason to presume

stopped Rogers' march and utterly defeated him.

some prisoners; among the

latter

were two

escaped almost naked, with some fifteen that he will have perished of cold

the two

prisoners at Carillon, having

that place.

and hunger

having wandered

officers, after

left

in a

officers.

in the

woods, inasmuch as three days subsequently, came to surrender themselves

vain effort to escape,

two men dead of

fatigue and hunger within

two leagues of

This action has been brisk, and our detachment has performed wonders in

We have had two Cadets dangerously wounded, four Indians killed and 16 wounded. We continue constantly to have some detachments since that time in the field commanded by M. Wolfe, Orange, and

set out

again afterwards.

in the vicinity of Corlard to

go out

in the

Everything

same

is

in

a partisan officer of the land forces, has burnt

;

this has led

Another has

also burnt

80 Iroquois belonging

to

;

it.

one

some houses towards

some houses and taken our mission of

scalps

La Presentation

direction.

a

favorable

condition

in

the

district

of

Fort

Duquesne and

the

Beautiful river.

to

The English are heaping presents on the Iroquois of gain them over; they have not succeeded up to the 'Sic.

Edward.

the Five Nations, in order to endeavor present time.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

704 You

my

perceive,

Lord, that notwithstanding the scarcity, the King's arms continue to be

sustained here with advantage.

send up prayers

I

for the

future and for a glorious and

early peace. I am, with

most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, DOREIL. Lieutenant de Clairville of the Regiment of

M. de Regiment of Berry, return to France in the ship which They are sent back for different cause, of which the Marquis de Montcalm

Godonnesche, sous-lieutenant bears this

La Reyne, who

letter.

arrived last year, and

in the

doubtless has the honor to inform you.

DOREIL.

M. Daine [

to

Marslial de Belle

Dfepartement de

U Guerre, Paris.

Isle.

]

(Quebec),

My

IQ'"

May, 1758.

Lord,

more melancholy or more afflicting than the actual condition of this Colony, after having passed a part of last autumn and winter on a quarter of a pound of bread per person a day, we are reduced, these six weeks past, to two ounces. This country has subsisted, up to the present time, only by the wise and prudent economy of our Intendant, but all resources are exhausted and we are on the eve of the most cruel famine, unless the succors which we are expecting from our monarch's bounty and liberality arrive within fifteen days at farthest. Nothing

I

fail;

am

is

terms

at a loss for

to describe

our misfortunes.

The supply

of animals

is

beginning to

the butchers cannot furnish a quarter of the beef necessary for the subsistence of the

inhabitants of this town, though they pay an exhorbitant price for

mutton or

veal,

To make up

we

it;

without fowls, vegetables,

are on the eve of dying of hunger.

want

and other necessaries of life, our Intendant has these he has had distributed among the poor of He is now having distributed this town at a rate much below what they cost the King. among the same poor, a quarter of a pound of pork, and half a pound of cod fish a day, but for the

of bread, beef

ordered 12 or 1500 horses to be purchased

that cannot last long.

absolutely cannot

The mechanics,

;

artisans

work any longer; they are so

and day-laborers exhausted by hunger, with difficulty they can 'tis

feeble that

sustain themselves.

We

have not yet any news from Europe, and are ignorant of the projects of the English «• We have learned only by 2 Indians belonging to the Five Nations, who have been to trade with the English near Fort Bull, that Mr. Jeanson, who was there, had told them that we were without provisions and would not receive any succors from France this year, in this continent.

consequence of the measures adopted by the Court of London to intercept them

;

that a

formidable fleet would blockade the river, and that none of our ships would be able to pass;

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. that they had

last

captured

fall

themselves, they enjoyed abundance of village for the purpose of

705

them from us richly laden; everything and were preparing to

three of

conveying

rich presents thither,

that

as

regarded

visit their village

and that the Indians should not want

they would abandon the French. These two Indians who have been a long time particularly attached to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, fearing that the presents would shake the Nation, represented to Mr. Jeanson the danger he would run by going to their village ; that a considerable party was lying in ambush, waiting for him, and that he would be cut to pieces with all his people. This speech made for anything if

such an impression on the English General, that he no longer thought of making that journey.

Annexed

are

two small Relations or narratives of the most interesting events that have last year. The damage inflicted on the English in

occurred since the departure of the ships

horned cattle, sheep and horses, has been greatly exaggerated in the relation of M. de Bellestre's campaign of the SS"" November, 1757. Fully one-half of it at least must be deducted. Still greater exaggeration has been committed in the items of furniture, clothing, merchandise and liquors, which are made to amount to fifteen hundred thousand livres; the same is the case in regard to the loss of Indian corn in the Palatine village.

A

Command

party of Canadians and Indians, under the

officer,

whom

defeated 40 English,

of Sleur Lorimer, junior, a Colonial

the Indians scalped, and took three prisoners near Fort

Couary^ and within 3 @. 4 leagues distance of Corlac; two of these prisoners are officersThey report that they have captured three of our ships of war belonging to Count du Bois de

King of Prussia has gained 2 battles from the Austrians in the course November last; that Marshal de Richelieu having caused a portion of the French troops to evacuate the Duchy of Hanover, has gone at the head of 80 or a hundred thousand men to the relief of the Queen of Hungary; that the Parliament of England has not approved the capitulation agreed to by the Duke of Cumberland for the capture of that Duchy

la Mote's fleet; that the

of the

month

of

;

that consequently that Prince resigned all his offices to the King, and that M. de Ligonier^

has been appointed in his place

command

to the

of the English troops, and finally that the

people of that kingdom have demanded the head of the General' '

'

Fort Herkimer, on the

Mohawk

who

superintended the

river.

JoHw, 1st Earl of LIgonier, was born in 1679, and entered the service at an early age; he greatly distinguished himself

as a soldier

in 1733

;

under the Duke of Marlborough; rose to be Colonel of the 4th regiment of Horse in 1720

Major-General in 1739.

He

next served in

Germany; was created Knight Banneret on

;

Brigadier-General

the field of Dettingpn in

1742; WRS appointed Lieutenant-General in 1743; commanded the brigade of Guards, in 1745, at the famous battle of

Fontenoy; Wfts taken prisoner at Lauffeldt

Guards Blue.

in 1747,

and afterwards created a General, and

He became Commander-in-Chief

Peerage by the

title

of the Forces in Great Britain in October, 1757, and

of Viscount Ligonier of Enniskillen; in

November

He

and in 1766, when he ceased

died in 1770, at the age of 91.

distinguished part '

Sir

Lieutenant-General of

John Moedaunt, E. and

B.,

in

to the Irish

was appointed Colonel of the to the dignity of

1st

A

monument

was Colonel

— Ed.

in Westminster

Abbey records the various

of the 47th regiment of Foot in 1741,

November following was

;

actions in

and of the 18th Royal Irish

Lieutenant-General in 1748

transferred to the 10th Dragoons.

;

was Governor

in the

Army

in 1770.

Army

Lists; Beatson.

of Sheerness until 1779, and Governor of

Vol. X.

89

He

in

1742

;

became

Colonel of the 4th regiment of

He was

appointed Commander-in-

represented Cockermouth in the House of

Berwick from that time

life.

which he bore a

Chief of the expedition against Rochefort, in 1757, and being unsuccessful was tried by a court-martial and acquitted.

became a General

Foot

an English Baron

be Commander-in-Chie^ was made an English Earl, with a pension of £1500 for

Chatham Correspondence.

in July, 1749,

was raised

to

Major-General, and Colonel of the 2d Light Dragoons, in 1747

Horse

following,

Ho was advanced

Guards, Master-General of the Ordnance, and created Fiel.l-Marshal. in 1763,

in 1748,

In 1749, was appointed Colonel of 2d or Queen's Dragoon Guards, and in 1753 Colonel of the Royal Horse

the Ordnance.

until his death in 1780.

He

Commons;

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

706

not having seized Rochefort, which,

affairs of Isle d'Aix, for

'tis

said,

was

at his

mercy, that

place not being guarded,

19 May.

which

east,

We is

are

still

without any news from Europe, although the wind be from the North-

very favorable for the entrance of vessels from France into this port.

becomes more and more unfortunate and we are actually, my Lord, on the Bread will cease to be furnished to the public on the first of June. I forgot to inform you, my Lord, that the same prisoners have stated that there were four ships of war and one frigate at Alifax, which were about sailing in the beginning of March on a cruise at the mouth of the River St. Lawrence and to intercept the succors we are expecting. This news has appeared to me undeserving of any attention, because it is impossible to We have every reason to think that the dispatch any vessels from that port at that season.

Our

situation

eve of perishing of hunger.

succors

we

are retarded only because the

are awaiting for the subsistence of this Colony,

arm some ships of war as a convoy. This is a necessary precaution, without which none, 'tis to be feared, would be received. 19"" May. Eight ships have arrived from Bourdeaux under the convoy of the King's frigate Court has been obliged

La

to

Sirenne; five of these vessels are freighted with flour on the Contractor-Greneral's account

a small English prize loaded with flour has also arrived barrels or thereabouts.

of these ships,

We

among

I

am

unable,

my

;

the whole amounts to eight thousand

Lord, to express to you the joy difiused by the arrival

town

the inhabitants of this

;

they are at length reassured of their

fate.

are in hourly expectation of four others which sailed with these.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil was

impatiently expecting this

relief, in

order to put his plans

into execution.

We

moment from Louisbourg that M. de Boissier arrived there with five ships of Count Desgoutes had gone ahead of him with one vessel and a frigate. There are now in the roadsteads of Isle Royale eight English cruisers; two others, we are learn this

war.

assured, will soon

I

am

sail

from Alifax.

with the most profound respect.

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient Quebec,

19""

servant,

Daine.

May, 1758.

M. d^JIugues [

to

Marshal de Belle

nSpartcment de

Isle.

la Gaerre, Paris. ]

Carillon, 1st June, 1758.

My

Lord,

Though

I

doubt not that the Engineers of Canada and other persons have sent your of Fort Carillon, with remarks on its situation and approaches, permit

Excellency the plan

made on this frontier, that is, if your moment to the ideas of an officer who, trying to instruct himself, would employ every moment of his life to the advantage of the public weal and render himself worthy of the honor you have done him in granting him your me,

I

request you, to address you those I have myself

occupations, so precious to the State, permit you to sacrifice a

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

My

powerful protection. useful

Lord, in the course of the

employed

to a zealous officer

it is

in the

last

Colony

707

campaign

to

be acquainted with some Indian

language, so as to be able to lead those people to battle; wherefore

commencement

the

my

of

have understood how

I

I

have applied myself, at

wintering, to the Iroquois language, which I have learned in a short

which months during the absence of persons commissioned for that Yet, it was out of my power, my Lord, to obtain permission from M. de Vaudreuil to duty. organize during the winter any detachment against the enemy, although that was the sole motive which induced me to ask for leave to winter near the English. I have even been refused permission to march at the head of some Indians, whose confidence I acquired, and time, so as to be able to serve as interpreter to that nation for the service of the fort, in

capacity

who

have acted

I

asked

me

for several

war

to lead their

my

I have learned,

party.

Lord, by the example of several and by

anxiety in Canada to employ the P>ench in such a

manner

my

own, that there is no them occasions for

as to furnish

distinguishing themselves, these favors being reserved for the Children of the

soil.

Fortune could not enter into the views of those who serve in this Colony therefore have I no other view, my Lord, than to endeavor to procure for myself promotion in military honors. ;

I

were

should be too fortunate

opportunities to afford proofs of

Excuse,

my

Lord, the liberty

in duplicate, one of the

none of the

me

to

I

letters

first

of

I

my I

furnished,

and good

zeal

on your Lordship's recommendation, with will.

have taken to address you

May and

reached you which

this of the first of

this letter

June.

and the annexed papers

The apprehension

have had the honor to address you

I

I

last year,

feel that

has led

adopt this course.

have the honor

to

My

be with most profound respect,

Lord,

Your Excellency's Most humble and Most obedient servant, D'hugues.

Remarks on

the Situation of Fort Carillon and

Fort Carillon stands on a rock

Lake

in

its

Approaches.

a tongue of land formed on the

West by

the waters of the

Sacrament; on the Southwest by the Bay; and from the South to the North it is bounded by the river which leads into Lake Champlain. The fort is to the Southwest of Fort Frederic. 'Tis an irregular square, the defects of which proceed from its having only Falls of

St.

between forty-five and fifty toises front, instead of 80 or 100 toises at least, which it ought to have been allowed in that case ground sufficient would have been occupied, whence several gullies whereby the enemy can approach unperceived very near the fort, might be exposed and flanked, and the English barges which would pass the river in front of the fort, might This would obviate the also be more readily discovered and battered at a shorter distance. ;

construction of the redoubt projected to be built for that purpose on the crest of the point

Southeast of the

where

'twill

fortifications

as

much

fort,

which

will

remedy only one

be necessary to construct

which

will

defect at that point

and not

for that purpose, besides the ordinary

at the others,

works, advance

never be productive of so good an effect and will cost the government

as the enlargement of this fort

;

the latter

is

not impossible, and would

affiard sufficient

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS,

708 room

to build all the

King's magazine inside, some of which are outside and exposed to be

burned by any one man

snow

{

poudrerics

twenty paces

The

)

in front of

site is

whom

sufficiently bold,

the

enemy may send during the drifting of when a soldier on guard does not

so frequent an occurrence in Canada,

the see

him.

very good and susceptible of an excellent

fortification

is

;

favorable in so far

enemy can open the trench only on one side, where, even, he can be deprived of that advantage by removing down to the bare rock the trifle of earth that is lying on it. The forts in this country are ordinarily constructed only of pieces of timber one over the therefore other, in which cannon effects a practicable breach with more difficulty than in stone the forts such as are now in Canada have been, and will be taken only by force of shell this that the

;

;

would not be the case had not the bad habit prevailed of building forts too small at points where a place capable of resistance was required. The reason ascribed here for this is, that the this reason could avail in past times only, troops are not numerous enough to garrison them ;

either because the troops being in fact very few, or a train of artillery never having been seen

'twas necessary only to protect the place against a surprise.

in the field,

West

of the

fort,

borders on

its left

commands

a

at a distance of five

the River of the

plain

of

700

inclined to besiege Carillon

toises

falls,

hundred and on

toises, is a steep hill its

having several faces

right forms a very steep curtain at the Fort Frederic river.

that terminates

must necessarily render himself master of

to cover the landing of his artillery in a

cove at

land or by another side of the river, as this

is

its foot,

that

being unable to

;

it

which

The enemy

eminence in order have it brought by

the only place along the shore not exposed to

is this eminence which 'tis essential to secure, and a General desirous of preventing must have a good intrenchment erected on it, which he must even have continued That line, 1000 toises in length, forms the across the plain as far as the Fort Frederic river. This intrenchment of trunks of trees to be felled base of the angle on which Carillon stands. at the moment they are required, must be fraised with dry branches well lopped and entangled together; the approaches to it ought to be encumbered by that abatis for a distance of fifty toises, observing particularly that no large trunks of trees be piled up at the extremity. Whatever need there be of wood on other occasions, it must be taken from some other quarter, and that side must be left unstripped of the trees which will be found very handy in urgent necessity. This intrenchment, which can be completed in twice twenty-four hours, and well guarded by six thousand men, would cost the party desirous of forcing it, a great many lives, and I even dare assert that, were it well defended, 'twould not be carried by an army three times more numerous than that defending it. This work is already begun on the Northeast of the fort, by an abatis of about 400 toises which was constructed three years ago, when digging

the

fort.

It

the siege,

a trench (trance)

down

to the river of Fort Frederic in order to

be able

to

destroy the bateaux

and sloops coming from that direction. Half a league West of the fort is a considerable Fall of the waters of Lake St. Sacrament. Those going into that lake commence at this point, a portage of half a league to another little This last fall is called " The Portage," and is a very favorable fall at the mouth of said lake. post for an army strong enough to oppose, at all points of disembarcation, the landing of an enemy's force, but also to detach a strong body of troops in order to oppose that portion of this hostile army which may come by land to cover that descent, and cut off all our retreat and communication with Carillon;

to effect this it

Falls; in the case I cite, the post of the portage

is,

need only occupy the post of the Great

I repeat, a

good one, because

it is

the only

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. by Lalce

place, in approaching

convey that

it,

hill I

St.

afterwards, to the Great Falls and to bring

Convinced of the absolute necessity that 'tis

exists in this

Colony of

astonishing that Carillon has not been

susceptible of a long resistance. St.

thence by water before the fort near

it

have already mentioned.

securing this frontier,

Lake

709

Sacrament, where the enemy can land their artillery to

I

would be

Sacrament, in the vicinity of

landed, a strong redoubt or

little fort

still

made

solely

and permanently

a large and strong place,

of the opinion to construct, at the at the only place

this portage,

where

mouth

artillery

capable of resisting every attempt to escalade

enemy who, being unable, until after the capture of that little fort, to could not make use of it except at a great distance, and on pontoons which

it,

of

can be

on the

part of the

land any

artillery,

could be

sunk, and from which the guns could not be well aimed.

South of Carillon

is

a large bay extending about nine leagues inland, which conjointly with

fort, the river of Fort Frederic. 'Tis by this bay the enemy come often to scout in barges, and some of them are constantly passing, under cover of the night, into Lake Champlain, where they come to intercept our convoys and capture voyageurs' bateaux when passing few in number; six leagues from Carillon, in this bay, is a narrow pass called "The Two Rocks," which furnishes a very advantageous position for

the waters of the Fall forms, in front of this

which might be constructed at the portage. the enemy would be prevented disquieting us in any way in our communication with Montreal, and whenever disposed to come and lay siege to Carillon, would be stopped sufficiently early, in front of these outposts, to afford us time to throw into the principal place all the succors possible and to seize our advantages to enable us to fight his another

army more and

similar to that

little fort

By means

of these two

To march

safely.

difficulty

;

little forts

a train of Artillery in

Canada

is

a matter of considerable trouble

therefore this description of redoubts in advance

strong-hold, especially

when

located at the

mouth of a lake and

of,

and not

far

from a

at the only place for landing,

By these obstructions, a General might which cannot be long in this climate, and would not be able, in one summer, to reach the walls of Montreal as he can do, having Carillon only to take, especially should he arrive there before we had time to oppose him with an army which, in would

stop, for a long time,

an army of this country.

lose the best time of his campaign,

this country, cannot assemble as diligently as in

Europe, where there are no contrary winds to

be dreaded in ascending lakes and rivers. Fort Carillon once taken. Fort Frederic would not stand an instant.

The

latter is built of

stone so as to be incapable of resisting four cannot shot, which would be sufficient to tumble it

utterly into ruins.

All the country in

its

vicinity

is flat

landing for the largest guns; even firing a few shot at

render

it

incapable of answering,

it

being

all

shook.

intrench itself under that fort except with earth, a

the intrenchment

I

it

work

and

affords, at

every step, an easy

from pontoons would be enough to

An army affording

of observation could

much poorer

not

defence than

have mentioned, and requiring extremely long and fatiguing labor.

enemy meet any impediment to his progress; neither portage, nor fort; do not regard as such that of Saint John, which consists of upright pickets ; so that he would find himself in the centre of the Colony and master of this entire frontier. Neither would the

for

I

The two

little

out-posts

1

propose would be of

trifling

them

by enemy cannot retain near ours, whence we

expense, being fortified naturally

their positions, and could not serve against us for the reason that the

as they are at too great a distance from his principal posts and too

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

710

could march to retake them before the

enemy had time

to

be aware of the fact and to reinforce

This could be effected even during the winter.

them.

The guarding pay attention

to

neighborhood of

who are Commandant ought also

those posts ought to be confided to the best troops of the Marine

home

inclined to desertion and regard this country as their

little

have the

ice,

whenever

it

would begin

;

the

to take, frequently

broken up

in the

Hostile parties would not risk themselves too

his post to a certain distance.

in leaving in their rear, and so near them, these posts whence they could be cut off, whenever they would come to examine the movements making at Carillon, either for tiie campaign or for winter detachments, attention being constantly paid to the keeping always at these out-posts some Indians who would go out at the first signal made at Carillon, the moment information would be received of any party of the enemy. D'hugues. Carillon, 1" May, 1758.

much

News from [

Sieur Outelas Indians,

D^partement de

who marched from

la

Carillon. Querre, Paris.

]

Carillon at the head of 29 Nepissing and Algonquin

having discovered a party of thirty men, both

Mohawks,

after

having uttered the cry of attack,

fired

English and

Indians, Loups and

and immediately buried the hatchet to

by the quickness and intrepidity of our Four of them have been killed two English and two Indians, and six taken prisoners, whereof two are Englishmen and four Indians. The scouts report that the English are making great preparations at Fort Lydius where considerable troops have already arrived.

the haft in the enemy, who, becoming intimidated people, took to their heels.

;

From

the Beautiful river.

Intelligence has been received that everything

is

going on well around the Beautiful river

that post has had abundance of provisions from Illinois; that our Canadians and Indians are

doing wonders there; that they have killed and taken prisoners several English people. party of Canadians and Indians hurnt a house or small fort in those parts. several small adventures which took place there are

unknown

The

A

details of

at this present time.

We

have no additional reliable news from the bay and Missilimakinac. This is a trifling increase of news, my Lord, the ship having been delayed in order

it,

I

have unsealed

My I

health

is

my

so poor, for

employ a strange hand. S""*

June, 1758.

annex it. a month past, that

to

send

letter to

I can scarcely write.

Pardon me,

my

Lord,

if

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

Prices of Provisions [

;

711

1758.

Dfipartement de la Qneiro, Paris.

]

Prices of the principal Provisions necessary to

life in

Canada, June, 1758.

Beef has been all winter 15' and now 25'. Sheep have been all winter 25" @, 30" each now sold for 50". Calves which in 1756 commonly cost 20 (a. 24" now cost 60, 70". Pork which in 1756 was worth 7' is actually 30' the pound. ;

Butter 35' the pound.

Eggs

30' the dozen.

per barrel of 110 quarts 400", and at retail sells @. 5" the pot.

Wine

Brandy

sells for

12" the pot.

All provisions coming from France are exorbitant.

'Tis not credible that rice sells at 40'

the pound.

Gruyere cheese 3" the pound wholesale, and Dried Raisins

Almonds

at 4" retail.

3".

in the shell 3".

Oil 3" 10* the pound.

Vinegar 3" the pot.

Pepper 8" the pound. Mechanics' work, merchandize, exorbitant. Eibeuf cloth, 60" the ell. Shoes 14".

A

hat worth 15" in France, has no price;

it sells

for 50, 60", three Louis.

Silk hose and mismes of bad quality, which cost only 9", sell for 36".

Fine sugar costs 4" 10' the pound, and brown sugar Candles 35' the pound.

As

for

3".

dipped candles (bougie) there are none; they were worth 15" the pound.

Glassware, pottery, small mercer's ware, what's worth 10' in France,

sells at least for 4",

and so far from any article being exaggerated in this Memoir, I have placed them at a discount. Flour per barrel of 180 pounds, whether good or bad, sells equally at 200"; and powder sells for 4".

Montcalm.

M.

de Vaudreuil to

M.

de Moras. Montreal, 10'" June, 1758.

My

Lord,

I have the honor to transmit 1.

Of

the proposal

you hereunto annexed, copy the 22""* March to General Abercromby by the man named

made on

Corrivau and some other Canadians, in

New

whom

the English continue to detain unjustly as prisoners

England, to be exchanged for Colonel Schuyler and M' Stakes.' '

or HakoB.

— Ea

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

712

Of the two letters which General Abercromby has written me on the 24"" April. Of the letter I have written to him in answer on the 4"" of June. Of that which 1 wrote on the same day to the Commandant of Fort Edward.

2. 3.

4.

By

these documents and those

I

have had the honor to address you previously, you

Lord, be perfectly informed of the steps

and successively General Abercromby terms of

I

to

have taken, which

renew

to

will,

my

engage Lord Loudoun

back the King's subjects, according to the

Fort William Henry.

article 5 of the capitulation of

In regard to Mess" Schuyler and Martin,

them from General Abercromby

me

send

I

I

claim them on their parole of honor and reclaim I do not conceal from

as the King's prisoners.

him how

surprised I have been at the ill-conceived pretext to which he had recourse to take upon himself to release those

gentlemen from the execution of their parole.

I can assure you,

my

Lord, that they cannot injure

acquire any information whilst they remained at

new

us, as

Quebec

;

I

they had

thought

not in their power to

it

it

my

duty to seize this

French towards the English, whilst the latter are inhumanly treating the French and Canadians who are in their power. I had it also in view to contradict thereby the reports made to Lord Loudoun respecting our scarcity, which ought to have the better succeeded, inasmuch as that General learned nearly at the same time that the Palatine village had been pillaged, laid waste and burnt. I flatter myself, my Lord, that you will be pleased to obtain his Majesty's approbation of the opportunity to afford

manner

I

proofs of the generous conduct of the

have treated so important an

affair.

I

essentially adhered to placing the English

evidently in the wrong.

Some time

will elapse,

my

Lord, ere

I shall

receive General Abercromby's answer, in order

to learn the decision he will adopt both in regard to article 5 of the capitulation of Fort

Henry and I

am

the parole of Mess" Schuyler and Martin.

with most profound respect,

my

I shall have the

honor

William

to report it to you.

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient (

Signed

),

servant,

Vaudreuil.

Proposals on the part of Captain Jacques Corriveau, Charles Legrand and J. Parent, prisoners of the

King

of Great Britain, for their exchange in lieu

of C°' Peter Schuyler and Benjamin Stakes, prisoners of H. M. C. Majesty,

abiding on their parole of honor in New-York.

Said Sieur Corriveau for himself and the two other prisoners abovenamed, having importuned his Excellency General

Abercromby

to

be pleased

to grant

them leave

to

proceed to Canada, in

the hope of eflFecting the said exchange.

Sieur Corriveau engages on his arrival

power

in

Canada

to apply to the government and to do

exchange, and should

all

happen that it cannot be done, or that it will not be in his power to release said Schuyler and Stakes from their engagements ; in such case, he promises and obliges himself on the faith and word of honor, to repair to the city of Albany on the first of the month of August next. In witness whereof he has signed this 22 March, 1758, at New-York. Jacques Corriveau. ( Signed ), Copy. Vaudreuil. (Signed), in his

to effect the execution of such

it

PARIS DOCUMENTS

Copy

of the

first

New-York,

:

XIV.

713

General Abercromby to the Marquis de Vaudreuil.

letter of

24"> April, 1758.

Sir,

The King having thought

fit

that the Earl of

Majesty having been pleased to honor

me with

Loudoun should

the

command

of

all

return to England, and his his forces

on

this continent,

assumed the same, Captain Jacques Corriveau, a prisoner of war, has proposed on his own behalf and that of Mess'^ Legrand and Parent, prisoners like himself in this province, to be exchanged for Colonel Peter Schuyler of the Jersey Militia, and Mr. Benjamin Stakes, both prisoners of his Most Christian Majesty, at present on their parole in this town. I annex to my letter copy of that proposition, and as Sieur Corriveau appears to me very confident that you will be pleased to accept it, I have thought fit to signify to Colonel Schuyler and M'' Stakes, that it is not necessary for them to return to Canada until I inform your Excellency that since I

I

have received your Excellency's answer.

As

there

is

no mention in the preceding proposal of Captain Louis Martin, of the regiment who finds himself in the same position as Captain Schuyler, I propose to

of Royal Artillery,

your Excellency to exchange him

in the

same way

for

Cadets de Fontenay, Lachauvignerie

and Laplante, of your troops, the second of whom, I am informed, is son of the Commdant of Fort Machault. Should your Excellency approve the preceding proposal, you may be certain that immediately after I shall have received your consent, the six officers abovementioaed will be released and sent to Carillon under a sufficient escort for their protection. I have the honor to be, whilst waiting a prompt answer, Sir,

Your Excellency's Most humble and Most obedient Copy.

servant.

(Signed),

James Aberceomby.

letter to the

Marquis de Vaudreuil,

Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

Copy

of General Abercrombie's second

New-York,

24"" April, 1758.

Sir,

C

Having learned by a letter written to Havilans^ that Captain H. Pringle and Mr. Roche, of his Majesty's 27"' Regiment oflnfantry, who, it was supposed, were killed at the Ute action • WixLiAM Haviland Tras appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the 27th, or Inniskilling Foot, on the 16th December, 1752, and from New-York with the expedition under Lord Loudon, June 20th, and arrived at Halifax Ist July, 1857, whence he was ordered to New- York in consequence of the siege of Fort William Henry, on Lake George. In 1758, the 27th formed part of the army sent under General Abererombie against Ticonderoga, and in 1769 accompanied General Amherst up Lakes George and Champlain, in which expedition Colonel Haviland commanded the van, or front column, of the army, composed of the Rangers, Light Infantry and Grenadiers. On the evacuation cf Ticonderoga by the French, he was despatched at

Bailed

the head of these troops in pursuit of the retreating enemy.

On

the

army being divided

in 1760,

Colonel Haviland,

n»w

command of the division designed to proceed against Montreal by way o fLake Champlain. This force amounted to 3400 men, and consisted of a part of the Ist Royals, the 17th and 27th Regiments, the Massachusetts Regiments under Colonels Whitcomb and Willard, Colonel Goffe's New Hampshire Regiment, that of Rhode Island under Brigadier-General, was placed in

Harris, five companies of Rangers under Rogers,

Vol. X.

and a detachment of Artillery under Colonel Ord.

90

He set

out from A.lb»ny

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

714

between Major Roger and a detachment of H. M. C. Majesty's troops, were living and Canada; as tiiey will be in want of money to support themselves whilst prisoners, I request your Excellency to be so good as to have the enclosed letter forwarded to them, which, as you will observe, is nothing more than a letter of credit for their money to the amount of their pay; I flatter myself that you will be pleased to assist them to have it paid, which I shall regard as a particular favor on your part, and be always ready to acknowledge prisoners in

under similar circumstances.

have the honor

I

with the greatest consideration,

to be,

Sir,

Your Excellency's Most humble and Most obedient servant, (Signed),

Copy.

Abercrombt.

Js.

Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

Copy

of the letter written by the Marquis de Vaudreuil to General Abercromby,

Commander

of

all his

Britannic Majesty's forces in

New

England.

Montreal,

June, 1758.

d"-

Sir,

I should have had the honor to answer your Excellency's two letters of the 24"" of April, on the receipt thereof, did I not desire to have the pleasure of forwarding to you, at the

same

time, the enclosed letters, particularly those of Captain Pringle" and Lieutenant Roche,^ officers

I lost

belonging to H. B. M's 27"" Regiment of Infantry.

no time

These gentlemen

forwarding to them both the letters you have addressed

in

are well treated and are not under the least restraint.

I

me

have anticipated,

are at Quebec. for

them; they

in their regard,

everything your Excellency could desire, by furnishing them every assistance, and causing

whatever money they needed constantly acted towards I

all

be advanced to them.

to

whom

those

cannot conceal from you.

Sir,

I

act

by these gentlemen

the fortune of war has placed in

how much

1

my

as I

have

hands.

have been surprised on learning that under the

pretext of the proposal submitted to your Excellency by Mess" Coriveau, Legrand and Parant, to be exchanged in the

month

for

Colonel Schuyler, of the Jersey Militia, and Mr. Stakes,* your Excellency

of June, and sailed from

Crown Point on the 11th

of August; and after successively reducing the Isle aux Noix,

Johns, Fort Ther^se, and Chambly, crossed oyer to Longueuil, and entered Montreal with Amherst in September.

St.

On

the

?th December following, he was appointed Colonel-Commandant of the 4th battalion of the 60th Royal Americans.

February, 1762, he was senior Brigadier-General at the reduction of

the

Martinico

General 10th July, and commanded the 4th brigade at the siege of Havana, in Colonel of the 45th; Lieutenant-General of tlie 2oth, May, 1772; General in the army, 19tb October, 1784.

Army

Lists; Beatson's Naval

and Military Memoirs.Ul,

373, 877, 392, 402; II, 267, 382, 384, 389, 393, 394, 461.

— Ed.

In

was appointed MajorAugust following. In 1767, he became

Island of

161, 225, 263, 363;

;

Febriiarj',

17S3,

Knox's Journal,

I,

and died

in

15, 31, 117,

'Major-General Henry Pringle was appointed Captain-Lieutenant of the 27th, or Inniakillings, on the 2d February, 1767,

and was taken prisoner the following year July, 1758,

and appointed Major

in a sco'uling e-^pedition

in the 56th Foot,

from Fort Edward.

He was

commissioned Captain, 2l8t

11th September, 1765; promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the 5l8t,

16th August, 1770, with which regiment he went to Minorca in 1772; became Brevet-Colonel in 1779, and Mnjor-General

20th November, 1782, when the regiment returned to England. Senior Major-General in 1800. '

Captain, 8th May, 1767 '

Army

or Hakes.

;

He

retired from the

command

of the 51st in 1790, and died

Lists.

Boyle Rooue was appointed Lieutenant

in the 27th Foot,

10th December, 1766; Captain-Lieutenant, 26th August, 1762,

exchanged into the 28th on the 4th December following, and

left the

army in

July, 1770.

Army Utti,

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XIV.

:

715

has released them from the execution of their parole and suspended that of Captain La Martin

who were

of the Royal Artillery,

to return to Carillon

should have never thought that the

facility

on the

10"" of

May

last, at farthest.

been attended by such consequences, the rather as supposing that exchange your Excellency might have proposed

it

me

to

I

granted to these three gentlemen would have

I

to

be feasible,

sooner, or at least, on the 22nd March, the

I do not penetrate the views you had entertained in waiting I am, nevertheless, persuaded that Mess" Schuyler and Martin, as well would not have failed, for an instant, in their parole, unless your Excellency

date of Coriveau's proposition

;

until the 24"" April;

as Mr. Stakes

had' interfered.

As

the

for

rest,

Sir,

the exchange you propose to

Coriveau, Sieur de Fontenay and

all

me

is

so little admissible that Sieur

the other French, Canadian and Indian prisoners taken

on land, from the time your nation commenced the war in North America up to the 9''' of August of last year, entirely recovered, from that very day, their liberty, according to the terms of Article 5 of the Capitulation of Fort William Henry. Now, Corivau and the other prisoners in the same category as he, had no other demand to make your Excellency than to be sent back. Such was the course they ought to have pursued unless they have had no knowledge of the surrender and capitulation of Fort William Henry. That capitulation was made when your Excellency was commanding in chief in New England Therefore, you could not plead ignorance of

your troops and your Colonists

humanity, of which

Meanwhile,

my

Sir, as

it

;

it,

especially as

made

has, moreover,

nation had at that

it

has been generally

known

to

noise enough by the generosity and

moment afforded to yours such sensible proofs. me the honor to write me, would justify

the letters you have done

the

opinion that your nation wishes to act on principles directly contrary to that capitulation, I have the honor to transmit you annexed, copy of:

1" That Capitulation.

4""

The The The

S""

That

e""

The The The The

2°"*

3"*

7"" S"" 9""

letter

wrote Lord Loudoun on the

I

S"*

letter I

wrote Lord Loudoun on the

I

letter

letter letter

letter

22°''

All these documents. Sir, have probably been be, the copies I

my

war and

To

I

renew

my

in such a

of

you by Lord Loudoun

permit

me

whom

your nation unjustly detains,

to

add

)

any pretext

;

for eluding the restoration of in

contempt of the rules

to you. Sir, the letters I its

wrote to Lord Loudoun, particularly your Excellency to be so good as

entire contents; I beg

your most serious attention.

After that, I should consider

King,

(

master's, subjects

avoid repetition,

it

to

of the law of nations.

that of the IS"' of January, in

give

communicated

have the honor to transmit you, will leave your Excellency no

explanation to ask of me, nor

of

October.

Commandant

of Fort Edward. Lord Loudoun wrote me on the S"" November. I wrote in answer to Lord Loudoun the IS"" January. I wrote on the same day to the Commandant of Fort Edward. the Commandant of Fort Edward wrote me on the 17* of February.

wrote on the same day to the

however that the King,

September.

parole of Mess" Schuyler and Martin.

New

master;

manner

England.

it

it

superfluous to

rests with you. Sir, to

as to prove to

me

summon you

fulfil,

to send

back the subjects of the

without delay, your nation's engagements,

that not a single one of those subjects remains in any part

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

716

off at the

with your Excellency to send

It also rests

has carried with him, M' Stakes and

M'

Martin.

I

same time M' Schuyler with those he

summon

these gentlemen on their parole.

had granted them having expired, I reclaim them of your Excellency as prisoners of the King my master, and I request you to enjoin them immediately to depart. We are now, Sir, at the opening of the campaign ; the satisfaction I demand on just grounds you could not consider it strange should your is of the greatest importance to your nation

The

leave

I

;

conduct regulate the

King

my

my

but

ulterior proceedings,

master, to use

my

I

shall continue, agreeably to the intentions of

best efforts so that

we may on

both sides, carry on hostilities

with humanity, and observe, as in Europe, the rules of public law as far as the necessity ia which we are mutually placed to make use of Indians, will permit us. In regard to other exchanges, I shall not reply to your Excellency's propositions until you have executed Article 5 of the Capitulation of Fort William Henry. Permit me. Sir, to recommend to you the small number of French and Canadians who are I demand of your Excellency for them, the same in your power since the Q"- of August last treatment and comfort which the English in my hands receive and are enjoying. I do not ask your good graces in favor of all the other prisoners captured previous to the S"" ;

August, because

reckon confidently on their being sent back.

I

herein and request you to be graciously pleased to have them forwarded to their address. I hope they will be more fortunate than those I enclosed to Lord Loudoun, which I have not the least doubt have not been delivered, inasmuch as Sieurs de Fontenay and Corivau do not acknowledge to me the receipt of those I had

Permit me,

Sir, to enclose divers letters

written them. I shall be always highly flattered, Sir,

proving to you that

I

by

a correspondence with your Excellency, and in

have the honor to be with the greatest consideration, Sir,

Yours, &c.,

Copy.

Copy

Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

Vaudreuii..

(Signed),

of the letter written to the

Commandant

of Fort

Edward by

the Marquis

de Vaudreuil. Montreal,

5'^

June, 1758.

Sir,

have the honor of sending to your address herewith a most important package containing despatches for his Excellency, General Abercromby. I request you, Sir, to have the goodness to forward them to him with the greatest possible dispatch, and to transmit his answer I

my to

me in like manner to Fort Carillon. am fully persuaded, Sir, that you

I

attention due to his rank, and that

will extend to the officer

you

will adopt the

who

carries

my

most careful measures

return to Carillon, by furnishing him a suitable escort, so that he

may be

letter,

the

to assure his

protected against

all

and detachments of Indians whom you employ. My orders to this officer in going to you are, to proceed by the most frequented route, not to leave it and to have the English flag displayed. You will have the goodness to give orders on your side, to the officer you will detach to bring me General Abercromby's answer, not to turn from the most ordinary route, and to have a French flag hoisted you may be convinced that he insult from parties

;

v(>ill

be well received and Bent back

to

you under

a good and safe guard.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. If

and I

you have it

any of the English

letters for

will afford

me

have the honor

a pleasure to have

to

in

my hands,

717

you can forward them enclosed

to rae,

them delivered.

be most sincerely, Sir,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, (Signed), Vaudreuil.

M.

Doreil

to

Marslial ch Belle Ide.

[DSpartement de

la Guerre, Paris.]

Quebec,

My

IG"-

June, 1758.

Lord,

of last month, a frigate of war Since the letter I have had the honor to write you on and 13 merchantmen arrived here, bringing about twelve thousand barrels of flour. This with the comparison vastness of our wants, has enabled the trifling in supply, though very Marquis de Vaudreuil to order the troops to open the campaign. Since the departure of the 16""

La Reyne, which could no longer be victualled in the town of Quebec, the three who were quartered among the farmers in the country, whom they were exhausting, have been ordered to march. The four which have wintered in the Montreal government are also in motion. The camp of the army is to be formed at Carillon, on the Lake St. Sacrament frontier. M. de Bourlamaque left Montreal on the 12"", for the purpose of the battalion of

of Languedoc and Berry

command

of it until the arrival of the Marquis de Montcalm, who is to That general officer doubtless informs you, ray Lord, of the His position will be plan of the campaign, with the details whereof I shall not trouble you. men and means will be few, and if the reports of prisoners are to be credited, those critical Far from being able to act offensively on that frontier, I of the enemy will be considerable. shall consider the campaign very brilliant if we are able to maintain our position. A considerable detachment, which is to proceed by Lake Ontario and the country of the Five Iroquois Nations, to try and prevail on these Indians to take up the hatchet and attack the English in the direction of Corlar, will indeed cause a diversion which will possibly be of use, but 'twill weaken considerably the main army of Carillon, which, according to my feeble understanding, is the most important object. This detachment will be under the orders of Chevalier de Levis, under whom are to be M. de Rigaud, a deputy Governor, brother of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, M. de Longueuil, another deputy Governor, and Lieutenant-Colonel

forming and taking the start

from Montreal on the

24"'.

;

de Senezergues, commanding the battalion of La Sarre. It is to consist of 400 picked infantry, 400 Colonials, 800 Canadians and a large number of Indians. Perhaps it would have accomplished the proposed object equally well, had

army

of Carillon,

stronger.

where the enemy can

In spite of

and great talents high distinction.

;

my

he

fears, I

will be

strike a

it

been only half as strong.

The main

heavy blow, would have been so much the

hope everything from the Marquis de Montcalm's prudence seconded by M. de Bourlamaque, an officer of

efficiently

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

718

The twelve thousand barrels of flour which have arrived in no wise relieve the scarcity. They enable us only to march to oppose the enemy's plans; this is the most essential point. Of 36 ships that sailed for Bourdeaux in 3 divisions, 24 are missing, which were all freighted with provisions and other necessary supplies. Not a single vessel has as yet made its appearance from Rochelle, whence many are expected neither from Bayonne nor Marseilles, from which ports several had sailed. The sea swarms with English privateers, and we have not one. These ;

by men-of-war, and there

privateers are supported

winter than the

To crown

last.

been sown

Little has

is

hardly a frigate to escort twelve of our

All this affords every reason to believe that

merchantmen.

want of seed

for

;

night so hard as entirely to destroy

all

of the people who, since a year, are in

We

on the most comfortable.

Up

to this date,

;

The companies

be worse

want

to

be bad.

It is

since cold, and

now

freezes at

of bread.

are

the same category.

all in

my

This,

Lord,

is

a situation the

more

an advance of prices so horrible as to entail suffering

is

only seventy-five recruits have arrived still

next

off the

fail

the vegetables, which are, so to speak, the sole resource

the result

ordered these and such as will

shall

and sowing was scarcely completed when the land was

inundated with rain, which has continued nearly a month.

cruel, as it is not exaggerated

we

the misfortune, this year's harvest cannot

arrive, to

;

the Marquis de Vaudreuil

has

be divided half and half with the Marine.

of that corps had, nevertheless, been completed last year.

He

is

master.

The

have not received any order as to the destination of those recruits. We would require more than 1200 men to complete our eight battalions according to the ancient footing, and to bring the companies of the six that arrived first, up to 50. I have had

Marquis de Montcalm and

I

my Lord, to demonstrate this to you by my previous letters of this year, though I had already done so in those of last year. Ensign de Boubert of the regiment of La Reyne, who I had the honor to inform you in my

the honor,

letter of the 16"" of last

and

is to

May, was detained

in prison in this

town by M. de Montcalm's

order,

be sent back to France, cannot be put on board the frigate of war which carries this

I shall have him forwarded by another vessel and as soon as possible. M. de Rosmorduc, a gentlemen of Brittany, Captain en second in the regiment of Beam, has obtained permission to return to France to attend to some family affairs absolutely requiring His eldest brother is dead and left him possessor of an income of twelve his presence. thousand livres. A marriage long concluded on is, also, in question. The Cross of St. Louis has been accorded to this officer two years ago, although it has not yet arrived and he be not received, he flatters himself that his return to France will not deprive him of that favor, the

despatch.

rather as

it is

not his intention to continue in the army.

Since the events whereof

I

have had the honor

to

despatches of the 2G February, 30 April and 16 May,

render you an account,

we have

my

Lord, in ray

continued to have small parties

which took some scalps and prisoners; but some of the enemy's detachments made their appearance on our Lake St. Sacrament frontier, and have killed some of our men. The Upper Towards the Oyo, our Indians have taken countries are pretty well off as regards the scarcity. out,

some prisoners and 180 I

scalps on one single occasion.

am, with profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, DOREIL.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. 20"" of

my

June. Since writing

the river; they will

come up with

719

letter, six ships have arrived from France and anchored in

the

first fair

They

wind.

from Rochefort, one of several that started

are the Royal fly boat

le

Rhinoceros,

company; two merchantmen from Bayonne loaded with Indian corn, two merchantmen of Bordeaux and one privateer from the same port armed as a frigate half munitions of war and half merchandise. All this increases somewhat in

;

further our confidence as regards the future.

Marshal de Belle

Chevalier de Levis to [

,

.

D^partement de

Guerre, Paris.

la

Isle.

]

Montreal, l?"- June, 1758.

My

Lord,

The command

of a corps of troops about three thousand strong, eight hundred

soldiers,

including land and marine forces, the remainder Canadians and Indians, which the Marquis de

Vaudreuil has just confided to me, has three principal objects.

The

first is

to induce the Iroquois of the Five Nations to declare themselves; to

me

act offensively with

against the English on

make

Vhera

Corlac or Mohock river as openly as

the

circumstances will permit.

The second, which appears Chouaguen and the erection

to

me

the most essential,

of the

different

forts

is

to

thereabouts, to accomplish their ends, according to the advices are

making

prevent the reconstruction of

they propose

on the

fortify

to

we have

of the

rivers

movements that

in the direction of the height of land.

The third is to make a strong diversion towards Corlac or Skenectady, whilst the Marquis de Montcalm will proceed with the greatest body of our forces towards Lake St. Sacrament.

My I

mission

is delicate,

am menaced by

important, political and military.

an infinitude of obstacles which

having only two months'

flour

and

fat,

I

shall

have to surmount both

for food,

being unable to carry either bread or biscuit, not even

tents to cover us; and also, in consequence of the opposition

we

shall experience

from the

Iroquois partisans of the English. I

am accompanied

battalion of I

La

by Mess" de Rigaud, Longueuil and Senezergues, the

Sarre, and

hope, by this help,

my

Abbe Picquet who has considerable

good

will

and

my

zeal for the

influence

Commander

among

of the

those Nations.

King's service, to surmount whatever

difficulties will offer.

The Marquis de Montcalm

between the 20"' and 2-5"' of this My detachment will be entirely mustered only at the mouth of Lake Ontario where the Marquis de Vaudreuil has fixed the rendezvous for the Indians of the Upper country. I do not enter into any detail of occurrences in this Colony, knowing that the Marquis de Montcalm does not leave you in ignorance. On my return from the campaign, I shall have the honor to inform and render you a faithful account of everything. I have the honor to be with respect, My Lord, your most humble and month, and

I,

for

my

will leave

destination,

Montreal

between the

for Carillon

2-5"'

and

30"".

Most obedient servant,

Chev: de Levis.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

720

Memoir on Fort

Carillon, ly [

This

fort is built

on a rock on the

M.

de

D^partemeat de

left

Pont

le

Roy, Engineer-in-CMef.

la Guerre, Paris. ]

bank of the River of the

Falls,

commanding

its

outlet

into the River St. Frederic as well as that of the head of the bay. It is an irregular square, the long sides of

the small twenty-nine.

Its

which are

fifty-four toises of exterior

Polygon

;

revetement consists of squared pieces of oak laid one on the other, pierced with embrasures

bound by traversines fastened to corps morts; its periphery is Only one lined with oak timber and directed towards different points of the exterior ground. or two guns can be opposed from the fort against all the batteries constructed by the enemy.

The ramparts

are but thirteen or fourteen feet wide, and the platforms consequently so

short that the recoil at each discharge

becomes necessary

The

bastions are

provisions.

garrison,

beams

is

next

to fire those

it,

makes the gun run in order to

by

side,

cistern,

the curtain of the entrance,

only twelve feet wide by six

laid side

it

powder magazine and which may serve to lodge the high, extremely damp, the roof consisting only of

casemated and serve for the bakery,

The casemate under

Should one be dismounted,

off.

convey another there.

covered with four or

five feet

of earth.

The place of arms is only eighteen toises long by nine wide. The foundation is solid rock; the buildings for civilians are of stone and two stories high. The roof overtops entirely the parapets of the rampart. The shot and shell directed against these buildings, would prevent, by their explosion, the appearance of the garrison either

The

on the place of arms or on the rampart. great number of embrasures excludes the use of musketry, the only means, nevertheless,

of defending the place.

On it

the

two

fronts

which are open

to attack, a

half-moon has been constructed so high that

entirely covers the embrasures of the curtains.

The

way

covert

is

not yet commenced, and part of the counterscarps remain to be built, as

well as the parapets of the place on two fronts.

The cistern contains only fifteen thousand quarts of water; it is filled by the conductor from the place of arms, which has no cistern, a circumstance that renders the water muddy and no doubt unwholesome. The powder magazine being roofed only by beams laid side by side, covered with earth, is always damp

in spring

and

fall

;

the

powder has

to

be removed.

All the store-houses and sheds, necessary for the garrison, are outside the place, encircled

by a

palisade.

From the only

this description 'twill

work

be seen

how

little

susceptible of defence

with the siege of

it, I

is

Lake Champlain and, consequently, the Colony. should require only six mortars and two cannon.

that covers

The above document was written

in cipher.

— Ed.

this fort

Were

I

;

yet,

'tis

entrusted

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

720

Memoir on Fort

[

This

fort is built

M.

Carillon, ly

on a rock on the

de

D^partement de

left

Pont

le

Roy, Engineer-in-CMef.

la Guerre, Paris. ]

bank of the River of the

Falls,

commanding

its

outlet

into the River St. Frederic as vpell as that of the head of the bay.

an irregular square, the long sides of which

It is

are fifty-four toises of exterior

Polygon

;

revetement consists of squared pieces of oak laid one on the other, bound by traversines fastened to corps marts; its periphery is pierced with embrasures Only one lined with oak timber and directed towards different points of the exterior ground. the small twenty-nine.

or

Its

two guns can be opposed from the

The ramparts

short that the recoil at each discharge

becomes necessary

The

garrison,

beams

to fire those next

bastions are

provisions. is

fort against all the batteries constructed

makes the gun run

it,

in

side,

it

bakery, cistern, powder

magazine and which may serve to lodge the high, extremely damp, the roof consisting only of for

the

the curtain of the entrance,

only twelve feet wide by six

by

Should one be dismounted,

off.

order to convey another there.

casemated and serve

The casemate under

laid side

by the enemy.

are but thirteen or fourteen feet wide, and the platforms consequently bo

covered with four or

five feet

of earth.

The place of arms is only eighteen toises long by nine wide. The foundation is solid rock the buildings for civilians are of stone and two stories high. The roof overtops entirely the parapets of the rampart. The shot and shell directed ;

against these buildings, would prevent, by their explosion, the appearance of the garrison either on the place of

The

great

arms or on the rampart.

number of embrasures excludes

the use of musketry, the only means, nevertheless,

of defending the place.

On it

the two fronts which are open to attack, a half-moon has been constructed so high that

entirely covers the embrasures of the curtains.

The

covert

way

is

not yet commenced, and part of the counterscarps remain to be built, as

well as the parapets of the place on two fronts.

The

cistern contains only fifteen thousand quarts of

from the place of arms, which has no and no doubt unwholesome.

water;

it

is filled

by the conductor water muddy

cistern, a circumstance that renders the

The powder magazine being roofed only by beams laid side by side, covered with earth, is always damp in spring and fall; the powder has to be removed. All the store-houses and sheds, necessary for the garrison, are outside the place, encircled by a

palisade.

From the only

this description 'twill

work

be seen

how

little

susceptible of defence

with the siege of

it, I

is

Lake Champlain and, consequently, the Colony. should require only six mortars and two cannon.

that covers

The above document was written

in cipher.

— Ed.

this fort

Were

I

;

yet,

'tis

entrusted

i

'^ '^:

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

Journal of

the

XIV,

721

Military Operations before Ticonderoga. [

Dfiparlemenl do la Guerre, Paria.

]

Narrative of Occurrences on the Frontier of Lake

June Paris

Doc: xv.,25.

The Want of provisions

arresting

all

St.

the

Marquis deVaudreuil's

there

body,

some days

before.

important expedition.

Beam.

The

projects, the troops

other seven regiments had landed

Chevalier de Levis had remained at Montreal with a considerable

order to go and endeavor to

in

tiie SO""

The Marquis de Montcalm

could not proceed to Carillon until from the 20"" to the 30"» of June. arrived there on that day with the regiment of

Sacrament, from

[By Adjutant Malartic]

to the lO"" July, inclusive.

decide the

five Nations,

who commanded on

M. de Bourlamaque,

and thence

to pass

on an

the frontier since the 10"" of

June, had information certain that the English were concentrating an army of 25,000

men

between Fort Lydius and old Fort George that they had made an immense collection of that they had a considerable train of artillery and whatever ia provisions and ammunition ;

;

This information appeared confirmed by the detention of Sieur

necessary for a vast enterprise.

Volfs and a detachment accompanying him,

when

carrying despatches to the English General

commanding the frontier. 1'' July. The Marquis de Montcalm dispatched M. de Bourlamaque at day-break, with the regiments of La Reine, Guyenne and Beam, to occupy the head of the Portage he proceeded himself with those of La Sarre, R. Rousillon, Languedoc and the second battalion of Berri ;

to the Falls,

on both sides of which he encamped, and

The

left

the third battalion of Berri at

camp, and carried their baggage. Some Indians who came in from scouting, said the English were making a road which joined M. de Langy, who had been farther than they, that of the Mohawks behind the mountains. At 7 o'clock a detachment of 30 men was embarked on board two assures the contrary. Carillon, to guard the fort.

troops established their

barges, to cruise on the lake.

morning two musket shots were heard, followed by the cries of were ready to proceed forward when the captain of the guard sent word that M. de Massdac, his lieutenant, who had been sent out with a picket of six men, being in search of his hunting knife, and liaving discovered a feather, promptly retired behind a tree which saved him from a shot fired at him 2'"'

At

five o'clock in the

Indians, which caused the regiments to seize their arms, and they

by an Indian, who was ready which the Indian evaded by

to

pounce upon him tomahawk

in hand,

when he

returned the

fire,

upon the ground, who then fled only when the officer had M. de Bourlamaque went to reconnoitre the mountains bordering cried out, Amoi, volontaires on the left flank of the camp ammunition was carted, and a company of 24 volunteers by battalion was organized under the command, at the Portage, of M. de Bernard, Captain in the falling

.'

;

regiment of Beam, and, at the 3"*

The

Falls,

by M. Duprat, Captain of the regiment of La Sarre. went in the night to Carillon

scouting barge discovered nothing; the troops

provisions.

Timber and planks were

collected to build a bake-house,

for

and a detachment of

soldiers of the Marine or Militia, arrived under the orders of M. de Raymond. M. Bourlamaque encamped some twenty Indians in advance ; a drunken Abenaki killed one of his comrades and fled.

48 men,

Vol. X.

91

;;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

722

Transported some things

4"'

;

M. de Bernard went scouting with a part of

his

company on

the right shore of the lake to within 5 leagues of the camp, whence he returned without having

Worked at an intrenchment at the head of the bridge which is The Marquis de Montcalm came to visit the camp and went back in an M. de Raymond joined us with his detachment, and was posted on the border of

seen any

trail

over the

little

hour

after.

of the enemy.

rapid.

At 7

the rapid.

o'clock

the evening

in

M. de Langy embarked with 178 volunteers

to

reconnoitre the enemy's movements.

Transported the artillery furniture

began baking in the three ovens. At two o'clock in the afternoon, heard a shot from the mountain to the left of the Beam camp, and a white flag was seen hoisted and lowered, which is the signal furnished to the Lieutenant S'*"

Service as usual.

who was

;

detached thither, signifying that he discovers some barges or bateaux on the lake.

One hour

afterwards, a part of M. de Langy's detachment returned to report that, having started morning from the Bay of Ganaouske, he had been seen from Fort George, whence 60 barges were sent in pursuit, which followed pretty closely for awhile and then fell off; that Mess" de Langy and La Roche had remained with their canoe three leagues from this to watch them. M. de Bourlaraaque immediately detached Captain de Trepezec, of the Beam regiment, with three pickets of 51 men each, some volunteers and Militia, the whole numbering 300, to the Bald mountain to observe the enemy's movements and to oppose their landing. M. de Langy, who arrived at the moment, assured that the enemy was approaching close after him. Captain de Germain, of the regiment of La Reine, was sent at 5 o'clock with three pickets between the mountains and the lake to support our advanced guards and to prevent the enemy establishing themselves there. All our troops had orders to be on the alert, and ready in the

at the first call.

On

6"",

the

advanced

at

one o'clock

The

posts.

We

orders to dismiss.

in the

morning, a dozen shots were heard

brigade rushed to arms

;

in the direction of

a quarter of an hour afterwards,

it

our

received

learned that the English had fired on a corporal and the relief; that

they had collared the corporal and one of the sentinels, supposing them prisoners, but the latter

had freed themselves, repulsing them with the bayonet, and that the shots the others had

fired,

forced

them

many

barges were discovered crossing from the north to the south and appearing in search of

to retire.

At daylight

the flag

was seen

to

be frequently lowered and hoisted

The

scouting barge returned with word that it had perceived over M. Germain's detachment came back. M. de Bourlamaque gave march commenced at 8 o'clock. He remained with the rearguard, with the companies of grenadiers and volunteers, in order to receive news from M. de Trepezec. Receiving none, he had some shots fired at the barges which were approaching, and then followed us without our being troubled in our retreat. On arriving at the Falls, the Marquis de Montcalm posted us on the right of the La Sarre brigade at the foot of the heights, withdrew the brigade of R. Rousillon from the right bank, caused the bridges to be broken up and ordered a halt. Sent to Carillon for some bateaux to embark the baggage, which was embarrassing the soldiers. At 3 o'clock M. de Raymond, Mess" St. Ours and Lanodiere passed in front with a detachment of the Marine and Canadians. At four o'clock we heard several shots which we judged were fired at M. de Tropezec's detachment. A quarter of an hour afterwards we saw some soldiers wading, and M. de Tropezec arrive mortally wounded he told us that he had lost his way through the fault of his guide, and that a place

fit

for landing.

1,500 of them.

At

7 o'clock

orders that the baggage be removed, the tents struck, and the

;

wishing

to

reach the Falls, he had got into the midst of a considerable party of the

enemy

PARIS DOCUMENTS that after having defended himself

At

drowned.

killed, taken or

some time, 50

or 60

XIV.

:

men

723

escaped

we took up our march to we arranged ourselves in the

J past 5

entrance of the clearing, where

;

that the remainder

Carillon

were

at 7, arrived at the

;

order of battle, and passed

the night in bivouac. V""

The drum

beat la generale at daybreak

;

some

soldiers took provisions

posted themselves at 7 o'clock at the entrance of the

;

the three brigades

wood where they commenced an

abatis at

which they vigorously continued the entire day, encouraged by the presence of the Generals. This abatis embraces the whole of the ground between the River of the Falls and the ravine

which borders on the reserved timber that stands on the margin of Lake Champlain. At 5 o'clock in the evening, the ground was equally divided between each wheelbarrow; it made 127 paces for each.

We

abatis.

Permission was given to erect some tents and to boil the soup behind the

had orders to sleep

in

bivouac

outside and to keep the fires burning.

;

The

the guards, to line the abatis, to patrol frequently

troops of the Marine and the Militia were posted

At encamped in the rear of the three brigades together with the volunteers. was beat long before day. M. de Levis arrived with M. de Senezergues. At 5 o'clock, each battalion set to work to strengthen the abatis, 150 paces in front of which the guard were posted, to protect the workmen. At 9 o'clock, a body of troops was discovered on the summit and at the foot of the mountain, on the right of the River of the Falls, whence they were examining our position, and fired a few shots at us. Bernard's volunteers gave them a few shots in answer. Chev. d'Arenes, Lieutenant of that company, had his arm 5 and 7 o'clock the detachments designed for the expedition to Korlak,

at the opening.

arrived and S""

The

generale

Our Generals mjde a

broken on that occasion.

tour of inspection of the abatis, which they

found in a pretty good condition and made arrangements for the defence.

regiment of La Reine and

Beam were

themselves from the heights, when a heavy firing was heard on the

The

the centre, and next at the right. arrival of the

At

J past 12, the

going to construct some epaulements left

discharge of a cannon from the

enemy, brought every man

The

a

fort,

The companies

to his post.

guards came in again without losing a single man.

;

to

protect

moment

after at

announcing the

of grenadiers and

battalions lined the abati, three deep,

having their grenadier companies and pickets in line of battle in their rear, ready to march wherever needed. La Sarre's brigade, commanded by M. de Bourlamaque, responded by

some

effective firing, to a

column that had shewed

the R. Rousillon

itself;

regiments, to two which attacked the centre where the

M"

La Reine, and Beam, to a fourth which had an commanded by Chev. de Levis. Several barges deployed from

those of

and land some people and

to turn

Bernard's volunteers, went

down

and Guyenne

de Montcalm was posted anxiety to

attempt the

the river of the Falls, to

;

and right

come

our left; M. de Poularie with his grenadier company and

to the

bank

of the river to

fire

at

them.

A

few cannon shot

were fired from the fort, which, after sinking two, made the others retreat up the river whence they made no further appearance. The fire was pretty brisk on each side, though a little more active on ours. The attack and defence was sustained with incredible valor. The enemy's columns, though refreshed by the reinforcements they were continually receiving, and often combining to make common efforts, to attempt the right, the centre and the left,

were not making any progress and experienced everywhere an obstinate resistance, sustained by the bravery of the troops and the attention of the Generals to send the grenadiers and pickets to the exposed points.

La Reine behind

that of

Chev. de Levis posted himself apropos with the regiment of in force was appearing desirous of making

Guyenne, where the enemy

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

724

them and sent out some soldiers of tlie Marine and Militia, who went to fire on the enemy's left flank. At 5 o'clock, the fire began to slacken some soldiers were allowed to go out who took some prisoners at 6 o'clock, the enemy made a new attempt with no better success than the first. Perceiving at 7 o'clock that they had not made any progress, they betliought them of a retreat, leaving their best marksmen to cover it. Fatigue and our small numbers, prevented us offering any opposition. Firing was forbidden, because 'twas perceived that the fire we were receiving, proceeded only from a few men in ambush behind some trees, who were waiting for nightfall to retreat. The loss of the enemy is estimated at five or six thousand men, in killed or wounded and ours at 300, including 38 The M" de Montcalm had wine and beer conveyed to the field of battle, to refresh officers. an impression

;

lie

cliecked

;

;

;

the troops

who

stood in great need of it; he and Cliev. de Levis passed in front of

battalions and expressed

how

This memorable victory

is

pleased they

due

to

felt

all

the

at their conduct. of the Almighty,

the goodness

who

has manifested

Himself so often and so visibly the defender of the country; to the prudence of the General's arrangements and their attention in watching the enemy's movements to the activity generally to the bravery and intrepidity of the soldiers, all of whom have manifested of all the officers incredible ardor, thinking only of taking good aim, and sighting everything that shewed itself ;

;

{•rom

behind trees or stumps.

The

night

was spent in cleaning the arms; in raising some epaulments on the left, as a damage to which we were exposed from the musketry, being seen in reverse.

cover from the

The

troops bivouacked through the night, along the

return of the Q""

The

enemy on

gcnerale

abatis, very alert

and wishing

for the

the morrow.

was beat an hour before day; the troops lined the abatis, anxiously waiting At 5 o'clock some soldiers were sent out, who despatched some of

the arrival of the enemy. the

wounded

resist.

A

that wished to defend themselves, and brought within the lines those

who

did not

very thick smoke was perceived at the Falls, which led to the supposition that the

English were abandoning that place, and were occupying themselves only with their retreat.

M. de Bernard went scouting with his company, and sent word to the Marquis de Montcalm That that on the road to the Falls was an intrenchment which he could set on fire. General immediately sent him the orders to do so, which he executed at once. Some Indians, who had gone ahead to plunder, came to give notice that the enemy were thinking only of embarking. Buried all our dead. At 8 o'clock in the evening, M. Volfs arrived with his detachment, reported to the M" de Montcalm that he found no one at Fort George on his landing, but two leagues from that fort fell, unawares, on a considerable party, commanded by MajorGeneral Lord Daw,' who has been killed by M. de Trepezec's detachment, and encamped in a hollow square, with all the barges, bateaux, artillery and ammunition in the centre; that the General had demanded his orders, had shewn him a great deal of civility, and had him forwarded next morning to Fort Lydius, where General Albercrombie received him politely and detained him, telling him that the M" de Vaudreuil's letters required an answer which could not be given him for some days. That he was well aware that he was detained to prevent him coming to inform us of their manoeuvres that the General had asked him news ;

of

one of their

parties,

commanded by Captain Roger, which had met with

a misfortune; that

on being answered, the General had scolded the Captain very severely, and reproached him with having ran away the moment his troop was engaged; that they had conducted him back to

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XIV.

725

Fort George, on the assembling of their army there, which he believes consisted of 22 or 25,000

were nearly 2,000 barges or bateaux, 1,500 of which have been employed in army had been embarked in an instant, and had taken the portage route, marching thither as to a certain conquest; that lie had been brought along and when their troops had arrived at the Falls, was taken to the Bald Mountain, where he had been three days, very dissatisfied with the little attention paid to his detachment; that Colonel Johnson arrived the V"- with 400 Indians belonging to the Five Nations or Loups; that a courier was sent off that same day who proclaimed, everywhere, that Cape Breton was taken; that on the S"" at night, he had seen a great number of barges

men;

that there

transporting troops, and 500 in coming and going; that this

file

oflT,

loaded, apparently, with

wounded

;

that the officer

who was guarding him,

of them, and discontinued, expressing great regret; that on the morning of the

army

had, without

making much

noise, taken

conducted, and having complained of

hailed

9""

the

many whole

up the march to Fort George, whither he was

whose hands he him at his canoe, in which he repaired to the Portage and thence here, himself and his detachment exhausted by hunger and fatigue. The troops still bivouacked along the abbati. The prisoners were sent to Montreal. The M" de Montcalm dispatched M. de La Roche to the Governor-General to announce to him the retreat of the enemy. lO"" Chevalier de Levis went to the Portage with the grenadier companies and pickets; found some intrenchments on both sides of the Falls, at the Portage and the Burnt camp; had 200 barrels of flour brought back; saw a great many which had been thrown into the water, after having had the heads stove in also considerable other stores. The soldiers and Canadians returned loaded with plunder and with an immense quantity of shoes with their

was

it

to the Major-General, the officer in

placed, received orders to land

;

buckles.

A

Had

the English buried

who were

beginning to infect the outside of the abbati.

courier set out for Montreal and a despatch arrived from there

St.

by M. de Rigaud from

John.

Major-General Ahercromhie

to

[London Gazette Extraordinary,

Mv. Secretary

22 Angust, 175S.

Camp The embarkation

at

Pitt.

]

Lake George,

IS"- July, 1758.

and provisions being completed on the evening of the 4 instant, next morning, at break of day, the tents were struck, and all the troops, amounting to 6367 regulars, officers, light infantry and rangers included, and 9024 provincials, including officers and bateau men, embarked in about 900 bateaux and 135 whale boats, the artillery to

At till

of the artillery, stores

cover our landing being mounted on

rafts.

evening reached Sabbath-day point (25 miles down the lake) where we halted then got under way again, and proceeded to the landing place (leading to the French

five in the

ten,

advanced guard) which we reached early next morning, the

Upon our

arrival, sent out a reconnoitering party;

6th.

and, having met with no opposition,

lauded the troops, formed them in four columns, regulars in the centre, and provincials on the

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

726

and marched towards the enemy's advanced guard, composed of one battalion, posted camp, which, upon our approach, they deserted, first setting fire to their tents and destroying everything they could but as their retreat was very percipitate, they left several

flanks,

in a logged

;

which they had not time either

things behind

to

burn or carry

In this

off.

camp we

likewise

found one prisoner, and a dead man.

The army, in the foregoing order, continued their march through the wood, on the west side, with a design to invest Ticonderoga; but the woods being very thick, impassable with any regularity to such a body of men, and the guides unskilful, the troops were bewildered, and upon another.

the columns broke, failing in one

Lord Howe, advanced, Indians,

by the light infantry, being

with a French party, supposed to consist of about 400 regulars, and a few of these had likewise lost themselves in their retreat from the advanced guard

fell

who

at the head of the right centre column, supported in

;

our flankers killed a great many, and took 148 prisoners,

among whom were

five officers

and

three cadets.

But

this small success cost us

officers killed,

skirmish

;

very dear, not as to the loss of numbers,

but as to the consequence. Lord

Howe

being the

first

for we had only two man that fell in this

and as he was very deservedly universally beloved and respected throughout the it is easy to conceive the grief and consternation his untimely fall occasioned;

whole army,

most heavily, and lament him as sincerely. by having been one whole night on the water, the following day constantly on foot, and the next night under arms, added to their being in want of provision, having dropped what they brought with them in order to lighten themselves, it was thought most advisable to return to their landing place, which we accordingly did about

for

my

The

part, I

cannot help owning, that

I felt it

7th, the troops being greatly fatigued,

eight that morning.

About eleven six

in the forenoon, sent off

companies of the

down

Lieutenant-Colonel Bradstreet, with the 44th regiment,

;

enemy who were posted

there, after destroying the mill and breaking

had retired sometime before.

Lieut, col. Bradstreet having laid another

as the

their bridge,

men and a body of rangers two miles of Ticonderoga, which

battalion of Royal Americans, the bateau

to take possession of the saw-mill, within

and provincials, he soon effected

first

bridge across, and having sent

me

notice of his being in possession of that ground,

I

accordingly

marched thither with the troops, and we took up our quarters there that night. The prisoners we had taken being unanimous in their reports, that the French had eight battalions, some Canadians, and Colony troops, in all about 6,000, encamped before their fort, who were intrenching themselves, and throwing up a breast-work, and that they expected a reinforcement of 3,000 Canadians, besides Indians, who had been detached under the command of Mons. de Levy, to make a diversion on the side of the Mohawk river, but upon intelligence of our preparations and near approach, had been repeatedly recalled, and was hourly expected; was thought most advisable to lose no time in making the attack; wherefore early in the

it

morning of the 8th

I

sent Mr. Clerk, the engineer, across the river on the opposite side of Upon his return, and favorable

the fort, in order to reconnoitre the enemy's intrenchments. reports of the practicability of carrying these works,

if

attacked before they were finished,

it

was agreed to storm them that very day: According-ly the rangers, light infantry, and the line, right wing of provincials, were ordered immediately to march, and post themselves in a their out of cannon shot of the intrenchments, their right extending to Lake George, and

V

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

726

and marched towards the enemy's advanced guard, composed of one battalion, posted in a logged camp, which, upon our approach, they deserted, first setting fire to their tents and

flanks,

destroying everything they could

;

but as their retreat was very percipitate, they

things behind which they had not time either to burn or carry

off.

In this

left

camp we

several

likewise

found one prisoner, and a dead man.

The army, in the foregoing order, continued their march through the wood, on the west side, with a design to invest Ticonderoga; but the woods being very thick, impassable with any regularity to such a body of men, and the guides unskilful, the troops were bewildered, and the columns broke, falling in one upon another.

Lord Howe, advanced, Indians,

fell

head of the right centre column, supported by the light infantry, being

at the

with a French party, supposed to consist of about 400 regulars, and a few

in

who had

likewise lost themselves in their retreat from the advanced guard

our flankers killed a great many, and took 148 prisoners,

among whom were

;

of these

five offlcers

and

three cadets.

But

this small success cost us

officers killed,

skirmish

;

very dear, not as to the loss of numbers,

but as to the consequence. Lord

Howe

being the

first

for we had only two man that fell in this

and as he was very deservedly universally beloved and respected throughout the it is easy to conceive the grief and consternation his untimely fall occasioned;

whole army,

my

most heavily, and lament him as sincerely. by having been one whole night on the water, the following day constantly on foot, and the next night under arms, added to their being in want of provision, having dropped what they brought with them in order to lighten themselves,

for

The

it

part, I

cannot help owning, that

I felt it

7th, the troops being greatly fatigued,

was thought most advisable

to return to their

landing place, which

we

accordingly did about

eight that morning.

About eleven six

and

in the forenoon, sent off

companies of the

first

Lieutenant-Colonel Bradstreet, with the 44th regiment,

he soon effected

down

;

as the

their bridge,

men and a body of rangers two miles of Ticonderoga, which

battalion of Royal Americans, the bateau

provincials, to take possession of the saw-mill, within

enemy who were

posted there, after destroying the mill and breaking

had retired sometime before.

bridge across, and having sent

me

Lieut, col. Bradstreet having laid another

notice of his being in possession of that ground,

I

accordingly

marched thither with the troops, and we took up our quarters there that night. The prisoners we had taken being unanimous in their reports, that the French had eight battalions, some Canadians, and Colony troops, in all about 6,000, encamped before their fort, who were intrenching themselves, and throwing up a breast-work, and that they expected a reinforcement of 3,000 Canadians, besides Indians, who had been detached under the command of Mons. de Levy, to make a diversion on the side of the Mohawk river, but upon intelligence of our preparations and near approach, had been repeatedly recalled, and was hourly expected; it was thought most advisable to lose no time in making the attack; wherefore early in the

morning the

of the 8th

fort, in

I

sent Mr. Clerk, the engineer, across the river on the opposite side of

order to reconnoitre the enemy's intrenchments.

reports of the practicability of carrying these works,

if

Upon

his return,

and favorable

attacked before they were finished,

it

was agreed to storm them that very day: Accordinofly the rangers, light infantry, and the right wing of provincials, were ordered immediately to march, and post themselves in a line, out of cannon shot of the intrenchments, their right extending to Lake George, and their

INSERT FOLD-OUT OR MAP \

HERE!

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. left to

Lake Champlain,

in

order that the regular troops, destined

-

727

for

the attack of the

intrenchments, might form on their rear.

The piquets were to begin the attack, sustained by the grenadiers, and they by the battalions: The whole were ordered to march up briskly, rush upon the enemy's fire, and not to give theirs until they

were within the enemy's breast-work.

After these orders issued, the wliole army, except what had been

left at

the landing place to

cover and guard the bateaux and whale-boats, and a provincial regiment at the saw-mill, were put in motion and advanced to Ticonderoga, where unfortunately they found the intrenchments

not only

much

stronger than had been represented, and the breast-works at least eight or

nine feet higher; but likewise the ground before

it

covered with felled trees, the branches pointed

outwards, which so fatigued and retarded the advancing of the troops that, notwithstanding all

their intrepidity

and bravery, which

I

cannot sufficiently commend,

considerable a loss, without any prospect of better success, that

remain before so

it;

it

was therefore judged necessary,

many brave men, and

to prevent a total defeat, that

it

we

sustained so

was no longer prudent

for the preservation of the

we should make

to

remainder of

the best retreat possible.

Accordingly, after several repeated attacks, which lasted upwards of four hours, under the

most disadvantageous circumstances, and, with the loss of 464 regulars killed, 29 missing, 1,117 wounded and 87 Provincials killed, eight missing, and 239 wounded, officers of both included, I retired to the camp we occupied the night before, with the broken remains of several corps that had accompanied me, sending away all the wounded to the bateaux, about three miles distance; and early the next morning we arrived there ourselves, embarked and reached this camp in the evening of the 9th. Immediately after my return here, I sent the wounded officers and men, that could be moved, to Fort Edward and Albany. ;

Return of the Officers of the

Wounded

at

different

Ticonderoga'on the

Regiments who have been Killed and

S""

July, 1758. Wounded.

Killed.

Brigadier-General

Howe.

1 Colonel.

2 Colonels.

1 Lieutenant-Colonel.

1 Lieutenant-Colonel.

5 Majors.

2 Majors.

30 Captains.

6 Captains.

35 Lieutenants.

16 Lieutenants.

10 Ensigns.

5 Ensigns.

Engineer Matthew Clerk* killed '

killed,

and Quarter Master French wounded.

In

all,

34

officers

and 84 wounded. He was commissioned Sub-Engineer and

Lieutenant of

27111 foot,

on

tlie

4th January, 1758.

Army

List.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

728

Names

of the British Officers Killed and Wou7ided near Ticond-eroga, Jtdy [

SV""

London Magazine, XXYII.,

Farquarson, ensign

1758.

8,

]

Lord Blakeney's regiment. Killed: Engineer Matthew Clerk. Wounded: Capt. Gordon,^

Holmes, capt. Wrighlson,^ capt. Skeen,^ 42"* Lord John Murray's regiment. Killed:

capt.

captain

427.

lieut.

Hugh M^Pherson,

lieut.

Cook,* ensign

capt. lieutenant

Elliot,*.

John Campbell,^

lieutenant William Baillie, lieutenant

lieut.

George

John Sutherland,

Stewart, ensign George Rattray. Wounded: Major Duncan Campbell,' Gordon Graham,' captain Thomas Graeme,' captain John Campbell," captain James

Patrick

' Archibald Gordon was commissioned Captain 9th Jnne, 1740, and joined the Inniskillings 14th October, 1742; was appointed Major of the regiment eight days after the above battle; accompanied the expedition under Amherst in 1759, and

entered Montreal with Haveland in 1760; was promoted to a Lieutenant Colonelcy in the

army 11th January,

1762, at the

which year his name is omitted in the Army List. John Wrightson was commissioned Captain 20th April, 1748, and joined the 27th foot 16th December, 1752; he was appointed Major of the 76th, 25th March, 1762, and went on half pay in 1763. He became Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet 25th May, 1772; was appointed Major to Chelsea Hospital in 1775, and died in 1779.

close of '

»

See VIII., 415.

William Cooke was commissioned a Lieutenant 22nd January, and joined the 27th on the 27th April, 1756 became is dropped in 1777. ' John Elliot entered the array as Ensign of the 27th foot, 22d November, 1766 was promoted to a Lieutenancy 2d August 1769 exchanged into the 1st Royals 14th February, 1760, and is dropped in 1771. '

;

Captain-Lieutenant 8th May, 1767, Captain 25th May, 1772, and

;

;

° JouN Campbell of Duneaves, Perthshire, was originally a private in the Black Watch. In 174.?, he was presented, with Gregor McGregor, to George II. as a specimen of the Highland soldier, and performed at St. James the broadsword exercise and that of the Lochaber axe, before his Majesty and a number of General officers. Each got a gratuity of a guinea, which

they gave to Ihe porter at the gate of the palace as they passed out.

bravery at the battle of Fontenoy

He was among

following June. 8tli

July.

Stewart's Highlanders,

;

was promoted

the

L

first

Mr. Camf.bell obtained an Ensigncy

to be Captain-Lieutenant, IGth February, 1756,

of the resolute

men who

forced their

way

into the

and landed

work

in

in

1745 for his

New- York

at Ticonderoga,

the

on the

250, 279.

DuNOAN Campbell of Inveraw, having raised a company for the Black Watoh, then numbered the 43rd, was commissioned December 25, 1744; it became the 42nd in 1749; and in December, 1765, Captain Campbell was promoted to the Majority of the regiment. He died of the wounds received at Ticonderoga. Stewart, I., 279 II. Appendix, No. II. ° Gordon Graham of Drainie, entered the Black Watch as Ensign, October 25, 1739, and was promoted to a Lieutenancy '

Captain,

;

24th June, 1743; served ia Flanders and at Fontenoy in 1745

Fort William Henry in 1757, and wounded at Ticonderoga.

;

obtained a company August

On

7,

,

1747

;

was

at the surrender of

the death of Major Campbell, he succeeded to his commission

and made the campaigns of 1759, 1760, under Amherst; served in the West Indies in 1762, and on 9th July of that year became Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment. He retired from the service 12th December, 1770. Stewart, II., Appendix No. II

;

Brown's Highland Clans, IV., 139, 159; Beatson's Naval and Military Memoirs, U., 530.

was promoted to a Lieutenancy 30, 1741 came to America. He wounded at the battle of Bushy run, near Pittsburg, in 1763; served in the subsequent campaigns against the Indians, and embarked for Ireland in 1767. He succeeded Major Reid 31st March, 1770, and became Lieutenant-Colonel 12th December following. He retired from the Army December, "

Tbomas Graham

August

6,

1746,

of

Duehray, entered the 43rd, or Black Watoh, as Ensign, June

and obtained a company February

15, 1756, shortly

;

before the regiment, then the 42nd,

served in the several Campaigns on the northern lakes; was again

1771.

Army

Lists; Stewart.

" John Campbell of Strachur, was appointed Lieutenant in Loudon's Highlanders in June, 1746 served through the made the Campaign in Flanders in 1747, in which year he was promoted to a Captaincy and went on half ;

Scotch rebellion

pay

;

;

He was

at the peace of 1748.

again called on active service in 1756,

when he

joined the 42nd; and, after recovering

from his wounds received at Ticonderoga, was appointed Major of the 17th foot, by General Amherst, 11th July, 1759 was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel in the army, February 1762, and commanded his regiment in the expedition against ;

Martinico and Havana.

On

the 1st of May, 1773, he became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 57th foot, and returned to America

was appointed Major-General 19th February, 1779; Colonel of his regiment 2nd November, 1780, and commanded the British forces in West Florida, where he surrendered Pensacola to the Spaniards, lOth May, 1781; became Lieutenant-General in 1787; General 26th January, 1797, and died in the forepart of the year 1806. at the breaking out of the Revolution;

Stewart

;

Beatson

;

Army

Lists.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

729

John Campbell,^ lieut. James Grant,' lieutenant John Graham," lieut. Alexander Campbell, lieut. Alexander APIntosh,' lieut. Archibald Campbell, lieut. David Mill,' lieut. Patrick Balnevis,' ensign John Stewart,' capt.

James Murray,

lieut.

William Grant,^

lieut.

Robert Gray,^

lieut.

Smith, ensign Peter Grant. regiment. Killed: Ensign Fraser.

Abercrombie's

General

44""

Captain

Captain

Falconer,"

Captain

Lee,'^

Bartman,

Ho

James Stewart of Urrard, obtained a oompany in the 42nd, July 18th, 1151.

•

Eyre,"

Wounded: Major

Captain

Lieutenant

Bailey,

sold out after the peace. Stewart,

306, 359.

I.,

'WiLLtAM Grant of the family of Rothiemurchus, entei-ed the Black

'

Lieutenant 22nd November, 1746, and Captain 23rd July, 1758

;

Watch

as Ensign,

was appointed Major

in the

October,

1st

army 23rd

1745,

became

July, 1772; of his

regiment 6th October, 1777, having been already appointed Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet 29th August, and retired from the

army August 25th, 1778, after a service of 33 years. Stewart. ' Robert Geat was commissioned Ensign in the Black Watch, June 1758

22,

;

6,

1745; Lieutenant 7th August, 1747

exchanged into the oSth regiment ISlh September, 1760; became Major

Army

1775.

Lists

;

in the

army 23rd

;

Captain July

July, 1772,

and died

in

Stewart.

John Campbell, Junior, was commissioned Lieutenant of the 42nd on the 16th May, 1748 Captain 26th July, 1760, and went on half-pay at the peace of 1763. ' James Grant was commissioned Ensign in the 43rd (now the 42nd regiment), November 20th, 1746; Lieutenant 24th January, 1756, and Captain-Lieutenant 28th July, 1760. He left the regiment in 1762, when he was appointed Fort Major *

;

of Limerick, and died in 1778. Stewart. of Thomas ( number 9, sapra, 728 ) entered the 42nd regiment as Ensign and was promoted became Captain in February, 1762, and was again wounded at Bushy run in 1763; oompany having been disbanded, he went on half pay. He rejoined the regiment 26th December,

John Graham was the brother

'

;

to a Lieutenancy 25th January, 175C; shortly after which, his

and is dropped in 1772, having attained the rank of field officer. Stewart, L, 359. Army Lists. Alexander MoIntosh was taken from half pay in 1756 and appointed Lieutenant in the 42nd. He was again wounded was promoted to a company 24th July of the same year. He went on half pay in 1763 and was not again called on active service until 25th December, 1770, when he was appointed to the 10th regiment then serving 1765, '

at Martinico in 1762, and

in America.

Captain Mcintosh was killed at the storming of Fort Washington, 16th November, 1776.

Naval and Military Memoirs, VL,

"

this corps 19th July, 1757;

Lists

;

Beatson't

he was again wounded at

Patrick Balneaves, of Edradour, entered the 42nd, as Ensign, 28th January, 1756, and was promoted to be Lieutenant

1st April, 1758;

army '"

Army

61.

David Mill or Mllne received a commission as Lieutenant in Martinico in 1762 and retired from the army at the peace of 1763. '

in 1770.

1762; became Captain-Lieutenant 23rd August, 1763, and

he was wounded again at Martinico in

Stewart

;

Army

left the

Lists.

William Eyre was promoted

to be

Major

in the 44th foot, 7th January, 1766; in

which year he built Fort William

Henry, at the head of Lake George; in January, 1758, was commissioned Engineer in Ordinary, and on 17th July following

was advanced

to the

rank of Lieutenant-Colonel

in the

army, and next of the 55th regiment; in July, 1769, during Amherst's

campaign, he was appointed Chief Engineer to the army, and soon after

laid

out the ground for a

In October, 1759, he became Lieutenant-Colonel of his old regiment, the 44th, accompanied

Montreal in 1760, and remained in America until 1764, of his

life,

on his passage to Ireland.

Knox

Journal,

I.,

in the fall

new

fort at Tieonderoga.

Amherst from Oswego

to

of which year he was unfortunately drowned, in the prime

S88, 395; IL, 133, 406;

Army

Lists.

^' Thomas Falconer served as a Lieutenant in the 44th, in Braddock's campaign, and was promoted to a company 5th November, 1766. He left the army in August, 1765, at which time he was the senior Captain. " Charles Lee was a native of Wales and son of a Colonel in the British service. He entered the army early in life; was commissioned Captain in the 44th foot 11th June, 1756; Major of the 103rd, or Volunteer Hunters, 28th October, 1761, and in 1762 served, with the local rank of Colonel, in the auxiliary British force sent to Portugal, where he distinguished himself. Beatson, III., 324; Enticit, V., 428. He went on half pay at the peace and entered the Polish service; became

Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel

in

May, 1772, and

resigned his commission in 1775,

after

rambling

all

over Europe, came to America in 1773 and settled in Virginia; He served in the Continental Army.

when he was appointed by Congress Major-General

consequence of some misunderstanding, he retired from the service; returned to his plantation in Virginia; sold his farm and then removed to Philadelphia, where he died 2nd October,

through the war of the Revolution

until

1780 when,

in

1782. Allen.

Vol. X.

92

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

730 Treby,'

Sympson,^ Lieutenant Drummond,^

lieut.

Dagwartliy,*

gen Thomas Murray's regiment.

46"' Lieut,

Wynne,

lieut.

Pennington,^

Gamble,

lieut.

Needham,

capt.

lieut.

lieut. Greenfield.^

Laulhe,

lieut.

lieut.

Col. Beever,

Killed:

Lloyd, ensign Grafton, ensign and

capt.

quarter-master Carbonell.

Wounded: Major Browning,' capt. Forbes,' capt. Marsh,* ensign Gordon. SS""

Late lord Howe's regiment. Killed: Brig. gen. Lord Howe, Col. Donaldson,

Proby, capt.

lieut.

Murray,

Stewart.

lieut.

Wouiided: Capt. Bredin, capt. Wiikins,'"

major

lieut. le

Hunt," ensign Lloyd, quarter-master French. 1" Battalion of Royal Americans. Killed: Captain lieutenant Forbes,

Major

Tullikins,*^

Captain Munster,^^

Captain

Davis.

lieut.

Wounded:

Mather," Captain Cockrane,'* Lieutenant

' John Tkebt was appointed Lieutenant 28th September, 1748, and was attached to the 44th 10th March, 1753; served under Braddock in 1765, and was desperately wounded and nigh lost his life at the battle of the Monongahela. After

having been again wounded

at Ticonderoga,

he obtained a company 15th September, 1758; next was attached to the 80tli He joined the 43rd 15th August, 1775, then serving in America, but seems

Light Infantry and went on half-pay in 1763.

Army

to have died soon after.

Lists; Sergeajifs Braddock, 243.

' Andrew Simpson was appointed Lieutenant in the 44th foot 26th June, 1755, and had been already wounded at the Monongahela under Braddock was appointed Captain-Lieutenant of his regiment in 1758, and Captain 16tb August, 1760; exchanged into the 35th foot in October following, and retired in the summer of 1770. Army Lists. ' Robert Deummond was commissioned Lieutenant in the 44th on the 2nd July, 1755; Captain 21st August, 1765, and went on half pay 10th December, 1768, where he continued until 25th April, 1774, when he was appointed to the 51st, then ;

in Minorca.

He

left

the service in July, 1776.

Army

Lists.

Geor(je Pennington served as an Ensign in the 44th, in Braddook's campaign, and

'

November, 1755. He was senior Lieutenant of his regiment List. He had connections in Philadelphia. Sargeant, 361. '

which time

in 1771, after

was promoted to a Lieutenancy 6th name does not appear in the Army

his

Eli Dagworthy was commissioned Lieutenant 15th November, 1755, and continued in the 44th until October, 1773,

when he

obtained a company in the 48th and went to the West Indies

;

returned to England and sold out or died 14th

December, 1775. Army Lists, 1776, p. 247. ' Francis Greenfield served as Lieutenant in the 44th from 1756 to 1771, when he retired or died. ' WiLLLAM Browning was appointed Major of the 46th on the 2nd February, 1757 ; Lieutenant Colonel October, 1761, and retired in 1767. '

foot 31st August, 1762, '

Army

and

in the

army 9th

Lists.

Wllliam Fokbes was commissioned Captain retired in 1768.

in the 46th

Army

on the 11th February, 1749; was appointed Major of the 35th

Lists.

James Marsh obtained a company in the 46th regiment 2nd February, 1757 became Major in the army 23rd July, 1772, his regiment 20th February, 1773 was promoted te be Lieutenant-Colonel in the 43rd 28th August, 1776, the day ;

and of

;

after the battle of

77lh

foot,

Long

Island.

12lh October, 1787

" Svpra^ VIIL,

;

After serving tlirough the Kevolutionary

Major-Geueral 12th October, 1793

;

war

in

America, he was appointed Colonel of the

Lieutenant-General Ist January, 1798, and died in 1804.

185.

" George Le Hunte was commissioned Lieutenant in the 55th foot 14th April, 1756, and Captain 28th November, 1759, in In November, 1773, he was appointed Captain of a company of Invalids at Jersey became Major army 11th September, 1782; exchanged into one of the Hull companies 19th February, 1790 was breveted Lieutennant-Colonel unattached on full pay 30th March, 1795; went on half-pay in 1798; became Colonel in the array in April, 1802, and died, it is supposed, in 1805, as his name is dropped from the Army List of 1806. " John Tullikins was commissioned Major of the 4th battalion Royal Americans 26th January, 1757. In 1759, he served In October, 1761, was advanced in the expedition against Niagara and became Major of the 45th foot 25th February, 1760. to be Lieutenant-Colonel in the army; in April, 1762, of his regiment, and in the fall of that year commanded the first In 1771 he retired on haK-pay, and is not found afterwards on active battalion of the army sent to reduce Newfoundland. the 80th Light Infantry.

;

in the

service.

;

Army Lists.

" Herbert de Mdnster was commissioned Captain in the 60th Royal Americans 29lh December, 1755 was promoted to bo Lieutenant-Colonel in the army 14th January, 1762, and went on half-pay in 1763 was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of fort St. Philip in 1768 at a salary of £730 sterling, and died towards the close of 1777. Army List, ;

Major 20th July, 1758

;

;

1778, 260.

" Richard Mather was commissioned Captain

in the Royal Americans 6th January, 1756. Royal Americans 15th January, 1756 Major in the army 23rd July, 1772, and of the 69th regiment 14th August, 1773; he was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the 58th regiment, then stationed at

" Gavin Cochrane became Captain

Gibraltar, 24th June, 1777,;

in the

became Colonel

;

in the

army 20th November,

1782, and died in the spring of 1786.

Army

Lists.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XIV.

:

731

Lieutenant Wilson, Lieutenant Guy, ensign Bailey,^ ensign

Barnesley,* Lieutenant Ridge,'

Gordon, ensign Mcintosh. 4"' Battalion Royal Americans. Killed: Major Rutherford,^ Prevost,

Capt.

Depheze,

capt.

capt.

Slosser,*

lieut.

lieut.

Wounded.lieut. Haselwood. McLean, lieut. Allaz,^ lieut.

Turnbull,'' lieut. Mcintosh. SO""

Colonel Gage's Light Infantry. Killed: Lieut. Cumberford. Wounded: Capt. Gladwin,^

ensign Patterson.

Wounded: Captain Winslow,

Provincials, Colonel Preble's. lieut.

Dorman,

lieut.

New- York. Regiment, Gatehouse. Wounded: lieut.

Goodwin,

capt.

lieut.

Macomber,

Adam. Col. de Lancey's. Killed: Lieutenant and Adjutant

Leroux,

Lieut, col.

Ducan,

lieut.

lieut.

Degraw,

Mauncey,

lieut.

Lieut. Yates,

and

Smith.

Rhode

Island

Regiment, Col. Babcock's. Wounded: Col. Babcock,' capt. John Whiting,!"

lieut. Russell.

Thomas Baenslet entered the

'

60th, as Ensign, 26th

obtained a company 3rd May, 1759.

His name

13

18th September, 1760; went on half-pay in 1763;

December, 1765, and after having been promoted to a Lieutenancy,

dropped

William Ridge received a commission as Ensign

"

in the

in the

Army

List of 1768.

Royal Americans 3rd January, 1756, and obtained a company to a company in the 44th foot 28th February, 1766, and

was appointed

his exchanged into the 17th regiment loth March, 1768, where he served until November, 1771, when he died or resigned

commission.

Lieutenancy in the 60th regiment 27th July, 1758, and went on half-pay at the November, 1771, when he was appointed first Lieutenant in the 21st North British Major in the army 18th November, 1790; Lieutenant-Colonel in Fuzileers; Captain in the 9th Foot 23rd September, 1776 There is another officer of the same name who was appointed Captain of Invalids in 1790; Colonel in the army m 1799. •

Alexandeb Baillib was promoted

peace,

where he continued

to a

until 29th

;

whose name continues on the Army List after 1809. * Supra, VIL, 205. ' John Joseph Schlosser was a native of Germany and appointed Captain-Lieutenant Captain 20th July, 1758. In 1759 he served in the campaign against Niagara, and after 1794, and

in the its

60lh regiment 12th May, 1756 commanded a post about

surrender

" Schlosser." He afterwards commanded Fort falls, which has since retained his name, being called old Fort near the head of Lake Michigan, where he was surprised on the 25th May, 1763, taken prisoner by some PoutaIn January and February, 1764, he was employed, in Philadelphia, protecting

a mile above the St. Joseph,

watamies, carried to Detroit and exchanged.

the poor Moravian Indians from the Paxton mob.

He

Army Lists ;

continued in the Royal Americans until 1772.

Pennsyl-

vania Archives, IV., 168, 160; ParkmarCs Pontiac, 240. '

James Allaz was commissioned Lieutenant

talion 6th

May, and Captain 2nd October, 1761

in ;

the 60th regiment l7th January, 1756

and retired on half-pay

in 1763.

On

;

Captain-Lieutenant of the 3rd bat-

the reorganization of the regiment into

was recalled, on active service, as Captain of the 4th battalion, then the army 29th August, 1777, and died in 1778. Army Lists.

four battalions again in 1775, he

was promoted '

to be

Major

in

George Turnbull was commissioned Lieutenant

ber, 1765. »

He

in the

in the

West Indies;

Royal Americans 5th February, 1766, and Captain 15th Novem-

died or retired in 1776, without attaining any higher rank.

Supra, VII., 961.

Yale College in 1748, and was graduated in 1752; was Captain of an Indein 1755 served in the battle of Lake George; was promoted to the rank of Major wounded in 1756, and in 1757 to that of Lieutenant-Colonel; he commanded the Rhode Island regiment in 1758, and was the knee; the following year he again commanded his regiment in the campaign under Amherst; went to England in 1761; on his return married and settled at Stonington, Connecticut, and commenced the practice of the law. In this he appa-

'Henrt Babcock was born

pendent company of Foot

in 1736; entered

in 1754,

and

in

and

Holy Orders in the Church of England, and was afterwards Legislature, in Lake Superior copper speculations. In 1776 he joined the popular party and was appointed, by the commander of the forces at Newport. Updike. Plymouth of B., Governor of " John WnmNG was eldest son of Charles Whiting and Elizabeth Bradford, grand-daughter was promoted to tha Colony. He was born August 3rd, 1719, and married a Miss Cogswell removed to Rhode Island rank of Major after the battle of Ticonderoga, and in 1759 was Lieutenant of the Rhode Island regiment. He died in New rently was not successful, for in 1773 he applied for admission to

engaged

;

London

17th December, 1770.

OoodmnS

Genealogical Notes, 334, 337.

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

732

Connecticut Regiment, Col. Fitche's. Killed: Lieut. Rowland. Wounded: Ensign Robins. Connecticut Regiment, Col. Worster's. Wounded Col. Bagley's. Killed: Lieut.

Burman,

:

Jersey Regiment, Col. Johnston's. Killed: Lieut, Col. Partridge's. A'zZW

:

M.

Lieut, col. Smedley.

Low. Wounded: Capt. Whiple.

lieut.

col.

Shaw. Wounded: Capt Douglas.

Capt. Johnson, lieutenant Braggs. Wounded: Capt. A. Willard.^

de

Montcalm [

to

Marshal De Belle Ish.

Sipartemeat de

la Guerre, Paris. ]

Carillon, 12"' July, 1758.

My

Lord,

The Marquis de

Vaudreuil, persisting in the opinion that the

men

twenty-five thousand

at the

head of Lake

enemy were not

collecting

Sacrament, notwithstanding the unanimity

St.

was under the necessity of starting on the fourth of June assume the command of eight battalions, from which he had drawn four hundred picked men. On the thirtieth, the day of my arrival at the camp of Carillon, I had two thousand nine hundred and seventy men of our troops; what is incredible, only sixteen Indians, {there are eight hundred of them domiciliated in the Colony,) thirty-Jive Canadians, thirty-seven men of the marine. of the depositions of the prisoners, I

to

this force that I have dared to make a movement in advance, which, in affording enemy matter for reflection, has retarded his march against me four days. From the first to the sixth of July I have not received any other reinforcement than four hundred soldiers of the Marine or Canadians. The Marquis de Vaudreuil had promised

'Twas with the

me

in writing,

twelve hundred and a great

and drew back

my

all

many

Indians.

On

the sixth I effected

posts without confusion or the loss of a

man,

my

my

retreat,

advanced guards

fired on the landing of six thousand men, and that day would have left nothing undesired had a detatachment of three hundred men, at whose head I placed an officer of the colony,

having

Abijah Willabd was the son of Colonel Samuel "Willard of Lancaster, Worcester county, MaesachuBetts, where

lie was He served in the army at the taking of Cape Breton, and rose to the rank of Captain in the above Having recovered from his wound he commanded one of the Massachusetts regiments in the campaign of 1759, under Amherst, and in 1760 entered Montreal, by way of the lakes, with the army under the command of Brigadier-General Haviland. In 1774, he was appointed a Mandamus counsellor, in consequence of which he became very unpopular. While '

born

year 1722.

in the

campaign.

was

at Union, Connecticut, he n declaration that he

seized

would not

and held through the night

act, asking, at the

same

confinement, and next day found himself obliged to sign

in

time, forgiveness for having taken the oath of otSce.

On

the morn-

ing of the 19th of April, 1775, he mounted his horse and waa proceeding to Beverly, where he had a farm, to superintend the

spring work.

While on

his

way

the uprising of the country led

him

head towards Boston, where he purposed remaining only a few days.

was too Though

far

compromised to return amongst

his old neighbors.

He

to fear for his personal safety,

He was caught by

and he turned

his horse's

Gage's Proclamation in a trap, and

subsequeutl}- accompanied the Royal

army

to Halifax.

by General Howe, he refused, saying "he should never light against his country." He was afterwards Commissary to the British troops at New-York, and in 1778 was proscribed and his property confiscated. In July, He settled 1783, he was one of the 65 petitioners, in the city of New-York, to General Carleton, for lands in Nova Scotia. in

New

offered a commission

Brunswick and called the town Lancaster,

after his native place in Massachusetts.

Council and died at Lancaster, N. B., in May, 1789, aged 67 years. family and

now

belongs to his only surviving daughter, the

Willard, Esq., of Bonlon

;

widow

He was

a

member of the Provincial

His estate in Massachusetts baa been redeemed by his

of the

Ward's Curwen, 520; Sabine's LoyaUM,1(i5.

Hon. Benjamin Goodhue, of Salem. Letter of Joieph

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. the most experienced in into a

movements

tiirough

column of English. lost six oiEcers and one hundred and eighty-seven

have

I

733

as a guide, not

tiie forest,

gone astray and

soldiers, including

fallen

some Canadians,

in killed or missing.

The seventh was employed by all the troops in constructing an abbatis, and their labor is The four hundred picked troops who had remained with Chevalier de Levis,

incredible.

arrived in the evening, and the Chevalier, himself, in the night, of the seventh and eighth.

As

had not any Indians, two companies of volunteers

I

battalions, kept

At

up a

fire

half an hour after noon, the

many

according to

whom

I

had drafted from our

with the enemy's advanced guard the entire night.

enemy's

forces, consisting at least of

twenty thousand, and

of the prisoners, of twenty-five thousand picked men, defiled on our guards in again. In a moment all the troops were at their enemy vigorously attacked us in four columns, mixed up with their sharp shooters. The fire on the one side and on the other was like

and grenadier companies, which came posts.

At one

o'clock the

irregular troops and best

Parma, and the

that at the battle of is

indebted at this

The enemy

moment

fight

continued

for the success of that

retired that night in disorder,

until eight o'clock at night.

day

reimbarking on Lake

St.

Sacrament, after having

burnt some barges which they had conveyed to the Falls, and what affords in this affair is, that the

His Majesty

to the incredible valor of his troops.

Regulars do not share, so to speak,

me most gratification

The commenced arriving on provisions. How much may be

its

glory with any person.

reinforcements announced and promised by the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the eleventh.

The Governor-General will plead the want of From what we have seen and from their percipitate flight, we estimate at about five thousand men killed or wounded. Our's is twelve officers

said on that article!

the loss of the killed,

enemy

twenty-three wounded, ninety-two soldiers killed, two hundred and forty eight wounded.

Chevalier de Levis and M. de Bourlamaque have had the greatest share

The

day.

latter

is

in the glory of tlae

dangerously wounded.

by a dispatch from the Marquis de Paulmy of the twenty-sixth of February, my despatches of the fourth of November, containing my lists of nominations and recommendations for favors to our troops. I am justified in concluding that they have been intercepted and stopped at the Bureau of the Marine. 'Twas in M. de la I

perceive,

that he had not received

Porte's time.

If

people can act thus,

useless for

'tis

me

to write to you.

I

shall

have the

honor to address you a detailed Relation, but I hasten to write you these lines, for fear the Governor-General may send off" a vessel from Quebec unknown to me. If ever there has been a body of troops worthy of favors, 'tis that which I have the honor to command. Therefore, I pray you, my Lord, to heap them on it and to grant it all those I shall have the honor to propose to you. For myself, I do not ask you any other than to procure me the King's leave I shall

owe

to return.

My

trouble and contradictions

and preventing only one I

I

health suffers,

my

purse

is

exhausted.

the treasurer of the Colony ten thousand crowns (ecu^).

evil,

I

experience; the impossibility in which

determine

me

I

At the end of the year And more than all, the

am

placed of doing good

earnestly to pray his Majesty to grant

me

this favor, the

ambition.

am, with respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

Montcalm.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

734

must not leave you in ignorance, my Lord, of the fact that Colonel Johnson was, on the day of the affair, at the tall of the English columns with five hundred Indians, the They have not struck because we have greater part of whom belonged to the Five Nations. been conquerors, and I dare to believe that the victory of the King's troops will advance more the Marquis de Vaudreuils' secret negotiation with those people than all the negotiators and P. S.

I

parties sent to their village.

Another Account of [

the Operations at Ticonderoga.

Translated from a French letter in Pennsylvania Archires,

Camp

at

III., 472. ]

Lake George, July

14"",

1758.

Sir,

Having a few hours to myself, I think I cannot employ them better than in giving you a what has occurred between the 5"= inst., the day on which we proceeded

correct account of

hence on the unfortunate expedition against Fort Carillon,

to the 9""

when we committedthe

you a little plan, hastily drawn up, to render what follows more intelligible. I doubt not that you have many different accounts at Philadelphia overflows with news; a real perpetual motion. And as I have been where the coffee house present myself, I am delighted. Sir, at having it in my power to furnish you a correct account. If, perchance, any reflections escape me therein, I would not wish them to be made public. Our artillery, warlike stores and provisions being embarked on the 4"", all the troops went on the 5"" at sunrise, on board more than 1,000 bateaux, not counting a few rafts which transported our heavy guns, and the horses; the last brigade embarked at 7 o'clock in the morning. At 6 o'clock in the evening we had already arrived at Sabbath-day Point, 24 miles, a spot famous by the unfortunate defeat last year of Colonel Parker,' who lost there 300, out of a detachment of 350 men, he had under his command. We beheld there its melancholy blunder of returning here.

I

enclose

remains, both in the water and on the shore.

We

and artillery, which were o'clock at night and wo resumed our route.

rest of the three brigades

6""

Next morning we found ourselves

posts; at 8 o'clock, the

first

at

made

a halt at that Point to wait for the

in the rear.

The whole came up by

11

day break, within 4 miles of the enemy's advanced

brigade went a-shore at the landing place, without meeting a

man to oppose us. A New-York regiment and a party of the Jerseys landed at the same time near the French camp which, having at last discovered us, hastily moved off, firing solitary

on our

men

at a distance of

600 paces, consequently without any

effect,

and retired leaving the

mercy of the new hosts. Scouts were sent out at once, and 'twas found that the enemy had abandoned all the different intrenched posts, which, however, they had destroyed as far as time allowed, up to Fort Ticonderoga, or Carillon, in front of which was a strong intrenchment, consisting of a number

greater part of their tents, provisions and baggage to the

of large trees, laid lengthwise one over the other, 7

double row of loop-holes.

The upper '

side

Supra,

(3.

8 feet in height and pierced with a

was covered with bags of

p. 592.

— Ed.

earth,

by which

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. arrangement there was a to musketry.

impregnable rendered

At 2

triple fire.

A huge

more formidable.

it

The

was

abbatis of trees which extended outside the entire length,

This was not ascertained until after our misfortune.

o'clock in the afternoon, all the regiments except three, advanced to take possession of

the favorable posts on the height near the o'clock they mill,

735

intrenchment flanked itself perfectly well, and

fell in

saw

with 350 French on the

who had been

mill,

hill

half

one mile and a half from Carillon. At 4 way between the Landing place and the

sent 3 days before from Fort Carillon on a scout 10 miles up the

they saw us pass, and counted 700 bateaux, or the two

first

Lake;

brigades, at sight of which, they

attempted to return, to oppose our landing, but having gone astray they were, even at the moment our Rangers were firing at them, still unable to discover where they were. They consisted of 150 regulars, mostly of the regiment of La Reine, 100 volunteers and 100

At the first volley they fired, they killed Lord Howe and Lieutenant Cumberfort. Lord Howe was at the head of the Rangers, notwithstanding all the remonstrances made him the moment the fire was received in front, panic seized our soldiers; entire regiments flung Canadians.

'

;

themselves one atop of the other, and even the General narrowly escaped being dragged off in the confusion by the fugitives. In vain did the officers cry out and offer opposition; nothing

meanwhile our brave Rangers defended themselves 200 against 350 of the time they were reinforced. The enemy were surrounded and one Captain, 3 Lieutenants, with 170 soldiers were taken prisoners; some officers attempted to save themselves in the river by swimming, but they were killed, so that 'tis believed not one We lost Lord Howe, Lieutenant Cumberfort and 8 men 6 wounded. escaped. I am certain had the enemy had 3 or 400 Indians with them at the beginning of this

could stop 'em

enemy, up

;

to the

;

'Tis a singular case rencounter, they would have beaten us and driven us to our bateaux. that 350 men drove back and threw into considerable confusion about 11,000.

We have taken 1 Captain, 3 Lieutenants and 170 men prisoners. As this aflfair deranged our plans somewhat, 'twas concluded to go and pass the night at the Landing place. 7"" Resumed our march to take possession of the Mill heights, where the enemy had a camp 8""

the day before, of 800 men.

In the morning two rafts were ordered to be constructed to receive each

which were

to

descend the river and take the intrenchment

in

two 6-pounders,

the rear or enfilade it; but

unfortunately, people forgot to reconnoitre whether 'twas feasible, for as soon as

it

got to be

near one o'clock in the afternoon, and the point was passed, they were under the guns of the fort, which did not fail to play on them in such a style that our men found it prudent to return ' Geobge AnocsTDs, Lord Viscount Howe, eldest son of Sir K Serope, second Lord Viscount Howe, in the peerage of Ireland, was born in 1725, and succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1735. In the forepart of 1757, he was ordered to America, being then Colonel commanding the 60th or Royal Americans, and arrived at Halifax in July following. On 28th September, 1757. he was appointed Colonel of the 55th foot, and on the 29th December, Brigadier-General in America. In the next year, when Abercrombie was chosen to proceed against Ticonderoga, Pitt selected Lord Howe to be the soul of the enterprise. On the 8th of July, he landed with the army at Howe's Point, at the outlet of Lake George, and commenced his march along the west road for Ticonderoga, in command of the right centre. They had proceeded about two miles, and an advanced party of rangers, under Lord Howe, was near Trout brook, when they suddenly came upon a party of Frenchmen

who had

way. A skirmish ensued in which his Lordship, foremost fighting, fell,' and expired immediatel3'. In the soul of the army seemed to expire.' By his military talents and many virtues he had acquired esteem Howe's corpse was escorted to Albany for interment by Philip Scudylee, a young hero of native growth,

lost their

him, says Mante,

and

affection.

'

'

in St.

Lord Howe was a member of Parliament

in

Westminster Abbey at an expense of £250. Ed.

time of his decease.

—

Peter's church.

monument

to his

Nottingham

at the

Massachusetts erected a

afterwards a General in the EeTolution, and was buried

memory

for

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

736

'Twere fortunate had we done as much before losing so many people to no purpose the fort would be ours at this moment. After having resolved to attack the intrenchment, Major Proby, of the SS"" regiment, marched

whence they came. ;

the

first at

the head of

followed by

all

all

the pickets and of the grenadiers,

the Regular regiments and

who were

some Provincials; but

the trouble imaginable in passing the abbatis of trees, in

all

afterwards, 'twas reported that the intrenchment

;

be to withdraw us in order, but no positive

this

order

all at

men had all was lost. An hour

once, and there were no other orders, they attacked according as they defiled

which act was impregnable answer was returned on

them; he was

to sustain

instead of attacking ;

our

that the best course

head

;

all

would

the regiments

were ordered to advance; they were led to battle, but all in vain. The French were invisible; nothing was to be seen of them but a small bit of their caps, whilst they were keeping up a Every man who wished to approach nearer than 15 paces, was terrible and continual fire. Notwithstanding all that, a most brisk fire was kept up on ail sides until irreparably dead.

when one regiment after another retired to the camp, which I intrenched of my own accord, after having seen how the thing was going. What will our posterity say when they will learn that 14,000 men kept up and sustained, half-past six,

for six consecutive

hours, with a courage truly heroic, a triple

intrenchment impregnable appears

me more

to

masters of

it,

to small

surprising

fire

from the enemy

arms, without the slightest hope of carrying

is,

that

if

it ?

at

an

But what

perchance they would have rendered themselves own disadvantage; for, after the French would

they would have done so to their

have withdrawn under the cannon of the fort, they would have driven us off very quick, perhaps with greater loss than we should have suffered in capturing it, the fort being only 6 or 700

men killed and wounded the The enemy cannot have lost over one hundred. 'Twas very fortunate that we had not been pursued in our retreat; we should have certainly lost 2,000 men more, having to pass defiles where only men can walk two abreast, and sometimes Our

paces from the intrenchment.

Provincials lost in

only in single

The

47""

all

loss in

Regulars was 1,500

;

only about 600 men.

files.

regiment has had 7

officers killed

and 19 wounded

;

over 200 soldiers killed and

300 wounded.

We

retreated that evening and during the night to the

misfortune and surpasses

Landing

place,

and what crowns our

on the morning of the Q"" everything was embarked and gone, to return whence we came, having still 12,000 fighting men in good health and divers good intrenched camps. We arrived on the same day at Fort Wm. Henry. all

belief,

This, Sir, is an exact account of what occurred. something more fortunate to you. 1

I

should have wished to communicate

am, Sir,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

M.

de Alontcalni [

to

737

Marshal de Belle Ide.

D6partsment de

la Guerre, Parla. ]

Carrillon, 20th July, 1758.

My

Lord,

have the honor to address you an exact and circumstantial Account of the Battle of the As I have not with me here the cypher of correspondence, I postpone all Now, without necessity and without any determinate reflections to the end of the campaign. I

eighth of July.

many men

object, a great

consume our

will

been placed refused to

am

I

are sent to

in a position to

me

at

me whom

I

provisions, and I doubt not but

my

make

departure,

my

the most of

who would have

They

have neither desired nor demanded. it

has been done in order victory, and three

to

write that

I

have

hundred Indians were

annihilated the English on their retreat.

with respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

Montcalm.

de Montcalm's Report of the Battle of Ticonderoga.

M.

An Account

of the Victory gained at Carillon by the King's troops, on the

S""

of

July, 1758.

The Marquis de

Vaudreuil, uncertain of the enemy's movements, considered

it

proper at the

campaign, to divide his forces. He had destined Chevalier de Levy for a secret expedition with a detachment d'elke, 400 men of which were selected from the regular troops, the remainder were sent under the Marquis de Montcalm's orders, to defend the Lake

opening of

this

Sacrament

St.

frontier.

The Marquis de Montcalm prisoners

some days

of between 20 and 25,000

was

to

arrived

on the

before, did not permit

men

him

30"" of

June

at Carillon;

to doubt that the

in the vicinity of

the report of the

enemy had assembled

a force

Fort William Henry, and that their intention

march immediately against him.

He communicated

this intelligence forthwith to the

Marquis de Vaudreuil, and did not hesitate

up a favorable position in advance, which might impose on the enemy, retard their movements, and afford the Colony time to get its reinforcements forward. And Sieur de Bourlamaque received orders in consequence, to occupy the Carrying place at the outlet of Lake

to take

St.

Sacrament, with the 3 battalions of

Montcalm with those of La

Sarre,

La Reine, Guyenne and Beam.

Royal Roussillon, Languedoc, the

The Marquis de

1st Battalion of Berry,

occupied both sides of the Falls, so called because that part of Lake St. Sacrament, contracted Champlain. its waters impetuously into the river St. Frederic, Lake To the 2"* battalion of Berry was committed the guard and service of Fort Carillon ; at the

by mountains, discharges

same time the Marquis de Montcalm caused Sieurs Pont 93 Vol. X.

le

Roy and Desandrouin,

engineers,

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

738

camp which could cover the

to reconnoitre the site of an intrenched

Canadians, and only

command of which he gave Duprat of that of La Reine.

volunteers, the to Captain

On

5""

the night of the

to

Captain Bernard of the

we had on Lake

some scouts

there were a great number of barges which might, and the enemy's camp.

An

fort,

and as we had no

he drafted from the French Battalions two troops of

fifteen Indians,

St.

Beam

regiment, and

Sacrament, gave notice that

in fact did

belong to the van guard of

order was immediately given to the troops of the camps at the Portage

bivouac through the night and cut off the crews Duprat's volunteers up a position at a stream called Bernes river, which descends between the mountains wherewith this country is covered, and enters that of the Falls. The enemy might take us by the rear of these mountains, and 'twas essential to be notified thereof; 350 men

and

Falls, to run to arms,

were sent

;

to take

were detached under the command of Captain de Trepezec of the regiment of Beam, to take between Bald Mountain and the Left river' of Lake St. Sacrament, and the Beam Volunteers occupied an intermediate position between Bald Mountain and the Portage camp. Measures were also adopted to keep an eye on the landing the enemy might effect on the Right post

river' of the lake. 6""

At 4 o'clock

portage.

in the

morning, the enemy's vanguard was descried within sight of the forthwith sent orders to Sieurs de Pontleroy and

The Marquis de Montcalm

Desandrouin,

out in

trace

to

intrenchments en abatis

The enemy commenced in their presence

front of

and to the

;

2"''

Carillon

on the ground

already designated,

the

work at them under its colors. Sieur de Bourlamaque then effected his retreat

battalion of Berry to

landing at 9 o'clock.

with the three battalions of the Portage, in the best possible order

;

he joined

M. de Montcalm who was awaiting him in order of battle on the heights of the Right river' These five battalions united, of the Falls, with the Royal Rousiilon and 1" battalion of Berry. crossed the river and destroyed the bridge, and with those of La Sarre and Languedoc, occupied the heights bordering on the Left

river.'

loss of a man, had not M. de Trepesec's abandoned by the small number of Indians which acted as guides, it lost itself in the mountains covered with trees, and after a march of 12 hours, fell into an English column which was marching towards the river of the Falls. 6 officers, and about 150 they fought for a long time but were soldiers belonging to that detachment, have been taken obliged to yield to numbers; the English on that occasion suffered a considerable loss in the person of Brigadier-General Lord How of their army and Colonel of one of the regiments

This retreat would have been effected without the

detachment gone astray

;

;

from old England.

At 6 o'clock in the evening, M. Duprat came with intelligence that the enemy was making head towards Bernets river with some pioneers, and that their design evidently was to throw a bridge across it. The Marquis de Montcalm ordered him to fall back, and commenced himself retreating towards the heights of Carillon, where he arrived at sundown. At nightfall a party of the enemy's regulars

bank

came

occupy both sides of the Falls, extending towards the

to

of Berney, and intrenched themselves in like manner.

works and abatis roughly prepared on the previous officers gave the example and the colors were planted on the works which were traced from the height nearly 650 toises in front of T""

The

entire

night by the

2"''

army was employed

battalion of Berry.

at the

The

Fort Carillon. •

Hie.

Qu?

rive,

bank.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. The

rested on an escarpment 80 toises distant from the

left

summit was crowned by an abbati cannon were to be placed to batter

The

left

bank of the

as well as the river.

whereof was not so perpendicular as that

the plain between this height and the River St. Frederic was flanked by a branch

;

of intrenchment and

was

to

be flanked also by a battery of 4 pieces of cannon, which was

completed only on the morning following the action

;

moreover, the cannon of the

directed towards that plain and the landing that might be effected to the

The

Falls,

that flanked an opening, in the rear of which 6 pieces of it,

right rested equally on an acclivity, the pitch

on the

739 and whose

centre followed 40 sinuosities, the ground' keeping on the

were

fort

left.

summit

of the heights,

and

the sections (of the intrenchment) flanked each other reciprocally; several indeed both on

all

the right and

received the enemy's

left,

they did not allow us time

to

fire at

an acute angle {en echarpe), but this was because

throw up traverses there.

These species of intrenchments were

formed of trunks of trees piled one on the other, having others felled^in which, cut and sharpened, produced the

Between

the

G""

de Levy, arrived

and

S"",

effect of

chevaux de

branches of

front, the

frise.

the pickets of our troops, detached under the

command

of Chevalier

in the night.

Throughout the whole day our volunteers exchanged shots with the enemy's light troops. in person with a large body of Militia and the remainder of the Regulars, as far as the Falls, to which place he sent up several barges and pontoons, each mounted with two pieces of cannon. The troops raised, therefore, that day, several intrenchments in front one of the other; the nearest of these was hardly a cannon shot from General Abercromby advanced

We

our abbati. 8""

The

ground

bivouacked throughout the night along the intrenchment.

generale

was beat

nearly that wherein the Reine,

la

at day-break, in order that all the troops

men had worked.

The army was composed

of eight battalions:

Sarre, Royal Rousillon, Languedoc, Guienne, the 2 of Berry and that of

the left of the line

La

Beam, and

men.

which made, in all, 3600 were stationed the battalions of La Sarre and Languedoc and two

of 450 Canadians or soldiers of the Marine,

On

might understand their

defence of the intrenchment according to the annexed disposition, which was

for the

fighting

pickets which arrived the previous evening; Bernard and Duprat's volunteers guarded the

opening towards the river of the Falls.

The

centre

was occupied by the

La

Reine,

Beam

first

battalion of Berry, that of Royal Rousillon and the

de Levy.

rest of the pickets of Chevalier

and Guyenne defended the

right,

and on the

plain,

between the escarpment

of that right and the River St. Frederic the Colonial troops and the Canadians were posted,

Each

also intrenched behind abbatis, throughout the entire front of the line.

rear a

its

company of

battalion

had in

grenadiers, one picket and reserve, both to sustain their battalion and

wherever required Chevalier de Levy commanded the right M. de Bourlamaque and the Marquis de Montcalm reserved the centre to himself. This disposition regulated and known, the troops set again immediately to work; part were

to be posted

the

;

;

left,

occupied

in

the remainder in constructing the two batteries before

perfecting the abbatis,

mentioned, and a redoubt which was

On

for additional protection to the night.

the morning of this day, Colonel Johnson joined the English

army with 300 Indians, Soon after we saw

Tchactas, Mohegans and 5 Nations and Captain Jacob with 150 others. '

Le centre

word "le" p. 742.

eiiivait

for

— Eb.

du;

40 sinuosiles,

le terrein conservant, Ac.

so that the correct reading

Text.

Tbe

figure

"40"

would be: "The centre followed the

is

supposed an error for Us and the

sinuosities of the ground," Ac. See poit,

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

740 them and some

light infantry

on a mountain opposite Carillon on the other side of the river

of the Falls; they also opened a considerable

fire

which did not interrupt the work.

We

did

not amuse ourselves by answering them.

Half

after

noon, the

English

army

volunteers and the advanced guards

against us

defiled

fell

back

in

the grenadier companies,

;

good order and reentered the line;

their at the

moment and signal prescribed, all the troops were under arms and at their posts. The left was first attacked by two columns, one of these, which was endeavoring to turn the intrenchment, found itself under the fire of the battalion of La Sarre, the other directed efforts

its

an angle between Languedoc and Berri

against

;

centre

the

where the Royal

Rousillon was posted, was attacked almost at the same time by a third column, whilst a attacked the right between Bearn and

with their light

murdering

fire

La

4"'

These different columns were intermixed infantry and best marksmen, who, under cover of the two, directed a most

on

Reine.

us.

commencement of the battle, some barges and pontoons which had started from the advanced within sight of Carillon, but were forced to retire by some guns of the fort, and by the bold face shewn by Bernard and Duprat's volunteers whom Sieur de Poularies At

the

Falls,

supported at the head of a company of grenadiers and a picket of the Royal Rousillon.

The different attacks continued almost the entire afternoon, and almost throughout the engagement, with the greatest vivacity. As the Canadians and Colonials were not attacked, they directed their fire against the column which was attacking our right and sometimes came within range of them. That column, consisting of

English

grenadiers and

Scotch

highlanders,

continued charging for 3 hours

without retreating or breaking, and several were killed within

About 5

fifteen

paces of our abbatis.

column which had vigorously attacked Royal Rousillon, fell on the angle defended by the battalion of Guyenne and on the left of that of Bearn; the column which had attacked the right, flung itself also against the same point, so that the danger became imminent there. Chevalier de Levy repaired thither with some troops from the right where the enemy were no longer seriously firing; the Marquis de Montcalm ran thither also, with some of the reserve, and the enemy experienced a resistance which finally abated o'clock, the

their ardor.

The

fire of the two columns which were attempting to enter at where Sieur de Bourlamaque had been dangerously wounded about 4 o'clock. Mess" de Senezergue and Privat, Lieutenant-Colonels of La Sarre and Languedoc, supplied his absence by issuing the best orders. The Marquis de Montcalm repaired to that quarter several times, and was attentive to dispatching a reinforcement thither at every critical moment.

left

continued to sustain the

that point,

At 6

o'clock both

columns of the

make another attempt the

right,

which abandoned the attack on Guyenne, came

to

against Royal Rousillon and Berry, and finally a parting effort on

left.

At 7 o'clock the enemy was no longer occupied except by its retreat, under favor of the Light Infantry's fire which was kept up until nightfall they abandoned, with the field of battle, their dead and portion of their wounded. ;

The darkness

of the night; the exhaustion

forces which, despite their defeat, in

were

still

which 'twas impossible, without Indians,

several intrenchments

thrown up en

and small number of our troops; the enemy's

infinitely superior to ours

echelons

;

the nature of those woods

engage an army that had 4 or 500 of them from the field of battle to their camp; such were to

the obstacles which prevented us pursuing the

;

enemy on

their retreat.

We

even calculated

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. would attempt the next day

that they

we worked

take their revenge, and

to

means

the neighboring heights at defiance by

Canadians and

741

of traverses;

to finish the batteries of the right

and

left,

night to set

all

to complete the abbati of the

which had been commenced

in

the morning.

Our volunteers having

9'"

notified the

Marquis de Montcalm that the posts at the Falls and Chev de Levy to proceed at day-

the Portage appeared to be abandoned, he gave orders to

:

break next morning with the grenadiers, volunteers and Canadians, to discover what had become of the enemy's army. Chev: de Levy advanced as far as the Portage. Everywhere

he discovered traces of a precipitate

flight

remains of burnt barges and pontoons

We

incurred.

estimate the killed and

promptitude of their retreat

They have

many

lost

to

— an

;

wounded, provisions and baggage abandoned

enemy had Were some among them, and the

incontestable proof of the loss the

wounded

at 4,000.

be relied on, the number would be

Lord How, Major-General

principal officers;

still

more considerable.

Spitall.^ the

Commander-

in-Chief of the forces of New-York, and several others.

The

Indians of the Five Nations have remained quasi spectators in the rear of the column.

Before declaring themselves, they were doubtless waiting the result of a battle which did not

appear to the English to admit of a doubt.

The Act

in our hands,

which has been published

in their

Colonies forthe levy and maintenance

of this army, announces the general invasion of Canada, and these very words are expressed in all the

The

commissions of

justice

their Militia officers.

due them that they have attacked us with the most determined obstinacy.

is

would be the case with intrenchments for seven consecutive hours. mancEuvres of our Generals before and during the action, all the officers of the army behaved in a manner to the incredible valor of the troops each of them to a special eulogium. Wa have about 450 killed or wounded, thirty-eight

'Tis not usual that such

This victory and

to

entitle

of

due

is

to the skilful

;

whom

are officers.

French printed Account of

the Battle

of Ticonderoga.

Canada. took place in Canada on the S"* July, 1758, between commanded by the Marquis de Montcalm, and those of England, which, to the number of twenty thousand men, have been routed

Journal of the

affair that

the King's troops,

by three thousand two hundred and

Would any one

fifty

French.

twenty thousand English have been obliged to fly before three thousand two hundred and fifty Frenchmen ? This is exactly what has just happened to the King of England's troops commanded by Major General Abercromby.

ParUDocxv.,4«.

believe, Sir, that

John Spital was commissioned Captain in the 47th foot, 24th Noyember, 1765, and acted Brigade He accompanied the expedition against Quebec under Wolfe, in the same capacity, and was attached He was promoted to be llajor, Ist March, 1760, in which year he commanded the 6th battalion of the Ist brigade of the army in the expedition which proceeded from Quebec to form a junction with Amherst at Montreal. On 15th Jane, 1764, he became Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Nesbitt, 'This

Major

is

a mistake.

in this

campaign.

to Monckton's brigade.

21st March, 1765, after

which

his

name

is

dropped

in the

Army

Zitt.

Knox Journal,

L, 255, 256, 866

;

IL,

874

—Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

742

The

English design was to take Fort Carillon, in order afterwards to render themselves

masters of Canada.

Full of confidence in the superiority of the

conquest appeared

them

to

certain, but they

number of

their troops, that

had counted without M' de Vaudreuil and without

the Marquis de Montcalm.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil had sent the Marquis de Montcalm to protect the frontier of the Colony towards Lake S' Sacrament. That General arrived on the 30"' of June at Fort Carillon, where he found only eight battalions of Regulars, two companies of gunners and about three hundred workmen and a few Indians. Some days afterwards, Captain Raimond brought him a reinforcement of 400 Colonials, but having learned that the English with an army of twenty thousand Militia, and six thousand Regulars were in the vicinity of Lake St. Sacrament, and that Major-General Abercromby was to set out to capture Fort Carillon and drive us out of Canada, he immediately advised the Marquis de Vaudreuil of the circumstance,

which that governor had already previously learned from other reports furnished him. He thought proper to change the destination of Chevalier de Levis who had been detached towards Corlac; ordered him to join the Marquis de Montcalm, and took measures to forward additional reinforcements without delay to the latter officer.

The Marquis de Montcalm, on the borders of Lake

S'

in

view

of checking the

enemy, occupied the post of the Falls

Sacrament, where he remained

enemy appeared in force on the Lake. The Marquis de Montcalm sent out

the

until

and came

his troops

all

Fort Carillon, where he had had the precaution to have a

camp

laid out.

about 300 men, which had been sent to annoy the enemy, having

were

killed or

fell

on a column of the enemy, already formed

made

of July,

when

the

several detachments to harrass the English on their

landing; then recrossed the River of the Falls with

of the guides,

6""

;

to

encamp under

A

detachment of

way through

lost its

fault

one hundred and eighty soldiers

prisoners, the remainder joined our troops.

Montcalm had only 2800 men belonging to the troops from France, and 450 Colonials, from which number must be deducted one battalion of Berry

On

arriving at his camp, the Marquis de

was reserved, with the exception of the Grenadier company, to guard the fort. T"" In the morning the entire army was employed constructing abbatis the men at work were protected by some grenadier companies and volunteers; the officers had planted their colors on the work, and axe in hand, were the first to set the soldiers an example, and each that

;

strove with the greatest ardor to surpass the other.

Our

left

wing was composed

of the battalions of

La

Sarre and Languedoc;

it

rested on

an escarpment eighty toises distant from the River of the Falls; an abbatis crowned the

summit

two companies of Bernard's opening. The right was also was protected by a declivity, the pitch The troops of the Colony and the Canadians and the River St. Frederic, and intrenched

of the escarpment and flanked an opening guarded by

and Duprat's volunteers. guarded by La Reine,

whereof was

Six cannon were

Beam and Guyenne

less precipitous

than that on the

posted behind it

;

left.

occupied the table land between this declivity

this

themselves there with some abbatis.

The cannon of the fort was directed both against this part and the place where the landing might be made, to the left of our intrenchment. The centre, preserving the summit of the heights, followed the sinuosities of the ground, and all the parts reciprocally flanked each other.'

The

battalions of Royal Rousillon

and the

'Compare

first

supra,

p.

Berry battalion composed the centre; each

789, note.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS battalion had in

its

rear a

XIV.

:

743

of grenadiers, and a picket of reserve along the whole of

company

the front of the line.

Intrenchments had trees in front,

felled

de

be constructed of logs placed one on the top of the other, having

to

whose branches were cut and sharpened, forming a

sort of

chevaux

frise.

On

the evening of the

7""

our army experienced great joy, on the arrival of 400 picked men.

Chevalier de Levis arrived shortly after with Lieutenant-Colonel Senezergues of the regiment of

La

Sarre.

Chevalier de Levis had charge of the defence of the right; M. de Bourlamaque of that of the left; the Marquis de Montcalm reserved to himself the command of the centre, in order to be in a convenient position for observing,

and

for giving his orders, all round.

The army

bivouacked throughout the night.

The

S"-

generale

was beat

one portion was employed

break of day, and

at the

in

all

the troops reconnoitred their posts

completing the abbatis, whilst the other was constructing

the batteries.

enemy's light infantry showed itself on the opposite and opened a considerable fire, which, the distance being too great, was ineffectual in preventing us continuing the work. At half an hour after noon their army deployed against us. Our guards advanced, the volunteers and grenadier companies fell back and reentered the lines without the loss of a

At ten

o'clock in the forenoon, the

side of the river

The workmen and

man.

single

all

the troops ran, on the

first

signal, to their

arms and

to

their posts.

Our

left

was

first

attacked by two columns, one of which endeavoring to turn the intrenchment

fire of the regiment of La Sarre; the other attacked a salient angle between Languedoc and Berry ;^ and a fourth column attacked the right between the battalions Captain Raimond, who was in command of the troops that had of Beam and La Reine.

found

under the

itself

level land alongside the

gone to the from

its

River

St. Frederic,

not being attacked,

intrenchments, took the column attacking our right in flank

made

and charged

a sortie it

with

which had attacked the Royal Rousillon battalions, threw itself on the salient angle of the intrenchment defended by the the other of the enemy's columns, which at battalions of Guyenne and by the left of Beam first had attacked the battalions of La Reine and Beam, fell upon it also, and the attack became

About 5

intrepidity.

o'clock in

the evening, the column

;

The Marquis de Montcalm and Chevalier de Levis perceiving it, the former ran of the reserve, and the latter with some detachments from the right. The English, repeatedly repulsed, again made another attempt, which had no better success,

murderous.

thither with

some troops

and were obliged

to

prepare for a retreat, which was covered by the

fire

of the light infantry

that continued until night.

Divers considerations prevented our pursuing the enemy their defeat,

were greatly superior

to ours;

in which, even in broad daylight,

it is

;

his forces

which, notwithstanding

the darkness of the night; the nature of the country

impossible to travel without guides, and lastly, the

fatigue of our little victorious army.

M. de Montcalm the next day detached Chev de Levis to reconnoitre the enemy. everywhere discovered only traces of a flight which terror had precipitated. :

'The

centre,

where the Royal Rousillon was

posted,

was attacked almost

at the

same

time,

by a

He

third column. Supra, p. 740.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

744 According

to the report of the

English prisoners in our hands, the enemy lost four thousand

men, in killed and wounded. They have lost a great many officers of distinction. Lord How and Major-GeneraP Spital of the Regulars are among the slain. We have had the satisfaction of remarking that 500 Indians attached to the enemy's army, would never engage in the action.

The Marquis de Montcalm has Mess" de Levis and de Bourlamaque have covered themselves with laurels in the command of the right and of the left. M. de Levis has received several musket-shots in his clothes. Mess" de Bougainville and de Langis, aids-de-camp of M. de Montcalm, have been wounded at his side. We have lost 12 officers and 92 soldiers who have remained on the field of battle. We have had in all 25 officers and 248 soldiers wounded. This

brilliant victory confers infinite

shown himself

to

honor on the French.

be a great captain and a brave

soldier.

Permitted to be printed and distributed.

Rouen,

thia 23

December, 1768.

Boeku

(Signed),

M.

Doreil

to

M.

de Moras.

Quebec,

My

28'" July, 1758.

Lord,

The

accounts which the Marquis de Montcalm has had the honor to render you, will have

given you to understand the small force he had to oppose the enemy's expedition on the Lake St.

Sacrament

frontier, particularly against

Fort Carillon.

The campaign might have been

regarded as much more fortunate than the one preceding, had he escaped being drawn into

What

action.

just occurred

idea will be formed of

As the Marquis de Montcalm in part, I

by

marvelous and incredible event which has

perhaps, not have

will,

a detailed account by the frigate which it

after the

it

?

to sail in a

is

it

in his

few days,

to

you hereunto annexed,

that General has written to the Marquis de Vaudreuil on the

of the signal victory gained on the

8""

by

to render you, my Lord, endeavor to make up for

and perseverance

for

over seven hours.

my 9""

whom

of

I subjoin to the end of

my

propose rendering you an account,

Lord, copy of the two letters of this month, to inform

the King's troops over the English army,

numbered 25 thousand men, more than 14 thousand I

shall

fulfilling his intentions.

have the honor of transmitting

army.

power I

him

which

have fought with great bravery

my

copy a return of the English

Lord, of the Marquis de Montcalm's arrangements

and of some interesting particulars of which 'tis well that you be informed. I commence by the arrangement made for the defence of the abatis.

On

the right, the battalion of

In the centre, Roussillon to the

;

detachment which was

Levy; the second

La Reine

;

next, that of

four troops of 64 to

march

men who

Beam and

into the country of the Five Nations with Chevalier de

battalion of Berry. '

that of Guyenne.

arrived the previous night, belonging

Brigade-Major. Supra,

p.

742.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

On to

XIV.

:

745

—

Languedoc and La Sarre this last closing the line. The eight companies of grenadiers and two troops of G4 men belonging to those which were march with Chevalier de Levis, formed the reserve, and were distributed to the left the

the battalions of

left,

and centre.

The of the

volunteers of Captain Duprat, of the regiment of

Beam

The few

La

of men, landing and turning our

full

left.

Colonial troops and Canadians, numbering about 400

stationed in the opening to the right of the battalion of fire

Sarre, and those of Captain Bernard,

regiment, were posted on the bank of the river to prevent the enemy, by means

of some barges

La

men

with a few

officers,

were

Reine, under the protection of the

from our intrenchment, the guns of the place and some abatis in front of them.

The

third battalion of Berry,

under the orders of M' de Trecesson,

with the exception of the grenadier company detailed

ammunition

The

to

its

commander, was

guard Fort Carillon and to convey

to the abatis.

troops mutually aided and assisted each other, and our grenadier companies have always

manoeuvre of passing successively from one attack to the other. Although the Marquis de Montcalm was posted in the centre at the commencement of the action, he repaired equally and in succession to all points, principally from the Guienne

effected the

battalion to the extremity of the

left.

the line wholly to Chevalier de Levis

;

About the middle of the fight, he confided the right of his aids-de-camp conveyed to him continually news

from that quarter.

The

attack which was attended with most danger,

was

that

made by botb

right columns combined, and on that part of the abbatis defended

The Marquis

the enemy's

by the Guienne

de Montcalm from his side and Chevalier de Levis from

his,

battalion.

immediately applied

a remedy by repairing thither in person with a reinforcement.

Chevalier de Levis and M. de Bourlamaque deserve the greatest encomiums for their

Towards the

excellent arrangements, and for their example and firmness during the action.

which fractured his shoulder blade and uterus.' We begin, however, to augur favorably of this wound. M' de Pont le Roy, Captain en premier of the Corps Royal, Chief Engineer of Canada, and M' Desandrouins, Captain en second and Engineer attached to the French troops, have close of the engagement, the latter received a shot

rendered essential services by the zeal and rapidity with which they had the abbatis constructed in

24 hours

;

M' de Marquis de Montcalm whose orders he did not

they were both at the defence animating the soldiers by their examples.

Desandrouins acted as aid-de-camp cease to convey in

all

to the

directions from the

The Commandants and every

commencement

to the close of the action.

individual officer of the Corps have performed

prodigies of

and nothing can be compared to the courage of the lowest soldiers. In fine, whatever occurred on that brilliant and glorious day must be ever remembered. The Colony which would find itself cut in the centre, was lost beyond recovery. The enemy made the attack with surprising vigor, having the elite of the best regulars, the grenadiers and volunteers at the head of his columns. If defeated, we had no retreat ; nothing could have

valor,

prevented the

enemy

Montreal, which

and joy,

is

is

25 thousand men, from being already

\yith a force of

What must

without any defence.

the

more

at the gates of

excite the public admiration

the fact that no Indian has contributed to this great event, a circumstance which

perhaps never occurred in

this

country '

Vol. X.

;

there

Sic.

94

was not

humerus.

— Ed.

a single

one of them.

The

glory of

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

746

the General and of the French troops is indeed much greater in consequence but the enemy's de force would, at the same time, have been entirely defeated in its precipitate retreat, had M. Montcalm had 200 Indians to guide a strong detachment which he would have sent in pursuit, under the orders of Chevalier de Levis. Although the enemy could not have been pursued, his retreat has rather been a flight in terror and uttermost disorder, abandoning wounded, ;

ammunition, implements &c. A detachment which went out on the 10'^ has these on the road, and nearly 500 dead bodies junked on one side and another. The enemy's army did not consider itself safe at the Portage, it retreated to the head of Lake St. Sacrament where Fort George formerly stood, and where it is carefully intrenching itself.

provisions,

discovered

all

Besides feeling myself obliged. My Lord, to render you an account of these particulars, the Marquis de Montcalm has directed me to do so. You will remark, in his Narrative,' that about 500 Indians of the Five Iroquois Nations accompanied the English army to witness-our defeat, and to act, afterwards, openly against us. Some individual officers have even stated that they fired

from the

hills

This proceeding

on our advanced guards.

justifies

the opinion of those

pay us back in by sending deputies to the Marquis de Vaudreuil to engage him to divide his forces, precisely when the enemy were on the march to attack us on Lake St. Sacrament. M. de Rigaud arrived at Carillon with some Colonial troops, Canadians and about 600 The Marquis de Montcalm informs me on the 17"" that he has Indians, only on the IS"". The remainder advanced a party of Canadians and Indians to encamp at the Portage. and the Colonial troops are encamped at the Falls, and the eight French battalions are working industriously in constructing regular intrenchments and in finishing Fort Carillon. M. de Pont le Roy and, under his orders, M. Desandrouins are directors of the work. M. de

who our

believe that those people, gained over by the English,

own

assisting to

coin,

Lotbiniere

is

here since the fifteenth.

from Louisbourg the English had not as yet opened the were only one thousand toises from the place. They had up to that time, about 1500 men, in killed and wounded. 'Tis reported that sickness

By

intelligence received yesterday

trench on the lost,

were

prevails

S""

among

of this month, and

their

land forces.

Our troops

understanding exists everywhere; that begins of this place.

M. du ChaSault's

them up do duty

to

fleet

sick at the

me

somewhat

'tis

spirits

perfect

;

in regard to the fate

The

Nevertheless, flattering hopes must not be entertained.

garrison can be relied on, but

who were

best possible

the

are in

to tranquilize us

bravery of the

very feeble, regard being had to the condition of the place.

had on board one sergeant and

time of landing at St. Anne

;

I

by order of the Marquis de Vaudreuil. Louisbourg be decided.

26 soldiers of the battalion of

Cambis,

have claimed them, and he has given I

shall

keep them here and make them

until the siege of

Up to this date, my Lord, only 328 recruits have arrived of these, the Colonial have received 98, I have embodied the other 230 into our battalions and sent those army who were in good health. I would still require about 550 men to complete them ancient footing, independent of the augmentation prescribed for the six first by the ;

ordinance of the month of January, 1857.

You

perceive,

my

some more arrive. M. Bernier, ordinary Commissary of war, who has been sent about a month ago in the frigate le Prince Edouart of Rochefort

Lord, that

it

is

troops to the

on the King's

very desirable

that

Bupra,

p.

737.— Ed,

to serve ;

under me, has arrived

but so far from being able to

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. give

me any

assistance, his situation has increased

since his arrival with a malignant fever,

my

747

He

cares and embarrassments.

which has carried him

to death's

door; he

is

is

sick

out of

danger only since a few days. I am, with most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Doreil.

(Signed),

An Account of the

Descent of the English into Canada, and of the Victory gained

over them by the French.

On

number of 16 or 18 thousand camp was occupied by M. de Bourlamaque, regiments of La Reine, Guyenne and Beam the superior force of the fall back on M. de Montcalm, who was in the occupation of the Falls Rousillon and Berry. M. de Montcalm, informed of the number of the

the night of the 5 and 6 July, 175S, the English to the

men, came with

intention to land at the Portage; the

who commanded enemy

obliged

the

him

;

to

with the regiments of

enemy, judged proper to fall back during the day; he crossed the River of the Falls and remained two hours on the right of the regiments of La Sarre and Languedoc, that were guarding the heights through which the enemy could pass on the direct course to Carillon he afterwards retired with all the troops under the guns of Carillon, halting every 50 paces, although the enemy were constantly advancing. He did not lose a man in that retreat, which was one of the most beautiful. Arrived under Carillon on the evening of the G"". Mess" de Pont le Roi and de Sandrouins were directing the work at the intrenchment which was crowning the height, having the river on the left and a curtain on the right M. de Langy had been despatched on the same night with 150 volunteers to attack some barges, reported to number 60, but on meeting 5 (^ 600 he was obliged to retreat, and not having had any notice of M. de Bourlamaque's retiring, relumed to the Portage, where he arrived that night. On approaching he cried. Qui vive? the English answered, Fran^ais ; and as soon as he had ;

;

somewhat advanced, he was surrounded by enemies and fired on at a brave rate; he fought desperately the English drove him back to the brink of a small stream no quarter was given inasmuch as all his volunteers plunged in to wade; M. de Langy was the only officer who rejoined the camp with 10 or 12 volunteers; the fate of the rest is not known. ;

;

It

has since been ascertained that Captain Bonneau, of Guyenne, retreated, constantly fighting, with full 150 men, because they had offered to lay down their arms were they

to a peninsula,

allowed quarter, which was refused them

;

whereupon they fought with

incredible vigor,

and

though their number diminished, they killed a great many people; this obliged the enemy to cry Quarter to them, which they accepted. News has since been received from M. Bonneau,

who

speaks highly of General Albercrombie's kindness.

killed in the affair of the S""

In the pockets of

some English

have been found commissions, which they received as

officers

officers for

the general expedition against Canada.

Among

the papers of the

New-York on

who were

the

5""

of

enemy has

March

also

last, stating in

to form, altogether, a corps of

Fort Carillon, continue by that of Point

been found a printed proclamation published at the

title

30 thousand St. Frederic,

the invasion assigned to the Regulars

men

;

proceed to

commence

operations at

and push their conquests up to Montreal.

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

748

Genera] Albercromby, on his return to the camp at Fort S"",

has publicly forbid, on pain of death, any mention to be

and the

loss

St.

George

made

after the affair of the

of the affairs of Louisbourg,

they incurred in the action at Carillon, and to represent the dead only at 1200 men.

'Tis proved that their

Copy

army was 20 thousand

strong.

of the Letter written by M. de Montcalm to the Marquis de Vaudreuil.

July

9,

1758.

Sir,

Too much canoe to you

occupied with business and events, I have instructed M. last

le

Mercier to despatch a

night to inform you of the victory just gained by the King's troops over the

English, and that I was preparing even to recommence this morning, if they wished. You have been informed of the very splendid retreat which we made on the 6""; we should have suffered no loss thereby [had it not been for] the adventure of M. de Langy's detachment;

although that retreat had been effected with considerable boldness, and at the moment 6 thousand of the enemy's troops were landing, we arrived at my position on the evening of the

Mess" de Pont le Roy, de Sandrouins, have superintended the work of the intrenchment, which was crowning the height, the left on the river, and the right on a curtain. Our 7 e"".

battalions

— the

2'=*

of Berry having been entrusted with guarding the fort and

of that part, under the orders of M. de Trecesson, to the

army

— our 7

battalions, I say,

who on

worked with

this occasion

all

the details

rendered great services

incredible ardor in constructing abbatis,

which

in the course of the day of the 7"", were finished, both good and bad Chevalier de Levy's pickets reached us on the same day, and he himself arrived on the 8"". The few Canadians and Colonial troops I had by me, were posted at 5 o'clock in the morning at the opening between the abbatis and the river; the general disposition for the reception of ;

enemy was completed by the 7">. Throughout the whole of the 7"' we had our guards and grenadiers outside to protect the work; the companies of volunteers drafted from our troops, and which I had placed under the command of Mess" Bernard and du Prat, were always in advance to give intelligence of the enemy's movements. Mess" de Langy and Daillebout were going to scout also; the army lay on its arms.

the

S"".

Men

continued strengthening the abbatis, our volunteers as usual exchanged shots with

Levy caused no other change in my arrangement than to commit the defence of the right to him, and to remove M. de Bourlamaque to the left; M. Mercier and all our artillery officers were busy placing cannon at the points at which I had ordered them to be placed; at half past noon the English columns defiled against our guards, who, with the grenadier and pioneer companies, entered immediately and without any confusion. The signal gun was fired, and in a moment all the troops were at their the enemy's advanced guards; the arrival of Chevalier de

different posts.

At 1 o'clock we were attacked by the enemy with an impetuosity worthy of better troops; they made 6 consecutive assaults, and even reached the abbatis they formed 3 principal columns the firing on both sides was kept up briskly until 6 o'clock in the evening and continued until night; the army, which consisted only of 2,900 effectives of our troops and 400 Canadians or ;

soldiers of the Colonials, resisted

was

alike at

all

all

those attacks with the courage of heroes.

points and for a long time; fortunately no troop wavered.

performed prodigies of valor on

this occasion,

and

their

The danger The officers

example has had a surprising influence

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

749

The Colonial troops and Canadians have caused us to regret that there soldier. were not in greater number. Chevalier de Levy, under whose eyes they fought, speaks highly of them; because they were nimbler men he ordered two sorties, under the order* of such of your officers as were capable of going on such service M. d'hery. Adjutant of La Reine, headed one Captain Denau, of the same regiment, the other. M. de Raymond, who had the honor to command the troops of the Colony, displayed much zeal and intelligence, and t cannot speak on the lowest

;

;

too highly of him, of Mess" Saint Ours, la Naudiere, Gaspe, and generally of the small

of officers

we had

there

we

;

number

are indebted for this advantage to the courage of the troops, to

Levy ordered to be made at the right by pickets and a company of same time that he had dispatched some active grenadiers into the opening

the sorties Chevalier de grenadiers, at the

and

to

M. de Bourlamaque's arrangements and firmness on the

All the

Commandants

of corps, and generally

left.

the officers, acted in a

all

manner

to leave

me

only the merit of finding myself the General of such brave troops, and of attending to have them successively reinforced, according as parts of our abbatis were

As the enemy could

more

or less vigorously attacked.

land a force in barges, which, in fact, they attempted at the beginning of

the attack, Bernard's and

Du

was managing 3 guns of the

Prat's volunteers guarded this part, and

M. de Louvicourt, who

sunk a barge and pontoon this, joined to the fire of the volunteers, compelled the retreat of the 200 barges which the English had caused to advance. Chevalier de Montreuil used the greatest activity in the world to transmit all the orders necessary for the encouragement of the troops, and for the distribution of the ammunition which fort,

;

the gentlemen of the second battalion of Berry and the officers of the artillery had conveyed to us with great diligence; that battalion had

although the cooperated

officers

effijctually in all

M. du

transportation.

with

his

belonging to

have passed the night

grenadier

much not

company defending have been

to

at

the abbatis, and

the same place, they

the manceuvres, and have not failed to lose some soldiers in the

Plessix,

who had

The enemy

SO soldiers.

its

regret

it

landed in the midst of the

retired at night,

affair,

marched immediately

abandoning a part of their wounded, and we

order of battle, because they had some fresh troops with which they

in

might recommence under favor of the night.

We

estimate from the report of prisoners, that they were at least 1200 of their best fighting

troops; they had

left

the remainder behind some abbatis, between the Falls and our

field

of

must exceed 4000 men, including killed and wounded, (such is our conclusion from the report of prisoners), and 2000 corpses which lie along our Lord Howe who commanded the attack, we are assured has been killed. Our loss, abbatis. the exact extent of which I do not yet know, will be 250 @. 300 killed or wounded this battle to protect their retreat.

Their

loss

;

this

number

includes a few Canadians

the detachment of the

6"",

it

This day,

inevitably reduce our battalions.

On

return of officers killed or wounded.

advance, and

and Colonials.

appears certain that the

Annexed

this day, the 9"", I

enemy have

and the misfortune of

to this despatch is the have sent some volunteers in

retired to the Portage and burnt the Mill

and the barges they had sent forward. M. de Lusignan writes me, this moment, that three deserters have arrived at his quarters, who report that the army consisted of 20,000 men and I have learned the same fact from a at the Falls

;

letter of

an

officer

who was

killed, exclusive of the

you. action,

What and

killed

;

wounded.

a day for France, had to

serve as

guides to

Lord Howe, the Major-General and 3000 In that case their loss must be greater than I had stated to that they lost

I

had only 200 Indians to let loose at the close of the detachment which I would have confided to

a strong

.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

750 Chevalier de Levy

!

a great battle, and perhaps the

It ia

first

Canada

that has been fought in

without Indians. I

am, &c.,

Moncalm.

(Signed), M""

de Sandrouins,

has been

who

my

has been

from the right to the

left,

secretary, has acted as

my

encouraging the soldiers.

aid-de-camp, and always

M' de Pont

le

Roy

has

followed us.

News from Our

Carillon.

Friday, 20" of July,

success continues:

Colonials and Indians,

all

command

under the

a detachment of

of M'' de Saint

Luc

la

400 men, Canadians, Corne, Captain of the

Colony, attacked, at one o'clock in the afternoon, on the Lidius road, about 150 men, captured 53 wagons loaded with provisions, 230 oxen, took SO scalps and 60 prisoners, we lost only one Iroquois Indian and one wounded. including men, women and children ;

Return of the July, and

Officers killed,

wounded and drowned,

in the Affair of the G"" of

in the battle of the 8"". Staff. Killed.

Assistant Quarter Master General de Bougainville, slightly in the head.

Wounded.

Miseing.

1

Colonel de Bourlamaque, most dangerously

1

.

Regiment of La Reine. Captain Daubecourt

3

Captain Le Compte

1

Lieutenant Lieutenant

De De

Manial

1

Floid

1

1

Lieutenant Bernard

Sub-Lieutenant Baudin, of the grenadiers

1

Regiment of La Sarre. Captain Chambredoude

1

Captain Chev: de Morant

Adjutant

1

De Minere

1

Captain Beauclerc

1

Lieutenant Forcet

1

Cadet Chevalier Previllac, Cadet de Grasset

in charge of a post

1 1

Royal Rousillon. Captain

Du

Coin

1

Languedoc. Captain Freville

1

Lieutenant Chevalier de Parfourn

1

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

751 Killed.

VToonded. MLaaing.

Captain Basserode Lieutenant Du Glas Lieutenant Mariliac Lieutenant Blanchard Lieutenant Courcy Chevalier

d'

Arenne, recommended for a lieutenancy, wounded

amputated

Guyenne.

De

Captain

Patris

1

Captain Bonneau Captain

St.

Vincent

1

Captain Le Bretache, slightly

1

Lieutenant Restorand

1

Lieutenant

La

Rochelle Berry.

Captain

De

la

Breme, acting Brigade-Major

1

Captain Carlan, Adjutant

1

Captain Chateauneuf

1

Lieutenant Demmery, of the grenadiers

Sub-Lieutenant

1

De Charmont

1

Beam. Captain Arepes6e

1

Lieutenent Jaubert Lieutenant Pons

1

Douay

Lieutenant

1

Captain Macartie, adjutant

1

Captain Montguay

1

Captain Kgus

1

Colonial Troc

De Langy,

3 wounds, not dangerous

Lieutenant Nigon Lieutenant, Chevalier de Rezy

Regiment of La Reine, 94 soldiers, few killed. In La Sarre, 44 soldiers, few killed. In Royal Rousillon, 26 soldiers, few killed. In Languedoc, 50 soldiers, few killed. In Guyenne, 93, a great

few

killed.

prisoners.

number

killed."

In Berry, 63 soldiers,

more than half

killed.

In

Beam, 91

soldiers,

In the Colonial troops, 28 soldiers, few killed; 38 Militia drowned or taken In

all

527, 28 of which Colonials.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

752

M. Doreil [

to

Marshal de Belle

Dipartement de

Isle.

la Guerre, Paris. ]

Quebec,

My

2S"' July, 1758.

Lord,

You

my

despatches of the IG"" of June

Marquis de Paulmy, which will have reached you by the frigate La Sirenne, if she have the luck to pass, what were the plans of the campaign. The Marquis de Montcalm's position on the frontier of Lake St. Sacrament was difficult and critical. With the few forces and means at his disposal, I should have regarded his campaign as much more fortunate than those preceding, had he, will have seen

by one of

whilst restricting himself to

a defensive course,

to the

What

blame.

escaped

last,

opinion must be

entertained of him after the marvelous and incredible event which has just taken place.

As

Montcalm

the Marquis de

will, perhaps, not

detailed accounts by the frigate about to sail in a

have

in his

it

few days,

power

I shall

my

Lord, to render you

endeavor to make up

for

the deficiency, in fulfilling his intentions. I

have the honor

to

General has written

transmit you, hereunto annexed,

to the

25,000 strong, more than 1400 of

about

to give

I

have subjoined,

you an account,

whom

9""

8"",

at the close of

my

Lord, copies of the two letters that

of this month, to render him an by the King's troops over the English army, have fought with great bravery and firmness for more

account of the signal victory gained on the than 7 hours.

my

Marquis de Vaudreuii, on the

my

letter,

a return of the English army.

I

am

Lord, of the Marquis de Montcalm's arrangements, and of

some interesting particulars, of which it is necessary that you should be informed. I commence by the arrangement made for the defence of the abatis. On the right, the battalion of La Reine next that of Beam and that of Guyenne. ;

In the centre. Royal Rousillon, four troops of 64 to the

detachment which was

de Levy

;

to

march

men

arrived the previous night, belonging

into the country of the Five Nations with Chevalier

the second battalion of Berry.

On the left the battalions of Languedoc and La Sarre, this last closing the line. The eight companies of Grenadiers and two troops of 64 men belonging to

those which

were to march with Chevalier de Levis, formed the reserve and were distributed to the left and centre. The volunteers of Captain Du Prat of the regiment of La Sarre and those of Bernard, captain in the Beam regiment, were posted on the bank of the river to prevent the enemy landing by means of some barges full of men, and turning our left. The few Colonial troops and Canadians, numbering about 400 men with a few officers, were stationed in the opening to the right of the battalion of

La Reine, under

the protection of the

from our intrenchment, the guns of the place and with some abatis in front of them. The third battalion of Berry under the orders of M. de Trecesson its commander was, with

fire

the exception of the grenadier company, detailed to guard

ammunition

Fort Carillon and to convey

to the abatis.

The troops mutually aided and assisted each other, and our grenadier companies have always effected the manoeuvre of passing successively from one attack to the other. Although the Marquis de Montcalm was posted action,

he repaired equally and

in succession to

in the centre at the all

points,

commencement

principally from the

of the

Guienne

PARIS DOCUMENTS battalion to the extremity of the

About

left.

:

XIV.

753

the middle of the fight, he confided the right of

the line wholly to Chevalier de Levis; his aids-de-camp conveyed to him continually the

news

from that quarter. The attack which was attended with most danger, was that made by both the enemy's right The columns combined, on that part of the abatis defended by the Guienne battalion. Marquis de Montcalm from his side, and Chevalier de Levis from his, immediately applied a

remedy by repairing

thither in person with a reinforcement.

Chevalier de Levis and M. de Bourlamaque deserve the greatest encomiums for their Towards the excellent arrangements, and for their example and firmness during the action.

engagement, the

close of the

utmerus.i

We

latter received

a shot

which fractured wound.

his shoulder blade

and

begin, however, to augur favorably of this

M. de Pont le Roy, Captain en premier of the Cor'ps Roijal, Chief-Engineer of Canada, and M. Desandrouins, Captain en second and Engineer attached to the French troops, have rendered essential services by the zeal and rapidity with which they had the abatis constructed in

24 hours; they were both at the defence, animating the soldier by their examples. M. Desandrouins acted as aid-de-camp to the Marquis de Montcalm, and did not cease conveying his orders in

all

from the commencement

directions,

The Commandants, and

to the courage of the lowest soldiers.

and nothing can be compared

valor,

to the close of the action.

every individual officer of the corps, have performed prodigies of In fine, whatever

occurred on that brilliant and glorious day must be ever remembered. The Colony, which would find itself cut in the centre, was lost beyond recovery. The enemy has attacked with surprising vigor, having the 6lite of the best Regulars, his grenadiers and volunteers at the a force of 25 thousand

What must

without any defence.

that no Indian has contributed

occurred in this country of the French troops

is

we had no retreat; nothing men from being already at the

If defeated,

head of his columns.

enemy with

;.

there

indeed

the

more

excite the public admiration and joy,

to this great

was not a

much

event

—a

greater in consequence its

is

is

the fact

circumstance which perhaps never

single one of them.

the same time, have been entirely defeated in

could have prevented the gates of Montreal, which

;

The

glory of the General and

but the enemy's force would, at

precipitate retreat, had

M. de Montcalm had

only 200 Indians to guide a strong detachment which he would have sent in pursuit, under the Although the enemy could not have been pursued, his retreat orders of Chevalier de Levis.

has rather been a flight in terror and uttermost disorder, abandoning wounded, provisions, ammunition, implements, &c. A detachment which went on the lO"" has discovered all these

on the road, and nearly 500 dead bodies junked on one side and another. The enemy's army did not consider itself safe at the Portage; it retreated to the head of Lake St. Sacrament,

where Fort George formerly stood, and is carefully intrenching itself ihere.^ As we have reason to suspect that the bureaux of the Marine will endeavor to vaunt the glory of four hundred men belonging to the troops and Militia of the Colony, who were in this action, and perhaps to diminish those of the troops of the line, I must inform you, my Lord, of what the Marquis de Montcalm has written me, individually, on the fourteenth.

He '

expresses himself on. this subject as follows:

Sie.

See

»iipra, p. 745, note.

' The preceding is a copy of what M. Doreil wrote to M. de Moras, the Colonial Miuister, on this date. Supra, p. 744. The next seven paragraphs, containiug reflections on and complaints of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, are not in the desfateh to

the Colonial Minister, but excIuEively in that to Minister of War.

Vol. X.

95

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

754 "

I

must say

in truth that the Colonial troops

and the Canadians have behaved very

M. de Trecesson, the Commandant, has been obliged to abandoning their post, in the two sorties ordered on the

fire

indifferently.

on some of them

who

vsrere

by Chevalier de Levis fev? officers, soldiers and Canadians made a sortie after orders to that effect had been given. Adjutant Druil, of the battalion of La Reyne, and Captain Demoes, were sent to persuade them to do so, and to lead them. Nevertheless, as a good servant of the King, I have considered it for the good of the service to praise them in a Narrative which was to be published. Captain de Raymond of the Colonial troops, and who commands them and the Canadians, a

who

relative of the Brigadier-General

acted very well;

has been in

right

command

at Isle

;

Royal, has personally

greatly fear that M. de Vaudreuil will not do any thing for him, because he

I

does not like him.

I

have been obliged

to deceive both the

French

officer

and soldier who

was desirous of having us strangled, by giving us so small a force to face a real danger, whilst he was uselessly retaining a corps of two or three thousand men for the purpose of making experiments in the country of the Five Nations, where three hundred men were sufficient, and that he did not deign to put the other forces of the Colony said openly, that M. de Vaudreuil

in motion,

et cetera.

M. de Vaudreuil will doubtless is calmed at present. on the ground of want of provisions of which we had only five day's supply at the time of the attack, but 'twould be easy to prove to him still more his mistake in this regard there was a prodigious quantity of them at St. John and at Chambly. "

God

be thanked, the excitement

endeavor

to justify himself

;

" For myself, tired of working miracles and of not being listened recall at the

to,

I shall

demand my

end of the Campaign.

" I am engaged at present in introducing order among two thousand Canadians and six hundred Indians, who, at last, arrived yesterday evening, the greatest portion of whom, had it not been for the ordinary and affected delays, might have been here, like Chevalier de Levy, before the action. They are come now to devour provisions, when there is no longer any

need of them." I

must here report another circumstance

to you,

my

Lord, which proves more and more

Montcalm has acquired, him of the means of succeeding in

that M. de Vaudreuil, jealous no doubt of the glory that the Marquis de

would, without affecting

making

The

it

too much, fain have deprived

a good defence.

aware of the importance of having an experienced Engineer, such as M. de Pont Roy, of whose merit and falents in the army of Italy and Provence he was cognizant, requested him of M. de Vaudreuil, who appeared to comply, and even left him master of ordering that officer to leave here for the purpose of joining him at Montreal. M. de Montcalm latter,

le

latter who was burning with the desire of knowledge of the state of the fortification of Carillon, of which he entertained a bad opinion, in consequence of what he had heard of that place, makes his arrangements, fixes the day for his departure, and informs the Marquis

wrote

in

making

consequence

to

M. de Pont de roy.

The

the campaign and of acquiring a personal

M. de Vaudreuil, who, on almost the very day he granted the Engineer know, that whenever he thinks it fit that he shall repair to the army, he ( M. de V.) will give him his orders. This snare surprised M. he shewed it to me, and concerted with me an answer importing that on de Pont le Roy his first order notified by the Marquis de Montcalm, he had fixed on the tenth of June, which was the next day that he had no time to lose in joining the Marquis de Montcalm at Montreal, de Montcalm of

it,

and reports

it

to

the Marquis de Montcalm's request,

;

;

let

PARIS DOCUMENTS whence he was oif;

to

march on the twenty-fourth

He

('twas no such thing.)

obliged to

him

set

or 25

XIV.

:

755

that his baggage had already been sent

;

out the following day in the hope that he could only

and ardor with which he obeyed orders.

for the zeal

He

feel

arrived at Montreal

M. de Vaudreuil through the guise of politeness evinced some appearance of anger; no was attained. He dared not openly and to his face

matter, the object of the public good

whom

refuse this Engineer-in-Chief to the Marquis de Montcalm, with

he

left

on the 25"" for

the army.

The event

how much

has justified

convince you

will, besides,

his presence there

more,

still

my

Lord, of

all

was necessary, and this little detail the troubles to which people are

incessantly exposed here, though having no object in view but the good of the public service.

has been unceasingly exposed thereto, from the

The Marquis de Montcalm his arrival, and

it is

first

only by the force of zeal and philosophy that he has resisted

my

Besides feeling myself obliged,

moment

of

it.

Lord, to render you an account of these particulars, the

You will remark in his Narrative that about to do so. 500 Indians of the Five Iroquois Nations accompanied the English army to witness our defeat, and to act afterwards openly against us. Some individual officers have even stated that they This proceeding justifies the opinion of those fired from the hills on our advanced guard. who believed that those people, gained over by the English, were assisting in giving us change, me

Marquis de Montcalm has directed

by sending deputies to the Marquis de Vaudreuil to engage him to divide his forces, precisely when the enemy were on the march to attack us on Lake St. Sacrament. The Marquis de Montcalm informs me the l?'" that he has advanced a party of Canadians and Indians to encamp at the Portage. The remainder and the Colonial troops are encamped at the Falls,

and the eight French battalions are working industriously in constructing regular in furnishing Fort Carillon, which ought to have been

intrenchments in place of abatis, and

Mess" de Pont

done long ago.

le

Roy and Desandrouins

are directors of the work,

under

his orders.

We

continue very uneasy for Fort Louisbourg, where the English landed on the

to the

number

of eighteen thousand men.

We

but they are too few of them and the works

came Dauphin the Cambis

to take refuge here, after

Chaflault's fleet

landed.

This

battalion,

fleet has

{corjis

I

de plaee) are

of

worth nothing.

having had hardly time

which proceeded over land

one sergeant and twenty-six

remained sick on board.

S""

June

rely considerably on the valor of the troops,

men

to

to

M. du

put on shore at Port

Louisbourg the moment

belonging to that battalion

it

who

have reclaimed them and shall retain them here until the siege of we shall keep them, and will put them on the

If the place be taken

Louisbourg be decided.

roster of one of our battalions, with

which they

will

do duty;

if

not,

we

shall send

them back

this fall.

The King's

frigate

La

Valeur,

commanded by

Sieur Canon, a famous cruiser,

is

the bearer

of this despatch. I

am, with the most profound respect.

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, DOREIL. P. S. Since writing

on the

S""

of this

my

month

letter

we

learn that the English had not as yet opened the trench

before Louisbourg; they

were then encamped only one thousand

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

756

men in killed and wounded. 'Tis reported that sickness among their land forces, and that misunderstanding exists between Admiral Boscawen and the Commander of the land forces. Our troops are in the best possible spirits, perfect understanding exists everywhere; that begins to tranquillize us somewhat in regard to the Nevertheless no flattering hopes must be entertained. The bravery of the fate of the place. toises from the place, and had lost 1500

prevails

garrison can be relied on, but

'tis

M.

de

very feeble, regard being had to the condition of the place.

Montcalm [

to

M.

de

Masdac.

Dfepartement de la Guerre, Paris.

]

Camp

My

at Carillon,

28* July, 1758

Lord,

Since the night of the eighth, the Marquis de Vaudreuil,

full

of advantageous ideas, which

make him

experience in war and knowledge of a frontier he has never seen, would soon aside, does not cease writing to that

it is

his letters of the twelfth, sixteenth,

means of strong detachments, to oblige the

possible, by

the head of

me by

Lake

St.

Sacrament.

I

am

chimerical idea as practicable, inasmuch as year, written to the

justified it

enemy

to

abandon

their position at

apprehending that he presents

in

has indirectly come to

my

same effect on the possibility of the siege of Fort Lydius. annex hereunto the extracts of the Marquis de Vaudreuil's

that you will find

them

You may, my Lord, so far as I

am

having desired

it,

I

letters,

flatter

dated

myself

as firm as they are respectful.

'Tis to this diversness of opinions, and to the respectful firmness I

that the

it,

answers beside each.

assure his Majesty that diversity of opinions will never injure his service,

concerned.

always infuse into

my

this

ears that he had, last

I have the honor to

the twelfth, fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth, and

lay

and seventeenth,

was ready

Chouaguen expedition

to

renounce

it,

and

I

is

due.

The Marquis de

Vaudreuil, after

encouraged him only by memoirs.

In case doubts are entertained of the strength of the English on this continent, I can assure

you according

to the

almanac which they had printed

in

New- York on

the

first

of January,

1758, that they had then twenty regiments of regulars from Old England, five independent

companies, two companies of

one hundred

men

each.

artillery,

They have

and that their regiments consist of ten companies of forwarded by sea a large force for the siege

also

of Louisbourg. I

am

respectfully,

My

Lord,

Your most humble, &c.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

M.

Correspondence hetween

:

de Vaudreuil

XIV.

757

and M.

de Montcalm.

Extract from the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letter to the Marquis de Montcalm, 12 July, 1758.

Our circumstances

are sufficiently favorable. Sir, not to lose sight of the great advantage

we

have acquired over our enemies by your victory of the eighth of this month. Their retreat to old Fort George may be with a view to fortify and arrange themselves there, and to dispose all things so as to be ready to march after the reunion of their troops who are employed at the

But whatever may be their views, and whatever interpretations we may must engage us to employ every means so as not to allow them time to adopt new measures which, whatever they be, would always seriously prejudice us, in regard to the small quantity of provisions we have, and to the necessity of having our Canadians back to save the harvest. I enter strongly, Sir, into the projects you have formed on this subject the retreat and terror even of the enemy, only augment my anxiety to forward to you siege of Louisbourg.

put upon them,

all

;

all

the forces at

my

government that are

disposal fit

;

that

for duty,

to

is

to say,

I

send you

the militia belonging to

all

the

execute such movements as you will deem proper; you

have already many of these men, and some will reach you every day, so that exclusive of 'Tw of importance. Sir, that we always have strong Indians, your strength will be considerable. They could not he too numerous, so as to Jetatchments both on the lake and at the head of the hay. harrass our enemies constantly, cut off their communication with old Fort George, and intercept their convoys.

No

campaign

train, provisions,

of

all

hetler

manoeuvre

is

&c.

in our power to force them to

abandon

their position, halteaux, artillery,

'Twill oblige them to retire, and thereby deprive

them forever

hope of renewing their attempt.

Observations of the Marquis de Montcalm in answer to the preceding Letter, le"" July, 1758.

This part of the Marquis de Vaudreuil's to

make

letter

appears to have been written only with a view

the Marquis de Montcalm responsible for

all

the events that

may

arise, so as to

say

him all the forces of the Colony; he has had them for a month, and did not know how to profit by them, in order to prevent the enemy establishing himself at Fort George. If, on the contrary, the Marquis de Montcalm was marching with all his forces and did not succeed, the Marquis de Vaudreuil would not fail to write He has marched without orders and has compromised the Colony. 'Tis always astonishing that the Marquis de Vaudreuil

I have sent

:

considers himself qualified at a distance of

fifty

leagues to determine on operations of

country he has never seen, and where the best Generals, after having seen embarrassed.

The Marquis

de Vaudreuil forgets that that army

it,

war

in a

would have been

was at least 20,000 strong, and,

Supposing that it had lost in killed and wounded 5,000 had returned, they would still have 12 @. 14,000 men, the field, and would be at liberty to do as they pleased in

according to several prisoners, 25,000.

men;

that a portion of the Provincials

and consequently the superiority

in

their country.

and without departing from the respect which is due, that we are obliged to add that the part of the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letter which is italicised, is the work of a A communication is not cut off except thoughtless Secretary and not of a man skilled in war, 'Tis with pain,

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

758

by proceeding with a respectable force between two bodies, and a superior enemy in force is not compelled to abandon a position by simple detachments. He may nevertheless abandon and that will be the consequence of

it,

movements

;

this is

The Marquis prevent

me

what we

shall learn

de Vaudreuil will find in

change of plan on

a

his part

rather than of our

on the earliest day.

my

Observations some distrust of him

;

this will

never

applying myself to the good of the service and of the Colony without embarassing

myself with what people might write against me, either directly or indirectly. But I do not conceal from the Marquis de Vaudreuil, that I shall be able to demonstrate to him on my return to Montreal, that, if he has had the goodness in his despatches of last year to pay me some I cannot merit, he did not omit persuading the Minister of the Marine that he had supplied me with the means of laying siege to Lydius. Although the King's service ought not to suffer anything at my hands on account of that, and I shall on all occasions afford the

eulogiums which

Marquis de Vaudreuil tokens of respect and affection, 'twere desirable that, forgetful of we should labor without delay on a new plan, and that I should not have to complain

the past,

or to dread the obscurities

of,

and doubts of

his instructions

and

letters.

Extract of the Letter which accompanied the preceding Observations.

When you the harvest,

think I

shall

certainly, that the

it

necessary. Sir, to withdraw the Canadians, on account of provisions and

endeavor

do without them.

to

I shall never

General and the troops will do their utmost.

answer

for

any event, but

I expect, however, that, even

me a certain number of Canadians, and these good ones, with some Indians. These, Sir, are my plans. Do you think the enemy will persist in remaining We shall endeavor to drive him thence. I am ready to march thither with at Fort George? the entire army. Such will not be my advice, but a distinct order from you will be sufficient if by Lake for me. If it be by the head of the bay, I leave this place exposed to the enemy St. Sacrament, 'twill require a land march {portage) of three weeks, exhaust the army by fatigue and delay the harvest. If they be willing to retire voluntarily of themselves and in consequence of the movements I shall make, I shall be overjoyed. Were I so fortunate. Sir, as that your important occupations would permit you to be at the head of the army, you would see everything yourself, and I should have the satisfaction to receive clearer and less embarrassing orders, and you would have judged that I have combined boldness, prudence and some activity. All this does not prevent, however, that the Colony, on

during the harvest, you will leave

;

the eighth of July, had been played for {jouee) odd or even (de peir ou non.)

You perceive. Sir, that, as usual, The same love of truth prompts me

I

express myself to you with truth and respectful firmness.

I demand my recall from both Ministers, Count de Bernitz to solicit it. If you will be so good, Sir, as to unite with them in obtaining that favor for me, it will make me forget all the annoyances I may have had. I shall preserve, in return, a gratitude which will equal the respect with which I am, &c.

and that

P. S.

I

The

desire of economising the provisions

MATHran Francois Molb

resignation of

Univenelh.

inform you that

request President Mole' and M. Lablee,

without Indians in the '

to

-was

born 30th March, l^OS.

Rene Charles de Maupeau

— En.

in 1757,

and

was the

You must

affair of the eighth.

filled

He waa

cause, Sir, of our having been

recollect that

first

I

had foreseen

it.

I

had

President of the Parliament of Paris after the

the oflnce until 1763.

He

died at Paris in 1793. BiographU

PARIS DOCUMENTS requested you, three weeks before

and to

let

me

Montreal, shall

extreme

bring them with me.

we

not

fall,

to

I left,

XIV.

:

you send me

If

759

go and raise the war-song all

among

the Militia of the

the Abenakis

government of

without any determinate object, into an opposite and unfortunate

?

Extract of the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letters to the Marquis de Montcalm July, 175S. 'Tis a very proper time. Sir, to finish

whatever regards Carillon, and may increase

its

;

15""

defence,

we have

nothing more urgent than to profit by the immense advantage of the precipitate retreat, consternation and ancient discouragement of our enemies. The proofs we have thereof

but

are not equivocal, and everything

must induce us

to profit

order to oblige them to abandon their position at old

by a circumstance

Fort George.

so

favorable in

I cannot sufficiently

reiterate to you, Sir, all that I have had the honor to observe to you on that point. You are, now in a position to have constantly considerable detachments of Regulars, Canadians and Indians along the lake and head of the bay, to harass our enemies with vigor, to cut off their communication with Lydius, to intercept their convoys, to force them to retire and perhaps even to abandon their artillery, field train, bateaux, provisions, ammunition, &c. These movements are worthy your attention they must be decisive for this Colony, since thereby we can deprive our enemies forever of the power of renewing a similar enterprise. in fact,

;

You same

perceive, besides. Sir, that

time, with whatever

This

is

for you, I

we

we

can be sufficiently fortunate to enrich the Colony, at the

shall oblige the

enemy

to

abandon.

of such great consequence that, so far from reducing the forces that I have destined

have nothing more pressing than

You have the They will Indians.

to increase

them, and

to hasten their departure to

young men, of our Canadians and of our act with as much zeal as ardor in the movements you will order them to execute, inasmuch as their early return will depend thereon. I request you to announce this to them, and you will see that they will perform wonders. We should have to reproach you.

elite

of our officers, of our

ourselves with losing so fine an opportunity of utterly humbling our enemies. 16'" July.

I cannot forbear having the honor again of renewing to you. Sir,

submitted

to

you in

my

last letter.

send out large detachments. to retire

We

You cannot want

for canoes,

the observations

I have Canadians and Indians to

all

could not have a finer opportunity to oblige the

enemy

from old Fort George.

Extract of the Marquis de Montcalm's letter in answer, IS"- July, 1758.

M. d 'Aillebout

is

arrived this

moment and hands me

the letter

you have done me the honor

me on the 15"". As it generally contains only the same things you have done me the honor to write me on the la"", I have already answered them, whereunto I shall add, that I have not been able to send large detachments by Lake St. Sacrament until I have reestablished my camps at the Falls and Portage, and sent over bateaux and canoes, a manoeuvre which is done only when executed, and advances less expeditiously in fact than in theory. Up to this to write

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

760

time I have done impossibilities

in

Canada with

Happy (would

best and require no spur.

it

my slender

means.

I shall

endeavor

be) were you at the head of the army

to

my

do

you would

;

then judge very correctly, Sir, on every point.

To

profit

by the fear of enemies, would require

An army

very next day.

afterwards, gets rid of

its

that

to be in a condition to pursue

them the

be pursued only by detachments ten or twelve days

can

fright.

Extract of the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letter to the Marquis de Montcalm, l?"" July, 1758.

You perceive, Sir, that I have not neglected anything for the prompt conveyance to you of a number of Indians and the 6lite of our Canadians. You have now a very considerable

great force

therefore,

;

we have

nothing better to do, as I have had the honor to observe to you, than

employ them, without the loss of a moment, in vigorously harassing our enemies, cutting off We have no better their communication with Fort Lydius and intercepting their convoys. manoeuvre to oblige them to abandon their position at old Fort George. Their consternation and discouragement ought even make you hope that, finding them hard pressed, they will perhaps be under the necessity of abandoning their artillery, bateaux, etc., and will think only to

of their flight to Fort Lydius.

What Sir,

I

have had the honor

your attention.

Your

you on this subject in many of my letters, merits, must not remain incomplete 'tis important that we

to write to

brilliant affair

;

we

place our enemies in the real impossibility of returning to the charge, for so long as

shall

have a fear of their renewing the attempt this M\, our provisions are being consumed without any benefit, and perhaps when our Canadians [will be under the necessity of returning for the harvest] you will be obliged to retain them at Carillon, or else, having constantly on the lake

and

head of the bay, very large detachments of troops, Canadians and Indians on the you will terminate your campaign in a few days, in a manner not to leave us anything to apprehend for our frontier. These reasons, Sir, lead me to defer writing to at the

track of our enemies,

France, because, in rendering the Court an account of your brave

month,

I

hope

to

inform

it

that

we have

discouragement of our enemies, and that

new field

attempts at least for this year train, &c.,

;

they will not have

You know how much

expedition.

therefore postpone writing

my

and it

affair

of the eighth of this

not neglected the great advantage of the retreat and

we have rendered it impossible for them to make any we are so fortunate as to make them abandon their

if

in their

power

for a long

time to undertake a similar

the Court will be charmed by

despatches for a fortnight.

Thus,

all

Sir,

these events.

you

I

shall

will have time to

prepare yours.

Extract of the Marquis of Montcalm's letter in answer, 26 July. Sir, I

The Luc

now answer

large

the letters you have done

me

the honor to write

detachments you desire, have been, and will continue

to

me

on the 16 and

be organized.

17"".

M. de

St.

out with 5 @^ 600 Indians or Canadians, but is he to fight convoys which the enemy do not form? Should he meet with the greatest success and surprise the fort containing their is

supplies, the

enemy

will never

abandon their position, as you expect.

I request

you

to

pay

PARIS DOCUMENTS attention that

now when

I

:

XIV.

have two months provisions at

761 the English General

St. Frederic,

me

might have beaten and intercepted your convoys, you would not order position

to

abandon the

actually occupy.'

I

In regard to the consternation

you always suppose that army

now we

on the eighth and ninth, but

The

are in the 2G"».

to

be in

art of

;

'twas considerable

war demands

a thing to

Again a people are

order to be able to judge of the enemy's operations.'

have been done,

in

mistaken, and

do not hesitate to assert that the wars of Canada which have preceded this

I

one, do in no wise resemble

True copy according

it.

to the original.

Montcalm.

M.

de

Montcalm [

to

M.

de Mas-siac,

Dfipartement de la Guerre, Paris.

]

Letter written by the Marquis de Montcalm to the Minister of the Marine, and put into cipher by M. Doreil, to be transmitted to

Duke de

My

My

Lord Marshal the

Belle Isle, 28 July, 1758.

Lord,

The situation of command, including

the Colony

is

most

critical

The English

should peace not interpose.

the troops of their Colonies, over

fifty

thousand men, notwithstanding the

Louisbourg expedition they have had thirty thousand in the field this campaign against Canada, which opposes thereto eight battalions amounting to three thousand two hundred men the remainder, Colonial troops, whereof two hundred only are in the field of the surplus at Quebec, Montreal, the Beautiful river, Upper countries and Canadians, no more than about ;

;

twelve liundred have been this year in the consider in the

field

those

who have made

field,

either here or at the Beautiful river.

the entire campaign.

Two

I

thousand four hundred

Canadians have been loaned us from the thirteenth of July, when there was no further use of them, to the 12'" August, when they were recalled for the harvest. Could a larger number of them be drafted, I believe yet 'twill ever be impossible to keep over three thousand during the entire campaign without undermining the country. like the Indians are fit only for forays, and do not know what the

field.

The

As it is

for the rest, these people,

to

remain

five

months

in

Indians are well adapted to forays; they must not be calculated on for one

year's capital.

With

so small a force,

how

preserve, without a miracle from the Beautiful river to

Sacrament, and attend to the descent on Quebec; to the contrary of

what

I advance, will deceive the

'tis

an [im]possibility.

King.

Whoever

Lake

St.

will write

However unpalatable soever

it

be,

'tis

not discouragement on my part, nor on that of the 'Twould require troops, for we are resolved to bury ourselves under the ruins of the Colony. fifteen hundred recruits of a good description, making allowance for deserters, or one man per

my

duty, as a citizen, to write

'

Vol. X.

The

text

is

it.

This

so obscure

is

t)iat 'tis

90

impossible to

make

sense of it

— Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

762 company

our battalions at

to place

fifty

;

want of the recruits taken in the passage companies placed before their departure

it

has been impossible

complete them

to

six battalions of seventeen

and

;

at fifty, with

some provisions

to forty for

companies and the

for their support for

one year.

means

In proposing the only

apprehensive that

it

of coping with the

superiority of the English army. to

immense

forces of the English, I

But the English

set too large a force

am

but too

owing

possible for France to send these succors,

will not be

to the

on foot in this continent

expect ours to resist them, and to look for a continuation of miracles which saved the country

from three attacks. I this

Colony

moment will

learn that they have penetrated to Frontenac.

I

feared

it

long ago.

The

be cut in two.

I take the liberty to reiterate to

my

Lord Marshal Belle

Isle,

the assurances of

my

profound

respect,

DOREIL.

M.

Doreil [

to

M.

Dfipartement de

la

de Gremille.

Gneire, Paris.

]

Quebec,

28"- July, 1758.

Sir,

I hope that all the letters I have the honor to write to you this year in triplicate will have reached you; viz: one on the 30"" of April, one on the 15'^ and one on the 22"^ of June.

Duplicates of the two last go with this dispatch by the frigate LaValeur. I

have written

this

with Marshal de Belleisle, will have sufficiently instructed you

my

duties;

Those

my

year to the Marquis de Paulmy, numbering ten, and

what has occurred

in this

letters,

those

correspondence

in regard to

what regards

hemisphere and our situation which has improved in

consequence of an event incredible to posterity.

communicate to you, in my short despatch of the 22°* June, the Marquis de Montcalm had just then put me in possession of, as to the proposed projects of the enemy to march in force to the Oyo river and to attack Fort Duquesne. In fact, everything was to be apprehended and little to be hoped. We were too I

had the honor

to

intelligence that the

bare in that quarter, and the fort

Dumas, who has been intrusted with

its

command

in

defence.

have received about

it,

convinces us that the quarter in the same

is

not capable of a good defense.

there,

Five hundred

it

is fit

By

the avowal of

only to dishonor the officer

men have been

sent thither, and the

M.

who would be intelligence we

joined to the event which has just happened at Lake St. Sacrament,

enemy

way

that

sought, by his proceeding, only to excite our jealousy for that

he had won over some deputies of the Five Iroquois Nations,

in

order to engage the Marquis de Vaudreuil to send to their country a detachment of 2 or 3000

men, so as

to divide our forces, whilst the

enemy would be marching with all his might to Lake St. Sacrament, where he had only

surprise the Marquis de Montcalm, on the frontier of

about 3,700 men, almost

all

regiments of the Line.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

763

Hardly had they reassembled and scarcely had he arrived in person at the camp before Carrillon, having been able to set out from Montreal only on the 25 June, when he received the English already assembled at old Fort George, to the

intelligence from all parts, that

number

of 25 to 30 thousand

men with

and urged M. de Vaudreuil anew little

army

resolved to

in the best

artillery

him and

preparations to set out to attack

manner

to

M. de Montcalm

for a siege,

lost

were making he prayed

no time

;

send him reinforcements, and, meanwhile, arranged his

to try at least to arrest the further progress of the

back on Carillon and to

fall

and necessary material

Carillon.

fight there

enemy,

notwithstanding the great inequality.

He

me, and I avow to you. Sir, that I trembled for the result, the rather as we knew that the enemy had about ten thousand of excellent regular troops from Europe. In fact there was enough to make one shudder. Fort Carillon is not finished. It is capable of containing only a garrison of 400 men ; provisions only for 10 @.'12 days; no Indians; no retreat. The enemy could land above Carillon without fighting, cut off the communication of that fort with that of St. Frederic and consequently with Montreal, and afterwards march against this last place, leaving a third of his army to blockade those two forts and M. de Montcalm. That General would have no other course to pursue, his provisions being consumed, than to

was

so

good

as to

communicate everything

to

little army, prisoners of war, and perhaps at discretion. The Colony would follow. 'Twould be found cut in two and its forces destroyed, whatever would encounter the passage of the enemy on the route from St. Frederic to Fort St. John, and from Fort St. John to Montreal, would inevitably be beaten in detail. Forts St. John and Chambly which are, especially the latter, miserable huts, would be carried

surrender himself with his total loss of the for

by

assault together with the supplies for the

Such,

Sir,

was the melancholy

army,

situation

to

which they serve as entrepots.

of this Colony

when

the

enemy commenced

As many as 700 barges were then counted. The vanguard, composed of six thousand picked men, landed first. We had in advance only three feeble battalions under the orders of M. de Bourlamaque, the only appearing on the

ones

fit

6""

instant at daybreak on

to contest the landing.

The

Lake

Sacrament.

St.

inequality of the forces, the just fear of being cut off and

fall back on the camp at the Falls where the Marquis de Montcalm was posted with four battalions. That place is only half a league from Carillon on which the General retreated entirely that evening. He had left the three battalions of Berry

enveloped, determined the Colonel to

guarding the

fort.

The Marquis de Montcalm, on

arriving, set the whole army at work at the abatis, under the Mess" de Pont le Eoy and Desandrouins. The work was commenced with order, continued the day of the 7"", and completed the morning of the S"". Never was work

direction

of

good of the state. Too much cannot le Roy and Desandrouins. The enemy deployed at half-past noon on the same day, the S"", in four principal columns ; advanced within 45 paces with great boldness; and were received with heroic firmness and courage, and always repulsed for the space of seven hours of the briskest and most obstinate finished so apropos, nor of such essential utility for the

be said on this occasion in commendation of Mess" Pont

fighting.

Never was there a day so fortunate and so glorious

not enter into

a detail of

it.

Sir;

to

supply

this,

I

for the

think you

King's troops.

will

I

shall

be pleased to take

cognizance of the letter I have the honor to address to Marshal de Belleisle, which accompanies the duplicates of those written on the

S""

by the Marquis de Montcalm

to the

Marquis de

Vaudreuil, communicating his victory and the circumstances of that ever memorable day to his Excellency.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

764 It

has cost us dear

dangerous wound.

in officers,

The

and M. de Bourlamaque received on the occasion a very

loss of soldiers is not in proportion.

What increase of good fortune for the Colony and for France, had the Marquis de Montcalm had only 2 (3. 300 Indians and smart Canadians to join a strong detachment of troops which he would have sent in pursuit of the enemy, who effected their retreat in terror and in the greatest

abandoning a portion of their wounded.

disorder,

We

wounded exceeded 5000 men. have had two generals

are certain of

Their

one or two colonels, and the major general.^

killed,

vigorously attacked and maintained the fight with great courage,

always at the head of the columns.

But the

loss in killed

more than two thousand

least of

and

They

corpses.

The English have

having their best troops

our soldiers performed miracles, and the

prodigies of valor.

officers,

What praise do not the Commandants of corps equally deserve? What firmness, coolness and wisdom did not Mess" de Levis and de Bourlamaque exhibit? What would have to be said of the Marquis de Montcalm, is beyond all eulogium. Conqueror of Chouaguen and of Fort George, ever victorious since his arrival in Canada, nothing

glory than to save the Colony at the

moment

decisive of

its

more was wanting

to his

In his letter to

M. de

loss.

Sir, that, whilst heaping praises upon all those who have fought under modesty of saying of himself: "Mine was only the glory o/Jinding myself the General of such brave troops," Sec. Who after that would believe that such a man is serving here with considerable annoyance? This, nevertheless,*is but too certain; he therefore is

Vaudreuil, you remark. his orders, he has the

thinking of his retreat, which,

You I

I

hope, will be followed by mine.

are too kind to me. Sir, and Marshal de Belleisle

sacrificed

any

longer.

am, with much

is

too just to allow

me

to fear being

I shall treat this subject elsewhere.

respect, Sir,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, DoREIL.

Were it not for the cipher, I would have the honor to send you copy of my letter Marshal de Belleisle. I confine myself to sending you, Sir, copy of the Marquis de Montcalm's two letters to M. de Vaudreuil, and the return of the killed and wounded. P. S.

to

Since writing my letter to Marshal de Belleisle we learn from Louisbourg that the English had not yet opened the trenches up to the S"" of this month. They were then only one thousand toises from the place, and had lost 1500 men in killed and wounded. 'Tis reported

among

that sickness prevails

the fate of the place. of the troops

and

for the

may

Our troops

their land forces.

Perfect understanding exists everywhere.

Nevertheless,

We

we must

are thereby

are in the best disposition possible.

somewhat

tranquilized as regards

not flatter ourselves with any hopes.

The

valor

well be relied on, but they are too few for the poor condition of the place

use of the enemy.

DOREIL. '

Brigade-Major in the British service.

See note, supra,

p.

741. — Ea

PARIS DOCUMENTS

21. Doreil to [

M.

de

XIV.

:

765

Fauhny.

Dfiparlement de la Guerre, Taris.

]

Quebec,

My

SO"" July, 1758.

Lord,

wherewith you have honored me on the 26"^ February last, which has been handed me by M. Bernier, confirms to me your retreat and my misfortune. I am inconsolable, my Lord, in no longer serving under the orders of a Minister whom I cherish as much as I respect, and on whose protection I grounded all the hopes of my promotion and of the favors whereof I may be susceptible. In losing you, my Lord, I have also lost the hope of returning I was this year to France. I was expecting everything from your goodness in this regard flattering myself that you would deign cast a favorable glance on my most humble representations, and that you would be pleased to remember that I should not have consented to abandon my family and domestic affairs after the losses I had then experienced, had yourself, my Lord, not assured me that my absence would be only for a year and a half, or two years

The

letter

;

So long an expatriation, the circumstances of a service beyond the seas, altogether a service morever, of labor, inasmuch as, up to this moment, I have been obliged to discharge it alone, had led me to expect, this year, some favor from the King, and I had taken the liberty, my Lord, to inform you of that which was most flattering to me. Had the Marquis de Montcalm's dispatches of the month of November reached you, you would

at most.

extraordinary,

have seen,

my

Lord, that that General considered

me

then entitled

to

May

it.

I,

at least,

may known to him, but he probably does not possess the same goodness whereof you have given me so many proofs. M. Bernier, whom you have designated, my Lord, to come and serve with me, arrrived in the last days of June. When I was about instructing him to enable him to aid me he fell hope that you

will

have the kindness

interest me, to Marshal de Belleisle.

seriously

ill,

and has been

in a

recommend me, on

to

and whatever

this point

I have, indeed, the honor of being

dangerous condition

for

more than 15 days.

This danger has

passed, but his convalescence will be slow, and I shall not be able to derive any assistance

from him

at

War, which

Notwithstanding expect,

differ here, in

to replace

assisted

by M. de

me la

as he

many

is

altogether a novice in the duties of

essential respects, from the service in France.

inconvenience, nothing will suffer more

this additional

even, in the course

be qualified

him

more especially

a long time,

for

Commissary

than hitherto.

of the winter, to instruct M. Bernier sufficiently that he

next year. Rochette,

my

He

has

talent

Secretary,

and

who

is

intelligence,

and

conversant with

I

all

shall

I

may have

the details

of the Commissariat. I have had the honor to write you, in all, ten letters this year in triplicate, reckoning from the 26"" February to the 16"" June, in answer to those I have received from you, and to

and have rendered an account of the service with which I have passed into the hands of Marshal de Belleisle, except one,

continue to keep you instructed

am

intrusted.

The

letters will

my Lord, which was private. My last, of the le"" June, will

;

have communicated to you

my

fears in regard to the smallness

of the force furnished the Marquis de Montcalm wherewith to oppose the St.

Sacrament

number of

frontier, whilst a

Indians,

was

detachment of 2,000 men

detailed to

march

d'clite,

enemy on

the

Lake

exclusive of a considerable

into the country of the Five Nations

and against

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

766

who have always been

Corlar, on a slender hope held out by those Nations,

treacheroustha

they would be able to take up the hatchet for us and strike the English. placed within an ace of

its

ruin,

by that diversion, which was concluded on by the Marquis

de Vaudreuil, without having consulted the Marquis de Montcalm, a detachment of 4 @^ 500 men, at most, arrived at the

t

This Colony was

was

who

justly pretended that

Scarcely was the Marquis de Montcalm

sufficient.

camp of Carillon, on the 30"" of June last, than he had the enemy on his number of 25,000 men, 3,000 of whom were Regulars from Europe, besides

shoulders to the

He

500 Indians.

The

plan of the

had but about 3,500 men, whereof 400 only were Colonials and

enemy was

Might they not

into the interior of the Colony.

O

army and

to carry Fort Carillon, to defeat our little flatter

themselves with success

Militia.

to penetrate

Nevertheless,

"?

ever memorable day! and one which posterity will scarcely credit, that formidable, hostile

army has been repulsed, beaten and routed on the heights of Carillon, where the Marquis de Montcalm was waiting for it with firmness, under the protection of indifferent intrenchments

The enemy have

constructed, in 24 hours, of abatis composed of trees laid one on the other.

on that occasion, 5,000 of their best Regulars, killed or wounded, two Generals and the

lost,

Major-General.

They knew compared

was achieved by the

All

incredible valor of both officer and lowest soldier.

'twas necessary to conquer or to die

to the

;

they have done wonders.

has received several shots without being wounded

He

dangerously. since

Nothing can be

conduct and firmness of Chev. de Levis and M. de Bourlamaque. the

;

has had his collar bone and shoulder blade broken

some days, out

of danger.

;

The former

been wounded very

has

latter

nevertheless, he appears,

During the whole of the engagement, which

lasted several

long hours, the Marquis de Montcalm exposed himself the same as the commonest soldier, and

from the centre, where he was posted, repaired successivly to all points to issue his orders and to convey reinforcements to the spots which were in danger. The General is so far above eulogium, that I pass over

all

Henry, with a very small

Canada

force

all

he merits.

and means!

all

Conqueror of Chouaguen, of Fort William that was wanting to his glory was to save

moment

she was cut in two and irremediably lost ; to gain the victory with French troops only, and (what never happened and never does occur) without Indians, the at the

enemy having 500 the

6"" to

of them.

What

I

admire most

is,

the Marquis de Vaudreuil, to express to him

reiterate his entreaties for reinforcements, said

that this all

worthy General, writing on

the danger of his situation and to

:

"Meanwhile I hope much from the valor and will of the troops; I perceive those people yonder march with precaution and are picking their steps. If they allow me time to reach the position

&c.

And

I

have selected, on the heights which

in his letter

eulogized almost

all

command

Fort Carillon, I will beat them,"

informing the Governor-General of his astonishing victory, after having

the officers individually, he has the

modesty

to say,

"As

only the merit of finding myself the General of such brave troops," &c. after that,

my

Lord, that such a

well as myself, to

demand

man

is

serving with so

much annoyance

for myself, I

Who

have

would believe

as to be forced, as

his recall?

To enable you the better to judge of what he has just done, I have the honor to transmit you here annexed, my Lord, copy of his Narrative. 'Tis as much on his part as on my own, for I conclude he will be unable, for want of a copyist, to address you one himself. It is the same that he transmits to Marshal de Belleisle, M. de Moras and M. de Cremille. You

will

have learned,

against Isle Royale.

A

my

fleet,

Lord, before receiving this despatch, the expedition of the consisting of 22 or 24 ships of war, 14 frigates or

bomb

enemy

ketches,

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

767

and 120 transports with forty barges, made their appearance off that island on the first of We had, at the time, in the port June, having a landing force of 17 (Si 18 thousand men.

men

of war and commanding

three frigates, which are blockaded there.

M. de Bregnon, ammunition and armed as a packet boat {en JlMlc), entered the harbor in view of the English fleet, remained there 8 days and sailed in the night of the 8"" and 9"", passed through the enemy's ships and fortunately arrived here with his cargo which was not needed at Louisbourg. Five 64 gun ships, under the orders of M. du Chaffault,' were unable to enter the port; of Louisbourg. six

captain in the navy,

le

Bizarre, 64, loaded with provisions and

they landed the battalion of Cambis at Port Daupin and have come here.

The enemy landed

some people and would have lost more had the battalions of Artois and Bourgogne, which did wonders at Gabarus, not been cut off by a strong detachment We have just received of the enemy which had climbed a rock that was deemed inaccessible. news from that Island, dated 8"" of July. At that time the English were encamped within one thousand toises of the place. They had lost 1,500 men, and had not yet opened the Sickness is reported in their army, misunderstanding between Admiral Boscawen trenches. there on the

8""

of June; lost

and the General of the land

Ours are

forces.

best disposition and perfect accord

the

in

All that begins to afford hope for the fate of that island

prevails.

;

nevertheless,

its

The bravery of the troops can nothing, and the enemy is master of

from the English cannot reasonably be expected.

escape

well be

the sea. depended on; but the place is good for little or I make use, as you perceive beforehand, my Lord, of the permission which I have solicited, I shall continue to do so, if agreeable to to have the honor of writing to you occasionally. you. I shall satisfy thereby my inclination and sentiments of gratitude and attachment which

myself you do not doubt. am, with most profound respect,

I flatter 1

my

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

DoREIL.

M.

Doreil

to

Marslial de Belle Ide.

Dipartement de

[

la

Guerro, Paris.

]

Quebec, 31" July, 1758.

Myy

Lord Liord,

This

letter is

more important than those

I

have just had the honor of writing to you, dated

I should annex thereunto a detailed account of the operations

the 28"" and 30"" of this month.

'Lieutenant-GeDcral Couot do Chafiadlt de Besn^, was born in

tlie

year 1707

;

he commanded,

in 1756,

1

'Atalante, 36 guns,

ship of the line the Warwick, 64, commanded by Captain, afterwards Lord, In 1778, he bad charge of the vanguard of the fleet, under Count d'Orvilliers, which engaged the British fleet 27th In 1779, he was Commander-in-Chief of the combined fleets of July, and was severely wounded at the battle of Ouessant. France and Spain, but resigned at the close of the campaign, and afterwards lived retired at bis chateau, near Montaign,

when he fought and captured the English

Shuldham.

until 1793, Luzani-ai.

when be was

arrested

by order

'Twas under the windows of

with no other crime than the 9lh of Thennidor

(

bis virtues

and

of the Revolutionary

Committee of Nantes, and imprisoned in the Castle of "drownings" in the Loire were perpetrated. Here,

his jjrison that the horrible

services,

be died,

it

may be

said, of grief, in the tenth

August ), 1794, at the age of 87 years. Biographie Univenelle.

— Ed.

mouth

of bis imprisonment,

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

768

of that campaign and principally of the glorious affair of the

S"-, were I not certain that the Marquis de Montcalm has the honor of sending you one, which leaves nothing to be desired. But I must not observe silence on what the General, through modesty, does not express. All

that he has performed since his arrival in America, without forces and

speak,

is

admirable and even incredible under

What

near view of them. danger,

me

is

so

much above

he has done

all

saving Canada, at the

in

eulogium, that

without means, so to

who had

the circumstances, to those

all

moment

myself to two points,

I confine

not a

was most in which have struck it

with admiration.

The Marquis de Montcalm danger of his situation and

writing on the

G""

to the

Marquis de Vaudreuil,

to reiterate his entreaties for reinforcements,

He

expose the

to

assumed nevertheless

him: "I hope much from the will and bravery of the yonder are marching with precaution and are picking their steps if they afford me time to reach the position I have selected on the heights of Carillon, I will heat tlicm" &c. And in his letter informing that Governor-General of his astonishing victory, after having made the eulogium of almost all the officers individually, he " has the modesty to say to him, For myself, I have only the merit of finding myself the the tone of a conqueror.

French troops.

said to

I perceive that those people ;

How

General of such brave troops," &c. nevertheless, that such a Chief

Having

his recall?

left

is

beautiful that

serving with so

his cypher at Montreal, he

write you as he would desire, and commissions

is,

my Lord

much annoyance is

me

unable,

my

!

Who

that he

would

forced to

is

believe,

demand

Lord, to have the honor to

To

to supply the defect.

satisfy

him,

I

employ the cypher furnished me on my departure by Count d'Argenson, the duplicate whereof is in M. de Fumeron's office. I use it also with M. de Cremille.^

The

following, then,

whatfouows

is

what he has

instructed

me

to

communicate

to

you

:

Neglcct, ignorauce, tardiness and obstinacy have thought of irremediably losing

to the

in the original.

To

the Colony.

save

it

has required a miracle and supernatural bravery of the

want

French troops.

event, no excuse can be resorted to but the

The

[consisting] often thousand barrels of flour, had nevertheless

After so grand an convoy from Bourdeaux arrived at Quebec the nineteenth St. John before the end of June. first

of provisions.

was a quantity of it at Fort Chambli and M. de Vaudreuil is not excusable in having uselessly detained at Montreal the Colonial troops and the Militia and Indians, inasmuch as Chevalier de Levis arrived at Chibouton^on the morning of the eighth of July, preceded on the night of the seventh by four hundred picked men belonging to the French troops of his detachment. At least the of May, and there

400 Colonials and the nearly 800 of Canadians whose destination was the same, and the Indians assembled at Montreal, might use the same diligence in joining the Marquis de Montcalm, had they been ordered to do so. This great proof is sufficiently strong, not to offer any other.

The Indians themselves have complained, and some

of the

Colony have murmured

of their time in Montreal and at the affected sojourns which have been la Madelaine, St.

Canadians,

who

Johns and elsewhere.

did not begin to arrive until the thirteenth, and that with a

Louis Htaointdb Batebodb Ce£millks was born on the 10th December, IVOO.

Guards; was afterwairds Captain of Dragoons; and years with admitted distinction.

17 63. Biographi$ Universelle.

in 1734,

He

— Ed.

office

at the loss

La

view

known how

entered the French

prairie de

to profit

army

many

to write to

by

his

as Cadet in the

Quartermaster-General, in which capacity he served for several

In 1757, he was created Grand Cross of the Order of

adjoined to Marslial de Belle Isle in the

at

Since the battle, M. de Vaudreuil sends too

the Minister of the Marine, that the Marquis de Montcalm has not '

made

of Minister of War.

He

St. Louis,

and 9th April, 1758, was

resigned this appointment in 1701, and died in

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. As

victory.

one could go like a

if

Militia, in pursuit of an

were

in a single

camp, and a

start

769

with about six thousand men, two thousand of

fool

whom

enemy who has yet fourteen to fifteen thousand men intrenched of ten days. We may be convinced he is capable of so doing,

since he has truly dared to write last year that the Marquis de Montcalm, after the capture of

Fort William Henry, could have undertaken the siege of Fort Lidius or Edward, where the enemy had six or seven thousand men, and could in twice twenty-four hours convey double

who had

the number from Orange, whilst the Marquis de Montcalm, obliged, out of this

number,

six

thousand at most, was

send back the Canadians for the harvest, and

to

all

the Upper

country Indians had gone away, and a portage of six leagues had to be made without horses or

This

carriages, in order to arrive at the object.

much In

An ignoramus

desirous to

which

constructed

make and who

has

made

have put into cipher.

I

it

enemy can

after

which

worth nothing and costs the King as much as M. de Vaudreuil, whose fortune 'twas

is

—a

relative of

See

it.

in this connection,

Ineptness, intrigue,

Colony, which costs the King so dearly.

as the

calumny without example,

a

is

expected.

views of the case, Fort Carillon

all

Brisack.

this

may be

greater acts of treachery

If

it

lies,

M. de Pont

le

Roy's memoir,^

cupidity, will in a short time destroy

escape this year, which

is

not yet certain,

more precaution, 'tis absolutely necessary Lord, or the Colony will belong to the English next year,

return in greater strength and with

my

to conclude peace this winter,

whatever M. Vaudreuil may write or cause to be written or to be said it is of the greatest importance to change the entire administration when peace is made; should the making of it be delayed, change this moment the general government, otherwise the Marquis de Montcalm will have sustained this machine, always threatening to tumble, in order to see it perish at ;

last,

and perhaps be the unjust victim of

expedition and descent the

enemy may

foresee or to order anything;

penetrated by

unable

it,

meanwhile serves

he uses his ruined

remedy

to

as usual.

For two years he has not ceased talking of the Quebec. There is no disposition either to

it.

effect at

He

it

owe

will

health,

any good.

or to do

his

ten thousand ecus on the

disintereduess excites criticism and jealousy and attracts enmity. trouble in quieting the French officer and soldier, suffering,

have exploded

worthy of being but

f

.

.

.

our throats

.

cut.

Peace, Peace,

much

gained

if

;

here

is

will not suffer

one among the rest

him

to deliver

Long

Let us defend them.

my

who

He

at last, after

it

when

'twill

evil,

is

and in the His of January.

first

has

iiad

a great deal of

more than three

made

years'

several remarks

:

He

has sacrificed us in order to have

King and our General."

Lord, no matter at what sacrifice as regards boundaries;

people will work well

the

" M. de Vaudreuil has sold the country,

up.

live the

all

his recall,

the latter during the action of the eighth, have

;

collected

we

!

purse; sees

He demands

be concluded.

'twill

be so

'Tis necessary that the

Marquis de Montcalm inform his Minister so as to enable him to advise the King. He will continue to report to him, but perhaps flatters himself that his despatches reach him. The principal ones of last year have been intercepted or stopped at the Bureau of the Marine. He will not write again to the Minister of the

Marine except

for

form sake, and through pure

Also, his despatches can never quadrate with those of M. de

politeness,

without any

Vaudreuil.

This interruption or retention of the Marquis de Montcalm's despatches, is the officer, deserving of the favors demanded, has received any, whilst of the Colony have received theirs. This is a pity, and an affliction for the troops

detail.

cause that no French the officers

^

Vol. X.

Supra,

97

p. 720.

— Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

770

The Marquis de Paulmy has had

well and have performed wonders.

that serve so

the

goodness to express his regret at not having received the recommendations. After these details on the part of the Marquis de Montcalm, permit me,

from myself, some arguments in favor been maintained by a miracle up

of peace,

to the present

my

without which this country

Lord, to add

is

lost.

It

has

time and with nothing, by the conduct, talents

and virtue of the Marquis de Montcalm, seconded by Mess" de Levis, de Bourlamaque, by the officers individually, by the goodness of the French soldier, and the great

bravery of the docility

of us

purse in

it.

all.

We

In return,

are

come

we have

We

to defend the country.

ruining our health and

are

experienced only unworthy preferences, endless injustices,

We have suffered through wisdom and the love of peace. We have through zeal, for the King's service, and in order to establish good harmony. Three years passed in this cruel situation, at last weary their patience. The measure is full. The Marquis de Montcalm has only to reproach himself with too much goodness and deference. He asks you for his recall, my Lord ; I am astonished that he has not demanded it sooner. On my knees I beg you to grant me mine, which I am long soliciting

calumnies, treachery. sacrificed everything

in vain.

have abandoned children

I

in

the cradle, and

all

my

affairs in

France.

They

are

more than three years occasion me considerable losses, and are completing my ruin there. Here 'tis impossible to live these two years past, on the King's allowance. The twelve thousand livres which I have, are equivalent to three thousand in France. Judge, my endangered

Lord,

for

;

be possible to support oneself with a furnished house.

if it

everytiiing from your justice and your goodness. so that the service will not possibly suffer

Montcalm

in a position to assure

be desirous to save and of

it

to the

settle

Marquis de Montcalm.

statesman and a

man

you

Canada

He

by

my

thereof.

1

I

expect, in this regard,

have made every arrangement,

this winter,

departure, and I shall place the Marquis de

Whether

solidly, let his

the

war

is

to continue or not

;

if it

Majesty confide the general government

possesses political science as well as military talent; a

of detail, a great worker, just, disinterested even to scruple, clearsighted,

and having nothing in view but the public good; in a word, a virtuous and universal I do not know whether this place would be to his liking, and perhaps he would be very little obliged to me if he imagined that I hazarded this proposition. I submit it, my Lord,

active,

man.

only for the public good and through zeal for the King's service.

Though M. de Vaudreuil

should possess similar talents, he will always have one original drawback

— he

is

a Canadian.

That qualification is of more serious consequence than I can express. The Marquis de Montcalm is, at present, more thoroughly acquainted with what suits the country than M. Vaudreuil. He knows how to deal with the Indians, to attach them to him, and to make them They knov? him, love him, respect and fear him. 'Twas a act according to circumstances. popular error to imagine that M. de Vaudreuil was necessary in Canada solely on account of the Indians. It would be greatly to be desired that M. Duquesne had remained here until now, acting in concert with his friend the M'' de Montcalm. They would have done great things. As for the rest, this place which may be very well filled, requires a general officer of the land service and not a marine.

now

M. de Vaudreuil

is

neither the one nor the other.

War

is

same as in Europe, and the functions of the Governor-General regard Thus 'tis only within some thirty years that the Colony is governed by in nowise the Navy. previously, although war, was not waged as it is to-day. Marines, How surprised you, my Lord, and the entire kingdom will doubtless be, at not receiving, perhaps until the end of October, news of the great event which has just occurred. The carried on here the

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

La

frigate

Valeur, selected to carry the news,

He

privateer of Dunkirk.

ready

is

news

vessel that carried the

August, did not set

of the the

sail until

to sail these fifteen days,

The same slowness

month.

will not be dispatched for a

fall

22"''

of

1^".

in carrying the

is

news

go

to

M. de Moras.

the intelligence at the

which

to

same

I

shall not

be surprised

everywhere here.

if

he

The

,

I

am

in this frigate. I shall

adopt

just assured that Captain Pean,

If that all

time, and perhaps before.

possible precaution to

That

Town-

be the case, he will be employed

make you

receive

will occasion another secret letter

have the honor to write you on the eve of Captain Canon's departure.

shall

I

France

to

and

prevails

a famous

Chouaguen in 175 which was taken on the 14"" of The same delay occurred last year in forwarding

the news of the capture of Fort William Henry.

Major of Quebec,

771

commanded by Captain Canon,

is

my Lord, is a detail of very strong and very important matters which breast of my respectable Minister with full confidence, flattering myself that compromised and that he will approve of my zeal, which is, in truth, all tested. I am, with the most profound respect, my Lord, This,

I

deposit in the I

shall not

be

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, DOREIL.

M.

de Vaudreuil to

M.

de Massiac. Montreal, 2"* August, 175S.

My I

Lord,

have the honor to address you hereunto, copy:

!»'

me

Of

the letter of General

only a few days after the

who conveyed my

officer

Abercromby wrote me on the 26"" of last month,' which reached affair of the S"". That General detained, up to that time, the

dispatches, and the small detachment which accompanied him.

Of the parole of honor he has exacted, on the 21" July, from Captain Corriveaux of a company of our Militia, who was taken in the affair of the Baron de Dieskau. 3"* Of the power he gave, on the 21" July, to Colonel Schuyler to treat for his exchange 2"^

for that of the other

and

officers

whom

English

officers

who

are prisoners in this Colony, in lieu of French

he has in his power.

which that General has written on 21" July to the Marquis de Montcalm. Marquis de Montcalm wrote to that General on the 24"" July. letter which I have written, myself, to that General on the 1" of this month. e"" You will see, my Lord, that General Abercromby, far from being as particular as I have been, in inviolably executing the Capitulation of Fort William Henry, regards it, on the contrary, as null and void. 4""

S""

I

Of the Of the Of the

shall

year

in

letter

letter the

wait to terminate the exchange of our prisoners taken since the 9"" of August of last I have proposed to General Abercromby, in order to have the honor to

the manner

render you an account thereof. I

am, with the most profound respect,

my

Lord, your most humble and

Most obedient servant, (Signed), '

^eV.

— Ed.

Vaudreuil.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

772

Copy

of the Letter written by General

from Fort Edward,

Abercromby

to the

Marquis de Vaudreuil

26"" June, 1758.

Sir, I have received the letter your Excellency had done me the honor to write me on the 4"" of June, veith divers observations on the subject of the Capitulation of Fort William Henry,

concluded the Q"" of August last. Without entering into any discussion, permit me to inform your Excellency that the infraction of that Capitulation committed by a part of the forces of the King, your master, immediately after the surrender of the fort, has been so manifestly contrary to the

good

master,

which

faith

who

exists

has confided to

among all nations, the command of

me

that, in

honor and justice

his troops in North

to the

America,

1

King,

find

my

myself

obliged to regard that Capitulation as null and void, which I make known to all the Governors and Commanders by sea and land in North America. I persuade myself that, in considering things in a proper light, your Excellency will be convinced of the justice of my proceeding in regard to the Capitulation, and that nothing will induce you, by forgetting the laws of humanity, to use the least violence towards his Majesty's subjects, whether belonging to the Civil or Military departments, who are included in that

who might unfortunately fall into your hands, as that would oblige me and Commanders by sea and land, to use reprisals on all his Most Majesty's subjects, who are actually prisoners with us, or who may become

Capitulation, and

the other of his Majesty's

Christian

so hereafter.

Permit with

all

me once more

to inform

your Excellency that

I

am determined my

possible humanity, agreeably to the intentions of the King,

will induce

me to adopt contrary measures may commit in this regard.

to carry

on the war

master, and nothing

except the infractions which the troops of the King,

your master,

In respect to the proposals

which have been made

for the

exchange of Colonel Schuyler.

it has been made solely in view not only of accommodating these gentlemen, but also M. Corriveau and the others who have an extreme desire to return to Canada; but since your Excellency does not approve that proposal, I shall let Colonel Schuyler and the other gentlemen know that they will have to repair immediately to Canada.

Captain-Lieutenant Martin and Surgeon Stakes,

Your Excellency may be assured that

the

letters

you have confided

to

my

care will

be forwarded. -

I

shall

always consider myself highly honored by being

Excellency, and

honor

to

1 shall

correspondence with your

in

be charmed to seize every opportunity to convince you that

I

have the

be with the greatest respect, your Excellency's

Most obedient and

True copy. (Signed),

Vaudreuil.

Most humble servant, James Abercromby.

(Signed),

Parole of Captain Corriveau. 1,

the undersigned, Jean Jacques Corriveau, Captain of Militia of the troops of Canada, a

prisoner of war of his Majesty the

King of Great Britain, taken in the month of August, 1755, having obtained from his Excellency Major-General James Abercromby, Esquire, Colonel of

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. regiment of Infantry, Colonel-in-chief of the Royal

the 44""

in-chief of to visit

North America, &c., &c., &c., [permission]

his Britannic Majesty's troops in

all

my

family and attend to

my

773

American regiment and General-

New-York the

private affairs, on condition of returning to

21" of January next, if I be not previously exchanged, do pledge my word of honor that during the last term of 6 months, I shall not in anywise meddle with any except my own private affairs, nor interfere in anywise in any military or other affair, which may in anywise prejudice Majesty or

his said Britannic I

In witness

whereof

shall

1758, to serve as

his

arms.

And

that in case I be not exchanged at the time

then surrender myself without delay to New-York, on the day abovementioned.

prescribed,

have signed these presents

I

camp

at the

of

Lake George,

this

24 July,

reasonable.

is

Jacques Coeriveau.

(Signed),

True copy. Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

Authority to Colonel Schuyler to

By

effect

an Exchange of Prisoners.

Excellency James Abercromby, Esquire, Colonel of the

his

Infantry, Colonel-in-chief of the

and Commander-in-chief of

44*''

regiment of

Royal American regiment, Major-General

his Majesty's forces levied

and

to be levied in

North America, &c., &c.

To

Peter Schuyler, Esquire,

Whereas we have

in

our hands one Captain, four Lieutenants and three Cadets of his most

who have been made prisoners in our last expedition against and as the French, on the other hand have, besides yourself and Captain-lieutenant Martin of the regiment of Royal Artillery, who is returning to Canada in execution of your parole, Captain-Lieutenant Pringle, Lieutenant Roach and Ensign Downing,' for all whom Christian Majesty's troops,

Carillon,

effect the more promptly and without any you will be on the spot, should his most Christian Majesty's General be willing to accede thereto. Wherefore these presents are to authorize and empower you to treat with his Excellency the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the Marquis de Montcalm or any other persons authorized on the part or for his most Christian Majesty, in order to effect the exchanges I

wish

to

make an exchange, which you would

loss of time, as

aforesaid of the prisoners on the following conditions, to wit, officer for officer of equal rank,

namely, yourself,

who

hold the rank of Captain in the service, for Captain Bonneau, and the

four French Lieutenants for Captain-Lieutenant Martin, Captain-Lieutenant Pringle, Lieutenant

Roach and Ensign Downing

;

observing that such exchange be made on the conditions above

expressed from hand to hand and not separately the one from the other of the aforesaid parties;

and

if

such can be executed in that way, you are by these presents authorized to sign

or acts necessary to this subject, which

Given under

my

hand and

seal at

I

engage

Lake George

this

James Abercromby.

His Excellency's order. (Signed),

A

act

21 day of July, 1758. (Signed),

By

all

to ratify.

J.

Appy.

true copy.

(Signed),

Vaudreuil.

'William Downing was commissioned an Ensign in the 55th, or Lord Howe's regiment, 27th Novemher, 1'166; wag Ed. promoted to a Lieutenancy 13th July, 1759. His name is not on the Army List of 1765

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

774 Copy

of General Abercromby's letter to the Marquis de Montcalm.

Camp

at

Lake George, 21"

July, 1758.

Sir,

have the honor to inform you by Lieutenant Smalk,i the bearer of this

I

letter,

that Captain

Bonneau, Lieutenants Joubert, Larochelie, Chevalier de Rene and Chevalier Bernard, Sieur Granet and Permillat, Cadets with 144 non-commissioned officers or soldiers belonging to the troops under your orders, having been taken in the affair of the 6"" have been treated with all possible humanity and care. I doubt not but you evince the like towards all the English I beg you to send me by the bearer officers and soldiers who will have fallen into your hands. of the officers with the number of soldiers. Under the escort which conducts this letter your Excellency, go also Colonel Schuyler and Captain Martin, whom I have detained until now only in the view to do a favor to some of your officers who had solicited me to propose a

list

to

the exchange which

he would accept

two

it

have offered to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, they appeared convinced that I send you back the

I

with pleasure, but as he has refused the proposition,

prisoners abovementioned, to convince your Excellency of the desire I feel that the

be carried on with humanity and generosity as in Europe and as

it

war

ought to be everywhere.

upon the entreaties of Captain Corriveau, to permit him to return on his Canada for the purpose of arranging his affairs, and to that end have allowed him 6 months; which being expired, I expect, if he be not exchanged in the mean time, that he will return to New-York. Meanwhile, I request your Excellency if you are disposed for an exchange, to communicate your propositions to me on this point by the return of the bearer hereof. You must be aware, however good the treatment prisoners receive in the place of I have not hesitated

parole to

their captivity, they always have I

have the honor

to

much

to suffer.

be with great consideration,

Sir,

True Copy, (Signed),

Copy

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, (Signed), James Abercromby. Vaudreuil.

of the

Marquis de Montcalm's Letter

to

General Abercromby.

Camp

at Carillon, 24"' July, 1758.

Sir, I

to

received, yesterday evening, the letter your Excellency has done

me by

Lieutenant Smalk.^

Colonel Schuyler and Captain Martin,

the Marquis de Vaudreuil, have been given up to

me

at the

me the honor whom I shall

same time.

these two officers that I have kept Lieutenant Smalk' to-day, that they feel all

of writing

forward to

'Tis at the request of

may

possible gratitude for the good treatment you have been pleased to

write by him.

show our

I

officers

are prisoners. I was well assured of it beforehand ; it is unnecessary for me you that we shall do the same on every occasion, and for myself, personally, I shall always pay the most particular attention to it. I have the honor to address to your Excellency some letters for our officers who are prisoners, and one which I write personally

and soldiers

who

to observe to

'

Sic; but see VIII., 688, note.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

8""

the affair of the

I

continued until night-fail.

could not have the

I

and the delay of a night has been

until the next day,

have paid the greatest attention to the removal of

number

the

of 70.

In spite of

died

34 remain

;

the care

all

which

I

fatal to all

who have been

to

fit

the

those

A

of battle reconnoitred

wounded who remained

who remained

sergeant has

own come

to Montreal, in,

has given himself up as a prisoner, and an orderly sergeant of the

Among

there.

on the ground, to

considerable, the majority of them have

be conveyed with our

will be cared for with the greatest attention.

field

not ignorant that

is

had taken of them, which was the same as

wounds having been

that bestowed on our troops, the

775

Your Excellency

Captain de Bonneau, of the regiment of Guyenne.

to

where they

who

since the affair,

New-York

regiment.

number of wounded we have recognized only two officers, who were unconscious; I should think, by his commission, that one of them was George Needham, Captain of Thomas Murray's regiment;' a party has brought us in, the

no information could be got from them. since the

affair,

regiment lived

in

7

who have

prisoners,

New

declared themselves

England, before the

affair,

as

belonging

to

Nicholson's

and since Captain Pringle and Lieutenant

Roche have been taken prisoners, we have not had any other except one ensign of Lord Howe's regiment. A note thereof has been sent when Lieutenant Wolfs, of our troops, carried

one

you the Marquis de Vaudreuil's answers. belonging to Robert Rogers' company.

Some days

after,

we

took 19 persons with

officer

Your Excellency must have remarked, from the Marquis de Vaudreuil's

letters, that

the

obstacle to individual exchanges arises from the non-execution of the capitulation which

W.

granted to the garrison of Fort nothing, except that that

all

the King,

done

I

have nothing

England renders

my

however

word;

command

question of

my

proper act,

and during- the 36 years that

I

I

I

I

can say

even believe

have the honor of serving

have never exposed myself personally so much as I have would desire the exchanges UTore than I do; be, their condition is always to be pitied, but although I have

as for the rest, no person

well treated prisoners

the honor to

T

is

reproach myself with on that occasion,

to

justice,

master, I believe

my

keep

to

me

H., and as there

may

the King's troops in war,

I

am

subject to the orders of

M' de Vaudreuil,

Governor-General of

New

honor to write me;

I

request him to communicate to

were any means

apply a remedy, in order to respond to your views regarding individual

exchanges,

to

shall

I

France;

I

send him copy of the letter you have done

me promptly

have the honor to communicate them immediately

observing the same form you have observed in sending

me

your

first

thank you

I

militia,

to

and

me if

the

there

your Excellency,

Lieutenant Smalk,^ to

furnish a detachment for his return and safety, which has orders to hail of

his intention,

accompany him

whom

I

to within

post.

for the gracious

permission you have granted to Sieur Corriveau, Captain of the

and answer you, that

if

there be

no means of making exchanges, he will be

surrendered at Fort Edward, at the expiration of the leave that you have been pleased to grant him. I

am, with the highest consideration, Sir,

Your most humble, Copy.

&c..

(Signed),

Montcalm.

(Signed), Vaudreuil. '

The

46tli;

Captaiu

Needham had been commiasioned

the 46lh on the 30th April, 1757. '

Supra, p. 774.

— Ed.

captain of a different regiment, 20th November, 1H9, and joined

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

776

Copy

by the Marquis de Vaudreuil

of the Letter written

General Abercromby,

to

from Montreal, the 1" August, 175S. Sir,

have received the

I

me

your Excellency has done

letter

the honor of writing to

me on

the

month.

26"' of last

I shall not renew to you my observations on all that concerns the capitulation of Fort William Henry, and what you do me the honor to observe to me on that point, convinces me that it is an object, the decision of which regards actually the Kings, our masters, who will

judge of the rectitude of

my

intentions in that regard.

humanity with which your Excellency is yourself manner I shall apply power, even towards the subjects of the King, your master,

I persist always in the sentiments of

penetrated

;

these dispositions are for you, Sir, a certain guarantee of the

them, as much as

it

will lie in

my

dependent on that capitulation. I

am

very sensible of the liberty your Excellency has been pleased to grant Captain Corriveau

to return to this

any,

I

Colony on

his parole,

him

shall not the less cause

and although I do not think, he was obliged to give your Excellency within the time you have

to return to

allowed him.

The Marquis de Montcalm has

me

reported to

the attention you have had to furnish

of the officers and soldiers that were taken on the

good treatment you have been pleased to show them. in your Excellency's debt in this regard. Colonel Schuyler' has communicated to

me

treat with '

exchange of the

for the

me

Please accept.

G"". I

shall

Sir,

always do

my

my

him news

thanks

for the

best not to remain

power your Excellency has given him

the

officers therein described.

I

shall accept. Sir,

to

with

Van Slechtenhorst of Albany, and 2nd son Swan Van Duykhuisen of Albany, was born about the in command of the New Jersey regiment, and was private life. Ou the renewal of hostilities in 1755, his

Colonel Petbe Schxjtlkr, grandson of Philip Pieterse Schuyler and Margaretta

of Arent Schuyler, of Pompton,

New

Jersey, by his second wife.

year 1710.

In 1748, on the projected invasion of Canada, he

stationed at

Oswego

until the peace in 1748,

was put

when he returned

to

regiment was again called out and reached Oswego on the 20th of July. In December following, Colonel Schuyler attended the Congress called by Governor Shirley at New-York, and afterwards returned to Oswego, where he continued in garrison until its reduction, 14th August, 1756,

November, on

New

parole,

Jersey, 27th

Lake George

and on

Having been

He was allowed to return to New- York in were illuminated. He reached his home, at Peterboro',

sent prisoner to Canada.

recalled to Canada, in June, 1758, he at once set out on his return; left

2l8t July, and arrived at Montreal towards the close of that month, with

treat for an exchange of prisoners,

commandant

when he was

his arrival in that city several houses

November, 1756.

power from General Abercromby to effected, and having been himself soon after e.icchanged for M. de Noyan, the more returned home, after an absence of nearly six months. He commanded

which he

of Fort Frontenae, he once

the Jersey Blues again in the campaigns of 1759, 1760, under Amherst, entered Montreal as a victor where he had been so

New Jersey, where he died at his residence on the Passaic, near Newark, Dunlap says on 7th March, Mr. Ch. King, November 17th, 1762, aged about 52 years, leaving behind him a high character for bravery and chivalrous honor. He had qualities, besides, that greatly recommended him to his acquaintance, being of a frank, open behavior, of an extensive generosity and humanity, and unwearied in his endeavors to accomplish whatever appeared of

lately a prisoner, and then returned to

Service to his country.

Whilst a prisoner

in

Canada, he kept open house for the

large sums to the Indians in the French interest, for the redemption of captives;

relief of his fellow sufferers,

many

of

whom

and advanced

he afterwards, at his

own

expense, maintained whilst there, and provided for their return, trusting to their abilities and honor for repayment, and lost considerable that way, but seemed to think it money -well bestowed. As to person, he was of a tall, hardy make, rather

rough at

first

view, yet a

in his power. its

true relish

little

acquaintance discovered a bottom of sincerity, and that he was ready to do every kind

In conversation he was above artifice or the ;

and

in all its relations,

costume of blue, with red facings,

what he seemed

common

to be, he was.

in the collection of the

New

traffic

office

of forms, yet seemed to enjoy friendship with

His half-length portrait

in oil, dressed in a military

Jersey Historical Society, corresponds very well with the

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

777

pleasure that exchange, but I have the honor to propose to your Excellency, to

make

all

the

other prisoners in your power rejoice, at the same time, over the same sentiments of humanity which you feel for the officers, and to exchange them ; I think you will readily consent,

inasmuch as Colonel Schuyler has appeared exchange

;

but as his

own

me

to

orders do not give

willing to take

him authority except

upon him

to

make

for the officers, I

that

have

to ascertain first your Excellency's intentions on that point; you by preference in this exchange, those who depend on this Colony, both soldiers and Canadian Militia, and only those taken prisoners since the 9"" of August, 1757. And if you accept this proposition, I request you to send me the list of the prisoners in your hands, and I shall authorise the Marquis de Montcalm to agree with your Excellency on the means and place the most proper to terminate the exchanges, from hand

considered that

it

would be proper

I intend, nevertheless, to ask of

to hand.

always give

It will

me

real pleasure to affiDrd

your Excellency proofs of the sincerity of

my

intentions by the liberality with which I shall treat, without attaching myself too scrupulously to the inequality of ranks. If

Sieur de Belletre, Cadet in the Marine troops,

Fort Cumberland

in Virginia,

who was

taken in the neighborhood of

be actually at your Excellency's disposal, I request he

may

be

included in these exchanges. I shall ever seize with earnestness gratifies

me

to correspond

of the most profound respect with P. S.

On

the

every occasion to prove to your Excellency

with you, as

assurances given

which

me

time of the general exchange which I feel

I

a sincere pleasure. Sir,

I

me

I

have the honor

to be,

it

&c.

that Surgeon

shall consent to his remaining at

propose to your Excellency, in

how much

occasion to renew to you the assurances

by Colonel Schuyler,

detained by reason of serious sickness,

P. S.

will affiard

it

if it

Major Stakes

home

is

until the

take place.

placing under your Excellency's cover, the enclosed

dispatches from Mr. Schuyler and the other English officers.

Copy. (

Signed

),

Vaudreuil.

M.

de Motitcalm to

M.

de Massiac.

Camp

My

at Carillon, 3"*

August, 1758.

Lord,

Although I dare

flatter

annoyances will never

myself that you render

effiict

my zeal

description of his personal appearance given

for the

the justice of believing that personal

King's service,

by Samuel Smith.

King's Collector, Receiver-General of the quit-rents and

me

member

1

wish

to edify

you by transmitting

Catharine, his only child, married Archibald Kennedy, of His Majesty's Council of

New-York, and removed to

England with her husband, and left no issue. Among the houses in New-York city owned by Colonel Peter Schuyler, -was his residence. No. 1 Broadway, corner of the Battery, now celebrated as having been the headquarters, during tlie Revolutionary war, of Sir Henry Clinton and Sir Guy Carleton, Letien of S. Alo/sen and W. A. WIduhead, &gs., New Jersey Historical Society Proceedings,

New-York,

II.,

I.,

53, 58, \1%, 179;

224, 257, 265; Smith's

Vol. X.

New

VanUp's New-York,

Jertey, 493.

— Ed.

9S

I.,

375, 394:, 395. IL, Appendix, Ixvi., clxxxv.; Smilh't

NEW-IORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

778

you copy of a last letter, dated yesterday, to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, and you will see it depends only on him to live in harmony with me, and that 1 am sacrificing everything in view of his Majesty's service. You will perhaps be surprised that I speak to him of the composer of his letters ; he admits that he does neither write nor dictate any ; besides it was really necessary that I should seek an excuse for him. He has acknowledged to me that he wrote to you last year that he had

to

therein that

furnished

me

every means to go and lay siege to Lydius, but that he did not intend accusing I ought to do so, and that he knew well that it

me

thereby, inasmuch as he did not say that

was impossible

for

Content with

me

do

to

it

under the circumstances.

this justification,

my

Lord, and more so with the hope

my

I

entertain that

what might be written to you, without having heard me, I shall continue to labor with the same zeal in defence of this Colony, until it will please his Majesty to grant a recall which my health and debts oblige me Until then I shall willingly shed the last drop of my blood, and give up the last to demand.

you

breath of I

judgment

will be pleased never to enter

am

my

life for

in

regard, on

his service.

with respect.

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, (

Signed

Montcalm.

),

I might, my Lord, have no need of the King's pecuniary favors, were the tone of the country, and I would not owe ten thousand ecus, were I what is civil and decent for the service, and to live militarily.

I

willing to follow

to do nothing but

Extract of a letter from the Marquis de Montcalm to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, from the camp at Carillon, 2"^ August, 1758.

Be to the

assured, Sir, that the personal matters of which

composers of your

letters, to

estrange you from me, will never diminish either for you, nor

my

I

complain, and which I really impute

the turbulent and mischief-making spirits

my zeal

who

are seeking to

for the public good, nor

my

affection

constant attention to write nothing but good of you and your brother, and not

which I think you have not fully same manner by me? Why not alter your

to speak of, nor afford a favorable coloring to things on

determined.

Wherefore should you not

secretary's style

?

Why

not give

act in the

me more

of your confidence?

I

dare say the King's service

would gain thereby, and we should not have the air of disunion, which transpires to the degree You believe. Sir, you are not to that I send you a New-York newspaper which mentions it. blame I, that I am not for I think I have always been prodigal of advances to you, and have given way more than any other man in order to agree in opinion with you on all occasions. But false reports are made to you, efforts are made to embitter you; for myself, I shall forget, although it pain me, what you have written last year; I think you have not weighed its consequences, and I flatter myself you will never afford reason to suspect my military conduct, when I do all that I know how. Repel effectually those who will think of writing, or of speaking to you of me; say aloud and in public, that my recommendation to you must be the Will you begin with me. Sir, best, and you will soon see that your Colony will alter its tone. ;

;

PARIS DOCUMENTS by doing me

a pleasure

Accept

?

M''

XIV.

:

de Montbelliard's proposal

779 send back his commission to

;

the Court, and ask that he serve as detached from his corps under your orders, and send M*

de Louvicon to the company, and serve to

have them under

will

ill

de Bonafous the same way.

Fear not that

this is

do not mean any such thing, and wish them no

'tis

:

the troops of the line

all

;

If

;

impossible, having an order from the King, as

whom

1500 leagues

if

off, it is

not your's to

But those who approach you have the address to endeavor, contrary to your intentions, to engage you to mortify, without wishing do so, the General, the troops of the line and all that relates to them. What need have you>

suspend those with

to

M

discipline, for I

and I should greatly desire to be able to give you you consult only your heart, you will accept my proposition the Minister be obliged to you and I shall be grateful therefor. If you consult strangers, you will be

manner of harm to discipline.

told

my

there

is

any inconvenience.

Sir, after

my

which

should blush to prescribe to a lowest captain

I

three years service under your orders, to prescribe to ;

me

useless or minute details,

that proceeds from your secretary

having but one mould wherein to fashion instructions and letters for

all officers,

me down

from

have already had the honor to tell you that we do not think ourselves wrong, neither the one nor the other of us. It is to be supposed, then, that we are bofi so, and that some change must be applied to our mode of proceeding. For me. Sir, I shall neither

to the Colonial ensign.

I

part, nor seek to justify myself, nor furnish you any memoir except when you will require it of me or the King's service shall really be interested. You will write If it be well in my regard, I shall be very grateful-, to me or act as you please in the matter.

answer complaints on your

and

But

shall so express flatter

I

myself to you

myself that

I

;

if

shall not find

ill,

my

myself

silence will teach in this case,

you that

I

am

after so frank a letter

not content*

on

my

part,

you that I am really willing to preserve ycur friendship and deserve your confidence until my^departure for I request you to demand my recall on account of my health and of my debts. The Minister might suppose that I am induced to ask it because of my dissatisfaction with you, Sir; that is also true, but you have at hand the remedy on thin and which

prove

will

to

;

point,

and you have

I flatter to

honor

it

myself that

me

not on the other two.

my

letter will

would always be prejudicial

A

not go to your Secretary, and that you will be so good as

yourself with an answer.

Your Secretary would preserve

spite against

me which

to the King's service.

true copy.

Montcalm.

M.

de Vaitdreuil

to

M.

de Massiac. Montreal,

My I

4""

August, 1758.

Lord,

have the honor

the brilliant victory

to

my letters of the 2S"' of last month oF month over the English army, commanded

render you an account, in one of

we have

gained on the

S"- of

that

by General Abercromby. That day confers on us infinite honor, but I fear it will draw down pernicious consequences on the Colony I have been unwilling to mention in that letter what has occurred. ;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

780

reserved to myself the development of them to you in this letter, in order that you To enable you, my Lord, to judge that the account I have alone may be informed of them. I

the honor to render you of them is free from passion, I annex copy of the instruction I gave the Marquis de Montcalm, when he announced to me the day of his departure for Carillon, but on the following day he declared to me by a memoir and a letter (annexed hereunto) that he would not leave unless I furnished him other instructions. His refusal failed not to excite noise ; it became public. I foresaw, my Lord, the ill effect it might produce at the opening of

M' de Montcalm found me

the campaign.

order to avoid noise and rupture,

drawn up union

;

When

himself.

but

I

I

I

as complaisant as he

was petulant and

excited.

In

consented to sign the annexed instruction which he had

regard only myself,

foresee with pain that, in wishing to

my

Lord,

make

I

sacrifice

everything to maintaia

use of mild means, I shall indubitably

compromise the authority the King has confided to me. I am the more founded in this belief by the Marquis de Montcalm having been, after the action of the S"', so transported with joy,

owed to himself; he exalted his victory in terms so army expressions the most indecent against the Government,

that he lost sight of the moderation he

indiscreet as to produce in his

and especially whatever emanates from the Minister of the Marine. He no longer remembered, my Lord, your recommendations in favor of our Indians. So far from managing them, he repelled them to the degree that they have almost all returned. You will judge of their discontent by the Council hereunto annexed, which these Nations have

my quarters on the 30"" of July, in presence of the Intendant. been aware of the subject of their speeches, I would have given them a secret audience. I could not do better than in my answers to justify the Marquis de Montcalm and

publicly held at

Had

to

I

engage these Indians to return could not have expected to

to Carillon.

same docility in the Upper Nations, how devoted happen to them. What is the more unfortunate, my Lord, is, that the 3 Chiefs of the 5 Iroquois Nations, whom I had attached to M' de Montcalm's army, have been witnesses of the manner in which he has treated our domiciliated tribes, and that the account they will render of it at their villages will possibly prejudice I

soever they

my

may

be,

find

the

were a similar thing

to

negotiations.

If

the troops of the Marine have not exploded so openly,

to their subordination, but their pain, though secret,

Montcalm,

far

is

we

are indebted for their restraint

not the less acute, seeing that

M''

de

from doing justice to their services, attributes these to the troops of the Line.

This proceeding disgusts both officer and soldier. In regard to the Canadians, they cannot but be rebuffed by the manner he is making them They have always been excited by their feelings; they have rendered the greatest serve. services;

now

they are degraded by the harshness with which they are commanded; they They bear, the importance made of them each time they are wanted.

clearly perceive

without a murmur, the

corvces

better than to be placed in the

with which they are continually burthened.

most exposed

situations, either in

They

ask nothing

encampment, scouting

parties,

and even in front of the enemy. They distinguished themselves on the day of the S"". Effectually, my Lord, the troops of the Marine, the Canadians and the Indians had to themselves a space as large as the rest of the army, although it does not include the quarter of that intrenched ground as soon as they received orders, they advanced with ardor to charge ;

the flank of the

enemy who wanted

They approached them

to

penetrate the part defended by Chevalier de Levis.

so near that they have

made many prisoners; during the

action the

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

781

which have been engaged with our enemies, equally distinguished themselves, and have acquired the same degree of glory. 'Tis a truth to which the JIarquis de JNIontcahn

different corps

rendered the justice it deserves. He wrote to me on the day after the victory in these terms: " The few Canadians and Colonials I had, were placed at the opening (in the intrenchment)

"between the abatis and the river; they made us all regret that we had not more of them. "Chevalier de Levis, under whose eyes they have fought, praises them highly; he ordered " them to make two sorties. M'' de Raymond, Captain of the Colonials, who had the honor " to command them, exhibited on the occasion, as much intelligence as zeal. I cannot speak, in " too high terms of him, as well as of

The Marquis de Montcalm,

all

the other Colonial officers."

forgetting no doubt, the eulogium he

render them the same justice in the annexed Narrative, which he sent

made

to

me on ;

took particular care to pass over their actions in silence, which has induced

on that Narrative

in order,

my

That Narrative has not been still

Lord, that you

may

me

to

comment

possess an exact knowledge of the truth.

in existence long; he has

less favorable to the troops of the

me, does not

the contrary he

made

out another, hereunto annexed,

Marine and Canadians.

has been a principle with

It

him, to make that day turn only on the troops of the Line.

The Canadians have a great deal to suffer from the petulance and ill humor of M. de Montcalm; several officers of the Regulars, imitating their General, treat them harshly. I can assure you, my Lord, that M. de Montcalm's first arrangements had only in view the checking of the enemy, by occupying the head of the Portage, without in any way intending to dispute the ground with them, inch by inch his plan was to abandon Carillon to its own ;

forces, to

there

is

remove

his

even reason

camp back opposite

to believe that

St. Frederic,

and

to

intrench himself at that place;

he would have adopted that course had

it

not been for the

representations of Mess" Lemercier and Solbiniere.

The day

of the

6""

was humiliating

to the nation; a portion of the tents

and baggage were

burnt on that day at the head of the Portage; no opposition was offered to the landing of the English, a manoeuvre always critical and difficult to be executed

M" de Bourlamaque, who was aware of had under

his

command, exacted

enemy had

all its

when

resistance

advantage, notwithstanding the

three consecutive orders from M. de

is

offered.

trifling force

Montcalm before

he

retiring.

by the circumstance and pursued our army, already panic stricken by its retreat, and the major part of which was occupied that day in conducting their baggage to Carillon, there is reason to believe 'twould have been cut in pieces. If the

profited

lay that day, also, in order of battle, after having passed the Falls, instead of having

It

employed that time in constructing intrenchments. Fortunately, the Lord has fought for us, and our enemies did not attack us until the Sth, without having reconnoitred our intrenchments. The plan of the fort and of the intrenchments, will enable you sufficiently to understand the risks he incurred in his arrangements, without

show

prevent the artillery I

just

him

my

them out to you; it is sufficient to were too feeble to resist and intrenchments, and that they were masking the fire of the pointing

that the troops of the Marine, the Canadians and Indians

lost

enemy from

turning the

and musketry of the fort. no time, my Lord, in writing

won made me

to the

Marquis de Montcalm that the victory he had

hasten more and more the departure of the Militia and provisions, to enable

to terminate his campaign as favorably as he had begun it. I urged him not to lose the advantage we had gained over our enemies; they had furnished us proofs of their discouragement precipitate by their retreat under the ruins of old Fort William Henry, by abandoning provisions,

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

782

As

other effects and even some wounded.

early as the ll"",

M. de Rigaud was

at the orders of

the Marquis de Montcalm, with about 600 Indians and a corps of picked Canadians; he would in a short

men had he

time afterwards, have had as many as 10,000

not successively sent back

a large number of them.

My letter and my hurry to increase his forces, displeased him to the degree that he sent me back a copy of that same letter with comments. You will find it annexed. He did not sign the letter which followed them, but I could not be mistaken, inasmuch as there was an article You will see, my Lord, the answer I have sent him. in his handwriting. The Marquis de Montcalm pretends to be informed of letters I had the honor to write you last year,

by a respectable lady

whom

he has cited

;

I

do not name her

to

you because he has

not said so to me.

Montcalm should confide the two principal detachments I wished it more than any person, In consequence of the satisfaction you would have had, my Lord, in communicating at the same lime to the King, both our victory of the 8"", and the necessity we should put our enemies to, of abandoning it is only with that view that I postponed their position on the shore of Lake St. Sacrament the departure of the frigate commanded by Sieur Kanon. Had the Marquis de Montcalm executed the movements I wished him to have made, with considerable detachments by the Lake and the head of the Bay, they would have

The

to

entire

army

desired that M. de

Chevalier de Levis and M. de Rigaud

;

;

The encampment of the English at old Fort all the success I expected from them. George was, doubtless, only momentary; we cannot have a stronger proof than their inactivity 20"' They have had time of last month, when they began to intrench themselves. up to the had

from their terror, since they have not, since the 21", seen the appearance either of Canadians or Indians. M. de Rigaud is at the Falls with the troops of the Marine and a portion he has a party in advance at the other end of the portage, but as M' de of the Canadians Montcalm has not been willing to defend the landing, he has given orders to the troops of the

to recover

;

Marine

to fall

back on Carillon, should the enemy make their appearance. Thus it is, my lost the advantage they possess of fighting the English in the woods.

Lord, that our light troops

useless to repeat to you the behavior of the M'" de Montcalm towards me campaign until his departure I have affected ignorance of it. I have anticipated him in politeness; I have had conferences with him, to gratify the envy he has of being consulted, although 1 have repeatedly experienced that as soon as I had communicated any project to him, it became public by the Memoirs he made on my ideas, and which he was showing to divers persons with a view to attribute them to himself. The attachment the troops in general, the Canadians and the Indians, feel towards Chevalier de Levis, has produced in the mind of the M"' de Montcalm feelings of jealousy, which he has exhibited on occasion of the detatchment that Brigadier was to command. 'Twas which of the regular troops should accompany him, as he was not to march until after M. de Montcalm. I consider

from the

He

it

last

evaded his departure

for Carillon,

although

I

had repeatedly observed

to

him

that

it

was

proper he should be at the head of the army, that the enemy, aware of his arrival, might slacken their march. I

omit nothing

to avoid the explosion of a rupture

nothing that he does not or indecent acts he has

risk,

my

Lord, to compel

committed or authorized.

with the Marquis de Montcalm

me

to

it

;

I

pass in silence

all

;

there

is

the infamies

PARIS DOCUMENTS After

all

these reasons,

my

:

XIV.

783

Lord, I should consider myself wanting in

my

duty to the King's

and to the confidence with which you honor me, were I not to supplicate you to be He desires it pleased to demand of his Majesty the recall of the Marquis de Montcalm. himself and has requested me to demand it of you. So far from thinking of injuring him, 1 service,

my

consider,

be able

Lord, that he deserves to be promoted to the rank, of lieutenant-general he will very usefully in Europe. No person renders more justice than 1 do to his ;

to serve

excellent qualities, but he does not possess those

which are required

The King having

the Indians.

confided the Colony to me,

I

for

war

command

necessary to have a great deal of suavity and patience to

'tis

in this

country;

the Canadians and

cannot avoid anticipating the

I unfortunate consequences which the Marquis de Montcalm's longer sojourn might produce. It is essential that shall retain him with me next spring, until I have received your orders.

me

they reach first

ships

The

early; you will be so good,

which

my

Lord, as to send them to

me by

several of the

will leave France.

regular troops will be highly flattered to remain under the

command

of Chevalier

de Levis, which circumstance authorises me to renew to you the demand I have the honor He has richly deserved it by to submit to you in his favor for the rank of Major-General. the distinction with which he served in the affair of the

good qualities of a general M"' de Bourlamaque will I

am

officer

;

he

suffice as

is

8"".

He

unites within himself

all

the

generally beloved, and deserves to be so.

second to Chevalier de Levis.

with most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Vaudreuil. (Signed),

Memoir

to serve as Instruction to the

Camps and Armies

Marquis de Montcalm, Marechal of the

of the King.

The Marquis de Montcalm is not ignorant: 1" How much we have attended, since the provisions), to procuring everything that

may

last

campaign (notwithstanding the

scarcity of

tend to the safety of the Colony.

That during the winter we have performed almost impossibilities, to suffice for the Canadian and Indian parties and for the preparations relative to defensive and even offensive operations, in the confidence that powerful succors, of every description, would reach S""*

different

us early in the spring. 3"*

The

assurance

diflferent

we

messages

we have

received from the Five Iroquois Nations founded on the

give them, since a long time, of early succor.

4"' The desire of those Nations to unite themselves with a large force {un gros) to drive the English from the lands they (the Indians) inhabit, and to attack them without incurring the risk of compromising tliemselves.

5""

The

advices

Theyaguin,

we have had of the

to construct forts

preparations and

from distance

movements of

to distance,

the English to reestablish

with a view to

make Choueguen

insensibly spring up again, to extinguish the favorable dispositions entertained towards the

French by the Iroquois, and with them against us.

to reduce the latter to the unavoidable necessity of taking part

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

784

hope that the steps we have taken with the 5 Iroquois Nations will have suspended the and entreaties of the English. But we are informed that the object of our enemies is always the same in those parts, and that, independently of the siege of Louisbourg, they appear to have offensive views on the frontier of Lake St. Sacrament and even on that of the Beautiful river. According to all this, we have conferred with the Marquis de Montcalm on the actual

We

effect of the reiterated negotiations

we we have found

position of the Colony and the measures which frontiers against the

enemy's attacks

;

consider the most just to secure our the last

Memoir he has submitted

to us

on this subject, as well as his reflections, very judicious ; but, although he is aware of our intentions and is sufficiently informed of everything that can contribute to the general welfare of this Colony,

it

comports with the good of the service that we communicate to him the

present Instruction.

Lake St. Sacrament, appearing the part most menaced, we deliver to the Marquis de Montcalm the command of an army composed of 8 battalions of Regulars, about 600 soldiers Militia, and suitable of the troops of the Marine, who will form, also, one battalion, 5 @, 600 description, employes both in artillery, which, with the officers, servants, workmen of every the store and with the contractor,

amount

to over 5,000 persons to be fed

;

and

tlie

Marquis

aware that we have received four months' provisions for only 5,000. We have furnished the Marquis de Montcalm the list of officers of the detachment of the Marine who are going under his orders. de Montcalm

is

number of Indians we can. which we are reduced for provisions oppose an obstacle (which we cannot surmount) to the desire we would feel to furnish the Marquis de Montcalm with a larger force. He, himself, sees that we have scarcely provisions for the most urgent

We

The

adjoin to that

army

the greatest

straitened circumstances to

and that, besides, as none of our posts is provided with any, it behooves our prudence carefully to preserve those which will possibly reach us so as to enable us to call together the remainder of the Colonial forces for the defence of the threatened frontier, when we shall learn that the enemy are really on the march to attack it. On this directly depends necessities,

we are well assured that the Marquis de Montcalm will concur, on his side, in the strictest economy, by avoiding all imprudent consumption, and that he will send back even useless people. We doubt not that, on the Marquis de Montcalm's arrival at Carillon, M. de Bourlamaque will arrange everything so as to operate according to the exigency of the case. Our first object being to create a powerful diversion of the forces which appear to threaten

the salvation of the Colony;

the

Lake

St.

Sacrament

frontier,

and even

to

render the

enemy undecided, we cannot do

better

than to seem willing to act offensively; we have given our orders accordingly to M. de Bourlamaque. 'Tis important that the Marquis de Montcalm make, the moment he arrives, all

the offensive demonstrations which circumstances will permil him,

all things considered.

The

have cognizance thereof, and we must have the more reason to believe that such expedient will possibly occasion some change in their arrangements, as, before they can be in a position to operate offensively, they will have doubly matter for reflection and for being undecided, because the detachment which we are sending under the orders of Chevalier de Levis, Brigadier, ifcc, by the River of Corlac, will then direct its blows against the English If our views on this point be fulfilled, as we settlements, and render our enemies uneasy. must not doubt they will be, from M. de Levis' zeal, this diversion, joined to that which the

enemy

will not fail to

PARIS DOCUMENTS Marquis de Montcalm

will create

on his

side,

XIV.

:

cannot but place

two points. making in the Corlac

785 out of the power of the English

it

to act offensively at either of these

movement we

On

the

1"

The complete decision The non-execution

2"''

successively

are

district essentially

the

of

of

project

the latter

reestablish

to

These two objects demand,

in

every point of view, our attention.

he

is

even aware that

importance

;

in regard to provisions should

detachment

him

to

become

sufficiently

if

the case

Supposing the English come to Lake

may

it

Theyaoguen and

The Marquis

de Montcalm

would be very desirable that our situation favorable to keep Chevalier de Levis with

late in the season, in the district

until

push on to the Beautiful river,

proceeding

:

;

Choueguen.

feels all their

his

depends

of the 5 Iroquois Nations against the English

we have

demand

confided to him, or to enable

it.

Sacrament, where old Fort George stood, their

St.

be susceptible of two interpretations

:

1"

in sufficient force to act offensively against that frontier, if

We it

ought not believe that they are

be true, as

all

announce, that they

movements against the would appear more probable

are carrying on their expedition against Louisbourg as well as their

Theyaoguen

Beautiful river country, and to reestablish

;

S"*"

It

enemy will direct their attention to a bold defensive demonstration. However it be, the Marquis de Montcalm will neglect nothing to throw light on the conduct and manoeuvres of the enemy we hope he will not delay obtaining an exact knowledge thereof. But if the English should happen to occupy Lake St. Sacrament with a superior force, the Marquis de Montcalm must not lose an instant in occupying on his side the portage of Lake he St. Sacrament; he will make his arrangements so as to preserve the offensive on that lake will annoy and harass with vigor the enemy on the road from Lydius to Lake St. Sacrament, that the

;

;

and everywhere

else

he will consider

try and intercept their convoys.

whatever advantages events and chance defer to the Marquis de

it

best to direct his attention, especially in order to

In fine, he will always hold himself in readiness to profit will favor

him with.

As

for the rest,

we

Montcalm respecting the movements and mancEuvres he

by

cannot but will

make

according to the exigency of the case. If,

it

contrary to

will

be

order to

camp

all

expectation, the

enemy should

decide on coming to lay siege to Carillon,

determine whether he will go and meet them, in give them battle on their march or on the lake, or wait for them in an intrenched for

the Marquis de

or other position

Montcalm

which he

to

We

most advantageous.

will believe

only observe to him

meet the enemy unless he will believe that he has enough of Indians and Canadians to fight them successfully in the woods. The Marquis de Montcalm knows that whatever desire we may have to keep many Indians at Carillon, it has happened that they retired after having struck a blow; he then will do his best to induce them to remain with him, but should he not succeed, he will confine himself to harassing the enemy, in order to retard their march, it being prudent to avoid compromising himself by a

that he will not be able to decide on going to

general and decisive In other respects,

affair.

we

shall

augment the Marquis de Montcalm's

forces according

as

we

receive provisions, and circumstances require, and he will furnish us information regarding his position. all

We

shall call together, as far as

the forces of the Colony,

demand,

to

succor

the

and

we

number 99

our situation in respect to provisions will admit,

resolved to proceed

threatened frontier.

concentrate at St. John, the greatest

Vol. X.

are

We

have issued

of bateaux possible.

in person, to this

should the case

effect

our orders to

The Marquis de Montcalm

:

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

786 will send

at Carillon, all those

back to that place, on his arrival

who

will not

be necessary for

the daily service.

We

regard as useless entering into any fuller details with the Marquis de Montcalm, on

whatever may concern the objects of and the good of the Colony

;

we

and tend

his mission

refer

them

to his

the glory of his Majesty's arms

to

knowledge,

his experience

and

his zeal, in

which we have always reposed our confidence.

Done

at Montreal, the

23'"''

June, 1758.

(

Signed

Vaudreuil.

),

True Copy. (

Signed

Copy

),

Vaudreuil.

of the letter written

by the Marquis de Montcalm

Vaudreuil, on the night of the

23'-'^,

the

to

Marquis de

at Montreal.

Sir,

I have the honor to beg of you to read again the Instruction with

me

this

fully

as

evening and the annexed Memoir, and

enough that

much

as

I

will

it

I

take upon myself, under circumstances which

be possible

for

me, the

me

me

Lake

S'

until

you have furnished me an instruction with

am

critical, to

your own glory and the defence of

this

it

defend

Sacrament with 4000 men,

with an instruction, the obscurities and

all

may happen and we I

cannot leave

the changes as necessary as they are

indispensable to preserve the deputation^ of a General officer

I

be so

responsible for events which

anticipate.

zeal for

may

render justice to the uprightness of your intentions, but

must

I

of

frontier

against very superior forces, without burthening

contradictions whereof appear to render

which you have honored

expect from your equity that you will think

who

has served with so

much

Colony.

with respect. Sir,

Your most humble

&c.,

(Signed),

Montcalm.

True Copy. (Signed), Vaudreuil.

Copy Paris Doe. XV., 165.

of a

Memoir

of the

Marquis de Montcalm.

The Marquis de Montcalm who

has read, with a great deal of attention, the

which has just been communicated to him by the Marquis de Vaudreuil, has the honor to represent to him 1" That he has nothing to object to the principle of his plan of campaign, as that depends on speeches and negotiations, of which the Marquis de Montcalm has never had any knowledge except in common with the public in a vague and indeterminate form. 2°"' The Marquis de Montcalm represents that, according to what the Marquis de Vaudreuil did him the honor to communicate, he was calculating on 1200 Canadians which are now reduced to 5 or COO. Consequently, as the calculation of mouths to feed, does not correspond with the number of fighting men, the Marquis de Montcalm declares to the Marquis de Instruction

'

Sic, reputation.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XIV.

:

787

men

Vaudreuil that he does not reckon on more than 4,000 fighting troops confided

of

want of provisions

to is

He makes

him.

no

objection

this

to

at most, in tlie

moment the number

the

article,

body

assigned, but declares he can operate only relatively to that

of combatants.

The Marquis de Montcalm does not understand how

the Marquis de Vaudreuil advances that Sacrament can turn the enemy's forces away from it; so contradictory, that it must be owing to some error of his secretary.

an offensive demonstration on Lake that proposition

is

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

is

St.

pleased to conceal from him alone, the force of the English in

that quarter, the prisoners' depositions are too constant and uniform and the M'' de Vaudreuil is

well aware that notwithstanding the Louisbourg expedition, the English have 10 battalions

of Regulars, 5 companies of Rangers between Orange and Lydius, and can be easily joined by a large

body

of Militia.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil knows well when Indians are few in number; he

that is

tlie

still

interception of convoys

less ignorant,

in

rendered him by the Marquis de Montcalm, Chevalier de Levy and the post of the Carrying place

is

with a superior force whenever his parties

whence

the bottom of a tub, 'twill

is

a difficult operation

consequence of the reports

the

de Bourlamaque, that

M''

enemy

be his pleasure, and even turn

will easily drive us

by a road with which

it

must be conversant, and we have made them acquainted,

going

in

last

year to

Fort George.

Marquis de Montcalm appears to contradict himself formally in the most important

The

his Instruction. He begins by leaving it to the Marquis de Montcalm to go and meet the enemy to fight him on his march on the lake, and the Marquis de Vaudreuil adds in The that same article, that he must not expose himself to a general and decisive action. Marquis de Montcalm cannot leave until the Marquis de Vaudreuil has entirely changed this article of his Instruction and explained it clearly; for if the Marquis de Montcalm should march article of

forward to Instruction

which

camp

fight, ;

will is

if

the action

he wishes

to

is

commenced and he contravenes

abide by

tlie latter part,

the Marquis de Vaudreuil's

he must adopt measures in consequence

depend on circumstances and the time the enemy will fix nor prompt to make, and it would be

not always easy to

afibrd still

;

for

an intrenched

better to retire to St.

Frederic than to compromise oneself or shut oneself up in a post which would not be tenable; the Marquis de Montcalm owes these observations to himself; whether the

enemy has

collected

so large a force only for defensive purposes, or in consequence of the arrival of our battalions,

we

shall

soon learn, and as he must, in case of an offensive policy, have

commenced

his

operations for the whole of next month, Chevalier de Levy's expedition, the earlier execution of

which has been prevented by the want of provisions,

diversion in favor of the defence of

The Marquis de Vaudreuil which

is to

Canadians,

Lake

determine at what time the about COO

whom

to

1756,

men

he promises, will be at Carillon;

of no utility and cannot create any

it is

capable of

it

fulfilling otiier objects.

of the Marine troops, and the 5 is

necessary to

know

affair,

600

;

this article is contradictory

because we must always reserve a sufficient

made in was entrusted with attending Marquis de Montcalm was besieging Chouaguen.

of bateaux for the retreat of the troops, and therein follow the arrangement

when

(ai

this in order to

again observe that the Marquis de Vaudreuil demands the

be sent back, except those necessary for daily use

with that of avoiding a general and decisive

number

is

Sacrament, but

has omitted in his Instruction one point of the greatest importance,

make his arrangements. The Marquis de Montcalm must bateaux

S'

Chevalier de Levy, with as

to the defence of that quarter, whilst the

many and more

troops,

NEW-YOEK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

788

aware that should the enemy force us, by the abandon the Carrying place, we can never have time to burn, any bateaux we should have conveyed there in order to have a navy

The Marquis de Vaudreuil must

also be

superiority of his forces, promptly to

bring

off",

but shall

on Lake Saint Sacrament. Montreal, this twenty-third, at night.

Montcalm.

(SignecJ),

Copy. (

Signed

),

Vaudreuil.

M. de Vaudreuil's Observations.

Narrative of the Victory gained over the English on the

by

S"-

of July, 1758,

the King's army, under the

mand

com-

of the Marquis de Montcalm.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil, uncertain of the enemy's movements, did not consider himself in a position to act at the same time towards Louisbourg and on

Sacrament

;

Lake

S*

doubt that the English, with the greatest numberoftroops they had, might act offensively against Carillon; but no provisions having

determined

to

arrived from France, he

the frontier of

he, consequently,

divide his forces and to entrust Chevalier de

Levis with corps

of

a

particular

expedition,

with a

400 of whom,

1600 picked men,

drafted from our battalions, formed six pickets of 64 men, each with double officers.

strong detachment

carried

The Marquis de Vaudreuil never entertained

off

with

This it

the

a

to defend

which he would have succeeded, had the provisions arrived early enough to enable him to send the detachment he had confided to Chevalier de Levis, the object of which was to produce a grand diversion Nations

greatest portion of our Indians.

was unable

that frontier except by a diversion in

a

;

to give

proof

the

of

and to engage them,

the

in fine, to

hatchet the M'» de Vaudreuil

them

to

Five Iroquois

King's protection,

make

use of a

had permitted

suspend as long as the proximity of

the English and the safety of their families

required such a course. also for object

and was to be victualled a

river,

order to

diminish

provisions,

main,

This detachment had

the defence of the Beautiful

it

the

la cote, in

consumption of the

being regarded only as a couy de

which was capable of conferring one of

the greatest benefits on the Colony. 2.

The Marquis de Montcalm, commissioned defend

the

frontier of

Lake

S'

to

Sacrament,

The Marquis at Carillon

de Montcalm did, indeed, find

only eight battalions of Regulars,

not exact as regards the troops of the

arrived at Carillon on the 30"" of June with

but he

Sieur de Pontleroy, Capt° of the Corps Royal

Marine and the Canadians, since he makes no mention of 50 gunners and bombadiers, and of more than 300 Militia workmen employed

and Engineer-in-Chief of

New

France,

and

Sieur Desandrouins, also Captain of the Corps

is

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. Royal and Engineer attached

The corps

troops.

of troops

lie

Regular

to the

found assembled

there, consisted of eight battalions of Regulars

and,

what

will hardly be believed, 15 Indians,

an unfortunate circumstance which perhaps never recur.

will

Up

the

to

the

S"",

affair,

no other reinforcement from

received

Colony than about 400 or

day of the

the

soldiers of the Marine,

commanded

Canadians,

Raymond

he

by Captain

789

Artillery

and Engineer department,

exclusive of those attached to the

and the

different

made on the command of Sieur 19 English (two of occasioned

de

under the

of June,

Langy Montegron,

whom

of

But the capture

150.

26""

they

hospitals

The number

employes.

Indians was at least

were

the return of several,

of

had

officers)

and there

never remained less than 40.

The Marquis de Montcalm when he was not ignorant that all

de

of the troops of the Marine.

the

in

left

Montreal,

who were

Abenakis

then

returning

the

from

hunting, were designed for Carillon, as well

more than

as

to

Colonel de Bourlamaque, at Carillon, informed the

news he had

of the

who commanded

Marquis de Montcalm

enemy

just learned of the

from the prisoners.

According

to their report,

he was no longer permitted to doubt that the English had assembled at the head of Lake

William

S' Sacrament, near the ruins of Fort

of the Saut

half the Iroquois

Two

Saint Louis, the Lake of the

Mountains,

who amounted

Nepissingues and Algonkins,

over 600.

On

the report of the prisoners made on the and M. de Bourlamaque's letters, the M'* de Vaudreuil had suspended the departure of 26"',

Chevalier de Levis' detachment and changed entirely

destination, even before receiving

its

the Marquis

anticipated

de Montcalm's despatches, and

them by the

precipitate departure

Henry, an army composed of 20,000 men of the Militia of the country and of a corps of 6,000

artillery

troops from old England, consisting of 2 bat-

Marquis de Montcalm that he would not confine

Royal Americans,' one regiment

himself to sending him the 800 Canadians and

of Scotch Highlanders,^ and Murray's,^ Blake-

the 400 Indians which he asked for, inasmuch

talions of the

and Lord Howe's* regiments, under the

ney's''

command

of Major-General Abercromby, and

number of

that this army, provided with a

barges and a proportionate train of

was

to

move

in

days of July.

order to attack us the

several

Vaudreuil

to report

to

demand

first

The Marquis de Montcalm

dispatched

and

artillery,

of

couriers to

him

him

to

the

M''

Chevalier de

of

the

of

Mercier,

commanding the

Colony.

He

the

notified

as he ordered the entire of Chevalier de Levis'

detachment

to

march, and that he should

moreover notify the

manded, the

to

Militia,

previously com-

be prepared to march as soon as

provisions

would

arrive

from

S'

John

and Quebec.

de

this intelligence,

to hasten

whatever

reinforcements the Colony could furnish.

At

the

same time he did not hesitate to order La Reine, Guyenne and Beam,

the battalions of

'the 42nd; 'the 46th; *the2'7th;

'

the 55th.

The Marquis de Montcalm

attributes

to

himself the bold manoeuvre of going to occupy

—Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

(90

under the orders of Sieur de Bourlamaque, to occupy the head of the Portage on the border

the Falls and the Portage, although the Marquis

Sacrament, and also sent forward the battalion of Royal Rousillon and the first of Berry to the right of the Falls, and the

character to that army, had ordered Sieur de

of

Lake

St.

La Sarre and Languedoc

battalions of left

of that river,

equally within hail of

person, to be

He

parties.

left

to the

where he posted himself all

in

the

Sieur de Trecesson at Carillon

de Vaudreuil,

Bourlamaque

who wished to

do

it,

an offensive

to give

who had

in

consequence

prepared everything, and had written to the

Marquis de Vaudreuil on the

June that

20"" of

he would have already taken up a position there, did he not daily expect the

Marquis de

Montcalm.

command

with the second battalion of Berry, to there.

Although the Marquis de Montcalm wishes

This bold mancBuvre, which presented the appearance of a larger force than

we

had,

to insinuate that this

retarded some days the enemy's movements,

the

according to the report of prisoners

no

plan had been

their

;

at the

to establish

first

Portage,

under the orders of Lord Howe, a head which army was to follow only some days

the main

after; our to

advance movement determined them

march the entire army, which delayed their

operations until the

and

reconnoitre

to

manoeuvre put a check

retarded their operations,

less certain that,

at the

to

same time,

determine

the

to

'tis

not having had any design

to embarrass with abatis the lake shore, from

Bald Mountain Contrecoeur,

the

defend

to

to

the old

camp

of Sieur de

oppose the landing, and

Portage

inch

by

inch,

appeared the only course to pursue,

have been more advantageous

5"".

The Marquis de Montcalm, went

enemy and

to

it

work

to

which

would first

at

the intrenchment on the heights of Carillon,

and

to secure his

communication with the Fort.

position he should take, for the defence of Fort

by occupying the heights

Carillon,

mand

com-

that

it.

From

the l"'to 4"' several small parties

sent out to fight in order to obtain

enemy; and

news

were

of the

were no Indians, two

as there

companies of volunteers were organized with drafts from the Regulars, the command whereof

The scouts have been always formed by the Canadians and Indians; but the Marquis de Montcalm, wishing that the Regulars might imitate them, formed his two companies of volunteers without daring to promise himself

was given to Captain de Bernard of the regiment of Beam and to Captain du Prat of the

great

regiment of La Sarre.

of

success therefrom; as

detachment he formed on the

which he confided

adjoining to

it

appears by the 4"",

to Sieur

the

command

de Langy, by

some captains under

his orders,

as he expressed himself.

On

4""

the

organized

a

the

Marquis

detachment of

de

Montcalm

130

volunteers

under the orders of Ensign de Langy Montegron, of the Colonials, an officer of the highest reputation. The Marquis de Montcalm

some volunteer officers for that detachment, notifying them beforehand having called

for

The Marquis de Montcalm

passes in silence

the gallant manoeuvre of this officer, in

who

fell

with the vanguard of the English army,

in

going thither with a solitary bark canoe, well

armed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

791

even of

orders, irrespective of their grades,

and

captains,

number

XIV.

would be under Sieur de Langy's

that they

he was obliged to limit the

one

to

officer

This

per battalion.

detachment started on the night of the

4"" in

a bateau on lake S' Sacrament, returned the 5""

4

at

o'clock

in

the

having

afternoon,

discovered, on the lake, the vanguard of the

English army, led by Colonel Blastrik' and

Major Roger, chief of their rangers.

The Marquis de Montcalm ately,

ordered, immedi-

on the retreat becoming general, the

Supposing that the

M"

de Montcalm did

order the baggage to be removed, nothing

done that day.

bivouac, and the baggage to be removed; and

to

Sieur de Bourlamaque received orders to keep

within sight of the enemy.

burn

was

Wherefore it became necessary

troops to take their arms, pass the night in

a part of

it,

as

well as the tents,

some detachments on the South and North sides to observe the landing of the

enemy, and

Duprat's volunteers to proceed to a river which runs between the mountains wherewith that

country

covered, and flows into that of the

is

Falls, for fear the

by the rear

enemy should

try to turn us

They went

of these mountains.

thither immediately, and Sieur de Langy was

sent by Sieur de Bourlamaque, at night

fall,

to

occupy Bald Mountain with a detachment of 130 volunteers, supported by three pickets under the command of Captain Trepezec, of the regiment of

Beam, who was

to

make

iiis

'Twould appear that the M" de Montcalm to shew that the detachment commanded by Sieur Trepezec was given conjointly to Sieur de Langy, whereas this would wish

officer did

not arrive until after the departure

retreat with him, following the left shore of

of that detachment.

Lake

rejoin

Sacrament.

St.

it

'Tis true that he

was

to

in his quality of officer.

9.

On

the

6"",

at four o'clock in

the morning,

the Marquis de Montcalm, being told that a

number

of barges

were seen

in

This

article

alleged in the observation on article 5.

the offing,

immediately sent orders to Sieur de Pontleroy trace out abatis intrenchments on the ground selected the 1" of the month; to Sieur de Trecesson to set the second battalion of Berry, with the colors, to work at it to 200

to

;

men

of the Colonial troops,

who

arrived the

previous evening, to join them on the heights of the Falls.

'

proves the solidity of the reasons

Bi-aJstreet. Manle, 145.

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

792 At 9

enemy landed

o'clock the

quarter of a league from the

advanced posts

on their

fired

at half a

Portage; our

first

troops and

back on Sieur de Bourlamaque's corps, who having joined the M'' de Montcalm, the 5

fell

the defile of the

passed

reunited battalions

River of the Falls, destroyed the bridge over

it

and ranged themselves with the two battalions of La Sarre and Languedoc in order of battle on the heights which bordered

This retreat

it.

enemy's presence, without But by a real the loss of a single man. fatality, the detachment under the command

was

10.

effected in the

of Sieur de Langy, and whose retreat

secured by the right bank,

number

the small

their guides, lost

was abandoned by

of Indians its

was

which acted

way and

in

fell

as

with a

we have

'Tis certain that

man

in that retreat,

and that

not lost a single it

was

effected in

good order, the enemy not having followed It cost us,

the

however, as

baggage and

us.

I

have stated, a part of

tents,

which were burned

immediately after the landing.

column of the opposite army which was marching towards the River of the Falls. 11.

About 4

we

heard a

'Tis easy to see the motive which induced the

considerable firing, and perceived the remnant

M''de Montcalm to suppose that Sieur de Langy had the command of the detachment which was

o'clock in the evening,

detachment pursued by Some companies of grenadiers

of this unfortunate

the English.

immediately lined the rapid of the Falls

under the orders of Sieur de Trepezec.

to

check the enemy's pursuit, and several of our

men, under cover of

Of

stream.

this

about 300 men, killed,

their

waded the

we have had two

4 miners and 184

Canadian

fire,

detachment, consisting of officers

and one The Marq'

soldiers,

killed or taken prisoner.

de Montcalm retired on the evening of the

G""

camp before Carillon the army then numbered about 2800 Regulars, 450 Colonials, without any Indians and from this number

to the

;

This

number

article does not differ except as to the

of combatants.

;

must be deducted one of the battalions of Berry, which, with the exception

of the

grenadier

company, that was on the same service as the other grenadiers of the army, was occupied guarding and doing duty at the fort. On the morning of the V"", the army was all employed in working at the abatis under cover of the grenadier and volunteer companies even the officers gave the example with axe in hand, and the colors

were planted on the

13.

The head

of the intrenchraent

was

distant

only 450 toises from Fort Carillon, which might

be regarded as inaccessible on

its left,

but could

easily be turned at the right, there being toises of

intrenchment

at the

water

350

side, as is

PARIS DOCUMENTS works which had been laid out, the evening before, by Sieurs de Poatleroy and Des androuins on the heights, nearly G50 toises from Fort Carillon; the left, occupied by the battalionsof La Sarre and Languedoc, rested on an escarpment SO toises distant from the River summit of which was crowned

of the Falls, the

by an abatis; this abatis flanked an opening, abreast of which were posted the two companies of Bernard and Duprat's volunteers, in whose rear six guns were to be placed to batter it The right, guarded by La and the river. Reine, Beam and Guyenne, rested in like manner on a height, the pitch whereof was not so steep as that on the

left; the

Colonial

troops and Canadians were stationed on the plain,

between the

latter height

where they, with some abatis

S' Frederic,

too,

and the River

intrenched them-

was flanked by that occupied by the regiment of La Reine, and was to be flanked also the next day, by a battery of 4 guns; moreover, the guns of the fort were brought to bear selves

;

it

part of the intrenchments

on that quarter, as well as on the landing that

might be made

The

to the left of

our intrenchments.

centre followed the sinuosities of the

ground, keeping on the top of the heights, and all

the parts flanked each other reciprocally

many, indeed, there, as well as on the right, were attacked by the enemy en echarpe, but that was because they did not allow us time

The

to construct traverses there.

centre

was

occupied by the battalions of Royal Rousillon

and the

first

of Berry, to which were adjoined,

throughout the entire front of the

line,

pickets which arrived with Chevalier de

some Levy

on the previous evening. Each battalion had in its rear one company of grenadiers and one picket of reserve,

for

the

purpose both of

supporting their battalions and of marching

wherever they were required.

These intrenchments were constructed of trunks of trees laid one on the other, having in front

trees felled, the branches of

Vol. X.

which 100

:

XIV.

793

easy to be seen by the plan, (appended to the first);

this

part

being

defended

only

by

troops of (the Marine, Canadians and Indians

the intrenchment which the

announces here,

did

very imperfect,

M"

de Montcalm

not occupy more than

a quarter of that ground,

and was, besides,

;;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

794

being cut and sharpened, served as chevaux

de

frise.

14.

On

the night of the 7'\ the 400 picked

men

The

arrival of the

400 men and of Chevalier

belonging to our Regulars, vrho were detached

de Levis personally, produced as

on a particular expedition under the orders of

hope in our army.

Chevalier de Levis, arrived to the great satisfaction of our

much

little

The joy was

army.

so

the greater as they announced the person

of Chevalier de Levis

he arrived in

in fact

;

the night vrith Lieutenant-Colonel de Senezergue, of the regiment of

La

The Marquis

Sarre.

de Montcalm entrusted to him the defence of the right, and to Sieur de Bourlamaque that of the

he reserved to himself to remain

left;

be better able

at the centre, to

to issue his

orders equally.

The army bivouacked. 8""

the

the generale

was

At day-break on

beat, in order that all

the troops might understand

after this

movement, they immediately

work, some

two

abovemen-

batteries

and a redoubt which was

tioned,

the

set to

in perfecting the abatis, the rest

in constructing the

tect

their positions,

the arrangement agreed upon

according to

About

right.

ten

still

o'clock

to pro-

in

the

morning, the enemy's light troops appeared on the other side of the river and opened a brisk

fire,

so distant that the

work was con-

tinued without noticing them.

At our

half-past twelve their

advanced

guards,

grenadier companies

and entered the single

man

upon, the

;

in a

fell

lines

filed

on us

and

volunteers

back

in regular order

without the loss of a

moment,

workmen

army

the

at the signal

as well as

all

agreed

the troops

were at their arms and at their posts. The left was the first attacked by two columns, one of which endeavored to turn the intrenchment and found itself under the fire of the regiment of

La

Sarre,

the other directed

against a salient point between

Berry

its

efforts

Languedoc and

the centre, where the Royal Rousillon was stationed, was attacked almost at the same moment, by a third column, and a fourth ;

much joy

as

PARIS DOCUMENTS directed

Beam 7""

its

La

and

The enemy had on the and pontoons drawn to the

whence some twenty were seen

;

defiling

Bernard's and Duprat's volun-

on that river. teers,

who were

posted there, received them

with a will; Sieur de Poulharies, at the head of a

795

Reine.

their barges

Falls

XIV.

:

attack towards the right, between

company

of grenadiers and a picket of

15.

The Marquis de Montcalm, always with a view to make this action turn only on the troops of the line,

makes the barges

fall

back

before Bernard's and Duprat's volunteers;

'tis

the Royal Rousillon, likewise appeared there,

easy to be seen by the plan, that they could

and the cannon from one of our batteries of

not,

the

fort,

commanded by Lieutenant de Louvi-

from their position, annoy those barges.

He makes

his partiality

still

more manifest

in

command

of

Corps Royal, having disabled two of them, they have not appeared any

attributing to Sieur Lauvicou the

more throughout

Lemercier was there

court

As

of the

the

entire

of

the

action.

the battery

which stopt them, whilst Chevalier

the Canadians and troops [of the marine]

were not attacked, they, under cover of the intrenchment, directed their

against the

fire

column which was attacking our which sometimes was in range

right,

of

and

them.

in person.

16.

The

troops of the marine, the Canadians

who were stationed at the weakwere fortunately not attacked. But

and Indians, est point,

they rushed boldly from the intrenchment and

Chevalier de Levis sent successively Adjutant

made

Dhert and Captain Daynau of the regiment of La Reine, to order the most alert of them

appeared most determined to clear the intrench-

to

make two

in flank.

sorties

Sieur de

and

to take that

column

Raymond, antient captain who commanded them,

of the Colonial troops,

always

headed these

attacks of the

sorties

;

the

different

enemy continued almost

the

whole afternoon, and almost with equal vivacity throughout.

About

five o'clock the

column which had

attacked the Royal Rousillon, threw itself on

a salient defended by the Guyenne battalion

and on the left of the Beam ; the column which had attacked La Reine and Beam with the greatest desperation, also threw itself on that point, so that the danger from that attack

became imminent.

Chevalier de

Levis re-

some troops of the right, when the enemy were doing nothing but firing. The Marquis de Montcalm ran thither also with some of the reserve, and the enemy experienced a resistance which finally cooled their ardor. The left was sustaining always the fire of the two columns which were trying to enter at that part, where their depot was paired thither with

ment.

a flank attack on

They

the

displayed so

column which

much

valor

that

even during the action they took most of the prisoners.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

796

Sieur de Bourlamaque had been

also located.

there about three o'clock, and lieu-

wounded

tenant-colonels de Sennezergue and de Privast,

commanding the regiments Languedoc, had supplied

his

La

of

Sarre and

absence by con-

The tinuing to issue the best orders there. Marquis de Montcalm repaired thither several times and was careful to dispatch a reinforce* ment there at every critical moment. For

during the whole of the

affair,

the companies

of grenadiers and the reserved pickets always hastened to the points that were most pressed.

About six o'clock, the two right columns which abandoned the attack on Guyenne, came to

make another attempt

at the centre against

Royal Rousillon and Berry, and, in succession, one last effort against the left; from 6 to 7 o'clock the hostile army was busy retreating, under cover of the

fire

of the light troops,

which continued until nightfall. During the battle several places caught fire, but it was immediately extinguished, the soldiers courageously passing over the reverse to arrest

of

its

Besides the munitions

progress.

powder and

ball, barrels full of

water were

almost continually [conveyed] from the

fort,

and Sieur de Trecesson, who commanded the second battalion of Berry, and who was also in

the

fort

as

Commandant

well

as

Mercier,

Sieur

the

of the artillery, rendered on this

occasion the greatest services by their activity in

causing to be conveyed to us the ammunition necessary in so long an

and refreshments engagement.

The darkness

of the night, the exhaustion

and small number of our troops, the enemy's forces which, notwithstanding his defeat, were infinitely superior to ours; the nature of these

forests in

which

it

was impossible, without army which had 4 or

Indians, to engage an

600 of them several intrenchments that the enemy had formed, one behind another, from the field of battle to their camp such were the ;

;

insurmountable

obstacles

which

us pursuing them in their retreat

;

we

prevented calculated

PARIS DOCUMENTS

797

day to take revenge, and we consequently worked all

night to protect ourselves {nous the neighboring heights fecting

the

of

abatis

by

di'Jiler^)

against

traverses, in per-

the Canadis^ and

completing the batteries on the right and

which were begun

On

XIV.

their attempting the next

even on their

:

the

G""

in

left,

in the morning.

our volunteer companies went out

and advanced to the

On

Falls.

news they

the

brought us that the enemy had apparently

abandoned the Falls and Portage posts, the Marquis de Montcalm ordered Chevalier de Levis to march at daylight the following morning with our volunteers, eight companies of grenadiers and one 50'^="' of the Canadians, to discover with caution what had become of the enemy's army. Chevalier de Levis advanced before the Portage he found everywhere traces of a precipitate flight; wounded, barrels of flour, baggage abandoned, shoes left in swampy ;

places, wrecks of

testable

burned barges

proof of the loss the

— an

incon^

enemy have

According to the statements of

experienced.

and from what we have seen, we estimate their killed or wounded at 4,000; if we were to rely on some of them and the their prisoners,

promptitude of their retreat, their loss would

more considerable. Ours has been 12 25 wounded 92 soldiers killed The enemy have lost many of their principal officers, among others. Lord Howe, who has been killed on the 6"" by our detachment on its retiring from Bald Mountain M'"Spittall, Major-GeneraP of the Regulars and the Commander-in-Chief of New-York. be

still

officers killed,

;

and 248 wounded.

17.

Five hundred Indians, Thiactas, Loups and Five Nations, arrived on the morning of the

The Indians were not so numerous, and those who were there have been mere spectators,

8* with Colonel Johnson;

with the exception of a few Mohawks.

appeared

in the action,

some

especially those of the Five Nations, inactive in the rear of the columns 'This word '

is

difier in the previous

Brigad«-Major.

of

them

but the greater number,

;

remained

before they

Document Supra,

.Sec supra, p. 741, note.

— Ed.

p. 741.

Sic.

Canadiano.

— Ea

NEW-YOEK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

798

should decide, they were, doubtless, waiting for the result of the battle, which appeared to

them uncertain

for the English.

The proclamation

of the

Si""

of March,

printed at New-York, announces the general

invasion of Canada, and these very words are

expressed in the commissions of oificers.

all

the Militia

•

This day's success

is

due

to the incredible

valor of both officer and soldier.

Chevalier

de Levis particularly distinguished himself on the occasion balls in

;

he has received several musket

his clothes

;

Sieur de Bougainville,

Deputy Quartermaster-General of the army, and Sieur de Langis, a Colonial officer, have been wounded at his side; Sieur de Bourlamaque deserves, also, great praise for his good conduct and firmness.

Chevalier de Montreuil,

ammu-

Adjutant-General, had the orders and

nition conveyed, with indefatigable zeal, to the

various points of attack, whither he repaired in person.

All the officers

who composed

this

army have furnished such great marks courage that each of them would merit

of a

special eulogium.

Return of

the

French Oficers Killed and Wounded in

the

Battle of Ticonderoga.

8th Jidy, 1758. Staff.

M. de Bourlamaque, wounded dangerously in the shoulder blade. M. de Bougainville, Deputy Quarter-Master General, wounded slightly Regiment of La Reine. Captain d'Hebecour,

Captain Lecomte,

^ V

Lieutenant de Massia,

)

wounded, but not

Sub-Lieutenant Dodin, of the grenadiers,

fatally.

killed.

Regiment of La Sarre. Captain de Moran,

Adjutant Minneraye,

^ \ killed.

Captain Chamredon,

)

in the head.

PARIS DOCUMENTS Captain de Beauclair, >

wounded

799

XIV.

:

slightly.

M. de Forcet, Royal Rousillon. killed.

Captain Ducoin,

Regiment of Languedoc. Captain de Freville, Lieutenant, Chevalier Parfourn,

M' de

I killed.

Marillac,

\ v?ounded slightly

Duglas,

;

the

first

two continue on duty.

Basserode,

Regiment of Guyenne. killed,

Captain d Patrice,

Captain

S' Vincent,

Captain

La

dead of his wounds.

Breteche, >

wounded

slightly.

Lieutenant Restorant,

Regiment of Berry. Captain La Breme, I killed.

Sub-Lieutenant Emmerick,

Grenadiers.

wounded dangerously,

Adjutant Carlan, Captain Chateauneuf,

dead of his wounds,

Sub-Lieutenant Chermont,

wounded

slightly.

Regiment of Beam. Lieutenant Pons, killed.

Ensign Douay,

wounded

Captain Montgay,

slightly.

danger of being somewhat lame. ^ named to a commission in the Languedoc, who is serving as an officer in Bernard's volunteers, will lose \

Adjutant Maiartic,'

is

Chevalier d'Arennes;

)

in

his

arm.

Troops of the Marine. )

Lieutenant de Nigon 5

fears are entertained for

him on account of the

three wounds, none dangerous

Lieutenant de Langy

'

Iq the Return already printed, thia

page 750, which compare.

— Ed.

disposi-

tion of the blood, ;

he received them in

the intrenchment near Chevalier de Levis. name

is

"Macartie."

There are other discrepancies between

this

and the return on

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

800

Officers killed, or Prisoners, belonging to the

detachment of the

Lieutenant Bernard, of the regiment of La Reine. Chevalier de Premillac, Cadet, appointed to a commission,

La

Sieur Grasset, Cadet, designed for a commission,

Captain Bonneau,

La

Lieutenant

G'*.

Sarre.

Guyenne.

Rochelle,

Captain Trepezec, dead of his wounds, at Carillon, having rejoined.

Beam.

Lieutenant Jouber, Lieutenant Chevalier de Rezie, of the troops of the Marine.

True Copy. DE VaUDREUIL.

(Signed),

M.

de VaudreuiVs

M.

letter to

Extract of M. de Vaudreuil's

de

Montcalm and

the

Ohservations tJiereoiU

latter'' s

M. de Montcalm's Observations.

letter.

Carillon, 16"" July, 1758.

We

are,

sir,

in

favorable cir-

sufficiently

advantage

we have

the

of

cumstances, not to lose sight

great

acquired over our enemies

by your victory of the S"" instant; to old Fort George may have for

This part of the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letter, appears to have been written only with a view to render the Marquis de

their retreat

responsible for

object to

in order to say

its

all :

/

the events that

Montcalm

may happen,

have suit him all the forces of

arrange-

the

Colony; he has had them for a month, and has

ments and dispose things so as to be ready to march, on the reuniting of their troops employed at the siege of Louisbourg; but whatever be their views, and what interpretation soever we may put on them, everything

not

known how

fortify

must engage us

them

make

themselves there or to

to use

every means to deprive

of time for adopting

new measures, which,

whatever they be, would be always most prejudicial, regard being had to our small

by them so as

to profit

enemy

establishing

Were

the

themselves

at

to prevent the

Fort

George.

Marquis de Montcalm, on the contrary, to march with all his forces and not succeed, the Marquis de Vaudreuil would not fail

to write

He

:

and has compromised astonishing that

has marched without orders, the

the

'Tis

Colmnj.

always

Marquis de Vaudreuil

considers himself qualified to determine, at a

the necessity of

distance of 50 leagues, warlike operations in a

having our Canadians back for the harvest. I enter, strongly, Sir, in whatever plans you

country which he has never seen and where

stock

may

of provisions and

have formed on

to

The

this point.

retreat

and even terror of the enemy only increases my zeal in having conveyed to you all the forces at

my

disposal

;

that

is,

'

in

sending to

the ablest generals would be embarrassed after

The Marquis de Vaudreuil army was at least 20,000 and according to many of the prisoners,

having seen forgets

strong,

25,000.

Compare Documents. Supra,

p.

that

it.

this

Let us suppose that 767.

— Ed.

it

had

lost in

PARIS DOCUMENTS government fit for service, and executing such movements as you will think proper; you have already a great many of them and others will reach you daily,

you

the militia of this

all

be very considerable.

of those Provincials return _

we

that

Sir,

have, continually, large detach-

home they would ;

have 12 or 14,000 men, and consequently

still

the superiority in the

'Tis

with

pain,

respect due, that

yet

am

I

and be masters of

field,

acting as they pleased in

important,

'Tis

801

and wounded, 5,000 men, that a portion

killed

so that, independently of Indians, your forces will

XIV.

:

tlieir

country,

without

ments, both on the Lake and head of the Bay.

passage in

They cannot

Secretary, and not of a warrior.

our enemies

he too stro?ig to harrass

vigorously, to cut off their communication

Fort Lydius and old Fort George, and

to

we

convoys;

their

them

force

artillery,

to

have

abandon

campaign

train,

no

better

between

to intcreept

manauvre

their jjosition, bateaux, 4'c.,

to oblige

and thereby deprive them, hope of renewing their attempt. retire,

them

to

forever, of all

nication

Italics is the

work

the

of a thoughtless

A comma"

by going with a

not cut except

is

losing

obliged to say that the

between two bodies, and not compelled to abandon his position by mere detachments they may, however, abandon it, and such will be the respectable corps

a superior

enemy

is

;

result of a

change of plan on their

part, rather

we

shall learn

than of our movements; this

on the earliest day.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

will find In

Observations some distrust of him least will

never prevent

me

my

this at

;

applying myself

good of the service and of the Colony, without troubling myself about what may be thought of me directly or indirectly, but I do not conceal from the Marquis de Vaudreuil that I shall be able to shew him, on my return to Montreal, that if he has had the goodness, in his

to the

despatches of

last year, to

accord

me some

praise that

I

may

persuade the Minister of the Marine that he had furnished

Although the King's service ought not

Laydius.

to suffer

not deserve, he did not

me

the

means

thereby at

my

to lay

fail

to

siege to

hands, and

I shall,

Marquis de Vaudreuil marks of respect and affection, it were desirable that, forgetting the past, we should work on a new plan, and that I should not have to complain of, or to fear the obscurities and double meaning of his instructions and letters. on

all

occasions, afford the

Before

had received the Marquis de Vaudreuil's

I

letters,

detachment of 500 Canadians or Indians, which marched and

a scouting party, whose return

disjpatchcd

in his

own

I am

expeciing.

I

occupied myself with a strong

morning by the head of the Bay, [Note. These italicised words are

this

handwriting.]

The Colony

is

only to-day en

regie. Sir, I

review

it

to-morrow and

I

have yesterday informed

your brother that on the IS"" ( after to-morrow ) he should go in person with M. de la Valterie's corps, and encamp at the Falls, and M. de la Corne will go on the lO'"" with his, to encamp we shall be in measure posted as before. I am waiting for M' de at the head of the Portage St. Luc, and am immediately going to form a strong detachment for him which will proceed ;

by Lake

St.

Sacrament.

This, Sir,

is

all

that

I

believe possible whilst

making our troops

very glad to give on this occasion an important commission to your 1 retain Chevalier de Levis by me, and we shall both be in a position to support or brother. withdraw him when I shall receive news of the enemy, and that the reinforcements you announce will be arrived. I shall attend to profiting by them according to circumstances. Your I

am

have

all

continue our works.

brother,

who

Vol. X.

will

the Indians at his camp, will second me, to the best of his ability,

101

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

802 in retaining

them

one and the

other.'

and we

as long as possible,

When you

think

it

shall,

perhaps, be embarrassed therein, both the

necessary, Sir, to

withdraw the Canadians, on account I shall never answer for

of provisions and the harvest, I shall endeavor to do without them.

any event, but certainly, that the General and the troops will do their utmost. I expect, however, that even during the harvest, you will leave me a certain number of Canadians and these good, with some Indians. Such, Sir, are my plans. Did you wish the enemy to persist

We shall endeavor to expel him thence. 1 am ready to march Such will not be my advice, but a distinct order from you will be sufficient for me. If it be by the head of the Bay, I leave this unprotected if by Lake St. Sacrament, 'twill require a land march (portage) of three weeks, which will exhaust the army by fatigue and delay the harvest. If they be willing to retire voluntarily of themselves and in consequence of the movements I shall make, I shall be overjoyed. Were I so fortunate,

in remaining at Fort

George?

thither with the entire army.

;

Sir,

as that your important occupations

would see everything

yourself, and

I

would permit you

to be at the

head of the army, you

should have the satisfaction to receive clearer and less

embarrassing orders, and you would have judged that

I have combined boldness, prudence and That does not prevent the odds, that the Colony might been jeopardized on Decide thereon when you will learn that the Canadian merchants or the eighth of July. suttlers were offering, the night before the battle, the velte^ of Brandy for nine francs the valor

some

activity.

;

of the troops has decided. In regard to

M' Wolfs' statement respecting the 500 Indians

;

he has seen them

we saw them on

counted and even spoke to them, and with our telescopes mountains, spectators, on the day of the battle.

;

the

so to say,

opposite

must add that on the day of Mr. Wolfs' arrival at the enemy's, Abercromby interrogated When Wolfs maintained that I would arrive with Chevalier de Levis, that English General answered You are not obliged to tell me the truth I know beyond a doubt that M. de Montcalm is still at Montreal and that Chev. de Levis is going to Corlac, and must be near I

him.

:

;

arriving there.

You perceive. Sir, that as usual I express myself to you with truth and respectful firmness. The same love of truth prompts me to advise you that I demand my recall of the Ministers, and I request President Mol6 and M. labbe Count de Bernitz to solicit it. If you will be so good, Sir, as to unite with them in obtaining that favor for me, it will make me forget all the annoyances I may have had. I shall preserve, in return, a gratitude which will equal the respect with which

I

am,

Sir,

Your most humble, P. S. M. de la Roche beaucour

me your despatches compliment you are pleased to communicated it to them. I assure M™^ thank her for the interest she takes in my courier, has delivered

of the

for the

make me, on

The

affair of the

you, three weeks before '

Cpmpare

I

eighth left, to

;

g""

and

ll"".

I

your second

to

have the honor to thank you

the bravery of the

the Marchioness deVaudreuil, of

troops;

my

you must

was the

and

cause. Sir, of our having been without

recollect that

I

had foreseen

it.

I

had requested

go and raise the war song among the Abenakis, and

supra, p. 768.

have

I

respect,

preservation.

desire of economising the provisions

Indians in the

&c., &c.

having arrived some hours subsequent

'

A

measure of six quarts.— Ed.

to let

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

me we

bring them with me. not

fall,

If

you send me

XIV.

803

the militia of the government of Montreal, shall

all

without any determinate object, into an opposite and unfortunate extreme

?^

True copy. Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

Copy

of the letter

Montcalm.

written by the Marquis de Vaudreuil to the Marquis de

Montreal, 21 July, 1758.

Sir,

I have received, by the

me on as the

the l?""

same opportunity,

and an unsigned

inst.,

the letter

letter

you have done me the honor to write 16"", but in the same handwriting

dated the

first.

The English Sergeant-Major whom you announced to me in your letter of the 17"" has arrived; I have interrogated him; he told me that all the papers he had with him, when he arrived at Carillon, are in the possession of M. de Bougainville.

I

request you. Sir, to be

so good as to send me, by the earliest opportunity, those papers and

all

others which have been

they may contain many particulars of interest, and it me to make a report of them to the Court. I am fully convinced it does not come from you, or at least

found on the English, taken or killed will,

perhaps, be even necessary for

In regard to the unsigned letter,

;

it to me. But as it contains an extract of a letter which I write to you on the 12"" of this month, I proceed to answer the

that you did not intend sending

have had the honor

to

Observations which relate thereto.

You

will

permit

me

wrong

to say. Sir, that a

article of those Observations,

to

my mode

interpretation has been given, in the

of thinking.

I

flatter

first

myself you will do more

which you have always known me to have entertained for you, and you have seen with pleasure my haste to increase your forces, in order to enable you to conclude your campaign as gloriously as you have commenced it. These, Sir, are exactly my views; their tendency will always be to remove difficulties, humiliate the King's enemies and promote the good of the country which his Majesty has been

justice to the sentiments

that

pleased to confide to me. I

owe

it

to myself,

and

to the justice

I

render your

mode

of thinking in regard to me, to

pass in silence the remainder of the 1" article.

The second

article of the

Observations refers to these words

:

The detachments cannot

be too

strong in order to harrass our enemies vigorously, to cut off their communication between Fort Lydius old Fort George,

and

to intercept their

convoys.

We

their position, bateaux, artillery, Jicld train, provisions, I

cannot but be surprised that

I

have no better manoeuvre

to

and

force them to abandon

(^'c.

should have been literally understood as meaning to cut off

communication between Fort Lydius and old Fort George, and that your army would be necessary for that purpose. In fact, 'tis easy to see by my letter itself, that my expression, to cut, signifies to try to cut, or at least to impede the communication of our entirely the

enemies; large detachments may accomplish that object, and be able to take advantage of many favorable circumstances. My reflections in this regard could not escape your sagacity.

They were founded even on '

the brilliant

Compare

affair of

the S'^

As

" Extract of the Letter," Ac, mpra, p. 758.

for the rest,

— Ed.

we have been

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

804

by the discouragement of our enemies; the proofs they have afforded us thereof cannot be more certain. We ought not, consequently, remain inactive, especially as the consequences of those movements, when ordered vpith the prudence I know you possess, can accrue only to the advantage of the Colony. For the rest, Sir, I have always rendered and shall ever render you the justice which is sufficiently invited to these suggestions

your due, both

in

my

written; you will do

and

in

my

reports to the Minister of

cannot bring myself to believe that anything

I

me

to those Observations,

me

War

despatches to the Minister of

the Marine; therefore

a favor. Sir, to send

me copy

have received on that subject.

to the

contrary has been

of the letter which you must, according I

am

confident that you will not refuse

this satisfaction.

am

I

the more disposed, Sir, to abstain from mentioning those Observations to you, as

I

my

views by the detachment of 500 Canadians and Indians which you have dispatched on the le"" by the head of the Bay and by that you proposed giving It is to be feared that those detachments have to M'' de St. Luc to go by Lake St. Sacrament.

perceive that you have entered into

not been sufficiently strong

therefore

;

doubt not but you will augment the

I

first

that

you

will organize

duly appreciate the destination you have given

I

do

will

You

his best to execute

will see, Sir,

by

all

not that you should march with your

army

that

1

have remarked

to

you on that

point,

your ease; should your operations require

You

brother Rigaud

to drive the

only that you should send out large detachments. all

my

whatever movements you will order him. my letters that I have referred the matter

my

I

;

to

I

am

you

well assured he

;

my

intention

is

English from old Fort George, but

cannot omit having the honor to reiterate

and that

I

have in view solely to place you at

presence, I shall actually be at Carillon.

will be at liberty, Sir, to retain, to the

end of the campaign, the Militia belonging

to

the government of Quebec, those of Three Rivers, 200 Canadians of the government of

Montreal, and

all

the Indians

;

you

will please

send back,

if

circumstances permit, the remainder

of the Canadians belonging to this district by the 10* or IS"" of next

and

recommend

to

that the 200

who

will terminate the

proportion to the number from each parish to

have

all

the

Canadians belonging

to this

month

for their harvest,

campaign, be selected with equity

in

keep bateaux and provisions at St. John government promptly dispatched to you as soon as ;

I

shall

word that the enemy are coming to attack you. Already a number of Canadians have returned, many of whom have presented to me the Those men the others say, that you have discharged them. furlough you have given them have been equipped, and it would be just that they should have finished the campaign I beg

I shall

receive

;

;

you,

my

Sir, to

be so good as

to

avoid giving these furloughs; they have been the sole cause of

not having sent you the remainder of the Canadians belonging to this district

ready to

who were

start.

was ignorant, up to this time, that there were any Canadian merchants or canteen keepers At all events. Sir, you have had the power to send them away by the terms of my ordinance of last year, the execution whereof I beg you to enforce, and to send the canteen keepers back to me by the first opportunity. Nothing is more injurious than the retailing of brandy, as I have had the honor to tell you before your departure. You may remember, Sir, that when you did me the honor to go to St. Francis, all the Abenakis warriors were in the woods hunting, and that they did not return even until long after your departure. Nothing was more urgent on my part than to send them to you I

at Carillon.

immediately on their return.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. only remains

It

for

me,

805

assure you that the unsigned letter of the 16""

Sir, to

makes no

impression on me; that the justice I render your sentiments is for me a sure guarantee that you are fully convinced of the sincerity of those I have avowed to you they will ever be the same, and you will recognize always in me, a constant desire to maintain the most perfect union with you, and to prove to you that nothing equals the respectful attachment with which ;

I

have the honor to be &c^

True copy.

Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

The

Speeches of the Iroquois, Nepissings, Algonkins, Abenakis and Mississa-

General's answer.

gues, 30"' July, 1758.

We

are

come

profound pain

we

feel

Father.

to express to

Montcalm has received us

at Carillon.

took the earliest opportunity to

we were

you the

Children.

manner M. de

at the

grief

We

credit

him that

tell

victory.

are

come

He

at a

need of you.

answered

time

when

curtly:

us

We

English.

withdrew from

You

However

any

calm. will

consult together.

far

bid

him good

to

go on the

;

Lydius road.

F if

struck

you shall not you are not satisfied. .

.

.

.

Father. to

He

go.

!

We

his

table,

Go

We

me

I

cannot

of the Marquis

render more justice to

his

that be,

forget the past,

remove the

and you,

dislike of

your

I

am persuaded

be glad to do

so,

that eventually they

and acknowledge that so

from despising them, he loves them and

is

very glad to have them with him. n.

saying:

to the devil,

did not require an

understand these words.

told

warriors to serve under the Marquis de Mont-

his quarters to

The next day we were to morning we asked him leave

I

Chiefs, endeavor to

vpill find

kill

anticipate the

understood him, or have exhausted his patience.

to behold

dead bodies? go behind the fort, you some. I have no need of you to

fail to

hearing your words.

what you have

de Montcalm.

I have no further

Are you come only

You cannot

feel in

sentiments in your favor; you must have mis-

greatly mortified in not having shared

his

I

interpreter

immediately

him that we were surprised at his anger him any provocation. The council was not long; we each returned home. The same day, a young chief came back

told

without having given

who exclaimed

quite furious, and beside himself with rage,

away

We

since

we

are treated thus

;

in a

loud tone

I've just been turned out of doors by

:

"

We

must go

M. de Montcalm."

to this young man we continued to form our party, which finally you know the result we would have returned immediately, but we said to ourselves, we are not depending on M. de Montcalm, but on our Father, M. de Vaudreuil, and though he be at Montreal, we must regard him as being here, and do his will all the same. We shall go afterwards and present him our complaints.

would not hearken

obtained leave to march

;

;

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

806

M. de Montcalm called us together and gave us a Belt to engage us to remain we consulted our warriors as usual. Ganetagon, a new chief, flung the Belt into the middle of the ring and " We must be devoid of all sensibility to receive this message. I am going to get my said canoe ready to proceed to Montreal with my men." Thereupon, each repeated the harshness the Iroquois of the Lake and all the other he had experienced at M. de Montcalm's hands Nations who experienced the like ill treatment, said they would do the same. There was some ;

:

;

talk of taking back this message, but no one

be done, and the more resolute presented

it

would take charge of it. M. de Montcalm, saying

to

Nevertheless,

it

had

to

We are mortified that We were obliged to tell

:

"

your message has been fruitless." He wished to know the reason. him that his head was turned since he had beaten the English without us; that he may have need of us, but should not find us. He relented proposed to us to leave at least some warriors with him to act as scouts. We answered that the ill humor of the warriors did not permit us to ;

leave

who

him a

single one.

much

is

Finally, he altered his tone

attached to that gentleman.

We

he got M. de Levis to speak to Ganetagon,

;

held a third meeting, and, out of respect for you,

Father, and in consequence of M. de Levis' behavior,

we

departed to bring

You

Father.

will ask: "

Why

M. de Montcalm did not wish your brother.

We

came

for

we

left

him some

warriors, after

which

home our wounded. wenot stay with M. de Rigaud?" he cares no more for him than

did it

;

comfort to you, Father, and to warn you that our

they will never consent to go where M. de Montcalm will command.

We

answer you, that

for us,

men

although he

is

are so disgusted that

Therefore, Father,

make

your arrangements accordingly.

M.

de Dleshau [

to

Marslial de Belle

Isle.

Dfipartement de la Guerre, Paris. ]

Bath, England,

My

5'"

August, 1758.

Lord,

Deign

to receive this letter favorably,

'tis

behold myself abandoned without resource;

my

bills

by a heart overwhelmed with grief. I drawn on the Marine, sent

of exchange

it, and cause me the most sorrowful reflections. Your have the greatest confidence, can alone extricate me from so 'Tis Lord Barrington, the Minister at War, who has caused to be advanced

back protested, make goodness,

dictated

my

me apprehend

Lord, in which

critical a position.

I

me all the money I have received here, and consequently 'tis to that Minister I owe the hundred guineas lately protested. This has made me adopt the course of drawing a bill of exchange direct on M. Le Normand, Secretary of the Marine, in the hope that he will take

to

consideration on I

as

am

it

ignorant,

appears that

letters for I

me

my my I

embarrassment and pay it. Lord, wherein I can have merited treatment so much the more rigorous the Court, not having received an answer to any of my

am abandoned by

more than

six

have had the honor, to

permit

me

months.

my

Lord, to inform you repeatedly of the offer which has been

to return to

France on

receiving your orders on that point.

I

my

parole,

am always

which

I

made

did not wish to accept without

waiting for them with the greatest impatience.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XIV.

807

Might I have had the misfortune to incur your displeasure, my Lord? as I have entertained for you, all my life, the deepest veneration. I am, with the most profound respect.

My

I cannot believe

it,

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant. Baron de Dieskau.

Marshal de Belle [

Isle to

DSpartemenl do

la

M.

de Montcalm.

Guerre, Paris.

]

Versailles, 6"" August, 1758. Sir,

letter you have vrritten to the M" de Paulmy, the 12"" June last, who you had not yet received mine of the 26"" of February, in which I notified you of the retirement of that Minister, and that the King had entrusted to me the War Department. I observe, from what you state in that letter, that you were occupied in making the necessary arrangements to collect a body of troops at Carillon, and that you had dispatched M. de Bourlamaque to that effect, whilst Chev de Levis was proceeding, with a detachment of 2000 men, in the direction of the Five Nations, less to attempt anything there than to endeavor to induce them to take up the hatchet. I doubt not but you will profit by every opportunity at your command, to furnish me news of the events that will occur during the campaign, and, if circumstances require, you may use the cypher furnished you by the M'' de Paulmy. I have acknowledged, by my letter of the 4"" July, the receipt of those whereof you send the duplicates and triplicates, and have nothing to add thereto. I have the honor to be, most perfectly, Sir, &c.

I

have received the

has informed

me

that

:

Marshal de Belle [

Isle to

D6partement de

la

M.

de Montcalm.

Guerre, Paris.

]

Versailles, G"- August, 175S. Sir,

I last,

have just received the

and answer

it

letter yoil did

me

the honor of writing to

at once, in order not to lose the

immediately from Brest

for

Canada.

me

on the

14"* of

opportunity of a schooner, which

is

June

to sail

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

808 M. de Marsiac, with

whom

have conferred on the subject of what you represent,

I

that the increase in the price of provisions, placed

it

soldier to support themselves, pretends that the inconvenience will have disappeared arrival of the

and that abundance

ships,

first

in consideration of

what the troops may have

Majesty has granted

to those

who

insensibly prevail,

will again

the different shipments will reach their destination.

however, what

I shall see,

suffered,

on the

according as is

to be done,

and of the supplement of pay his

Meanwhile, M. de Marsiac has given

Europe.

will return to

to wit,

out of the power of both officer and

orders for placing elsewhere the deductions the troops might have suffered for want of certain

nothing of what has been promised them.

stores, so that they will lose

Tn regard to the

cessation of specie payment, M. de Marsiac has explained to me, that they in order to put an end to a considerable

premium

(agio)

which was very

were driven

to

it,

prejudicial to bills of

exchange, that are always paid with exactitude in France. I

M.

de

be most perfectly,

have the honor

to

Vaudreuil

Marslml Duke de

[

to

D6partement de

la

Guerre, Paris.

Sir,

&c.

Noailles.

]

Montreal,

My

6""

August, 1758.

Lord,

The

interest I take in

than the prayers

I offer

your health, and

up

for

have the honor of expressing

my

gratitude for your goodness, exact nothing less

your preservation.

you how much

to

my

Permit me,

Lord, to renew them, and to

I should be flattered

by receiving intelligence

from you.

my

Persuaded,

Lord, that this Colony constantly occupies your attention, I have the honor

you whatever has occurred of interest since the last campaign. have learned, my Lord, how much this Colony has been afflicted by the scarcity of provisions, and how severely the detachment I had sent last fall, to wind up the campaign, had to suffer, less from the rigor of the season than from the want of provisions. Their principal supplies consisted in powder and ball, and nothing less than the industry of the Canadians and Indians in living in the woods could support the few soldiers that accompanied them. That detachment completely fulfilled its mission. It laid waste or burnt all the settlements in the Palatine district, situate between Corlac and the country inhabited by

to

communicate

You

to

will possibly

the Five Iroquois Nations.

The

English,

provisions.

my

Lord, had conceived the most flattering hopes from our short stock of their people in the best disposition; were all at their ease; the

They had found

great and small in

New England

extensive nature; they had, at

equally concerned in the war.

first,

laid their plan to scale

were perfect; their ladders constructed, and their army ready were to precede their enterprise were to meet with nothing therefrom.

who by

I

had been careful

their zeal

to

Their views were of the most

Fort Carillon; their preparations to

march; the detachments which than the success they hoped

less

send some parties of Canadians and Indians against them,

and good disposition found resources

for their support.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV.

my

confine myself,

I shall

'

809

Lord, to that detachment, on whose return the enemy's army was

'Twas a detachment d'clite commanded by Major Robert Rogers, the to put itself in motion. most celebrated English partizan. He had orders from iiis officer to break up the ice, to lay down the route the army was to follow. But that detachment was entirely defeated by a party of soldiers of the Marine, Canadians and Indians, the command of which I had confided to a few simple Cadets belonging to our troops. In this way, ray Lord, I protected the Colony, during the winter, from the menaces of our enemies. I

founded

my

all

hopes on the powerful reinforcements which

but in spite of the wise and just measures of M. de Moras,

A

May.

19"" of

iheir

campaign

I had proposed to

first,

1

had demanded of the Court;

received provisions only on the

portion of the troops of the Line had set out, previous to that time, to open

at Fort Carillon.

I

was

sensible of

all its

the earliness of their navigation, to take the field fully a

At

we

break up their plans,

to

importance, the

month before

enemy being

able,

by

us.

operate a diversion of their forces, and

With that view I announced as my preparations, the offensive on Lake St. Sacrament, whilst I was organizing a detachment of troops, Canadians and Indians under Chev: de Levis' orders, to proceed to the district their

place

to

General in a state of indecision.

The Five

of Corlac.

Nations,

detachment, were to join

Whilst matters were

it

in

who

for the

for

a

long time had been

inviting

this position,

I

Carillon,

we had

recently taken, did not state positively that they designed

decided on changing Chev

I

to

form

this

had intelligence of the considerable forces of our

enemies and of their encampment on the ruins of old Fort William Henry. prisoners

me

purpose of attacking the English.

:

But, although the

coming

to attack

de Levis' destination and joining his detachment to

the Marquis de Montcalm's army.

The enemy and

took possession on the

6""

of the post

we had

occupied at the head of the Portage

at the Falls.

The Marquis de Montcalm throws up in great haste an intrenchment on the height in front of Our army, which was then only 5,000 some hundred men, was in order of battle on tiie S"" the enemy made their appearance in three columns. The fight began at half-past Fort Carillon. ;

twelve; Levis,

it

was one of the sharpest and most obstinate on both sides; but

who was occupying

columns which wanted briskness of our

fire,

to

at last

Chev: de

the right of our army, charged so apropos, in flank, the enemy's

turn him, that the English, unable any longer to withstand the

retired about six o'clock in the evening,

and the

firing,

notwithstanding,

continued until nightfall.

The enemy's army

was, according to the report of prisoners, about 14,000 men, independent

of a body of 13,000 which had remained with General

Abercromby

at the Falls.

The loss of the English, according to these same prisoners, amounts to about 5,000 killed or wounded General Howe and several officers of mark are among the former. On our side we have had about 350 killed or wounded, but a great many officers. M. de ;

Bourlamaque has been dangerously wounded, but he is better. My brother Rigaud set out on the 5''' with about 600 Indians and a party of Canadians Notwithstanding all the diligence he could employ, he was unable to reach Carilloa d'elite. before the

11"".

brilliant victory.

He is greatly mortified I am individually much

escaped succumbing before the hot pursuit

Vol. X.

at not

having shared the Marquis de Montcalm's

pained at

we

102

it,

because the English could hardly have

should have given them.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

810 I

cannot,

my

Generals and I desire, will

Lord, too highly praise the troops generally.

my

Lord, that the King be satisfied with

my

services and zeal.

be so good as to seize the opportunities to place them Bearn.i Adjutant of Quebec,

I\L

my

qualified to enter with you,

him

Following the example of their

they have performed prodigies of valor.

officers,

relative to this Colony,

who

will

Lord, into

I

hope that you

in the best light.

have the honor to deliver you this despatch, the details you will judge proper to

all

with which he

thoroughly conversant.

is

He

is

is

well

demand

of

the officer in

whom

most confidence. Nothing less than his resources, his readiness and his zeal I have were required to accelerate my movements. Permit me, I beg of you, my Lord, to have the honor to solicit your kindness in his favor. I am confident that you will find him worthy of it, when you will have been acquainted with him. I have particularly charged him to give me

news

My

of you, this

fall, if it

brother Rigaud

is

be at

all in his

troops of the Marine and Canadians d'elhe. I

am

power.

where he commands the camp of the detached

at present at the Falls,

He

has the greatest desire to distinguish himself.

with the most profound respect, Sir,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant,

Vaudreuil.

M.

Montcalm

de

[

My

A

D^parlement de

to la

M.

de Massiac.

Guerre, Paris.

]

Lord, letter

from the Marquis de Vaudreuil, copy whereof I transmit you, leads

that he will endeavor, perhaps, to send

of the Colony by

on the subject,

in

means

me

to believe

you a piece of mischief which issued from the

interior

some domiciliated Indians of the Sault Saint Louis. I write to you order that you may not give yourself the least uneasiness nor feel any on of

account of the pain an ill-concocted intrigue may afford me. To the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letter I annex my answer; the same spirit that regulates my conduct towards that GovernorGeneral, has dictated my answer the spirit of conciliation necessary to the good of the service,

—

and from which I shall never depart, no matter what provocation I may receive. You can, my Lord, assure his Majesty of this. I exhort, unceasingly, the Marquis de Vaudreuil to stifle in silence and in the inferior of his cabinet these discretions,^ of which the public must not be aware, and M. Bigot, whose

some mode

office obliges

of conciliation, gives I

me

am

him

to notice

them, and

whom

I

request to devise

reason to hope that he will succeed.

with respect.

Your most bumble, &c.

The same

postscript that

is to

the letter for

my

Lord, the Marshal de Belleisle,

for the above. •SiV,

Quf Pean.

' Stc.

Qu?

discussions

— Ed.

is

equally

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XIV.

811

of a letter from the Marquis de Vaudreuil to M. de Montcalm, dated 1st

Copy

August, 1758. Sir,

Ail our domiciliated Indians

me

in full council against the

their arrival

and during

to

make remonstrances

to

treatment they pretend to have received from you, both on

their sojourn at Carillon.

to that place

to return

in future

came on the day before yesterday,

ill

They announced to me their command there. I have

whilst you are in

unwillingness regretted not

would have endeavored to I omit nothing to induce them to surmount the prejudices they have stifle it in its inception. formed, and flatter myself with having sufficient influence on them to induce them to forget the Such is the past. I beg you, Sir, to entertain for these Nations all the regard they deserve. King's intention. They have for a long time contributed to the honor of his arms, and the having foreseen that they were

defence of the Colony.

I

to

speak publicly of this matter.

have been much more affected,

which may flow from

their dissatisfaction, than

been held

against the government, and against

at Carillon

I

my

Lord,' at the

ill

consequences

from any indiscreet conversations that have

me

personally.

They have been

them from these Nations. As I am greatly above, and as I despise themj 1 make no enquiry into them, and I render you justice enough, Sir, to be persuaded that had they come to your ears, you would immediately punish proceedings so contrary to discipline, and which might tend to so pernicious a disunion in the Colonies.

so public that

I

I

learn

have the honor to be, &c.

Copy

of the Marquis de Montcalm's answer to the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letter.

6""

August, 175S.

Sir,

Tn answer to the letter you have done me the honor to write to me, touching the complaints which the Indians have made to you against me, 1 protest to you that I have not been surprised at these complaints, although

I

had refused them M. Rumas^ scolded

them

for

have well received those people, as to

command

disorders they were

is

my

custom, except that

I

the party confided to M. de Courtemanche, had

committing

in the

provisions of the hospital and of private persons, and that

I

camp, killing and pillaging the had adhered to your injunctions

As a witness of this, I have your brother, atid as proof, number of them at Carillon; the second detachment, in which they almost all marched anew with M. de St. Luc, and the third, which a portion of them Facts ought to be believed in preference to is still making, at this moment, with ftL Marin. words. Indians, you are aware, do only what they like; but evil spirits often suggest to them and make them say in councils, things they do not think of. Let one instance be shown me of a large body of Indians having been, this season, to war three times or even twice, one after

in

sometimes refusing them brandy.

the long sojourn of a great

the other, without returning home.

The respect I owe you. Sir, has prevented me writing to you that they have, in full council, complained of you having detained them whilst wishing to fly to our succor. They stated so both in public and

in private.

'/Sift

I

made

the public keep silent. ^

1

felt

Sk. Qu? Dumas.

how

—Ed.

I

ought to treat that

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

812

imputation, whilst you write

me

as being persuaded that

I despise these miserable concerns.

them.

the evil minded or to the Indians.

continue to do by them whatever

You

Speeches can I

make me

to

credit to

;

it.

I

wish always

my

Although

require

as well as the friendship of

may do and

shall

was cruelly torn

I heard that I

do not attach any

I

keep aloof from whatever may create disunion. Do you so, The country and circumstances

to

Afford public proofs of your confidence in me.

it,

I

service.

retreat from the Portage, yet

likewise.

go-betweens

conduct, and

good of the

supposing that there had been any, no person would

his confidant in this matter.

your presence, on account of

in pieces, in

of this feeling either to

my

avail nothing against

shall consider useful to the

are right, Sir, to despise gossip

presume

have not behaved well towards

I

show no symptom

I shall

which

say to destroy

I

cannot divest myself, notwithstanding

With these sentiments, and

it.

all

that

those of respect,

I

have the honor to remain. Sir,

Your most humble, &c.

M. Bigot

M.

to

de Ma-s-siao.

Quebec,

My

He

I

;

whom

request of the Marquis de Vaudreuil,

I

went there on

official

August, 175S.

business, and at

the

much piqued against the M" de Montcalm. army had said of him after the action of the

found

has been informed of a thousand things the

of July, and pretends that the Marquis de Montcalm has been the author of them, having

8""

been the

first to

express them.

The Marquis de Montcalm, on in

13'"

Lord, returned from Montreal some days ago

I

his side,

complains that M. de Vaudreuil has no confidence

him, and does not communicate his plans to him

the

army on

careful to I

the

am

this subject

communicate

doing

little

my

1

;

to

mentioned

it

;

he has even written to

M. de Vaudreuil, who

to

him everything he proposed

told

me

me

recently from

that he

was always

to do.

them

best with the one and the other to induce

to conceal

from the public

reproaches they believe themselves justified in making against one another, and I

excuse them reciprocally whenever

write

I

to

them

a report of a rupture

;

Too much

dangerous to the Colony as the entrance of an English army.

among the different corps. The Marquis de Montcalm and

would be

as

jealousy has already

spread

the Marquis de Vaudreuil are both necessary parties for the

The former

preservation and defence of Canada.

and

a

man

has

made himself known

The

of vast detail, smart and active, zealous for the service.

as a

good General

latter

does what he

pleases with the Indian Nations and the Canadians, and he is thoroughly conversant with the

nature of the fighting in this country the English have of the Indians.

terms with them, but I doubt

one to the other, and

for a

if

;

As

he also I

am

knows how

to turn to

equally attached

they will do the same

;

to

advantage the terror which

both,

I

should live on the best

their hauteur is too

long time they have appeared to

me

much opposed

the

to associate only politically.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XIV. The Marquis de Vaudreuil for

813

command

requests of you to procure the

Chevalier de Levis; he has the reputation of a good officer; he

corps and by the Indian Nations, but in

who

vs'ould

my

will

be sufficient; that

beloved by the entire

is

opinion 'twould be necessary to send a third officer

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

be superior to the commandants of battalions.

M. de Bouriamaque

of the French troops

may

do

for

war, he

is

the judge;

police and the discipline of the troops, a third principal officer will maintain

the

commandants of

the battalions; they are too indulgent

to the

says,

but as regards

them better than and soldiers of

officers

their corps.

The Marquis de Montcalm has enemy and prevented which that victory may acquire for defeated the

thither,

I

greatly

shall

distinction,

regret

it.

just conferred a

memorable

Canada; he has

service on

their penetrating into it; the grade of Lieutenant-General

him, will probably recall him to France. I

cannot too often repeat that he

and that he possesses a detail and talents which are

is

Should he return an

officer of

great

rare.

I I have considered it my duty, my Lord, to submit to mutual discontents of these two generals. I should feel mortified were they to know that I have the honor to write to you on the subject, because they would perhaps believe me partial.

know

you what

I

respecting the

am, with profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, (Signed)

M. Baine [

to

Marshal de Belle

DSpartcment de

la

Guerre, Paria.

Bigot.

Isle.

]

Quebec, 31" July, 1758.

My

Lord,

The most

glorious and most brilliant action since the

place on the

8""

commanded by I

of this

month

commencement

in the vicinity of Fort Carillon

of the

war has taken

between the King's troops,

the Marquis de Montcalm, and the English.

propose having the honor to give you the details thereof.

letters of different officers,

my

friends,

The Governor-General having been

who were

I

have collected them from the

in that action.

informed, at the very

commencement

of

May

last,

that

the English had formed the design of attacking Fort Carillon, and afterwards Fort St. Frederic,

thereupon took the best measures to give them a

warm

He

government

he

dispatched orders to

may

all

the settlements in his

reception and to thwart their designs. to

command

the farmers

whom

need, enjoining on the Militia captains to order them to hold themselves in readiness

These orders were executed in such a manner that, as early as the twentieth of May, all the farmers were ready, and the Marquis de Vaudreuil, who learned, by that time, from some scouts he had sent out, that a great body of English troops were assembled at Lydius and Fort George, and were seen passing from one to the other with a great number of wagons, dispatched then the battalion of La Reine, which was in garrison at Quebec, to St. for all events.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

814

8 or 10 days after, the battalions which were John, to encamp there until further orders ready, those of Languedoc and Berry, filed off and went to encamp at the Falls; the other battalions, which are La Sarre, Royal four Rousillon, Guienne and Beam, proceeded, also, to The eight battalions assembled at Carillon, received orders the St. John and the Portage. 30"" June to advance on the 1" of July. The battalions of La Reine, Guienne and Beam, went to occupy the Portage those of La Sarre and Languedoc encamped on the left bank of the Palls; that of Royal Rousillon, and the second of Berry, encamped on the right bank, and the third battalion was destined to guard the fort. The Marquis de Montcalm thought by this bold manoeuvre to give a check to the enemy, it never having been his intention to hold that position on account of the small number of troops he had to defend those posts. ;

;

On

the evening of the

to discover the

4"',

returned on the

5"",

about ten o'clock

having been pursued by beating. 2-50

in

M. de Langy, a Colonial

enemy's movements and to try

Men were

full

officer, set off,

with

some prisoners

at

15iO

men

morning, without having been able

of soldiers,

bateaux,

in

Fort George

who were approaching

;

but he

to get

any,

with drums

busy, the whole day, watching them, and M. de Bourlamaque detached

order to be advised

reinforced, and the

barges

fifty

command

men, under the

in the

to take

of Captain Detrepezet of the

camp passed

the night in bivouac.

Beam

Our

of the enemy's manoeuvres.

Some

regiment, to Bald Mountain,

posts on

the right bank were

shots were fired by the advanced

morning of the 6"", the enemy's army landed number of 1,000 @^ 1,200 barges, having about 3,000 men on board. They ranged themselves in two lines to attempt a landing at four different places; As our numbers were very that is, on the left and on the right of each of their lines. small, we did not offer them any opposition, and they landed at the Burnt Camp, where they posts during the night.

opposite the Burnt

Camp,

At 5

o'clock on the

to the

formed, gradually, into columns.

We

waited a long time before retreating, out of consideration

M. de Trepezet's detachment which had not returned, and fell back on the Falls in very good order, but abandoning our baggage. The desire to extricate M. de Trepezet still retained us at that place until 6 o'clock in the evening, when the wreck of that detachment returned for

by wading, to the number of 12 or 15. Some prisoners whom we took, told us that the enemy was marching against us, and was constructing bridges on the river Berne which This determined us again to make our retreat under the cannon of Fort separated us. George', where we bivouacked. On the 17"'^ our little army were employed constructing an The 8"" continued the work until one o'clock in the abatis at the entrance of the fort. afternoon, when the enemy, as 'tis stated, to the number of 14,000 men, charged us, although since the 6"", when we lost about 350 men in killed and wounded, which occurred only through ;

the accident of M. de Langy, boldness, and at the

moment

we

effected our retreat

with considerable precipitation and

of the landing of 6 thousand of the enemy's troops,

we reached M.

de Montcalm's position on the evening of the same day. Mess" de Pontleroy and Desandrouins, Engineers, conducted the work at the intrenchment, covering the heights, the left on the river

and the right on a curtain. guard of the Fort and with

who those

The second all

battalion of Berry having been entrusted with the

the details of that quarter, under the

command

of M. Trecesson,

has rendered, on that occasion, important services to the army, according to the report of

who were

of trees, which

there, our 7 battalions

was

worked with incredible

activity in forming

finished that day.

^Sic. Carillon.

*

Sic— Et>.

an abatis

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XIV.

815

Chevalier de Levy's pickets arrived on the 7'^ also, and he, himself, at 5 o'clock of the

morning of the S"". The small numbers of Canadians and troops [of the Marines] with Marquis de Montcalm, were stationed at an opening between the abatis and the river. The arrangements for the reception of the enemy were made on the T""; our guard and grenadiers were outside the whole of the day to protect the work, and the companies of volunteers drawn from our troops commanded by Mess" Benard and Duprat, an officer of the regiment of La Reine, were always in advance watching the enemy's movements. Mess" de Langy and d'Ailiebout, Colonial

officers,

went on

a scout and the

army bivouacked through

the night.

On

the

S""

the abatis

advanced guards.

The

was

perfected

;

our volunteers exchanged shots

arrival of Chevalier de

Levy,

who had

witli

the enemy's

previously been destined to

proceed to Corlac, and whose destination was changed because the Marquis de Vaudreuil did not wish to divide his forces, through fear of being overwhelmed by the multitude of reports, other change in the Marquis de M6ntcalm's arrangements, than that of entrusting him the defence of the right, and of changing M. de Bourlamaque to the left. Chevalier je Mercier, commander-in-chief of the Artillery of New France [and all the officers] under his orders, were employed in arranging the cannon at the places indicated by the Marquis de Montcalm. At half-pRst twelve the columns of the English commenced to deploy against our guards, who immediately came in without confusion with the grenadier companies and workmen. A gun was fired as a signal and in a moment all the soldiers were at their posts.

[made no]

to

At one assaults, firing

o'clock the

enemy attacked

us with great impetuosity.

approached even the abatis.

was extremely

They were formed

brisk on both sides until

six

They made

six

consecutive

three principal columns;

in

the

the evening and continued

o'clock in

until nightfall.

Our army which has resisted

We

ran

consisted of only 2,900 combatants of French Regulars and 400 Canadians,

the different attacks,

all

many

risks for 2 or

-3

have performed prodigies of valor

which posterity

;

will scarcely credit.

of Colonial troops and Canadians.

speaks highly of them

some indefatigable

;

my

Lord, with a courage worthy of heroes.

hours; fortunately our troops did not flinch

;

all

our officers

the soldiers, following their example, have done things It is to

be regretted that there was not a greater

number

Chevalier de Levy, under whose eyes they have fought,

were the most alert, he made them make two sorties, led by M. d'Hert, Adjutant of La Reine, headed one, and M. de Noes,

as they

officers

;

in the same regiment, the other. M. de Remond, Captain of the troops

Captain

in this action

same

is

;

he has

affiDrded,

of the Colony, has

commanded

the Colonial troops

on that occasion, proofs of his zeal and intelligence

generally the case with the Colonial officers

who were

;

the

there.

We are indebted for this victory to the courage of the troops, to the sorties which Chevalier de Levy had executed on the right by some pickets and a company of grenadiers, at the same time that he sent some active Canadians into the opening (of the intrenchment ) to M. de ;

Bourlamaque's firmness and his excellent arrangements on the left all the Commandants of corps and generally everyone, my Lord, behaved very well, and furnished proofs of their zeal ;

and

vnlor.

Fearing that the enemy would land some

commencement

men

in barges,

which they attemped at the were guarding that part of

of the attack, Bernard and Duprat's volunteers

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

816

our abatis, and M. de Louvicourt, an Artillery

sunk a pontoon and a barge.

at the fort,

officer,

who was

This, with the

serving tliree pieces of cannon

of the volunteers, caused the

fire

twenty barges which the English had sent forward.

retreat of

Chevalier de Montreuil, the Adjutant-General, caused to be transmitted with the greatest activity, the orders necessary to

animate and encourage the troops, and for the distribution of

the ammunition, which the gentlemen of the second battalion of Berry and the officers of the

forward with the greatest diligence.

artillery sent

defending the abatis, and although the

officers

That

battalion had

belonging to

being there, they have been most useful elsewhere, and have different

journeys through and

M. Duplessie, a Colonial

its

company

grenadier

have been much mortified

it

lost several

soldiers

at in

not the

fro.

officer,

who

landed at the

moment

proceeded

of the action,

immediately against the enemy with SO soldiers of his company that were with him. Assurances are given that the enemy retired portion of their wounded.

Our troops passed

in

the night, and that they have abandoned a

the night in order of battle, to avoid

and prevent the enemy, who had fresh troops, re-commencing the night,

surprise

ail

under cover of the

which they might easily have done.

^'rom the report of different prisoners,

thousand men at the

least, eight

it is

thousand of

estimated

whom

tliat

the

Their

loss

exceeds

five

Our

hundred

loss,

killed or

this

field

thousand men, killed or wounded

;

wounded

number.

to fourteen

of battle, to secure their

two thousand dead bodies

Lord Dawh,' who commanded the attack, the exact amount of which we have not yet ascertained, is

have been found along our killed.

enemy amounted

belonged to their best troops, and that they

had the remainder behind abatis between the Falls and our retreat.

among

fight

abatis.

is

reported

five

@.

six

and S"". Only thirty-eight Canadians are M. Lusignan has informed the Marquis de Montcalm, the day after the in

the affairs of the

6""

him report the enemy's army to have been composed of 18 @^ 20 thousand men, which is verified, 'tis said, by a letter found in the pocket of an English officer who was killed, and that Lord Dawh,' the Major-General, and 3000 men have lost their lives on the occasion. We are assured that numbers besides have been wounded. You may infer from this, my Lord, that their loss must be very heavy. had been much to be desired that we had had some Indians to pursue them at the close It of the action; these joined to a detachment that the Marquis de Montcalm could have confided to Chevalier de Levy, might have crushed and cut in pieces the rest of the English. All those who have seen that general officer in the fire say, that they have never known a man more tranquil and more intrepid, and it can, with justice, be said, that he behaved like a General perfectly acquainted with the art of war. action, that the deserters sent to

Our enemies,

my

Lord, are greatly humbled

;

these braggarts

had 500 Indians,

they had requested to be spectators of their bravery and of the capture of our

forts,

whom

but these

Indians have been witnesses of their defeat. I have just received a letter from Carillon, informing me that a great number of English have been discovered dead two leagues from Carillon. It is presumed that dissensions broke out among them. I

think,

We of

my

Lord, that they have no longer any project to conceal.

have at present several detachments of Canadians and Indians roving

Lydius and Fort George. *

Sic.

Howe.

— Ed,

in the

neighborhood

PARIS DOCUMENTS: One

of our soldiers

who

XIV.

817 Levy was

deserted to the English assured them that Chevalier de

going to Corlac with 2,000 men, which made them resolve on sending 7

(§i

8,000

men

thither;

they go there, they will be grossly deceived, as they will not find any one.

if

You must be already informed, my Lord,

May

end of

that the Englisii presented themselves at the latter

before Louisbourg, in the design of besieging

it,

with 24 ships of war, 11 frigates,

three fire-ships, one bomb-ketch and 130 transports, and that they had effected a landing on the S"" of June in the Bay of Gabarus, to the number of 12 @. 14,000 men, when we were driven back and repulsed to the very walls of the place, and their [force landed] at Point Blanche, situate west of the above bay.

I

am

not sufficiently well informed,

my

Lord, to furnish you an exact detail of what occurred

month from mouth of the

at these landings, but the captain of a small craft, arrived here on the Q"" of this

Port Dauphin, has reported that the English had fought the

which

islot,

is

at the

2G days, without any success, whilst we lost only one man, and that they had abandoned that enterprise that we have had sunk in the channel of Louisbourg three frigates and one ship from St. Malo, to obstruct their passage; that that manoeuvre had created considerable misunderstanding between the Military and Naval commanders; that no trench had been opened and that they were not further advanced than the day they landed. We learn this moment that the English have still 10,000 men in the intrenchments which port, during

;

we are assured that they will not make any new demonstrations against our forts this year. The people of this Continent demand peace; they declare openly that they cannot stand they have thrown up at old Fort George and at Lydius, but

against us.

All their Militia are beginning to disband.

M. Albert Combey,' who was reported I am with the most profound respect,

My

to

have died of vexation,

is

wonderfully well.

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant,

Daine. l?""

August, 175S.

intelligence that a

A

courier has just arrived this

moment,

my

Lord, from Carillon with

detachment of 400 men, consisting of Canadians, Colonials and Indians, la Corne St. Luc, attacked on the Lydius road, the 30"" July last, at one

commanded by M. de

o'clock in the afternoon, a convoy of about 150

men who were

conducting 54 wagons loaded

with provisions, which they captured and destroyed, not being able

230 oxen and took 80 scalps and 64 prisoners

— men, women and

to

save them

children.

We

;

they killed

lost

only one

Iroquois; two others have been slightly wounded.^ Abererombie.

'

Sic.

'

Compare the precediog with the

document.

— Ed.

Vol. X.

letter of

M. de Moutealm, supra,

p. 748.

It

ia,

for the

most

part, a

copy of that

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

818

M.

Doreil [

to

Marslial de Belle

D£partement de

la

Guerre, Taris.

Isle.

]

Quebec, 3P' August, 1758.

My

Lord,

M"

Since the great day of the S'^ the field

harass and watch the enemy.

to

de Montcalm has always had some detachments in the

These detachments had likewise

for object to

place

themselves between the enemy's intrenched camp on the ruins of Fort William Henry and Fort Edward, to attack and destroy their convoys. They have had divers success. The first, which marched on the 16"" of July under the orders of a Colonial Captain, returned the 21" with 10 prisoners and 24 scalps. The impatience of the Indians prevented this detachment destroying a party of 300 English which had taken refuge in a stockaded inclosure lately

Edward road. command of a Colonial

erected to serve as a depot on the Fort

The

second, likewise under the

latter part of July, fell in also

on the Fort Edward road,

Captain, which

at the

of 40 carts, each of which had from 4 to 6 oxen yoked to provisions, effects, merchandise,

the carts burnt;

&''''.

They destroyed them

property pillaged by the Indians;

the

women

The

it

;

left

camp

the

the

enemy's camp, with a convoy these carts were loaded with

entirely.

The oxen were

killed

;

110 scalps were secured and 84

which was defeated, consisted of 40 men, commanded by a Lieutenant, who has been taken the remainder of the men, who were killed or taken prisoners, consisted of wagoners, suttlers, traders, women and children. The English, 'tis known, feel this loss very sensibly. Some baggage and effects belonging to General Albercrombie, as well as his music, were among the plunder. On the news of this defeat, the English General sent a very considerable force in pursuit, under the command of the partisan Robert Rogers, but he was too late. He was on the point of returning, when, on the advice of a Colonial gunner, a deserter, he received orders to lay in ambush to surprise a third detachment which the Marquis de Montcalm had just dispatched under the orders of M. Marin, a Colonial officer of great reputation. This detachment was composed of 50 Regulars, 100 Canadians and 150 Indians. That of the enemy, of about 700 men. They met in the woods, about seven o'clock in the morning of the S'* of August, and in spite of superior numbers, M. Marin made his arrangements to fight the enemy. He forced them to waver by two volleys, which killed a great many but having been supported by the Regulars, they prisoners taken

;

of these, 12 are

or girls.

escort,

;

;

rallied

and the

firing

was

they were receiving a reinforcement, and the Indians, to carry

he did fire

off"

in

some wounded, demanding

to retire,

men

as

he had,

general, have also behaved well

;

who

feared that they

would not be able

he was obliged to think of retreating, which

good order, and without being pursued,

with such picked

M. Marin, perceiving that

brisk on both sides for nearly an hour.

an hour longer, kept up a

after having, for

who performed

prodigies of valor.

The

one knows wlierefore, at the very moment when the English were wavering. astonished the Indians, and prevented that brave officer deriving

from the circumstance. Meanwhile, our loss

which

is

wounded,

is

but trifling in comparison with that the

estimated at over 200 men.

whom

Indians, in

but of 100 Canadians, more than 60 deserted M. Marin, no

they were carrying on

Scouts, sent on their litters,

all

This somewhat

the advantage he could

enemy must have

trail,

suffered,

have seen a great many

and a great many dead on the

field

of action.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: M. Marin took some soldiers, 3

wounded This,

Some

Canadians and 4 Indians

— the majority

my

Lord,

now

prisoners, 2 of tiiem officers,

of

I^illed

them very

two Cadets, one

;

819

here.

On

soldier, 5

was only

liave

had 3

Canadians and 4 Indians

interest since the great event of the S"" of July.

other detachments have gone out, two of them under the orders of

their object

we

our side

slightly.

what has occurred of

is

XIV.

of the enemy,

to reconnoitre the position

intrenched on the ruins of Fort William

Henry

Chev

:

who numbered

de Levis, but 12,000 men,

since the latter part of July, retaining

ammunition, &c., having sent back only the

all

their

and receiving succors from Fort Edward and Orange. It appears they intend attacking the Marquis de Montcalm anew and We are not able to oppose this. M. de Montcalm is nearly rebuilding Fort William Henry. artillery,

as

Militia,

weak since the of this month as he was when attacked. The Canadians and Indians, number of about two thousand, who arrived at his quarters only on the thirteenth of .

.

.

to the

This

July, have departed for the harvest. IS"" of

enemy wish

October, should the

Louisbourg was taken the

27"' of

is

a very critical time for him,

to profit

July

;

by

a pilot

it.

my

Lord, until the

Miracles cannot be always expected.

who had made

escape from that place,

his

brought us this bad news three days ago, without any particulars. We only know that our men-of-war have been burnt, except h Bienfesant ; that the officers, soldiers and crews are also that the garrison was reduced, according to the report of this prisoners of war ;

pilot, to

1,500

men,

after

the most

gallant resistance.

Nothing,

my

Lord,

prevents the

General of the Louisbourg army detaching in the latter end of July a considerable corps to reinforce General Albercrombie, and the latter making a combined movement to fight the

Marquis de Montcalm's

little

army, cut

off all

his

communication, and again advance before

the IS"" of October into the interior of the Colony and even near Montreal, where assuredly

there would be no

means

to stop him.

The English

are perhaps at this very

moment

masters

of Fort Duquesne and the whole of the Beautiful river.

At least they will be so in a short time, as a force of twelve thousand men with two pieces of cannon and two mortars must have Six thousand have marched by General Bradok's road, and six thousand by arrived there. another shorter and easier communication in the direction of the River aux ba'ufs; another body of six thousand men, under Colonel Johnson's orders, is actually on Lake Ontario, to rebuild Chouaguen and seize Fort Frontenac, where we have a garrison of only 50 men. It Canada is lost if peace be not made this winter. is idle to flatter ourselves any longer, my Lord ;

The English have have not of

whom

five

at this

moment over

sixty thousand Regulars or Provincials in

America; we

thousand to oppose them, including land and Marine troops, near one thousand

are dispersed in different posts and garrisons.

We

have never seen more than two

thousand Canadians together; the remainder have been always employed either in the posts of the Upper country or in transportation, or in practices equally detrimental to the King's interests

and the good of

his service.

The

fall

of Isle Royale increases the enemy's means,

already too powerful, of closing the mouth of the River St. Lawrence and preventing the arrival of all succors from Europe, and, without

coming by sea

to

Quebec, perhaps rendering

The capture of Fort Duquesne and the neighboring posts, that of Fort Frontenac, at the mouth of Lake Ontario, where the whole of our navy lies, of the lakes, Chouaguen and Fort William Henry, assure, from this moment, the conquest to him the more readily, as he can, when he pleases, increase himself next year, by the Upper route, master of the entire country.

still further his considerable forces. The English Colonies are able to furnish, independent of the troops, more than two hundred thousand men, and by calling out the ban and arriere ban

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

820

of Canada, ten thousand would not be mustered capable of bearing arms, which, joined to the

Regular troops with

employ them

would form a total of 14 @. 15,000 men. And, in order to be able to we must abandon all sort of work, keeping posts for the peltry trade,

us,

in the field,

the cultivation of the

soil

;

consequently renounce the harvests, the sole resource against

perishing of hunger.

Such,

my

Lord,

is

Canada must be now considered. The much flattered, and perhaps people will dare flatter may be called for; a considerable fleet of ships of

the true point of view in which

Minister of the Marine has been always too

Ten or twelve thousand troops convoy them and the necessary provisions and stores; all this might, indeed, enable us to hold out a little longer, and postpone our utter ruin, but the King would not be indemnified for the enormous expense this new reinforcement would occasion. War continuing, Canada him

still.

war

to

would always

finish

by being taken sooner or

We know, beyond

later.

of England, impelled by the frenzy of the nation,

a doubt, that the Court

it, at whatever cost. That Court has the means and will use them to the last farthing; besides the continuation of the war in this hemisphere is ruinous to the King, more in consequence of bad administration and great cupidity than of indispensable expenses. 'Tis, therefore, absolutely necessary, my Lord, to think only of making peace, without being very particular about the boundaries. It had been desirable that their extension into Acadia, and the building of Fort Duquesne had

never been thought

them]

to

my

much

written as

own

master

T

of.

Excuse,

my

Lord,

zeal for the King's service at the

all

and

is

resolved to invade

these reflections of an honest citizen; [attribute

my

would depart

in order to

They

respectful attachment for yourself.

Marquis de Montcalm's suggestion as

at

my

own, and were

have the honor of communicating them

to

1

are

my

you viva

voce, and to inform you of a thousand most important things, too long and too hazardous to

be communicated to you

in writing. 'Twould be one of the most essential services I could M. de Moras' retirement which we have just learnt, and M. de Massiac's appointment to the Ministry may promote the peace policy. I have the honor to be known 80 well to the latter as to flatter myself with his confidence were I near him, but I shall take good care not to entertain him by letter; 'tis to you alone, my Lord, that I must address myself, and I do so in all confidence, relying fully on your goodness to be assured that I shall not be compromised. I have had the honor to mention M. Pean to you in my letter of the 12"' instant. Regard him as one of the principal causes of the bad administration and ruin of this unfortunate

ever render the state.

have told you he was worth two millions,

country.

I

might say

so,

according to public report.

envy than that of many and service.

others,

but

I

I

have not dared

His wealth does not create, groan at

it

to

in

through love for

say four, although

my my

breast,

I

any more

master's interest

Permit me, once again, my Lord, to beg of you to preserve my letters in the secrecy of your desk. The motive which induces me to communicate such sad truths to you, is too laudable for me to apprehend being its unjust victim; besides, have the goodness to bear in

mind

am

by duty as by zeal, to make up for the Marquis de Montcalm's you from the army, where he has not his cipher. Should he permit me go to France this fall, it would be a great advantage T could tell you more; nothing would suffer by my absence, owing to the arrangements I should make. I am, with the most profound respect, my Lord, your most humble and that I

obliged, as well

inability to write to to

;

Most obedient servant, DOREIL.

PARIS DOCUMENTS News from Montreal

P. S. 1" September.

which proceded

men

and goods

It is our entrepot of provisions

Canada;

it

at the

Bay

of

Bombeaouare' and

in

part, of the vessels

The enemy

is,

no doubt, master of

for all the

Upper country

posts,

which

the key of Lake Ontario, the port which holds

is

our navy, consisting,

years ago.

821

of the 29"" informs us that the English force

against Frontenac, a miserable bicoque, having a garrison of only

constitute the entire resource of all

XIV.

Lake Ontario with cannon, rendezvoused

to

sent a vanguard of 2,700

50 men.

:

taken at Chouaguen, by M. de Montcalm, two it

at present, whilst

another force

proceeding,

is

perhaps, against Niagara, a very important post which has been skilfully fortified by a Captaia

La Reine,^ but equally bare with the other. country posts, of which Fort Duquesne forms a part, fall of themselves. than two thousand men scattered among them, and that accelerates the total

All the

belonging to the battalion of

Canadians who were beginning their

All the

liarvest, are

We

ruin of Canada.

put in motion to proceed to that

Montcalm

quarter, but they will, certainly, arrive too late; the harvest will suffer, and the M'' de

who, since the

fall

of Louisbourg,

What would

reinforced.

conceal the

is

Upper

have more

menaced by the strong army

in his front, will not

be

were he beaten and cut off? 'Tis impossible, reasonably, to that everything is to be feared, and very little to be hoped. M. de Vaudreuil

fact,

be,

it

in regard to the important post of Frontenac, and he is the dupe of the over confidence he has placed in the Indians, whose services he needs, but they must always be treated with caution and distrust. More foresight, activity and vigilance are, besides, necessary, when one has to do with a powerful enemy who is always superior in

has remained in too great security

'

forces and means.

tremble with fear that

I

burn the sloops and bateaux which

them it

to cut us off, absolutely,

will be

made

prisoners.

It

from is

no

the strongest or most fortunate, will

we had

all

not had the precaution nor time to

Frontenac, and that the

access to

Lake Ontario, whereby

less to all

we have

at

be feared, that the Indians,

abandon us

enemy all

who

will

profit

by

our people beyond usually side with

to range themselves alongside the English.

DOREIL. 3""

My

September.

fears are too well founded,

Frontenac or Cataracouy since the

The

27"" of

my

August.

English, more careful than we, have burnt

which they have preserved, the more

it,

No

precaution

is

master of the post of

was taken with our navy.

with the exception of two 20 gun brigs,

effectually to exclude

provisions and merchandize destined for supplying

which Frontenac, bad as

Lord; the enemy

all

us from

Lake Ontario.

The

our posts in the Upper Countries, to

lost, and what is still more This principally consisted of the cannon taken from the enemy at Bradok's affair in 1755, and at that of Chouaguen in 1756 there were at least 80 pieces of cannon there. Everything is now to be feared for Fort Niagara which,

vexatious,

is

it

was, served as an entrepot, are

the loss of a considerable artillery.

;

indeed, is

is

good, but as bare as Frontenac.

the frontier of

force

as the

Lake

first,

And what must be

a greater source of uneasiness,

Sacrament, where M. de Montcalm is menaced by as considerable a whilst he has so weak an army. It is easy to see, my Lord, from the St.

movements of the enemy, that if the General had not arrested and beaten them on the S"" of July, almost the whole of Canada would be at present in the power of the English. another forgot unfortunate circumstance, and what I have equally foreseen. The Indians I have attacked us; they seized, on Lake Ontario, three canoes on the way down loaded with different

'

Sic.

Kiaoure.

"

Sic.

Beam.

— Eu.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

822 peltries

and have murdered the hands.

them.

Peace! Peace!

My

A

melancholy precursor of what

Lord, pardon me,

I

we have

to fear

from

cannot too often repeat these words.

DOREIL.

M.

M.

de Vmidreuil to

de Massiac. Montreal,

My

2'"'

September, 1758.

Lord,

By

the letters I have had the

have seen 1"

honor to write you per the frigate

La

you

Valeur,

will

:

The motives which

led

me

to dispatch,

towards Corlac, at the opening of the campaign,

a considerable detachment, under the orders of Chevalier de Levis, to profit by the favorable

make them take up the hatchet and excite against the new enemies who might be able to prevent them penetrating in these parts. The absolute necessity I found myself in, by the delay of the provisions which obliged

disposition of the Five Nations to

English 2""^

me

to postpone the departure of that

to send assistance to the Marquis de

That

3'''*

detachment, to recall them whilst on the march

since our success of the S'\ at Carillon,

forwarded

to that quarter,

Montcalm

to

oppose any

I

had successively caused troops

new

efforts of the

English and

to place his fort

means of forming

fall

my

and intrenchments

I

have had the honor

to

render you an account in

letters of the 20"" ultimo.

Since then,

my

Lord, the greatest event about Carillon

under the command of M' Marin,

who encountered one

is

the detachment of about 250

to transmit to

you

in

one of

my letters

men

of 800 English from which he extricated

himself very handsomely, as you will have the means of seeing by the account

honor

in

which could be able to make them

back on Fort Lydius.

M. de Longueuil's mission, whereof

one of

be

large detachments

disquiet and destroy the convoys of the enemies, hoping, thereby, to

4"'

to

according as provisions permitted, both to enable the Marquis de

a state of defence as well as to have the

abandon Lake George and

in order

Montcalm's army.

of the 18"" of August.

T

have the

The Marquis de Montcalm

has continued corresponding with General Abercromby on the subject of exchanges; you will find

annexed

to

my

despatch of the

first

have been written on the one side and the

The

moment

to

general order to

measures

I

other.

Montcalm has sent me back a might profit by attack Carillon anew, I had vehicles prepared at St. John and renewed a every farmer to be ready to march at a moment's warning. Such were the

season of harvest having arrived at

portion of the Canadians belonging to his

that

of this month, copy of the different letters which

last,

army

the Marquis de ;

as

I

was

afraid the English

had adopted for that quarter.

That of Lake Ontario was engaging my attention, but the assurances the 5 Iroquois Nations had given M' de Longueuil that they would come to me in 20 days; that the English were thinking at the time only of reestablishing Fort Bui to reconstruct ancient

had

Choueguen and

vessels, were, for

that they

;

the idea that they might indeed attempt

would not dare

to enter the lake

me, motives of tranquillity on which, however,

I

on whicli

we

should not have

PARIS DOCUMENTS enemy

I

continuation of the scarcity to which the Colony

is

had

relied

had any force

I

but the

;

In view of being instructed as prayers of

the

some

Nations,

5

whom

Mississagues

parties

reduced

from the

for

more than

La

village of

on that occasion, two papers written

were too few

a year.

and some

Presentation

M. de Noyan dispatched from Frontenac agreeably

scout, but those Indians

be feared was the

to

the English, I sent, in spite of the

these parties, consisting of four Mississagues, espied a well

were gone on a

823 most

considered

movements of

the

to

XV.

:

to

armed barge

my

One

orders.

of

which the English them they found,

in

to be able to pursue

;

English, whereof

I have the honor to transmit you the two English, whom they killed, as those men were unwilling to march; the Indians then set out with the news for Frontenac. Those papers, as well as a letter from M. de Noyan did not reach me until one o'clock in the morning of the 26"" of last month. I ordered la gcncrale to be immediately beat, and without any regard to the harvest, levied 1,500 men, soldiers, farmers and Indians, in the governmentof Montreal, the command of whom They set out the next day, a part I committed to M'' Duplessis Fabert, Major of this town. from La Chine to relieve Frontenac, but the English had marched thither a corps of 4,500 men under the command of Colonel Broadstreet, with so much despatch that M"' de Noyan was he did not obliged to capitulate on the 27"', after having had one of his bastions opened adopt that course until after he had assembled a council of war, at which all the opinions That fort, as I have had the honor to report to you on a preceding occasion, was accorded. Therefore I consider the loss we have suffered at that incapable of making any resistance. place to consist only of two of our largest sloops, whereof the English are in possession. I

They

translation.

in

farther on, with

fell in,

;

admit

to

my

you,

supposing,

if

itself

I

La to

and the only thing that

bare of

should never have foreseen the occurrence of the latter event,

would have been burnt.

at least, they

Noyan,

Lord, that

the winds did not admit of their being sent to Niagara or

now

This

affords

men and ammunition, M.

is

the sole reproach

me any

I

have

Presentation, that,

make

against M. de

serious uneasiness for Niagara,

de Vassan having sent a portion of them

which

to

finds

defend M.

de Ligneris at the Beautiful river.

The enemy have found were intended

at

for the posts

Frontenac considerable provisions, goods and on the Beautiful river and for Niagara.

loaded with those articles; that

fort

One

which

artillery,

of the sloops was

being the entrepot of our Lake Ontario navy,

it

could not

happen otherwise even though I should have had 5 or 600 men at that post, they could not defend it in consequence of its construction ; and in order to avoid a check there, it would have been necessary for me to have an army on the spot able to fight that of the English otherwise, once shut up in Frontenac, numbers would only hasten its surrender. The English have sent back here all who were found in that place, although prisoners of war. The Captains and crews of two large sloops who had been sent to shelter themselves from a battery, having been obliged by the fire of that battery to abandon them, escaped in their ;

boat without being included in the capitulation.

came from Niagara according of

to

to that

fort in

the report rendered

commendation of

all

M""

me by M'

the officers,

de Noyan,

soldiers,

who

Despinassi, an officer of artillery,

quest of materials,

has performed

who

his

has spoken to

duty very well,

me

in equal

militiamen, and of the k'W Indians

terms

he had

with him.

As

soon,

my

Lord, as

I

was aware

that the sloops

were

in

the hands of the English,

uneasiness for Niagara increased in consequence of the difficulty of getting to that place.

my I

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

824 have

moment

at the

dispatched 30 bark canoes to overtake M' Duplessisand have ordered him

them to M"' de Montigny whom I have intrusted to repair to Niagara with 5 @^ 600 men, some additional gunners and 20 thousand weight of powder. I hope that if time be given to this detachment to arrive at Niagara, 'twill be out of danger, and that, as the bark to deliver

canoes can be hid in the woods, they will escape the vigilance of the sloops.

could not

I

more active officer than M'' de Montigny. A camp is I likewise, my Lord, ordered up 1500 men from Quebec and Three Rivers. about to be formed at La Presentation to protect the Colony at that side; annoy the English at Chouaguen; prevent them going to Niagara for fear of being attacked in the rear; guard the confide this detachment to a

entrepot

from

am

I

whom

As soon endeavor

I

about establishing there to provision shall obtain information respecting the

as harvest permits,

my

Lord,

to oppose, if possible, the

I shall

all

our posts this

fall

;

have parties out

movements of the English and

send

oft' all

that will be

their force.

to march,

fit

and

reestablishment of Chouaguen, either at the end of the

season or in winter. I

have written

to the

Marquis de Montcalm, requesting him to come and confer with

the measures to be adopted in order that his troops

my

they will experience in the execution of

may

projects.

an attempt on Beautiful river, should the English have

You

can,

my

Lord, assure the King that

I

shall not

me on

support patiently the great fatigues

manner a design become masters of it.

I had in like

to

make

neglect any thing to place, during the

same condition it was before the war, so that, should peace be winter, we would retain our own possessions and the English not be established

winter, his Colony in the

concluded this

Chouaguen, but in spite of all my eff'orts I dare not flatter myself with success on account number of enemies I have on my hands from all sides; the newspapers announce 60 thousand in these parts, including Regulars and Provincials. Peace appears to me an absolute necessity for this Colony, and should it not be concluded, 'tis important, my Lord, that you call attention to the vast consumptions we are about to make this winter for our armies the exhaustion of our soldiers, the new enemies I shall have on at

of the

;

my

hands

who have been

in the troops

occupied at the siege of Louisbourg, in those on the

Beautiful river, should the English be successful, and maintained there by the Nations

defend

whom we

it,

If the

should

make

English should

once, and to

fall

who

infallibly lose.

their appearance at Toronto,

back on Niagara.

I

shall

have sloops built

I

have given orders

to

burn

it

at

this winter, either to fight those

of the English or to serve as transports on our lakes. After having examined our situation,

my

speak to you of the river [St Lawrence.]

from

all

parts,

announce

to

me

Lord, in the Upper countries,

it

that after the

fall

of Louisbourg, the victorious

the river, either for the purpose of operating there or at least of engaging

You know

the total of the forces of the Colony; subdivide them,

combatants, those

who

remains

for

me

to

Public intelligence and the depositions of prisoners

my

army

me

will enter

to a diversion.

Lord; calculate besides employed

are by their age and infirmities incapable of serving, those

both in transportation and

stores, religious houses, the families dispersed

on

all

sides along the

abandonment of the houses, barns and grain, the misery to which these people are reduced, and the impossibility I am in to oblige them to furnish their subsistence in such case, and you will easily form an idea of the situation I find river,

women and

myself

in,

children, cattle, the necessary

having charge of the Colony.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. As

war

the ships of

return to France,

I

at present at

to enter

to return to

it,

825

soon have only provisions sufficient

for their

permit him to return

to

orders, in case he be informed in the river that the English fle«t design

1

last

will

have determined, on the requisition of M. Duchaffaut,

him

home, but

give

Quebec,

Quebec and

to leave

two ships

embosses at

He aux Cudres,

as ordered

year; the others would serve to furnish our batteries, oblige the ships of war to pass the

Traverse and thereby expose them the more

to the rafts

and other stratagems which would be

resorted to in the river and might enable us to reach the bad season

which

will assuredly rid

us of them.

Such,

my

that if the

Lord,

in provisions,

I

am

is

a rough draft of

war continue next

men and

my general

plan,

whence

'twill

be easy for you to conclude

year. His Majesty will be obliged to send us powerful assistance

ships, so as to be able to

cope with the enemy's forces.

with most profound respect.

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, (Signed), Vaudreuil.

Conditions on which M' de Noyan, Knight of the Royal and Military order of Saint Louis, King's Lieutenant for the town of Three Rivers, for

the

King

at

Fort

Frontenac,

proposes

to

Commandant

surrender

it

to

his

Britannic Majesty. 1.

Sieur de

Noyan promises

to Colonel Broadstreet,

to surrender Fort

Commandant

Frontenac generally, with

all

its

dependencies,

of the troops of England. 2.

The

officers

and

prisoners of war,

soldiers of the garrison

until

and others actually at

an agreement be concluded

for their

this

post,

shall

remain

exchange by the Marquis de

Montcalm and the English General. 3.

The

sick

and wounded

shall

be attended at the expense of the King of Great Britain. 4.

He

shall

guarantee against

officers, soldiers

and

ail

all

insults

on the part of the English soldiers and Indians, the

other persons whatsoever

now

actually in the fort.

5.

The Colonel

shall

permit the ornaments and sacred vessels of the chapel to be removed

the baggage of the Chaplain, and Sieur de

Noyan promises

munitions of war and provisions, and generally magazines of said fort.

in the

Vol. X.

104

all

the goods

&

to give up faithfully

all

in

the

implements that are actually

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

826

6

Sieur de

Noyan demands

with him in the

fort,

that there be furnished

him

his soldiers

and the

rest of the persons

conveyances to transport their baggage and necessaries

for the

voyage.

Frontenac, 27"" August, 1758. M"" de Noyan, Commandant of men the same to M''""'' Duvivier, who are without men.

Colonel Broadstreet, in consideration of the infirmities of this fort, permits

Mdme.

him

Mont Real, and

to return to

Barollon and the other

women

to take four

belonging to this (Signed),

fort

Jn.

;

Broadstreet and de Noyan.

for himself, or some other M. de Noyan engages to procure Colonel Schuyler in it happen that M'' Schuyler has been already exchanged. After the capitulation was concluded. Colonel Broadstreet permitted all the French in Fort Frontenac to depart for Mont Real in Canada, under the promise M. de Noyan has given, to have a like number of persons and ranks surrendered as soon as the same can be done, and conveyed to Fort George. Fort Frontenac, the 27'" August, 1758 de Noyan and Jn. Broadstreet.' ( Signed ), Copy. Vaudeeuil.

exchange

person, should

Translation of Letter No. Colonel Bradsireet's Instructions to the

1.

Commander of a Scouting Party.

Sir, I

have given orders

men

to

Captain Wells,

who

is

in the

Bateaux department,

to join

you to-night

one barge, and you will take your company and the barges you have, so as to advance in the manner following, viz: You will to-morrow descend Wook creek, pass in the night Lake Oneida* as far as the mouth of the Onondaga river, and the following night with eleven

in

proceed as far as the Island, one mile and a half above and on this side of the Chouegen rapids,

which Captain Wells will indicate to you and from that place you will scout continually as far as Choueguen, to see what can possibly be discovered, until I join you, observing not ;

to allow yourself to be seen

route as far as the 13""

by friends or others, and your scouts

Choueguen

rapids, nor in going to

August.

I

will not follow the ordinary

Choueguen am, &c.,

either.

Jn. Broadstreet.

Copy.

Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

—

'Supra, VIII, 379. Ed. • This lake is 6 leagues above Choueguen.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV.

Translation of No.

2.

— General

827

Orders.

Fort Craven,*

ll"-

August, 1758.

Parole York.

A roll is to be furnished of the names of all the carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, sawyers and wheelrights in the different corps and companies which are at Oneida, in order to their being employed in the proposed works, according as occasions will require, the parapet to be This is particularly recommended to Colonel Delancy.' repaired in the camp with all diligence. The drum

will not beat the reveillee at daylight; neither for the troops at 9 o'clock, nor the

retreat at night. It is

the orders of Brigadier-General Stanwick^ that the different corps hereafter mentioned

shall furnish

good men and

officers in

proportion the one to the other; they must be accustomed

to canoes.

Namely 155

Kegulars,

60

Scouts,

1,112

New-Yorkers,

413

Williams' regiment, " Douty's

248 318

Rhodelsland " "

Jersey

418 2,737

The whole

to

be under the

command

of Colonel Broadstreet and to be ready

night completely equipped and with six days' provisions.

Let

all

to-morrow

the troops receive two days'

provisions to-morrow.

Parade to-morrow morning

at

day-break, one Subaltern, one Sergeant, one Corporal and

25 soldiers.

The

party will have cooked one day's provisions. /

42'«'

and

Subaltern,

1

Sergeants,

2

60"' regiments,

Corporal,

1

25

Soldiers

N. B. 'Tis not necessary that these

men

be picked, as they are to remain in the rear.

Copy. (Signed), * Is »

fort,

rm

told, in

Supra, VIIL, 788.

Vaudueuil. one of the villagcB of the 6 Nations. «

tiupra,

VIL, 280.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. M.

Doreil

M.

to

de Massiac.

Private.

Quebec, 31" August, 1758.

My

Lord,

The special favors vrith which you have honored me, the gratitude I preserve in return, and the respectful attachment I have vowed to you long ago, are for me most powerful motives to impel me with joy and ardor to commence a correspondence to which I shall devote myself still more by inclination than by duty. My position, the mission which the King has been pleased to entrust to

endeavored

for

me

The

with M. de Moras.

me

America, oblige

in

more than four years former,

has had the goodness to honor

to

to report to the Minister of the Marine.

I

have

do so with exactitude with the Keeper of the Seals and

who has me with

been pleased his

to

me

express to

his satisfaction therewith,

answers on the points appertaining

to the service

which required them, and to concur in procuring for me, in 175G, a favor from the King. This I have been is a real consolation, and a great motive of emulation for a zealous subject. deprived of it by M. de Moras, and I dare to say, without having deserved it. 1 hope, my Lord, I shall not experience a similar mortification at your hands. I have not solicited the

You

mission to Canada. forcibly, in

was

so

good as

domestic

remember,

will

my

obedience to the King's orders and

affairs,

in the fourth

to

make

of me.

I

Lord, that in

I

did not determine on

have, through zeal, abandoned children in

which are more and more

in

danger and occasion me serious

losses.

year of a severe service, and the more painful as I have attended to

during an exile as long as

This

for one's service.

it

The

not exceed two years.

is

is

disagreeable, and which that Minister had assured

least, indeed, that

except

it

D 'Argenson the cradle, my

response to the choice Count

ought

to

be expected

what touches the nearest a

is

some mark

right thinking

I

it

am

alone

me would

of approbation

man, who occupies

himself only with serving honestly and affording proofs more and more of his zeal.

As to

I must suppose, M. de Moras on the

my

Lord, that you will

15""

June and

details in these, having

no particular matter

arrived, which, however,

L^Otitarde, which

we

call for

the letters

28"' July of this year, f

to report since

greatly need to

I

have had the honor

to write

have dispensed with any additional

my

last.

No more

reinforce our feeble battalions.

recruits have

The

flyboat

sometime in the river, has a few, but sickness prevails on board that vessel, and a portion of them have already died. Things have been greatly changed, my Lord, since the signal victory gained by the Marquis a day ever memorable, which has de Montcalm and the F'rench troops on the S"" of July saved the Colony for the time. The capture of Louisbourg, the movements of the enemy on is

—

the

Oyo and

at Fort

Duquesne, those which they are making on Lake Ontario, where our posts which continues opposed to

are absolutely bare, and General Abercrombie's powerful army,

the Marquis de Montcalm, place

it in

great danger this very year, and will

ruin if peace be not concluded this winter.

bringdown

its

total

'Tis evident that the Indians of the Five Iroquois

Nations and even some of our domiciliated tribes have deceived the Marquis de Vaudreuil,

who

much in them, and who, on the strength of their promises, had any person at Niagara or at Fort Frontenac. The latter is, no doubt, now in the hands of the enemy, and unfortunately 'tis the door of Lake Ontario, the key of the Upper countries and the entrepot of the provisions and goods destined for those parts and of our navy. has perhaps confided too

scarcely

The English have

actually

more troops on

foot in this Continent than

Canada has

people, old

PARIS DOCUMENTS

What means

men, women and children included.

:

829

are there

Besides the disaster in the Upper country,

multitude?

Carillon on the Marquis de Montcalm, and that the

XV.

we

enemy

enable us to resist this

to

new

have yet to fear a

attack at

be more successful than

will

it

was

by a part of the army employed at the siege of Louisbourg, which terminated on the 27"' of July. Reliance can indeed be placed on the superior talents, activity and prudence of the Marquis de Montcalm, seconded by Mess" de Levis and de Bourlamaque, as well as on the valor of the troops, but people must not always at

'Tis probable that they are again reinforced

first.

expect miracles, such as those wiiich have been wrought hitherto. that the

Canada machine, ever ready

longer reason to

we

flatter oneself;

to fall,

are approaching

guarantee the country against such a service and to

many

my

attachment

fate.

my

you,

for

other very important ones thereto

which

have of the War.

I

has kept

owe

I

Lord.

I

itself its

total ruin,

my

'Tis by these,

but there

for three years,

Lord,

these reflections to

my

zeal for the King's

cypher of the Marine, as well as that

should, perhaps, have already expressed too much, did I not

I

confide this letter to the secrecy of your cabinet; wherefore, I take the liberty to address

you

under a double envelope.

private,

I propose doing only through zeal,

and that

known

it

to

Belleisle

you

Should

you

to

I

will see,

perhaps, the greatest service

is,

no

is

and nothing but peace can

should extend them farther, and would add

I had the

if

up

1

obtain leave to proceed to France

my

my

Lord, that

can render.

be very desirous of meriting your confidence.

to

as

presence will not be useless,

have the honor

I

it

tliis fall,

I

am much

to be sufficiently

so to Marshal de

and most particularly so to M. de Cremille.

I shall take the liberty,

my

Lord, to submit to you, immediately, a just representation in

who

favor of M. la Rochette, formerly commis d la majorkc of the Marine, at Toulon,

has

accompanied me hither, with the promise of an allowance, by order of the Keeper of the Seals; he has been and is still essentially useful, and without his assistance I could not have got through the work with which without any recompense.

I

have found myself burthened; he remains, up to this time,

As he has the good

known

fortune to be

to you,

have positive promises from the Ministers, your predecessors, he expects

and protection. since,

The Commissaries

of the

War Departments who

M. Bernier,

whom

the Court has sent this year,

have been taken.

of a deadly sickness from which he has not yet recovered, and

from him appointed

for

to Sieur la

attending to I

some

last

time, the rather as he

March.

Time

my

I

with

my

Lord, and to

from your justice

me

fell ill

or

were sent

on his arrival,

cannot expect any assistance

very inexperienced in the commissariat, being only

will be required to instruct

Rochette whenever it

is

left

all

occupations, for

I

him;

'tis

a duty

which

I shall confide

have a great many, will not permit

me

myself.

am, with the most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

DoREIL. 3"*

September.

My

conjectures and fears are only too truly realised,

masters of Frontenac since the 27"" of August: and what

is

my Lord

;

the

enemy

are

worse, of our barks which have

Upper countries. There was, also, unfortunately, a numerous artillery of about SO guns, of which those taken at Bradock's affair in 175-5, and at the siege of Chouaguen in 1756, formed a part. The Indiana

not been burnt; and of the provisions and goods stored at that post

for the

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

830 have begun attacking

us.

They have

Upper Countries, loaded with

the into

any further

entertained

detail,

my

Niagara

for

Lord

and

:

for

Lake Ontario, three canoes on the way from

taken, on

peltries,

you

and have murdered the crews.

will receive

the

some from another

I shall not enter

Fears are

source.

Marquis de Montcalm's army,

likewise

for

the

Beautiful river.

DoREIL.

M.

de Vaudreuil to

M.

de Mas-nac. Montreal,

My

received, this

I

month

my

moment, the letter General Abercromby writes me dated the 2'"' of this copy whereof I have the honor to annex, from which you will perceive,

Lord, that he will not treat for the exchange of our respective prisoners.

my

letter to that General, has seen a

enemy in the same state, as regards the number of men, They have constructed a sloop {barque) which M. Wolf

the

M. Wolfs,

who

thousand barges and the camp of as

I

have already reported

to you.

has seen at anchor out in Lake

Sacrament.

St.

According

to the

the 20"" July,

is

New-York

Gazette, which has reached me, the capture of Louisbourg, on

very certain, and the

about to enter the River

him of

September, 1758.

at midnight,

has been the bearer of

is

e""

Lord,

to get translated

all

St.

that

it

fleet

Lawrence.

may

which has been employed

in

besieging that place

M. Bigot and request Colony and to give you an account

I address this last Gazette to

contain relative to this

it.

My

you can judge that the situation of this Colony becomes, every day, and that I have not exaggerated, in my letter, which I have had the honor to write you on the 2"^ of this month. I must, in fact, expect to be attacked, simultaneously, on all sides. Be fully persuaded, I beg of you, my Lord, that there is nothing I will not do to preserve this Colony for his Majesty. I am, with the most profound respect, Lord, from

more sad and

all this

critical,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant,

Vaudrethl.

Copy

of General Abercromby's letter to M. de Vaudreuil.

Camp

at

Lake George,

2"''

September, 1758, midnight.

Sir. I

am

Wolf.

this moment honored with a letter from your Excellency of the 27"" instant, by Mr. However it happened, we have both ill understood the letters. Your Excellency must

perceive that the power which authorizes

do anything in

conflict

with such power.

me

to

annul the capitulation, orders me,

Wherefore

I

also,

not to

cannot, in any manner, agree to an

exchange of prisoners which would exclude either those of the King,

my

master, or those of

PARIS DOCUMENTS: yours, taken before the

exchange

to accept the

831

of August, 1757; consequently, as your Excellency does not choose

S"" I

XV.

we must

have proposed,

refer the

whole matter

to the decision of our

respective Courts.

Your Excellency will now regard the power I have given Colonel Schuyler me to recommend to you the enclosed letter for him.

as null; permit

I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir,

Your Excellency's obedient and Most humble servant,

James ABERcaoMBV.

M.

de

Montcalm I

to

Marslud de Belle

Dipartement de

la Oaerre, Faria.

Ide.

]

Montreal,

My

Q"-

1^", 1758.

Lord,

The enemy, who we knew had dispatched

a body of six thousand

men toward Chouaguen,

on the twenty-seventh of August, of Fort nothing; but what is most unfortunate is, that they

after the affair of the eighth of July, took possession,

Fronlenac, which in truth was good for

have taken considerable provisions, quantity of merchandize, eighty pieces of iron cannon, large and small, many of which they left after breaking the trunions, and destroyed the navy, for which we were indebted to my capture of Chouaguen; burning five of our sloops and carrying two of them officer of

an

seventy men,

which we now

of the

lose.

post for this country

and was

why

Lord,

armed and

much if

it is

due to M. Pouchot, captain

there with

cruising.

I

in this

can give no answer

if I

in

the

of our troops

You

Beam

had neglected

to give

has sent

me

regiment,

will find

why

it

who have

last

difficult to

built

fall

it,

by an

understand,

our sloops were not kept

your astonishment, except that

the spot,

who had

and was relieved

I

am, myself, as

command the much affected by it

the honor to

country under the Marquis de Vaudreuil, and

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

Camp

to

who am on

the misfortune could be imputed to

therein, and as

the

some pickets

only twenty iron guns remained at Frontenac,

surprised and astonished,

King's troops as

;

command

and too small a garrison of Colonial troops.

officer

my

in

away; we had only twelve men on each of these sloops. M. de Noyani was in command at tliat post, with a feeble garrison of about same troops. That navy assured to us the superiority on lake Ontario, 'Twill be still worse should the enemy reduce Niagara, which is a strong

the Colonials, all

I

am

as

me

or to the troops of the line,

who have no

my

opinion and to communicate

my

share

predictions.

who arrived on the evening of the 6th at command of the army to Chevalier de Levis

a courier,

of Carillon, with orders to deliver the

and to come and confer with him, and I have just arrived. I hasten to write to you, as a is leaving and my letter may reach you by the vessels of war which are on the eve of sailing. I shall give such advice as will appear to me best, and will execute to the best of my ability whatever duty is confided to me. courier

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

832 I

had demanded

my

recall after the glorious

the Colony are getting bad, to the greatest extent of

my

it

my

is

power.

day of the eighth of July, but since the

duty to endeavor to repair them or I

wish

my

intentions

may

to retard

affairs

of

their ruin

be seconded; I dare not be

responsible for that. I shall not write

write to you, ]

my

by

am, with respect,

conveyance

this

Lord, to

my

whom

to the Minister of the Marine.

must report all events and Lord, your most humble and I

my

It is sufficient for

me

to

conduct.

Most obedient servant,

Montcalm.

Marshal de Belle Ide Dipartement de

[

Is

to

M.

de Vaudreuil.

Guerre, Paris.

]

23^''

Paris,

September, 1758.

Sir,

you have done me the honor to write me on the l?" June, 30"" July, 2"'', S"''' and 6"" of August the last brought me by M. Pean, Town Major of Quebec. Although I have not yet consulted with the King on the detail of our Canada despatches, I I

have received the

letters

;

hasten to reply to you, in order not to lose the opportunity of a vessel which M. de Massiac

informs

me

is to sail

you pay me on required of

July

is

from

it

me

my

immediately advent

for that quarter.

to the

Ministry.

I

I

shall

begin by thanking you for the compliment

promptly cooperate

to contribute to the preservation of our Colonies.

The

in

whatever

will

be

battle of the S"" of

an event the more interesting,

as, in addition to the glory resulting to the King's troops consequence of the vast disproportion of the forces we had to oppose the English, who were repulsed on that occasion, it compensates, in some sort, for the loss we have experienced at Louisbourg, or will, at least, put it out of the power of that Nation to gain any

in

other advantages from us during the rest of the campaign.

The King

is

well persuaded that

in continuing to act in concert

with M. de Montcalm, the same success is to be expected eventually from your wise arrangements and from the firmness a general officer exhibits in the

command

of the troops under his orders. I

have the honor

to

be most perfectly, &c.

Mc^r^lial de Belle Isle to [

DSpartement de

la

M.

de Montcalm.

Qucrre, Paris.]

Paris,

23

I''",

1758.

Sir,

M. de Massiac sends to inform to Brest,

whence a

me

that he

is

sending a courier to-night with his despatches

vessel is to sail forthwith for

Canada.

Although

I

have not yet had any

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. consultation with the

King on

833

the details of your last despatches, yet I do not wish to forego

an opportunity of expressing to you

all

the satisfaction his Majesty feels with your services.

We

have learned here, almost at the same time by way of England, the loss of Louisbourg and M. Albercrombie's defeat, the news of which came to cast a gloom over the rejoicings Such a gallant defence, executed with forces so people were making at London. disproportionate, can be attributed only to the wisdom of the measures you have adopted for the protection of the firmness.

You must

Colony and

to the

courage with which you inspired the troops by your

not doubt the King's paying every possible attention to

in favor of the officers

who have

what you propose

distinguished themselves under your orders, and yourself

being personally included in the favors his Majesty will distribute on so important an occasion. I reserve to myself to report to

you of

him what M. Doreil has written

your zeal with more freedom, and not useful for the

with

to

me from

you, and to advise

the measures his Majesty will have thought proper to adopt to enable you

all

good of

his service.

the circumspection

you

to

to display

experience contradiction in what you will judge most

Meanwhile,

are capable

of,

[

exhort you to continue to conduct yourself

and

to

employ

in preference all the

means of

which can contribute to the greatest success of the affairs that are entrusted to you, and you have too well managed up to the present time, to permit his Majesty thinking of taking them out of your hands. I have the honor to be most perfectly, &c.

conciliation

Chevalier de Drucour to

M.

de Ma-ssiac. Andover, 23 September, 1758.

My

Lord,

Since the landing of the English on the

8""

of June,

I

have had the honor to write you by

by two frigates Europe before we embarked on board the Terrible. I gave I am now M. Prevost, who sailed directly for France, copy of my journal to hand you impatient to learn whether you have approved my conduct, particularly in what relates to the the Comet, the Glocester, the Aretlaisa, and after the capture of Louisbourg,

which Admiral Boscawen sent

to

;

King's ships.

I shall not enter into a detail here of the reasons that

course, having sufficiently explained

has arrived instructions.

;

1

referred

My

you there

them to

to

you

in

the King's

my

letter

letter,

to

by

determined

the Aretkusa

your own

me

which

to that I

know

and M. Desgoutes'

principal object has been to prolong the defence long enough

to

prevent

Mess" Boscawen and Amherst having time to carry on any operations against Canada. I was it by the certain intelligence I had received from Quebec, that M' de Montcalm was marching against Fort Lydius, and that he was to meet the enemy at latest from the IS"- to the 20'*' July; as I had not surrendered until the SO"" it will be out of the power of the Generals, no matter what diligence they make, to undertake anything by the St.

th« more impelled to

Lawrence and to forward troops to Lydius. As for the situation of the place and the defence it was susceptible of, plenty of officers have come there the last 3 years, to know and admit that 23 ships of war, 18 frigates and Vol. X.

105

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

834

men were more

a land force of 10,000

was

when

in

they took possession of

the garrison.

there

In

all

was no such

must

one day

is

what

is

rampart; the

so accessible in

fortifications

many

places, that

knowing

to

all

the troops; and General

places to prevent disorder, and to save the

You

and the condition the place

in three

good will and bravery of beyond the enemy's fire ;

two barracks had been of the places attacked had even the

gate, but at different points, the Dauphin's, King's is

it,

afford the proof of the

place at Louisbourg, and after the

slept at the foot of the

down and were

than sufficient to master

it,

besieged towns, the soldier

will have observed by

my journal

women

we made

crumbled

This,

my

Lord,

himself, placed sentries at all these

town from being inundated by

that

totally

did not enter by the city

and Queen's bastions.

Wolf

burnt, the troops

all

the besiegers.

only one sortie, and the reasons which

caused the failure of our other two. I shall await with the greatest impatience, the

you

to tell

parole, I

am

me

which

if I

moment

of reporting myself to you, and beg

you approve of my applying to the Admiralty shall not do without your orders.

for

my

return to France on

my

with the most profound respect,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant,

Ch" DE Dkucour.

Abstract of

M.

de VaudreuiVs Despatch of the 'ind September^ 1Y58.

Canada. [

Omitted, as the Despatch

M. Daine [

to

is

printed in

full,

mpra,

Marshal de Belle

Dfepartemenl de la Guerro, Paris.

p. 822. ]

Isle.

]

Quebec,

My

l?"-

October, 1758.

Lord,

On

month we received news from Fort Duquesne.

M. de Lignery, who commands there, informs the Marquis de Vaudreuil of his situation and observes to him that he is able to resist the enemy's efforts, should he be attacked, although he has learned from deserters, that the English were encamped at Fort Cumberland in pretty considerable numbers; but he is afraid of being in want of provisions. In consequence of this news, our Intendant is taking measures to have some conveyed thither. We have been cramped in the direction of Lake Ontario by the unfortunate affair of Frontenac, whereof I have had the honor to inform you, my Lord; the English have since abandoned that post, having set it on fire and reduced to ashes the provisions, merchandise and ammunition for supplying the posts and Fort Niagara. the 24"" of last

PARIS DOCUMENTS Nearly about the same time

had

set

out to relieve

we

XV.

:

learned that Lieutenant de Montigny, of the Colonials,

Niagara, which was

We

to

John, and two schooners of 10 guns,

St.

who

had fortunately arrived with

threatened,

detachment and that he had not seen any English. Four Xebecs of six four-pounders with two twelves, are Champlain, near Fort

§35

his

be immediately built on Lake

La Presentation. armed half-galleys

also, of 12, at

are assured that the English have actually, on that Lake, four well

for the expedition against Carillon.

You will doubtless have been already informed, my Lord, that they have seized on Gaspe where they are forming a post they were there on the 20"" of last month with 9 ships of war, 6 frigates and 15 transports. Only four men escaped, one of whom arrived here the lO**" of ;

month. M. de Vaudreuil has just received a letter from M. Provost, formerly Commissary at Louisbourg, whereby he informs the Governor that the English have taken possession of the Island of St. John, and that they give out that they will come next spring with a formidable naval force to conquer Canada, and that they will attack us at the same time with such a superior army, at the upper part of the Colony, as easily to succeed in their enterprise. Despite of all their rhodomontades, I do not think, my Lord, that they will dare attempt any attack by the lower part of the river on account of the dangers to be incurred there. An idea may be formed of them by the three ships we have lost there this year, although having very good pilots ; they will confine their operations, in my opinion, to the upper section and to this

blockading the lower passages so as

The for us,

to intercept, effectually,

English of this continent, even the principal

and commenced

hostilities against

England

officers, ;

if this

our succors.

admit that Holland has declared news, which

we flatter ourselves we shall have peace next year. The New England newspapers state that the King of Spain can make hira throw off his lethargy, and that the Kings

we do

not know,

is

true,

appear very indifferent

to

what

is

passing in Europe.

continues quiet, and that nothing

two Sicilies These same papers announce that the of Sardinia and the

English troops sent to the Beautiful river were to be, on the IS""

Du

Quesne by a

They

different route

within 35 miles of Fort

contain half an English gazette; the other half has doubtless been suppressed, to

deprive us of a knowledge of what people were unwilling I

ult.,

from that taken by General Braddock.

am, with most profound respect,

my

we

should learn.

Lord, your most humble and

Most obedient servant, Daine.

Journal of Occurrences in Canada^ 1757, 1758. [DSpaMemant de

la

Guerre, Paris.]

Journal of Occurrences in the Garrisons or Camps occupied by the Regiment [By of Beam, from the 20"' October, 1757, to the 20'" of October, 1758. Adjutant Malartic] [1757. October] 20""

M

de Bourlamaque has sent

Militia belonging to the three districts

;

ofl'

the troops of the Marine and the

he embarked at noon with the grenadier company of

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

836

Two Rocks,' the two battalions of the Eoyal Rousillon and Beam have worked at the fort, cut wood and palisades. 21" Worked at the interior of the buildings of the wooden fort; finished the palisades; the Royal Rousillon, three pickets of 60 militia for the

M. de Bourlamaque returned

at 9 o'clock at night

Bay and Wood

reconnoitered the

creek,

with a small detachment, very glad

at

having

on the banks of which he found no traces

of

the enemy. Sa™*

The Beam regiment embarked

24''' I

La Reine had 25'^

1

sent

left

my

bateau to Chambly to descend the river of that name, and took, with a

small detachment, the

La

Prairie road,

quantity of water in the swamps.

The regiment landed

at

which

Arrived

where Chev. de Levis commands* 28""

at ten o'clock in 17 bateaux.

John where I found the regiments of La Sarre and Languedoc encamped. there that morning to go and garrison Quebec.

arrived at St.

in the

Point

found almost impassable on account of the

I

at three o'clock at Laprairie,

and

at

5 at Montreal,

absence of the Marquis de Vaudreuil.

St. Charles

Pointe Claire, St. Anne, and St. Genevieve

;

;

the 6 companies have gone to Lachine,

the remainder have

come

into

town and been

quartered there and in the suburbs. 29""

The regiment has had

rations at the rate of one

pound of bread, half a pound of pork

and i pound of pease. 1" November. The soldier's ration has been reduced to half pound of bread, one pound of meat and a quarter of a pound of pease a day. Chev de Levis has learned that the English :

which had returned to cruise before Louisbourg since it had abandoned the siege of that place, had been overtaken on the 22™* September by a tempest which has driven several fleet,

of the vessels on shore. S""

I have been to pay a visit to our cantonments, which I found passable and very extensive,

reaching to the end of the island and across there than in town

;

its

entire breadth

The

soldier

is

much

better off

the farmers are obliged to feed him, like themselves, at 10 sous per day,

which the contractor pays. 7"" The Marquis de Vaudreuil has arrived from Quebec. 11"" He has sent M. de Blurry to Carillon with six bateaux in quest of flour. IS** News from the Upper Countries. The Commandant of Fort Duquesne writes that a deserter had given notice of a party which he had sent to Fort Cumberland ; 150 men marched out of the fort to cut off that detachment, which perceiving that manoeuvre retired with the loss of one man and two wounded. He of Fort [Machauit] writes that a party of Indians he had sent out with his son to fight had returned with 3 prisoners and some scalps, and that his son' had gone astray in the woods. IS"" M. de Belletre, who had gone, at the end of September, with 300 soldiers, Canadians and Indians to attempt something in the direction of Corlac, arrived with 150 prisoners; he reports having carried 3 stockaded forts; burnt a Palatine village in which his detachment had

gained considerable booty and killed nigh 40 men. 22"^

M. de Bleury, who

arrives from Carillon says, the English

the number of 300, intending to burn the outer posts

guard of one sergeant and 15

men who were

;

in a little

intrenchment

'

Supra, p. 320, note

*

Michel la Chanvignerie, Junior. Fenru^hania Archive!, HL, 294, 305, 329.

2.

' ct

a 5 a montrer ou

shewed themselves there

to

that they have not been able to force a

commande M. Cher, de

— Ed.

;

that they only opened

Levis. Text.

PARIS DOCUMENTS the vent of the charcoal

which they

pit, after

:

retired,

XV.

837

and that one soldier of the

Beam

regiment had been killed.

Reduced the soldier's ration to half pound of beef and half pound of horse flesh, in pound of beef. SO"" December. Sent a detachment of one hundred Canadians and Indians to Carillon. 175S. S""* January. A courier from Carillon reports, that the English shewed themselves there on Christmas eve to the number of 150, with the design of setting fire to the houses under the curtain of the fort; that the cannon prevented them doing so; that they killed some fifteen beeves, to the horns of one of which the commander had affixed a letter couched in I thank these words " I am obliged to you. Sir, for the repose you have allowed me to take "you for the fresh meat you have sent me; I shall take care of my prisoners; I request you Roger, Commandant "to present my compliments to the Marquis de Montcalm. (Signed), •' of the Independent Companies." IS"" A clerk of the contractor set out with a detachment of 22 Regulars and some Canadians The Marquis de Vaudreuil has sent a Captain to inspect the stores at St. Frederic and Carillon. as""

lieu of a

;

:

of the Colonials and the Lieutenant-General of police to take an account of the grain in the district of

as""

A

Montreal.

Cadet, arrived from Fort Duquesne, reports everything pretty quiet in that quarter,

except that the Indians, to

whom

large presents cannot be

made, as the stores are empty, begin

to dislike going out to fight. Q""

February.

The Governor-General

has received news from France by

way

of Isle Royale,

the Governor of which island informs him that he expects the English early. 14""

The Commissary who went

of both forts in good order

;

to Carillon

has returned

the English did not

;

reports having found the stores

show themselves

in that

quarter for a long

snow preventing any expedition. M. de Montcalm arrived from Quebec with M. de Pontleroy. The Marquis de Vaudreuil has dispatched the courier entrusted with the answers

while, the great quantity of 22""*

24""

him of SO""

Isle

A

courier from Carillon has arrived,

has attacked nearly 200 taking 25

for

Royale.

men who were

at

men who were guarding them, 22

March. In the forepart of

this

who

reports that

M. de Langy, with the Iroquois,

work near Fort Lydius, whom he put of

whom

to flight,

the Indians have killed.

month a detachment of 200 Canadians or Indians set out for some of the convoys which pass from Fort Frontenac' to

Carillon, to try from thence to cut off

that of Ledius. 16""

M. de Vaudreuil has had news from Carillon informing him that M. Wolff, sent with

letters for

Fort Lydius, has returned

Captain Roger,

whom

;

he speaks

in

high terms of the

he saw, quizzed him on the fresh meat they

civilities

let

him

he has received

eat at Carillon

;

;

M.

Wolff answered him to be careful of himself when he come again, and that he must have heard from him that M. de Langy had been with the Indians on the Sarasteau road that the Iroquois, having taken an onion pedlar, wanted to return home; that four Outaouis had ;

;

attacked a convoy which they dispersed, killed four men, took one prisoner and plundered several sleighs. 19""

A

Cadet, detached from Carillon, came to inform the General that M. la Durantaye's

party had arrived the

12"",

on which day an old sorcerer had assured them that they would see '

Sic.

— Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

838

the English before long; on the morning of the 13'^ 5 or 6 Indian scouts

came

to say that

they

had discovered fresh tracks of 200 men, whereupon the chiefs raised the muster-whoop and set out immediately with their warriors, some soldiers and Canadians, who traveled nearly 3 leagues without meeting any one; suspecting that the English had taken the Falls road, ihey took the

same course; M.

la

Durantaye,

who had

joined them at the Bald Mountain, was with the van-

which made him fall back a little, and gave them time meanwhile, M. de Langy, having turned them with a strong party of Indians, and having fallen on them when they felt sure of victory, had entirely defeated them the Indians having discovered a chief's scalp in the breast of an officer's jacket, guard

he received the enemy's

;

to scalp

two Indians

whom they

first fire,

had killed

;

;

refused

all

quarter, and took 114 scalps

that this detachment

supposed

to

;

the opinion

was composed of 170 @.

180,

is,

men

that only 12 or 15

escaped, and

commanded by Captain Roger, who

is

be among the killed.

Some Abenakis left for Carillon. Some Indians arrived from Carillon.

23^''

S?""

as"" All

the Indians arrived at Sault St. Louis

General the action of the

;

M.

la

Durantaye came

to

report to the

13"".

29"" The Governor-General sent some surgeons to Sault St. Louis for the wounded Indians who had arrived there. 30"" Some Indians came to see Ononthio. 3P' The grand chief of the Sault with several warriors, have asked a talk with his father, to

him the loss wiped away his

set before

his village has suffered.

throat,

tears

News from Acadia

and covered the

Ononthio has opened

loss of his

his ears, cleansed his

dead with some large presents.

stating that the Acadians have taken 20 oxen, 1 bateau, in

which were

5 Englishmen, and missed a boat-load of provisions.

April

2""*

The

officer of artillery,

appointed to put the train at

St.

John

to rights,

came

to

give an account of his work. 3"*

Two

couriers from Carillon have carried to the General letters from the

that fort, informing

government, having been discovered, could not take a prisoner; that he had a great

many

Commandant

him that M. Wolff, who had accompanied the Abenakis

other cattle and desolated a part of that country

;

to

killed

of

the Boston

40 beeves,

that a Captain and Lieutenant

of the grenadiers of Bleknis regiment had surrendered themselves prisoners on the 19"", half

dead of hunger and cold, having roved through the woods since the 13"" without finding the road by which they had come with Captain Roger; they say, in their deposition, that they think

Lord Loudon has returned

to

England.

M. de Langy

will start in a

few days with some

Iroquois towards Orange to take a prisoner, and he will be followed shortly afterwards by M.

Wolff and the Abenakis. 4"' Two Englishmen have been flogged and one Spaniard hanged ; rare examples, although robberies are more frequent in this country than in any other, and many of the farmers think it no sin to rob the King. 7'^ A courier from Quebec who returned on the 8"" with orders from the General to dispatch the first division of M. de Boisherbert's detachment which is to embark immediately for Acadia and proceed thence by land to He Royale. lO"" News from Niagara and Fort Frontenac. It appears that the English are sparing no pains and are making great efforts to detach the Five Nations and Delawares from our alliance. The Governor of Philadelphia has held a great council with them at which he has distributed

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XV.

more than 40

a great quantity of belts, calumets of peace and

839 silver gorgets.

A

chief of the

Commandant of Niagara one of those gorgets on which was Squaw feeding a fire, and an Indian smoking a great an Englishman under the shade of the Tree of Peace. The same chief has

Five Nations has carried to the

engraved a Sun, with an Indian and a

calumet with

raised a party to attack and carry off a drove of oxen the English are sending to the

Loups

of Theoga.

The The

14"''

17""

ice

has broken up and the navigation

soldiers have

horse flesh being no longer

fit

News from Quebec, where

to eat.

News from Frontenac and La

18""

clear on the 15"".

is

15 pounds of beef for fifteen

received

days and

salt to salt

Presentation stating that Colonel Johnson has held a

council with the Five Nations, at which he has assured them that the English cared

who were bad

the destruction of the village of the Palatines, that they had found

it;

means

to

it,

great distress prevails.

little for

people and had richly deserved

reduce Canada by preventing the arrival of succors and

provisions; that people there are dying of hunger; that the English had last year taken a

many

great

however, do not console them

ships loaded with succors which,

the loss

for

wanted to go through all the villages, to carry them presents, from which purpose two Onnontagues had dissuaded him by telling him that Ononthio was coming with some warriors and that his scouts were at hand. The Mohawks send answers to the belts which the Iroquois of the Sault have given them, whereby they promise to observe an exact neutrality and invite them to come to a grand experienced before Louisbourg

;

that after the council, the Colonel

council they are about to hold in the Great 22°''

Wigwam.

Dispatched a courier to send off a schooner

and Algonkins set out

for Carillon

France.

to

Some

Iroquois,

Nepissings

with the design of going to avenge the death of their

13"", or to make prisoners on the road from Orange to Lydius. M. Chabert has started with some officers for Niagara, thence to proceed on an embassy a commissary of supplies has accompanied him to inspect the stores of to the Five Nations all the forts and to see in what condition the provisions are.

brethren killed in the affair of the 24""

;

26"'

Sent

workmen

to Carillon.

May. News from Frontenac and Carillon the former report that an Onontague who was going to Orange had been arrested by an English detachment, which would have killed him, that he complained of had he not found some one who spoke Iroquois and saved him the matter to the commandant at Orange, who answered him that the English had determined on avenging all the treacheries the Five Nations daily perpetrate against them. Those from Carillon say that M. de Langry saw a train of 200 wagons file off on the Lydius road 2°''

;

;

without being able to take a prisoner

;

that he has set out again from Carillon to endeavor to

take one.

A

3"*

courier from

Quebec assures

of the Corps Royal has gone with

that

when

25 bateaux

he

left,

full

no ship had been heard

of provisions and

of.

goods, to

An

officer

work

at a

revetenient of Fort Niagara. 5""

and

A

to

courier left with orders to send the regiment of

La Reine from Quebec

form pickets of the soldiers of Languedoc and Berry

whom

to Carillon,

the farmers cannot feed,

to be there also. 6"" A Colonial officer arrived from Carillon with the two English General that they believe Lord Loudon and M. Webb are recalled.

officers,

who have

told the

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

840

A

7""

courier from

Quebec with money

for the

Treasury,

who

says that the greatest distress

prevails in that city, and that the ships are expected with great impatience.

has held a council with some Nepissings 9'^

Dispatched a courier to send

10"'

News from La

off

who

make an

are going to

M. de Vaudreuil

attack near Orange.

another vessel to France.

Presentation, to the effect that 84 Indians of that village have returned

with 46 scalps and 3 prisoners whom they took in the governnsient of Corlar; that one Iroquois had been killed and an Onnontague wounded that the prisoners pretend that the English are ;

new

constructing a 12"'

A

IS""

near the Palatine village.

courier from Quebec,

impatience France,

fort

if

to

where exceeding great

witness the arrival of some ships; there

news be not soon

The Indians

Frederic, sent

of

La

distress

some

is

continues, as well

as the

talk of sending a third one to

received.

Presentation have arrived with prisoners; also a courier from St.

by M. de Lusignoun who writes that the Mohawks have taken four men who had gone to the left side of the

belonging to his garrison; killed or taken 17 of Carillon lake in quest of wood. IG""

A

cadet detached from Carillon with two prisoners

Boston road

we

;

whom

M. de Langy captured on the

learn that M. d'hebecourt having need of timber to cover the storehouses,

had caused the banks of the river to be reconnoitred where the timber was to be cut that he next day sent a detachment thither of 45 men in 3 bateaux, one of which, containing 17 men, was fired at on approaching land, by 40 hostile Indians, who took or killed the entire that the other two bateaux prepared to fire and to return to the fort pursuant to the signal which had been made to them that a gunner and a soldier of the Colony who had gone to ;

;

;

hunt, notwithstanding the prohibition of the officers, had been taken

that M. de Langy had banks of the River of Orange where 70 loaded bateaux have been seen on their way down by the Indians. News from all the Upper posts everything is quiet at Fort Duquesne where considerable provisions are expected from the Illinois; nothing new from the forts at Presq'isle and River au Boeuf.

gone on a scout

;

to the

;

The Commandant little

of Detroit

is

dying; the Five Nations go rarely to Niagara; there

fermentation and discontent against us

The

Outias.

A

and pillaged a storehouse.

Commandant that he

is

among

great

many

The

Indians have died

at

of Louisiana writes that they have had no ships from France for

two years, and

greatly embarrassed, having nothing to give the Nations.

A

posts.

19""

Some

song at their 20""

Nepissings and Algonkins

to

favorable to

who were

to

go

to Carillon

came

to

all

the

at St.

chaunt the war

father's.

The Five Nation

General,

a

Commandant Michillimakinac. The

Bay; missed the

trader set out with four canoes for Detroit; and a courier with orders for M. de Vaudreuil has sent an order to the regiment of La Reine to remain Johns until further orders, and to detached pickets to proceed to Carillon. IS""

is

the Indians of St. Joseph, the Miamis and

Folles Avoins have killed eleven Canadians at

Indians and those of

communicate us, and others

to

La Presentation have

him the dispositions of

to the

held a council with the

their brethren,

English, and have assured him that

it

some

them back, if provisions and goods arrive soon. An order has been commanding the detachment of artillery at St. John, to send back a part proceed with the remainder to Carillon.

It is

of

whom

are

will be easy to bring

sent to to

the officer

Quebec and

to

reported that four English barges have entered

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XV.

:

841

Lake Cliamplain. The Nepissings and Algonkins are gone thither scouting, and a Colonial officer has embarked for Detroit whither he will carry the General's orders and transact some business. 21" A courier from Quebec who says that great impatience and uneasiness prevail there for the ships. ognd

before

]\'ev«'s

from France.

Quebec; that

We

merchantmen have anchored number of 12; that they

learn that a frigate and eight

ti>ey sailed

in

March from Bourdeaux

to the

were separated on the Great Bank; that they have not seen any English vessels, and that it had fallen in with M. de Boissier and

they took an English prize which informed them that 6 ships within one day's 23"'

Quebec

the district of

workmen who had started for 21"'

sail of

Louisbourg.

Dispatched a courier with orders

We

send the regiments of Languedoc and Berry from

to

and to send back

to Carillon,

to the

latter place, the

gunners and

M. Pean and the Commander of the Artillery have business on the arrival of the ships.

halted at St. John,

Quebec,

to transact their

learn that the regiment of

La Reine has

arrived at

Chambly where

it

will find orders

to repair to Carillon. SS""

A

courier from Quebec,

with provisions;

letters

that the

there and

who announces

battalion of

the arrival of two vessels from Louisbourg

state that a battalion of foreign volunteers has arrived

from that place

Cambis

expected

is

;

offensive than defensive, in consequence of the confidence

provisions and ammunition daily landing there; that

with

five ships

that

appearances

which

prevails,

there

are rather

and the quantity of

Count Desgouttes entered the harbor

of war, and the day following his arrival, eight English vessels hove in sight of

the Island. So""

News from Quebec announcing

the arrival of

two

ships,

one of the

first

division, the

other of the second, which report having been attacked with the vessels of the same division

by 5 English privateers

France; that the frigate gave the signal of Saute qui

off the coast of

ptui and engaged the largest ones; that

had seen three of them in tow and does not

it

know

what became of the others. S?"" M. d'hebecourt sends from Carillon the answers General Alberkombis had addressed to him for the Marquis de Vaudreuil; reports that he had received them by I officer and 15 that there is at Fort soldiers, who have stated that the English army is assembled at Halifax Lydius only the usual garrison and a Scotch regiment; that Captain Roger is not dead that ;

;

'twas he

who

took the 4

men belonging

to the

garrison of St. Frederic; that those of the

some Iroquois who have killed 7 of them and carried The English General writes that he has not sent back Mess" Schuller and

garrison of Carillon have been taken by

10 to Fort Lydius. Martin,

who had

return the IS"" of this month, and proposes to

given their parole to

General to send him 6 Cadets or Canadians 29""

News from

two men and in

Fort Duquesne.

killed

one of

;

140 prisoners or scalps, and that he has

Vol. X.

force of 4,000

the

exchange.

M. de Ligneris writes that the English Indians have taken that his Indians have revenged him by bringing him

his garrison

parlies; the information of the prisoners

Duquesne with a

in

men;

more than 100 Indians

in the field in different

that the English desire to

come and besiege Fort

still

is,

there

106

is

every disposition to receive them well.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

842

A

30""

wrecked

courier from

Quebec who informs

us that a ship, freighted with provisions, has been

aux Basques, and that some small

at Isle

have been sent to try and save

craft

the cargo.

]" June. M. de Langy, prisoners in

liis

last

who

the other forts on the River of Orange, for

held a Council with some Iroquois

We

2nrt

who

camp

Fort Lydius as well as at the safety of their convoys. The General has at

are desirous to go out to fight.

learn that 30 Algonkins or Nepissings, with

M. Outetat, had

on the

fallen

English detachment which was returning on the right shore of Lake Champlain

two Englishmen and two Indians, and took 9

killed

any

arrives from Carillon, says he had not been able to take

foray; that the English have a small

;

whom were

prisoners, 7 of

of an

trail

surprised it;

Indians.

A

courier from Quebec, dispatched by the Intendant to report that Lc Zelihdoe, a ship belonging

had arrived at Saut Cochon' after having touched and lost her rudder, and had sent down assistance. 3"^ M. Pean, who arrives from Quebec, assures that La Judith anchored there when he left; that she had captured two English vessels on the Great bank, whose Captains report that a large French craft was lost on Newfoundland. 4"" The Marquis de Vaudreuil has held a Council with the Algonkins and Nepissings has to the 2°^ division,

that he

;

engaged ihem

go and strike a blow at Fort Lydius and to return

to

that he shall then require their prisoners,

whom

them

The

another expedition.

for

the Iroquois wished to

kill

in

25 days, telling them

Nepissings have arrived with

on landing, had they not been prevented.

The General received them very cordially and made them some presents. 7"" The seven companies of the regiment of Beam, who were in garrison inarched to encamp four companies at St. Gabriel with a picket of troops of

in

town, have

the Marine and

M. de Bourlamaque

the three others near the Lachine mill, to repair the roads of that place.

has arrived from Quebec.

A

12"'

Lake

St.

13"'

courier from

Sacrament

Many

Quebec without news.

M. de Bourlamaque

is

gone

to

command

at the

frontier.

Indians, of different Nations, have

come

to

Council.

the

The General

prevailed on them to go in quest of prisoners at Fort Lydius and to bring

has

them promptly

him.

to

14"'

given notice that a fresh trail of 30 men had been discovered probably, of an opportunity to strike a blow in that quarter. officers are sent to the Sault St. Louis for Indians to go in pursuit of the

Some voyageurs have

near the Cedars, IS"-

Some

in search,

detachment whose 16'"'

A

trail

has been discovered.

courier from Quebec,

who announces

Rochefort, which reports having the Colony has been received

;

left

it is

the arrival of the flyboat

a three-masted ship at Kamarasca.

Le Rhinoceros from The promotion in

satisfactory and unsatisfactory.

that whilst two deserters were pursued, an English detachment was discovered, which, M. de Lusignan reports, came and fired some shots near Fort St. Frederic ; that he did not allow any one to go out against them through fear of some ambuscade. The regiment of Guyenne marched from its quarters on the 14"" that of La Sarre on the that of Beam mustered the 16'\ and that of the Royal Rousillon on the lb'" for Carillon same day at Montreal; one part has quartered there, the other encamped under the city walls. 17"'

News from

Carillon

stating

;

;

'

Hogs

Falls, in

the eounty of Montmorency, on the North shore of the

St.

Lawrence, a

little

below Cape Torment.

— Ed.

PAUIS DOCUMENTS

:

XV.

843

The regiment of Beam lias received bateaux and tlie necessary rigging for its News from Carillon announce that a detachment of 35 Englishmen had embarcation. ig""

opproached the Falls killed one-half

;

that M. Wolff, with 30 soldiers or Indians, had gone to meet

Worked

and took some prisoners.

relative to Chevalier de Levis'

detachment, which

A

thence on some other expediiion.

them and

busily at the preparations and arrangements is

designed to go to the Five Nations and

Duquesne informs us that the Katabas had surprised some Canadians that were cutting timber, one of whom they had mortally wounded, who, however, broke the thigh of an Indian that wanted to scalp him; that the couiier from Fort

who had taken to their man back to by COO men. The depositions

other Canadians,

heels, returned

and brought the wounded

the fort; that a train

escorted

of the prisoners, taken at Fort Carillon, are, that the

English had sailed

for

Louisbourg with 22 ships of the

men

of transports; that they have 5,000

at Fort

on hearing the cry, scalped the Indian

line,

had arrived from the

17 frigates, a considerable

Illinois

number

Lydius and are expecting 3,000 more

;

that

Sacrament; 7 pickets of 67 men each of Regulars, the battalion of La Reine not furnishing any, have arrived to form part of the detachment of M. de Levis. 20"" A courier from Quebec who announces the arrival of the frigate Le Valeur, of the third division, which sailed from Bourdeaux, and reports having had a knowledge of 5 other sail. The regiment of Beam embarked in 26 bateaux for Carillon, and went to camp on the right they will go and camp at Lake

St.

bank of the river, eight leagues. 21" Bad weather, which has retarded the departure of the regiment eight o'clock

;

experienced various storms before entering the

Chambly

it

;

did not

river,

embark

until

and encamped one

league above Sorel at eight o'clock.' 22''

The regiment broke up camp

at 5 o'clock

;

encamped

at St.

Chambly basin. made the Portage

of the

halted at St. Ours, and

Antoine, 5 leagues.

and encamped

23'''

Passed

24''"

Arrived at 6 o'clock at Chambly, notwithstanding the rain

St. Charles,

baggage and rigging; embarked

in

at the

entrance of the

;

other bateaux at St. Therese, and encamped at St. John,

5 leagues.

Broke up camp at day-break; halted near Fourcalte's mill; made the Point au fer encamped at Black rock cove,^ 12 leagues; some bateaux have passed, the conductors of which report that the English are coming in force to Fort George. 26"'

traverse, and

27"" island,^

Embarked at daylight, and, by favor of a light breeze from the Northeast, reached Capon where we halted, and encamped at Gravelly bay, opposite the Islands of the Four

Winds,* 11 leagues.

Wind Southwest; beat down until noon; steered to make the traverse we could not camp, because the bateaux would not be sheltered

2S"»

behind which

of Split rock,

from the wind

there, and at 6 o'clock entered Bottle bay, 6 leagues, on the right shore of the lake, after having

reconnoitered 29""

it.

Some bateaux which had camped

island; halted at the "

lieues, for heures.

"

In the

first

a little higher up, overtook us at 6 o'clock at Sloop

settlement of St. Frederic; landed at noon opposite that

town of Chazy, Clinton county, Now-York, and Soutbwast of Island, Essex county, New-York.

Isle la

fort,

and,

Mothe.

'Now, Schuyler *

Now, The Four Brothers.

The French name was ecemingly derived from the circumstanco

four cardinal points of the compass.

— Ed,

of the islands indicating tbo

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

844 in spite of the

and a

wind, readied the peninsula on the right bank of the Carillon

river, 6

leagues

half.

SO'* Started at daylight

officers of the

and arrived

and encamped on the bank of

at 8 o'clock at Carillon,

The Marquis de Montcalm

the river of the Falls.

arrived at 3 o'clock in the afternoon with the

Royal corps, and has been saluted with 12 guns.

The whole army moved at 5 o'clock; the regiments of La Reine, Guyenne and occupy the head of the Portage, under M. de Bourlamaque's orders; La Sarre Beam and Languedoc the left bank of the Falls Royal Rousillon and a battalion of Berry the right 1" July. to

;

bank, where they encamped; the Marquis de Montcalm and the third battalion of Berry the old

camp

day

all

in

of

La in

Reine, between the fort and the redoubt of Carillon

arranging

tiie

camp and

the troops have been occupied

;

Some

bringing over their baggage.

Indians

who come

from scouting say, that the English are making a road communicating with that of the

Mohawks, back At 7 o'clock

in

M. de Langy, who has been

of the mountains.

the evening put 30

men on board

farther, assures the contrary.

2 barges, to go scouting on the lake.

2"'' At 5 o'clock in the morning heard the report of two muskets, followed by Indian whoops; which caused the regiments to stand to their arms they were ready to march forward, when the Captain of the guard belonging to La Reine sent word that his Lieutenant, at an outpost with 6 men, whilst looking for his hunting knife, had found a feather, and promptly ran behind a tree to avoid a shot fired at him by an Indian who was nearly ready to pounce on him, hatchet in hand, had he not anticipated the fellow by taking aim at him; that the Indian evaded the shot by throwing himself on his belly on the ground, and did not retreat until the officer had cried out A moi, Volontnires ! M. de Bourlamaque went to reconnoitre the mountains ;

left of the camp ; transported some ammunition and artillery stores. The Marquis de Montcalm ordered two companies of volunteers, 24 men each, to be organized under the

flanking the

command

of Captain Bernard, of the regiment of

of the regiment of 3''''

The

La

scouting barge

and the mountain

Beam, and

at the Falls

by Captain Duprat,

Sarre.

to

70

saw no one during the night; reduced the guard between the lake men went in quest of provisions to Carillon collected timber ;

;

bakery and repaired the ovens; M. de Raymond arrived with a detachment of 118 men, Canadians or soldiers; some Indians came to camp in front of La Reine. M. Mercier informs us that Chev. de Levis' expedition has not taken place, and that he is on the way to to build a

join us with his detachment

;

that there are several men-of-war and

merchant-men

in

the river;

a drunken Indian killed one of his

comrades and has decamped. Usual transportation. M. Bernard went scouting on the right bank of the lake, fifteen leagues from camp, and returned without making any discovery worked at an intrenchment at the head of the bridge over the rapid. The Marquis de Montcalm visited our camp and left it 4""

;

M. de Raymond joined us with his detachment and encamped near the bridge. M. de Langy embarked at 7 o'clock in the evening with 128 volunteers, soldiers, Canadians or

at 10 o'clock.

Indians, to observe the enemy's 5""

the

At 2 o'clock

Beam camp,

in

movements

at the

head of the

lake.

the afternoon, heard a shot fired on the mountain, bordering on the

and saw a white

fl^g lioisted

and lowered, which

is

left

hour afterwards, M. Langy came with news that on the morning he '

Northwcat bay, Lake George. — Ed.

of

the signal given by the

Lieutenant detached there to announce that he discovers barges or bateaux on the Like. left

Ganouskd

bay,|

An he

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XV.

:

845

had been perceived from Fort George, whence were dispatched neaMy 60 bargps in pursuit that M de Langy of him, which followed pretty steadily for a time and afterwards slackened had remained with his bateaux to observe them. M. de Bourlamaque immediately sent off Captain M. de Trepezee, of the regiment of Beam, with three pickets of volunteers of the Marines ;

Bald Mountain, to watch the movements of the enemy and to prevent their M. de Langy, who has arrived, accompanies him. Captain de Germain, of the regiment of La Reine, has been sent at 5 o'clock with three pickets, between the mountains and the lake, to sustain our advanced guards and prevent the enemy taking up a

and

Militia to

landing lower down.

position thereabouts;

all

the troops are ordered to be very

much on

A

the alert.

Lieutenant

embarked with 15 men in a barge to go and pass the night on the lake. e* At one o'clock after midnight, heard twelve musket shots fired at the outposts, which caused the brigade to run to arms ; a quarter of an hour afterwards 'twas ordered to dismiss. "We have learned that the English have relief,

whom

they attempted

fired

on the sentries and the corporal going to the tlie point of the bayonet,

take prisoners and were repulsed at

to

although they had already collared the corporal and one sentinel. At daylight saw the flag move up and down repeatedly a great many barges were descried traversing from one side to ;

The scouting barge returned to the other, apparently in search of a proper place for landing. M. de Bourlamaque has confirm the news. At 7 o'clock M. Germain's detachment returned. be removed, not having heard any news of M. Trepezee, who is expected; sent the grenadiers to relieve the outposts, and had fire set to the baggage that could The brigade moved at 8 o'clock, the grenadiers and volunteers forming the not be removed. ordered the baggage to

rear guard, after having fired Falls at i past 9 position

;

some shots at the barges which had approached. Arrived at the two brigades which were in order of battle and took up a

defiled in front of

yotence at the base of the

(7!

mountain,

to the right of

Montcalm has withdrawn the Royal RousiUon, brigade from to be

broken up, and has directed bateries' to be sent

allow them to

rest.

Mess" de

St.

La

Sarre.

The Marquis de

the right bank, orders the bridges

for to Carillon, to

convey the troops and

Ours and de Raymond have arrived with a detachment of

Colonials and Militia to cover our flanks

when we

shall

several shots, and soon after a considerable firing, which

About four

retire.

we judged was

o'clock heard

directed against M. de

Remained undecided about marching to his relief; prudently resolved not to a quarter of an hour afterwards saw some soldiers of that detachment wading towards us, and M. de Trepezee arrive next mortally wounded, who states that M. de Langy, who was guiding them, as he was acquainted with the way through the woods, had gone

Trepezee.

attempt

it;

astray, and did not find out his mistake until three o'clock,

when they undertook

to cross the

same side, on finding that there was too much water to admit of reaching the other bank; they were attacked, on landing, by considerable corps, and after defending themselves for some time, about 50 men

River of the

Falls, opposite a little island,

whence he was returning

to the

At J past 9,= set out for where we formed ourselves in

escaped; that the remainder have been killed, taken or drowned. Carillon

;

at 7 o'clock arrived at the entrance of the clearing,

order of battle and bivouacked through the night. 7""

Beat the generate

proceeded

at 6

they worked industriously all

the officers.

some regiments took provisions; the three brigades wood, where they commenced an abatis, at which throughout the day, animated by the presence of our Generals and

at day-light;

o'clock to the edge of the

This abatis includes the entire ground between the River of the Falls •

.9;c.

bftteftux.

'Sic.

5,

wpr-J, p. 723, Fr.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

846

wood lining Lai^e Champlain or the Carillon river. was equally divided between the seven battalions, and each had 127 paces of it to guard; they have had permission to make a fire in the rear of some tents and cook the soup there orders were issued to bivouac along the abatis; the guard lining it to, make frequent patrols without, and to keep the fires which were lighted there. At 7 o'clock the pickets we had left for Chev de Levis' expedition arrived, and, with the two volunteer companies, encamped in the rear of the three brigades. at five o'clock each S"" The generate was beat long before day; Chev: de Levis arrived battalion set to work to strengthen the abatis, 150 paces in front of which the guards were posted to cover the workmen. At 9 o'clock a body of troops was discovered on the summit and at the foot of the mountain, on the right of the River of the Falls, whence they were Bernard's volunteers gave them a few examiniiig our position, and fired a few shots at us. Chev: d'Arenes, Lieutenant of that company, had his arm broken on that shots in answer. Our Generals made a tour of inspection of the abatis, which they found in a pretty occasion. good condition, and made arrangements for the defence. At ^ past 12 the regiments of La Reine and Beam were going to construct some epaulements to protect themselves from the heights, when a heavy fi.'-ing was heard on the left; a moment after, at the centre, and next The discharge of a cannon from the fort, announcing the arrival of the enemy, at the right. brought every man to his post. The companies of grenadiers and guards came in again without the loss of a single man. The battalions lined the abati, three deep, having their grenadier companies and pickets in line of battle in their rear, ready to march wherever needed. La Sarre's brigade, commanded by M. de Bourlamaque, responded by some effectual firing, to a column that had shewed itself; the Royal Rousillon and Guyenne regiments, to two that attacked the centre where the M" de Montcalm was posted and the regiments of La Reine and and that which terminates

At 5

at the reserved

o'clock, the line of abatis

;

:

;

;

Beam,

to a fourth that

had an anxiety to attempt the

right.

Several barges defiled from the

come and land some people and to turn our left. The company of the Royal Rousillon grenadiers and the Volunteers, went down to the bank of the river to fire

River of the Falls, at

them.

A

to

few cannon shot were

fired

from the fort which, after sinking two, forced the

whence they made no further appearance. The fire was pretty hot on each side, though a little more active on ours. The attack and defence were sustained with incredible valor. The enemy's columns, though strengthened by the reinforcements they were continually receiving, and though often combining to make united efforts, one time on the right, the centre and left, were not making any progress and experienced every where an others to retreat up the river

obstinate resistance sustained by the attention of the Generals to send the grenadiers and pickets to the exposed points, and the bravery of the troops

and

fire

at the

proper

moment

they saw a head.

Chev

:

who minded

only to aim sure

de Levis posted himself very apropos

with the regiment of La Reine behind that of Guyenne, where the enemy were appearing in force, desirous of making an impression; he checked them and sent out the soldiers of the

Colony and the Canadians who lay in reserve in the wood, to fire on the enemy's left flank. At J some soldiers were allowed to go out who took past 5 o'clock the enemy's fire began to slacken ;

some prisoners; at 6 o'clock the enemy made a new attempt with no better success than the first. At 7 o'clock they bethought them of a retreat, leaving their best marksmen to cover it. Firing was forbidden, Fatigue and our small numbers prevented our otTering any opposition. because 'twas perceived that the shots

ambush behind

the trees.

The

we were receiving proceeded only from a few men in enemy is estimated at 5 or 6000 men, in killed and

loss of the

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XV.

847

wounded; and ours at 500 killed or wounded, including 44 officers and whatever is missing of M. de Trepezee's detachment. This memorable victory is due to the goodness of the Almighty, who has manifested Himself so often and so visibly the defender of the country to the wisdom ;

arrangements and their activity and attention in

General's

of the

movements;

to the

bravery and willingness of the

in front

of

all

and soldiers.

enemy's

M. de Bourlamaque

The Marquis de Montcalm and Chevalier de Levis have

has been dangerously wounded.

passed

officers

watching the

them how pleased they were with

the battalions and expressed to

their

The General ordered wine and beer to be brought on the field of battle to refresh the soldier, who greatly needs it. 9"" The ^^raera/e was beat an hour before day; the troops lined the abati anxiously hoping Some detachments were sent out, which dispatched some of the for the arrival of the enemy. wounded tliat wished to otter resistance, and brought in some prisoners. A very thick smoke was perceived at the Falls, which led to the supposition that the enemy were abandoning that M. de Bernard who went place, and were occupying themselves only with their retreat. conduct.

scouting with his company, sent word to the Marquis de Montcalm that, on the road to the Falls,

was an intrenchment which he could

set on

orders to do so, which he executed at once.

That General immediately sent him the

fire.

Some

Indians

who had gone ahead

to plunder,

came to give notice that the enemy were thinking only of reembarking. Buried all our dead. At S o'clock M. WollfF arrived with his detachment reported to the Marquis de Montcalm ;

that he found no one at old Fort George on his landing, but

two leagues from that

without being discovered, with a considerable party encamped

in a

fort

hollow square,

he

fell in,

commanded

by Lord [How], Major-General (who has been killed in M. de Trepezee's affair), with all the barges, bateaux, artillery and ammunition in the centre; that the General had demanded his orders, had shown him a great deal of civility, and had him forwarded next morning to Fort Lydius, where General Abberkombick had received him politely and detained him, telling him that the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letters required an answer which he could not give him That he was well aware he was detained to prevent his coming to inform us for some days. that they had conducted him back to Fort George, on the assembling of of their manoeuvres their army there, which, he believed, consisted of 25,000 men that he saw there nearly 2,000 barges, 1,500 of which have been employed in transporting troops, and the remaining 500, in coming and going; that the entire army had been embarked in an instant, and had taken the Portage road, marching thither as to a certain conquest; that he had followed along, and when their troops had arrived at the Falls, he was taken to Bald Mountain, where he had been nearly three days, very dissatisfied with the little attention paid to him and his detachment that Colonel Johnson arrived the 7"" with 400 Indians belonging to the Five Nations or Mohegans that a courier was sent off that same day who proclaimed everywhere that Cape Breton was taken that on the eighth at night, he had seen a great number of barges file off, loaded apparently with wounded that the officer who was guarding him, hailed many of them, and discontinued, evincing great regret; that on the 9"" the whole army had, without making much noise, resumed the march to Fort George, whither he was conducted, and having complained of it to the Major-General, the officer in whose hands he was placed, received orders to lead him back to his canoe, in which he repaired to the Portage and thence here, himself and his detachment exhausted hy hunger and fatigue. The prisoners were sent off to Montreal, and the Marquis de Montcalm dispatched M. de la Roche, one of his Aids-deCamp, to convey to the Marquis de Vaudreuil the news of the enemy's retreat. ;

;

;

;

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

848 10""

Chevalier de Levis went to

Portage with the grenadier companies and pickets;

tiie

found some intrenchmenls on both sides of the Falls, at the head of the Portage and at the

Burnt

Camp;

had 200 barrels of flour removed; saw a great

many which had been thrown

into the water; also considerable other stores; the soldiers and

with plunder and an immense quantity of shoes and buckles

beginning to infect the outside of the abati

Canadians returned, loaded

had the English buried who were

;

a courier set out for Montreal, and a despatch

;

arrived from there by M. de Rigaud.i ll""

The

scouts

saw nothing;

came to camp in front of the fort at the end camp; the Marquis de Montcalm has sent some have not been equipped M. de Langy arrived with some Canadians the six battalions

of the wood, and the two of Berry at their old

Canadians a canoe

in

IS""

to St. ;

John that

;

23 Abenakis have gone to strike

Began

to

work

at the abatis

arrived with 300 Canadians and as IS""

The schooner has

blow.

a

and to give

many

it

the form of an intrenchment

M. de Rigaud

;

Indians, Iroquois and Abenakis.

set sail for the 1*' of

have arrived with 1,200 Colonials and as

June

;

M. de Lavalteree and Chev

many Canadians; two workmen

:

de la

Come

discovered an

be a deserter, whom they conducted to the Marquis de Montcalm, whereupon he answered that the English have lost 5 or 6,000 men in the affair of the S"" that they retired much frightened that Lord Haw, Major-General Spitead,^ Colonels Lance, Brastree^ and Bebert have been killed that Colonel Johnson had set out the day after their arrival at Fort George, with all the Indians and 7 or 8,000 Militia English sergeant, said

to

who had him examined

;

;

;

;

for Corlar, to

oppose the expedition they

know we wish

to

make

to

that quarter; that they

have 11 or 12,000 men intrenched at Fort George; that they transported the heavy

and some barges over land prisoners, belonging to

;

artillery

that they have 5 of our officers and 144 soldiers or Canadians

M. de Trepezee's detachment.

Scouting and ordinary work

the Marquis de Montcalm has been occupied forming two and Canadians, and quieting the Indians. IS"" Sent a courier to M. de St. Luc not to come to-morrow until late with the Indians he is bringing; a courier has arrived from Montreal. le"" M. de Courtemanche has gone with 300 Indians and 200 Canadians to lie in ambush between Fort George and Lydius to annoy and intercept the English trains; M. de St. Luc 14"'

;

battalions of Colonials

and Chev: de

la

Rociie arrived at 3 o'clock in the afternoon from Montreal with 200 Iroquois,

Algonkins and Nepissings of the Sault and Lake, and some Canadians. at the Falls with the first Colonial battalion, composed two musket-shots were fired from Cape Diamond sent off a bateau which has brought back two Abenakis, who give up, having sore feet. IS"" Chev: de la Cbrne is gone to camp at the head of the Portage with the second battalion, composed like the first; M. de St. Luc has sent off a Cadet and 6 Indians to find out what is l?""

M. de Rigaud went to encamp

of 1,200 soldiers or Canadians;

going on IQ'""

at

;

Fort George.

Three English

deserters, forwarded from the Portage, confirm the depositions of the

sergeant and add, that 6,000 forbidden, on pain

>

f

men were missing

the day after the affair, and that

punishment, [to give out] that they had

the soldiers are very badly treated in their camp, '

Compare the foregoing w

"

Supra,

p.

741.

h Document, supra,

p.

721.

— Ed. •

Supra,

p. 741.

lost

more than 1,900 men

it

was

;

that

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV, 20""

M. de

St.

Luc

is

gone

to the

849

Portage with the Indians

a detachment of the Montreal

;

Militia has arrived, under the orders of their Lieutenant-Colonel

makes them camp in the rear of the battalions the Cadet sent was at Ganaouske bay, where he descried a great many fires

;

Montcalm

the Marquis de

to scout

;

has returned

that prevented

;

says he

him going any

farther; the large sloop has anchored before the storehouse.

21" Chev

de Levis

:

vicinity with a

is

gone

to inspect the

company of grenadiers; a

camp

great

and

at the Portage

many bateaux have

to reconnoitre its

arrived, loaded with

two returned Abenakis say, that their party went to the banks of the River Orange, where they saw a drove of 600 oxen and several barges going up; have not been able to take any prisoners killed three men at 6 o'clock descried the bateaux of M. de Courtemanche's detachment, which landed at 7 o'clock; he reported to the General that the Indians, having that 300 men came out from aa discovered a patrol of 7 or 8 men, rushed to the attack intrenchment; behind which they had placed themselves on seeing the Indians and Canadians that they were unwilling to advance any farther, and that 35 disposed to pounce on them scalps or prisoners had been secured by the Indians, one of whom has been killed, two wounded mortally and three slightly; the depositions of the prisoners accord with the foregoing; the the Indians made an Oneida dance and deserters have taken their departure for Montreal provisions

;

;

;

;

;

;

sing,

whom

22""*

The Marquis de Montcalm

remain

to

they captured in battle. has held several Councils with the Indians to induce them

has closed the road to Montreal on them by a Belt

;

has assured them that he has

;

nothing on his mind against them as they suppose; that he will be very glad to keep them,

and St.

if a number of them join the Nepissings and other Indians who Luc to-morrow to strike a blow.

23''"'

New

will

accompany M. de

Councils, at which the Iroquois told their Father that they thought he

with them because he had uttered reproaches against them

was angry

but as he liked them enough to

;

undeceive them, they would leave a portion of their warriors with him and send some others

At 6

to Montreal.

to inform

Marquis de Montcalm learned that an English detachment had

o'clock, the

arrived at LHsle au mouton,

where

him that he has orders

it

hoisted the French

flag.

The

officer in

command

Governor-General had permitted to

;

has given a like permission to one of our Militia Captains,

who

a prisoner with them.

is

at 8 o'clock for the Falls,

had the

them from the ill-usage that, on his arrival

officer

and English prisoners brought

The

to protect

Militia

Captain reports

he had been assured that Carillon, was taken, and that three days prevailed on the 24""

Some

news they had received

first

Indians

left for

The

Montreal.

The

where they to which the

Marquis de Montcalm and Chevalier de Levis embarked Indians wished to subject them.

has sent

him Mess" Schuler and Martin, prisoners whom the spend six months at home and that General Abbercombrik

to bring

at

Orange,

after a general consternation

of the total rout of their army. officer in

command

of the English detachment

whom

he supposed to be prisoners, and it appears, from his questions, that their loss has been considerable. Chevalier de Levis is gone with a detachment

has inquired for several

to

reconnoitre

Canadians

the

officers

swamp on

to try to carry off

the left bank. M. de St. Luc went with 500 Indians or some convoys on the Lydius road. The Marquis de Montcalm

has sent his answers to the English

George. 25""

The

officer,

who thereupon proceeded on

his return to Fort

prisoners have been forwarded to Montreal.

Ordinary work and service; some Indians have taken the route to Montreal.

Piquet, with the other Missionaries, has returned from the

Vol. X.

107

Two

Abbd

Rocks, where he took leave

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

850 of M. de St.

who

Luc; an

has arrived from St. John with some bateaux; an Interpreter,

officer

has returned from scouting with 12 Indians, reports having seen more tiian 400 dead

bodies two leagues from Bald Mountain. 26""

set out for Montreal; a Colonial officer embarked, with 8 Indians and for Ganaouske bay to proceed thence by land on a scout in the neighborhood Three shots were fired at the F'alis at 10 o'clock at night. 27"" Sent some wounded off to Montreal. M. Jacob has exercised the gunners at the piece he has mounted on board a bateau the Marquis de Montcalm sends an officer to Quebec for

as

M. Mercier has

many Canadians,

of Fort George.

;

the recruits.

A

28""

sloop

is

anchored

company

is

gone to the right bank to protect some wood cutters

at 9 o'clock in the evening,

;

;

the

little

in front of the store.

The Marquis de Montcalm and Chevalier de Levis

29""

Falls

grenadier

are gone to visit the

camp

at the

heard some Indian whoopings, and a bateau arrived with

M. Marin, who reports that M. de St. Luc has done a great deal and will arrive early to-morrow. 30"" M. de St. Martin, who had gone with 200 men towards Fort George, returned at one o'clock in the morning; reports having fallen in with 15 barges, which wanted to attract him, and that he did not dare embarrass himself, knowing that there are a great many troops on M. de St. Luc arrived in good order at 8 o'clock with his detachment, and reported the Island. to the Marquis de Montcalm that he had attacked on the 25"" a train of 44 carts, drawn by 240 oxen, loaded with flour, pork, wine, rum and considerable refreshments, conducted by 150 drivers, suttlers and traders, and escorted by 50 men; that his detachment took 111 scalps, and SO prisoners that he knocked in the heads of all the liquor barrels, killed the oxen, gave the remainder up to plunder and retired without being pursued, having had one Iroquois killed and three wounded. A bateau brought Midshipman de Bleury and a contractor's clerk ;

with money to pay the provision savings. 31" Several bateaux arrived with provisions

Word was

noise in camp.

came

;

the Indians got drunk and

sent from the Portage that

made

some barges had been

seen.

considerable

A deserter

in.

The deserter who has been examined, has answered, that there are 1500 men George 700 a* the half-way depot, and 100 at Fort Lydius that General Alberkombrick wanted to reembark his army eight days after his return ; that the Militia had refused to march and that he had concluded to wait for 7000 regulars from Old England, or from the army which is besieging Louisbourg that they occupy two islands in the Lake, in each of 1" August.

at Fort

;

;

;

which are 400 men that Captain

Roger

that they have a

;

guard of 200 men on a mountain on the right bank

out every day scouting; sometimes North, at other times, South

is

;

;

that

that there isn't any cannon in their intrenchment, had some cannon and mortars conveyed to Fort Lydius with 200 barges, having placed the others in the swamp between the fort and the intrenchment. Chev de Levis is gone to the Portage with several divers, to search for cannon which,

they have intrenched themselves with trees

but in the

little fort,

;

so that they have

:

deserters report, had been thrown into the water. 2'"'

Ordinary works.

with the Indians. 3'^

He

The Marquis de Montcalm sent

oft'

a courier to

42 Nepissings have arrived. inspected them, after having held a council

Quebec and another

M. de Pouchot has traced a redoubt

to secure

to Montreal.

the right of the intrenchment.

The

Indians set out for Fort George and came back, preferring the route by the head of the Bay,

A

detachment of gunners arrived.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. 4""

M. Marin

400 Indians or Canadians

set out witli

851

to intercept

some

trains

;

fancied

we

heard the report of the cannon of Fort George. 6'^'

Some men

Indians went to join M. Marin.

with 36

Sent some Indians

7""

M. de Bougainville embarked

10,000

Roger S""

9*

to

scout; an officer arrived from Montreal. for

Montreal; a bateau set

intrenchment, and was eventually extinguished.

in the

lo

M. le Borgne set out by water from the Portage Sugar Loaf, and proceeds thence as far as Fort George.

for the

6""

men lias

Two Two

at Fort

marched Indians

A

off for

Quebec;

deserter arrived

who

fire

broke out

says there are

George; that a ditch has been added to the intreuchments; that Captain witli 800 men to intercept M. de St. Luc.

came who

Colonial soldiers

report having seen the

who were

marks of a small camp near the

deserting have been arrested.

M. Marin's party have returned with two prisoners

;

Two

Two

Rocks.

Indians belonging

say that M. Marin has attacked a

considerable English detachment, and that they, having taken two prisoners in the fore part of the action, had set out ahead with the news.

M. Marin has come back with

detachment, and reported that on his way towards blow on a road very much frequented by the English, he heard the report of three shots that the scouts came in to inform him that they had seen 100 English who were coming towards him whereupon he immediately ambushed his party, who fired two volleys at the English the latter scattered themselves in the woods and behind trees, where they kept up a very brisk fire, and had been joined by Captain Roger with 500 men, and a Major of Militia with 200; that he had taken 5 prisoners; that seeing the English were too numerous to be forced, he ordered his wounded to be removed and retreated in very good order, leaving thirteen men on the field that some Indians had returned thither in the course of the nigiit to try and take some scalps, and found the English drinking and singing. The Marquis de Montcalm has sent 200 Militia to St. Frederic to cut fuel for tiie garrison. 11'^ M. Wolff set out to carry despatches from the Marquis de Vaudreuil and the Marquis de Montcalm to General Alberkombik. IS"" 200 Militia embarked to relieve those at St. Frederic, who are ordered to St. John. 10"'

Fort Ann, where he expected

his

to strike a ;

;

;

;

M. de Bougainville has arrived from Montreal, and acquaints us of some merchantmen flag. M. Wolff returned at 10 o'clock at night from Fort George, and brought back a surgeon who was taken prisoner at Chouegen. 14"' 400 Militia went to St. Frederic. M. de Bougainville embarked at daybreak for Fort George. I left at 10 o'clock; met a clerk of the contractor and some bateaux; at 2 o'clock 13""

having entered the river under the Spanish

passed Fort St. Frederic, where

was going

to the left

shore to

I

man who

learn that the English have recently carried off a

make

his harvest

;

at 7 o'clock, stopped at Split

Rock

to

my

prepare

men, and set out at midnight; at daybreak landed at Capon Island; dined at Point au fer, where I met two officers who are on their way to Carillon arrived at 6 o'clock at Fourcault's mill where I fell in with some Indians who were in want of provisions supplied them with some and left at eight o'clock, and on the 16"" Arrived at daybreak at St. John; proceeded without delay to St. Therese, where I had some of the men and some baggage put ashore in order to run the Chambly rapids more easily, and arrived in half an hour at the Fort, though the distance is two leagues, so rapid is the stream. At eleven o'clock I was placed on a litter and arrived at 5 o'clock at Laprairie, though five leagues travel and the roads very bad; but the Canadians, anxious to get home, ran. Met some Indians who are going to Carillon.

supper

for

;

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

852 Embarked

l?""

announces the IS""

A

lO""

A

at 8 o'clock and at 9 landed at Montreal,

where a courier from Quebec

arrival of a ship at Bic.

party of the city militia arrived from Carillon. courier from Carillon, entrusted with the

who

Bougainville,

English General's answers to M. de

has bet a considerable wager with several officers that Louisbourg was not

taken on the 15"". 21" M. de Montigny,

who arrives from Quebec, informs us that a Marseilles ship is in the which reports having witnessed the capture of one from the same port. 23'''' News from the Mississippi and all the posts except Fort Du Quesne, where we are

river,

assured that the are a

number

enemy

certificates is a gold

at

is

'tis hoped he will meet a warm reception, as there ; seems that business was good at all the posts. The aid of those who have no other resources, and 'tis said everybody is

on the march

of Indians there;

mine

for

it

work. 24"'

A courier from Quebec

with news of the arrival of two ships from Rochelle, which

sailed,

end of June, under the convoy of a man of war. The news from Louisbourg is, that the town is briskly cannonaded ; that many buildings are in ashes; that M. de Boishebert's detachment has not done anything, the Indians having left him and the Acadians having fallen sick that M. Marin made a sortie in the night of the S"" and 9"" with ten others, from the same

port, at the

;

; lost 70 men and the enemy 500. morning a courier arrived from Fort Frontenac with word that

of July, in which he has penetrated as far as the third parallel 26"'

At one

the Indians

who were

M. de Noyan that there

o'clock in the

is

Bay

News by

called out

all

where

a courier from Carillon,

that

tell

barges;

Fort or

La

all is quiet.

Major Duplessis, of Montreal, went to Lachine with a great many Militia and Indians.

Had word

many

the Militia of the town and a portion of that of the

27""

28""

of Niaoure a great

a considerable party there with views probably against that

The General

Presentation. district.

going to fight in the direction of Fort Chouagen returned there to

that they had discovered in and above the

all

the Colonial and Militia officers,

M. Duplessis was not yet gone; the getting on board

slow work as

is

many things which are represented as having been sent to forwarded thither some more Militia and Indians.

they are delayed by the want of

Lachine 29""

;

Remainder of

Militia set out for

A

Lachine under M. de Contreven's orders.

courier

arrived from Frontenac with assurances that

when he left, the English were crossing over he thinks, from the number of barges, that there are 1,500 or 2,000 men that M. de Noyan dispatched him with the intelligence, after having made the best defensive arrangements; that the sloops are in the bay in the rear of the fort; that on the night of his

towards the

fort

;

;

departure, he had heard the report of cannon

150 Indians or Canadians 30"'

Heard

who were going

;

this stupid courier

had caused the return of

Noyan has

that Fort Frontenac surrendered on the night of the 27""; that M. de

capitulated after 48 hours' attack

garrison

;

to the relief of the fort.

;

that he

that the English carried off

is

prisoner of war, and sent back on parol with his

two armed

sloops,

which they had caulked

;

that they

burnt the other five; that they were busy loading the provisions and ammunition found there in great

abundance

;

M. de Noyan speaks

in

high terms of the

handsome treatment he

has received. 31" All the Frontenac garrison arrived; a courier from Quebec confirms the capture of

Louisbourg

;

it

was

reported,

when

he

left,

that

some

ships

were

in the river

;

the Marquis de

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XV.

853

Vaudreuil has issued an ordinance to prepare 30 bark canoes to be sent whence they are to convey 600 men to Niagara.

to

La

Presentation,

September 1" Sent off the bark canoes with ammunition, which is wanted at La Presentation some Indians of the Five Nations came to see the General, and told him that the English were intending to amuse us only by seizing the islands in Lake St. Sacrament; that they were that, on only contemplating seriously restoring Chouagen and the forts on that river

;

;

learning there

was only

a feeble garrison at Frontenac, they sent a considerable force to seize

it; that, in their opinion,

they are

still

in front of the islands that are opposite

was heard when passing send some young men to Niagara to prevent

there, as the report of cannon ;

advised to

Cayugas were complaining of not having received a share of the its being that they had, nevertheless, left some of them at La presents brought by by M. de Longueuil lost

;

stated that the

;

Presentation,

who have

they were come

to assist

assured the

him

Commandant

was going

that, hearing he

to

be attacked,

and to die with him and their father, the Black the General thanked them, made them presents

to defend himself

gown, and their brethren of that village and engaged them to leave to-morrow

;

for

La

Presentation

;

canoes which arrive from

Michillemakinack report that they are followed by several others which will be here in a few days, and that the Indians of that quarter continue to give a good deal of occupation to M. de

Beaujeu; news from Carillon, announcing that the English are strongly intrenched George, and have built a sloop of IS guns.

at Fort

Sent a courier to request the Marquis de Montcalm to come and spend a few days here

2"''

the remainder of the bark canoes have been sent to

La Chine, whence

;

they, as well as the

Indians, are to set out. 3''''

A courier

4""

The

proof

;

that M. Duplessi

La Presentation, and that the remainder of his detachment will have reached to-morrow. News from Carillon, where people are busy making the intrenchments against cannon. The Abenakis have brought thither three prisoners taken near Fort

must be arrived there

from Quebec, without news.

Indians assure that the English have retired from Cataramouy at

Couarient.i

M. de Lacquepe writes from St. John, that there is an English detachment within 5 fort. The General immediately sent him a party of Militia from Three Rivers

5""

leagues of that

and the Abenakis.

Heard that

6""

a bateau loaded with provisions has returned to St.

John

;

that the conductors

say that on perceiving some tents near the Fourcault Mill, and nearly 150 Indians or English,

they did not dare to approach

An

it.

officer

nothing on the Lake, and that M. Sabrevois,

who comes who has been

from Carillon, assures that he

saw

scouting near Fort George [has

camp of the English does not appear to him any larger than General Alberkombrik's Aid-de-Camp writes to M. de Bougainville to acquaint

returned and reports] that the half of ours.

him

of the capture of Louisbourg.

The Canadians and Indians who return from St. John report that they have arrested 10 men who left Carillon without permission, and who were the cause of the alarm in that Y""

quarter. 9""

A

great quantity of provisions has been forwarded to Lachine.

The Marquis de Montcalm has

courier

has been sent to

Quebec '

to

arrived with Mess" de Bougainville and Pontleroy

;

a

dispatch the six men-of-war lying there; the General

Compare

supra,

p. 97,

note

1.

— Ed.

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

854 has had a great

many

Indians; he has engaged some to go to

La

Presentation and others

to Carillon.

A

10""

detachment of Militia has arrived from Quebec;

Presentation announce that M. de Montigny,

not

also

who commands

some gunners; news from La

the detachment for Niagara, had

there yesterday.

left

write from Quebec that two other vessels have arrived from Rochelle and St. Barnabe and that two others have been seen under sail which were not yet recognized. A courier from La Presentation reports that all the bark canoes had arrived there, and that M. de Montigny was to have left that place yesterday. 12"' A courier from Quebec confirms yesterday's news; some recruits and Militia belonging to that government have arrived, also a Colonial officer from Detroit with 6 canoes; says he

They

ll""

Niagara the

left

1"'

of the

month

commandant of that fort was much surprised at not was ignorant of the capture of Frontenac, and that he except from some Nepissings at the Couy islands. M. de that the

;

seeing anything of the sloops; that he

had not heard anything of

it

Boishebert writes that he has returned to Miramichi with almost the whole of his detachment. IS"" The Marquis de Montcalm has returned to Carillon with M. de Bougainville a detachment of Militia has arrived from Quebec; also several canoes from Michillimakinak and ;

other posts.

Considerable provisions, ammunition and merchandise are conveyed

whence bateaux loaded therewith 14"' Arrival of a

are daily dispatched for

detachment of

La

Militia from [the city]

to la

Chine,

Presentation and the Upper forts.

and government of Quebec.

That

of yesterday has been sent off for Lachine.

A courier from Quebec informs us that the St. Dominique which is anchored before Quebec,

IS*

reports having no

knowledge of any other ship arrival of a detachment of Militia from the government of Quebec. 16"" A courier from Carillon reports that eight barges had come to Isle au mouton and created considerable alarm at the Camp at the Falls, and that a detachment was sent by land to take those in the barges should they land. The Abenakis have brought in a prisoner whom they took near Corlar, that 6,000 from

17""

all

injured

six 12

either

La

have nearly 10,000 men at Fort George York that they have 5,000 in the Chouaguen the Carrying place, and that he does not think they will rebuild

says, that the English

at

at

;

M. de Bleury, arrived from La Presentation, and says that he had accompanied M. de to Cataracouy that they found the fort easy of repair, some parts of it being scarcely

Centre [ven] at

who

Cape Breton have landed

who are working Oswego this fall.

district

Fort

;

;

;

is entire as well as some of the buildings that they have discovered good condition which the English, no doubt, overlooked; that the others their trunions broken or have been spiked. A detachment has left for

that i\\eforce^

pounders

have

;

in

Presentation.

IS""

M. de Langy arrived

in

the course of the night to report to the General that he has

Chouaguen with his Indians and Canadians; that he found he has seen the wreck of our burned sloops; that he thinks the other is

been

great

as far as

many

it

evacuated; that

lost,

as well as a

barges, by the quantity of masts and rigging that he perceived on the water.

General has ordered the officers who were making arrangements hold themselves in readiness to proceed to Carillon. '

Sic.

Qu ?

four, oven.

— Ed.

to

go

to

La

The

Presentation, to

PARIS DOCUMENTS 19""

M. de Pontleroy has gone

to build a fort there;

to reconnoitre the

Abbe Picquet who

XV.

:

855

Lake Ontharie

frontier

and a good position

returns triumphant to his mission, embariis with him

a detachment of Militia has taken the road to Carillon; considerable transportation and carting to Lachine.

2P' News from Carillon, where everything

M. de Repentigny has been embarked

quiet.

is

during four days, without getting an opportunity to strike a blow. 23''''

A

great

many loaded bateaux have been

sent off to

La

Presentation and 30 bark canoes

to the Beautiful river. 24""

News from

the Beautiful river assure us that great tranquillity prevails in that part

many

the English have sent a great

;

that

them to M. de Lignery, commanding at Fort

Belts to the Delawares and Indians, to induce

remain neutral, and that the Indians have carried them to Duquesne. The Courier who belonged to M. de Montigny's detachment says, that although

he had been becalmed two days, yet he arrived at Niagara the seventh after his departure that M. de Vassan knew of the fall of Frontenac only eight hours, that he was preparing, with ;

40 men he had, to burn whatever was outside the

fort,

and

make

to

the best defence he could.

A courier from

Quebec without news. 26* M. de St. Luc who comes from

parties are out, one 27""

29"»

The Marquis de Vaudreuil has The officer who had gone, has

Montcalm, and 800

to

and 1500

intrenchments

;

in that of

that

all

from York, and he thinks that as soon

who

;

nothing new; two

sent an officer to Carillon.

who

reports he has left 6000 at Fort George,

Lydius

;

that there

is

a considerable train of

the barges and bateaux to the

repairing; that five regiments are expected which are on their

to attack Carillon

is

returned from St. John with letters from the Marquis de

conduct an English deserter

in the entrepot fort,

artillery in the

Carillon, informs us that there

towards Fort Lydius, the other towards Fort George.

number

of 1500 are

way from Louisbourg and one

as that reinforcement will

have joined, they

that he believes two battalions winter in the intrenchments.

will return

An

Indian

8000 men in those parts and that many of the Indians of the Five Nations and Delawares (Loups) have united with ours who are going to strike there. News from the Beautiful river, where everything is quiet. 30"" A courier from Quebec, entrusted with the care of an Acadian who reports that a ship captain has told him that he had seen nearly twenty English sail in the vicinity of Gaspe. arrives from the neighborhood of Fort Bull, says there are

M.

de

Montcalm

to

M.

de Cremille.

[ Dfepartement de la Guerre, Paris. ]

Camp

at Carillon,

21"

S''",

1758.

Sir,

Since the

aSiiir

of the eighth of July, of which I have had the honor to transmit you a

Narrative, General

Abercromby has constantly occupied the head of Lake St. Sacrament, as He has spent the campaign in fortifying himself and

we, the camp on the heights of Carillon. threatening us with a second

visit.

On

our

side,

we have

thought only of protecting this

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

856

remainder of

frontier during the

have had some advantages in it. camp, will oblige us to wait for the

You

will

The war has been a mere partizan one and enemy in remaining in force in his

campaign.

this

The

we

obstinacy of the

ice before entering into

judge of our works by the detail

annex

I

cantonments.

to this letter.

Whilst the enemy was always showing us an army prepared to attack

he has endeavored

make

to

a second time,

us,

Lake Ontario.

us take our change in a diversion on

He

has taken

the post of Frontenac, in which were seventy Colonials, and has immediately abandoned in order to rebuild that of Fort Bull, destroyed in 1756.

occurrence [which lost, as if I

had

to

is

owing

I

have been as much affected

navy on Lake Ontario that we have and had not foreseen and not given warning of it. the same blunder was committed there of leaving, as

to the desire to seize] our

reproach myself with

Niagara must experience the same

fate

;

it,

enemy has not been informed hundred men thither.

were, nobody at that post, but the

it

has had time to send three

We

are expecting

it,

at this

news from the Beautiful

and M. de Vaudreuil

it,

where a corps of 8000 men was

river

under the orders of General Forbes.' Since the capture of Louisbourg, an English

of

fleet

to operate

has continually occupied the lower part

made a descent on Gaspe where it appears they have According to what the Intendant writes me, the King's ship VAigle established themselves. Quequampoix, eight leagues from Mercatina.^ The crew has been wrecked on the rocks of escaped, and 'tis hoped the ship will be got off; 'tis a real loss she was armed en flute and was Lawrence

of the river St.

;

they have

;

bringing flour, pork, ammunition, muskets, brass guns and mortars.

The Five Nations

are sending embassies to us, to negotiate; they are receiving presents, at

the same time from the English, and whatever the Marquis de Vaudreuil believe

them more disposed

considerable

;

let

in

favor of the

latter

us never expect anything from

whom

they

them beyond

fear,

may say about it, I who give them

and

neutrality,

would be a

that

great deal.

Such, Sir,

the state of things at this

is

the honor of writing you this year;

whither

I

send an express with

Your

and tenth.

you respecting

it,

I

and

moment.

am

to profit

reflections will suggest to

This

be the last letter

will

I

shall

have

one hundred and twenty leagues from Quebec,

by the

last ships

you more on our

which

sail

between the fourth

situation than I could write to

it.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil has wished, under

existing circumstances, to send an officer of

intelligence and capable of instructing with truth the Minister of the Marine on every point. I

him to send M. de Bougainville and to prevail on M. Doreil, commissaire ordonnateur, on his own business. It is be wished that the one and the other will arrive, and I request you to attach confidence to

have been

him to

sufficiently fortunate to induce

to consent to the passage of

what they will tell you. M. de Bougainville proposes to return to us, for his zeal for the service knows no difficulty. I have no need of recommending to you M. Doreil, with whom I have been very well a disinterested commissary, capable of and loving work, and qualified to be entrusted

satisfied

;

with

sorts of details, his

all

is

a case entitled to procure for him some distinguished favor; I

should be particularly obliged thereby.

He

will not

leave

you

in

ignorance of anything

respecting our situation and will depict to you the impossibility of living, to which our officers '

Supra, VIL, 344.

"

The

Island of Mecatiua

is

in the Gulf of St.

Lawrence, towards the west end of the Straits of

Bellisle.

— Eb.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. are reduced.

know

I

not

what

tlie

857

Intendant will take upon him to do

in

their behalf,

upon

the letter I have written to him, the duplicate whereof I annex hereunto. You, Sir, who have always occupied yourself with the good of our troops, will favor those which serve the

King

who

who maintain their ground there these four years against an enemy means and very superior forces. Our battalions would require recruits,

America, and

in

possesses great

and of a good description.

Their companies,

from ever having been as high as

far

fifty,

have never been able to be spring. Although I have made

according to the ordinance which had been sent us in 1757,

completed

We

to 40.

should require at least GOO recruits this

an exact review of them in the fore part of the month,

you a circumstantial from the

War

detail of

our situation.

We

leave to M. Doreil the care of sending

I

have not received this year any despatches

appointments;

Office respecting either favors or

this afflicts our officers.

actually at

is

next year.

I

much good to you of Chevalier de Levis and of M. de Bourlamaque the latter Quebec, much incommoded by his wound. I doubt if he can make the campaign

cannot say too

;

'Tis a pity.

There are neither superior

nor enough of troops nor of gunners.

army, thirty-six thousand men

officers

The English have

in the field,

enough, nor

sufficient

Engineers,

had, independent of the Louisbourg

opposing our forces, and

I

have always had at

least

thousand men opposed to me.

fifteen or sixteen

health is wearing away, my purse is becoming exhausted I owe ten thousand crowns Colony where all those who are in office do not commonly devour their substance, nevertheless, M. Houart,' the Intendant, has left in it debts as unskilfully as I my zeal and courage will never fail. I repose in your hands all that can regard me personally. You have honored me in France with your kindness; you have assured me of the same since I am in

My

;

a

in

;

America. for

have served under Marshal de Delleisle

1

me what

commission

Europe

will

I

they think can be granted

am

am,

my

;

'tis for

the one and the other to procure

age, thirty-seven

to the success of three

years of service, to the

campaigns.

hope no one

I dare

in

me the favors you will be pleased to bestow on me. Be assured of my my attachment as constant as it is inviolable, and of the respect with which

envy

gratitude and of I

honored with and

to

Sir,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant,

Montcalm.

Abstract of Despatches received at the [

The Marquis de Montcalm,

War

Office

DSpartement de la Guerre,

repulsed 20 @. 25 thousand English, that

it

may

who

lost 5 (a.

de Vaudreuil.

which, with 3,858

or troops of the Marine, and 16 Indians, he

6,000

men on

that occasion.

be pleasing to the King to permit him to return to France.

as a reason, the exhausted state of his health

•&'c,

Qq? Hocquart.

lOS

He

adduces

and purse, and especially the annoyances and

contradictions he experiences at M. de Vaudreuil's hands.

Vol. X.

M.

]

in reporting the action of the S"" of July, in

men, whereof 3,370 were Regulars, 472 Canadians,

Demands

complaining of

Paris.

— Ed.

—

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

858

He

complains

in bis letters that,

although M. He Bourlamaque had a long time before notified

M. de Vaudreuil that the enemy were collecting considerable forces in the vicinity of Lake St. Sacrament, M. de Vaudreuil, instead of concentrating those of the Colony so as to be able to resist the

picked

enemy, had divided them

men and

a

number

for the

purpose of sending Chev: de Levis, veith 1,600

of Indians, on a special expedition which could not be carried out.'

That, on writing to M. de Vaudreuil on arriving at Carillon the SO"" of June, to inform him

demand some

of the enemy's arrangements and to

reinforcements, he could obtain only 400

Canadians or Marine troops and the

recall in advance of the soldiers and battalions that had been detached with M. de Levy, who arrived on the eve of the action, and that he did not send him a single Indian, although there are 800 domiciliated in the Colony.

That M. de Vaudreuil excused

his

refusing

those

reinforcements by the

necessity

of

economising the provisions, and that since the affair of the 8"", he had unnecessarily sent him 2,000 Canadians and 600 Indians, whom he had neither desired nor demanded, and who were going

By

to

consume unprofitably

all

his provisions.^

the copies of the letters he had received from M. de Vaudreuil and of his answers,

'tis

him to send out large detachments to force the English to retire, by cutting off their communication with Fort Lydius, and that M. de Montcalm represents that, with the few troops he has, it is not possible for him to dislodge an enemy, who, to be seen that the latter urges

notwithstanding the check they have experienced, are

still

infinitely his superior.^

M. de Vaudreuil reproaches him in one of these letters with having rebuffed, by ill treatment, the domiciliated Indians who had been sent to him, to which M. de Montcalm answers, that he indeed scolded them for the disorder they were committing in the camp, killing and pillaging provisions belonging to the hospital and private persons, and that he had sometimes refused

them brandy, as they are intractable when drunk.* M. de Montcalm writes that the contradictions he experiences

will not prevent

him acting

in

every respect for the greatest advantage of the King's service, until recalled, and that he has sent M. de Bougainville to Montreal to cement their reunion, whereunto M. Bigot had already labored at his request.*

M. Doreil, commissaire ordonnateur, states, in letters written in cipher,* that M. de Montcalm had instructed him to say, 1" That M. de Vaudreuil cannot excuse the refusal to send M. de Montcalm some troops, on the ground of want of provisions, inasmuch as the first convoy from Bourdeaux often thousand barrels of flour had arrived on the ig"" of May, and that there was a quantity of it at Fort Chambly and St. John prior to the 1" of June. 2°'' That M. de Levis having arrived at the camp before the action of the S"" of July, with 400 men detached from the battalions, the other troops of his detachment could come there

had they not received orders to the contrary. That the Indians themselves and some of the Colony had complained of having been at Montreal and of having been obliged to spend their time uselessly at Laprairie de la

also,

3'^

left

Magdeleine,

St.

Johns, and elsewhere.

That M. de Vaudreuil was sending to Carillon, since the 13"", Canadians who could no longer be employed and that with a view to be able to write, that M. de Montcalm did not 4"'

;

know how •

Compare

°

Supra,

to profit

by his victory, as

supra, pp. 732, 733, 737.

p. 810.

°

Supra,

if

'

p.

768.

14 thousand

Supra,

Ed.

p.

737.

men

could be attacked with six thousand. "

Supra,

p.

757.

*

Supra,

p. 811.

PARIS DOCUMENTS 5""

That M. de Vaudreuil

to Fort

has, last year, accused

XV.

:

859

M. de Montcalm with not having laid siege

Lydius after that of Fort Orange,' at a time when he was obliged to dismiss the to make their harvest and was in want of horses and carriages for a portage of six

Canadians

leagues that had to be made. 6""

who 7""

That Fort Carillon has cost the King immense sums, yet is very bad and that the person it built, who is a relative of M. de Vaudreuil, has made a fortune by that contract. That if the Colony be not lost this year, which is not yet certain, as the enemy are able

had

to return to the charge,

and adopt better measures,

it

may

be expected to

fall

inevitably next

year, if peace be not concluded this winter.

would accrue from such a peace, no matter at what sacrifice as regards would be made but peace once made, 'twill be necessary to change the whole of the administration; and if it is to be postponed, the Governor-General must be recalled at once. M. Doreil adds, from himself, that nothing better can be done, whether for the safety or reestablishment of Canada, than to confide the general government of it to M. de Montcalm, S""

That

a great gain

boundary

it

who

good

is

as

;

a statesman as a soldier, a great worker, just, disinterested, clearsighted, active,

is good in view, in a word, a virtuous and universal man; but that M. de Montcalm would perhaps be displeased with him had he known that he hazarded that proposition, whieh he submits only out of pure zeal for the advantage of the King's service.

having only what

That the

qualification for Governor-General of being a Canadian, so far from being necessary,

on the contrary, a defect which is of greater consequence than can be supposed that M. de Montcalm is, at present, thoroughly acquainted with the country, beloved and respected by

is

;

and

Indians,

the

is

perfectly conversant

with the

manner of

treating with

them and of

profiting thereby.

M. de Montcalm and M. Doreil make very feeling remonstrances respecting the allowance of the troops.

They

complain,

first,

that the provisions

which had been allowed them

as well as those of

the Colony, have been greatly diminished during the campaigns of 1755 and 1756. That they have ceased, since the first of October, 1757, being paid in specie, according to the promise

That the

made them

at their departure.

prices of necessaries of life are excessive; the officers being absolutely unable to

on their pay, and obliged to contract debts, which he will be unable to pay; M. de Montcalm owes already more than ten thousand ecm. They ask an increase of pay for the regular troops in Canada, the same as those in Europe have been allowed, and observe, that the pay of those troops is not to be compared with that of the Colonial troops, as the latter have resources from their families, from trade, from contracts, the intrigue of the country and trading posts. In another Memoir will be mentioned the special favors M. de Montcalm requests, exclusive of those whereof he had sent a list on the 12"" November of last year, and which he supposes

live

has been suppressed in the bureaus of the Marine. to Montreal,

where the minute

is

He

cannot send a duplicate until he returns

lying in his desk.

October 26'S 175S. '^

Sic.

William Henry. Supra,

p. 769.

— Eb.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

860

M.

Montcalm

ch \

to 3f.

D6partement de

de £elle Isle.

la Guerre, Paris. ]

Camp

My Lord, My last

at Carillon,

27"

8"", 1758.

written from Montreal on the ninth of September, was to inform you of the

letter,

taking of Fort Frontenac and of

my

fears of the

consequences that might result from that event

Fortunately, the English have not marched thither; having been satisfied

to Fort Niagara.

with burning our sloops, they

left

Lake Ontario, where they can return

The Marquis de Vaudreuil

River Chouaguen.

At

pretty strong garrison of Colonial troops.

a

any moment by the

at

profited by the circumstance to send thither a

review with the Governor-General,

it

was, so to

speak, agreed upon to send thither some pickets of our battalions with Captain Pouchot, of the

regiment of Beam, who

who

assuredly

changed since

is

better qualified to defend that place than any Colonial Captain

done there;

At

last,

I

have given

at the

Roy, the Engineer,

my

and

there,

but that has

if

I

Fort

to place the ruins of

do not

know what

is to

be

opinion.

people are at work building xhabes' at St. John.

1756, in order,

lake,

le

order for the reception of a garrison this winter.

in

;

I left.

M. de Vaudreuil has sent Sieur Pont Frontenac

commanded

has superintended the works at Niagara and

I

have been proposing

circumstances should cause us to lose the advantage of the forts

we

it

since

possess

head of Lake Champlain, we may preserve, by means of a navy, possession of that at all events, may, in case of misfortune, give us one campaign more on

which,

that frontier.

The enemy

me

has manifested a desire to return here; the Marquis de Vaudreuil has treated

even better on

this

occasion than in the beginning of the campaign, for he had two

men dispatched with celerity to me, with whom would have endeavored to do good business. The season and the news by prisoners who have been brought in by a detachment, induce me to believe that the enemy is thinking of retiring. Meanwhile 1 am

thousand

effective

1

uncertain whether they will winter a corps of troops in their intrenchment at Fort George or

abandon

it

altogether, occupying only Fort Lydius as their head quarters.

four parties in

the field.

am

I

breaking up of this army, that cannot, however, remain the 15"" of

November; even that

is

a great deal.

orders respecting winter quarters, but on,

two

economise the King's

The

;

a

the

in

field,

this climate, after

make any change

Quebec; the remainder

last

what we have agreed that of Montreal where

in in

among

the farmers, to

I have made choice commanded there; he

garrison of the fort will be composed of pickets of our battalions.

to all,

La Reine, who even

has already

to the Indians.

belter condition, with extensive blindages, and have given

good conduct may

The

in

stores.

an officer of merit, exact, agreeable little

have actually

have not the Marquis de Vaudreuil's

the soldier distributed in the country

of Captain d'Hebecourt of the regiment of is

I

he do not

if

battalions [will be] in the district of

the harvest has been good

I

very attentive to their manoeuvres which will decide the

English,

I shall leave

him

to

him

his fort in

understand that his

procure him some favors from the King.

'tis

reported, have

made

LawrencBj [with] ten men of war and

their

appearance at the lower end of the River

thirty transports,

St.

and have established themselves at

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XV.

:

Gaspe, one hundred and twenty leagues from Quebec.

That establishment would cause the John, and increase the

We

my

are,

difficulties of

of those

fall

I

861

cannot guarantee this intelligence.

we have

at

Miramichy and the River

St.

receiving vessels from France.

Lord, expecting news from the Beautiful river; Brigadier-General Forbes was,

according to intelligence communicated to us by the English, within thirty-five miles of the 15"" September. opinion, that he will

who commands

it,

on

and

M. de Vaudreuil are of have a great many Indians; the Five Nations [who] are always assuring M. de Ligneris,

there,

us of their attachment, are receiving presents from the English.

Their hearts are with the

which the Marquis de Vaudreuil finds it difficult to subscribe. The King has given and expends a great deal for the Upper Indians; were everything distributed ihey would all be on our side; but how many things are to be stated on latter,

and their fears with us; a truth

to

this point

The King's

V Aigle, wh\ch was

ship

Quequampoix

lost on the rocks of

Quebec Such,

to

Lord,

moment.

the state of affiirs at this

is

an express with this to

have received only two

this year.

by the

profit

letters this

1

am 120

last ships

which

year from you,

This

letter will

be the

last

leagues from Quebec, whither I

my

between one conveying

sail

Lord

;

my thanks; the object is worthy of your protection. inform me that iM. de Cremille is employed to assist you

13"" ATsril,

to

the Ministry of War.

honor to write me, on

my

I

shall address

many

keeping up with you,

myself

of the details.

my

to

But

I tender

flatter

to

the details of

in

me

get

him

to

existing circumstances, to send an officer the Marine, with truth, on

all

points.

I

send M. de Bougainville and to induce him to

consent to the departure of M. Doreil, commissaire ordonnateur, on his private business. is to

the

myself that you will always approve

Lord, a direct correspondence.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil has been pleased, under of intelligence, who is able to inform the Minister of have been fortunate enough

Tlie other of the

him, agreeably to what you have done I

shall

sending

tenth.

me

to

all

I

am

and I a commission

the fourth

M. de Bougainville, of assistant Quarter-muster General {nyde Mareschol de Logis).

to you in return

of

bringing us guns, ammunition and clothing has been

[the crew] escaped on shore; a vessel has been sent from

take them on board.

my

have the honor of writing you

for

;

be hoped that both the one and the other will arrive, and

I

It

request you to attach credit

what they will state to you. M. de Bougainville proposes to return to us, for his zeal for knows no difficulties. M. Doreil is an able, disinterested Commissary, capable of He leaves a new Commissary, I beg you, my Lord, to use him well. labor, a man of detail.

to

the service

Sieur Bernier,

and

'tis

to

who

has arrived this year; thus, the service will not suffer by his departure,

be hoped that both, or at least one, will arrive in France, as they proceed thither in

different vessels. It

only remains for me,

The tone

of the soldier

my is

Lord, to mention the troops and their principal

good, notwithstanding some

little

want

officers to

of discipline,

inevitable in this climate, considering the example and separation in winter quarters. officers, especially

the Lieutenants, are at their wit's end

and no regard paid

to

my

representations.

Come,

by ray example, tone, words and money, which

my

how

to live, seeing

Lord, to our

finishes

an excellent second, in whose commendation

relief.

you.

which

is

The

no favors arrive, 1

encourage them

by being exhausted.

Chevalier

cannot write too much.

M. de Bourlamaque, much inconvenienced by his wound, runs the risk of being hors du combat for the next campaign. He is an officer who possesses detail, a desire to do well, much theory de Levis

is

I

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS,

862

experience will render him very effective, and I have great reason to be satisfied with these

two

Major-General^ Chevalier de Montreuil,

officers.

who

is

very estimable on account of his

courage, coolness, sentiments, manner of living, honest and honorable, would do well at the

head of a corps;

an engagement, but he would need more activity and detail for

brilliant in

employ him usefully, and request you, my Lord, to grant these some favors which may prove to them the exactness and truth of the reports I have the honor to make to you of them and of the distinguished manner they serve the King. M. de Pont le Roy and M. Desandroins are two Engineers ofgreat diligence their disinterested conduct is commendable, but has the appearance of being epigrammatic in this Colony. The officers of artillery sent from France have been very badly treated in return for his situation

;

nevertheless,

I

officers

;

I have had the honor to write to you in detail on the subject, and you anew in their favor. I again renew to you my entreaties to deal favorably body of troops, which, I dare say, has acquitted itself well and with glory, and

expatriating themselves.

now

to solicit

by a

little

which, for three years, resists very superior forces. I

make

what

I

you,

my

Lord, no prognostic on our situation and the next campaign.

have addressed you able to

Be

tell

in

to write

you.

assured,

my

Lord,

I

shall never neglect

which the King has honored me; if I

my

anything

for

the success of the commission with

health, with difficulty, resists fatigue

I

;

shall

be fortunate

can contribute to the preservation of a Colony which costs the State so much.

myself entirely thereto.

unbounded

refer to

1

you in my preceding letters (copies of which I quadruplicate), and to what Mess" de Bougainville and Doreil will be

have already had the honor

I

beg you

assure

to

his

Majesty thereof, and

to

I

devote

guarantee an

zeal for his service.

Continue to me,

my

Lord, your ancient goodness, and believe me, with boundless attachment

and most profound respect.

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Montcalm.

M.

de Vaudreiul to

M.

de Massiac. Montreal, SO"- October, 1758,

My

Lord,

You M"'

will be pleased to allow

me

the honor of renewing to you the letters I have written to

de Moras, rendering him an account of the zeal and services Chevalier de

constantly exhibited since his arrival in the Colony; he line

and of the Colony, the Militia and Indian Nations

him and a sincere desire I would have greatly

to fight

under

desired,

my

is ;

Levy has

generally loved by the troops of the

they have

all

the

same confidence

in

his orders.

Lord, to be in a position to confide some very important

mission to him, wherein he could exercise the zeal and experience I '

Brigade-Major.

— Kd,

know

he possesses, and of

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV.

863

which he has given proofs on occasions of the greatest delicacy. You will be able to learn besides, from himself, my Lord, what he deserves, which gives me reason to hope that you will have the goodness to prevail on his Majesty to grant him a commission of Major General The troops and the Colony in general, were flattering themselves with ( Marechal it Camp). his I

promotion

it for

I

to that

new grade

shall be infinitely flattered,

at the

my

commencement

of this year.

Lord, should the justice I render him induce you to procure

him.

my

am, with the most profound respect,

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient (

M.

Vaudrmil

de

to

M.

iSigned

servant,

Vaudreuil.

),

de Massiac. Montreal, 1 November, 1758.

My I

Lord,

have the honor to transmit to you the requisition furnished

the ammunition to be sent this year from France.

have called

for a report of

what we have

in

I

me by

have examined

it,

Chevalier Lemercier, of

my

Lord, with attention

the Colony, and have seen that

it

;

was impossible

make any retrenchment. 1 shall require that supply indispensably, to enable me to defend the Colony the King has confided to me, if attacked, as there is every appearance it will be. What is wanting in people can be made up by multiplying the fire of artillery and musketry,

to

and taking up good positions; but 'tis impossible to avoid the consumption of powder beg you to place in a proper light before his Majesty.

in

war;

this is a truth I

You

my

will likewise be able,

so

much

of

powder

of is

it

is

Lord, to observe to the King that there

consumed, both

equally a passion

for

among

is

no country where

among the Indians; burning think we gain thereby in the day of

hunting and distribution the Canadians, but

1

by the correctness of their aim in firing. Were it not for the ammunition furnished me successively by the Beautiful river, Chouagouin and Fort George, I should not have had enough battle,

The Company

either for attack or defence.

consume

forty thousand weight,

of the Indies, which used to import annually and

had no more powder.

The consumption may, even

in

time

of peace, be estimated at sixty-thousand weight. It is essential for

but even that

it

be

me

to represent to you,

made

in sufficient

desire to re-enter the river

;

my

Lord, not only the necessity of this shipment,

season to anticipate the English, in case they should

otherwise,

it

would be out of

my

power

to be able to

make

a

defence proportionate to that I propose, and which must be expected from a numerous artillery. I

should despair were that the case, and were

I

obliged by such a circumstance to surrender

the Colony to the English, being resolved to defend I

am

it to

the last extremity.

with the most profound respect.

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient (Signed),

servant.

Vaudreuil.

;

,

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

864

Statement of what

it is

indispensable to send from France,

the service of the Artillery of this Colony, 1

3,500

8s

by the

first ships, for

viz'.:

^

15,000

12s, ;''

Roundshot

(

6s,

J'^'J^^ 3,700

3s,

2,000

Is

6,000y

31,200

Carriages, or iron crapaud, for 18-inch mortars,

Same,

mortars of 9-inch G

for

lines,

.

'Comminges, of 11-inch

("

Shells,

8 lines, 9

8-inch

"

7-inch, for howitzers,

5 inch 10 lines,

Priming horns

for

cannon, taking care that they be large,

for Militia, containing 1 lb. of

Same,

400

powder,.

8,000

Cuirasses, or complete armour,

Grenadier muskets, « domino, iron

100 ring, furnished

with their bayonet,

0,000

Fowling pieces {ihullcs de clmsus), with their bayonets, Fowling pieces without bayonets, to arm the Indians,

6,000

2,000

Fosses grenades,

Same, 4 inches

Hand

in

1,000

diameter

4 OOO

,

grenades,

10,000

Matches, Brass

10,000

comminge mortars,

4 4

9-inch brass mortars, with cylindrical chambers,

Brass mortar, with

its

Clear and transparent

globe to test the powder, flints for

1

grenadier muskets,

30,000

Flints for fowling pieces,

Bullets of 20

@,22

600 000

to the lb.,

28 (2, 30 to the lb., Same, New campaign powder, Sheets of copper for cannon ladles Skins of parchment, for cartridges,

Reams Reams Tin

250,000 :

of cartouch paper,

500,000

60 20,000

500 200 30 600

of cartridge paper,

canisters, large size,

Assorted iron wire, Saltpeter,

2,000

Sulphur,

Petroleum,

250,000

2,000 in

graduated cases, well stopped, and packed in wooden cases in straw

marked on the top {Huile

de Petrolle)

150

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XV.

:

Turpentine, in similar vessels, and packed in straw with

liiie

865 150

precaution,

25

Canfre} in flax-seed

20 20

bound with four iron hoops, Barrels of linseed oil, with the same precaution, Coarse red, rubbed in oil Barrels of nut

German

oil,

1,000 8,000

steel

200

Spring steel

Lake Ontario and on

Iron twelve-pounders, to replace those on board the sloops on

24

Lake Champlain,

the xebecs on

(Signed),

Vaudreuil.

Montreal, 1" November, 1758.

Prices of Necessaries in Canada; \st November, 1758. [

Dipartement de

la Gnerre, Paris. ]

Wine, 700" the barrel. Brandy, 70" the velt of 4 quartsSpruce beer, 30 the barrel. Bread, 8» the pound, notwithstanding the abundance of the ^^

last harvest.

Beef, 20' the pound.

Veal, 25'.

Mutton, 25'. Fowls, 8 @. 10" the

pair.

Turkies, IS".

Pork, 40" the pound,^ and it did not contain a third of what Fire-wood, 30" the cord at Quebec; 40" at Montreal. Vegetables, no price

;

a cabbage, 20"

;

which weighs 38

ought.

a hundred of onions, 10 (^ 12", &c.

Beans, peas and kidney beans have totally failed minot,

it

;

the small quantity there brought 40" the

lbs.

Eggs, 50' a dozen. Milk, 20' the quart. Butter, 40

•

the

lb.

Loaf sugar, 8" the lb. Common brown sugar,

5".

@, 9" the cup. Dipped candles, S @, 10" the Candles, 40 @, 50'. Men's shoes, 20" the pair. Coffee, 8

Rappee

snuff,

15

(S^

'

Vol. X.

Qu ?

lb.

IS" the bottle of about f of a pound. Chanvre,

'

flax.

109

Sic.

Qu ? the

barrel.

— £b.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

866

Barber, 15" per month, without furnishing anything. Tailor, for malting a coat, without furnishing anything, 40".

Every

sort of ciothiiig

and linen goods, 300 and

To

almost always inflated.

is

per cent above the invoice price, which

3-50

give an idea: garters worth 8' in France, cost 3".

A horse, worth 150" in 1755, 500 and 600". Hay, 70 @, SO" the 100 bundles of 10 (|, 12 Oats, 8 and 10" the minot of 38

lb.

lb.

weight.

weight.

—

Carriage of a barrel of water from the river, 25^ @^ 30'. Note. None other is drank. sort, without wine or servant, 250 " per month ; with a servant

Board, of the most indifferent

and wine, 350 and 400".

M.

de

Vaudreuil

to

M.

de Massiac. Montreal, 1" November, 1758.

My

Lord,

You will havc Seen, by the letter I wrote to M. de Moras, that I was making dTy^' arrangements to afford the Marquis de Montcalm the satisfaction of consulting itself by the reduction of Frontenac. him ou the Dosition in which the Colony J found r J jjg came, in cousequence, to this town, and to enable you to judge of the result the different conferences I have had with him, I have the honor to address you herewith

Divers Memoirs of

and M.

the plans or defence througiiout all Ihe paria of the Colony,

of

copy of 1"

:

The Memoir

Ontario, wherein

transmitted to him, on his arrival, containing

I

my

object

was

to put a stop to the

my

plan respecting

Lake

consequences of the successes of the

English at Frontenac, and to prevent them absolutely restoring old Chouaguin.

The Memoir communicated

me by

the Marquis de Montcalm on Lake Ontario, wherein must be abandoned, unless the enemy be in a small Chouaguin; that it would be more essential to establish a post above our rapids; that even should the English take Niagara, his opinion would be not to change any part of 2°''

he

is

of opinion that

number

all

to

offensive plans

at

his Observations. 3rd

"j-j^g

Memoir which

given me, wherein lakes; that

if

I

I

transmitted to the Marquis de Montcalm in answer to that he had

observed

to

him that

circumstances should reduce

I

me

shall

to

never consent to the abandonment of the

make

a stand at the head of the rapids, such

would never be except on the last extremity ; that I was decided to reestablish our navy on Lake Ontario, and resume the superiority there that on the preservation of Lake Ontario depended that of Niagara and all our frontier posts; I was so settled in my opinion, my Lord, that the consequence of the bold proceeding I had recourse to, in dispatching forces successively to ;

Lake

Ontario, has been, that the English have not only not dared to remain at Chouaguin, but

even

to

keep the vessels they had there, which they have burnt.

I

have profited by these

forces to dispatch provisions to Niagara, and have ordered the reestablishment of our Marine at

La

Presentation.

The

necessary preparations will be

made during winter

to permit the

rebuilding of the stores at Frontenac, the repairing the walls (enceinte) to protect them against

a coup de main, so that next spring Lake Ontario will,

I

hope, be at least in as good a condition

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XV.

867

was before, and the Colony will have suffered no other loss than the money it will cost the King and the fatigue of the Colonists who have cooperated therein with the best grace, knowing the necessity of preserving that lake for the security of the Colony. 4"" A Memoir which the Marquis de Montcalm gave me at the same time respecting the course to be pursued at the moment on the subject of the Lake St. Sacrament frontier, wherein as

it

blowing up of Forts Carillon and Saint Frederic, in case abandon the position it occupies at Carillon, and afterwards This project is a consequence of that of Saint Frederic and fall back successively on St. John, the former, and the resolution was well nigh adopted to abandon Carillon and St. Frederic he appeared disposed

the

enemy should

to foresee the

force his

army

previous to the action of the occasion

by. some

officers

to

S'"",

had

it

made on

that

sentiments;

the

not been for the strong remonstrances

Colony who were acquainted with

of the

my

consequence would have been, that the English once masters of our waters, would have built they would have shut us up at a navy whereby we should be excluded from Lake Champlain ;

John, whence they would have been able to penetrate into our settlements, and, as a necessary consequence, the Indians would have decided in their favor, and that would be soon St.

followed by the loss of the Colony, whilst

now

the English have, of themselves, abandoned

will make no attempt, this winter, on overawe me next spring. Had M. de Montcalm consented to send out the detachments I had projected between Lydius and the camp at Lake George, I believe that, in the course of the summer, that army would have been considerably diminished and perhaps would have been forced rather to retire; but no matter what I could adduce, I

the head of the lake, which leads

me

to

hope that they

Carillon, and will not be able to

could not succeed therein.

Meanwhile,

I

had sent 2,000 Canadians and some Indians, at the

close of the campaign, on intelligence that the English

such intelligence was not founded

command done.

of

Yet

it

confided to M. de

it is

certain,

it

I

were

renew

to

their attack

Levy

or to

my

could have been on the passage at the beginning

was decamping from Fort George.

;

in case

detachment be formed and the brother, notwithstanding which, it was not

directed that a large

I

am

obliged to conceal

my

when

regret at such

the

army

an event,

through policy towards M. de Montcalm. I can attribute his refusal only to the fear that the Colony would distinguish itself, as he did not wish the event of the S"" of July to be attributed to any but the troops of the Line; nevertheless, the reputation of the Canadians has been long since established, a reputation which they have just recently maintained at Fort Duquesne.

The Memoir

I have transmitted to the Marquis de Montcalm in answer to his, concerning Lake St. Sacrament, whereby I observed to him that on our abandoning those two posts, the enemy would immediately construct a navy there that would soon be superior to ours, and even be enabled to throw all his strength into that quarter, whence it would follow that the fate of this Colony would depend only on one battle won or lost; that I was

S""

the frontier of

positive in this opinion and resolved on the preservation of our forts. 6"»

The Memoir

the Marquis de

Montcalm communicated

to

me

also

at the

same time,

containing his general reflections on the measures to be adopted for the defence of this Colony.

You will is drawn

perceive, sufficiently,

my

Lord, the fallacy of this Memoir; the passion with which

up, the desire of carping at the

government, the hankering

particularly, that of domineering over the Colonists. I have pretended not to these designs, and you will be able to form an idea of the moderation of my answer. 7'^

My answer

to the

Marquis de Montcalm on the general Observations.

it

more notice any of

after innovation,

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

868

my

Lord, by all those pieces, that if I had followed the Marquis de You Montcalm's opinions, the bounds of the Colony would be soon restricted, si nee on the one hand we should abandon Lake Ontario, and consequently all our Upper Country posts, in order to will perceive,

passage of our rapids

confine ourselves to contesting the

masters of Carillon and St. Frederic, would penetrate as

The

opposition

we

could offer their projects by keeping an

we

very feeble resource, since, should powerful

lose a

and on the other, the English, they liked into Lake Champlain.

army

Fort St. John, would be a

at

enemy would employ most even should we keep them there in check,

battle there, the

penetrate to Montreal, or at least,

efforts to

;

far as

they would send detachments daily which would penetrate into and lay waste our settlements.

Consequently,

my

Lord,

the true and most solid interest of the Colony, that I

for

'tis

ground on our frontiers inch by inch with the enemy, line wish only to preserve

essentially adhere to contesting the

whilst M. de Montcalm has their reputation

more

and return

made

France without having experienced

to

a single

check

;

they think

seriously of their private interests than of the safety of Canada.

beg you to be persuaded that

I

appear that the troops of the

it

post to

will only be at the last extremity that I shall cede to the

it

and then I shall have no other resource whenever I surrender any them, notwithstanding the excessive superiority of their forces. Though I have every

English the smallest

trifle,

thing to expect from the valor of the troops both of the Colony and of France, and from the

would be rashness not

Canadians' love of country, yet

it

beg you

shall

I

am

to assure his

Majesty

I

make

to

be apprehensive

for events,

but

I

use of every effort to elude them.

with most profound respect.

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant. (Signed), Vaudreuil.

M. de Vaudreuil's Plan respecting Lake Ontario, Marquis de Montcalm, 1758.

be communicated to the

to

On receiving intelligence that the English had seized Fort Frontenac on the 27"" August last, immediately detached M" Duplessis with a party of 1,500 Canadian soldiers or Indians to La Presentation to oppose the enemy, protect the Indian settlement and the rapids of the Catarakoui

I

river

;

I

have since ordered out 1,600 soldiers or Canadians from the government of Quebec and

Three Rivers, who are actually

When

motion and on the point of arriving

in

I learned that the sloops

were

in

possession of the English,

I

at

Montreal.

called for 30 bark canoes

immediate conveyance to Niagara of 500 men, gunners, soldiers and Canadians, with who would volunteer to join them, all under the orders of M' de Montigny, hoping as those canoes could be concealed in the woods, they would easily escape interference

for the

the Indians that,

on the part of the sloops, if they can reach Niagara. I dare make myself easy on that head. I have also sent to Quebec for 9 iron 12-pounders and 6 six-pounders I have at La Chine six small brass field pieces from Carillon ; I get one brass 9-inch mortar from Quebec, 2 of 8 and 2 of six, and M' Lemercier has required from Quebec or Carillon what is indispensable for ;

that artillery in case

The

first

I

employ

it

convoy that has gone

of the despatch with which

it

to

make an

attack or to defend myself.

off has carried

was

to

proceed;

with

all

it

only 40 days' provisions, on account

that will leave in future will carry with 6

PARIS DOCUMENTS men

6,000 weight,

same time. The wheat harvest being able

still

to

men from

rendezvous at Niagara,

draw thence

still

at least

have been decided by that time at the Beautiful river 3 or 400

men which might

at the

me

4,500, by adding thereto merely

the different battalions, which would give 400, and by giving a

might

I

men.vphich would give

1,-500

869 ammunition may arrive

and nothing remaining but the small grains, I vpould be

finished,

send up 1,000 @.

a picket of 50

XV.

:

order that the men, provisions and

in

;

I

500 men, inasmuch as everything will

should then have an

army

of 5 thousand

operate as follows

1" If the

English be not more numerous at Chouaguen than ours,

calculate on their being

I

harassed, and consequently that their works will not be greatly advanced to profit by the old fort effectually intrenching

it

to protect

against

it

sloops and reduce them to possess at this

Would

it

they have wished

;

taken up a position on the Fort Ontario side, will

we?

if

knows the ground, and the difficulty of being commanded if, on the contrary, they have

the Marquis de Montcalm

;

it

not be possible at least to destroy their the lake, the same as

moment only some bateaux on

not be proper, in such case, to attempt every possible means to drive the

English thence, and prevent them rebuilding old Choueguen

?

2iid

If the

would

it

English have a superior army in numbers, and their post was considered impregnable, not be preferable to have at the

Bay

of Niaouray a

camp of light troops and Indians, workmen and their convoys, in

for the forming continually of detachments both against their

order to retard them and oblige them to have strong escorts? 3rd

where men would be employed on an and ammunition against a cowp de the construction of sloops during the winter, and resuming there the naval superiority

To convey intrenched main, in

we

army

the remainder of the

camp

to Frontenac,

for the protection of our troops, provisions

possessed on that lake. 4th

Convoys of 200 bateaux would be formed each voyage, which would pass and repass along the north shore to provision Niagara and the Upper countries, and, in order that these convoys may arrive safe, 6 or 8 guns would be added to them, ready to be landed at a moment's notice, which would oblige the sloops to move off again, supposing they would want to bar the passage. 6"-

In case the

would

it

enemy had marched

to

Niagara and reduced

it

before

M. de Montigny's

arrival,

not be proper to proceed immediately to Choueguen, form an intrenchment there and

send thither as large a force as possible to cut off prevent them victualing Niagara; the course

is

all

communication on the English and

an extreme one, but

it

appears to

me

to

be

the only one under such circumstances.

Such,

in

general,

are

my

views,

reestablishment of old Choueguen reflections to

me;

'tis

idle for

me

;

to

and

I

think

I request the

of

means to oppose the to commuuicate his shall be under of making

using every

Marquis de Montcalm

impress upon him the necessity

I

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

870 many the

of the troops spend the winter in that quarter, and he will arrange, as he will think proper,

manner

which the troops of the Line

in

who

that the officers and soldiers

Colonial

making

officers,

will proceed thither, desiring, as

and active,

will go, be willing

in

much

as possible,

order thus to admit of the

the detachments that circumstances will require.

all

True Copy. Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

Memoir According in the

to the

respecting the

Lake Ontario

By M. de Montcalm.

district.

Marquis de Vaudreuil's Memoir, there are

Lake Ontario

district; 1,500 are

at present,

fifteen

hundred men

going up there from Quebec, and the

Marquis de

Vaudreuil mentions 1,000 others he could, in case of necessity, draw from the different

governments.

In regard to those on the Beautiful river, they ought not enter into any actual

project respecting

Lake Ontario.

who are going to be employed to finish the campaign in that quarter; from these, however, must be deducted the 500 men who have gone to Niagara with M'' de Montigny. Their business is to remain in that fort until the arrival of the troops destined to garrison it, and to be occupied there, in the meanwhile, either in coming or going for victualing that post, or at the different civil and military buildings Here, then, are 4,000 or at least 3,000 men

whom

which M' de Pouchot,

I

shall send thither

necessary for a long and vigorous defence

be calculated Either

will be possible to attack the

it

In the former case,

which

immediately

therefore,

collect

I shall

all

enemy

at

command them, would judge

Chouenguen,

M''

That post would become the head

send thither.

to

no more than 2,600 or 3,500 men must

;

or

fall,

it

will not.

de Pontleroy,

whom

1

shall

immediately

of that frontier, and the entrepot for every

Bay

military expedition in that quarter, whilst Frontenac or the

regarded as such

this

the above people in a post at the head of the river,

have selected, and determined by

shall

I

;

proceed to their employment.

I

;

of Niahoure can never be

the English can enter the River St. Lawrence, without those posts being

aware of the

fact, and besides, they cannot be sufficiently important to prevent their being without any danger, in the rear; in regard to the objection that is raised, that the sloops would not have sufficient water at such a post, it is null I shall build on the lakes better

left,

;

war than the

vessels for

sloops and drawing less water;

if

one large sloop

is

required for

transportation, that does not prevent the chebeks, and I can guarantee that they go as far as

La

Presentation.

The people

post once determined, a post of

now

in

the field and

who

are

war and not still

to

a fort,

I

shall

employ

go up there before the

the expedition against Choueguen, in constructing a good intrenched

defended by an army

who would

commence such most both

;

in

winter there

from the

IS"" of 7''" to the

men and

the time

;

10"" S""" there is

men

with that view

those

also,

Presentation a large quantity of tools of every description; the

enemy

Regulars

at

Choueguen be

to serve as a

time for

camp capable of being

building in the inside, stores, sheds and huts for lodging the troops ;

a work, supposing at the head of the

of the

in that quarter all the 15"" S""", the

possible,

it

base to that army,

I

I

time to effectually

who know how

shall

this

to

make

day dispatch

to

will add, that if the attack

will be necessary to bring

the

La on

from Carillon a corps of

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XV.

:

871

Let us pass to the case wherein it would not be possible this year to attack the enemy on Lake Ontario, and my advice would be not to think of it. 1"' The enemy will remain in force at Choueguen until winter; in eight days they will have constructed there, as at the head of Lake St. Sacrament an intrenchment impregnable to an assault of 5,000 men, of whatever description. 2""*

It will

be impossible, between this and the

preparations for attacking the

The advantage

l-S""

8'"'^ to

have completed the necessary

there in form, and so to speak, by siege.

two sloops; of having retarded their compared with the time lost by the men employed those operations; the immense consumption of all sorts which such a movement would

3"''*

of having even destroyed their

works by harassing them, in

enemy

occasion, and finally with

is

utterly null,

what we could

of that frontier or to place us

effect

between

this

and winter, either

for the

defence

a condition to attack early in the spring.

in

I shall, therefore, give up, absoluely, every offensive project at present, unless the scouts

[

have out continually towards Choueguen, scouts made with one canoe only by reliable

shall

and cool men, and which follow each other without any interruption, should

enemy have remained

that the

they will not be guilty I shall

at

Choueguen only few

in

number;

a blunder

is

I

shall

this:

1" I shall employ

them

head of the

in building at the

river,

a post

double object, both to protect that frontier and to serve as an entrepot no fort whatever will effect these objects; for a

who

me

of.

always collect the three, even the 4,000 men above the Rapids, and the use

put them to

war,

apprise

which assuredly

pretends that the best fort

man

of this country

proposes to sustain such a fort by an army

;

it

which would have a

for offensive

operations

cannot be conversant with the science of

is

capable of protecting a frontier, or

belongs to

IM'

who

de Pontleroy and to the people

of that department to furnish the details relative to the establishment of such a post. 2"**

send express to Quebec for Sieurs Levasseur and Pellegrin,

I shall

building and navigating on both seas, for

men

of science must be consulted.

I

shall ever maintain, that in

According

to their

opinion

[

shall

who understand

every department,

immediately determine

on the quality and quantity of the navy to be kept on the lakes, and whatever concerns the manner either of defending ourselves there, or attacking the enemy's vessels. 3'^

be

I

lost,

shall

and

have brought up from Quebec also, immediately, (for there is not a moment to must make up for short means and fewness of numbers, by an activity

officers

which multiplies them

word

in

some

sort) a portion of the carpenters,

workmen who

masons, laborers, lock-smiths,

employed in the towns only on matters of luxury, private enterprises, or on public works which appertain to peace, or will not serve for war except at a future time, and I shall employ all those men on the three frontiers of Quebec, La Presentation, St. John, in works of urgency and of actual necessity. 4"" I shall retain here and render an account thereof to the Court, several merchantmen, the crews and rigging of which would serve from this day on the lakes, and furnish me hands for

in a

all

the

are

the proposed works. 6'''

shall

At the post determined on above the Rapids, and in the meanwhile at La Presentation, I the collection of warlike stores and provisions, bateaux, bark canoes, tools, either

make

for an obstinate defence in that quarter, if attacked in the spring

;

I

wish the

and red hot shot.

first,

or for an attack

train of artillery to be such as to precipitate

on the enemy early

an attack by bombardment

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

872

I shall employ a portion of the 4,000

e""

men;

in supplying all those

there, or those

and

who

who

will remain, with

to the last extremity,

men

pass, a great

in

victualing Niagara for a garrison of 500

many

who

Indians, either those

will

go by

munitions of war, to defend themselves there a long time

supposing even that that

reduced to have

fort be

communication

its

with any other cutoff; and with goods in proportion to the presents to be made to the Nations. 2"'', T"" I shall observe that large convoys are prejudicial: 1"', because they move slowly;

because the defeat of such a convoy is absolutely ruinous to us I shall form small convoys, but such as will follow each other without delay, until the last of the supply, ;

8""

I

shall

command

place in

at the

head of the river an active, intelligent, disinterested

man, capable of prosecuting and accelerating works of urgency, and of reporting to me the movements of the enemy. 9"" Supposing even that the enemy take Niagara this fall, I shall alter none of the preceding observations, except to suppress what concerns the victualing of that post. Such are my ideas respecting Lake Ontario, according to the Memoir the Marquis de Vaudreuil has communicated to me. I annex to these ideas the present reflections on the other parts of this Colony.

True Copy. Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

M. de Vaudreuil's Observations on M. de Montcalm's Memoir on Lake Ontario. I

me the honor to when I shall be

thank the Marquis de Montcalm for the reflections he has done

communicate

me

to

;

I shall

make

use of them according to circumstances,

The Marquis

exactly informed of the enemy's position and movements.

de Montcalm

is

not

ignorant that superiority of numbers being on their side, I dare not promise myself any success except in surprising them by an attack in the inclement season.

As

for

reduce

the abandonment of the lakes,

me

to

shall

I

never adopt that step, and should circumstances

guard the head of the rapids and defend

case except in the last extremity,

I

passage, which will never be the

its

shall require for that only a

very small force, the major

part of which will be only Canadians and Indians.

I am, Sir, entirely decided to reestablish the navy on possible, the superiority

La

Presentation

;

we

possessed there.

It

Lake Ontario, and

would be too dangerous

Frontenac, or some other place convenient to

supposing that the English were fixed at Choueguen, this

communication of the lakes by the north these resolutions, I

am

;

there only can

about to prepare an instruction

is

we to

it,

to reacquire, if

to confine ourselves to

ought to be our entrepot;

the only

means

observe them

;

in

to preserve the

consequence of

M. de Pontleroy which

will

have

reference thereto.

The Marquis de Montcalm is too much of a military man not to admit that, no matter however well we may victual Niagara, were it reduced to the defence of its garrison alone, and should we abandon our lakes, neither it nor any of the other little posts could fail of being taken,

if

the English lay siege to them.

I have, as well as you. Sir, considered the necessity of confiding the I shall

have on Lake Ontario

to

an

officer

who combines

all

command

of the forces

the talents necessary for war, and

with that view, I ask of you Chevalier de Levy with only 400 troops of the

line.

I consent

PARIS DOCUMENTS equally to confer the

even

to

command

defend the works,

:

XV,

873

of Niagara on M' Pouchot, as he

is

qualified to complete

on the

fall

operations necessary to be executed this winter, according to the report Chevalier de will

make me.

It will afford

thereof afterwards.

under

Montreal, IS"-

7''",

me

sincere pleasure to give the iMarquis de

concur

in the

execution of

my

Levy

Montcalm communicatioa

was well convinced of the manner he personally, and

I

his orders, will

and

attacked.

if

I shall continue with great activity to victual that quarter, and shall decide this

all

the troops

plans.

1758.

True Copy. Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

Memoir on the course to be pursued at this moment Lake Saint Sacrament. By M. de Montcalm.

in regard to the Frontier of

of the greatest importance that the Marquis de Vaudreuil should determine the course adopted between this and winter, and this day give orders relative to the Lake Saint

It is

to be

Sacrament

frontier.

The enemy

can attack us yet at Carillon

abandon

there, they can force us to

;

no matter what intrenchment we have constructed

it.

1" Then, must Fort Carillon be abandoned to

back on

St.

its

own

strength and must the

army

fall

Frederic and successively on St. John?

2nd

Ought the garrison

to

3"*

Must we not from

this day, prepare

be

left there,

be either strong or weak

?

Forts Carillon and St. Frederic to be blown up in

succession, in case the enemy should force the army to abandon its position before Carillon, and afterwards that before St. Frederic, and thereby deprive the English of posts already built, in which they could winter, and of considerable Artillery ? 4"» Supposing the enemy will not attack us there, or attack us unsuccessfully, what garrison,

what

must winter

force

for the contingency,

at Carillon

when

it

and

St. Frederic

would be necessary

?

Must these two forts always be prepared them blown up during the next

to have

campaign? Precise orders from the Marquis de Vaudreuil on these points are necessary.

He

alone

is to

decide thereupon.

Copy. (

Signed

Vaudreuil.

),

M. de Vaudreuil's Answer

The Marquis Champlain, restrict

to

M. de Montcalm's Memoir on Carillon.

de Montcalm having asked

in order to

our defence

know whether

to the river

me

for a precise decision

near St. John, and whether

those posts mined in order to their being blown up,

reason to

flatter

myself with being always able

presume that the English Vol. X.

on the subject of Lake

Carillon and S' Frederic will be abandoned, so as to

will dare attack

110

it,

I

it

would not be proper to have to answer him, that having

have the honor

to keep 6

(2i

7 thousand

men

there,

I

do not

but even though such should be the case, that

:

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

874 post always appears to

we

me

the most advantageous, since

by building chebecks, even should

be beaten there, these would favor the retreat of our army,

That were these two

enemy, by taking possession of them, would to ours and enable him to throw all his forces into that quarter, whence 'twould follow that the fate of this Colony would depend only on one battle gained or lost; that indubitably, the Indian Nations, believing our defeat inevitable, would pounce from all points on the heart of the Colony and total ruin would be the result in a short time. That as to what regards the establishments the English will find 2""^

posts abandoned, the

immediately build a navy which would soon be superior

already prepared, they

may

trifling moment; for, having had superiority abandon them, they ought not to be afraid of our being able to the least intrenched camp, with stores, would be of equal advantage

be considered of

sufficiently great to oblige us to

go and attack them, as to them ; they would construct such a post in so short a time that

may be

this labor

counted

as nought.

For these reasons, Sir, I am resolved on the preservation of our forts, and I refer, besides, M" de Montcalm to fix the strength of those garrisons as well as to arrange with the

to the

who is to command the artillery there, what quantity of cannon and ammunition, of every description, shall remain there, after which, the M" de Montcalm will order the surplus to be sent back to St. John, where the whole will be deposited for repair during the winter. officer

Montreal, 12"' 7^", 1758.

True Copy. (

Signed ),

Vaudreuil.

General Reflections on the measures to be adopted for the Defence of this Colony. By M. de Montcalm.

Three principles are, above all, to be established 1"' It is no longer the time when a few scalps, or the burning a few houses or even an object.

is

Petty means, petty ideas, petty Councils about details are

any advantage

now

dangerous and waste material and time circumstances exact determined and decisive measures. The war is entirely changed in this part of the world according to the manner the English are attacking us nothing less is at stake than the utter and impending loss of the Colony or its salvation, that is to say, the postponement of its fall. It is with this view we must act; 'tis this truth which must be unceasingly before our eyes. ;

;

2""^

All private interests, every object of trade, ought to cease here

;

'tis

the trunk of the tree

whatever concerns the branches is of the greatest indifference. 3"''' Activity, scrupulous and well defined employment of men and time, can alone supply want of means and fewness ia numbers ; not a single instant must be lost. They are multiplied by being properly employed. Such are the principles ; let us pass to the measures to be adopted, that's attacked

and

to

;

be adopted

this very day.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil must

calculate with precision the forces actually existing in this

country, without reckoning on any reinforcement from France that laid

down,

this

is

the detail

;

;

should any come, well and good

;

eight battalions of troops of the Line, computed in the actual

return at 3,200 men.

The troops of the Marine, to judge of them by the number can be estimated at only 12 or 15,000 men.

who have made

this

campaign,

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. To

indispensable, I"

875

order a census of them to be

made

at the

Regarding the Militia, end of the fall, by reliable, disinterested and impartial officers, on the following plan 3 good, middling, bad and men absolutely necessary for planting and harvesting, on classes the supposition that, in case of urgency, the women of the country and the idle in the town it is

:

—

will be 2"''

employed

To To

men

distribute these 4,000

company

in the following

who

of the troops of the Line,

service as our soldiers

that of the soldiers, to

works.

not strictly necessary at these works,

all

make

the entire campaign, to the

of 4,000 at least, picked from the best men.

number 3"*

at those

order that

will

fifteen of

spirit

them

in

each

and perform the same

being well understood that the troops of the Marine will be continued of this incorporation is, that each company of the some excellent marksmen, some excellent canoemen emulation, the one of the other, the soldier and the

The advantage

be formed into battalions.

Line and Marine

manner: To put

imbibe the military

and into each company of the Marine a number of Militiamen equal to

;

it

will

have with

and some excellent workmen

and

it

in it

that, in

;

Canadian will operate on each other as a spur to act well, and will mutually teach one another things they know remedy the inconvenience of not having enough of officers in the Colony to ;

watch them and derive advantage from them. 'Tis not to be feared that these Militiamen will experience any bad treatment among the troops; 1" They live very well with our soldiers, whom they love 2"^ On the least complaint they would make either as to remarks or corvees, the Marquis de Montcalm would know effectually how to apply a remedy and prevent their recurrence. Besides, if the Marquis de Vaudreuil adopt this idea and make a regulation respecting it, which would be published and prevent every species of abuse, the incorporation would carry off about 3,000 Militia the 1,000 remaining would serve to be detached under the The Marquis orders of Militia officers dVlite, encouraged by the hope of honorable distinction. lead the Militia,

;

;

de Vaudreuil should make an ordinance which would subject the Militia to the same subordination

among

to their Militia officers as is established 4""

To adopt measures

to

prevent

all

the Regular troops.

the Militiamen

making

the

campaign

entirely naked,

but to provide for their having, like our soldiers, clothes to protect them from suffering through the campaign from cold and disease; to furnish

companies would ^e responsible

for

them even with awnings, in which case the those incorporated, and the Militia officers for those

not drafted. 5""

to

To pay

those Militiamen

determine what

it

who would make

the entire campaign

should be, and whether the King or the

;

'tis for

M"

Parishes

de Vaudreuil

should

defray

the expense. 6""

To

attach to each

company thus mixed,

a certain

number

of tools for which the officers

would be responsible. 7"' To regulate the number of men to be allowed to the contractor for his transports ; to prevent his taking the best of the entire Militia; to order that the same Canadians be employed throughout the campaign in that service and regularly receive one pay and one ration fixed by

the Governor-General and the Intendant. S""

The

census once

made

abovementioned, can be brought This,

Colony.

Upper

I

believe, I

is

nearly

all

show what number of men, exclusive of the 4,000 march in case of extremity.

will to

that regards the Militia, and the detail of the forces of this

shall add, to prevent the departure of too great a

posts, private interest alone can

the preservation of the Colony.

oppose

itself to all

number

of Canadians to the

those views which are necessary for

;;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

876

The Marquis de Vaudreuil whilst making arrangements for the construction of a navy on Lake Ontario, ought also establish one, this very day, at St. John, on Lake Champlain otherwise, I repeat, 'twill be impossible to maintain ourselves there.

number

time, have the greatest

He

ought, at the

possible of bateaux and bark canoes built and have

same them

collected at all the entrepots of the different frontiers.

That

Quebec deserves the greatest

of

Louisbourg taken, our navy attacking

Quebec may be

feeble,

which

will not

made

this

it is

;

the capital, the heart of the Colony.

and permits us besides only

be applicable except to the next campaign. very

fall for

hoped they

'Tis to be

attributed to the English.

this year; the season is getting late

to be

attention

almost crushed, the reasonable and decisive plan of will not

to sketch out

make

it

measures to-day

All the arrangements, then,

ought

putting into execution, immediately after the breaking up of the ice,

the plan of defence submitted last year to the Marquis de Vaudreuil.

'Tis necessary that the

redoubts, lines and batteries be traced and laid out in masonry before the frost begins; that

stockades, palisades and planks be

may

made and drawn

to the

Pontleroy can, after having settled and

laid

out the works to be executed at the head of the

immediately come down to Quebec to

river,

necessary this winter, to give

all

It also

prepare for his defence.

Militiaman can and must do,

to the

it

will

be

what every

may be

fixed

appears essential that the Marquis de Vaudreuil do forbid, in season, any Canadian

going fishing either at the lower part of the river or is

Besides,

the orders of detail which relate thereto, so that

man, from the Commandant out of Quebec and assigned.

it

ground so that the different works M'' de

be completed early next spring and allow liberty to attend to the other frontiers.

the gulf; under existing circumstances,

in

impossible for the interest of a few private persons to risk the safety even of these very

persons,

for,

should the Colony be

do useful service on the lakes and to the

The crews

lost, all is lost.

in the defence of

of

all

those fishing vessels will

Quebec, and the strong arms which belong

country are no longer to be employed to the gain of a few all seamen, whether Canadian must also be regarded for the interior of the Colony, without any of them ;

or settlers at Quebec,

being permitted to swerve therefrom. of merchantmen, and shall

employ

I

again repeat here, that

I

shall retain a certain

number

and urgent necessities of the Colony, not only the crews, but the rigging, and even hulls of those vessels the Court cannot fail to approve this resolution, whose object is to postpone the loss of a Colony which has cost so much to for the actual

;

France.

Besides, the indemnities to be paid to the owners of those vessels are of nought

compared with the advantages

The

to be derived from them.

course to be pursued towards the Indians of the Upper country, same importance as the preceding. I shall be of opinion that it would be proper to send them word immediately to come down early next year to Montreal, to get what they require, which will be given, instead of sold, to them to enjoin on the officers of the posts to come at the opening of the navigation and to bring with them all the hired men at those posts, who are excellent in war, and the greatest number of Indians they can prevail on.

is

article respecting the

of the

;

I do not mention the Beautiful river; nothing can be done

longer exists; whether

it

now for it. Fort Duquesne no we are yet masters of it, the winter, when the plan of special

has been attacked or taken, whether

determination respecting that frontier must be adopted this operations for the campaign of 1759, will be agreed on.

Such are the 'tis

for

him,

reflections

who

has

I

have considered

it

my

duty to present to the

M"

de Vaudreuil

been a long time acquainted with this county which

is

confided

PARIS DOCUMENTS to his care, to

judge of their

advantageous.

and

solidity,

to

:

XV.

put in execution

877

what he

will believe possible

and

can be answerable to him for the zeal with which the troops of the Line,

I

their officers and General will

apply themselves to the defence of this Colony and execute

his intentions.

True Copy.

Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

M. de Vaudreuil's Remarks on the General Memoir. have read with attention the Memoir which the Marquis de Montcalm has communicated me on the general views of the entire defence of the Colony. It assuredly abounds with

I

to

principles

all

views of the State do

excellent, but the constitution of the Colony, the political

me

not permit

decide on the major part of the propositions.

to

I

must, previously, weigh

same with some which are to be considered company with the Intendant. Therefore, I postpone making use of them to another time. am not the less grateful for the motives from which the Marquis de Montcalm acts.

their advantages and consequences;

it is

the

all

in I

Montreal, 12 September, 1758.

True Copy. Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

M.

de Vaudreuil

M.

to

de Mas-siac. Montreal,

My

Z^^

November, 1758.

Lord,

I have the honor to send you, hereunto annexed,

1"

The

letter

General Abercromby has written

copy

me on

of,

the 1" of last month.

2°''

That which he wrote the same day

3"^

The letter I have written that General on the 19"" of last month. The parole of Captain Woodward of the English Militia. The exchange I have concluded with Colonel Schuyler, who was

4"'

5""

to

Colonel Schuyler.

Abercromby, of a number of English prisoners equal

to

that

authorised by General which composed the garrison

of Frontenac. 6""

to

The

letter I

have written

him the departure

You

will

to

General Abercromby on the 1" of this month, announcing

M' Schuyler and the prisoners. perceive, my Lord, by both my letters to that General, that of

I

do not conceal from

him thatthe conduct he himself observesin regard

to the capitulation of

Fort George, would have

exacted nothing less than the non-execution on

my

Frontenac.

fact decide,

my

English doubly the privilege to

much

part, of that of

I

did not in

Lord, on observing this capitulation, except with the view of placing the in the

wrong on the subject

make good our

just

you which are so

of that of Fort George, and to preserve to

subjects

of complaint in this

regard,

the better founded, as the English themselves cannot but congratulate themselves on the

manner

I

have constantly acted towards those

whom

the fortune of

war has placed

in

my hands.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

878 I

have moreover, determined on observing that capitulation

of every pretext of refusing those terms

am

granting each other; I

me

between them and It is

to

good

faith

which ought

to

war may be waged

be inseparable from

Woodward

permit Captain

I

it.

of the English Militia to return

those prisoners cannot lead to any consequence for this Colony.

paid particular attention to retaining those

who

the information those

rest,

deprive the English

in order to

be under the necessity of mutually

on parole, until General Abercromby reclaims Sieur Corriveau.

The sending back the

shall possibly

intent on obviating everything, so that the

in that

likewise with that view,

New England,

we

who

appeared to

me

have

depart will be able to afford General Abercromby, will

These prisoners

serve only to convince him of the stout defence he will always meet from me.

know Old England. The

I

the most suspicious; as for

have been obliged

moreover, do not

anything more than those

to

scarcity of provisions induces

I

me

to

send back

to get rid of

packets

in

them, the rather as

otherwise the old garrison of Frontenac could not resume any military duties. I flatter I

my

myself,

have taken, and

which have I

am

led

Lord, that you will please obtain the King's approbation for the course

to lay in the

me

to

adopt

most favorable

light before his

Majesty the powerful motives

it.

with most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

Vaudreuil.

Translation of the letter written by General Abercromby to the

Marquis de

Vaudreuil.

Camp

at

Lake George, 1" October, 1758.

Sir.

As

it is

at present over a

troops of the King,

my

month

since the capture of Fort Frontenac by a detachment of the

master, under the orders of Colonel Broadstreet,

I

was

hopes that

in

in

conformity to the capitulation granted to that garrison and in consequence of the engagements of M. Noyan, Colonel Schuyler would have been sent ere this hither in his place, accompanied by a like number of his Majesty's subjects actually prisoners in Canada, equal in number and grade to those permitted by that capitulation to return to Montreal. The kind treatment and civilities

your people have experienced on the part of Colonel Broadstreet and the troops under in part of different Indian Nations, had afforded me greater that I cannot imagine any reason for the delay in the execution

command, though composed reason to hope, and I must avow his

of that convention, unless

it

be that your Excellency has not been informed of

that, I

have the honor to send you herewith copy of the capitulation, with a

clerks,

workman,

To

it.

obviate

names and ranks of the persons who thereby have become prisoners of war. By that list your Excellency will see, that they consist, exclusive of M. Noyan, of 4 otRcers, 2 sergeants, 3 corporals and 41 soldiers of the line, not including two who are dead, and 51 commissaries'

Which number

laborers,

of the King,

sailors

my

equal grade with those above, capitulation. letter to

Wherefore

I

I

and farmers,

master's subjects,

10 if

women and

of the

list

13 children

;

in

all

125.

found actually in your possession and of

expect to see here without delay, pursuant to the aforesaid

demand your Excellency's permission

to

accompany

this

by a

Colonel Schuyler enclosing duplicates of the above copies, with authority to arrange

PARIS DOCUMENTS that exchange agreeably to

Noyan, whereunto

XV.

87

the conditions stipulated between Colonel Broadstreet and

M.

:

doubt not your Excellency's consent. I have the honor to be, with all possible regard, &c.,

I

(

Signed

J" Abercromby.

),

Translation of the letter written by General Abercromby to Colonel Schuyler.

Camp

at

Lake George,

P' October, 1758.

Sir,

Having honored your Majesty's troops

friend Colonel Broadstreet with the

command

lay siege to Fort Frontenac, and he succeeding in that expedition,

to

again the satisfaction of seeing your captivity drawing to a close.

and

civility the

under

of a detachment of his

From

I

have

the good treatment

French garrison had received from Colonel Broadstreet and the detachment

his orders,

though composed of different Indian Nations (an evident proof that the latter

can be restrained), I did, indeed, expect that you would have been ere this sent back with a

number

like

Could

I

of his Majesty's subjects of the like grade to those

have suspected the contrary, you

to his Excellency the

may

Marquis de Vaudreuil

who were taken at Frontenac. made earlier application

be assured I would have

for the execution of the enclosed capitulation.

I

write him on this subject by this opportunity, requesting him to cause the capitulation to be fulfilled

without delay, adding similar

rank of such as were permitted

lists to

those you will receive herewith of the names and

informing him, at the same time, that I him the exchange as stipulated between Colonel do by these presents, and in consequence you will

to return to Montreal,

should give you authority to arrange with Broadstreet and M. de Noyan, which

I

endeavor, without ceasing, to obtain your liberty as well as that of the other prisoners above

mentioned; but should any unforeseen

difficulty occur,

you

will

demand

of the Marquis de

Vaudreuil your personal exchange, and you will be the bearer of the reasons which the above exchange, although, at the same time, I do not anticipate any.

may

prevent

Meanwhile,

I

add

nothing ought to detain you any longer in a captivity so injurious to your

to this clause that

private affairs, and flatter myself that M. de Vaudreuil, on this just and equitable request, will

me occasion to rejoice that I had it in my power to convince him that my protestations humanity and Christianity are sincere; and, so long as I am not forced to act otherwise by

afford

of

different treatment of the King's subjects,

adhere continually

shall

pretend ignorance,

By my

I

I

whom

from England,

manner

the fortune of

war may

as

am, with truth and regard,

you

I

will

may

read

am empowered

may

not

it.

to grant

your petition, which

I

shall

judge proper,

&c., (

To

place in his hands, I

these sentiments with exactitude; and, in order that he

leave this open so that he

last letters

willingly do in such

to

Signed )

,

Abercromby.

Colonel Schuyler.

Copy

of the letter written by the Marquis de Vaudreuil to General Abercromby. lO'"

October, 1759.

Sir,

I this

have received the month.

1

your Excellency has done me the honor to write me on the 1" of should have had that of answering it sooner, did I not wish to procure for letter

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

880 Colonel Schuyler,

What I

who

is at

Quebec, the pleasure of receiving the

moment

he has written me, has this

have been.

Sir, exactly

am

letter

you sent me

for

him.

hands.

informed of the capitulation granted by Colonel Broadstreet to M.

de Noyan and the garrison of Frontenac.

and

my

reached

I

have been penetrated with his generous proceeding,

convinced that that Colonel has been particularly affected by the cruelty of the

fully

number of Indians he had with him, who cut the head off a wounded Frenchman and same time. T attribute this proceeding only to the ferocity of the Indians,

small

scalped him at the

whom

impossible to restrain on those occasions.

it is

You could have given two interpretations, Sir, to my silence. The first, that I expected your Excellency would have previously executed of Fort George, in order to induce

The

to

But, Sir, it

it

master, had given

me

I

deferred the execution of that capitulation

his orders in that regard, since

your Excellency has

your duty to act otherwise by that of Fort George. so far from making use of the right of reprisal, which I have legitimately acquired,

not considered

I leave

my

King,

the capitulation

execute that of Frontenac.

second, that you might at least presume that

until the

made

me

it

to the

Court of France

to

maintain

it

before that of Great Britain.

a point to execute the capitulation of Frontenac in

your Excellency new proofs that

satisfaction in affording

it

its

will

I

have therefore

original state, feeling a sincere

never be

my

fault, if

we do not

always carry on the war against each other with feelings of humanity and generosity, which

we ought of

war

mutually exercise towards the subjects of the Kings, our masters,

whom

the fortune

places in our hands.

am

you have authorized Colonel Schuyler to negotiate an exchange of I have written to him that he was at liberty to go to town he will be present himself at Quebec. When the list of the prisoners will for that purpose be begun to be made out, and when I shall have the pleasure of seeing it, I shall terminate everything with him, and accelerate, as much as in me lies, his departure and that of the I

pleased, Sir, that

the prisoners in question with me. ;

prisoners exchanged for ours.

This

letter has, then,

sentiments with which

I

no other object now than have the honor to be, &c.

to

renew

to

your Excellency the respectful (Signed),

Translation of the Parol of Captain

Whereas,

it

Vaddreuil.

Woodward.

has pleased the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor-General of Canada, to permit

me to return to England' to attend to my private affairs and on my word of honor that I shall remain there as long as his Excellency, General Abercromby, will permit Captain Corrivaux to remain in Canada I, the undersigned. Captain in the New Jersey regiment, do hereby pledge to his Excellency, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, my word of honor that I will return to Montreal as soon as Captain ;

Corrivaux shall be recalled by his Excellency, General Abercromby.

Executed

in duplicate at

Quebec,

24"? October, 1758. (

True Copy. (Signed),

Vaudeeuil.

Signed

),

Samuel Woodward.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV.

881

List of English Prisoners delivered to Colonel Schuyler. Names.

Sergeant.

Louis Semeth,

Soldier.

Daniel Philippe,

Condilion.

Names.

Condilion.

Thomas Emerson,

Hugh McDogul,

Soldier,

do

William Gregorie,

do

Joste Petry,

Magistrate.

Militiaman.

do

John Joste

Joseph Semelon,

do

Peter Religuen,'

do

George Bayde,

do

Georges Woods,

do

Carpenter Browford,

do

George Raik, Arten Rayde, John Lake John Parent, John Benham, John St. Claire, Jeremie Anmen,

do do

Lous Crus, Ebenizer Sansworth Samuel Scribner, William Sanswood,

do

do

Amos

Henry

Neles,

do

Petry,

do

do do

do

Piter Bachoren,

do

Phillippe Aimer, ^

do

do

John Kery

do

do

Phillippe Halmey,^

do

do

do do

Fattel Ingel

do

John Hall, Jacob Lorge

Mikael Rordchester,

do

Thoby

Thomas Brown,

do

Mikael Tipaul

Benjamin Robertds,

do

John Wiver,

do

Caret Sanades,

do

Thomas

do

Rodjer,

do

Stall,

do

Michel,

David Night,

do

George Timoth,='

do

Joseph Galik,

do

Phillipe Arter,^

do

John

Aste,

do

Armant Wader,*

do

Rufus Chapman,

do

Frederick Will

do

Thomas

do

John

do

do

Nicolas Staver,

do

Stoful

els,

do

Joseph Tetman,

do

Jeremi Jacques,

do

Ezekel Hontz,

do

Isaac Parker,

Malcom

do

John Raif brd,

do do do

John

Arforder,

Sils,

Arman

Guilas,

Stuard,

Stille,..

do

William Fangram,

do

Epham

Joseph Vickerre,

do

Fastery Drick,

do

Phillippe Pilo,

do

John Ahesener,

do

Matthiew Severence James Wedge,

do

Frederick Grille,

do

do

Georges

do

Claland,

Slix,

Women. Delias Petry,

Slelaine Aimer,'

Marie Petry, I

Supposed, by Colonel N.

Demuth.

Vol. X.

S.

Marie Wiver.

Benton, to be Belinger.

'Herter

Ill

=Helraer. Benton's History of 76irf,

p. 173.

Herkimer County, '

p. 147.

Vedder.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

882

Children.

AnnePetry,

Marguerite Wiver,

Marie Petry,

Marie Arter,^

John Joste Petry,

William How,

Elizabeth Petry,

Josia

Margueritte Belligneur.i

Peter

How, How.

Lisette Lorge,

Names

of

women and

children not included in the exchange,

whom

the Marquis de Vaudreuil

has been so good as to send back. Margueritte Almer,^

Marie Anglich,

Margueritte Rill,

Anne

Broterton,

Tster Hix,

Ledia

Flelius,*

Marie Word,

Marguerite McQueen,

Sara Branon,

Anne Armer,

Delia Timothy,

Eleonard Rodjer,

Suyanne Carik, Isabel Andrews,

Margueritte Moon,

Anne

Elisabet Arter,^

Sarah Piters.

List of the English prisoners

who

are going up from

Quebec

askener,

to Montreal, to contribute to

the exchange intended by the General. Officers.

Schuyler, Colonel of the

Mess'''

New

Jersey Regiment.

Martin, Captain-Lieutenant of Artillery.

Polman,* Captain-Major Thorne,* Ensign

Webb, Ensign

in

in the

New England

Regiment.

Blakeneys Regiment.

in

the

New

Jersey Regiment.

Stakes, Surgeon Major in said Regiment. Soldiers.

Samuel Dolavert, Alex Johnson, John Robertson,

Moses Chappy, William Hamilton, Matthieu Colens, Jacob Dogwendos, John Ware.

Daniel Frayer,

Nathanel Robert, Sailors.

John Thompson, John Stonevert,

Michael Carr,

Adam

Malson,

Thomas

William Warton,

Brarate.

Solomon Rotner. 'See note

1,

supra, p. 881.

'

Herter.

'

Helmer.

*or Helius.

Putnam.

'

Sic.

"

Oliver Shoroe entered the 27th as Ensign, 2'7th April, 1766

the regiment until 1771.

Army

Lists.

— Ed.

;

was promoted

to a Lieutenancy in 1761,

and continued with

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. Laborers and others.

Matlhiew Symonton, Thomas, Negro servant of M'

Patrick Pourner,

Daniel Locl^,

Schuyler, (not a prisoner.)

Jonathan Lock,

Abel Yston,

A child whose

Thomas

Silvanis Johnson.

Slynes,

name

is

not

known.

go

in

Women. Miss

How,

Elizabeth Scott, Elizabeth Williams.

Miss Hamilton,

Barberry Bruler, widow. List of English

who

are absent at M'' Schuyler's departure and of those

who

their

stead, viz:

Names

of the English absent.

Names

of the English delivered to M. Schuyler, in their stead.

James Drich,

George Tite, John Binyem, John Brown, John Bams, Denis Mauholand, Theodore Crabb,

Frederick Grill,

Corneiius Felk.

John Tarin, John Benham, Fallet Ingrel,

Jaret Sanade,

William Gregorie,

I,

the undersigned Peter Schuyler, ancient Colonel of the regiment of Militia of

New

Jersey,

authorized by his Excellency General Abercromby, Commander-in-Chief for his Britannic

New

me by his letter of the first of October Marquis de Vaudreuil, Commandant of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Governor and Lieutenanl-General for his Most Christian Majesty in all New France, the territories and countries of Louisiana, for an exchange Majesty

in all

England, in virtue of the power given

of the current year, to negotiate with his Excellency the

of the officers, hired men, soldiers. Militia of the garrison of Frontenac and the women and who happened to be there, viz, M. de Noyan, King's Lieutenant of Three Rivers,

children

me, Peter Schuyler, and other officers, hired men, soldiers. women and children who were at Frontenac, for a like number of English of the same rank, Do certify that the Marquis de Vaudreuil has granted to me my exchange for M. S- de Noyan and that of the officers, soldiers, Militia, women and children mentioned in the preceding list, for officers, soldiers and Militia of the said garrison of Frontenac, and for the women and children who happened to be found there, in virtue of which I declare, always by the authority

commanding

said

post

for

Militiamen of the garrison and the

soldiers. Militiamen I hold from General Abercromby, that M. de Noyan, the officers, servants, and other persons included in the capitulation granted on the twenty-seventh of August of the current year, by Colonel Broadstreet to M. de Noyan, and the said garrison of Frontenac, are purely and fully discharged from their parole of honor, and are entirely free to serve each in that, moreover, the Marquis de Vaudreuil delivered to me, his department, civil and military ;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

884

women and children named number necessary to complete said exchange. Done in triplicate, at Montreal, the first Q*", 1758. of his

own

in the

free will, the

above

over and above the

list,

Peter Schuyler.

Vaudreuil.

(Signed),

Copy. (Signed),

Vaudreuil.

^

M. Daine [

Marshal de Belle

to

D6partement de

Isle.

la Guerre, Paris.]

Quebec,

My

S"*

November, 1758.

Lord,

We

learn

by a courier sent from the Beautiful river

to the

Marquis de Vaudreuil that the

vanguard of the English, consisting of 1,000 of their best troops, destined for the attack on Fort Duquesne, would have surprised M. de Lignery, Commandant of that fort, that detachment having taken an unexpected route, had not some Englishmen in advance made a noise and set fire to

The

a barn at a distance.

men, who were

having heard that noise and seen the

sentries,

asleep, crying out "

Aux Armes!"

In a

fire,

moment they proceeded

awoke our against the

enemy and pressed them so vigorously, that the action lasted scarcely half an hour. The English, having taken to their heels, were pursued during 2 hours; the English lost at least 6 (a 700 men; 400 have remained on the field of battle; the remainder have been massacred by our Indians, who have brought ofi" a great many scalps, which makes it to be presumed that very few escaped.

We 8

have taken prisoners, the Commandant, 4

men and It

officers

and 100

soldiers,

and have

lost

only

8 wounded, who, fortunately, have not fallen into their hands.

had been previously asserted that the English had brought

to

Gaspe some frame houses

ready to be put up, and were forming a considerable settlement there, but we have learned since from farmers who have arrived here in a boat on the 26"" of last month, that they have

abandoned that project, and contented themselves with burning all the settlements and ships which were found there, and taking the settlers and fishermen prisoners. I have had the honor to inform you in one of my preceding letters, that the English had taken possession of the Island of St. John. I was in error, 'twas the River St. John I heard mentioned.

We

They have

built a fort there

;

this fact is asseverated.

Duquesne that the English to the number of 6000 and were within three leagues of it as it is not probable

learn by another courier from Fort

were again marching against that the

Commandant can

burn that

fort,

that fort

resist

;

such a superior force, I believe

it

is

the part of prudence to

and abandon

are the orders which

These, 'tis said, it if he wishes to avoid falling into their hands. M. de Vaudreuil has given in case that Commandant will not be able to

act otherwise. M"'

Wolf, a partizan

officer,

who had been deputed

M. Albertcromby, reports that the

latter

to

go and carry the General's

letters to

has retired with his troops into winter quarters after

PARIS DOCUMENTS having had

XV.

:

885

the barges conveyed to fort Lydius and the intrenchments

all

thrown down.

'Tis

also reported that they have scuttled their sloops and galleys.

An to

English deserter

come from Old

to

who

New

has been examined, deposes that 13 thousand Regulars are

still

England, and that the English, disappointed at the small success

they have had up to the present time, were determined to organize a considerable fleet to

come and besiege Quebec

opening of the next spring, the rather as the reduction of

at the

Forts St. Frederic and Carillon could not lead to any result. I

my

believe,

Lord, that this deserter has wished

to

put us on a wrong scent and thereby

induce us to divide our forces, for I cannot persuade myself that that nation, soever

it

may

be, dare* attempt such

the River St. Lawrence, as

I

an adventure, on account of the

how

enterprising

risk to be incurred in

have already had the honor to remark to you.

The same deserter adds, that the Boston newspapers announce three battles won by the King of Prussia over the Austrian army, but that finding himself afterwards in a position by no means favorable to his plans, he had requested a suspension of hostilities, which had been granted him, but as the Austrian General perceived that the Prince had no other object than to take up a better position, he had attacked the Prussian army with so

much

he had routed them with considerable

lost his

in that great battle

We

learn the

and that the King of Prussia had

loss,

vigor that

baggage

and had been also wounded.

moment

I finish this

despatch, that only 800

George, and 1,500 at Lydius, and that the

five battalions

men

are remaining at old Fort

of Regulars,

who were

there, have

gone into winter quarters in the neighborhood of Orange, Corlac, New-York and Virginia, towards the Beautiful river. I

am, with the most profound respect.

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant,

Daine.

M.

de Vaudreuil

to

M.

de

Masdac. Montreal,

Indecency or the S'/officerTof

led

him

to

caTin"8o^'8™5''l """

otYerTffl.ws'"

i^g^hframe officers

who

fi"

w-

h»Te't'o

all.nd to nil the corvSes, who fight welt and do Jot tulk uke the others.

my

I

i'" 9"",

1758.

Lord,

The

ihJ

which

K.asons

hnve

My

indecent observations

made by

havc had the largest share, as " '

^i"^^ ^^6" assuiwed

new

I

the officers of the Regular troops, of which

force; they have even

^^^ conversation of the soldiers and Canadians

The head

of those troops

to

inform M. de Moras, have

become

so public that they form

have had the honor

who

are returning from the army.

particularly mentioned as the real author of

is

all this

ignore it, in the sole view ° of the good of the King's aware of the consequences which t n service, being n already J might attend an open rupture with the Marquis de Montcalm. I must, however,

talk,

but I pass the matter bv -^

'-'

in silence,

I

even

affect to

^

Lord, have the honor of reporting to you that the too great liberty his

officers

have

experienced in giving an unrestrained course to their expressions, has insensibly led them to attempt to compel M. Bigot and me making a solid arrangement to procure for them the

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

886

You will perceive, my Lord, by the which the Marquis de Montcalm wrote me on the 8"" of last month, on this subject, when sending me copy of that he was writing to M. Bigot, that he warns me that it is of the greatest importance that I induce that Intendant to concur in his comfort of living

the Colony at a small expense.

in

annexed copy of the

letter

representations, in order to put a stop to the consequences of the fermentation in the minds

may

of the military, which

Nothing

be

fatal.

less than such a letter

was necessary

to unveil the secret sentiments of the

part of the officers of the troops of the Line.

Marquis de Montcalm.

me

I

I

expressed

would assuredly have not stopped

As

me

the thing appeared to

wrote to M. Bigot

gentlemen, and

we have

to

there, did circumstances not lead

extremely serious, according to the Marquis de Montcalm's

induce him to

make

a proper arrangement to tranquilize those

conjointly enacted that thirty sous a day should be

Captain, and twenty sous each subaltern.

This expedient has

among

better than to have meat, bread and wine distributed

would have I

major

displeasure thereof to the

to pacify.

letter, I

it

my

have,

my

much

those officers at a low rate, since

the special allowances

officers of the

officers of the troops of the Line, far

new

attend only to giving

I

allowed each

every respect, been

cost at least three Rvrcs each a day.

Lord, the satisfaction of seeing that the

even half the pay of the

equal,

in

proofs of their zeal.

made

But

to the regular troops,

wrote to M. Bigot that

it

appeared

to

Colony,

who have

not

from following their example,

as the King's intentions are, that except

the pay of the officers generally should be

me

proper he should grant the

officers of

the Colony the same indemnity that he has allowed those of the troops of the Line, until you,

my

That Intendant has admitted the justice of my it would have excited a jealousy which would be so much the more justified, as our officers are obliged to attend to all the corvees, and as under the title of Light Infantry, they are always destined to occupy Lord, should have ordered otherwise.

proposition, and indeed

were our

officers

excluded from that indemnity,

the most exposed posts. I

cannot,

my

Lord, but refer to what M. Bigot has the honor of writing you on this subject

to you the representations we have the honor to jointly submit to you on the subject of the compensation which it is just to allow also to the staff of the Colony. Such, my Lord, is an expense that can only be attributed to the fermentation the Marquis de Montcalm has apprehended on the part of the officers of the Regular troops, and which he

and individually renew

has announced to I

am

me

positively.

with the most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient (

Copy

of the letter written by the Marquis

Signed

),

servant,

Vaudreuil.

de Montcalm to the Marquis de

Vaudreuil. Carillon, S"- October, 1758. Sir,

General, Chief, Protector of the troops, they rely on you and flatter themselves that you will be pleased to take their sad condition into consideration. The copy of the letter I write

PARIS DOCUMENTS to the Intendant will advise

you

tliat

it is

make you acquainted with the fermentation

will

XV.

:

887

impossible for our officers to live on their pay, and of their minds, the consequences of poverty

and discouragement. I

am

with respect. Sir,

Yours, &c., (

Signed

),

Montcalm,

True Copy. (Signed),

Vaudreuil.

M.

de Vaudreuil

to

M.

de Massiac. Montreal,

My M.

4""

November, 1758.

Lord,

de

Montcalm

su5d" ihe''"en-myi wh i.y desires, sent a M. de Montcalm

of which

we have even

especially

as

discovered

;

the others would have easily been discovered,

who had

an English deserter,

pointed them

out,

more

had voluntarily joined a

command

of it by M. de Montcalm who accompanied him were unwilling to remain until all a circumstance that would not have occurred, had the caclies would have been discovered that officer been agreeable to them, and qualified to make them listen to reason.

detachment sent

to that effect

;

to an officer of the Line, the Indians

I

but as he had assigned the

—

am, with most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Vaudrepij,.

M.

de Bougainville to [

Dipartement de

M.

la Guerre,

de CremiUe.

Parb.

Quebec,

S""

November, 1758.

Sir,

When I left Carillon on the 21" October, the date of the Marquis de Montcalm's last despatches, he gave it in charge to me, as the distance of places did not permit him to write

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

888 you again,

A

you an account of the

to give

moment when

sail.

detachment of SOO English, partly Regulars, partly

Pennsylvania to within a quarter

fort,

of a league

guiding themselves by the

But these

each of their huts.

Militia,

fires

fires

the latter are accustomed to have in front of

being extinguished, and the night already advanced

the English arrived, they could not execute that attack

;

whom

when

they posted themselves at day-break

on a mountain near Fort Duquesne, and made arrangements an Engineer

had marched very secretly from

of Fort du Quesne, by a very different road

Their object was to attack, in the night, the Indians encamped

from General Braddock's.

around the

up to even the

latest occurrences in tiiis Colony,

the vessels would be ready to set

to facilitate its reconnoissance

by

they had brought along.

But the troops of the Marine and the Canadians, to the number of 7 @. 800 men, did not They pounced suddenly and from all sides on the English, and immediately threw them into disorder. Our Indians, who at first had crossed the river, fearing to be

give them time.

surprised, then returned and also charged right vigorously.

500 of them have been

part of the enemy.

men have been

our side, only eight

This fortunate adventure has,

killed or

It

killed or taken,

was nothing but

and almost

all

a route on the

the officers.

On

wounded.

however, produced an unfortunate and inevitable effect;

the Indians, immediately on returning from the

pursuit,

bave quitted Fort Duquesne, to

was found impossible to retain them yet, the Beautiful river is almost certain of being attacked. An army of 6 (S^ 7,000 men, under the orders of BrigadierGeneral Forbes,' was to assemble at the close of September to move and operate against Fort Duquesne on the IS"" (^ 20"> October. The English have even built a chain of posts from Pennsylvania to the Ohio, to secure their communication and to spend the winter in them, in case their expedition should not succeed. Its success is more than probable. Colonel Broadstreet's detachment, which had taken Frontenac and our sloops, retired, after return to their villages.

having burnt the

latter, to

;

old Fort Bull,

The detachment we had

solidly. to

It

reoccupy Frontenac,

fell

back,

manceuvre, made by chance,

advanced

to restore

is

and occupied themselves only with reconstructing it command of Mess" Duplessis and Contrecoeur,

sent under the

we know

said

to

not

why, on La Presentation.

have been from choice,

Nevertheless, this

the season

for

was

too far

Frontenac, and the sloops destined to secure us the position of Lake Ontario,

be built at La Presentation more easily and at less expense. The Onondagas have sent an embassy to Montreal. The ambassadors,

will

according to the

custom of the Five Nations of which the Onondagas are members, have said a great deal, but nothing clear and positive, and have gone back loaded with presents and after drinking a great deal.

The

English

there, retired

fleet

which had been

Gasp6 and would,

to take

and quitted the river

in the

it

was

feared,

an attempt on Miramichy. Indian families.

Father Germain, Missionary of Acadia,

'Tis supposed that he will settle at

General Abercromby abandoned, in the

Lake

St.

Sacrament.

He

make

a settlement

middle of October, after having destroyed the

settlements, carried off the inhabitants, also burned the Mission of

last

Mount Louis, and made

is

to return here with

SO

Mount Louis.

days of October, his position

at the

head of

retired after having burnt the intrenchments, barracks and storehouses

which he had had erected

there, and '

which

led

ijs

Supra, VII., 344, note.

tq believe that his design

— Ep,

was

either to

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. attack us again at the end of the

fall,

889

or to occupy that position with considerable force

all

winter; on the report of a deserter and the probability of that report, that the English had buried artillery, shells and shot, and sunk, in the lake, some barges and a sloop of twelve guns

they had there, the Marquis de Montcalm has sent a strong detachment with some people of experience, to examine into that circumstance, and obtain any portion possible of those articles.

This retreat of the enemy has battalions of left

La Reine and

Carillon on

the 1",

us at liberty to go into

The

winter quarters also.

November; Languedoc, which winters in the district of Three Royal Rousillon, Guyenne and Beam, destined for the

3'^

and

S""*

Rivers, marched on the 4""; district of

left

Berry, which are to be quartered in the government of Quebec, have

La

Sarre,

Montreal, were to clear out in succession, and the Marquis de Montcalm to compose

the rear guard of the entire army.

As Mess" de Vaudreuil and Montcalm report to you my voyage and the motives which have me to make it, I confine myself to requesting you. Sir, that a voyage so difficult,

determined

taken by order of

my

I

am, with respect,

and

superiors,

be any impediment or obstacle

my

to

for the

good of the service, may not,

in case

I

be taken,

promotion.

Sir,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant,

De

M. Remarks by

LoMniere

de

This Account

to

Marshal de Belle Me.

[D4partement de

the Minister.

Bougainville.

la Gaerre, Paris. ]

Letter of M. de Loebiniere to the Minister, with an Account

is filled

of what occurred, &c., in Canada up to May, 1758.

with falsehoods and deception.

My This Colonial be

known

This

officer

says he has the honor to to the

Mar-

shal and to be in corres-

Lord, is

the Narrative I announced to

days.

On my

at Carillon, I

some

is

He has made

only just been

Captain, even to

the prejudice of some Seniors, and position

to

is

not in a

expect,

the Cross of

yet,

as St.

Louis.

He

has officiated as

Engineer

;

Vol. X.

lacks

not

arrival

Having no time

pondencewith him since years.

you

in

my

first letter, inter-

rupted by a journey unexpected by me, which kept

all

all

find the only

have endeavored at least

I

have deferred

As

to

than of the

complete

for the

until next year, to give

that has occurred in

it.

You

the affair of Catarakoui, which at

unattended by any consequence

;

will

first

me away 8""

it,

Nobody knows,

We

as yet,

fort

what

sail,

of July

and

this

remainder of the

you the

have learned,

my

particulars

Lord, that

appeared very grave, has been

it is

even easy

to see that that

expedition has been planned only in order to offer the Court of

something to satisfy it; a something of moment.

fifteen

remaining ships ready to

to enter into a fuller detail

that I have been able to do.

country, of

I

London

taken always appears, in the distance, to think

about our fort on the Ohio.

have routed a van-guard of 1,000 men, few of 112

whom

have

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

890 theory, but has

who

or

little

He

no practice.

is

it

army and save

built Fort Carillon, 'tis

worth

nothing, cost the

King

which, though

Cross of

St.

I

my

Lord, that you will be pleased to have the

Louis conferred on me.

merited by the zeal

My

he receives an

;

come of be

had

1

have

Most obedient servant, Loebiniere. Quebec,

;

ll"" 9^", 175S.

any-

scarcely

He

thing in 1755.

dare say,

Your most humble and

7 @. 8 thousand

relative of the

I

occasions,

respect,

in-

livres since three years

all

Lord,

impoverish himself by it

'Tis a favor,

have evinced on

I

am, with the most profound

perfect.

disgust the remainder of the

will

us.

I flatter myself,

much and is not yet He did not

so

This check, possibly,

escaped.

is

a

Marquis

de Vaudreuil.

Condition of

New

France in the month of May, 1758, and Extract of what has

occurred there of the most interest during that year. Provisions which had been very scarce the whole of the

summer

was expected from the harvest though of the

The

finest

that year, but

when

resolution to distribute the troops in the country

his family.

still

appearance, reduced almost to nothing by the quantity of rain

speak, found himself obliged to feed one soldier,

and

the grain

of 1757, the major part of

more in the fall. Much was ready to be cut, 'twas found,

those ordered in France having been taken, the scarcity increased

Notwithstanding that precaution,

it

it

received.

was adopted, and every farmer,

when he had

so to

not wherewithal to feed himself

could scarcely be expected to get through

all the economy possible. Fortunately, our Frontiers were provided for That of Carillon found itself the best provisioned of ail, in consequence of the supplies taken from the English at Fort William Henry and deposited there, but not in sufficient quantity to maintain more than its garrison, with some small posts acting as scouts, not ordinarily adapted to stop those of the enemy. Meanwhile, in the month of March, one of our parties, numbering about two hundred, and some Canadians and Indians, under the orders of Sieur de La Durantaye, a Cadet in the Marine troops, defeated one of a hundred and eighty men, of whom only enough escaped to carry the news of that defeat to the enemy. Although the English, in all their marches towards Carillon, did not shew themselves except in strength, we were sufficiently fortunate not to receive any real check the whole was limited

the winter, even with that time.

;

to the loss of from twelve to fifteen

oxen or cows, three or four prisoners or

scalps,

destroying on us a kiln of charcoal, which was too far from the fort to be saved.

not approach either our

field hospitals or

any huts remaining standing

in the last

and to

They

dare

camp.

In the spring they multiplied their parties, doubtless in order to ascertain by the prisoners

they might take, our precise situation, which they already

knew was very melancholy. They who were crossing the river to

succeeded, in the fore part of May, with seventeen carpenters,

square some timber required

swamp, opposite were

killed,

for the fort

;

in the act of landing at the point near the

the redoubt, these carpenters received a volley of musketry

and the remainder taken and carried

to

Fort Edward.

by which

little

five

PARIS DOCUMENTS Hoping

to receive supplies

early from France, the

:

XV.

891

siege of that fort

had been planned

in the winter on the supposition, always, tiiat this frontier would be bare of troops in consequence of the expedition which 'twas thought the enemy would send, at the opening of A strong detachment was, also to be sent to the Five Nations; the spring, against Louisbourg.

was demanded by their chiefs, who assured that they would determine the Cantons to march against the English: the whole being combined so as to make a diversion in the Meanwhile, the month of May was advancing without any news having direction of Corlar. been as yet received from Europe. It was no longer possible for tlie farmer to feed the soldier, having no more wheat, pease or oats, and many had, throughout the entire winter, no other All Quebec had been reduced to two ounces of bread resource than the last mentioned grain. this

per head; it was four ounces since the summer; notwithstanding that reduction, the supply was not adequate for more than fifteen days. The reserve, in this town, was hardly sufficient to convey two or three battalions as far as Chambly. Between the S"" and the IS"", the workmen belonging to the Engineer and Artillery

departments, were dispatched to Carillon with some gunners, the whole amounting to about

two hundred and

thirty

men; even

the departure of these,

however imperative, was on the

eve of being stopped for want of provisions.

The government of Montreal was no better victualed. The depots at Chambly and St, John did not contain wherewith to supply the portion of the troops for Carillon, and there were no resources elsewhere. The North East (wind) had continued now several days, without anything making its appearance, whereby the Marquis de Vaudreuil was obliged to give orders to Sieurs de Loebiniere and Fiedmont, to Carrillon, to discharge the

who conducted

the

workmen and gunners

former from Chambly, with the exception only of such as were

indispensable and some twenty gunners, so that the whole amounted at most to thirty-five

men; provisions had even to be brought from Carillon, to facilitate the passage of the troops Chambly and St. John, and the regiment of La Reine was on the eve of arriving at the former fort. Orders were issued to retain this regiment at Chambly, as the scarcity was daily increasing, and the soldier could, at that fort, be reduced, without danger, to half a pound of bread, whilst, were he sent on to Carillon, he would have indispensably consumed a pound to

and a

half.

23"^ of May, when the Marquis de Vaudreuil had intelligence that eight French ships and one prize, freighted with seven thousand and some odd barrels of flour, had anchored before Quebec on the night of the IQ"". The Northeaster continued with such violence for eight days that it was impossible to get anything

Such was the condition of the Colony on the

At length, the wind having moderated, some Chambly and Montreal to be thence distributed to the

out of these vessels the whole of that time. sloops were loaded with provisions for different points of operation.

Between the end of May and the lO"" of June, the two battalions of Berry and that of Languedoc were sent from Quebec. The soldiers of the Marine, scattered throughout the three districts, were recalled from the rural settlements. The Chambly Portage was indifferently furnished, both because the centre portion of the farmers were still detained on their farms by their sowing, and in consequence of the bad roads occasioned by the incessant rains. Besides, the scarcity of horses at the Basin, where the mortality among the stock had been considerable during the winter, was the cause of the sections having been more backward than ordinary.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

892

Mess" de Fiedmond and Loebiniere repaired, the last days of May, to Carillon, the latter sick and continuing to grow worse, in consequence of the great occupations and little assistance he had. Each attended to his respective department. The regiment of La Reine arrived there shortly aftarwards the 2ad battalion of Berry both were employed in the beginning of June ;

;

carrying earth from the covert-way and the glacis.

The counterscarps were begun at the fronts of attack; afterwards we set about completing two halfmoons in masonry. The number of workmen was increased from one moment

the

by the arrival of fresh battalions. A knowledge of the movements which the English were making, to come and attack Carillon, was begun to be acquired from prisoners, one of whom was an Ensign of Regulars, taken at the mouth of the River of the Falls, within half a gun shot of the fort, forming part of a scout of twenty men, who were approaching to reconnoitre and take some prisoners, if there was a chance. We learned that 6,-500 Regulars were already at Fort Edward that they were shortly to come to the lake; that the Provincials were to follow, and that the Portage would be passed with great celerity; that they had for the expedition a number of barges and bateaux, some of which had already arrived at Fort Edward. M. de Bourlamaque, Colonel of Infantry, who was at Carillon since some days, dispatched Sieur Wolf, a partisan officer, by the lake, with an escort of 50 men, to convey the Marquis de Vaudreuil's answers to the letters which General Abercromby had written to him respecting Mess" Schuler and Martin, who having gone in the winter to New England to attend to their Sieur Wolf was affairs, were to have returned to Carillon at the opening of the spring. recommended to return immediately after delivering the letters of which he was the bearer, to the other,

l?" June.

;

having an eye to the number of English he should see both on the lake and

at Fort Edward. M. de Bourlamaque not seeing M. Wolf make his appearance, entertained no longer any doubt of the movements on the part of the English which had been announced to him, and in order to obtain a more particular knowledge thereof, he detached Sieur de Langy-Fontenelle, an officer of the troops of the Marine, an excellent Ranger, at the head of 60 and some Indians, with orders to proceed to the head of the Lake, to examine carefully the number of troops and the movements that might be thereabouts. 25" Sieur de Langy arrived in the evening from his scout with one officer and sixteen

23'*

soldiers of

Major Rogers' troop, who were taken within two leagues of the head of the Lake where they had landed on perceiving our Indians ; he reported that the English

in an island

that there were great movements in were to set out for our carrying-place in fourteen days, to the number of twenty-five thousand men, of whom 6,500 and more were Regulars; that seven thousand of that army under the orders of Lord How, were to come by land,

were

at the

Lake

that quarter.

in great

The

numbers with bateaux, and

prisoners reported that the English

the remainder by water in 1,500 barges or bateaux, each carrying 25 to 30 men; that Colonel Johnson was expected with five hundred Indians of the Five Nations ; that Sieur Wolf and his escort were detained at Fort Edward until the arrival of Mess" Schuler and Martin. They likewise reported that they had recently learned the landing of the English on the S"* to the 10"" of this month near Louisbourg, where they had lost as much as one regiment ; that 5 and 6 regiments of Regulars were marching with some Provincial levies of Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania against the French forts on the Ohio. From them also we learned the

capture of two of our largest ships in the Mediterranean.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV.

893

Dispatched a courier to the Marquis de Vaudreuil to communicate this intelligence to him. On the first knowledge he had of it, he forthwith dispatched the troops as fast as the arrival of provisions at the depots permitted. All those of the Line were at Carillon in the end of

June

400 men had been selected from the

;

entire,

to

whom

were

to be adjoined

400 of the

troops of the Marine under the orders of Chev. de Levis and M. de Rigaud, (or the purpose of

marching with the Five Nations towards Corlar. Their destination was altered when it was ascertained that the enemy was directing his entire force against Carillon, and they were sent thither, and people contented themselves with sending M. de Longueuil, Governor of Three

make

Rivers, with 200 Canadians or Indians, to the Five Nations, to

governments were commanded

sure of their promise.

where the June with Mess" de Pontleroy and Desandrouins, Engineers, who might be necessary there in consequence of the weakness of Sieur de Loebiniere's lungs which had, through the fatigue of his detail that he has borne alone, having no one with him capable of sharing it, increased to such a degree as to confine him from time to time to his bed; he continued, notwithstanding, after their arrival, to occupy himself All the Militia of the three

Marquis de Montcalm arrived on

to repair to Carillon,

the 29"" of

equally with the care of the fortification of the place.

The Marquis de Montcalm had

orders to take possession of the Falls and Carrying place

with the force he had at his disposal, on the representation of several, he was undecided "whether he ought not to

fall

back on

St.

enemy appeared

Frederic in case the

in

as great

he consulted Sieur Loebiniere, who was occupied for the last three campaigns in fortifying Carillon, who, he knew, possessed a perfect knowledge of both the one and the other posts; who made him appreciate the risks he would entail on

number

On

as announced.

this subject

the Colony by abandoning Carillon

enemy fall

getting beyond

back,

if forced

;

;

the advantage of the latter place

as long as 'twas occupied

it

the water communication

disputed, inch by inch,

by means

fourth of a gun-shot from the

of abatis fort,

;

;

;

the impossibility of the

the facility which existed at

all

times to

the ease with which the ground could be

wherewith he proposed

the approach to which

to

crown a height within one-

thereby became impossible

some detached works proper for facilitating the retreat in case we were obliged to abandon the height, and necessary to maintain ourselves, any time, masters of the campaign; finally, the facility of constructing an intrenchment in form on the right, flanked by the fire of the fort and the halfmoons, which was in like manner proposed by him, following up this abatis by

this

intrenchment occupying reciprocally a position so as to

fortification of the place.

days with the number of if it

were desirable

to

fire

obliquely in front of the

All this work, being capable of being constructed in eight or ten

men he

had, whilst that necessary to cover the army and St. Frederic,

occupy the heights, required more than two months' labor, the ground

being stony and the woods affording no resource, as they were at a great distance. Besides, the enemy, being masters of the open country, and having no one to dispute the ground with and to interrupt

him

in his works,

River of the Falls to that of

St.

might run a road near the Frederic, the considerable

hill

to

convey

his barges

from the

number of which would interrupt

all

communication on Lake Champlain, whereby our force would be exposed to have its retreat cut off, and obliged, for want of reinforcements and provisions, to surrender prisoners of war. Carillon being occupied, nothing of that sort

was

to

be feared.

All these reasons determined the

Marquis de Montcalm

to

The

was determined, and the principal points of the M. de Bourlamaque, who bad been to reconnoitre the ground between

maintain that place in preference, and to defend

plan of the intrenchment on the right

abati on the

bill fixed.

it

to the last.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

894 the Falls and the rested on

River

St.

hill,

had proposed one somewhat farther into the wood, the

left

of

which

the River of the Falls, and the right on a small marsh which discharges into the

Frederic; hut, after having examined the whole, that of the

woods,

for the soldier in the

believe that he

is

who

turned, which

doubtful than on the

hill,

cannot see what

is

may make him

miss.

where he perceived

was preferred

hill

passing behind him,

is

often

to

it,

tempted

to

became more by which he was protected

Besides, retreat then

at a glance, the fort

and the whole of the intervening ground, as well as everything that might pass on that side; he was then to think only of not permitting his being broken through, as he has nothing to

mind but

his

The Marquis de Montcalm decided

front.

occupy the posts of

also on going to

the Portage and Falls, being disposed not to engage in a general action there, but to have

recourse to stratagem wherever

it

could be used to advantage.

M. Lemercier, Commandant of the

who

artillery in this country,

confirmed the Marquis de Montcalm in

all

arrived the following day,

these arrangements.

r' July. Sent forward seven battalions and some troops of the Marine and Canadians; the battalions of

La Reine, Guyenne and Beam, with

the troops of the Marine and Canadians, to

take the post at the Carrying place, under the orders of M. Bourlamaque

;

those of

La

Sarre,

R. Rousillon, Languedoc and the 1" Berry to occupy the heights of the Falls; the

S"** Berry throw itself into it in case of necessity. S""* The Marquis de Montcalm went to the Falls, and employed the battalion encamped there in making palisades and fascines which were conveyed daily to Carillon.

remained encamped behind Carillon, ready

4""

Sieur de

Langy was

sent to

to

when near

the lake on a scout;

the islands he perceived

odd barges full of men; he found means by a bold manceuvre, to extricate his bateaux, and in the evening came to the Portage without any loss. A detachment of 250 @^ 300 volunteers was formed to go to the Bald Mountain, where, 'twas supposed, the enemy might land.

some

thity

This detachment repaired thither and discovered, between

5""

five

and six o'clock

in the

evening, more than 150 barges, which without doubt were the vanguard of the enemy's army.

On

^L de Montcalm being advised thereof, he gave orders to be on the alert and prepared to

At the same hour. Mess" de Lanaudiere, de St. Ours, de Gaspe, Denys, Desmeloise and de Morville, officers of the Marine, arrived at Carillon with a detachment of about 150

march.

men

of their corps and Canadians

;

they received orders to proceed forward next day on

receiving provisions. In the night of the

5""

@.

6"",

some shots were

fired at the Portage, doubtless

by the enemy's

scouts on our advanced posts. 6"" Between five and six o'clock in the morning the lake was observed covered with barges and bateaux a picket was sent to the camp which M. de Contrecoeur occupied in 1756, called The Burnt camp, whither the enemy directed their descent, who appeared to approach timidly, ;

file of 50 men, came full sweep and landed there the picket returned M. de Bourlamaque, who received orders to fall back on the Falls, resisted the

but having noticed only a at the instant. first

;

two, in order to afford time to save the baggage, so as to give his retreat an appearance of

less precipitancy, but

it

being reported to him, whilst with the third, that M. de Montcalm was

himself about retiring to the

fort,

he had

fire set to

some

tents

which were remaining and

to the

baggage which could not be removed, and proceeded to the Falls about eleven o'clock in the morning. M. de Montcalm, who had transferred to the fort in the morning everything rest of the

that might embarrass the battalions at the Falls,

on

it

as soon as the

enemy should make

made arrangements

their appearance.

for his

army

to fall

back

PARIS DOCUMENTS On

arriving at Carillon, the

enemy being

of Berry, to construct the projected abati, the

adjoined to them, and on that day

it

workmen

enemy's

at the

one-third to the

hill.

Bald Mountain, seeing themselves

thought of retreating; approached the Carrying place, and

rear,

crossing the stream, to join M. de Bourlamaque, supposed

charged by a number of the enemy and put to crossed were either killed or taken.

Beam

de Trepezec of the

895

of the artillery and engineers were

was advanced more than

Meanwhile, the detachment of volunteers stationed in the

XV.

:

landed, axes were distributed to the 2nd battalion

Five

flight in

officers of the

still

to

in

the act of

be at the same post, were

an instant.

Almost

Line were among the

all

latter.

who had Captain

regiment, received a shot in the body, of which he died the next

Langy received a very slight wound in the leg whilst recrossing the river, and came in during the night. More than one third of the detachment returned The enemy in this affair lost Lord Howe, who commanded that van-guard. at the same time. M. de Montcalm commenced his retreat at 4 o'clock, keeping the troops of the Marine and Canadians in the rear and on the flanks of his army, which deployed at 6 o'clock within sight

morning

of the

Sieur de

in the fort.

fort.

In the night, I judged the enemy, by their

fires, to

be, as yet, no farther than

the Carrying place. T""

The

upon piece distributed

abati ;

on the height was continued

the whole

among

was

;

on the summit a parapet was constructed of piece

finished about three o'clock in the afternoon.

Axes were afterwards

the Canadians to protect themselves by a similar abatis at the bottom, on

and included between it and the river which leads to St. Frederic. The five hundred toises wide, was confided to the troops of the Marine and Canadians. As they were only four hundred and some men, they could do but very little throughout the day; in the evening, judging by the fires, the enemy had passed the Falls, and

the right of the

hill

bottom, which was about

had reached within 7.(3^ 800 toises of our intrenchments. During the night, some shots were at our advanced guards; care was taken to keep some detachments outside the intrenchment, and fires were lighted in advance. The eight pickets of the troops of the Line destined for Corlar, arrived between S @^ 9 o'clock at night. fired

S"' Chevalier de Levis landed at day-break and went to reconnoitre his post at the The troops of the Marine and Canadians continued their abatis but as there were several alarms, they were, as yet, only within 100 toises, or thereabouts, of the height at 11 o'clock in the forenoon. About that hour, a number of Indians appeared on the right bank

intrenchment.

of the River of the Falls and opposite our intrenchments.

;

After having uttered their cry, they

musketry which scarcely reached two-thirds of the river; we had always some detachments abroad to discover the enemy's movements. As we knew by our scouts that the enemy was seemingly advancing to attack, the firing of a cannon was agreed on as a signal, to take position. The 2°'' battalion of Berry, under M. de Trecesson's orders, was to remain at the fort to defend it; his grenadier company, with the seven other battalions, amounting in all to two thousand eight or nine hundred men, fired a volley of

guarded the intrenchment of the height, the extent of which was about 300 and some toises. On the left, 25 toises from the height, was the River of the Falls; between the one and the other was a very steep slope taken in flank by a branch of the intrenchment, and in front by a detachment of volunteers and the cannon of the fort, seven pieces of which bear on that point.

In front of the height

is a gorge with a double slope, very steep, of which the slope near the intrenchment was protected by a strong abati that crowned the whole on the right, the bottom, of which I have spoken, was confided to the care of the troops of the Marine and Canadians.'and ;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

896

may

hill to the river. This troop had its left resting on the height and its wood, near the opening where the abatis then terminated; between the height

be 500 toises from the

right on a point of

and that troop was a pretty steep slope, with a double

Chevalier de Levis was on the right face. M. de Bourlamaque, on the left the Marquis de Montcalm in the centre, ready to proceed wherever his presence would be necessary M. de Raymond,- captain of the Marine of the

hill

;

;

;

detachment, was the

bottom at the head of

and of the Canadians on the right of Half an hour after noon, 50 or 60 bateaux wore seen through the opening ; these,

hill.

in the

his troop

we were in urgent want, since at that moment About one o'clock our detachments, and grenadiers, who were in advance, perceived the enemy approaching in three columns; they all came in without any confusion. The signal was given, and the following instant the three columns were seen defiling; the 1" towards the left of the intrenchment, the S""" against the centre; the S"^, which appeared the strongest, marching towards the bottom, on the right of the hillSome Indians and Rangers went in front as guides. Chevalier de Levis, who perceived them, ordered M. de Raymond's troop to make a sortie by the wood, in order to outflank that column. It succeeded so perfectly that its fire, with that of La Reine and Beam, on the right of the hill, obliged that column to throw itself on the right, in order to avoid a double flank fire. Then all found themselves together on the hill which opened and received the most brisk At the same instant twenty-eight or thirty barges were discovered deploying in fire imaginable. Seven or eight cannon shot fired from the the cove, above the mouth of the River of the Falls. fort, which sunk two, made the rest to disappear, and they did not show themselves any more. Meanwhile the enemy kept constantly, until half-past three o'clock, at the foot of the abatis, vainly trying to clear it, but seeing that was not possible, ascended the hill and reentered the wood in order to rally. 'Twas then only a simple discharge of musketry from one side to the other until ^ past 4 o'clock, when they again showed themselves, but did not engage in such numbers as the first time then the fire became hotter than ever, and so continued until half-past 5 o'clock, at which time the enemy commenced to retreat. From the commencement of the attack, munitions of war continued to be carried from the fort to the intrenchment, by means of horses but as there was not a sufficient number of them, a portion of the 2""* battalion of Berry, with the workmen were employed in this transportation which caused us the loss of 30 to 40 men, the enemy continually firing at them. When the retreat of the enemy commenced, the fire slackened by degrees and entirely 'twas known, were

we had

full

of provisions, of which

only eight days' supply.

;

;

ceased at i past 7 o'clock in the evening. We learned by 38 @^ 40 prisoners taken during the action in the sortie on the right, that the enemy had brought to the attack from 13 to 14,000

men

of the elite of their troops

;

that the General's design

was

to return

of 20,400 men, next morning, should he not succeed that day.

consequence. left of

the

On

with the entire army

Preparations were

made

in

the following night four cannon were placed on the right, and six on the

hill.

At day-break a very thick smoke was discerned 'twas correctly concluded that the enemy were burning the barges that had been transferred and were retiring. Nevertheless 'twas not ascertained until the evening, about six o'clock, on the return of Sieur Wolf and his escort, who announced to us that in the course of that very night, more than SO barges full 9""

of the

;

wounded had been

completed at daylight.

sent to the head of the Lake, and that the entire embarkation

was

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XV.

897

wounded, among whom Ours, during the day of the are a great many officers, several of whom are of consequence. of this number, 43 6'' and of the S"", amounts to 4 or 500 men, killed, wounded or missing M. de Bourlamaque are officers, 15 of whom are dead, five are prisoners and 23 are wounded.

The

loss of the

enemy

is

estimated at over 4,000 men,

or

i^illed

;

is

among

the last

A journey

in the shoulder.

;

have just made renders

I

in the title of this narrative,

and

I

impossible for

it

me

have had considerable

to

accomplish

difficulty in

all

that

is

promised

completing the day of

the S'S as the ship sails in an instant.

Brigadier Prevost

Copy

to

Captain de Becourt.

of the letter from M. Prevost,

commandant at Fort Edward, written on commanding at Fort Carillon.

the 13"' November, 1753, to M. de Becourt, Sir,

have received from Lieutenant Wolf, on the 10"" of this month, your letter of the same and on the following day Colonel Schuyler arrived with one Major, one CaptainLieutenant, two Ensigns, one Surgeon, forty-five farmers, twenty-six women and twelve I

date,

children,

some

of

whom

had been ransomed from captivity by the humanity and goodness of

Colonel Schuyler; you will find the number thereof in the annexed 1

post.

I

for the

you our

list.

permit M. Wolf to procure several goods for the account of Mess", the

am

sorry that I have not been able to furnish

winter are not yet arrived.

my

gratitude for the civilities

them

to

him myself,

as

officers in

my

your

provisions

I would have been glad of that opportunity to evince to you have shown Colonel Schuyler and some others of

officers. I

am,

etc.

Peevost,' Brigadier.

(Signed),

Memoir of M. Pean on

the Condition of

Canada.

M. P^an has been sent by the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor-General of Canada, to bring the detail of the advantage gained the 8"' of July last by the King's troops, under the orders of the Marquis de Montcalm, over the English at Carillon. gnd To give an account of the state of that Colony and to solicit the succors which are absolutely required for

its

defence and preservation.

'James Pbetost was appointed Colonel-commandant of the 2nd battalion of the 60lh regiment, 4th January, 1756; Major-Genei-al in America 3rd June, 1762; and Lieutenant-General, also in America, 25th May, 1772. He died in the latter part of 1775.

Beatson priuta the name "James Provost Maekaj." Political Index,

Vol. X.

113

II.,

127-

— Ed,

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

898

At M. Pean's departure situation

critical

month

the

in

of

August

the Colony remained in the

Inst,

most

the farmers, after having furnished the Inst bushel of their whent for the

;

subsistence of the troops whicii were marching against the enemy, were supporting themselves

only by the aid of some vegetables and wild herbs

excepting a single

reduced of late

to

officer,

had

two ounces

to

;

eighteen

months ago

the people, without

be reduced to four ounces of bread a day; they have been

During the winter

only.

it

had become necessary

to deprive the

troops of bread, and to subsist them on beef, horseflesh and codfish.

The

provisions brought by several ships during the year have been immediately forwarded

to the armies, but

Quebec has always remained

in its

melancholy situation.

men;

Yet, people have to defend themselves at Carillon against thirty thousand

thousand

at

Fort Duquesne and against six thousand towards Chouaguen.

Louisbourg, the settlements pretended

to

have been made by the English

at

against ten

Tfie capture of

Gaspe and on the

Island of Anticosty, at the entrance of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, have rendered the situation of

Canada much more Colony,

is

afflicting,

but the late misfortune experienced at Fort Frontenac by the

the most prejudicial of those

it

has been threatened with, and 'twill run the greatest

all the King's forts and Indian Then, the Indians, who constitute our principal force, finding themselves deprived of all they want, by failure of the succors the French would furnish them, will not fail to go over to the Englisii, and will come and scalp at the very gates of the towns in which the people will be obliged to shut themselves up.

risks if that fort be not retaken, as

it

and as the English will close

posts,

'Twill probably cost a great

served as an entrepot for

all

the passages.

many men and much money

great necessity for the preservation of Canada, that

every

effort to

The all

harvest

retake is

'tis

to retake that fort, but

it is

of such

impossible to dispense with making

it.

reported very bad, and

we must

not be surprised at that,

if

we

observe that

the farmers have been obliged to march to oppose the efforts of the enemy. 'Tis therefore to be

suffering than

it

presumed that

has experienced

necessity of consuming

Many

in

this

Colony

is

about to be exposed

to

much more

serious

preceding years, during which people have been under the

all tiie cattle.

number would have been much greater had the King not subsisted a greater part of the people. The land in Canada is in general, very good, and has often supplied in time of peace, persons have died of hunger, and the

provisions to other colonies, and almost always to Isle Royale

;

but not having had the good

fortune to participate in the last peace, and being forced since fifteen years into continual war,

which has employed almost of the crops which

all

the farmers, the land could not be cultivated, and the failure

has ensued, has augmented so considerably the price of provisions and

rendered them so excessively dear, that the considerably in debt; this

is

officer

can no longer subsist there without running

not the case with the soldier to

whom

too considerable an

allowance, and one too expensive to the King has been made. 'Tis certain that

Canada

will,

next year, have to fight more than sixty thousand men, as the

English have just sent thither additional troops; no more than

men

can be employed in

its

defence, because

many

fifteen to

will be required

eighteen thousand

for the

conveyance of

provisions and ammunition, in consequence of the difficulty of the roads and the distance of the different posts.

Supposing the English are not yet

at

Gasp6,

we may

rest assured that they will seize

the spring, and then they will be able to impede the navigation so much, that

they will capture the greater portion of the succors which will be on the

way

'tis

to

to

it

in

be feared

Quebec.

PARIS DOCIBIENTS 'Tis greatly to

place

be feared that they will seize

very narrow and the only one,

is

Quebec, and very

difficult to drive

it

XV.

:

899

an Coudre, and as

Isle

would be no longer possible

the English from

channel at

tlie

to get

any

relief

tliat

up to

it.

be expected that the capture of Fort Frontenac will detach from the French interest

It is (o

who will side with the English, and that fear is founded on the small we have to give them, whilst the English furnish them goods in That event would be much more prejudicial to the Colony than a more considerable profusion. reinforcement of English troops, since the Indians are so much afraid of each other that it several Indian Nations

quantity of merchandise

is

very

difficult to get tliem to

fight against

Notwithstanding the sad condition of sustain itself against the

known

enemy,

if

one another.

this

may flatter ourselves that it The bravery of the Canadians

Colony, we

succored in season.

will is

as

King; they are accustomed to tight one against four, but how will they manage without ammunition and bread? The troops that the King has dispatched thither are equally well disposed and may be

well

as their fidelity to the

relied on.

Three things are necessary goods, and men, and

'tis

for the safety of

Canada: these

are provisions,

ammunition and

necessary that this relief arrive in the month of April, which

is

the

lime the ice breaks up.

The

largest portion of the provisions

is

to

be furnished by a contractor

has an agreement with the King; this contractor

obliged to

is

make

in

Canada, who

the advances; he has,

consequently, established houses in the ditferent ports of France, where he has correspondents; these correspondents have purchased five or six armed frigates which are to be

Captain Canon, lieutenant of a

hoped that he

There are

will

frigate, to escort the

conduct them there,

difficulties

if

he can

which might retard

sail

transports as far as

commanded by

Quebec;

'tis

to

be

about the 15"" of February.

this departure

and perhaps cause the entire

fiiilure

of his expedition.

1" Those interposed by the Intendant of Bourdeaux, to the loading of the flour.

Massiac

who had approved

General'

to issue

orders to load the half of

as to the rest; they request permission to

expedition, and the

Another

difficulty

is,

M. de

the arrangement of M. Canon, had prevailed on the Comptroller-

smallest delay

it,

the correspondents find themselves embarrassed

load the entire; no

would render

it

time

is

to

be lost for this

impossible to deliver those provisions.

that last year, these merchants expended

all

their funds for the

demands

exchange of the country on the Colonial treasurers; these bills had hitherto the best possible credit, and at a discount of one half per cent per month on them, all the money needed was easily obtained but since the reduction of Isle Royale, this paper is totally discredited; these merchants have not been able to obtain of Canada, their returns could be

made only

in bills of

;

money, no matter what arrangement they proposed; on their remonstrance M. de Massiac had to endeavor to procure them facilities to negotiate their bills; this engagement not having been yet fulfilled, brings them to a stand-still, and renders it impossible for them to obligations. They have proposed divers means. The first, has been to engage satisfy their the Farmers-general to order their receivers at Bourdeaux and the other ports where supplies promised them

are furnished, togive a preference to these bills and at the nsual discount.

them a credit on M. de Montmartel, exchange with the interest due.

to

whom

The

second, to give

they would have remitted these same

'Jean Nicolas Je Buullongne.

— Ed,

bills

of

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS,

900 If

one or the other of these arrangements could be effected, this paper would recover

its

usual credit; the Farmers-general or M. de Montmartel would, perhaps, not be exposed to

much of it. The correspondents

receiving

convey some troops in their frigates would be an arrangement so much the more advantageous, as the troops would diminish the number of sailors which are obliged to be furnished them. Captain Canon has offered to take fifteen hundred men or thereabouts. As for the other merchandise needed by the Indians and troops, M. de Massiac has likewise of the contractor have proposed to

and transports, on payment of their passages

be furnished

ordered

it

have

as well as the

it,

to

the persons

;

;

this

who have

contracted to supply

it,

munitions of war, conveyed to Brest and Rochefort

have been ordered to in all

January next

the whole will probably be put on board the King's ships.

But

as these will be exposed to fighting,

and as

'tis

important, in order to facilitate manoeuvres

engagement, that they should not be too heavily loaded

in the

;

'tis

thought that 'twould be

advantageous to put the surplus of provisions, munitions and goods on board three or four 60 @. 70-gun ships of those that have been reformed for fighting; by putting no artillery on board, they

would still be able to carry the merchandise and ammunition to Quebec with more security than merchantmen, because they would sail better, deceive by their size, be escorted by men-of-war, and accommodate a larger quantity than a more considerable number of small merchantmen. Besides, the King would have the benefit of the freight, and have to pay only the sailors.

November, 1758.

IS""

M.

de

Montcalm [

to

Marslial de Belle

D6partement de

la

Isle.

Guerre, Paris.]

Montreal, IS"" November, 175S.

My

Lord,

The

my despatches and a letter written you, by M. de Bougainville, supplementary to my last of the twenty-first of October. Commissaire ordonnateur, embarked in the King's flyboat VOalurde and M. de

three vessels sailed on the twelfth which carry

on

my

M.

Doreil,

part,

Bougainville in L,a Victoire. vessel to sail,

and

I

hasten,

Letters from

my

within the

last fifty years,

Quebec inform me

that there

is still

a fourth

little

Lord, to write you to inform you of the return of our troops

Whatever diligence I departure, which was much sooner than

to their quarters.

has occasioned

used, although in

I

anticipated

my

1755 and 1756, a too early

much

suflTering

among

orders for

frost,

their

unexampled

the troops and to myself

much

apprehension and embarrassment.

who was a passenger with me, has personally incurred some danger. Lake Champlain, a real tempest which scattered our fleet of bateaux like-

Chevalier de Levis,

We

experienced, on

those of Saint Cloud, and the ice are quit for

about

We

some

made

slight loss of bateaux

us shudder on entering the rivers.

and baggage, and of only four

But, luckily,

soldiers.

I

write

we you

only for fear some private letters should create alarm respecting that event. have just received news from Fort Duquesne of the twenty-third of October. Captain

it

Aubry, of the Louisiana troops, has gained a tolerably considerable advantage there on the

PARIS DOCUMENTS The enemy

15"".

lost

new

fort

901

men, killed, wounded and missing; called Royal hannon, which they built at the head of

on the occasion a hundred and

they were pursued as far as a

XV.

:

fifty

We

the River d'Attique.

Indians have retired to

had only two men killed and seven wounded. Although the hunt and the Louisiana detachments, which came from the post of

the Illinois as well as those of Detroit, have returned home,

autumn and

safe for this

enemy

winter, and that the

new

think that Fort Duquesne

I

establishment

but

;

greatly to

'tis

be feared that the difficulty of transporting provisions in the spring, the fear of having

communication with Canada cut I am, with respect,

My

will

off,

is

think of going into winter

also

will

quarters, and content themselves with preserving their

its

cause Fort Duquesne to be abandoned.

Lord,

Your most humble and

•

Most obedient servant,

Montcalm.

M.

de

Montcalm

to

[D^partement de

la

M.

de Ci-emille.

Guerre, Paris.]

Montreal, 21" November, 1758. Sir,

My

last

was dated the twentieth

remaining which will not

and

by

I profit

it

sail until

of October.

I learn that

we have

the arrival of the courier that

to inform you of the arrival of

is

one small vessel

still

about to be sent to Quebec,

our troops in their quarters;

all

it

has not

been without a great deal of suffering, although their departure from the Camp of Carillon has been a great deal earlier than in 1755 and 1756. We experienced in the fore part of November a cold unexampled at this season for fifty years. Luckily, it has cost us only four soldiers; I write you merely for fear some private letter might have created alarm in regard

which

to an event

who was

We

more

raised apprehensions of

serious consequence.

Chevalier de Levis

a passenger with me, personally ran some risk on Lake Champlain.

have just received some news from Fort du Quesne of the twenty-third of October.

Captain Aubry^ of the Louisiana troops has gained a somewhat considerable advantnge there

on the

fifteenth.

or missing; they at the '

The enemy

lost

were pursued up

on the occasion one hundred and to

anew

head of the River D'attique.^

Captain Aubet, Kniglit of

St.

Louis.

He was

We

fort, called

had only two men

in

comtnaiid

succeeded to ihe government 4lh Feliruary, 1765, and surrendered the Colony

to administer the

Bordeaux, and

1

its

government

government

until the arrival of

until relieved

'

Spanish troops.

by G- neral O'Reilly

killed,

wounded

killed

and seven wounded.

On

ol

in

New

four companies Ht

March,

1766,

to

in July,

1769.

Orleans.

Governor Ulloa

the expulsion of Ulloa, in 1768, M.

He for

Aubry continued

He, suon after sailed from Louisiana for

he vessel had already entered the River Garonne, when she was overtaken by a heavy siorm and sunk

near the T'lwer of Cordouan, 24th February,

and a couple of

men,

taken prisoner by Sir William Johnson at Niagara in 1769, and next

returned to Louisiana where he remained after the peace of 1763,

Spain, but retained

fifty

Royal hannon, which they are building

sailors), perished

on

1770.

Governor Auliry, and

this disastrous occasion.

Oayarri.

— Ed.

all

onboard

(

e.^cept

Loyal hannon, afterwards Fort Ligonier, was situated on the East side of Loyal hannon creek,

Westmoreland County, Pa. rennxylvania Archives, XH., 389.

the captain, suigeoQ

in the

town of Ligonicr,

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

902

Although the Indians have retired

to hunt,

and the Louisiana detachments which came from

the Post of the Illinois, as well as those from Detroit, have returned home,

Duquesne

safe for this

have annexed

I

of

is

my

I

think that Fort

autumn and winter.

to the letter

I

had the honor

to write

you on

the twentieth of October, copy

representations to the Marquis de Vaudreuil and M. Bigot, the Intendant, as to the

impossibility of our oilicers living on their appointments, in consequence of the dearness of

our provisions, both have agreed to grant a supplementary pay of thirty sous a day to each

all

captain, and twenty sous to each lieutenant, to indemnify only, however, until the opening of the cainpaign.

and

evil,

I

I

for the iiigh price of provisions,

think 'twill be impossible to dispense with giving the officers a greater increase of

which

pay, and

them

'Tis a slight alleviation of a very great

subsists equally through the winter and the

always request of you

campaign season.

continue your kindness and to be persuaded

to

rff

an unlimited

attachment which equals the respect wherewith I am,

My

Lord,

Your most humble, and Most obedient servant,

Montcalm.

An Account

of Major Grant's Defeat near Fort Duquesne. [

Penusjivania Gazette.

]

Annapolis, October 5th, 175S.

We

are informed by a letter from Frederick county, that on

Monday, the 11th of September,

Major Grant, of the Highland regiment, marched from our camp on the waters of the and 805 privates, taken from the different regiments that compose the Western Army, on an expedition against Fort Duquesne.

Kiskiminitas, with 37 officers

The halted

and

third till

day

after their

march, they arrived within eleven miles of Fort Duquesne, and

three o'clock in the afternoon; then marched within two miles of Fort Duquesne,

left their

baggage there, guarded by a captain, two subalterns, and

fifty

with the rest of the troops, and arrived at eleven o'clock at night upon a mile from the Fort.

Major Grant sent two

and

officers

Indians, &c., they should find lying out of the Fori

fifty

men

to the

men, and marched hill,

a quarter of a

Fort to attack

all

the

they saw none, nor were they challenged

;

which was put out as by the centries. As soon as they left it. At break of day, Major Lewis was sent with 400 men (royal Americans and Virginians), to lie in ambush a mile and a half from the main body, on the path on which they left their baggage, imagining the French would send to attack the baggage guard and they returned, they set

fire to

a large store house,

Four hundred men were posted along the hill facing the Fort, to cover the retreat of who marched with drums beating toward the Fort, in order to draw a party out of the Fort, as Maj. Grant had some reason to believe there were not above 200 men in the Fort, including Indians; but as soon as they heard the drums they sallied out in great numbers, both French and Indians, and fell upon Captain M'Donald, and two columns seize

it.

Capt. M'Donald's company,

that were posted lower on the

hill

to receive

without any cover, and were shot down

made

a

The Highlanders exposed themselves retreat. The

numbers, and soon forced to

Lower Countrymen, concealing themselves behind trees and good defence; but were overpowered by numbers, and not being supported,

Carolinians, Marylanders, and the brush,

them.

in great

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XV.

903

Major Grant exposed himself in the thickest of the fire, and endeavored to rally his men, but all to no purpose, as they were by this time flanked on all Maj. Lewis and his party came up and engaged, but were soon obliged to give way, sides. A number were drove into the the enemy having the hill of him, and flanking him every way.

were obliged

to follow the rest.

whom were drowned. Major Grant retreated to the baggage, where Captain was posted with fifty men, and again endeavored to rally the flying soldiers by entreating them in the most pathetic manner to stand by him, but all in vain, as the enemy were close at their heels. As soon as the enemy came up to Capt. Bullet, he attacked them very furiously for some time, but not being supported, and most of his men killed, was obliged to give way. Ohio, most of Bullet

attacking them stopped the pursuit, so as to give many an opportunity of The enemy followed Major Grant,' and at last separated them, and Captain Bullet was obliged to make off". He imagines the major must be taken, as he was surrounded on all The P'rench sides, but the enemy would not kill him, and often called to him to surrender.

However,

his

escaping.

gave quarters

to all that

would accept

M.

it."

Vaudreuil

de

to

M.

de Ilasmac. Montreal, SO"" November, 1758.

My

Lord,

The

preceding letters I had the honor to write

war

of this Colony, supposing the

to

continue

;

to

you, had relation to the different objects

but as the King might possibly,

peace during the winter, in such case the principal occupation of

To

1"

impress on the Colonists

gnd rpo restore 3"^ 4""

abundance

in

all its

this

my

government

Lord,

make

will be:

mildness.

it.

To encourage population and agriculture. To remedy the excessively high rate of labor.

'James Grant, of Ballendalloch, was appointed Major of the Montgomerie Highlanders on the raising of that corps in He was wounded and taken prisoner on the above

1757, and immediately afterwards accompanied the regiment to America.

when 231

occasion,

of his

men were

killed

and wounded.

breveted Colonel in the army in 1772, and on

formed part of the forces under General

Howe

in

In 1760, he became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 40th foot; was

11th December, 1775, was appointed Colonel of the 65th, which regiment

1776; on the 1st of January of that year Colonel Grant was gazetted Major-

in August was appointed Major-General in the army, and accompanied Howe to the Delaware in comafterwards commanded fleet he with the communication mand of the second brigade, and was left at Elkhead to maintain the the first and second brigades at the Brandy wine; and was engaged at Germontown on the 4th October following, when he forced the left of the American army to give way. In May, 1778, he was detached with a strong force to cut off the Marquis

General

" in

America," and commanded the fourth and sixth brigades of the British army at the battle of Long Island

In the next year he

following.

;

La

Fayette, on the Schuylkill, but

was unsuccessful

in that design.

He

defeated

General Lee, in

New

Jersey, in June,

and

of the army sent against the French possessions in the West was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General 20th November, 1782; became Colonel of the lllh foot in 1791 and Governor of Stirling Castle. In Maj', 1796, he was promoted to be Genera! in the army and died "very old" at his seat at Ballendalloch, near Elgin, in Scotland, about the 13th May, 1806. Gentleman's Magazine for 1806; Army Stewart's Skehhes of the Highlands ; Bealson's Naval and MilKary Memoirs, IV., VI

on the 4th Indies.

of

November

sailed

from Staten Island

in

command

In December following he reduced St. Lucia

;

;

lists.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

904 5"'

To

commerce, diminish the price of goods make them feel less regret for the English

protect

only means to

Indian Nations, which

to the

stores,

and attach them

is

to us

the

more

and more. 7""

To To

S""

Finally, to replace this

G""

secure the frontiers of the Colony. lessen his Majesty's expenses.

many

desire

As most

them

of

feel to

Colony on a footing capable of making the Colonists regret the

return to France.

my

of these different objects,

Lord, [can] be discussed only as a consequence of

the articles of a treaty of peace in which the respective limits will have been finally settled,

now

myself

confine

me

appear to

is

the

of

recall

land

the

forces.

all

of

waging war being accompanied with

the battalions from

less

I

Nothing would

concluded; besides costing a great deal, they will always foster a

manner

their

;

relates to

of more advantage to this Colony than to withdraw

soon as peace division

what

to

hardship

as

it

spirit of

than that

of the Colony, would insensibly be adopted; the introduction of baggage and provisions in the

campaign proceeds from the fighting;

officers of

those troops;

an obstacle to the change of

is

'tis

most pernicious

camp from one moment

bush and thereby

to the fashion of

to the other

prevents frequent detachments.

Had

I,

my

Lord, in the

field as

many independent

troops of the Marine as land forces,

England would long feel the eflfects of it. It would be essential, however, my Lord, 1" That in recalling the battalions, you would be pleased facilities to remain in the Colony and to induce the King to

to procure the

New

French soldiers

issue an ordinance authorizing

every soldier belonging to the troops of the Line to enter those of the Marine. 2"*^

That

soldiers 3"*

Majesty should grant an absolute discharge and two years' pay to

his

who

are married, or

Should

his

companies and serve

form

to

let

new

of those

all

Colony.

settle in the

Majesty at the peace reform his troops,

recruits to complete the 4"'

would marry and

him have some sent

to

Canada

as

ones.

Rather than be again under the necessity of sending back battalions to the Colony,

'twere better,

I

make

think, to

that of soldiers would be

an augmentation of a certain number of companies of which

more or

less considerable in

times of peace or war, proportionally to

the quantity of troops his Majesty would wish to have in this country. 5"'

His Majesty might permit the

married or will marry in Canada,

belonging

officers

to pass

e""

I

have the honor

to represent

extend to the Colonists,

who have

to

to

you that

be Ensign en

it

talents,

who

are

Colony.

they would indeed have remained a long time

if

.

they did not remain, the

officers of the

men over them who

often

Colony would

nor experience; some of them even would never have dared to flatter

themselves with becoming exists in the defence to

officers in the troops of the

my

Marine.

you any reasons in support of the difference that be expected from a troop which has the Colony for its resource, in

'Twould be superfluous, its

troops of the Line,

in this

would be unfortunate, should such favor

served with the greatest zeal, would see young

have neither

which are

;

second.

Articles five and six are so important, that

who have

day they serve

entered, successively, as lieutenants in the troops of the

Line, in preference to the Colonial service

Cadets before being able

to the

with the same rank, into the troops of the Marine,

their seniority, however, only dating from the

Lord, to

offer

property, family and fortune, and that of a troop which feeling expatriated, has

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. no other ambition than not

to dishonor itself

about the injuries the enemy

may

inflict

905

and to return to

on the Colony, or even

family, caring very little

its

its total

loss.

I am, with the most profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, (Signed), Vaudreuil.

Brigadier -General Forbes [

to

Governor Denny.

PennBjlTanla Archlvei, Vni., 233.

]

now

Fort Duquesne, or

Pittsburg, the 26 Nov', 1758.

Sir: I

have the Pleasure and Honour of Acquainting you with the Signal Success of his all his Enemys on the Ohio, by having obliged them to Burn and

Majesty's Troops over

abandon

their Fort

Possession with

Duquesne, which they effectuated upon the 24th Instant, And of which I took little Army the next Day, The Enemy having made their escape down

—

my

the River, part in Boats and part by Land, to their Forts, and Settlements 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 publick event of having totally expelled

the French from this Fort and this prodigious tract of Country, and of having in a reconciled the various Tribes of Indians inhabiting I have not time to give

you a

I

we

assure you, after receiving the

necessarily

Ground

&

manner

His Majesty's Government.

to

detail of our proceedings

or of the Hardships and Difficulties that out, but

it

and approaches towards the Enemy,

meet with

Fort,

I

;

all

that will soon

have great reason

to

come

be most

thankful for the part that the French have acted.

As the Conquest of this Country is of the greatest Consequence to the adjacent Provinces, by securing the Indians, our real Friends for their own Advantage, I have therefore sent for their Head People to come to me, when I think in kvf Words and few Days to make everything easy ; I shall then set out to kiss your Hands, if I have Strength left to carry me through the Journey. I shall be obliged to leave about

Two Hundred Men

of your Provincial Troops to join a

proportion of Virginia and Marylanders, in order to protect this Country during Winter, by

hope the Provinces will be so sensible of the great Benefit of this new me to fix this noble, fine Country, to all Perpetuity, under the Dominion of Great Britain. the beg Barracks I may be put in good repair, and proper Lodgings for the Officers, and

which Time

I

Acquisition, as to enable

that

will send me, with the greatest Dispatch, your Opinion how 1 am to dispose of the your Provincial Troops for the ease and Convenience of the Province and Inhabitants, Vol. X. 114

you

rest of

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

906

You must also remember that Colonel Montgomery's Battalion of Thirteen Hundred Men, and Four Companies of Royal Americans, are, after so long and tedious a Campaign, to be taken care of in some Comfortable Winter Quarters. I kiss all your Hands, and flatter myself that if I get to Philadelphia, under your Cares and good Companys, I shall yet run a good Chance of re-establishing a Health that I run the risque of ruining to give your Province all the Satisfaction in the Poveer of my weak Abilities. 1 am Sir, -with great Esteem and regard, Your most Obedient and Hum* Servant, Jo. Forbes.

must beg that you will recommend to your Assembly the building of a Block House Mill upon the Kisskaminities, near Loyal Hannon, as a thing of the utmost Consequence to their Province, if they have any intention of profiting by this Acquisition. P. S. I

and

I

Saw

send the

New

Levies to Carlisle, so beg you will lose no Time in sending up Mr. Young,

the Commissary, to clear them.

Abstract

The

of,

and

Ministerial Minute on, the Despatches

from Canada,

from Quebec by the Marquis de Vaudreuil, M. Bigot and the Marquis de Montcalm, are of the month of November. Although they agree in saying that this year's harvest has been good, they ask unanimously for reinforcements of troops, ships of last letters written

war, provisions, ammunition and goods of

One

object of not less

interest

all sorts.

than that of reinforcements,

of the Colony appear to be unanimous.

In the

commencement

is

the manner the

Chiefs

of this year, the Marquis de

many remarks were made on the administration, that this estrangement had exercised an influence over all minds ; the Marquis de Vaudreuil complained of it, and the Marquis de Montcalm also

Vaudreuil and the Marquis de Montcalm lived on such indifferent terms, and so

complained of the want of confidence on his part. Things have been pushed so far, that both, equally aware of the produce, became reconciled and

Immediately

made up

friends again, but that

after the affair at Carillon of the S"" of July,

Majesty, these two

officers

that detachments to the

no longer agreed in opinion

number

of 12 or 15,000

men

;

was

In the

month

might

appearance only.

which has been reported

to his

the Marquis de Vaudreuil wished

be sent in pursuit of the enemy; M. de

Montcalm sent out only 15 and 30 men, and the campaign has anything on that

evil their coolness

in

finished without undertaking

side.

of

November, when nothing more remained than

to take

up winter quarters,

the Marquis de Vaudreuil has persuaded the Marquis de Montcalm to repair to Montreal to

concert measures of attack or defence, to be employed against the English.

Their conferences

have run on three points: The defence by the lakes, that by land and that by the River St. Lawrence. After having conversed about it, they have written their opinions, and differ so widely one from the other, that whatever be the zeal which animates them both, serious apprehensions

PARIS DOCUMENTS cannot

to

fail

be entertained from

their respective

Memoirs under

:

XV.

907

Nothing better can be done than to place

diversity.

tliis

his Majesty's eyes.

This state of things requiring his Majesty

to decide,

it

appears necessary that he should be

pleased to grant the Marquis de Montcalm his recall, which he has

annexed hereunto, as

his health

demanded

in the letter also

and the debts he has contracted do not permit him

to continue

his service.

This

recall

appears so

much

the more indispensable as the Marquis de Montcalm, on becoming

Lieutenant-General of his Majesty's armies, a grade, moreover, merited by his services, would feel

who

some objection to serve in this new capacity under the orders of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, is only Governor Lieutenant-General a title which does not possess, among military ;

men, the same extent of power as that of Lieutenant-General of the armies. Should his Majesty determine to recall him, it will be possible to replace him by giving Chevalier de Levy, who accompanied him to Canada, the command of the troops of the Colony, with the rank of Marechal de Camy, which the Marquis de Montcalm held, and which the Marquis de Vaudreuil requests for him, although he does not

de Montcalm

is

to

remain

in the

Colony

;

know whether

the Marquis de Montcalm in case of accident, he

is

generally beloved and esteemed

troops and Militia of the Colony, and the knowledge he has acquired since he there, affords reason to think that a better selection could not be

In case his Majesty will approve of the general

command

to die, as his

of the Colony,

Majesty had granted

it,

'twill

the Marquis de Vaudreuil, should 2S"'

it

December, 1758. On mature

Montcalm

is

by

all

the

in service

made. time,

Marquis de Vaudreuil should happen

Marquis de Montcalm

will be sent to the Intendant in a sealed package,

is

be proper to give him at the same

supposing the

to the

it

the Marquis

Chevalier de Levis had been designed to succeed

which

;

and the provisions thereof

will not be

opened

until the

death of

occur. reflection, this

arrangement cannot take place, as

M''

de

n'ecessary in the present conjuncture.

Colonel Montre-sor'' s

Plan of the Campaign for

the British forces in 1759.

Plan for the Operations of the Campaign for the year

Department of New-York, humbly submitted

for

17-59, carried

on from the

Amendments.

That 9,500 men march as soon as the season will permit, to theOneyda Station, or Stanwix there to encamp until the provisions, stores and boats be arrived, in order to proceed on

fort,

according to the following proposal

That 6,500 from the above number do proceed

Oswego, with boats sufficient to carry embark from' thence. Four thousand for Cadaraqui, with two 12 pounders, four 6 pounders, one 8 inch howitzer, two royals, four cohorns, one Engineer, one 1" Lieutenant and one S""* Lieutenant of artillery, two bombard", 6,000 men, with 30 days' provision,

four gunners and 20 matrosses.

who

are to

to

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

908 There

most convenient, and under cover from the place, according to

to land in the part

the intelligence sent before to reconnoitre last attack

worth vehileto

to assault

it

and

if

any veorks have been made

them, the same

and secure what can be of service

embark again with the

La

;

and particularly vessels of any kind.

stores,

to

it

raise batteries against

for carrying

to

is

on

to

be done, but

it

if

since the

otherwise,

this design, viz', provisions,

This done, and an arrangement made, then to

artillery, provisions, &c.,

and

to

proceed into the River St. Lawrence

Gallette or Oswegatchie, distant about 45 miles, where, according to this project, they

meet with 3,000 men ordered to march from the abovementioned Camp, ten days after who are to have with them one Engineer, one Lieut, of artillery, one bombardier, two gunners and eight matrossses with 6 or 8 cohorns, to have marched from the Carrying place through the woods to la Galette distant between 80 or 90 miles, there being an Indian path often made use of by the enemy's parties to come to the Mohock river, and are seldom more will

6,500,

than three days

La

Galette

is

in

performing

cannot be of any strength. arrival

it.

represented to be a small,

and destroyed,

The

weak

fort,

settlements about

only as a security from the Indians, and it

must be set fire to in the night of the same time invest the fort, which, if

in order to occasion a terror, at the

not thought advisable, to attempt by a brusquee, or

couji de

main.

Then

to raise a battery as

cannon was to be mounted, and from thence fire the cohorns in the night, whose reports may have the effect of a speedy surrender, and greatly facilitate the enterprise which may be effected before the Cadaraqui force comes up, as it must be immediately at their junction, being themselves attacked by land and water by a formidable and respectable body of troops. if for

These

at La Galette, which is so advantageously command of the River St. Lawrence, for all vessels

forces joined, they are to take post

situated, both in regard to itself

and

to the

going from Montreal to the lakes, and which navigation from clear

from

rifts,

whereas

to

Montreal

is

embarrassed with

it

to

Cadaraqui,

falls, rifts

reason the French are blamed for making Cadaraqui their chief post), and taking and securing

etc., is free

and

and islands (for which is

to us for the

communication from Montreal to the lakes, and assures us a part of the east side of the river, which is but thinly settled, until the neighborhood of La Prairie, opposite to Montreal, distant nearly 120 miles, and from whence ('tis said is a road ), as the river to La Galette has so bad a navigation. This Post being taken, a garrison left, to be supplied with provisions from Oswego, as it must be the depot for the time, the remainder of the army to continue their march always on the east side of the river, securing all vessels and provisions they can gather from the several settlements, and proceed until they find a proper place to cross and land on the Island of Montreal. The remaining 2,500 to be disposed of as follows Five hundred to keep the post and depot at Oswego, and the two thousand who are to embark at the same time as the 4,000 did, and to shape their course for Niagara with one Engineer, one Lieu' of artillery, 2 bombadiers, 4 gunners, 12 matrosses, with two 12-pounders, 2 six-pounders, one 8-inch howitzer, 2 royals, 4 cohorns. This body is to land on the nearest and safest landing place to the fort, with summons to surrender, letting them know that all their communications are entirely cut off from the River S' Lawrence. That the English are in actual possession of La Galette and marching their army towards Montreal, which, if not agreed to on the spot, then to be attacked it

entirely, as

it

cuts off

all

:

vigorously, which must be on great disadvantages on the enemy's side,

who

will not dare to

hold out, considering the situation they must be in after the loss of Fort Duquesne.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV.

909

keep a This place, when taken, must be secured, provided and strengthened, in order to upper lakes to garrison there for preserving the thoroughfare and communications from the run through. the lovFer, and to the vast country through which the Ohio and Mississippi been always a noted Indian mart and trading place.

'Tis

Distribution of 9,500 men.

Rangers and Provincials, 2,000

C

LaGalette...

1000

Jj^^g^,^^^^

^

9,500

That 7,000 men march up there to gather and

make

r

1,500

Boatmen,

f

Cadaraqui,.. ^ Rangers and Provincials, 1,000 1,500 ( Regulars,

Niagara,

/

1,000

„ Regulars,

,o„ 500

^ 0«^«g«P«st'

,

2,500

7,000

as soon as the season will permit,

a sufficient

number

500

( Regulars,

„

„

500

Boatmen, Rangers & Provincials,

and encamp

at

Lake George,

of boats and vessels necessary to carry the

abovementioned troops, with all the artillery designed for this body down the lake; this to be formed and ready to embark at a minute,'s warning and at the time prescribed in the

Reasons given

for this Project.

— The

N. B.

quantity of artillery

less than

was proposed and brought

Camp

Lake George

is

not mentioned, as

'tis

supposed that the won't be

last year.

Distribution of 7,000 men. at

:

Boatmen,

1,000

Rangers,

1,000

Provincials,

1,000

Regulars,

4,000 7,000

That 3,000 men march to the fort at N" 4 and there to encamp until such time they are provided with proper tools, stores and provisions, and then to proceed for Otter creek, below the Falls, there to build bateaux and rafts sufficient

and,

if

when

required to cross

possible, to take post on one of the points of land that forms the

creek, and there to remain until orders shall be given

them

Lake Champlain,

opening of the Otter

to cross over.

Distribution of the 3,000 men.

N"

4, for

Otter creek

:

500

Carpenters, bateau builders,

New Hampshire

Rangers,

Connecticut Provincials,

1,000 1

,500

3,000

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

910

When

number are ready prepared to cross over Lake Champlain, the Lake George must embark and move down towards Tierandoraga, at

this last

troops, &c., at

corps of the

same

time the Otter Creek forces must cross the lake and take post in the communication or road

Crown

to

Point, lying

below

order

In

it.

reinforcements coming to the assistance of

300 men,

vpill

seeing the

army

be at a loss

The body

keep close within. in

how

to

Crown

stop

all

P', etc.,

convoys of

stores,

provisions or

whose garrison, seldom exceeding

of the enemy's troops at the lines and Tierandaroga,

motion on Lake George, and another crossing over Lake Champlain, will For if they should offer to unfurnish the lines and fort, the Lake

to act.

George army pushes on their design, and with the conquest of that part the rest must fall, as army and forts are invested at one time and between two fires. And if the enemy should not leave their intrenchment, but resolve to defend it, then the said 7,000 men must attack their intrenchment with a vigorous artillery with ricochet fire and shells, driving them from it, during which time the 3,000 men, supposed on the same side of the lake as the forts and lines, are to advance slowly on the rear of the enemy. In which situation no troops in the enemy's position can remain long, but naturally will attempt to force through the vi^eakest part and their

abandon the intrenchment, which must be passed with speed

to save the

3,000

men from

being defeated. N. B.

men

Orders must be given to the 3,000

to destroy all the

enemy's vessels and boats on the

lake to prevent their retreat.

Reasons

By

1"'

for the foregoing

attacking the

enemy

at

La

Scheme.

Galette

it

not only prevents assisting Cadaraqui, but also

furnishes us with an advantageous post,

of the river and the navigation of

may

be said), that Niagara

But

as

it,

is also in

which can be kept up with ease by securing this side rendering Cadaraqui of no use. For the like reason, (it the same condition by the communication being stopped.

is a post which must always be kept up for the reasons given before, besides it some supplies from other parts than from the River St. Lawrence, it is extremely necessary to secure it, as it will well answer the expense made on it. 2'' By the attack of La Galette the army may find some assistance of provisions, etc., for advancing further in the country, where they can meet with no resistance, as no succors can be sent from Montreal or the posts in that neighborhood, by being kept in ecliee by the armies on Lake Champlain and Lake George, who are watching every minute the present opportunity to force and penetrate that way. 3'' By making an effort on Lake Champlain with boats, etc., and taking Posts on one of the points where Otter Creek runs into the lake, it will stop the enemy's sending any reinforcements to Tieranderoga, not only for fear of being intercepted, but by another greater reason, which is, that as they must naturally imagine, the impression is the most easiest made where the it

receiving

resistance

is

the least, and as by the supposition our forces are already 60 miles in their country

and in the road river,

to their

second Capital, which they must either leave open to the army on the

or unfurnish their intrenchments before Tierandaroga, or let the Otter

quietly on with their design, which suffer the 7,000

men

at

is to

Creek army go

get between the forts and their communication, or

Lake George, who are

to be

ready at a minute's warning with

all

their

PARIS DOCUMENTS necessaries proper for besieging or carrying

and land, taking possession of their

war

forts as far as

:

XV.

911

an Enemy's country, for to go up the

in

La

Prairie, opposite to

lal^e

Montreal, which

is

the point of union of this project, and for the whole to join except those of Niagara.

That all the boats that are to take in troops or artillery should be numbered and what service they are to be employed in, that the distribution of them may be detailed in such a manner that day or night it might be executed without confusion; as the effect of this part of the enterprise depends greatly on the celerity of its motion, which is to take place according to that of the enemy's. For which reason proper scouts are to be kept continually going between each of these separate bodies, as their action depends on the true N. B.

registered for

and certain intelligence of their several manceuvres.

This plan or project of operations is founded only on one principle, which is to keep the in suspense and state of uncertainty in being attacked at each extremity of its second

enemy

Capital by two bodies, subdivided in two or more, mutually assisting each other, preventing

from resolving whether

to

defence of Montreal, extremely

Therefore

let the

will succeed, benefit,

are

and

enemy if

them

send supplies or reinforcements to either of them, or watch the

weak

itself, and hardly deserves the name of a walled town. what part they think proper, the rest in all probability them has the advantage, the whole will soon reap the

of

act against

any one of

from the position of the several attacks and the situation of the country in which they

made

in.

Jacq. Montresor,^ Lt. Col. Chief Engineer for the

Department of N. Y.

New-York, December 29th, 175S.

Distribution of the whole number, amounting to 20,500.

iBatoe

men,

1,500

I^angers,

New-York

Provincials,

Regulars,

500 500 1,500

4,000 C

La

Rangers,

500

Gallette, or Oswegatchie, ^ Provincials

1,500

( Regulars,

1,000

3,000 Niagara,

C

Batoe men,

500

)

Rangers and Provincials,

500

( Regulars,

1,000

2,000 James Montesboe became Director of Engineers and Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army 4th January, 1758, in which year he was at the head of the Engineer Department, in the expedition against Tioonderoga, under Abererombie. He drew the plan of Fort Stanwix and ihe surrounding country in the summer of the same year. New -York Documentary History, 8vo., IV., 425. He was Chief Engineer also to Amherst's Expedition, and superintended the construction of the Fort at the head of Lake George, in July, 1759. iTnoa:'* Journal, I., 403. He obtained in 1771 a grant of 10,000 acres of land at the '

Forks of the Pagkatagkan or Otter Creek, in the presenttown of Panton, Vt, and in May, 1772, became Colonel He died in December, 1775. Army Lisit ; New-York Land Papers. Ed.

—

in the

army.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

912

men, iBatoe ^^"^^'^ Provincials,

1,000

Regulars

4,000

C Carpenters

For Otter Creek,

)

1,000

I'OOO

and bateau builders,

New Hampshire

600-

Rangers,

1,000

( Connecticut Provincials,

1,500 3,000

Oswego Post, Fort Edward Comm",

Regulars,

Fort Stanwix,

Regulars

500 500 600

Regulars,

etc.,

1,500

Total of the whole,

20,500

French Campaigns in North America^ 1754-1'758. [By Chevalier [

The

DB MoKTBEnn..]

D^partement de

la Guerre, Paris. ]

English having, in 1754, built Fort Necessity, twenty-five leagues from Fort Duquesne,

M. dejumonville was detached with 40 men to go and summon the garrison to retire. He was killed with seven Canadians, and the remainder of his detachment made prisoners of war. On this intelligence. Captain de Villiers, of the troops of the Marine, was ordered to conduct 700 men and avenge

his brother's death

;

he reduced said

fort

on the

S^"*

July by capitulation,

and made the garrison prisoners of war. In the year 1755, the King of France, being informed that several regiments had been sent from Old to New England, dispatched to Canada the second battalions of La Reine, Artois,

Bourgogne, Languedoc, Guienne and Beam, under the orders of Baron de Dieskaw, to whom Colonel Chev. de Rostain was appointed Second, and Chev. de Montreuil Major-General.

The

regiments of Artois and Bourgogne landed at Louisbourg, and the four others at Quebec

in the course of June.

The

ships PAlcide and

le

Lis, with four

companies of the regiment of La Reine and four

of the regiment of Languedoc on board, were taken on Green Bank.

Chev. de Rostain was by a cannon shot in the former vessel. The Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor-General, who arrived from France at the same time as the battalions, had advice of the capture of the French fort, called Beausejour, in Acadia; no killed

longer doubting the pretensions of the English on Canada, he determined to undertake the siege of Fort

Chouaguen,

situate

on Lake Ontario.

He

dispatched, in the course of July,

the battalions for Fort Frontenac, whither he sent artillery, munitions of

Having learned,

in

the meantime, that the

enemy was

erecting a

new

war and

provisions.

post on the River of

Orange, 7 leagues from Lake St. Sacrament, he countermanded the battalions of

La Reine and

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. Languedoc, which he sent to Fort

Frederic, situate

St.

913

on Lake Champlain, where he

command whereof

concentrated, at the end of August, a corps of three tiiousand men, the

he gave to Baron de Dieskaw, who, on

enemy's movements,

who

Frenchman named

his arrival,

detached some small parties to observe the

reported to him that they had a considerable

camp near

the house

where they were constructing a fort and several roads, to come to Lake St. Sacrament and the Bay of the Grand Marais to 7''^'' 2"'' attack the frontier. On this report, he proceeded on the to encamp at Carillon, in order to stop the enemy at that point, where they were obliged to pass. On the same day, he learned of a

Lidius, situate on the River of Orange,

from a prisoner that the enemy had retired

On

to

Orange, and

left

500 men to

finish the fort.

news, which turned out

to be false. Baron de Dieskaw, not having sufficient provisions marched on the 4"" of 7^", at the head ol 1,500 men, to wit, 200 troops of the Line, 700 Canadians and 600 Indians. The remainder of the troops encamped at the Falls of Lake St. Sacrament and at the Two Rocks, situate at the entrance of the Grand Murais, to secure the Baron de Dieskaw's retreat, and prevent the enemy entering by Lake St. Sacrament. Baron de Dieskaw, after four days' march, learned, within half a league from Fort Lidius, that there was a camp of A, 000 men near Lake St. Sacrament, distant six leagues from him,

this

to take his

army

thither,

and having resolved, on the advice of the Indians, to go and attack it, he marched, at day8"", and encountered a force of one thousand men within half a league of their camp, whom he successfully fought; having arrived there at the same time as the detachment, break, on the

he ordered an immediate attack, so as not to afford time to the enemy to recognize each other, but the greatest part of the Canadians and Indians, being fatigued after the first shock, rested themselves, and the few that remained courageously formed the attack on the

paces of that on the right, where the land troops distinguished themselves.

and Chevalier de Montreuil went

to post

a short musket shot of the enemy, at

who

themselves

in the centre of these

within 1 200

two

attacks, within

perceived them and fired several volleys of musketry

when Baron de Dieskaw was wounded by two

them,

left

Baron de Dieskaw

one of which was very

shots,

Chevalier de Montreuil pressed him to retire after receiving a slight wound in the

dangerous.

leg, but he persisted in remaining in the

same

place, saying he could not do

it,

and an instant

afterwards, received a ball in both hips; Chevalier de Montreuil then called to his aid two

Canadians arriving,

whom

wished

he perceived at a certain distance, and to carry the

Canadian, kneeling

at his feet,

General on

was

his

back

killed outright,

;

and

who came

to

him

;

one of them, on

Baron de Dieskaw refused fell

on his

legs.

;

the other

Chevalier de Montreuil

Dieskaw was unwilling to allow himself to be removed, asked what course he wished adopted ? Who ordered him to proceed to the right where the troops of the line were fighting, and having answered that he should not abandon him. Baron de Dieskaw ordered him in the King's name to retire. Chev. de Montreuil thought it his duty to execute his orders, so as to send him some relief and remedy the disorder which prevailed among the detachment. Arriving at the right, he saw the troops of the Line, of whom there were seeing Baron de

remaining about one hundred

500 paces of the camp the

enemy

;

soldiers, in the act of retiring;

he ran and stopped them within

made them take up an advantageous

position,

that they dare not embarrass the remainder of the troops

which so checked

who were

retreating.

Chev. de Montreuil, sure of being made prisoner of war, should he return to the place where he had left Baron de Dieskaw, remained half an hour in presence of the enemy, expecting that the detachment would return, but having learned on the contrary, that it was continuing its march, decided on retiring, and did not overtake until nightfall two hundred Canadians or Vol. X.

115

.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

914 Indians, led

by Captain

next evening at 8

and the lO""

rest of the

Luc de

St.

at

o'cloclc,

the

Corne, of the troops of the Marine, with

ia

Bay

detachment had arrived

10 o'clock

at

In the morning, Chev. de Montreuil had the

hundred,

whom

whom

he arrived

Grand Marais, where the bateaux had been

of the

he sent to Montreal, and started

in

in the

left

morning.

wounded embarked

to

the number of one

the afternoon at the head of his detachment

The loss of the enemy amounted to 500 men, killed or to rejoin the camp at the Two Rocks. wounded, and that of the French, Canadians and Indians to 160. Baron de Dieskaw was made prisoner of war Chev. de Montreuil received a musket ball in the left arm and ;

several in his coat. 11"'

He

proceeded to report this

whence he returned

to the

affair to

the Marquis de Vaudreuil

army encamped

Engineer of the Colony, with orders to build a the IS"" of October, and labored with

all

at

Fort

who was

at Montreal,

Frederic with M. de Lotbiniere,

St.

where the army encamped on November, main, and capable of lodging a garrison of 200

fort at Carillon,

possible diligence, so that on the 15"" of

when

it retired, the fort was safe from a coup de men, which had been left there. The battalions of Guienne and Beam encamped during the campaign, before Frontenac, where they threw up some intrenchments. That of Guienne proceeded to Niagara at the close of the summer and returned to Montreal on the 5"" of December. On the 9"" of July, one thousand Canadians or Indians, under the command of Captain de Beaujeu of the troops of the Marine, defeated within three leagues of Fort Duquesne, fifteen

hundred

whom were

or

field

English commanded by General Bradoc, one thousand of wounded, their artillery and munitions of war, which remained on the conveyed to Fort Duquesne. M. de Beaujeu fell in that action, in which

killed

of battle, were

thirty

Canadians or

Indians were killed or wounded.

Copy

of a letter from Baron de Dieskau to Chevalier de Montreuil, dated, Springs at Bath in England, this 26"" January, 1758. [

Campaign

The new

For

this letter see supra, p. 682. ]

of 175G.

preparations the English have

success of their expedition last year,

made

to

invade Canada, notwithstanding the

have been as public

in

Europe

ill

They

as in America.

were expected, and independent of the arrangements for defence made in this Colony, the King has sent thither the battalions of La Sarre and Royal Rousillon, under the Marquis de Montcalm's orders, with reinforcements and a large quantity of ammunition and provisions. Immediately on the termination of last year's campaign, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor

New France, made He kept in the field

and Lieutenant-General of in their

own

Colonies.

arrangements

Canadians, soldiers and Indians, which made incursions on a great

many

people

;

to harass continually the

English

throughout the entire winter, detachments of all sides.

The

Indians have killed

a considerable nuniber of cattle have been carried off; a great

houses and stores burned

;

the country has been

abandoned

many

in several parts of the frontiers of

PARIS DOCUMENTS the English Colonies, and

:

XV.

movements have been

915

augmenting the discontent which the injustice of their Governors' plan had created among them, but also in giving rise to embarrassments and difficulties which have prevented the execution of those plans in the spring. The Marquis de Vaudreuil did not stop here; in adopting all the other precautions which appeared to him practicable to provide for the security of all the frontiers of Canada, he has formed the project of attacking the English themselves in the establishment at Chouaguen, on Lake Ontario.

They

fortified

all

these

themselves there shortly

Fort Chouaguen, situate on the

after, so

effectual not only in

that they had erected three forts, to wit.

bank of the river. Fort Ontario, on the right of the river, and Fort George, 300 toises beyond that of Chouaguen, on a hill overlooking it. The Marquis de Vaudreuil was informed in the beginning of the winter that the enemy was left

collecting troops with considerable provisions, munitions of in order to attack Forts

Niagara and Frontenac

of troops, Canadians and Indians, under the

in

all sorts, in

the spring.

He

first

the forts at Chouaguen,

dispatched a detachment

command

of Sieur de Levis,' to attack a fort which That fort was carried by assault in the month of March, and destroyed, with all the buildings dependent thereon, and all the ammunition found there was removed, burnt or thrown into the river. The Marquis de Vaudreuil organized another detachment of 700 men, under the orders of

was

the principal entrepot of those supplies.

Villiers, of the Colony, to intercept the transports which were to be formed on the Chouaguen river, and the detachment did, in fact, destroy there, in the forepart of July, a fleet hundred craft, in which more than 500 men were killed or taken prisoners. two about of

Captain de

The success of these expeditions confirmed the Marquis de Vaudreuil in his project against Chouaguen, and, under pretence of succors necessary for the particular defence of Forts Niagara and Frontenac, he early concentrated troops there, and sent artillery, warlike stores and reinforced Sieur de Villiers' detachment on the River Chouaguen, and, after having been assured of the actual situation of the English post and of the junction of the troops

provisions thither

;

destined for the expedition against Chouaguen and of everything necessary for recalled the Marquis de

Montcalm from the Lake Champlain

its

execution, he

where he had sent him as the theatre of the most interesting operations, and immediately dispatched him to Fort Frontenac, with the orders and instructions necessary for the Chouaguen expedition, of which he was to have charge. The Marquis de Montcalm, being desirous to conceal his march from the enemy, set out alone from Carillon and ordered Chev. de Montreuil, the Major-General, to remain with the division commanded by Chev. de L^vis, Brigadier of the King's armies, who contributed essentially to the success of the Chouaguen expedition, by the diversion he caused about Lake St. Sacrament. 29"" July.

On

frontier,

the Marquis de Montcalm's arrival at Frontenac, he found

all

assembled

except Sieur de Villiers' detachment, which the Marquis de Vaudreuil had reinforced, and of

which Sieur Rigaud de Vaudreuil had assumed the command. This detachment, having already gone even to the River Chouaguen, [repaired] to the Bay of Niaoure, where the Marquis de Vaudreuil had marked the general rendezvous. The troops destined for the expedition, were composed of about three thousand men, including the detachment commanded by Sieur Rigaud, which was to serve as the van-guard.

The Marquis de Montcalm lost not a moment in preparing to leave Fort Frontenac, after having made the necessary dispositions to secure the retreat, in case superior forces rendered 'Sic.

Do

Leri.

— Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

916

He

that inevitable.

issued orders to

two armed sloops on Lake Ontario, one of 12 and the

other of 16 guns, to cruize on the route to Chouaguen, and established a chain of Canadian and to the town embarked with the first

Indian scouts on the road from that place

of Albany, to intercept expresses.'

4""

of August, he

battalion of

La

Sarre and that of Guienne, with 4 pieces of cannon, and on the

the

of

Bay of Niaoure, where, on

Beam,

On 10""

8"",

arrived the second division,

6""

arrived at

composed of the battalion

the Militia and bateaux loaded with the artillery and provisions.

the

Rigaud

the

division of his troops,

As

composed of the

early as the

to

same day the Marquis de Montcalm dispatched the van-guard commanded by M. advance within three leagues of Chouaguen, to a cove called Udnse aux cabavnes.

The

first

division being arrived at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, the van-guard repaired,

four hours after, by land and across the woods, to another cove, situate within half a league of

Chouaguen,

to cover the landing of the artillery

The

and troops.

The Marquis de Montcalm succeeded

cove at midnight.

first

division reached that

in getting a battery erected at once,

on Lake Ontario, and the troops passed the night in bivouack at the head of the bateaux. On the 1 1"", at day-break, the Canadians and Indians advanced to within a quarter of a league of, and invested Fort Ontario, situated, as we have stated, on the right bank of the River Chouaguen.' Sieur Decombles, who had been sent at 3 o'clock in the morning to make arrangements for this siege, and to determine the part against which immediate operations were

to

be directed, was killed, returning from his reconnoissance, by one of our Indians who mistook him in the dark for an Englishman. Sieur Desandrouins, the

escorted him, and

surviving Engineer, ran a road through the woods, partly through before, for the purpose of conducting the artillery across. in

the morning,

swamps explored

This road, commenced

the evening

at 11 o'clock

was finished at night, and thoroughly completed next morning. The camp was same time, the right resting on Lake Ontario, covered by the battery

established at the

erected on the preceding evening, and that protected our bateaux from attack

;

the

left,

on an

impassable swamp.

The precaution taken by the French to march only at night and to enter rivers when halting by which they were concealed, had till then hid [iheir approach] from the enemy, to whom it was announced only that same day by the Indians who went even to the foot of the fort Three armed sloops which sailed at noon from the River Chouaguen came cruising in to fire. front of the camp, discharged some pieces of artillery, but the fire from the battery forced them

On

to sheer

Since then, they cruised only in the

off.

the 12"' at day-break, the battalion of

Beam

offing.

arrived with the bateaux of artillery and

These bateaux were forthwith unloaded in presence of the English barks which the park of were cruizing in front of the camp. The battery on the beach was increased artillery and the depot of provisions established, and Sieur Pouchol, captain of the Regiment of B6arn, who had successfully begun a fortification at Niagara, received orders to act as Engineer during the siege. Arrangements were made to open trenches that very night Sieur de Bourlemaque superintended them. Six pickets of workmen, fifty men each, were under

provisions.

—

;

orders for that night;

two companies

of grenadiers

and three pickets

Notwithstanding the greatest possible diligence, the work until midnight.

It

was

the ditch of the fort

This

them. be begun

rather a parallel of about 100 toises, the front opened at 90 toises from

through ground embarrassed

parallel finished at five o'clock in the '

to support

at this trench could not

Compare mpra,

p.

441.

by obstructions and stumps of

morning, was completed by the day laborers 'Compare mpra,

p. 442.

—Ed.

trees-

who

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. commenced

cut the lines of communication and

917 The enemy's

which had been very brisk since the break of day, ceased at about eleven o'clock at night, and it was perceived that the gnrrison evacuated Fort Ontario and passed over to that of Chouaguen at They abandoned, in retiring, 8 pieces of cannon and four the opposite side of the river. mortars. The fort having been immediately occupied by the grenadiers of the trench, the workmen were commanded to continue the communication of the parallel to the river side where at nightfall was commenced a large battery placed so as to batter F'ort Chouaguen, the erecting batteries.

road from that fort to Fort George, and take the intrenched

camp

fire,

Twenty

in the rear.

pieces

cannon were conveyed, during the night, in men's arms, a labor which occupied the whole army with the exception of the picquets and the camp guard. 'On the H'"", at day-lig^it, the .Marquis de Montcalm ordered Sieur de Rigaud to ford the river to the other side with the Canadians and Indians, to occupy the woods and harass the of

communication with Fort George where the enemy appeared making considerable preparations. M. de Rigaud executed that order at once; although there was a great deal of water in that river, and the current was very rapid, he plunged in and crossed over with the Canadians and Indians,

some swimming, others

destination without the enemy's

At

9 o'clock the besiegers

in

fire

had

the water up to the waist or neck,

and reached

his

being able to stop a single Canadian or Indian.

cannon ready

9 pieces of

and although the

for action,

fire

of

the besieged had been, up to that time, superior, they hoisted the White flag at ten o'clock.

Sieur de Rigaud sent back

to

Montcalm two officers whom the Commandant which was immediately drawn up, and

the Marquis de

of the fort delegated to him to

demand a

capitulation,

the conditions were, that the garrison should be prisoners of war, and that the F'rench troops

should enter into immediate possession of the

forts.

Commandant remove the

The

who was named

of Forts Georges and Chourtguen, took possession of them, with

of grenadiers and the pickets of the trenches to

has been already stated that they

It

Sieur de Bourlemaque,

occupied that of Ontario on the preceding evening.

artillery

;

he was instructed to demolish

and warlike stores and provisions which happened

celerity of our operations, in a soil

two companies

all

the

forts,

and

to be there.

which they considered impracticable, the erection of

much rapidity, the idea these works gave them of the number of the French troops, the movement of the corps detached from the other side of the river, the dread of the Indians, the death of Colonel Mercer, Commandant of Chouaguen, who was our batteries completed with so

killed at eight o'clock in the

morning, and, more than

and the dread of the Canadians and Indians, determined the besieged not

some soldiers number of the

killed

to

make

yet, Sieur de

all

who were

They have

a longer defence.

by the Indians whilst endeavoring

whom

Rigaud's bold manoeuvre

already firing at the

to

lost

fort,

doubtless

152 men, including

escape through the woods.

The

Seven vessels of war have also been taken, one of which carries IS guns, one 14, one 10, one 8 and the other three are armed with swivels; these are exclusive of 200 transports, and the officers and crews of prisoners has exceeded 1,600, of

80 are

officers.

these vessels have been included in the capitulation of the garrison, which of Shirley's and Pepperell's

was composed

two regiments of Regulars, and Schuyler's regiment of Militia. taken consists of 55 guns, li mortars, 5 howitzers and 47 swivels, which have been removed with a large quantity of bullets, shells, balls and powder, and a considerable

The

artillery

pile of provisions.

'

Compare

supra, p. 443.

— Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

918

The Marquis

de Montcalm has lost only threes men,

viz'

:

one Canadian, one soldier and one

gunner, exclusive of Sieur Decombles, and there were in the different corps of troops under

twenty wounded, all slightly. Sieur de Bourlamaque, Captains de Palmarol du Parquet of the regiment of La Sarre, are of this number.

his orders about

of the Grenadiers, and

On

the 21" of the

same month,

all

the forts having been demolished, the transportation of

the prisoners, artillery and provisions having been completed,

reembarked with

and repaired

his troops,

in

go to the destinations respectively indicated

different corps will

Marquis de Montcalm

the

Bay

three divisions to the

to

whence the

of Niaoure,

The Marquis de

them.

Vaudreuil has caused the four colors of the Shirley's and Pepperell's regiments of Regulars,

and that of Schuyler's Militia to be deposited with the usual ceremonies in the churches of

Quebec and Three Rivers.

The Marquis de Montcalm, on

Montreal, set out to rejoin the

his return to

army

at Carillon

and terminated the campaign there, where nothing of interest transpired.

Campaign

of 1757.

The Marquis de Vaudreuil having formed order to

Lake St. Sacrament, month of March a force

a plan of offence toward

secure Forts Carillon and St. Frederic, sent in the

in

of

1,500 men. Frenchmen, Canadians and Indians, under the orders of M. de Rigaud, Governor

Three Rivers,

of

to

burn the sloops, bateaux and sheds lying under the guns of Fort George,

called by the English, William Henry, situate from Fort Lidius, called Fort Edward.

This expedition having had the

Campaign with

the

all

at the

head of Lake

the success possible,

Sacrament,

St.

George, and in consequence ordered

siege of Fort

six

leagues

M. de Vaudreuil resolved on opening betimes the

necessary preparations.

The the

delay of the ships and the want of provisions rendered that operation very doubtful

first

ships

which arrived

having brought

at

Quebec

sufficient to justify

at the

end of June and

in

Vaudreuil commissioned Sieur Marsel, inspector of the King's stores, to make a as to the full

amount

;

the course of July, not

the undertaking of the siege of Fort George, M. de

enquiry

strict

may have in their possession. Every one of them, down of his own accord to a very small modicum for

of provisions the farmers

of zeal Cor his country, cut himself

and the surplus supplied what was wanting

his support until the harvest,

for the siege.

M. de

Vaudreuil, after having made sure of provisions, issued orders to assemble the troops in the

Lake St. Sacrament, which is half a league long, and where a corps of Canadians was stationed since the month of May, under the orders of Captain Gaspe of the Colony. The army being assembled there at the time appointed, was course of July at the Little Carrying place of

occupied,

from the date of

ammunition and 27"" July.

arrival,

The Marquis de Montcalm

presented them, to each other

its

in the

and

in

the

transportation

of

the

artillery,

bateaux,

provisions.

to

called the chiefs of the Indian Nations together,

King's name, a belt of 6,000 beads of

him,

Wampum,

to bind all the

and

Nations

order that they might not separate from each other nor quit him

in

until the close of the expedition. '

^(0.

The number

is

" thirty," supra, p. 443.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XV. Everything being ready, Chev. de Levis marched

30""

Canadians or Indians

to tiie

Bay

four leagues of Fort George.

embark on

of Ganaouske, on the

He

left

had orders to wait there

910

by land with 2,800 Frenchmen, Lake St. Sacrament, within

side of for

M. de Montcalm who was

to

the 1" of

August with 4,S00 men, and be followed by the entire artillery. S""* August. These two divisions having formed a junction at three o'clock in the morning, Chev. de Levis commenced his march at ten o'clock set out again in the course of the day. and went to within a league and a half of Fort George. M. de Montcalm set out at noon and on the 3""*

Arrived at

five o'clock

morning,

in the

On

with his troops and

artillery at the place of

was informed by two prisoners that the enemy being made aware of our movement, was to march out of Fort George at the firing of he merely made the troops land and prepared to march against the a signal gun to meet us

landing reconnoitred by M. de Levis.

arriving, he

;

enemy on hearing In

fact,

and

first

gun.

M. de Montcalm 500 men under the

several were discharged at Fort George at 7 o'clock in the morning.

commenced

command

the

his

march immediately

at

army and

the head of his

left

of Lieutenant-Colonel de Privat of the regiment of Languedoc, to guard the bateaux

artillery,

Chev. de Levis forming the van-guard with a part of the Canadians, all the same detachment he had had previously under his orders, approached

Indians and the

unopposed within a gun shot of the place, and posted himself on the Fort Lidius road to stop all relief. M. de Montcalm proceeded to the van-guard at one o'clock in the afternoon and having perceived with Chev. de Levis that 'twas impossible, without compromising the King's troops, to assault an intrenchment which communicated with Fort George, came to the conclusion to have the Commandant summoned, who gave him for answer that the troops of

were resolved to defend themselves to the death. M. de Montcalm ordered the necessary preparations for the siege; the trench was opened during the night of the i"" and 5"" of August, near the lake, 350 toises from the place. The Regulars and Marine troops were encamped at a short distance from the tail of the trench, and had their left resting on Lake St. Sacrament and their right on the forest. The Canadians and Indians commanded by M. Rigaud, M. de Vaudreuil's brother, under Chev. de Levis, formed a camp apart, some distance on the right of the Regulars and Marine troops, in order to be able to repair promptly to Fort Lydius, on the first notice that would be received of the enemy marching to the relief of Fort George. Every time Chev. de Levis would march forward, on occasion of some alarms, M. de Montcalm and the Major-General would follow close at the head of the Brigade of la Reine, composed of three battalions, one of which was the garrison

formed of the soldiers of the Marine battalions each, remained in the

;

the Brigades of

La

Sarre and Royal Rousillon, of two

camp under Colonel de Bourlamaque's

orders, to defend the

ditch in case of a sortie. 5""

The

Indians intercepted a letter from General

midnight the

Web,

written at Fort

Lidius, dated

He

informed the Commandant of that place that he would advance to fight the French army immediately after the arrival of the Provincial Militia, whom he had ordered join

to

the

4"".

him forthwith

Commandant

;

that,

nevertheless, should the Militia unfortunately arrive

situation of Fort Lidius did not permit

nevertheless, that this General had 6""

We

too late,

should look to obtaining the best conditions possible; he added, that the

him

command

to

of a

detach any of his troops.

camp

had eight pieces of cannon and one mortar

'Twas known,

of four thousand men.

in battery,

which

fired

with

much

success.

:

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

920

There was a second battery of S guns, one mortar and two howitzers which commenced morning. After the first volley, M. de Montcalm ordered a red flag to be hoisted and sent General Web's letter to the Commandant of the place, who, after having thanked him for it in writing, was waiting for the first shot from our side before he would open his fire. Our workmen were occupied during the night of the 7"" @^ S"" in constructing a road, with 7""

firing at eight o'clock in the

a quantity of fascines, across a

enemy's

swamp

30 toises wide, which was protected by a

hill

from the

fire.

The next

works were pushed to within about sixty toises of the fort. 9"" At eight o'clock in the morning the Commandant of the place ordered a white flag to be hoisted and demanded a capitulation, to which M. de Montcalm consented on the following night's

conditions

That the troops of the garrison and intrenched camp

I.

shall

march out with

their

baggage

and the honors of war.

That they

II.

proceed, on the next morning, to Fort Lidius, and in order to be

shall

protected from the Indians, they shall be escorted by a detachment of our troops and the

and Interpreters attached

principal officers

to the Indians.

That these troops shall not serve for 18 months against either his Majesty or his allies. IV. That all the French, Canadian or Indian prisoners taken on land in North America

III.

since the

commencement

of the war, shall be brought in to the French posts within the space

of three months.

The capitulation having been approved by the Indian chiefs, assembled for that purpose, was signed at eleven o'clock after which Chevalier de Montreuil, Major-General, proceeded at once to the troops,

fort and intrenchment, by order of the Marquis de Montcalm, to take a list of the and secure the provisions and munitions of war. The garrison was immediately

relieved by the grenadiers and the pickets of the trenches

where a guard of our troops was

were marched

the orders he had received from the Marquis de Montcalm, and

Commandant asked

to set

out with his

men

at night-fall to

when

The

officers,

men from any

all

was

regulated, the

avoid the Indians and demanded

several officers of the Colony, conversant with their language, to

himself and his

intrenchment

to the

Chevalier de Montreuil proceeded to execute

stationed.

accompany him

to protect

insult on the part of the Indians.

having learned that the greater part of

tlie

Indians were lying in

the Lidius road, where they should necessarily pass, advised the

Commandant

to

ambush on

postpone his

departure until day-break.

Next morning the English were attacked on their retreat by the Indians who plundered the men whom they carried to the camp and killed

greater part of their baggage, took about 000

about thirty.

The Marquis de Montcalm, Chevalier de Levis, M. de Bourlamaque, Chevalier de Montreuil and several officers, recovered about three hundred from the Indians and had them placed for safety in the fort. The Marquis de Vaudreuil has ransomed, at Montreal, the English who could not be got out of the hands of the Indians.

George

The killed

to Fort Lidius

the others from

;

loss of the I'rench,

and 40 wounded

;

Quebec

The former have been

to Halifax,

by

sent from Fort

sea.

Canadians and Indians during the expedition amounted to 13

that of the

enemy

to 41 killed

and 71 wounded.

men

PARIS DOCUMENTS The French army,

:

XV.

921

was composed of 7,626 men, and the troops of the Our artillery consisted of 31 guns, two mortars, three

including Indians,

garrison and intrenchnients of 2,372.

howitzers, 10 grenade mortars, 70 thousand weight of powder, shot and shell in proportion.

In the fort and intrenchment were found 3,000 barrels of flour or pork, 23 guns, 8 of which

were shell,

brass, iron

1,400

howitzers, mortars, 17 swivels, 35,S35 pounds of powder, 2,522 shot, 545

balls,

grenade

1

chests

6

chest,

of

artificial

and grapeshot of

fireworks

different calibres.

The reduction on Lake

St.

of this fort has been preceded by the defeat of 300 English, taken or killed

Sacrament, the

24"" of July,

by 400 Indians

or Canadians, under the

orders of

Lieutenant Corbiere of the Colony, without losing a man. 16"'

Fort George being entirely destroyed, our artillery, that of the

enemy and

all

the

munitions of war and provisions having been removed to the Little Carrying place of Lake St.

Sacrament, the army reembarked and arrived there on the same day.

M. de Montcalm, not having battalions of Royal Rousillon and until the return of the 17"'

war and

Beam

to

to

accommodate

one of the islands of Lake

bateaux which he sent for them the day

The Canadians were

remained in camp

sufficient bateau.K

sent

at the Little

provisions, after

home

to save the harvest

;

Carrying place to transport

which they have been dispersed,

to

all

St.

army, sent the

his

Sacrament

to

encamp

after his arrival.

the Regular and Marine troops artillery,

work

bateaux, munitions of

at the fortifications of Forta

Carillon and St. John.

Campaign

of 1758.

The Marquis de Montcalm having battalions 2"'^

arrived on the SO"- of June at Carillon,

where the eight

were encamped,

July. Seven of

them were sent

to

encamp

at the

Carrying place and

Falls,

and the

Marquis joined them on the 3''''. 3""* M. de Bourlamaque, commanding the battalions of La Reine, Guienne and Beam, encamped at the head of the Carrying place, learned from scouts that about sixty bateaux were hundred and fifty men, under the on Lake St. Sacrament. He immediately detached three orders of Captain Trepesec, of the Bearn regiment, to go by land to observe the route they

should take. 6"'

In the

morning the Marquis de Montcalm, who was encamped at the tail of the Carrying first Beam, had advice that the lake was

place with the Royal Rousillon battalions and the

covered with bateaux within three leagues of the Carrying place.

He

immediately sent orders

M. de Bourlamaque to fall back, on whose arrival he joined to the five battalions those of La Sarre and Languedoc, which were encamped on the left bank of the lake falls. About two o'clock in the morning a great fire of musketry was heard near the Portage, an eighth of a league beyond the Falls; it proceeded from M. de Trepesec's detachmejit, which

to

had been surrounded on endeavoring

to

return to

its

camp

escaped, 144 were taken and the balance remained on the

who coinmanded Vol. X.

the English detachment,

was

116

;

field

about one hundred of them of battle.

killed in this encounter.

Colonel d'How,

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

922

At night the Marquis de Montcalm retired under Fort Carillon, where he bivouacked through the night with his troops. 7""

In the morning he hastily intrenched himself on the heights of Carillon, where he had

was not interrupted during that entire day. At day-break, the troops put themselves under arms behind their intrenchments, constructed of timber, piece above piece. The Marquis de Montcalm sent volunteers out to observe the enemy, and ordered each battalion to render the intrenchment it occupied as complete as possible, and to keep its arras at its side, so as not to be surprised. The enemy did not delay their appearance they deployed in four columns at one o'clock in the afternoon. Our main guards and grenadier companies, whilst firing, retired in regular order behind the intrenchments. Thereupon, all the troops took their posts, and the soldiers who happened to be in the fort at Carillon, ran to the intrenchments at the signal of the gun. The second battalion of Berri had orders to remain in the fort to deliver and to convey all the ammunition necessary for defending the intrenchments. The enemy opened their attack by a most brisk fire of mnsketry and immediately advanced to fight with the cold steel, but our fire was so well sustained and directed, that it was impossible for them to approach nearer than 15 or 20 paces. In this way the fight continued until four o'clock, the enemy constantly bringing fresh troops against us, and from four o'clock until seven, they kept up a fire at a greater abatis formed in advance; this labor 8""

;

distance.

Waited

They

finally retreated after a considerable loss.

the Marquis de Montcalm did not visit the field of battle was assured that the enemy thought no longer of returning and were hastily embarking to go home. About 1,200 men were buried the number of wounded carried off has been about 3,000. We have had 14 officers killed and 20 wounded in this until next

morning to

;

give orders to do so, until he

;

action

;

92 soldiers or Canadians killed and 248 wounded.

The enemy's army was composed Regulars.

of 15 @. 16 thousand

Our's was 3,000 Regulars and 500 Canadians.

men

;

of these seven thousand

This

brilliant

day

may

were

be said to

have saved the Colony. The enemy, on arriving at Fort George, detached a body of troops on an expedition against Fort Frontenac, which they reduced on the 26"' August, and after demolishing it, and burning the sloops, except

prisoners of

war

two which they employed, returned to Choueguen. The garrison was sent to Montreal, and exchanged for the same number of men that we had in

the Colony. 25""

August. The English reduced Louisbourg and made the garrison prisoners of war.

14 September.

A

force of

800 English was defeated by a detachment of Canadians and

Indians, within sight of Fort Duquesne which they were coming to reconnoitre, thereby checking the march of an army of 6,000 men, who were on their way under General Forbs to

besiege

it.

Captain de Ligneris, of the Marine troops, who commanded at that fort, having had orders to burn and to remove the artillery, warlike stores and provisions on the approach of the enemy, executed those instructions in the month of October, on learning that they were within

two days march of him, and retired to Fort Marchault. The enemy contented themselves with building a small fort enclosed with palisades on the River Malengueulee, a at most,

short distance from Fort Duquesne.

Nothing of interest transpired the following winter.

Em).

PARIS DOCUMENTS

M.

de Vaudreuil

to

M.

XV.

:

928

de Massiac. Montreal, 28"'

My

9*^',

1759,'

Lord,

I learn this moment the arrival at Quebec of the schooner La Nanette and receive the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 24"» June last. I hasten to answer it so as not to delay that schooner, which M. Bigot is getting ready to sail as soon as the courier returns. I am, my Lord, extremely sensible of your goodness in inhancing to the King the advantages gained by the different detachments which I have kept in the field during the winter; the

assurance you give increase the desire

my

me

my

of the satisfaction entertained by his Majesty of

I feel to

services, can only

render him more important ones, and furnish him

new

proofs of

and industry in seizing every occasion to humble his enemies. M. de Bellestre's success last fall in burning the Palatine village and carrying the forts which protected it, would indeed have been, my Lord, a great help to the Colony, had it been possible to

zeal

remove the considerable portion of provisions of

particularly provided for that in

the orders

I

all

gave that

sorts found officer

;

that village.

in

I

had

but circumstances were not

favorable enough to admit of their execution. 1.

M. de Bellestre being much exposed to be pursued and perhaps cut

off

by a force

infinitely

was under the absolute necessity of using the greatest activity in his He was consequently unable to moderate the operations, success depending essentially on that. This was made by one party with all possible vigor, whilst others attack of his detachment.

superior to his own,

were busy firing the houses, barns &c. The greater 2. The 500 horses lost by the enemy in this affair were not exactly captured. portion of them was killed or wounded, and M. de Bellestre brought with him but a very small number, which was of very great service to subsist his detachment on its return. 3. Had he had all those horses and all the provisions at his disposal, he could not absolutely have profited by them, either because it was prudent for him to hasten his retreat, or because the transportation of the provisions had been utterly impossible, both on account of the difficulty of the roads and by reason of the rivers to be passed, and the impossibility of feeding the horses. I have nothing to add, my Lord, to the reports I had the honor to make to M. de Moras of my arrangement on the opening of the campaign, and of the great resources I found in the good will and zeal of the Canadians in supplying the provisions of which we were but too much in

want.

I can not sufficiently express to you,

to give full scope to

my

plans, the object of

my

Lord, the pain I

which was

feel at not

to anticipate

being in a situation

our enemies by quickness,

render their operations very undecided, to be able to observe them and to profit by lucky opportunities to gain new advantages over them. I regarded them as certain in the Corlac district,

whither

I

had destined Chev. de Levis,

placed the 5 Iroquois Nations

in,

who were

in

consequence of the good dispositions I had The friends I have among

desirous of joining him.

these Nations did not prove false to the attachment they have

vowed

to the

French

;

they have

constantly contrived obstacles to the views of our enemies, as soon as they have had an inkling of them but the expedients which succeeded so well with them during winter, became ;

insensibly fruitless, in

apprehensions, the English.

consequence of

and place them

in

a

it

being really impossible for

me

to

dispel

their

position not to observe any longer any terms with

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

924

my

Lord, than the success of the detachment I had conBded to Sieur de La Durantay, was necessary to make our enemies renounce their projects and preparations for

Nothing

less,

Mess" La Durantay and de Richerville having been included in I employ them in the propositions I have the

scaling Carillon in winter.

the promotion of 3757, as ensigns en second,

honor

submit to you

full pay. I have also placed Sieur de la have anticipated his Majesty's favorable disposition towards them, by making them participate in the 6,000" he has granted on his list of 1757 to those who

to

this

year, as ensigns on

Chevrotiere as ensign en second;

I

have distinguished themselves the most. I gave each at first 200". You will perceive, my Lord, by one of my letters, that I have not as yet received that sum. Our officers are generally penetrated by the attention with which his Majesty has honored their services and the rewards he has been disposed to grant them. I lost no time in informing them thereof.

who was at the head of the detachment defeated by our cadets, had the when he saw his ruin imminent; he left on the field of battle, his coat, and

Mr. Robert Rogers,

knack

to

escape

even the order he received from his General, which gave

had been I

killed, the rather as

cannot,

my

an Indian assured

account of the provisions which have reached us to is

me

me

every reason to believe that he

he had himself killed him.

Lord, but defer to the exactness with which M. Bigot has rendered you an

judge of our situation.

in different ships;

from that you will be able

I must, however, have the honor to observe to

you

that the scarcity

increasing from day to day in the Colony; the consumption of provisions has been only too

great, notwithstanding our

victual

all

our posts as

loss occasioned I

The

economy.

far as

by the rains and severity

have nothing

to add,

my

transportation in bateaux of the provisions sent to

Fort Duquesne, could not be effected without very considerable of the season.

Lord, to what

I

have had the honor

to observe to

you on the

necessity of having the provisions reach us here early; on that depends mainly the safety of

the Colony.

addition to

It is all

due to

my

the other

in cipher, of the 7"" of last

obligation and zeal to have the honor to repeat that to you, in

demands

have already had the honor of making

I

in

my

letter,

month.

had the honor, my Lord, to render you an account, in one of my private despatches, M. de Boishebert's campaign at Louisbourg, and in the Bay of St. George; that officer returned to Quebec only on the IS"" instant. I can render you only very good testimony of I have

of

his zeal in the execution of the orders

I had given him; he has always, in accordance with some detachments watching the enemy on the River St. John and seizing opportunities to harass them. These detachments have been too feeble to undertake great enterprises; I have never been convenient enough nor sufficiently able, to send him any

my

intention,

other forces.

Sieur de Boishebert was not at the head of the 50 Acadians who after having been in the neighborhood of Port Royal, were pursued by a detachment of 200 English. These Acadians had themselves elected their chief and equipped themselves at their own expense, as I have had the honor to report to M. de Moras.

M. de Ligneris has written to me from Fort Duquesne on the SO"" of last month ; he continues to have parties out, who brought him two prisoners on the SO"", from whom he learned that General Forbus was immediately expected at Royal Amnon ;• where there were more than 2,000 men, under the command of Colonel Bouquet, with 8 pieces of cannon on field carriages and several mortars

;

that a fort had been built there of piece '

Sic.

Lojal hftunon.

— Kd.

upon

piece,

and one saw-mill

PARIS DOCUMENTS as for the rest,

XVI.

:

they are ignorant whether Fort Duquesne

is

925

to be attacked this

fall

;

that the

Provincials had orders to go into winter qnarters; that they had been since countermanded, that there are no more horned cattle at Royal still spoke of dismissing them Amnon,^ but plenty of provisions of flour and salt meats; that the English suppose us 1 am not sure, my Lord, whether the enemy will to be very numerous at Fort Duquesne. organize any expedition this fall, or wait until spring; the advanced season and the two advantages we hav3 gained in succession over them, would lead me to hope that they will adopt the latter course. 'Tis much to be desired, for 'twould not be possible for M. de Ligneris to resist the superiority of the enemy's forces. Meanwhile, he will use all means in his power

but that people

to

;

annoy them; embarrass

their

communications and intercept their convoys.

It is

a great

pity that he has been absolutely obliged, by the scarcity of provisions, to reduce his garrison

200 men; fortunately, the messages he has delivered in my name, to the Delawares and Chawenons of the Beautiful river, have confirmed these nations in their attachment to the French. The Delawares of the mountains have also favorably received the messages sent to to

them, and are beginning to remove their villages to our to all the posts to procure for I

my

beg you,

Lord,

to

M. de Ligneris, early

territory.

I

be pleased fully to assure his Majesty that

my

fault,

truth, the salvation of this I

Colony

will

have had the honor

depend on the prompt to

;

that

it

will

but in fact and

strict

arrival of the succors of

every

should our enemies make, eventually, any progress

description which

orders

nothing to

will neglect

I

preserve for him the possession of the Beautiful river and of this Colony in general

not be

my

have renewed

in spring, all the assistance in their vicinity.

;

demand of you.

As my last despatches are the most interesting, I profit by this opportunity to transmit to you the quadruplicates thereof, the vessel by which I calculated to send them being armed as a privateer, and having no fixed destination. I flatter myself, my Lord, that you will have the goodness to pay the most serious attention to everything I have had the honor to observe to you respecting the situation of this Colony, and to the propositions I have submitted to you in favor of our oflicers; I cannot sufficiently impress upon you the importance of your obtaining his Majesty's approval thereof, and of your having the goodness to transmit to me by several of the first ships a list en commandement of the promotion. I

am

with the most profound respect,

my

Lord, your most humble and most ob't (

Memoir on

tlie

respecting,

America

;

DSpartoment do

the

la Guerre, Paris.

position

]

of the

secondly,

able at least to

in North America, during the last campaign, sixty-three thousand men, were troops from Old England. They have sent some more there since, and papers announce the departure often thousand Scotch for the New World.

whom

their latest

serv't,

Vaudreuil.

English and French in North what is absolutely necessary to send there, so as to be attempt some defence. [January, 1759.] first,

The English have had 23,000 of

),

Position of the French and English in America. [

Memoir

Signed

'

See iupra,

p. a24.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

926 They have

in their

Colonies the greatest abundance of provisions, horses, oxen, munitions

of vpar, Indian goods, and

Their troops are

more than 350 leagues of coast open

at present distributed in

Halifax, on the banks of the

Hudson

to succors

from Europe.

winter quarters, as follows: At Louisbourg and

Mohawk

river, at the head of Oneida lake, announcing the plan of attacking us simultaneously by the River St. Lawrence, Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario. Eight French battalions which will hardly number, at the opening of the campaign, 3,400 men, twelve hundred troops of the Marine, at most, five or six thousand Militia. Such are our

on the banks of the Ohio and

forces.

The

its

river,

on the

tributaries, thereby

cannot be included in the account.

Indians

—

English presents, our poverty,

what motives to abate their ardor! Besides, being independent, never making two expeditions consecutively, even should the first have resulted only in raising one scalp ill qualified for defence afraid of death what benefit can be expected to be derived from them? No stronghold in the country Niagara, the most tenable of the whole, cannot, if properly attacked, hold out more than three weeks. Shell alone will force Carillon to surrender a small, narrow right angle, inasmuch as its longest side is 54 toises and the small one 39, without casemates besides, all the other bicoques,* which are called forts, are scarcely proof our prodigious inferiority

;

;

;

;

;

;

against a sudden assault.

I

do not except even Mont-Real and Quebec,

if

the foot of their

walls be once reached.

We

want of

by carefully economising the little we have, it will be hardly possible to enter on the campaign and subsist through its first month. We are in want of powder, to such a degree, that if the English come to Quebec, there is not six days' supply for the cannon. Almost all the guns are iron, and bad. Mortars are wanting, and still more so, shells, of the calibre of those we have. For the service of all the forts and of several bodies of troops, scattered over more than five hundred leagues of country, there are in the whole Colony only two Engineers, without any are in

draughtsman, eight

provisions, that is to say,

artillery officers, five of

4 sergeants and 10 Cadets

;

whom

are from France, eighty-six gunners, including

these last are useless in a service of urgency, not a single

man

having the remotest idea of mines; not a mechanic of any sort whatever. Goods, to trade with the Indians, are almost entirely wanting.

Under these circumstances, 'tis evident that France, should she send ten thousand men, with munitions of war and provisions proportionate to such a force and to the actual necessities of the Colony, would not place herself again there on anything near a level with the enemy. But

would require at least one hundred sail, and such a fleet would run the from the danger of unfortunate encounters, or forcible delay from ice, of not arriving at all, or of arriving too late, and find the campaign already opened and the Colony perhaps invaded. this expedition

risk, either

armament cannot be thought of, and we must confine ourselves is treated, in which the sick man is supported by sink or a crisis save him that is to say, to send thither only what is

It appears, then, that this

to treating

Canada

as a desperate disease

cordials until he either

;

absolutely necessary so as to be able to try and

Now, What

is

make

a defence.

absolutely necessary?

' A term used in France to signify a place ill-fortified and incapable of much defence. It is derived from a place on the road between Lodi and Milan, which waa originally a gentleman's country house, surrounded by ditches. In the year 1522, a body of Imperial troops were stationed in it, and stood the attack of the whole French army. This engagement was called

the Battle of the Bicoeque. James' Military Dictisnary.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS 1" Provisions

who

contractor,

have crews

to

;

;

927

fits

out, in this

;

send poudre alimentaire tested

Munitions of war

S""*

XVI.

:

with them on account of the King to encourage the way, very considerable armaments in order that his ships may

to freight ships

at the Invalides.

a train of artillery; Artillerists and Engineers.

;

In the

first

place,

powder possible nine and twelve-inch mortars, and the greatest quantity possible of shells of the same calibre; all the ships ought to be ballasted with them. In the second place, a train of field artillery, and to work them a detachment with the troops of the Line, composed of four Engineers* (A) and two draftsmen, fifty gunners, fifty bombardiers, 4 sergeants included, * (B) thirty workmen, wheelwrights, joiners, carpenters, and smiths, including 5 sergeants or corporals, with an overseer of workmen, twenty miners, including two sergeants and two corporals, with one overseer of miners observing, that the the largest quantity of

;

;

two

aforesaid overseers be junior officers to those detached from the

Canada.

In the third place, a great

number of guns,

flints

Royal corps

in 1757 for and powder-horns, which save half

the consumption.

Some must be

Indian goods.

3'"'*

extremely necessary,

if it

sent and in considerable quantity.

These

articles are

be desirable to preserve any Indians.

arms and 18 months' provisions ; and who will render the greatest service in Canada. Thirdly, 150 Scotch, Irish and Germans to encourage and attract deserters of these Nations, who, in that case, will join us in great numbers. Recruits, viz': First, at least one thousand with their

4"'

secondly,

some miquelets, troops of no use

in

Europe

in the present war,

Observation. Relative to the preceding articles,

may

it

be, 1. Ordered, that every privateer or vessel

belonging either to the contractor or merchant demanding permission to proceed to Canada, take ball and shell as ballast

;

moreover, on the King's account, a cargo of munitions of war,

provisions, guns, Indian goods and

and English

Dutch, Irish

some recruits

even,

arrangements be made particularly

much

so

the

more advantageously

meet any English

What

2.

Negotiated, that the Spaniards, Portuguese,

warlike

for this object,

with Sweden and Russia,

stores

and

provisions,

who

and that

are situated

and Norwegian ports are nearly and therefore their ships would be almost certain not

in this regard, as the Baltic

in the latitude of the Straits of Belleisle, to

;

carry thither

vessels.

arrangements

can the

Court

make?

What

orders

send

to

Canada

for

the

next campaign? 1.

Threatened with being attacked by a superior army simultaneously

evident that

if

the ten thousand

men who compose our force, be

be the means of being annihilated, without even making the slightest

The Court must

therefore order that they be

bateaux, warlike stores and provisions

and

all

all

at

three points,

'tis

divided into three corps, 'twould eflibrt.

kept concentrated in a sort of centre, with

ready on the three routes, in order to repair rapidly many be attacked at the same time, to that one

in force to the first point attacked; or, if

the defence of which will offer us the most advantages, and there combine stratagem with the most determined boldness. *

(

A.

)

N. B. Imagine 500 leagues of country where

ments, and then judge

*

(B.

)

The

if

officers of

be detached with

its

it will be necessary incessantly to construct and to form intrenchone Chief Engineer and 6 Engineers under his orders, be too many.

the Royal corps, detached to Canada in 1757,

all

train of artillery along wilh the troops of the Line,

necessary to surrender the Colony by the Project to be hereafter explained.

went there to command this troop which should and which would not be lost, even should it be

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

928 2.

Orders must be issued that of

all

the Militia divided into three classes, good, middling,

bad; the first make the entire campaign, incorporated for that time into our battalions and those This arrangement is of the Marine; the remainder constituting the special Militia corps. absolutely the only one to the

two other

classes

whereby any ;

profit can

to order that

be derived from these Militiamen.

In regard

they have in their houses, accoutrements, a gun, one

pound of powder, two pounds of ball, ten days' supply of biscuit and pork, a certain number bateaux, kettles and 'prelats^ per parish, in order that in case of urgency, all the men march when commanded. The monks, priests, civil officers and women will perform the field labor, In regard to the defence of Quebec, the Court ought

1"

To

send four flyboats or merchantmen, to be stranded in the places to be pointed out by

Sieur Pelegrin, Captain of the port of Quebec, to serve as batteries and forts there.

It will

be

productive of this other great advantage for the general defence of the country, that the crews of these ships, which people will endeavor to have

who have made

commanded by

man

the voyage, will receive orders to

merchant

vessels,

that is to defend

Lakes

officers of

navy

the

Champlain and Ontario. 2"^

To

order

the construction of batteries, 1° at the

nearly opposite that, at

La

Eboulement, at Point aux Bouleaux, and

Frairie on Isle aux coudres

;

2° at

Cape Torment, which will

batter the ships that must, in order to pass the Traverse, proceed one by one, and remain

exposed

to its fire,

within short musket range, over a quarter of an hour

Orleans, one at St. Francis, and the other at St. Laurent.

required on board the

fleet,

An

;

3°

on the Island of

intelligent officer

would be

with orders, in case the ice or contrary winds should detain

it

near

the above mentioned place, to have constructed during that detention, the proposed works, in

whole or 3'''*

To

in part,

by the

recruits, gunners,

and even the crews.

order the construction of the redoubts and lines proposed in 1757, in a Memoir sent

to the Court. 4""

To

order the preparation, without delay, of brulots, crafts, bateaux mounted with cannon,

and redoubts similar 5""

To

to those

already constructed by Sieur Jacau, Colonial Captain of Artillery.

order that Mess" Pellegrin and

Le Vasseur be

consulted, and their advice followed

in all this maritime defence.

That the women, children, magistrates and all those persons that embarrass the defence, to Three Rivers, and that the greatest supply possible of provisions and munitions of war be collected there, storing them in private houses and even in the churches 6""

be immediately sent

if

necessary.

Now

comes the question, Quebec taken, is Canada reduced? 1. There is not in a second line any place of strength, any spot having in depot any warlike stores and provisions; 2. Canada cannot sustain herself by Yes, without a doubt, since

:

herself and without succors from France.

This second question No,

will

be asked

:

If

Canada be

in the actual condition of Louisiana.

General of any experience

and soldiers

in sufficient

by English

forces,

in

1.

lost,

can France keep Louisiana?

Because there

is

not in that country either a

war, or disciplined troops, or Engineers, or Artillery officers

number.

2.

Because, Canada once

lost,

Louisiana would be invested

without being able to receive any succor from France,

confined port, which could be easily blockaded by superior naval power.

From

the solution of these

two questions,

I conclude

'&(. Qu! prelarls

;

tarpaulins.

— Ed.

except at one

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVI. 1" That the Court, foreseeing the case of of the Colony,

Quebec being

the

army be beaten, and the other

full

povp^er to capitulate for the entire of

if

Governor-General

929

taken, and even the inevitable loss

frontiers forced,

should send to

its

instructions

on

Canada, and

its

Otherwise, that country, entirely exposed, will be

the kind and nature of such capitulation.

wholly sacked, the inhabitants dispersed or destroyed, the Colony irrecoverably King. Humanity and the interest of France dictate a seasonable capitulation. Let the Court send orders to the French

2"''

the

the remnant of the eight battalions

to

staff,

lost to

with the colors, to the Engineers and Artillery corps attached

to

them, to the best soldiers of

the Marine to be incorporated into the battalions, to Indian Interpreters and selected Canadian

Voyageurs,

to start for

The advantage

Louisiana twenty-four hours before a parley be called.

is proposed only because it is feasible, is, 1" That it King a good body of troops. 2""* Save Louisiana, because then 'twill be possible to make a stand there some time, even without succors from France. Provisions can be drawn from Illinois, and by means thereof our Upper country posts and Indians preserved provisions will be obtained also from the Spaniards. 3"' And confer honor on the French

of this plan, which

will preserve to the

;

The

nation.

But

retreat of the

Ten thousand immortalized

in order that this plan

express orders

be put into execution,

therefrom, should unforeseen circumstances letter to the troops,

is

it

necessary:

whereby

render

That

1.

Marquis de Montcalm, leaving him always

the

to

the Greeks. the Court send

with an open

execution impossible,

its

derogate

at liberty to

Majesty makes known that he expects this courageous

his

manoeuvre from them, and forbids the infirm or aged

officers

and soldiers undertaking that

march, which would be beyond their strength.

Let the Court order the Governor-General to keep

2.

in store at

Mont-Real two hundred and

bark canoes, and at the head of the Rapids seventy days' provision of biscuit and lard for

fifty

two thousand

five

hundred men

powder and

;

wampum

ball,

a certain quantity of

belts,

vermilion and some Indian goods.

Let the Court authorize the Marquis de Montcalm, or whomsoever

3.

command

Brigadier or an inferior officer to

The most profound secrecy respecting this project when should the ships be dispatched ?

4.

Finally,

In the

The

first

days of March

— the

10"', at

the earliest

ships to be ordered to cruize on the banks,

immediately south of Anli-Cosd until the ice

;

if

come down, anchor

the ice

still

if

to

— the

by the

pilots of those roads,

despatches given,

which

it is

whom

some cove known

who

will travel

essential they should

I

to

If

France desire to

fit

have brought with

by land, and carry

know

Vol. X.

the latest.

still

closed

if

;

open, to enter

;

the smaller at the Brandy

From

-pots.

In

the Brandy pots, to send the

me

to

France, to take the gut of Canso

whom

to the Generals the orders

1

have bad

from the Court»

betimes. :

out a stronger expedition to relieve Canada, such an effect would be

Quebec would run the two misfortunes would be equally bad. fleet sent to

France and Canada.

them, some Canadians, good walkers, to

produced more certainly by a diversion than

The

15"", at

in

If the gulf be closed, to order a vessel, steered

conclude this Memoir with the following observation

I

him, a

block up the upper part of the river, to wait

the large ships at Bic

Generals by land, the despatches from the Court.

be observed

the gulf be

these two anchorage grounds they have nothing to fear.

land there, in

will represent

at Louisiana.

directly.

risk of being intercepted or arrive too late,

117

and these

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

930

The landing for a diversion could be made nowhere better than 1" The English do not fear any such thing on those coasts, and some other object Carolina

S""*

is

from

at a distance

be derived from that circumstance

The

to give out

the forces the English have on that Continent and from

all

Danger seems greater

to attack us.

Carolina and the neighboring provinces are

4""

would be easy

it

for the expedition.

every point where they wish 3"'''

at Carolina.

landing force, in case

at a distance.

What advantage

of negroes.

full

could not

?

would not be able

it

maintain

to

its

ground, could retreat by

the River of the Cheraquis to Louisiana.

Memoir on Canada. Wherein is examined, 1"* Whether Whether it be possible to defend 3"" Whether it be easy to relieve it

be important

it

in

it,

in its

case the

preserve

to

war continue

it;

2"^

1759

in

present situation.

First Question. Is

There have been, from

who

all

it

of importance

time, people

are of opinion, that the preservation of

allege that

King a

costs the

it

to preserve

who have Canada

great deal, and that

Canada

?

thought, and perhaps there are some

it

of

is

more; that

will eventually cost

still

Some

importance to France.

little

it

yields

nothing, or next to nothing; that, in 1755, 175G, 1757 and 175S, probably more than fifteen millions have been

the

Kingdom.

expended yearly, which might have been better employed

Others say that the Kingdom, which

depopulated to settle a country which subject to the greatest scarcities

uncultivated

;

;

is

is

extremely rough,

that there are within the

that the Indian trade

is little

worth

;

itself full

;

is

being

of lakes and forests, frequently

Kingdom good

that, so far

diminish, as the trade in peltries cannot last a century

in the centre of

stripped of people,

lands which remain

from increasing,

it

will

always

they add, that the Canadian voyages

are long, fatiguing and dangerous. Finally, the third pretend that, in

be taken, at least in part; that

preserving European conquests.

exposed there,

We

to

many

which

revolutions

Besides, that

is it

when Canada will be well settled, it will be Kingdoms and Republics will be formed

not natural that

from France?

will separate

read in the Histoire de la NouvcUe France, by Father Charlevoix, Vol.

that these

same

difficulties

they were answered

in

It is

certain that

if

I.,

Book

4,

Page 173,

nearly were submitted to the King's Council in 1631, and that

manner

a

for these principal reasons

1"

;

the wars we shall have with the English, Canada will always be the cause of preventing France, at the peace,

all

'twill

to determine his Majesty to preserve those vast countries,

:

France abandon Canada, heresy

will establish itself there

known and unknown,

will

souls eternally lost!

This reflection may strike a Christian Prince.

remain

in

Paganism

or adopt the religion of England.

;

Nations

How many

PARIS DOCUMENTS France possesses,

2"''

931

North America, more territory than

in

known

not yet

Its riches are

continent.

XVI.

:

be preserved

always painful

is is

contained in the European

the best spots are not yet settled

;

seems- to require that so extensive a country

expenditure incurred there;

is

behold the

to

;

the King's glory

notwithstanding the immense enemy aggrandizing themselves

might considerably diminish; and, after all, this it would even be easy for those who are acquainted with finance to demonstrate that the trade and consumption of goods which is going on in Canada, produces for the King in time of peace, mucli more than is expended. This is the place where general reasons might be adduced to prove that it is of importance to at our

expense; besides, these expenses

object

is

not so remarkable in times of peace;

wrong

'Tis

a state to possess Colonies.

to object, that

year of European war causes the loss of more France.

It

now

whom

depopulating the kingdom.

would be required

How many

thousands of useless

they encourage to settle in

country so easy of preservation Acadia, Louisbourg

and

;

it

;

to people

One

New

to increase its population

;

a perceptible manner, because the Colony begins to grow in

in

men

within the heart of the

Every year the English are transporting

states!

is

it

tlian

might be complained that no care has ever been taken

that might be easily done

numbers.

men

New

Kingdom and number of

into foreign parts a great

Were New France

England.

in

other

families

peopled, there

is

no

naval forces, essentially necessary to Old France, would guard

may

be asserted that

if

Canada be

require a larger naval force than ever, because the English will

lost to

France the latter will

become absolute masters of

the sea. 'Tis true, that in process of time those vast countries will possibly divide themselves into

Kingdoms and Republics; the same centuries before that will happen futurity so distant 3"*

trifle,

must

fact,

England; but how many view into a

that

Canada

be of much use to France

will never

all

English, once masters of Canada, will necessarily take Louisiana

which are an object of importance

relied on, that the English will

be affected by

Our immense

Were

it

forests,

Of

most extensive.

and the Islands,

weight against For the same reason it may be Mexico from Spain, and Portugal may truly all

may

hands of the English,

in the

construction of

bean

all

their

As

early as 1696, the trade of the Island of

this is the richest,

all

all

the branches of trade

be said that

if

the

King

abundance

object of infinite importance and which

commerce,

Canada once taken,

will carry

the ships they will desire

all

Without knowing it

itself,

for France.

New

our vast prairies, once

facilitate forever the

yearly to 15 millions.

France,

soon wrest

only the codfishery, this would

lose.

will cost

it.

everywhere, and should

it

the trade?

because, being no longer disturbed by the Canadians, they will direct the Islands,

that

;

be reckoned as nothing, the preventing a rival nation aggrandizing

it

establishing, on the seas, a despotic empire and monopolizing

The

New

be the case with

and so uncertain.

Supposing, in

even a

will

'Tis looking too far ahead to extend one's

!

we

the easiest, the least expensive and the

Newfoundland alone amounted

the fishing ground must be renounced.

which

is

and can be carried on through out New commerce of England will soon

lose that country, the

be augmented more than 150 millions.

A

thousand other reflections present themselves

the patience of those

who

will read this

Memoir.

to the

mind, but

it is

unnecessary to abuse

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

932

Second Question. Should

The number

men

of

war continue

the

number

1.

We

must

for the

thousand of them, but at

the signal

of the parish priests, the sextons, those

many

sailors for a great

;

I dare

thousand must be deducted

the old men, those necessary in the country, the sick,

women, the servants

themselves to avoid being called out, those navigating the river

least eleven

reasons following:

strike off 4,000, to wit:

the husbands of sick

to defend herself?

that Colony bearing arms has perhaps been exaggerated.

in

assert that there are not fifteen

from that

1759, will Canada be able

in

who

means

find

to

who

hide

be exempted, the pilots for

sloops and bateaux, those at outposts,

who watch

day and night.

fires

much to levy more than two-thirds of the men. 2. Of the eleven thousand men to be levied, nearly 1,000 must necessarily be deducted for the Upper and Lower posts, and usually these are the best; it would be easy to enumerate them. general, doing

It is, in

3.

1,500 mechanics of different sorts, carpenters for batteaux, artillery work, blacksmiths,

gate-keepers, cartmen in the towns, must also be deducted

4.

again add to these, 1,500 domestics

;

town's people, necessary couriers, clerks, writers.

for the officers, the

men must be employed

Again, 3,000

for the transportation of provisions, utensils

and

all

the necessaries for the camps.

We

have 4,000 leagues of country

to preserve;

we have

scarcely 78 settled; the current

must be surmounted, the wind

is

oftenest contrary; sloops are frequently a

Montreal, as long in going to

St.

John

their cargoes have to be transported

Carillon,

which

of which are rapids,

carts,

in

month going up

to

must be made, that is to say, bateaux and and then there are 40 leagues before reaching

a portage

camp; from Montreal to Soulange is twelve leagues, three or four requiring carts; between Soulange and La Presentation there are more

the

is

;

first

than ten rapids, the bateaux have to be partially unloaded and the freight carried on the back

bad roads.

in these

To Niagara

a lake has to be crossed which the slightest wind comes a considerable portage of three leagues; pirogues are used to go to Presqu'isle, the River au boeuf and Fort Duquesne but there is especially a portage of at agitates

;

is

reckoned 120 leagues

;

after that

;

least 4 or 5 leagues.

To give an idea of the difficulty of transportation, I suppose that we had to send from the lower part of Brittany into Westphalia everything required by an army of 4,000 men, who would find nothing on the route nothing in Westphalia. Tradesmen would find this very

—

of execution, yet

difficult

it

would be much easier than

to transport from

Quebec what

is

required for the Beautiful river alone.

Add

to this, that

will be

met

in

fit

in

Canada

scarcely 5

months of

the year suitable for transportation. in

Canada, 4,000 only of them perhaps never

to fight, the others being occupied elsewhere, and, in fact, they are

the camps.

The 8

battalions of French Regulars, the forty

corps of 6,000 I

we have

supposing eleven thousand men could be raised

It follows that,

ask now,

certainly

men; if

it

amounts

'tis

a great deal,

still,

to

to sixty

companies of the Marine, hardly form a

add two thousand fighting Indians.

be possible for twelve thousand

men

to

resist

the enemy's army, which

thousand men, to be divided probably into three

Sacrament, another at Lake Ontario and towards the Beautiful river

;

— one

at

Lake

the last at Quebec.

St.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVI.

933

Bradok's defeat, the capture of Chouaguen, that of Fort George, the victory of the

July

last,

would create

hopes were not something miraculous recognized therein,

flattering

which cannot be calculated on.

It

further to be remarked, that

is

get our forces to Carillon before the beginning of June, and the

end of April.

Judge, then,

of

S""

it

is

almost impossible to

enemy can reach

there by the

be possible for the prudence of the Generals, the bravery of

if it

the troops, the willingness of the farmers, to resist the efforts of the enemy,

if

on

what regards our

foot, in

1759, as large a force as

1758.

in

I refer to

the

question

last

the latter have

and liquors and presents for the Indians. I will not say that there is will be done this year, that the enemy will prevent this and

scarcity of provisions

every prospect that no ploughing

the putting in seed the early part of the spring.

Third Question. Is

easy for

it

France

Troops and provisions are required will point It is

out the

not too

Quebec, they

Canada

to relieve

must arrive

in

in

1759

May;

?

the examination of this article

difficulty.

much will

to

demand an augmentation

of eight thousand troops.

probably be reduced, by death and disease,

have only 18,000 to oppose against 60 thousand.

shall

The

all

;

Is this

On

arriving at

we

6,000; consequently,

to

much? Is made on

too

it

sufficient?

must be relied on, and calculations the mistakes enemy. Men-of-war or merchantmen are necessary for conveying 8,000 men if the former be employed, 300 on board each, exclusive of the crew, is a liberal allowance; 27 ships will merchantmen, only and 40 will if they will carry 200, of them be required necessary but be will it be possible to dispense with having them convoyed by ships of the Line, Isle Royale situation of the country

of the

;

;

;

and Gaspe being actually

The

in the

hands of the English

?

Contractor-General of Canada demands 40 ships for his share alone, but

these will be intercepted?

20

at least will

how many

of

be required by the merchants; here are at once

100 ships of 300 tons required, exclusive of those which are to carry the munitions of war still

more are necessary

for the

conveyance of provisions,

not sufficient for the Colony and for extra mouths.

The pure

difficulty of transportation in

loss,

and

it

is

occasion of wasteful consumption. days' provisions;

it

Canada occasions

impossible to remedy

A

it

;

for

though the harvest be good,

This has been proved a great

consumption of provisions by

the necessity of employing Indians

party of Indians [is sent] to

make

another

is

prisoners, with 15

returns at the end of 8 days victorious, or without striking a blow

consumed everything and demands provisions. How are they inevitable abuse: Our domiciliated Indians are unwilling to go to

women

it is

in 1756.

to

be refused?

fight unless

we

;

it

has

Another feed their

you have 2,000 Indians, it will require provisions at least for 6,000. It is not flour alone that is wanting; the Colony is very bare of oxen and sheep, and at the close of 1759, hardly any will be found for refreshments for the troops or the ships, and 'tis certain, if the war continue, the Colony will be obliged to live on salt meat, which will have to be imported from France, and in that case what a number of ships will be required. and children, so that

if

Finally, supposing France could furnish

The enemy It is to

will attack

probably in May.

be feared that they will meet the

all

those vessels, will they arrive in sufficient season

Will those succors arrive

enemy on

quitting France;

in small fleets as in

some they

?

1758?

will find about

934

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

the roadsteads of Halifax

;

others will be about Louisbourg and Gaspg.

be sent altogether, a strong convoy will be required, and

it

will

Should those succors happen that many vessels will be

separated by fogs and storms;

it will happen that those ships will not be ready soon enough and though they should be, their voyage will be a great deal longer. All these

to sail together,

succors are necessary

can France furnish them ? If an attempt be made to recover Louisbourg any considerable diversion be made on the coasts of New England by a considerable fleet, then the whole of the succors I have enumerated may not be wanting but has France ships and seamen? Enough for the seas of America and Europe. ;

or Gaspg, or if

;

Detached Thoughts. Perhaps

be easy to convince the Crowns, especially the Maritime powers, of the they have in preventing the aggrandizement of England the reasons suggest

interest

will

it

;

themselves. It is

almost impossible

has, or will have, 8,000

the line

in

Acadia

men

and doubtless

there,

is

will find

to reestablish the

it

it

after our

enemy

example, will keep some ships of

difficult to listen to

laid waste.

It

knows

The

waging against

Indeed,

It sees

it.

New

England must be very

midst nearly 4,000 of

in its

who have been massacred and whose

that in taking

Canada

English, once

Minorca, and being on the eve of invading

propositions for peace.

of the wars our Indians are

most of the inhabitants dead;

few of them that remain.

to the island of

frontier families bewailing their kindred

been

possess no port in those seas; the

entirely ruined, stripped of all domestic animals;

immense sums

masters of Canada, will prefer

weary

;

we

that port.

'twill cost

it,

Louisbourg

to retake

it

will

its

properties have

be rid of the cruelty of the Indians

and enjoy forever the sweets of peace.

Quebec

is

not a strong place;

outside a flying is

camp

very improbable that the

'tis

enemy

is

annoy the enemy

in their

march and during the siege

To

send succors

;

it

ignorant of the strength of the fleets which will be sent;

natural that they will oppose stronger ones, especially as they can station

most advantageous is

our hope depends on preventing the landing and having

all

of 4,000 men, to

them

in the

ports. in divisions is to

run the risk of losing

to expose ourselves to a general action

and

all in

to lose all at

detail

once;

it is

to

;

to

send them together, expose oneself to a

veiy long voyage.

Ten ships of war well armed, once arrived at Quebec would defend it infallibly; at least enemy could not approach it with any vessels, noreven with boats. They must land below Quebec, on the North or South shore, and 2,000 men on each side would be a great check, and prevent them occupying those places that command the town and harbor; each ship could

the

furnish 200 men, without predjudice to the operations

take out 200 troops,

we might

it

would have

be certain of arresting the English

to carry on, fleet,

and should

it

because the Colony

would supply more.

The

difliculty consists in getting those ships there. Were the locality known, the perhaps might be admitted of stationing 2 or 3 ships at the Traverse, as many between Point Levi and the Island of Orleans, one or two near Beauport to drive off" the enemy's bateaux should they dare to present themselves. 'Tis for Seamen to decide.

feasibility

The preceding

reflection

must not prevent the sending of every other demanded in the Memoir.

provisions and munitions of war,

sort of succor in

men,

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XVI.

935

make an

attack by the Lakes St Sacrament and Ontario we should need 16 or IS. 000 fighting men, the enemy's preparations are made, and absolutely speaking they might make themselves masters of Canada by these two points. Canada has but one very narrow outlet, that is the gulf. If the English preserve Louisbourg and Acadia, 'twould be difficult to receive any relief by that way. That Republic would be a great It were desirable that Holland should possess Acadia. assistance to Canada, would as far as she might be able to, prevent the English seizing it for fear of being herself driven from Acadia, which she would have a great interest in preserving; as a choice of evils, it would be one hundred times better that Holland possess it with her we would arrange the limits we would have enough in Louisbourg, the Island of St. John, Gaspe, the Petit Nord in this way would be terminated the thorny question of limits. On the supposition that Holland would have the Peninsula, the Isthmus would remain with also, the River St. John and Lake Saint Sacrament; Leydius might be regarded the French as the English boundary; our limits would be F'ort Bull, and then the chain of the Apalaches mountains which divide in fact in two the territory between the lakes and the sea coast; or if that point could not be gained, the River Oyo would answer our purpose. 'Tis to be feared that the English will leave in New England 15 or IS thousand Regulars, which they will, on declaring war, push suddenly into Canada what means of resistance are but unfortunately the Colony will be there, if we do not keep up 8 or 10 thousand troops unable to feed them except in the most abundant years, and supplies of provisions, all the and munitions war implements of necessary for 10,000 men, will be required from time to time

Assuredly the English will

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

It will be necessary to think seriously of establishing granaries or magazines of from France. reserve, on account of the scarcities which frequently overtake us.

naturally be quite tired of the war,

many have

perished in

they are burthened with the most harassing works, have not time

to increase

their property

The people nor even

of

Canada must

to repair their

houses

a portion of their subsistence has been wrested from them,

;

it;

many

have been without bread for 3 months, the troops that incommode them are quartered on them, they have not throughout the year as much food as they think they need; they are told that the English will allow them freedom of religion, furnish them goods at a cheaper rate and pay liberally

for

allow themselves to be seduced

;

The

Canada.

corps of artillery in

;

it is

persons above the

natural for the people to

murmur and

the inhabitants of the cities will be the most easily debauched.

Memoir mi Artillery of

Some

These ideas are spreading.

the smallest service.

populace do not blush to speak in the same style

the next

Campaign in Canada.

Regulation to be

Canada

is

composed of

made 3

for the

officers,

next Campaign.

10 cadets and

S6 gunners,

including 19 gunners and one sergeant detached from the Royal corps in 1767.'

In appointing Sieur Mercier, one of these 3 intention

was

to

make two companies

of

it,

officers.

Commandant

of this artillery, the

instead of one which existed previously, but as

:

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

936

the material failed, especially for officers, application

was made

to

France

Six were

some.

for

and through some misunderstanding, no doubt, passed into the Colony

detached,

M" Berryer' has corrected

degraded on arriving there.

that error, by declaring

to

be

them detached

to serve with the troops of the Line.

But

will the plan of

gunners,

still

appears to

It

forming two companies of

artillery

with 3

10 cadets and 86

officers,

subsist?

me

that the following

service at least for this campaign.

arrangement would be better adapted

Peace

is

necessary for the alterations

public

to the

:

1"» To form only one single Colonial company of artillery, composed of 100 gunners, bombardiers and 10 cadets, of which Sieur Mercier to be Commandant, if it be desired that

he should preserve that

title

;

Sieur Jacqueau, Captain

Sieur de Lusignan, Lieutenant

;

;

Sieur

make officers of any of the Cadets who have served during the last campaign, let them be made 1" and 2"'^ Ensigns. 2° To withdraw from this company the sergeant and 19 gunners detached from the Royal Danseville,

first

Ensign.

If it

be proposed to

corps in 1757. 3"

To complete

in the

it

with the gunners and bombardiers which the Minister of Marine will send

month of March.

4° To order that a troop to be organized, under the name of Detached company from the Royal corps serving with the troops of the Line, of the 20 gunners of the Royal corps and such as will remain from those sent this spring, after the Colonial company shall be completed.

Montballiard

Sieur de

will

D'Epinassi, Bonafour and 6°

To

Du

be

its

Commandant;

Captain;

Louvicon,

Sieurs

order that for service Sieur Mercier and de Montbelliard rank equally according to

the seniority of their commissions as Captains.

Sieurs Jacqueau and Louvicon and the other

same arrangement, that is be sent to Canada to oversee

officers will follow the

Should an the

Sieur de

Verni, Lieutenants.

officer

workmen and

to say, equal rank, seniority of

the

workmen and another

commission.

the miners, with

the miners required, they will likewise be detached to serve with the troops

of the Line under Sieur de Montbelliard's orders.

The advantage of this arrangement is 1° To excite emulation between these two

The service will gain thereby. economy; if the Minister will order that the works of the artillery and the transportation relative thereto be no longer done by contract, but in the same manner the Marquis de Montcalm has had the external work of Carillon 2"

To

corps.

lessen the expense, as for instance, by

executed in 1758. '

Nicolas Rene Beeeyek was the Boa of an Attorney-General of the Grand Council.

1743, and in 1747

was appointed Lieutenant of t'oliee, in which Having thus gained the good will

the spy system then in vogue.

his gratitude to his protectress

among

by

filling the

Madame de Pompadour,

Bastile with her enemies.

it

excited, that Mr. Berryer

was obliged

to fly for his

life,

them transported

Count d'Argenson, by

to Louisiana, but such

and the Court was obliged to

public anger.

Mde. de Pompadour, notwithstanding, had him appointed Counsellor of State, and on the

him advanced

to the office of Colonial Minister, for

which he was

Intendant of Poitou in

the King's favorite, he proved

In 1755, he aitempted to carry out a gi>neral press

the vagrants and idle children that invested Paris, in order to have

indignation

He was

position he effected the disgrace of of

less fitted

sacrifice 1st

him

was the

to appease

November, 1758, had

than for the Police department.

On

the 13th of

October, 1761, he was appointed Keeper of the Seals, and died 15th August, 1762, after having, in his different employments,

attended more to the

affairs of

Mde. de Pompadour than to those of the State. Biograpkie UniverselU.

— En.

PARIS DOCUMENTS To have

3"

XVI.

:

937

a corps of artillery, which, not being Colonial, will be able, in case

obliged to capitulate for the Colony and

we be

troops, to retire to Louisiana with the troops of

its

the Line. ll"-

January, 1759.

M. Berryer

to

M.

Bigot. Versailles, ID"" January, 1759.

Sir, I

answer your

letters of the

IS""

August,

3"*

September and

6""

November

of last year,

touching the expenses of Canada. I

shall not enter

with you into the detail of the different chapters of expenditure contained

forms {projets

in the

d'ctats)

you have sent me conjointly with

make any change,

useless, at present, to

M""

de Vaudreuil.

I consider

it

advance, in forms I have found introduced of similar

in

returns, which do not include one quarter of the expenses incurred each year, although that

custom be very ridiculous

in itself

and

in

no wise contributes either

I have ordered these blanks to be dispatched,

But

I forewarn

will permit

As

you that

my

is

it

and send them

intention to establish a

to

order or accountability.

you with another

to

new

joint despatch.

order as soon as circumstances

it.

for the rest,

expenditure

in

retrenchment

it is

not in these forms that the abuses consist which certainly prevail in the

Canada.

I

am

also

is no room for and that the variable expenses depend on the

persuaded, as you observe, that there

in the objects of fixed expenditure,

concurrence of circumstances which

arise during the

year; they cannot be

foreseen in

all

the blanks.

The abuses

exist in the

employment made of

the funds in the Colony; they are to be sought

hands of those intrusted with their details, and an end can be put to them only by investigation. I cannot conceal from you that I have perceived in the account called for for in the

by me of what has been done

for

some years back,

that people are in the habit of

without economy, without order and without any precaution

How,

for

example,

is it

possible that the small-pox

among

for the

the Indian Nations of the

country, should have occasioned extraordinary expenses to the

whom

has this expense been

storekeepers?

You do

to distribute the

Is it

by commanding

do you wish

I

me

confess to you that this to reconcile,

goods which you have made

is

amount

officers at the

not enter into any detail on this point.

King's property, and the matter

waste {comommation).

How

made?

posts?

Every one, then,

of administration

is

it to.

Upper

million?

of a

got rid of by passing

manner

consuming

King's interests.

By

by the

Is

it

is

at liberty

the account of

very extraordinary.

on the other hand, the enormous demands

for all sorts of

under pretext of a general scarcity of everything, with your information contained in other letters wherein you advise me of the capture of Fort Frontenac; that the King has lost, in that fort, a prodigious quantity of provisions and goods. I

am

this year,

not ignorant that the fort

was the depot for the posts on Lake Ontario and Erie and the it must be always supplied, but if the posts in the Upper

Beautiful river; that, therefore,

countries could have caused an expenditure of a million in provisions and merchandize, Fort

Frontenac had no need of Vol. X.

all

that

you say

it

118

contained.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

938 Again,

T

and vphich ought

manoeuvre anything and that

By

am

supplies which arrived last year in Canada,

sufficed to furnish all those posts, purchases are

have

to

from private persons, of considerable parcels of goods, and

posts,

I

immense

perceive that in addition to the

it is

else

but that the King's property

is

I

made

considered consumed on

its

arrival,

effects in the

Colony.

afterwards resold to his Majesty at excessive rates.

this operation the

King buys

France and repurchases the same

in

no longer astonished that immense fortunes are seen

in

at will of everything is the true cause thereof, especially

pretended to have been

made

Canada

when

the liberty of disposing

;

the certificates of presents

any examination

to the Indians, are accepted without

as in the case of Sieur D'autrive, the Treasurers' clerk at Montreal, the difficulty retiring

from the service.

deficit of his

you

The

investigations

cash account prevent

me making

which have been made,

an example of him

but

;

I

is

;

As

would be

exempting him from suspicion. the multiplicity of movements now in Canada,

or

when,

got over by

judicially,

into the

do not conceal from

that his precipitate departure from the Colony, perhaps, also, the pretext he

so doing,

very

at those

cannot infer from this

made

for

sufficient for not

for the rest, in

I

can only excite your

more scrupulous attention to the choice of persons entrusted with any department of administration you cannot do everything yourself, you cannot be everywhere, but you can assure yourself of those in whom you place any degree of confidence, and that is the principal source, more or less, of the abuses that occur. Having spoken to you of the consumptions, it remains for me to communicate to you what zeal

and instruct you

to direct a

;

regards the finance of the Colony.

All that occurs in the fabrication of the treasury notes,

receipts and their conversion into bills of exchange on France, is not free from the apprehension

of fraud that they are exposed to

;

Canada having only one

not sufficient for the payment of the expenses,

'tis

which becomes indispensable

million of paper-money,

certain that

supply the deficiency by some other means; the simplest, no doubt

it

is,

for the Intendant

is

to

to sign

which are in use for many years past, to transfer those notes to the Treasurer, submits them to the Registrar, and issues them successively in proportion to the expenses.

the printed notes

who

You

by the printed notes

will see

conceive of this

new and dangerous

by enabling you to Colony, the want determine

me

transmit to you this year, that whatever idea

I

form,

circulate the notes

I

I

might

place you in a condition to continue your operations

which procure you the means to do so. The state of the must place in you, are the reasons which

of time and the confidence I

thereto.

avow

to you, nevertheless, that this practice is contrary to all the laws of the Kingdom, by such operation the Intendant alone becomes, without being expressly authorized thereto, the fabricator of a money which has circulation in the Colony, without the King's permission, and you must be aware of all the consequences thereof. I

shall

for

I have not considered

of which that

it is

it

it

my duty to

would be necessary

to

propose to his Majesty to suppress that practice, the place

supply by some other, but he has ordered

me

to tell

you

his intention

1" That M. de Vaudreuil sign with you

ail

the Treasury notes that you will have to issue to

the Treasurers' clerks. 2°'^ 3''''

That no notes be issued without the cause of the expense being recorded. That you cause to be remitted a monthly list of the notes that Treasurer

the public, either for the purpose of returning the paper to obtain bills of

exchange on France

amount of such paper.

in their stead,

money brought

or for expenses which

to

will issue to

the Treasury

may exceed

the

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVI. i'""

That you

939

verify conjointly the value retired in acquittances in the hands of the Treasurers'

immediately after drawing the bills of exchange. That a list be also furnished you of the printed bills and notes remaining in circulation the drawing of the bills of exchange. That you cause to be transmitted to me copy of all those lists and the result of

clerks,

"

6""

after 6""

your operations.

You

the arrangements which

will easily perceive

prodigious quantity of such clerks,

who

may

result

from the

facility

up to the present time, been entrusted

bills has,

with which a

to the Treasurers'

then become absolute masters of them without any other precaution than exacting

from him receipts

for

the quantity,

without enquiring into

employment; without

their

make any use he thinks proper November, when you rendered ah account of

verification of their conversion into bills of exchange,

he can

month of you state nearly how much they ought to amount to they are counted, and a year afterwards and the following years very considerable excesses are discovered. This confusion which has prevailed for a long time in the finances of the Colony, would excite violent suspicions; I am fully convinced that neither one nor the other of you have of them.

This

so true that in the

is

the year's expenses,

;

any thingto reproacii yourselves with, but as heads of the administration of the finances, you are not exempt from stories circulated here, and of which I was not ignorant previous to the King confiding to me the Department of the Marine. I did not attach any credit to them I have merely collected all the information I have been able to obtain on whatever regards Canada. I have concluded that it was indispensable that I should communicate to you all that I have had reason to perceive, and in the firm resolution which I have come to, of placing all parties right, of uprooting abuses and putting an end to everything that might contribute thereto. I reckon on your paying every attention to this object that it merits on both of you closely watching it, and concurring in furnishing me the information I need in order to put into execution the views I propose to myself. 'Tis certain that if, hereafter, the expenses increase every year as they have done since 1755, Canada would become excessively burthensome to the Kingdom ; it is already much so you are not ignorant of the efforts that it has been necessary to make to meet the payments I hope I shall have, from this very year, a satisfactory account to render to the King of the attention ;

;

;

;

you

will apply to

it.

I

cannot too strongly recommend you to furnish I

Minute ;providing for

The

events in the

Vaudreuil,

(lie

life,

am.

ofice of GoverTwr- General in case of

having created in

the Marquis

command

de Montcalm should

Governors, though

men

of

it

assume

crisis to

was not assured it

in

default

of merit in their station, not being

Chief, especially in a time of

war and

the

means

to

do

it.

M.

de VaudreuiVs death

1756 the apprehension of the death, of M. de

Governor-General of Canada, and the

subject, in case the general

me

Sir, entirely yours.

which that Colony would be

at once, his

of M. fit

de

Majesty decided that the Deputy Commander-in-

Vaudreuil,

for the place of

in regard to the troops of the line

under his orders.

A

.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

940

commission was consequently issued for the M'" de Montcalm and it was addressed to M. Bigot, the Intendant, recommending him under the strongest injunction of secresy, not to unseal the packet nor to

make any use of no knowing how

except in the case of M. de Vaudreuil happening to die.

it

the events of the war might produce a change in the office Commander-in-Chief of Canada, 'tis deemed proper to propose to his Majesty, in confirming the orders already issued, to bestow it on M. de Montcalm in default of M. de Vaudreuil ; to

As

there

is

far

of

dispose of

in favor of Chevalier de Levis, Brigadier-General, in case of M. de This precaution appears necessary in the present circumstances, and there presume that the office of Commander-in-Chief being assured to three persons,

it,

also,

Montcalm's death. is

reason to

in default the

procure

it

one of the other, the discussions which the Deputy Governors might create to

for themselves, will

be avoided, and

this packet will

be addressed as before to M.

Bigot, not to be opened except in case of accident. as""

January, 1759.

Minute

respecting the promotion of

M.

de Montcalm, Chevalier de Levis^ &c.

His Majesty having been informed of all that occurred last year in Canada, has been graciously pleased to reward the services of the Marquis de Montcalm and Chevalier de Levis, by making the former Lieutenant-General of his armies, and the second, Major-General Marechal de Camp). The Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor, Lieutenant-General of the Colony, ( His office of Governor-General requires, is equally entitled to favor by his zeal and services. at the

same time

that

'tis

fitting,

that he should receive

time when the King bestows signal proofs thereof to the

What

appears at the

Vaudreuil,

is

who

the

his Majesty's

bounty at a

serving under his orders.

moment

the Honorary

two years ago themselves

marks of

officers

the most suitable and what will greatly flatter the Marquis de Grand Cross of the Order of St. Louis. His Majesty granted him

Grand Ribbon.

The

troops of the Colony,

the

are attached to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, will see

particularly distinguished

by

his Majesty,

and

it

farmers,

the Indians

him with pleasure thus

will not fail to influence

advantageously the

operations of this year.

February, 1759.

M.

de Silhouette to

M. Berry erf Paris, S"- February, 1759.

Sir, I

have received the

letter

you have done

have omitted nothing to enable honor me with.

T

I

The

me

me

the honor to write

to respond to the

marks

me

of

have read with attention the two Memoirs on which you direct first

treats

of the

nature

of Louisiana

and

of Canada.

on the

27"" of last

month.

esteem and confidence you

me

to give

you

my

opinion.

The second supposes

the

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVI. abandonment of this

latter

941

Colony, proposes the emigration of the Canadians to Louisiana and

discusses the objections thereto.

To throw

on so important a matter and to satisfy your orders, I have made a

light

—

preliminary Memoir on the previous question

Is it proper or not to abandon Canada"? I American system may have on that of Europe, the nature of tiie possessions of the Frencii and English in that new world finally, what are tiie views of the English and the advantages they propose to themselves in the conquest of Canada. I annex to this Memoir copy of that which has been made in 1751 by the Marquis de la Gaiissonniere on the French Colonies in North America. He treats in it the same questions,

have examined

in this

Memoir

the influence the

;

and his testimony I

such a matter ought to possess great weight.

in

have thought that

ought not confine myself

I

to the general

question of abandoning or

have prepared a second Memoir, submitting the summary detail of the That detail plan for the emigration of the Canadians to Louisiana, and discussing its motives. and those motives are scattered through the answers of the author of the project to the It is there I have found them. objections he raises himself.

maintaining Canada.

I

The struggle between France and England, to-day, The English pursue their object with an attention, an

is

preponderance in America.

for the

activity, eflbrts

and an expense which

Europe

prove at least that the influence of the American system over that of

is

not a

problematical opinion with that nation.

The conquest

of

Canada

is

considered

by the English only as a stepping-stone

conquest of the other French Colonies, and that

is

to

motive which must render

the

the its

preservation extremely precious to France.

you here agrees with what M' de la Gaiissonniere when he was Governor-General of that country. 1 had not the advantage of his acquaintance. I had, at that time, no relation with him sojourn in America him What his unfolded to of the views of England, my sojourn in England

What

have the honor of submitting

I

was writing from Canada

to

as far back as 1747,

;

also afforded

me an

opportunity of observing

communicated with each friendship.

I

other,

we

concurred

had occasion, several times,

and

;

in

at so great a distance,

opinion as

we have

without having ever

since done in esteem and

converse with Marshal de Noailles^ and Count

to

de Maurepas on the projects of England, and on their persuasion, I drew up, in the month of

October of the same year, 1747, a Memoir on the finance, marine and commerce of that nation,

which

in

I

discussed the necessityof placing Canada, as soon as circumstances would permit, in

with that view I proposed would be reduced at the peace to continue their pay to them some time to give those of them who would apply for their discharge, lands, facilities to cultivate them, and in that way appropriate to that Colony a supply of soldiers a position not to fear anything eventually from their enterprises

;

to have conveyed thither the soldiers that

;

;

'

Adeten Madeice dkNoahleb was

in 1693.

a brigade of Cavalry.

and obtained a company Palamos and Gironne. In 1695, he Madrid -was created Brigadier in 1702,

bom in Paris in IBYS. He made his first campaign in Catalonia,

Assisted at the siege of Roses, at the battle of Ter,

commanded

and

In 1701, he accompanied the

at the capture of

Duke

of

Anjou

to

;

Major-General in 1704, and served in Germany under the Duke of Burgundy. He commanded the French army in Spain in 1706 until the peace of Utrecht, and on the death of Louis XIV., he was appointed, 15th September, 1715, President of the

He was sent to the army in filled that office until January, 171S, when he retired to the country. Germany in 1734, under Marshal Berwick and captured Worms. He was next created Marshal and sent to cammand the army in Italy in 1733, where he remained until September, 1730. He was again called into active service in 1741, and in 1743 was appointed to the command of the army in Germany, where he lost the day at Dettingen, and served under Marshal Council of Finance, and

Saxe at Fontenoy.

In 1746, he was Ambassador to Spain

;

retired from public

honorable career 24th June, 1766, at the age of 88 years. Biographie Urdverselle.

life

— Ed.

in 1755,

and terminated a long and

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

942 and husbandmen

;

measures which, carried out with a wise economy, would have been of

many

expense, would have saved the state

trifling

made Canada

millions in the course of the present

war

the bulwark of all the other Colonies, and might have resulted in a superiority

of land forces over the English in America as in Europe, which belongs to the constitution of

France

to possess

over them, and would have been capable of disconcerting their projects.

Marshal de Noailles and M. de Maurepas desired that King's Ministers.

I

should submit that

which would have been necessary

that object of the funds

As the naval

I

Memoir

to all the

Circumstances, doubtless, have not permitted the application to

did so.

for its execution.

forces of the English are greatly superior to those of France,

men

reason for making Canada stronger in

;

but,

by being

inferior, as

we

it

was an

additional

are in America, both

must be expected it is still less from the naval and proper to their Colonies, that those of France have to fear the most damaging blows. I cannot help suspecting that the difficulty of sustaining Canada is the real source of all the motives by which its abandonment is on land and

sea, a continuation of reverses

;

forces of the English than from the land forces belonging

sought to be cloaked.

such be the case, in a short time will be seen reviving the gothic

If

system that France can dispense with Colonies, and has need only of husbandmen and Russia grain

is

Russia,

;

a State which

bounded

is

subsidies

from foreign powers

so

;

true

is

it,

that

necessary for the dignity, the grandeur and power of a State, especially of

is

in great part

might consists principally

To

receives

nevertheless,

something more

I

soldiers.

no want of soldiers; she does not lack husbandmen inasmuch as she exports

in

by the

sea,

and has

for its capital

enemy

whose

a nation

in its naval force.

enter into a more minute detail would be anticipating the perusal of the

have the honor to send you, but

Observations to you, one of which

is

I

instant; the other

may

Memoirs which

without presenting two influence the projects and plans

cannot terminate this

letter

of operations to be followed in the course of the present war.

The

first is,

that no

means ought

to

be neglected to enable Canada to defend herself against

the ulterior progress of the English, or at least to contest the ground with them, inch by inch.

Although that Colony be or as good.

A

in the

most extreme danger, yet, almost all its inhabitants are soldiers, when not in want either of provisions or ammunition, can find

people, so brave,

resources where none are imagined.

No one

feels,

circumstances

more than

may

do,

[

how important

it

would be

to

adopt

all

sufficiently instructed to discuss that point.

I could do

it

as

it

such measures as

do not

feel myself ought to be done, only with aid

permit, to provide for the defence of that Colony, but

I

and counsel, and I could not take any unless authorized. Besides, it would not be possible to form any plan of arrangements except on the communication of information necessary to understand the actual state of the Colony.

The second Observation obtain

its restitution at

is,

that

if

Canada be unfortunately

lost,

means must be devised

the peace, as well as that of the other French Colonies, which

it

to

will be

easy for England to seize, as soon as the fear or resistance of Canada will have ceased to offer

any obstacle thereto.

The English

will place so great a price,

and with

justice,

on their

them to give them up, except by making them apprehend the consequences of an invasion of England herself. When I had the honor to see you, Sir, for the first time, you encouraged me to prepare a Memoir on that subject I have partially treated the matter in a Memoir I had drawn up in the month of November, 1755. I annex hereunto an extract from it, to which I have added some conquests in America, that

it

will not be possible to prevail on

;

ulterior

and more detailed

reflections

on the project of a landing.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVI. submit this letter and

I

claim your indulgence.

all

It is

those Memoirs to your

founded on

of zeal and respect, with which

I

my

obedience

have the honor

943

wisdom and

decision.

I

your orders, and on the sentiments

to

D6partement de

la

M.

to

servant,

Desilhouette.'

(Signed),

[

entitled to

to be. Sir,

Your most humble and most obedient

Marslial de Belle Isle

am

de Montcalm.

Guerro, Paris.

]

Versailles, 19'^ February, 1759. Sir,

Mess" de Bougainville and Doreil have handed me the for

me.

to you.

The You

former, will

who

is

you have entrusted to them Canada, will convey my answers not receiving anything from me by the frigate which

about to depart on his return

have been surprised

at

has been dispatched to you in the month of 7''"

last.

packet did not arrive at Brest until after she had set

I

letters to

was advised of

sail.

You

it

will find

so late that

among

it

my

those

confided to M. de Bougainville.

what I have already told you of the satisfaction the King entertains of Your promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-General, of which I send you the commission, and the Red ribbon that has been accorded to you, will make you more sensible His Majesty has also had regard to the of them than all the assurances I could give you. expenses the command confided to you requires you to incur, and it has never been his intention that a place in which you defend so courageously his interest should be a burthen to you. You will learn that in attending to your interests I have not neglected those of the staff and regimental officers employed under your orders, both in procuring for them an increase of pay and obtaining rewards commensurate with their services. I enclose, herewith, commissions of I shall not repeat

your

services.

Major-General {Marcchal de Camp), for Chevalier de Levis; of Brigadiers for Mess'' de Bourlamaques and de Senezergues, with the letters of service I have transmitted to them in consequence, and which you will have the goodness to send them. You will find another of Colonel

may

for

M. de Bougainville, on

whom

the

King has conferred

that rank, in order that he

perform the duties thereof with the troops under your command.

he

carries, contain the copies of the particular favors

to

your propositions.

which you

I refer, for the rest, to the letters of detail

The

other packets

will find almost I

conformable

write you and with which

you will be satisfied. As regards your duty during this campaign, I am very sorry to have to inform you that you must not expect to receive any Military reinforcements. Besides augmenting the scarcity of provisions which you have only too much experienced up to the present time, it would be much and as the King to be feared that they would be intercepted by the English, on the passage

I hope

;

Etiennede Silhodette was born at Limoges on the 5th July, ITOO. After acquiring his education, he traveled in Europe, and went to England to study the financial system of that country, and became Chancellor to the Duke of Orleans. After '

the peace of 1748, he

was one

of the three Commissioners appointed to arrange with

England the

limits of

Acadia

;

he was

next Royal Commissioner at the India Board, and was named Comptroller-General in March, 1759, but held that place only eight months, and retired to the country,

where he died, 20th January, 1767. Biographie Universelle.

— Ed.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

944

could never send you assistance proportionate to the forces the English are able to oppose against you, the efforts which would be made here, would have no other effect than to excite the Ministry of

London

to

part of the continent.

Generals will desire to

much

greater efforts to preserve the superiority

Although profit

in this conjuncture

by their advantage

in

it

is

order to

it

has acquired in that

be expected that the English

to

inflict

on the Colony severer blows,

what you have achieved last year makes his Majesty hope that you will still find means to disconcert their projects. M. Berryer will cause to be conveyed to you as much provisions and ammunition as possible; the rest depends on your wisdom and courage, and on

the recollection of

bravery of the troops. His Majesty is convinced that the confidence he reposes in you and them cannot be better placed. He relies equally on the good understanding he wishes to prevail between the troops of the Marine and those of the Colony, and that the manner you will live with M. de Vaudreuil, will furnish them the example. This is a point whereon M. Berryer must insist, and which I believe it is unnecessary to recommend to you. tiie

in

have the honor to be, most perfectly,

I

As

P. S.

it is

Sir,

Canada, and that they

will attack,

you confine your plan of defence

you

you most connected, in order you may be always enabled mutually

at different points at once,

to those

which are most

that being concentrated on a smaller extent of country,

it

will be necessary that

essential and

one another, to communicate with and to support each other.

to help

the space

Canada,

&c.

to be expected that the entire efforts of the English will be directed against

you can preserve, should

it is

we once wholly

However

trifling

of the utmost importance to possess always a foothold in

would be quite impossible to enter it again. To fulfill this object, the King reckons. Sir, on your zeal, your courage and pertinacity. His Majesty expects you will exercise all the industry you are capable of, and that you will communicate the like sentiments to the principal officers and altogether to the troops under your orders. M. Berryer writes to the same effect to M. de Vaudreuil, and directs him to conduct himself with the greatest harmony towards you ; you must both feel all its necessity and all its importance. I have become responsible for you to the King. I am well assured that you will not dishonor me, and that for the good of the State, the glory of the Nation and your own preservation, you will have recourse to the greatest extremities rather than ever submit to conditions so disgraceful as those accepted at Louisbourg, the memory of which you will efface. Such are, Sir, substantially, the King's intentions. He has entire confidence in you and all the qualities he recognizes in you. 1 have fully confirmed his Majesty therein by for

the testimonies I have rendered.

Rely

also

on

all

the sentiments

myself in a position

to afford

I

lose that country,

I

it

wish you perfect health,

I

feel

entertain for you, Sir, and that

you marks

I

no uneasiness for the

most sincerely desire

rest.

to find

thereof.

MiniMerial Mimite respectbuj Supplies procured in Spain for Canada.

The

threats of the English to besiege Isle Royaleand to attack Canada in 1758, determined M. de Moras, as early as December, 1757, to employ foreigners to transport succors to those

two Colonies.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XVI.

945

With that view he informed the Marquis d'Aubeterre, the King's ambassador at Madrid, that he would find Sieur Darragay, a merchant of that city, disposed to furnish and to transport provisions.

That affair has been negotiated was not until M. de Moras quitted documents, of which

The

we

between M. Daubeterre and that merchant.

secretly

are going to give an account.

Darragay to furnish

consists of the proposal of Sieur

first

1" 1,600 tons of flour,

It

Ministry of the Marine, that he delivered up the

the

first

qualities, in equal proportion,

and second

200 tons of brandy, 200 tons of

salt,

2,000 tons. 2""*

To have armed

on his account and at his expense, the necessary ships to convey the

2,000 tons, half to Isle Royale, half to Quebec.

The purchase money as for the freight.

invoices of

Meanwhile

the purchases,

all

was estimated

of these cargoes

drawn on

thereabouts, for which has been

in

or

the proposal at 480,000",

the spot bills of exchange at different dates, as well

it has been stipulated that Sieur Darragay should present the which would be paid him according to the prices mentioned

therein, and 2 per cent commission.

has been agreed that the freight should be paid him on the

It

bills

of lading, certified by

sworn stevedores, and that allowance would be reciprocally made quantity that may be found on the settlement of the 2,000 tons. 9""

for

any greater or

two less

March, 1759.

M.

de

Vaudreuil

to

M.

Berryer. Montreal, 28"' March, 1759.

My

Lord,

Last year's campaign terminated on Lake 1

my

can only,

movements

I

anew.

I

I

to

Sacrament without any event of

made

Canadians and Indians, and had the honor

St.

had the honor to write you

should have wished had been

of the Marine,

zeal

Lord, renew what

develop to

to satisfy the desires

last

fall

interest.

relative to the

and ardor of the troops

them an opportunity of signalizing their you the advantages which would have resulted

to afford

I always regret their having been neglected. have caused the work at the fortifications of Carillon to be continued ; had the defects of our intrenchments corrected finally, 1 have foreseen and had everything done that could tend

therefrom

;

they were so certain that

I

;

to the better defence of that frontier. I caused a number of Indians of different nations to winter at Carillon, although their movements have not been very considerable, these Indians deriving almost nothing from

their hunting except the comforts they have procured for the garrison of that fort,

which has

not failed to be of assistance to them.

On the 20''' November, Sieur Outelas, a Cadet in the troops of the Marine, placed himself at the head of 60 Indians, to strike a blow between Fort I^dward and Sarastoga, but on the day Vol. X.

119

.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

946

tlie regiment of Berry deserted, who were pursued in vain. were justly felt, as these deserters could inform the English of his march, returned, nevertiieless, with two prisoners. Another party of our Canadians and Indians went to reconnoitre old Fort Ann did not fall in with any one. whatever desire it had It afterwards went to the environs of Fort Edward this party might to do well, it was obliged to be satisfied with one scalp and one prisoner

of their departure, 3 soldiers of

M. Outelas,

for

whom

fears

;

;

;

have done better, but, finding a prisoner, agreeably to

A

my

within an acre of the

itself

confined itself strictly to taking

intentions.

small party of our Indians returned at the

same time with

a

Mohegan,

whom

it

also

took

neighborhood of Fort Edward.

in the

No

fort,

hostile party

made

its

appearance up to the tenth of this month, whilst two parties of our

Indians were out, and the others were hunting.

enemy

70 English or Indians belonging

to

the

workmen, who, unfortunately, were not armed they took 6 soldiers, one Canadian killed 3 soldiers, one Abenakis wounded two Abenakis, one Canadian and one soldier, who was scalped, and received two blows of a tomahawk in the skull, and had his surprised our

;

;

;

The detachment sent by M. de Hebecourt from the fort, did not arrive until enemy had struck their blow, wherefore we took but one prisoner we wounded English and Mohawks, whom the enemy carried off, but, seeing themselves pursued,

thigh broken. after the

several

;

were obliged remained Engineer

their backs

to turn

these were carried.

to reconnoitre our

town and storehouses, I

on their wounded, and to abandon the

litters

Tiiat party had been detached from a body of 300 English

at Rattlesnake [hill] and the Falls.

for

Tiieir

principal

object

was

on which

who had

to enable the

intrenchments and even Fort Carillon, to try and burn the lower

which purpose they had brought combustibles and

fuzes.

de Hebecourt how much lie was to blame in that affair. workmen been armed, that hostile party would not have attacked them. Because our workmen would have been themselves enabled to give these English a

have not

failed to tell ^F.

1" Because had our 2""^

smart chase. M. d'Hebecourt has written to

me

that that

Engineer and four men had passed and repassed

outside the intrenchment, from one angle to the other, on the

only, and that they had

hill

stopped at various places to examine the fort which appeared to the best advantage, on account of the snow. It

is

astonishing that this engineer should, with

reconnoisance of the intrenchments and

dear had M. d'liebercourt been as vigilant

According

to the

report of

all

those

only four men, have been able to

make

a

would certainly have cost him very as he was negligent at that moment.

fort;

his curiosity

prisoners.

where Robert Rogers' company is quartered, is in progress of being palisaded; he was wailing for two of his companies who that partizan had only 220 men with him were at Orange. The English have this year a post of 160 men at Fort Miller, or the Portage between Fort Edward and Sarastoga, where there is a saw-mill. This post is protected by upright stockades.

The

island

;

A

battalion relieved at Fort

The

troops

Louisbourg,

who have where the

Edward was designed

English

to

go and work at Louisbourg.

Louisbourg are partly

besieged

in

New

have made great exertions to

England and partly at the barracks and

repair

the fortifications.

Three men-of-war were wintering from the River

St.

John, there are

in the

4.)

harbor of Louisbourg.

(N'*.

According

to intelligence

PARIS DOCUMENTS: The French to

garrison and the citizens

who were

XVI.

unwilling

947 have been transported

to stay there

Old England.

November and December, two

In the months of

New-Yorli

;

They

French ships were conveyed

large

to

are supposed to be men-of-war.

They have been They agree also

told that the

had not yet done

so,

King

of Prussia had lost 40,000 men.

Dutch had declared against the English, but

that the

that the Spaniards though their ships are taken when freighted with munitions of war

or provisions.

The English wish to come and attack many bateaux or barges at Orange.

Supplies of hay have been brought from Orange to

come No

to that fort in great

numbers

The

P'ort

Edward,

for the horses

a great

which are

to

early in April.

troops have gone from 'New to Old England

form new crops and not

There are

us at Carillon early in the spring.

;

whom

to serve as recruits,

on the contrary, 6,000 men are expected to the English procure in their Colonies.

garrison of Fort Edward, which consisted

of GOO

men, has had an augmentation

of 200.

The smiths

of that fort are occupied in repairing the artillery.

General Abercrombie has recrossed the sea. General Hamest' was at New-York.

No attack

on the contrary, the English will absolutely have Canada, and are to

talk of peace; it

at

various points.

They have

concealed, last

fall,

a great

many

articles in the ditch of the

Fort George, which they have covered with the intrencement

The governors decided to

call

of the

out the

New

men

England provinces have concluded

fit

intrenchment of old

itself.

their session, at

which

was

it

from 15 to 60 years; the province of Boston alone

for service

furnishes 15,000 men.

As nothing

more dangerous than the desertion

is

arrangement which has appeared the best Indians.

Two

to

prevent

of it;

the I

soldiers, I

saw

have adopted the

the necessity of employing

soldiers of Berry having fallen into this category, our Indians

overtook them, cut the head off one and obliged his comrade to carry

went

the latter was immediately tried, and suffered the punishment due to his crime.

was absolutely necessary;

I

hope

it

This example

have made an impression on the soldiers

will

in pursuit,

himself to the fort;

it

who might

have a similar fancy. I

expect,

my

Lord, to have some English prisoners immediately; either from Fort

or from the vicinity of Orange, whether

troops and Indians.

The

I

the plans, preparations and

I

am always

movements

of

opening of the

fine season,

it

is

Edward

our Canadian

of

intelligence these prisoners will furnish me, cannot

interesting, because being captured at the

have not become

have dispatched some small parties

fail

o(

being

very probable that

the English will have at least transpired,

if

they

pul)lic.

in

attacked very early

the expectation that our in the

Lake

St.

Sacrament

spring by a very considerable force.

I

frontier will be vigorously feel

how important

us to anticipate our enemies, but I cannot prematurely dispatch the troops for that quarter, as

they would have very soon consumed the provisions

collecting to victual them.

The

English,

knowing our

situation,

1

am

I

it is

for

have destined

at present

busy

would naturally follow up

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

948

by slowness in order to give us time to consume our provisions; the success of expedition would effectually depend on that, since hunger would place our troops under

their activity

of their

the necessity of retreating.

In these circumstances

march

of their

them.

I

arrange

Nevertheless,

policy

all

if

is,

to

study the enemy's movements,

troops, Militia and

Indians, that

I

am

to seize the

moment

preparing to oppose

these things with that view, in order not to be surprised.

the succors you,

my

Lord, are dispatching for this Colony, begin to reach us,

hasten the departure of those forces, and will even increase them.

I shall

As

my

to dispatch the

for the rest, 1

have taken the precaution to place limits

make

to

the progress of our enemies,

two Xebecs built, which will carry artillery, well armed and capable of disputing the enemy's passage on Lake Champlain. I am, with the most profound respect, supposing they

any.

My

I have had

will be

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Vaudreuil.

M.

de Vaudreidl

to

M.

Berryer. Montreal, 30"" March, 1759.

My

Lord,

M. de Ligneris has not ceased having French and Indian scouts to watch the English. M. la Valtrie informs him that the English were building a small fort on the river Mananguailee, a little above Fort Duquesne. He learned at the same time by some Delaware Indians, who are beginning to become familiar with the English, and go frequently to see them, that 2 (a. 300 men were to remain at de

that fort during the winter.

That General Forbes had returned with

his

army

to

Loyal Hannon, where he had stationed

a strong garrison to support that of Mananguailee.

That the remainder of his army was to be sent to winter quarters in different provinces. That it was asserted that this General was to return this year to Europe. It would not be difficult, my Lord, to drive the English from their fort on the Mananguailee or to take them, were there plenty of men and provisions, but M. de Ligneris is in want of both to such a degree that he will have considerable difficulty to pass the winter.

The

Iroquois, Chaouanons and Loups of Kanaouagon, far from responding favorably M. de Ligneris' invitation to go and attack the English, continue to solicit him to vacate Fort Machault and to retire to Presqu'isle, continually representing to him that he has too few men to resist the English who were assuredly to come and attack him this winter.

to

He

obtained, however, from those Indians, [a promise] that they

would go

to the English

only with a view to learn their plans against the French, to inform him thereof; they likewise

promised him

But there

is

to

summon them

to

withdraw very speedily

to the other side of the mountains.

reason to presume that the Indians would wish there were neither French nor

English at the Beautiful river, and that they are heartily tired of the war.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVI.

What

confirms

me

in this idea

is,

949 26"' of

the Council the English held on the

November

at Cachekachelii.'

The English have had recourse to the most affecting and most pressing language ; they requested the Indians to forget the past; to renevp the alliance of their ancestors with them ; to let

them

with the

To

settle their differences

with the French, and to recall their young

men who

are

latter.

enforce this proposition they told those Indians, that they had closed the

Canada

river,

consequently the French could not give them any assistance that the King of France had already twice sued for peace, which had been always refused by the English; they requested ;

the Indians to communicate their words to the Nations who are in alliance with them. The Delawares have answered the English anew, that being allies of many different Nations, a reply could not be given immediately to their speech

impatient

the answer

if

was

;

and that they should not become

a long time coming, as their relations

were

at a distance.

the English were desirous that their speech should be listened to, they must retire to the other side of the mountains and leave the Indians their lands free; otherwise no

Moreover,

if

would be entered into with them. At another council held with the same Indians at the Forks by the English, the latter consented to retire home, not to make any settlement on the Beautiful river, and that they

alliance

would

all

depart within eight days.

M. de Ligneris placed no confidence In fact, their language changes very

fast.

their return from the English, that the latter

him

in the

month

What gave

The Canaouagon were to come with

made

the Indians.

Indians told M. de Ligneris, on a considerable force and attack

of February.

such was their design, was, the arrival of 120 men at where they were in immediate expectation of 300 more.

rise to the suspicion that

their fort on the River Manangailee,

Were M. de Nations on

promises which the English

in the

tlie

Ligneris in a situation to

make

a

Beautiful river would not oppose

condition to dispense with their services,

I

movement it

directly

doubt not

to ;

if

drive

away

the English,

they saw that

many would

we were

the in

a

join him, notwithstanding

their conferences with the English.

The

have been again

latter

entirely forgetting their

first

summoned by

own

those Indians to retire to their

country, but

language, the English have assured that they should not leave the

it belonged to them from its source to its mouth. answer from the English has rendered M. de Ligneris only more vigilant in observing their movements, more especially as some Indians have reported to him that the English are building a great many bateaux at the fort up the Mananguailee and on the

Beautiful river; that

That

positive

River Attique.^

These preparations having given offence

to

our Indians, they demanded an explanation

thereof from the English, but the latter curtly answered, that they were preparing to go to

Fort Marchault, that they would have 6,000 men at the end of March, to drive off the French. M. de Ligneris has left nothing unsaid to persuade the Nations on the Beautiful river, that it

was

for their

the

Loups

'

own

to

at

Cachecacheki;'

;

Supra,

p. 901.

III.,

660.

— Ed.

he has prevailed on

the latter have assured

Kuskuskees at the Forks of Beaver Creek, Beaver County, Penn. Mileheirs and PownaU't Maps.

Pennxylvania Archives, '

interest to place limits to the ambition of the English

assemble again

him they were

Compare

Post's Journal.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

950

taking that course only to have a better opportunity of striking the English,

if he organized any more easily joining the French on the Beautiful river, supposing it were in spring, in sufficient numbers to drive the English thence. I have written M. de Ligneris that the change of the English from extreme suavity to the greatest threats, must have naturally made the deepest impressions on the Indians of the Beautiful river, who must conclude therefrom that the principal object of the English is to deceive them, and that if they were not under the protection of the French, they would be

expedition, and of

very soon reduced to slavery, and probably to something worse

own

interest to sovereignly despise all proposals of neutrality

and to be more ardent than ever

recommend him

;

;

that therefore

to be inseparable

for their

it is

from the French,

to fight the English.

critical position they would had they no help to expect, except from the English, them any would not treat better than they had treated Abenakis. who the As I am aware of the designs of the English against Niagara, 1 write M. de Ligneris that, supposing that place to be really besieged, M. Pouchot will retain under his orders 300 Canadians whom I had designed for the Beautiful river, and that, according as he will find it I

placed

tee

in,

also to

abandoned

impress strongly on those Indians the

to themselves,

necessary, he will call to his assistance

have ordered

to

rendezvous

Under these circumstances, himself reduced

to,

and

continually before him. fixithful to

in I

all

the forces from Detroit and the other posts,

whom

I

at Presqu'isle. I

recommended

to him, in relation to the straits he should find

regard to his situation, to manoeuvre so as to have the

observe to him that,

the French, and act in consequence, he will not

That, in other respects, he will

fall

enemy

the Indians of the Beautiful river remain

if

fail

to afford

work

to our enemies.

back on the River au Boeuf and successively on Presqu'isle,

paying attention to what position he will find himself in, to play with and to set snares tor the enemy, according as they advance, to be, above all things, vigilant wherever he be, so that none of his bateaux fall into the hands of the English. I likewise notify him that M. Pouchot will, with pleasure, embrace the opportunity of corresponding with him, and that, according as circumstances will be favorable, that is to say, if Niagara be not menaced, that he would reunite under his orders not only the forces and succors which will rendezvous at Presqu'isle, the 300 Canadians that 1 have destined for him, but in addition,

forward I

to

all

the forces and other assistance M. Pouchot will have

it

in

his

power

to

him.

am, with the most profound respect,

my

Lord,

Your most humble and most obedient

servant,

Vaudreuil.

J/, de

Vaudreuil

to

M.

Berryer. Montreal, 30"- March, 1759.

My

Lord,

Although M. de Kerlerec,' Governor of Louisiana, informs you exactly of the situation of that Colony, nevertheless, 1 have the honor to render you an account of what he has stated to me in answer to what 1 had written him. '

Supra,

p. 281, note.

— Ed,

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVI.

951

employ every means to have the English vigorously harassed on his side by the Nations of the country of the Alibamons; the favorable dispositions in which i left them, persuade me that they would be entirely disposed thereto. M. de Kerlerec writes me that he would have perfectly succeeded in getting them to carry out my intentions, but he had not had anything to give those nations for more than two years and a half; that he is still in the same state of indigence, with the exception of some trifling assistance he has been able to derive from even our enemies, by means of some conferences. He informed me at the same time that the English have not left any thing untried to establish I

had signified

posts

among

to liim to

the Abekas,* Alibamons, on the river of the Okonis^ and at Okeitcha, a territory

of the Kaouitas,^ but that these last have always remained firm and strongly opposed

easy to presume that the intention of the English was, without doubt,

it;

'tis

to seize successively

the Fort of the Alibamons,^ &c.

That

all

these proceedings have occasioned a great

many messages

many

Councils with the Indians, a great

Nations and considerable expense on our part, to procure the rejection

to the

of the English messages and the ratification of ours.

But he observes

to

me, and

'tis

but too true,

be feared that those Indians (whose

fidelity,

all

that can last only a season; indeed,

notwithstanding,

we cannot

'tis

to

but applaud), will

seeing the continuance of our poverty and consequently of their necessities. M. de Kerlerec informs me also that he has heard of the arrival among the Alibamons of four Chaouanons, whom I had engaged our Northern Indians to send as delegates to the Alibamons, to call on them to accept the hatchet against the English, and to warn them that if they did not, they would convert all those Nations into their enemies. That the Alibamons were embarrassed how to answer, knowing that it was impossible for us to supply their wants ;

tire of

that they confined themselves merely to giving their solemn promise that they

would never would be in our power to supply them with the resources which they derive from the English, they were now aware what they should have to do, and that they would be heard from. suffer the English to

You

see,

my

do the smallest thing against

Lord, that

my

us,

but the

moment

it

foresight has proved utterly fruitless, for the sole reason

that

not able to second my views in treating those Nations as they deserve; a treatment they cannot dispense with, and that, being obliged to have recourse to the English for those supplies, it is of a natural consequence that we shall never be able to make those

M. de Kerlerec

Indians

is

move according

to our desires, if

we

be not

in a situation to relieve at least their

most

urgent wants.

M. de Kerlerec also writes

me

that the

Chaktas persevere

good dispositions they entertained when 1 handed them over to him, but that being in nearly the same necessity as the other Nations under his government, they begin to be forced by their wants to go and trade with the English, not finding among the French what they indispensably require. in the

He adds, that the Eastern portion, particularly the village of the Coudias,' of the Yellow canes {Cannes jaums) and the Senachas use pretty bad language, but that the majority, who have every reason to remember the past, behave well. '

See note, ntpra,

p. 219.

In Georgia, the river Oconee forms with the Ocmulgee the river Alatamaha. (from Cohwita, the Uehee word for "man,") were a tribe of the Muskogee Nation now belonging to the Creek confe.leracy. Their territory extended from the Chattahoochee river nearly to the Savannah. Okeitcha, now Ogeehee, '

'The Cowetas

was an Indian town

Map *

at the

of North America.

head of the river of that name

— Ed.

Now, Fort Jackson, Montgomery county, Georgia.

in Georgia.

Compare De

I'hU't CBECrL. ]

Ohio.

M. de Ligneris has had orders to remain at Fort Machault, on the Oyo 1" To support the Nations; 2""* To annoy the English; 3"'

Lieutenant Totabel, Lieutenant-Colonel Dalquier, commanding

Beam,

mortally wounded.

) 2""*

battalion

;

gunshot

^ound

in the side.

Captain Monredon, of the grenadiers; gunshot wound in both thighs. Lieutenant Pinsen, dangerous gunshot wound in the thigh. ditto. Lieutenant Fay, of the grenadiers Lieutenant Jacob, dangerous gunshot wound in the chest. ;

^

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1086

Adjutant Malartic, Captain Bernard,

Captain Seglu, Bearn-(continued),

Lieutenant Raimond,

slightly

wounded.

slightly

wounded.

Lieutenant Melay,


Mcrray

Isle.

la Uueire, Paris.]

Montreal, 29 June, 1760.

My I

Lord,

have received the

I can,

my

letter

you have done me the honor

to write

me on

the

9""

of February last.

Lord, only refer to the exactness of the accounts Chev. de Levis has the honor to

render you of

all

that has occurred of interest in this country since the last campaign.

brilliant affair of the 28"" of April is entirely his

work; our

victory

is

due

The

to his courage, his

The troops, the Canadians and even the Indians have done wonders. What ought I not hope for, under the eyes of a General whom they cherish and in whom they have always reposed a decided confidence ? intrepidity and his military coup d'ail.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1100

How

unfortunate

it is,

my

Lord, that M. Berryer's just measures have been subject

to

delay;

the succors he had destined for us, however trifling they might be, joined to the measures

had adopted, would have placed the Colony beyond danger, the sight of a single French en piime, would have effected the surrender of Quebec. Chevalier de Levis has acquired as neither his fault nor mine

if it

much

glory as

he had reconquered that place.

if

did not return into the King's possession;

surmounted even impossibilities, and

doubt

I

we

flag,

'Twas

we both have

there be an instance of such an expedition at

if

so severe a season, and in such great distress for everything. I

am

you

to

induced

—

I

am

obliged,

importance of his services, I

my

Lord, by every circumstance, to have the honor

have nothing to add

situation generally.

We

his

to

experience and military knowledge, entitle him to

what

the

;

it.

that General has the honor to inform you in regard to our

are determined, the one and the other of us, to have recourse to the

greatest extremities to preserve this Colony.

the

pray

to

be pleased to procure Chevalier de Levis a commission of Lieutenant-General

beg you,

I

King thereof; nothing can mar our intimate union

;

it

my

Lord, to be pleased to assure

springs from our natural inclination,

and essentially from our zeal for his Majesty's service. I am, with profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Vaudreuil.

Chevalier de Levis

to

Marshal de Belle

[Dipartement de

la

Isle.

Guerre, Parie.]

Montreal, SO"- June, 1760.

My

Lord,

I have the honor to transmit you the relation of [^

The part embraced iJi'"'dpheT''1n

The

^"P^ ^^^ King will be

the preservation of

New

Satisfied

what has occurred

with

France.

The

all

since the last campaign.

the efforts which have been

arrival of

one single frigate

made

in

for

advance

of the English fleet would have decided the surrender of Quebec and secured

New May

France this year. ;

that

The English squadron

arrived on the

which was coming from France and

succors sailed

from France only on the tenth

sailed *

on the

first

and succeeding days of

third, arrived the first.

New

France as blockaded.

Our

The

Some prizes, taken by these at the mouth of the River St. Lawrence, which arrived too late, went into the Bay des Chaleurs and Ouristigouche, where we have a post with some remnant of Acadians. M. de Vaudreuil sent orders to have them unloaded and to have their cargoes secured as well as possible, which was guarded by two hundred of the troops of Canada, who are on board these three vessels, and have orders to

King's armies have three vessels.

cruise along the

New

England

coast,

it

being impossible for the smallest succors to reach us

unless peace be very promptly concluded. *

It

has not been possible to find the termination of this sentence. Note in Paris Document XVII., 102.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII.

Now

HOI

they are only injurious to us in consequence of the non-payment of the

the paper that remains with us

entirely discredited,

is

sacrificed everything for the preservation of

recovery;

we

be paid, but

bills

of exchange

;

the farmers in despair; they have

all

Canada; they now

themselves ruined beyond

find

leave nothing untried to restore confidence, giving assurances that the paper will to

'tis

when we Quebec, we have people,

we

be feared that

shall be obliged to

shall

no longer

find the

same willingness among the

On

reassemble them for our defence.

raising the siege of

quartered the troops throughout the rural districts, in order to be subsisted.

Fifteen hundred at Point aux trembles and Jacques Cartier, under M.

Dumas'

orders, to observe

the garrison of Quebec, which appeared struck with consternation at the defeat of the 20"" of

April; five five

hmdrcd men, under M. de Bougainville's

orders, on the frontier of

Lake Champlain

hundred and forty in Fort Levis, at the head of the Rapids, under M. I'ouchot's orders

such

;

;

is

We are

menaced by way of the River St. Lawrence and by a considerable Lake Ontario, and to penetrate as far as Montreal, whilst the Quebec garrison is to proceed up the River St. Lawrence. 'Tis reported our actual position.

reinforcement that

attack the quarters by

to

is

that they will be joined by the garrison of Louisbourg, as that place

be the case, and they operate simultaneously, for us to resist

there,

The

everywhere.

river

is

we

the part most to be feared

;

to be razed.

is

are irreparably lost;

it

we have

and nothing to prevent the frigates and their barges going up as position, our

this deplorable

concentrate them.

If the

We

only resource remaining.

everything

enemy

body of

in order to attack the

is

strongest forces

lacking.

wonder

which will be the

that

we

yet

no stand-point Montreal.

In

district,

first

are utterly unable to keep the field

'Tis ^a

far as

we shall endeavor to movements, we shall profit thereby,

being in this

are not cautious in their

their troops,

If such

will not be possible

exist;

the

;

to advance.

This

is

the

provisions, warlike stores,

troops are

well

disposed

and courageous.

The

which are in want of officers and old soldiers, do not number more than about two thousand two hundred fighting men, exclusive of nine hundred troops of the Marine. I have not departed from the principle of acting, in regard to all matters relating to the public good, in concert with M. de Vaudreuil and also with M. Bigot, with whom I cannot but be satisfied. I am very much assisted in all matters by M. de Bourlamaque. Any testimony I may render his talents and merit cannot be sufficiently favorable.] I am, with the most profound respect, battalions,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

Chev. DE Levis.

Chevalier de Levis [

to

Marshal de Belle

Dfipartement de la Gnerre, Paris.

Isle.

]

Montreal, 14'" July, 1760.

My I

Lord,

have the honor

from Acadia.

to transmit

Since then

I

you duplicates of my letters by a small vessel that is to sail at Isle aux Noix, on the Lake Champlain frontier, to

have been

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1102

whom

encourage the farmers in that quarter, to burn the depot at St. Therese, witliin oflf

24 country people.

frontier and of Isle

a party of the enemy had alarmed by coming two leagues of Chambly, several houses and carrying

have issued orders relative

I

aux Noix, whither

In that tour, and in

M. de Bougainville.

those

all

advantage of the confidence the Canadians show courage, calm their alarms respecting the to furnish provisions.

by

force of the

to

The

only for one battle

;

we

we

shall

I

who appear

reanimate their zeal and

to support

as they are in that regard in

life,

if

we

shall be able to cut

them,

it

who will eat them. We have powder enemy we are on the eve of events which

enjoy them, and

Judge,

to assure the

this

have not neglected to take

I

in order to

them when preventing us completing the removal

have no news, as yet, of the

will decide the fate of the country.

Whatever it be, I beg you arms and the preservation

have made,

me

crops have a fine appearance, but

be seen whether

us the Indians

to fight

I

of exchange and paper money, and Induce them

bills

few animals they have remaining

the greatest distress.

remains

We are obliged

to the sort of war, for the defence of this

have sent a battalion to join the corps commanded by

I

Colony

my

King

;

Lord, of our situation, of that of the Canadians.

that

I

will

The

to him.

do

all in

my power

battle of the

for the glory of his

month of April has secured

favorably disposed towards us.

am, with the most profound

My

respect,

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

Chev. DE Levis.

M.

de Levis to Marshal de Belle [

D^partement da

la Gneito, Parisi

Isle,

]

Montreal, T^ August, 1760.

My

Lord,

The

courier being unable to leave since

report to you hereby, that the

with forty

sail

enemy

and a landing force

my

last letter

of the

14''" ult",

I

have the honor

to

march from Quebec since the 14"" of last month, of two thousand five hundred men; they have since received are on the

They are at this moment at The detachment which was at Des Chambeau, follows them along the north or Sorel in order to facilitate their apparently, come to Montreal plan is, to

a reinforcement from Quebec, of about one thousand troops.

Three Rivers. shore, their

junction with M. Amherst.

We

possess no

means of stopping them

;

we

are

making a mere

defensive demonstration to retard their march.

The

principal point with us

is

to defend

Montreal and the North shore as long as

we

shall

be

by the fleet they are afraid their houses will be burned. We are on the eve of a crisis. M. Amherst has reassembled fifteen thousand at Fort Frederick; there is another considerable force collected atFort Chouaguen to penetrate by the Rapids; there If they is no doubt that they are about to move with a view to simultaneous action. have delayed until this moment, 'tis probably with the design to wait until the season of able

;

the Canadians are frightened

;

harvest, to deprive us of the farmers, in the expectation that

them together

at that time.

we

shall find it difficult to collect

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII.

We

shall act as

have had the honor

I

you

to inform

in

my

1103 preceding

Our armies

will

to

the

make

Marquis de Vaudreuil and the Intendant, otfering little

to

procure bread for

Marquis de Vaudreuil and the Intendant have also pledged themselves do not cease moving so as to be everywhere

I

means of defence.

am

I

I

moment

start this

for

Lake

exchange

to

pledge myself

cash they might possess, and to employ in

means

anticipated, and has supplied us with

of

strong representations

that levy, officers capable of acquitting themselves perfectly of that duty. eflfect I

shall try

so deplorable.

the discredit of the contractor's notes and bills

flour, as

personally to persuade the troops to give the

the

is

have nothing but bread to subsist on.

Being in want of

prevents his being able to procure any, I have been induced to

on that subject

We

letter.

every means to save the Colony, but that will require miracles our situation

to

produced

Tiiis has

month.

tiiis

Tiie

for this purchase.

introduce order and prepare

possible

all

St. Peter.

with profound respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Chev. DE Levis. St. Peter, where there is an English fleet which There are no means of stopping them at the Islands There is reason to believe that they are about trying to

have returned from the Islands of Lake

I

has been augmented by twenty nor between that and Montreal.

sail.

mouth of the River Sorrel or that they will come to Montreal. have just learned that a reinforcement of three of the enemy's battalions has arrived from Quebec a fourth is expected from the garrison of Isle Royale. They are blowing up

establish themselves at the

We

;

that place. fleet

The armies

coming up

to

of

Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain

form a junction without any obstacle;

men of

are in motion

in the heart of the

all

If

we do

the

Quebec

will then

united, they will then have at least forty thousand

Colony; you are aware of our strength and

what may be expected.

;

The armies

Montreal will force us to abandon the frontiers.

not save the Colony,

we

abilities.

From

will sustain the

that judge

honor of the

King's arms.

31.

Bigot [

to

Marshal de Belle

D^partement de

la

Guerre, Paris.

Isle.

]

Montreal, 29"" August, 1760.

My

Lord,

Since the letter

I

had the honor to write you on the

has arrived within three leagues of this place, where

wind

to

come higher up

;

it

it

IS"" of this lies at

month, the English

anchor waiting

gives occupation to 2 or 3 thousand of our

men on

fleet

for a favorable

the north and

south, to protect Montreal and to oppose the enemy's landing force.

Their army on Lake Champlain landed the Tsle

aux Noix, and encamped opposite the

IG""

on the south shore, a league or two from

fort of that island.

The enemy immediately

set

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1104

/

work

to

cannonade that

to erect batteries to

they opened a heavy

which they unmasked on the

fort,

when

23'''*,

fire.

They brought cannon opposite one of our Tartanes which M. de Bougainville, who commanded on the Island, had caused to be anchored within pistol shot of the South shore, 29""

'

below that

On

island.

the

volley from the cannon, the Captain cut his cable to get at a

first

and reach the North shore but having been killed with a part of the crew, the remainder escaped by swimming, some to the enemy, others to the island. The English, thereupon rushed on board and seized that Tartane, with which they went and took the remainder of our little navy, consisting of a similar Tartane, a schooner, agabarre armed with 4 guns, and 4 boats carrying an 8-pounder. The enemy's Tartane was supported by the fire of some field pieces on shore. The English, by that means, were at liberty to convey their artillery and barges down into the River St. John, by the little South river^ on which their right rested, after having had them transported a short distance by land. Were it not for the capture of our navy, the English distance,

;

could not, without infinite difficulty, get in the rear of Isle aux Noix, because there were two stockadoes at that island, which e'xtended to the North and South shores and were defended by the cannon and musketry of the

fort.

M. de Bougainville evacuated it on the shore, and arrived to-day at St. Johns.

The

10 o'clock at night.

loss of that fort, 'tis to be feared will entail that of St.

early junction of the Isle

27"" at

enemy with M. Murray's

He

crossed to the North

John and Chambly, and the

fleet.

aux Noix was supplied with provisions up

to the 20""

September, for the 1,650

men

posted there, including the navy, but in consequence of the loss of the 25"", these provisions

would have gone some days farther. I had made arrangements for the conveyance of some more there they were even on the way. Fort Levis, situated on Lake Ontario, is invested, cannonaded and bombarded by the army from Chouaguen, according to the report of Indians sent on a scout. 'Tis expected that Captain Pouchot, of the regiment of Beam, who commands there, will not be distressed. He ;

has provisions to the end of October.

Had M.

de Bougainville been able to hold out the time that was hoped, Canada might have

perhaps been saved danger.

I

had

for this

year

;

such were the appearances, whilst at present

fully foreseen this, as I

have had the honor frequently

A

penetrated with grief in consequence.

all

we

little

to state to

good fortune with good

it

in great

is

you

;

we

will is required,

are

and

experience only one misfortune after another.

The Marquis

de Vaudreuil and Chev. de Levis have resolved to give battle to the

This

they can find an opportunity. to provide for the difficult,

days

it

as there. is

is

our

last resource.

As

for myself, I leave

enemy

wants and subsistence of our armies. This last point is so much the more no one left in the country to thresh (the grain), and for the past fifteen

is

raining continually

;

the harvest

is

going to ruin, as there

is

no way of getting

under cover. I

am, with profound respect,

my

Lord, your most humble and

Most obedient

servant,

Bigot. •Sic. 25th.

^The Riviere du Sud

if

nothing untried

falls into

the Richelieu on

its

east sida, a little

below

Isle

aux Noix. Bouchelte.

— Ed.

it

PARIS DOCUMENTS P. S.

2'"*

On

the night of the 29"" of last

our army

XVII.

:

1105

September.

at

Fort

St.

month,

2 leagues on this side.

aux Noix had joined that fort, and retired

after the garrison of Isle

John, M. de Roquemaure, the Commandant, set

He came and encamped

yesterday at

La

fire to

prairie, a parish situate

on

the south shore of the River St. Lawrence, three leagues from Montreal and 5 from Fort St. John. This army consisted of 2 thousand men, before the junction of that garrison, exclusive of 4 or 500 Indians,

who were

M. de Bourlamaque of the

is still

not stable.

at Longueuil, 2 leagues

below Montreal, observing the movements

fleet.

Two prisoners, taken on the 31" ult" from a detachment which M. Murray had sent to occupy a position on the south shore, S leagues below Montreal, have assured that that General had in his fleet a landing force of upwards of three thousand men, and that he had received That detachment has ravished {viole) pillaged and burned 1,200 men from Louisbourg. houses and barns, and committed other disorders.

English have acted in like manner

The

everywhere they landed. We learned on the day before yesterday that the enemy had taken Fort Levis on the 27"" As this news has reached us only ult°, and that the garrison had been carried to Chouaguen.

by

Indians, who, however, give

it

as certain,

it

may

not be true.

Bigot.

Major- Genei'al Amherst

to

M.

Camp

de Vaudreuil.

before Montreal,

V"-

September, 1760.

Sir,

the letter with which your Excellency has

Major Abercombie has just communicated to me me in answer to that I have addressed you, with the conditions on which I expect the surrender of Canada. I have already had the honor to advise you that I shall not make any You will then be pleased to decide at once, I cannot depart from this resolution. alteration.

honored

—

Yes or No. and inform me in answer whether you will accept them 1 have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, Sir,

Your Excellency's Most humble and Most obedient servant. Copy. ( Signed ),

Vol. X.

(Signed),

Vaudreuil.

139

Jeff. Amherst.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1106

Protest of Chevalier de Levis against obliging the Troops [

8""

This day, the

D^partement de

la

Guerre, Paris.

to

down

lay

their

Arms.

]

of September, 1760, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor-General of

New

France, having communicated to us the Articles of capitulation he has proposed to the English

General for the surrender of Canada, and the answers to those articles

and having seen by

;

said answers that that General requires, as his final resolution, that the troops will lay

down

arms and not serve during the present war, we have considered it our duty to represent to him, in our own name and in that of the principal officers and others of the Regular troops we command, that such Article of the capitulation could not conflict more with the King's service and the honor of his arms, and must be accepted only at the last extremity, since it their

deprives the State, during this entire war, of whatever services eight battalions of land forces and two of the Marine, who have acted with courage and distinction, might render it services the State would not be deprived of were the troops prisoners of war or even taken at discretion. In consequence, we demand of M. de Vaudreuil to break off at once all negotiation with ;

the English General and to determine on the most vigorous defence our actual position

capable

We siege,

is

of.

occupy the town of Montreal, which, however very bad and incapable of sustaining a is

safe against all surprise,

unheard of to submit been cannonaded. Besides,

we have

still

Marquis de Vaudreuil be willing

forces extremely disproportionate If the

we ask

for the troops

to attack us

without having

sword

to try his fortune,

in

hand, and

although with

and with small hopes of success.

Marquis de Vaudreuil, through

the Colony now,

and so humiliating

ammunition, should the enemy wish

to give battle should the

'Twould be a thing

and cannot be taken without cannon.

to conditions so severe

political

motives, thinks himself obliged to surrender

of him permission to retire with the land forces to St. Helen's island,

in order to sustain there, in our

own name,

the honor of the King's arms, resolved to expose

ourselves to every sort of extremity rather than submit to conditions which appear to us so

contrary thereto. I beg the Marquis de Vaudreuil Memoir.

to put his

answer in writing at the foot of

interest of the

Colony does not permit us

to reject the conditions proposed

the English General, which are favorable to a country whose

lot is

confided to me.

Chevalier de Levis to conform himself to the said Capitulation and to

down

present

Chev. de Levis.

(Signed),

Whereas the

this

make

the troops lay

their arms.

Vaudreuil. Montreal,

S"-

September, 1760.

by

I order

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XVII.

1107

Articles of Capitulation for the Surrender of Canada.

Articles of Capitulation between their Excellencies General Amherst, Commander-ia-Chief of his Britannic Majesty's Troops and Forces in North America; and the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Grand Cross of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis, Governor and Lieutenant-General for the King in Canada.

Article Twenty-four hours

after the signing of the

present capitulation, the British General shall

cause the troops of his Britannic Majesty to possession of the gates of the town of

take

Montreal: and the British garrison shall not enter the place shall

after the

'till

have evacuated

French troops

troops and

garrison in the

present capitulation,

the

King's troops

shall take possession of the gates,

and shall

post the guards necessary to preserve

good

order in the town.

it.

the

town

Immediately after signing

the present war.

the

Article

The

1.

The whole garrison of Montreal must lay down their arms, and shall not serve during

who

Militia,

are

2.

la

of Montreal shall go out

by the gate of [Quebec] with

all

the honors of

war, six pieces of cannon, and one mortar,

which

be put on board the vessel where

shall

the Marquis de Vaudreuil shall embark, with ten rounds for each piece, and the

be granted

to the

same

shall

garrison of Three Rivers,

as to the honors of war.

Article

The

in the fort of

honors or

forts, shall

same manner and ;

and these troops

Three Rivers,

or

The

troops,

be treated

shall

have the same

shall

go to Montreal,

their arms.

France by the shortest

who

are

in

our posts,

situated on our frontiers, on the side of Acadia, at Detroit, Michilimakinac, shall

the

and other posts, enjoy the same honors, and be treated in

same manner. Article

The towns,

Militia, forts

habitations,

after

evacuating

and posts,

the

shall return

to

above their

without being molested on any

to

serve

during

the present war, and shall likewise lay

Quebec, be there embarked

for the first sea-port in

way.

the island

in

3.

All these troops are not

are in garrison

Jacques Cartier, and

of St. Helen and other in the

who

troops and Militia

4.

Granted,

The

rest is granted,

down

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1108

pretence whatever, on account of their having carried arms.

Article

The

keep the

troops, vpho

field, shall

drums beating, with their and artillery, to join the

their camp, march,

baggage

arms,

5.

These troops,

raise

lay

down

as well

the others,

as

must

their arms,

garrison of Montreal, and shall be treated, in

every respect, the same.

Article

The of his

subjects of his Britannic Majesty, and

most Christian Majesty,

or seamen,

who

soldiers. Militia,

have deserted or

shall

6.

Refused,

left

the

service of their sovereign, and carried arms in

North

America,

pardoned

shall

on

be,

crime;

their

for

both

they

respectively returned to their country

each shall remain where he

is

sides,

shall ;

if

be not,

without being

sought after or molested.

Article

The magazines,

artillery,

ammunition of war, and, thing

belongs

in

general, every-

7.

This

firelocks, sabres.

is

everything that can be asked on

this article,

most Christian Majesty, as well in the towns of Montreal and Three Rivers, as in the forts and posts mentioned in the third Article, shall be that

to

his

delivered up, according to exact inventories,

who

to the Commissaries, to

receive

Britannic

the

same

Majesty.

in

shall be appointed

the

name

Duplicates of

of

the

his

said

inventories, in due form, shall be given to the

Marquis de Vaudreuil.

Article

The

officers,

soldiers, militia,

even the Indians, detained on account of their

wounds

8.

The

seamen, and

the

sick

same

and wounded

as our

own

shall

be treated the

people,

or sickness, as well as in the hospital

as in private houses, shall enjoy the privileges

of the cartel, and be treated accordingly.

Article

The

own homes, the Moraigans, who make part of

back, to their

immediately

after

the

Indians and his

armies,

signing the

present

9.

The

British General shall engage to send

part refused.

first

There never have

been any cruelties committed by the Indians of

ourarmy

;

and good order

shall be preserved,

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII. And,

Capitulation.

better to prevent

who may

those

in

all

mean

tlie

time,

1109

the

disorders on the part of

not be

gone away, the said

Generals shall give safeguards

to

such persons

as shall desire them, as well in the

town

as in

the country.

Answered by the preceding

His Britannic Majesty's General shall be answerable

them

the part of his troops, and shall oblige to

pay the damages they may commit as well towns

in the

as in the country.

Article

The

British General

Marquis de Vaudreuil Montreal before

no person he

Article.

committed on

for all the disorders

mander

and

,

house

shall be quartered in his

The Chevalier de

gone.

is

town of

to leave the

Levis,

Com-

Vaudreuil, and

all

these

gentlemen, shall be masters of their houses,

and

shall

embark when the King's ships shall and all possible sail for Europe

be ready to

;

conveniences shall be granted them,

of the land forces and Colony troops,

and

the Engineers, Officers of the Artillery,

Commissary of War, Montreal

till

shall

the said day,

lodgings there.

also

remain at

shall

keep their

and

The same

observed

shall be

with regard to M. Bigot, Intendant, the missaries of Marines and Writers, said

till

11.

The Marquis de

the

not oblige

shall

M. Bigot

shall

have occasion

Com-

whom

for,

the

and no

person shall be lodged at the Intendant's house before he shall take his departure.

Article

12.

convenient vessel that can be

Granted, except the archives which shall be

found shall be appointed to carry the Marquis

necessary for the government of the country,

The most

de Vaudreuil, the Marchioness de Vaudreuil,

M. de Rigaud, the Governor of Montreal, and that General's suite by the most direct passage to the

first

sea-port in France

;

cessary accommodation shall be

and every ne-

made

for

them.

This vessel shall be properly victualed at the

and the expense of his Britannic Majesty Marquis de Vaudreuil shall take with him his and examined papers, without their being ;

;

his equipages, plate, baggage,

of his retinue.

and also those

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1110

Article Marquis de Vaudreuil, news of peace should

13.

Whatever the King may have done on

or after, the embarkation of the

If before,

this

subject shall be obeyed,

and that by treaty, Canada should rehis most Christian Majesty, the Marquis de Vaudreuil shall return to Quebec, arrive,

main

to

or Montreal

everything shall return to

;

its

former state under the dominion of his most Christian Majesty, and the present capitulation

become

shall

null

and of no

'

effect.

Article

Two

France Chevalier de Levis, the principal officers, and the staff of the land forces, the Engineers, officers of Artillery, and their

14.

Granted, except that the Marquis de Vau-

ships shall be appointed to carry to

dreuil,

they

and

may

all

the officers, of whatever rank

be, shall faithfully deliver to us all

the charts and plans of the country,

These vessels shall likewise be and the necessary accommodations

domestics. victualled,

The

provided in them.

said officers shall take

with them their papers, without

being ex-

amined, and also their equippages and baggage. shall

Such of said officers as shall be married have liberty to take with them their

wives and children,

who

shall also

be victualed.

Article

A

sage of M. Bigot, the Intendant, with his suite; in

15.

Granted, with the same reserve as

vessel shall also be appointed for the pas-

preceding

article,

which vessel the proper accommodation

shall

be

made

take with him

him

for :

his papers,

him, and the persons he shall

he shall likewise embark with

which

examined; and those of his

shall not be

his equipages, plate, baggage,

suite; this vessel shall be victualled as before

mentioned.

Article

The

British General

shall

also

order the

necessary and most convenient vessels to carry to France,

M. de Longueuil, Governor of Three

Rivers, the staff of the Colony and the

missaries of the Marine;

Com-

they shall embark

therein their families, servants, baggage and

equipages during the passage, of his Britannic Majesty.

at

the expense

16.

Granted,

in

the

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII. Article

The

and

officers

soldiers, as well of the land

forces as of the Colony,

shall he likewise

and

sufficient

Granted,

and also the Marine

who

and seamen

officers

17.

are in the Colony,

embarked

convenient

for

France, and shall

vessels

be

The officers of the land who shall be married, shall

appointed for them.

and Marine troops

take with them their families, and

all

of them

have liberty to embark their servants and baggage. As to the soldiers and seamen, shall

who

those

are married shall take with

them

wives and children, and all of them shall these have their haversacks and baggage their

;

vessels

be

shall

victualed

the

at

and

properly

sufficiently

expense of his Britannic

Majesty.

Article

The

and all the followers of the troops who shall have their baggage in the fields, may send for it before they depart, without any hindrance or molestation. officers,

soldiers

Article

An

hospital ship shall be provided by the

18.

Granted,

19.

Granted.

wounded and and seamen as shall be

British General for such of the sick officers, soldiers

in a condition to be carried to

be victualed

shall likewise

his Britannic Majesty.

France, and

expense of

at the

It shall

be the same

with regard to the other wounded and sick officers, soldiers and sailors, as soon as they shall be recovered.

carry

to

with

They

them

shall

their

have liberty

wives,

children,

servants and baggage, and the said soldiers

and

sailors shall not be solicited nor forced to

enter into the service of his Britannic Majesty.

Article

A

Commissary and

Writers pitals,

of his

shall

be

left to

one

of

the

King's

take care of the hos-

and whatever may relate most Christian Majesty.

to the service

20.

Granted.

mi

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

]^]^]^2

Article

The

21.

British General shall also provide ships

France the Officers of the Su-

for carrying to

preme council, of justice, police, admiralty, and ail other officers having commissions from his most Christian Majesty, for them, their families, servants and equipages, as well as and they shall likewise for the other officers

Granted but if they have papers relating the government of the country, they are to ;

to

be delivered up

to us.

;

be victualed at the expense of his Britannic Majesty. They shall, however, be at liberty Colony,

to stay in the

if

settle their affairs, or to

whenever they think

they think proper to to

France

officers

whose

withdraw

fit.

Article are

Tf there

any military

should require their presence in the

affairs

Colony

they shall have

the next year,

till

liberty to stay in

it,

after

having obtained the

permission of the Marquis de Vaudreuil for

22.

All those

whose private

their stay in the country,

affairs shall

and who

require

shall

have

the Marquis de Vaudreuil's leave for so doing, shall be allowed to

remain

till

their affairs are

settled,

that purpose, and without being reputed pri-

soners of war.

Article

The

contractor

for

be at liberty to stay

shall

23.

King's provisions

the

Canada

in

year, in order to be enabled

till

Granted,

next

answer the

to

debts he has incurred in the Colony, on ac-

count of what he has furnished

;

but,

if

he

should prefer to go to France this year, he shall be obliged to leave,

till

next year, a per-

This private

son to transact his business.

have liberty to papers, without being in-

person shall

preserve,

carry

his

off all

spected.

shall

have leave

to stay

Colony or go to France and, in this case, a passage and subsistence shall be

in the last

His clerks

and

;

allowed them on board the ships of his Britannic Majesty, for them, their families and their

Article

The

provisions and other kind of stores.

which shall be found in the magazines of the Commissary, as well as in the towns of Montreal and of Three Rivers, as in the country,

24.

Everything that

is

actually in the magazines,

destined for the use of the troops, livered to

the

King's forces.

British

is

Commissary,

to

be de-

for

the

PARIS DOCUMENTS shall

XVII.

:

1113

be preserved to him, the said provisions

belonging to him, and not to the King; and he

them

shall be at liberty to sell

to the

French

and Enslish.

A

passage

France

to

shall

be

likewise

Granted.

granted, on board of his Britannic Majesty's ships, as well as victuals to such officers of the

India

company

and they

as shall be willing to go thither,

shall take

with them

servants and baggage.

The

tiieir families,

agent of

chief

the said company, in case he should choose to

go to France, shall be allowed to leave such person as he shall think proper till next year, to settle the affairs of the said

to recover such

sums

as are

due

company, and to them. The

chief agent shall take possession of

all

the

papers belonging to the said company, and they shall not be liable to inspection.

Article This company shall be maintained

in

2G.

Granted, with regard to what

the

may

belong to

property of the scarlet cloths and beavers they

the company, or to private persons

may have

most Christian Majesty has any share

town of Montreal ; which shall not be touched under any pretence whatever, and the necessary licences shall be given to the in the

that

;

but

if his

in

it,

must become the property of the King.

chief agent, to send this year his beaver to

France, onboard his Britannic Majesty's ships,

paying the freight on the same footing as the British

would pay

it.

Article

The

and Roman

religion, shall

such manner that

all

subsist entire, in

the states and the people

of the towns and countries, places and distant posts,

shall

continue

to

assemble

in

the

churches, and to frequent the sacraments as

without being molested in any manner, directly or indirectly. These people shall be obliged by the English government to heretofore,

pay

their priests the tithes,

and

all

the taxes

they were used to pay under the government of his most Christian Majesty.

Vol. X.

140

27.

Granted, as to the free

free exercise of the Catholic, Apostolic

exercise of their

religion; the obligation of paying the tithes to

the

priests

pleasure.

will

depend on the

King's

NEW-YORK COLONIAL

1114

RLilNUSCRIPTS.

Article 2S.

The

Chapter, Priests, Curates and Mission-

aries, shall

parochial

their

duties

town and country

and functions

in the

parishes.

Article

^

The

named by

Vicars-general

of the Episcopal

See, shall

vacancy

They

shall, at all times,

to visit the different parishes of

exercise

all

the

the jurisdiction

French

the

ceremonies and

with the ordinary

diocese,

under

article.

to

the town or country parishes, as they

in

shall think proper.

he free

have liberty

29.

Granted, except what regards the following

the Chapter

to administer the diocese during the

dwell

Granted,

continue with an entire liberty,

they exercised

dominion.

They

shall

enjoy the same rights in case of the death of the future Bishop, of which mention will be

made

in the following article.

Article If

by the

treaty of peace,

Canada should

30.

Refused,

in the power of his Britannic Majesty, most Christian Majesty shall continue to name the Bishop of the Colony who shall be of the Roman communion, and under whose

remain his

authority the people shall execute the

Roman

Religion.

Article

The Bishop shall, in case of need, establish new parishes, and provide for the rebuildingof

31,

This

article

foregoing,

his cathedral and his Episcopal palace; and, in the

in

mean

time, he shall have liberty to dwell

the towns

He

proper.

or

parishes as he

judge

shall

be at liberty to

shall

visit

his

with the ordinary ceremonies, and

diocese exercise

all

the jurisdiction which his prede-

cessor exercised under the French Dominion,

save that an oath of

fidelity, or a

promise to

do nothing contrary to his Britannic Majesty's service

may

be required of him.

Article

The communities in

their

of

constitutions

shall continne

to

Nuns

shall be preserved

and privileges

observe their

rules

they

;

;

they

32.

Granted,

is

comprised

under

the

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVIL

and

1115

be exempted from lodging any military;

shall

molest them in their

shall be forbid to

it

religious exercises, or to enter their convents:

safe-guards shall even be given to them,

if

they desire them.

Article

The preceding

article

shall

33.

Refused,

likewise be

'till

the King's pleasure be

known,

executed, with regard to the communities of Jesuits

and Recollects, and of the house of

the Priests of St. Sulpice, at Montreal last

to

these

;

and the Jesuits, shall preserve their right

nominate to certain parishes and missions,

as heretofore.

Article communities

the

All

and

preserve their movables,

the

priests,

34.

Grantee,

shall

property and

revenues of the Seignories, and other estates

which they possess nature soever they

Colony of what the same

the

in

may

be; and

estates shall be preserved in their privileges, rights, honors

and exemptions.

Article

S5.

the

They

Priests of the

estates,

and of

Seminary of the foreign missions, Sulpice, as well as the Jesuits and

well as their persons, and

If the

Canons, Priests,

St.

Missionaries,

the Recollects, choose to go to France, a pas-

sage shall be granted them in his Britannic Majesty's ships; and they shall have leave to sell,

in

whole, or in part, the estates and

movables they possess

in the Colonies, either

French or to the English, without the least impediment or obstacle from the British government. They shall be at liberty to take with them, or send to France, the produce, of to the

what nature soever sold,

it

may

be, of the goods

paying the freight, as mentioned

in the

26th Article.

And

who

go this year, shall be victualed,

choose

i:o

during the passage

at

such of the said Priests, the expense of his Britan-

nic Majesty; and they shall take with their

them

them,

to

shall be masters to dispose of their

and

to

send the produce thereof, as

France,

all

that belongs to

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

-j^-j^-j^Q

Article If,

to

by the treaty of peace, Canadii remains Majesty,

Britannic

his

the

ail

30.

Granted.

French,

Canadians, Acadians, merchants, and other persons, who choose to retire to France, shall have leave to do so from the British General,

who shall

procure them a passage

and, never-

;

from this time to that decision, any French or Canadian merchants, or other persons, shall desire to go to France, they shall

theless,

if,

likewise have leave from the British General. Both the one and the other of them shall take

with them their families, servants and baggage.

Article

The Lords

of Manors,

Civil officers, the

towns

Canadians as well

37.

Granted, as

and

Military

the

in

in the

26th Article.

the

as in the country, the French, settled,

or trading in the whole extent of the Colony of Canada, and all other persons whatsoever, shall

preserve the entire peaceable property

and possession of the goods, noble and ignoble, movable and immovable, merchandises, furs, and other effects, even their ships they shall not be touched, nor the least damage done to ;

them, on any pretence whatever. They shall have liberty to keep, let or sell them, as well to the

French as

to the British

the produce of them in

bills

;

to take

away

of exchange, furs,

specie or other returns,

whenever they

judge proper to go

France, paying their

freight,

to

as in the 26th Article.

They

shall

shall

have the furs which are in the posts above, and which belong to them, and may be on the way to Montreal ; and, for this purpose, they

also

shall

have leave to send, this year, or the next,

canoes, fitted out, to fetch such of the said furs as shall have remained in those posts.

Article All the people

who

shall

who have

left

Acadia, and

be found in Canada, including the

Canada on the side of Acadia, shall have the same treatment as the Canadians, and enjoy the same privileges. frontiers of

38. It is for

subjects;

the

King

in the

to dispose of his ancient

meantime, they

shall

the same privileges as the Canadians,

enjoy

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII.

1117

Article 39.

None

who

Granted, except with regard to the Cana-

of the Canadians, Acadians or French,

are

now

in

Canada and on

frontiers

tiie

dians.'

of the Colony on the side of Acadia, Detroit,

Michiiiiniakinac and other places and posts of

thecountries above, nor the married and unmarried

remaining

soldiers

Canada

in

shall

be

carried or transported into the British Colonies

or

to

Great Britain, and

they shall not be

troubled for having carried arms.

Article

The Savages

Most

or Indians, allies of his

Christian Majesty, shall be maintained in the lands they inhabit; there,

they

shall

if

not

40.

Granted, except this

last article,

which has

been already refused,

they choose to remain

molested, on

be

any

pretence v?hatsoever, for having carried arms

nnd served

his

Most Christian Majesty.

shall have, as well as the French, religion,

and

shall

They

freedom of

keep their Missionaries.

The actual Vicars-general and the Bishop, when the Episcopal See shall be filled, shall have leave to send them new Missionaries when they shall judge it necessary. Article

The what

French, Canadians and Acadians, of state

and condition soever, who

remain in the Colony,

41.

They become

subjects of the King.

shall

not be forced to

shall

take arms against his Most Christian Majesty or

his

allies,

directly or

on any Government

indirectly,

occasion whatsoever

;

shall only require of

them an exact

the British

neutrality.

Article 42.

The French and Canadians

shall continue

to be governed according to the customs of

Answered by the preceding by the last.

articles,

and

particularly

and the laws and usages established for and shall not be subject to any ; other imposts than those which were established under the French dominion.

Paris,

this country

Article 43.

The

papers of the government shall remain,

without exception,

in

the '

Granted, with the reserve already made,

power of the Mar-

Sic.

Ought

to

be Acadians Knox Journal,

I.,

486.

— Ed.

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS,

1118

quis de Vaudreuil, and shall go to France with

These papers

him.

not be examined

shall

on any pretence whatsoever.

Article

The

44.

The same

papers of the Intendant, of the officers

as to this article.

of the Comptroller of the Marine, of the ancient

and new Treasurers, of the King's Magazines, of the offices of the Revenues and Forges of Maurice, shall remain in the power of M.

St.

embarked same vessel with him; these

Bigot, the Intendant, and shall be for

France

in the

papers shall not be examined.

Article

The

and other papers of the Supreme Council of Quebec, of the Prevote, and those of the Royal Three Rivers and of Montreal

admiralty of the said city Jurisdictions of

Seignorial

those of the

Colony

the

;

45.

Granted,

registers

;

Jurisdictions of the

minutes of the

acts

the

of

Notaries of the towns and of the rural districts, general, the acts, and other papers that

and, in

may

serve to prove the estates and fortunes of

the citizens, shall remain in the Colony, in the rolls of the jurisdictions

on which these papers

depend.

Article

The

inhabitants and merchants shall enjoy

Granted,

same

the privileges of trade, under the

all

46.

favors and conditions granted to the subjects

of his Britannic Majesty, as well in the

Upper

countries, as in the interior.

Article 47.

The Negroes and remain

in their quality of slaves, in the posses-

sion of the

French and Canadians to

they belong

;

them sell

Granted

Panis of both sexes shall

made

whom

they shall be at liberty to keep

in their service

and them them up ;

to bring

they in the

in

the Colony,

shall

Roman

also

or to

continue

religion.

Article

The Marquis the

Staff

;

de Vaudreuil, the General and

Officers

of the

land

forces,

the

Governors and Staff Officers of the different

except those

prisoners,

48.

Granted,

who

shall

have been

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XVII.

:

1L19

places of the Colony, the Military and Civil Officers,

and

who

other jjersons

all

the Colony, or

who

shall leave

are already absent, shall

have leave to name and appoint Attorneys to act for them,

and

ministration

of

immovable,

until

name, in the admovable, and peace; and if by the

in their

their

the

effects,

between the two Crowns, Canada does not return under the French dominions, these officers or other persons, or Attorneys for them shall have leave to sell their manors, houses, and other estates, their movables and effects,

treaty

&c., to carry

away

duce thereof, either

or send to France the pro-

exchange, spe-

in bills of

cie, furs, or other returns, as

is

mentioned

in

the 37th Article.

Article

The

inhabitants

and other

persons

49.

who

Granted,

have suffered any damage in their goods, movable or immovable, which remained at Quebec, under the faith of the capitulation of shall

that city,

the

may make

British

their representations to

Government,

them due justice against same shall concern.

who

shall

the person

render

whom

the

Article

The

and

50,

present capitulation shall be inviolably

last.

Granted,

executed in

all its articles, and bona fide on notwithstanding any infraction, and any other pretence, with regard to preceding capitulations, and without making use

both sides,

of reprisals.

p

Article

g

The

British Generals shall engage, in case

any Indians remain

after the surrender of this

town, to prevent their coming into the towns, and that they do not in any manner insult the

51.

Care insult

shall be

taken that the Indians do not

any of the subjects of

his

Most Christian

Majesty.

subjects of his Most Christian Majesty.

Article

The

troops and other subjects of his Most

Christian Majesty shall

who

be embarked, at

52.

Answered by the Uth

are to go to France

latest, fifteen

days after

the signing of the present capitulation.

-•

article.

—

:

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1120

Article

The

troops and other subjects of his Most

who

Majesty

Christian

•

are to go to France,

the

town

of Montreal and other posts which they

now

shall

53.

Granted.

remain lodged and encamped

in

occupy, until they shall be embarked for their departure to those

passports, however, shall be granted

;

who

shall

want them,

for the different

places of the Colony, to go and attend to their affairs.

Article All the officers and soldiers of the troops in

the service of France,

New

prisoners in

are

England, and who were taken

shall be sent

where of,

who

their

back

as

soon as possible

ransom or exchange

agreeable to the cartel

officers

have

leave to

affixirs in

come

in

to

Canada, France,

shall be treated

and, if any of these Canada, they shall have ;

there.

Article

As

to the officers of the Militia, the Militia-

men and

New

54.

Granted,

the Canadians,

who

55.

Granted, except what regards the Canadians.'

are prisoners in

England, they shall be sent back to their

countries.

Done

in

the

camp

before Montreal, this Sth of September, 1760.

Jeff. Amherst.

(Signed), Certified to

collated

be

true, according to the original signed

by the Marquis de Vaudreuil, and

by M. Appy, Secretary of M. Amherst.

True Copy. (Signed),

M. Beniier

to

Vaudreuil.

.

Quebec,

25""

September, 1760.

Sir,

As the necessity and good of the service cause me to perform actually here the duties of a Commissary of the Marine, I take the liberty to render you an account in this regard, in order that

you may have the goodness

back,

I shall

to inform the Minister thereof; but to

say ^

Sic.

Aoadians.

Knox

Journal, I, 440.

Ed.

resume matters farther

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XVII.

1121

town of Montreal was invested by three armies consisting of more than 32 thousand men; the principal one came by Lake Ontario under the orders of ftf Amherst, Commander-in-Chief; one by Lake Cliamplain, commanded by Coloael Haviiand, and the third from Quebec, in ships. Never was seen more beautiful military combinations or so many troops reunited on the same point and in the same instant, against a body already

Oa

the m3rning of the

7""

the

expiring.

M. de Vaudreuil concluded a general capitulation for the Colony, very favorable to the This capitulation is a all those who have any fortunes in the country. voluminous work, the length of which deprives me of the pleasure I should hav* of annexing a copy of it hereunto. According as the English armies advanced the farmers deserted us, and the troops alone fell back towards the centre. The few domiciliated Indians that remained with us, did not delay 8""

Colonists, and to

joining those of the enemy, serving as their guides, and being the fed

them the evening

10"" I

made

first to

massacre those

who

before.

a review of the eight battalions of Regulars

;

I

found, sick, invalids

all

included,

Colony formed into two battalions, numbered scarcely G50 men. This business finished, I started for Quebec, in order to be beforehand with our regiments there, and to make provision with the English Commissaries for their subsistence and lodging. Chevalier de Levis, who arrived also at the same time, ordered me to take the same care of the troops of the Marine and sailors, as there was no Commissary or clerk of the Marine on the spot to render them that service. The transportation of the troops from Montreal here, was effected partly in bateaux, schooners and other craft. The troops of the Colony, embarked in bateaux, arrived some 2,200 and some odd men.

days ago.

I

believe

all

the soldiers of the

have made the review of them

1

in order to regulate the

quantity of rations

they required

And have

found

:

Extract of the

Review of

the

two

battalions of the

Troops of the Marine at

Quebec, 21" September, 1760. Officers, fifty-six,

56

Servants, fifty-eight,

68

Cadets,

6

six,

Soldiers, seven

Women,

hundred and

753 47 30

fifty-three,

forty-seven,

Children, thirty,

Gunners and bombardiers of the Marine, exclusive of the garrison of Three Rivers, which is 60 or 60 men. Officer, one,

Women

and children,

^.,

fifty-one,..

..

.....,...,.,,,

five,

141

- -

I

61

,

Total of rations to be delivered to the troops of the Marine, each day,.

Vol. X.

-

, ,

Gunners and bombardiers,

,

5 1,007

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1122 This number

is

some

daily increasing,

of

them having gone

into the settlements in quest of

their baggage.

As

for the naval officers

effective

The

and seamen,

it

has not been possible for me, as yet, to learn their

number. Regular troops

staff of the

is

but the whole of that of the Colony

here,

Montreal; their departure from that place,

subject to

is

more embarrassment

in

is

still

at

consequence

of their family and baggage.

moments has been furious; some English troops, but without loss of which our two battalions have embarked. I,

Since the SO"" a continual Northeast wind has prevailed which at it

has destroyed two schooners, on board which were

life;

we apprehend

like accidents to those in

myself, run the risk of losing

all

my

baggage and papers which are on board a vessel with the

regiment of Beam, whereof there has been no tidings.

This bad weather

the cause of the arrival, daily, here, of troops of soldiers belonging to

is

The

one corps or another.

English, to hasten being rid of them, wish to put them on board

according as they arrive, without considering that they thereby dismember the

me

subjects us, and

in particular, as

Chevalier de Levis

When

is

now

regards

my

which

occupied in preventing this inconvenience by his representations.

the troops of the Marine will embark,

and draw up a duplicate of

corps,

business, to infinite labor and confusion.

it,

I

shall

make

the review of them on the beach,

one for the Major and the other

T

shall reserve to transmit

to you. I

have the honor to

be,

with profound respect,

Sir,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

Berniek.

(Signed),

Marshal de Belle

Chevalier de Levis to [Dtpartement de

la

Isle.

Guerre, Paris.]

Rochelle, SV"" November, 1760.

My I

Lord,

have landed

this

moment;

Versailles, but the fatigue

made, force me

The which

I should have wished to be able to leave immediately for

and even

to take five or six

perils that

days

for the

have experienced

only opportunity I have had this year to write to you, sailed

last

April, from

Bordeaux and put

pacquets from the court were brought to us. vessels,

I

your

letters

of the SS""

in the

passage

my health. my Lord, was

I

have just

reestablishment of

I

into

the

Bay

by some ships

des Chaleurs, whence the

have had the honor to answer, by those same

February, to send you an account of our operations last

to you my opinions on the then situation month of June. But these vessels having been outsailed in the river of Canada by an English squadron, and afterwards defeated by a division of that same squadron, makes me fear that my letters have

winter, of

my

opening the campaign, and submitting

of the Colony.

not reached you.

'Twas

at the close of the

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII.

1123

annex hereunto a duplicate of that relation, to which I have only to add the assurance that was not for want of courage in the troops, of union and concert in tiie best measures to be I

it

adopted

King's service, of zeal and

for the

on the part of the

The Regular

chiefs, that the

Colony

no more than of prudence more fortunate fate.

fidelity in the inhabitants

failed to experience a

troops and those of the Colony merit this eulogium, that they have performed

prodigies of valor on the 2Sth of April, to recover an advantage that they might have certainly

They have maintained

gained, had bravery availed them in the stead of means. character,

under incredible

difficulties,

up

September, when

to the S"" of

it

the

became

same

at length

necessary to yield to numbers, and to the formidable array of three armies reunited in their

combined operations; nor did this take place and gave evidence of their entire despair imposed upon them. I

reserve until

my

until after they

had

offered to

immolate themselves,

the conditions that have been

in submitting to

return to Versailles, the placing before you,

my

Lord, the other objects

on which 1 had the honor to write you last June. The request I then made, those I have to submit since that time in favor of the troops, and my supplication to you to lay before his Majesty, on some favorable day, all that those troops have done and suffered for many years

A

in so severe a climate.

more worthy

result

was due

to

their courage, but this one

was

predicted and foreseen for a long time. I

annex

in like

manner

hereunto the continuation of the narrative of the campaign, which

terminated on the signing of the capitulation

had no other part than

shown

to the

to

made by

have protested against

Regular troops,

who ought

to

it,

in

me

My

proceedings on that occasion have

receiving from General Amherts, or personally paying him, the civilities

usual on such meeting between Generals.

and not

I

have merited more attention from the Marquis de

Vaudreuii and more esteem from General Amherts. not permitted

the Marquis de Vaudreuii,' wherein

regard to what concerned the treatment

to appreciate the reasons

I

have thought

it

my

my

duty to manifest

which that English General has given

resentment

for his conduct, to wit;

that 'twas in satisfaction for the crueltes committed by the Indians with

whom

the troops had

been associated. after the town of Montreal was given up, I made the review of the eight which 1 found to be about two thousand two hundred men, all included, hospitals, wounded and invalids. As these troops and all the people were to repair by the river in English vessels to Quebec, where the distribution of the embarkations were to be made, I immediately dispatched M. Bougainville in order to be there before them and to maintain

Immediately

battalions,

discipline and regularity

among them, and Commissary Bernier

in like

with the English Commissaries in victualing and lodging them, and

pay the same attention

to the troops of the

1

manner,

to cooperate

have instructed him

to

Marine and seamen, as there was no person there

to represent the Marine. '

PiLUBE RiCADD UK Vaudreuil-Cavagnal, Marqiiis de Vaudreuii, was the 3rd

from

He

nOo

to his death in

1723,

eon of Thilip,

-niio

and of Louisa Elizabeth de Joybert, of Soulange, and was born

at

governed Canoda Quebec, in 1698.

married Miss d'Eschambault and served as Governor of Three Rivers; was appointed Governor of Louisiana

in 1743,

and his administration of that Colony was long and fondly remembered by the people. In 1752 he was appointed Governor of his native country and administered its atl'airs down to 1760. He returned to France, poor, after a service of fifty-six years, and was thrown inio the Bastile, through the efforts, it is supposed, of the friends The proceedings against him and others inculpated, continued from December, 1761,

of the late Marquis de Montcalm. to

the close of March, 1763.

In

December, of that year, he was honorably acquitted, but he did not long survive the persecution. He ditd in 1764, lesg from the effects of age than from the ingratitude of the government, in whoise support he had sacrificed his entire fortune.

Garneau.

— Ed.

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1124

After the departure of the battalions from Montreal,

T followed them with M. de Bourlamaque Quebec the last, in order to obtain for them from the English chief, by my presence, all the accommodation possible for the voyage. In spite of my trouble and care, they have suffered extraordinarily, 1*' Through the small number of transports the English had 2"'' In consequence of a frightful north-easter which detained them in the river 22 days in peril, and rendered many ships unfit for service, whereby the English were constrained to crowd the men into the remaining vessels, although, however, they have not exceeded their

in the resolution of leaving

;

man

ordinary rule to put only one

per ton, to which I paid the greatest attention

4""

;

Finally,

consequence of the universal want of money suitable for providing themselves at the English merchants with the comforts necessary for the voyage, and the painful alternative of not having,

in

number, any other food than simply the

at least the greater

sailors' ration.

After this storm, so contrary and so universal in this country, the battalions arrived piecemeal

Quebec; they had

at

to leave in like

manner, as the season admitted of no further delay, nor in that embarkation.

consequeHtly of having any order or regularity I

my

confined

attention to the embarkation of

belonging to the King's troops.

all

I

have

commanding the soldiers in each vessel have taken a list of nearly all the ships and the number of soldiers put on board, which I enclose, and have been obliged to sail myself; I have directed M. de Bourlamaque, whose vessel was one of the last to be ready, to take the same care regarding the remaining ships, and to draw up a fresh list, on the supposition that some change would be made. I embarked in a vessel of 200 tons, and took with me the Adjutant-General, the Assistant Quarter-Master General, Commissary Bernier, Mess" Pontleroy, La Rochebeaucourt, the two

given orders and

instructions

each

to

officer

partizan officers and the Surgeon-Major.

and the remainder of our

M. de Bourlamaque took with him M. de Bougainville' and Engineer officers.

artillery

After having experienced

much contrary wind who has with him

Louisbourg what

called a tempest,

is

and kept us two hours uncertain as than a very stormy time,

I

descending the

in

with M. de Vaudreuil's ship,

which separated

us,

my

and cost

being

in

company

we had

and at length, without any other accident

to life or death,

Louis Antoine de Bouqainville was son of a Notary in Paris, where he was born on the 11th November, 1729.

'

commenced the study

an Advocate, but abandoning that career

arms he enrolled himself

became Adjutant the

camp

Montcalm,

whom

Royal Soci»ty.

of the

army

Germany,

in

an establishment at the Malouines

to St.

Malo

Count

St.

Malo

in

in 1769,

and

in the

AiJ-deCamp

the rank of Marecbal de

He

In 1753 he

who commanded when he was was appointed Aid-de-Camp to General

lie

as Secretary of Legation,

islands,

was

to

M. Choiseul

Stainville,

and he accordingly received a commission of Captain

the world, and to

him belongs the honor of being the Voyage autonr du Monde.

and was at the reduction of Savannah

off the

Camp

elected

fleet,

in

a

fleet

French Navy,

commenced

He

lie bis

returned

and 1779 he commanded the Ouerrier, 74, year, when be was promoted to the rank of

Count de Grasse's

under the command of Hood, and

Chesapeak, when the French

in the

In 1766 he

French circumnavigator.

In 1778

the latter

in

80, in

first

in

fleet,

November

and was following

in the

engagement of

commanded

fought that of the English under Graves.

the van,

After reaching

or Major-General, he retired from the public service in 1790, after a brilliant career of over

member

of the

French Institute

in

1796; next created a Senator, and afterwards Count of the

died 31st August, 1811, in the 8."d year of his age. Biographie UniverseUe

— Ed.

After his return to France, in

where he distinguished himself

After the pence he was engaged by the merchants of St. Malo, to form

year 1781 he commanded the Auguxte,

and commenced the action forty years.

went to Locidon

rejoined Chovert in 1755, and in 1756

as

in 1771 published his

d'Estaiog's fleet,

Commodore; and

Memoirs, VI.

Black Musqueteeis.

March, 1763; but these islands were afterwards ceded to Spain.

Voyage around

the 29th of April, against the English

Empire.

He

to call forth the special notic-e of the King.

from

After a

law and was afterwards admitted

in the

he accompanied to Canada, with the commission of Captain of Dragoons.

1760, he served with the

celebrated

of the

of the Provincial battalion of Picaidy, the year following Aid-de-Camp of General Chivert,

member

sailed

for the profession of

of Sarre Louis, and in the course of the winter of 1754

received a

manner

off

vessel one of her masts

arrived here after a passage of 40 days.

regular course of study at the University, at the age of 22, he

in

river,

a portion of the Colonial staff,

;

Bcalson's

Naval avd HiUtaTy

PARIS DOCUMENTS

my

XVII.

:

1125

my

Lord, to inform you that the English, perceiving the few transports they had to carry out the engagements of the capitulation, have proposed to me to have our I feel

it

duty,

New-York,

battalion sent to

in

strongly opposed, because they

order to be embarked more commodiously there, which

I

would have been annihilated on that route by voluntary

desertion or insubordination.

think that these battalions bring back to France nearly

I

15 or 1,600

men; more than

500 have quit since the capitulation. I should wish, at

against the latter, I

your pleasure,

all

may

such

that, in case the corps

be suspended until

have done concerning these deserters, which

an error to

at the

is,

to

may

plead

in their favor.

proceedings

inform you of what

This

evil

proceeds from

in

Canada.

The greatest who have

of those deserters are settlers or such as had taken measures to settle, and

been unwilling

May

to enter to

have permitted them to marry, to take up land and

have promised them their discliarge on the conclusion of the war

number

all

very outset, which

would desire

have had the honor

I

I,

my

abandon a

to

state into

which they were allowed

the officers from the highest to the lowest, find themselves

they are absolutely without specie

;

each of them

may

last; since then three montlis

have elapsed.

who

are returning from Canada,

truly have funds in paper but

Their salaries have been paid them

of no value here.

August

to enter.

Lord, before terminating this letter represent to you the circumstances in which

in

If

be possible,

it

which

of exchange up to the

bills

my

first

is

of

Lord, to have them

same footing as in would be a great relief to them for the journeys and other expenses they have to undergo and whilst waiting the maturity of their bills of exchange. All are impatiently awaiting the orders you will think proper to give for their relief at a moment so pressing when they are arriving in general need of clothes and articles of the paid by the Marine from the 1" of September to the

Canada,

I'"

of January, on the

it

greatest necessity.

my arrival only the ship Elizabeth Mary with a portion of the regiment same day two transports arrived with some Colonial troops. I hope we

I have found here on of

Beam, and on

the

shall not delay receiving others. I

am

with respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient

servant,

Che v. DE Levis.

CJievalUr de Levis

to

.

Rochelle, S?"-

gt-",

1760.

Sir, I

have the honor

to transmit to

you

my

detail of the operations

from

last

winter up

to the

eighth of September.

The

result thereof

force and

is

by no means favorable, but how could

means with those of

Without endeavoring

to

the

make

be otherwise comparing our

enemy?

out of place eulogiums,

de Vaudreuil has employed, up to the experience can be capable of

it

last

moment,

all

I

think

I

may

the resources that

say that the Marquis

human prudence and

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1126

On my

have done everything that depended on me to second him, either by the union of the most unanimous sentiments betvpeen us both, or by executing his orders, or suggesting means whicli appeared to me ought to promote the good of the service.

The

part,

I

troops of the Colony, those of the

and the farmers themselves have given that the preservation of the Colony

Line,

proofs especially on the 28"" of April

reiterated

last,

could not depend either on their zeal for his Majesty's glory, or their courage in defending

themselves, or their willingness to endure the greatest fatigues and the privation of the most

necessary articles. 'Tis a consequence of the misfortunes and fatality to which, for a certain time, that Colony

was exposed, that the succors sent, this year, from France, did not arrive at the critical moment. However trifling they might be, when joined to the success gained by the King's arms on the 28"" of April, I believe I may assert that Quebec would have been retaken. I

will not say more. Sir,

on a matter actually decided;

the entering, if you desire

I

reserve for

my

arrival at Versailles

into the details relative so the functions of the

it,

employment

I

Colony; one of those to which I shall supplicate your favorable attention is that of the rewards which the officers of the Colony deserve who have served with zeal and distinction under my orders. we were nigh perishing I have made the voyage with half my Staff in a vessel of 200 tons I am obliged to stop a few days in a tempest; one mast was cut away in order to save us have

that

filled in

;

;

here for the recovery of

my

health, having for a long time suffered very great fatigue.

Quebec with

Shortly after the surrenderjof Montreal I repaired to tate by our presence the

means

of procuring for

all

M''

de Bourlamaque, to

facili-

commodious transports. passage from Montreal to Quebec and

the troops the most

A violent gale which detained them 22 days \* their which has made some vessels unfit for service, has 'rendered that embarkation very difficult and has not permitted it being done with regularity I have confined my attention to getting on board all the subjects in the King's service as the season required despatch and my vessel was ready, I took my departure, leaving behind me M"' de Bourlamaque to continue the same ;

:

attention to the few remaining transports and to take a

would occur;

I

annex hereunto the one up

The Marquis de Vaudreuil and '

M''

to the

moment

Bigot' sailed in

new of

supposing some changes

list,

my

departure.

company with me.

Feancois Bigot belonged to a Guyenne faimily and had been Commissaire Ordonnateur at Louisbourg in 1745

that fortress

fell

into the hands of the

enemy he was accused

sation of the funds appropriated for the construction

of having contributed to the defeat of the garrison

and repairs of the

fortifications.

when

;

by malver-

Being connected with an influential

was appointed Intendant of Canada 1st January, 1748, with powers considerably all the dependencies of New France. On his return to France, he was accused by Cadet, the Contractor-General of Canada, and thrown into the Bastile 17th November, 1761, where he remained eleven months without being allowed to communicate with his friends. In December, 1762, a Royal commission was appointed to try all those suspected of having authorized, or connived at, the frauds said to have been flagrantly committed in Canada. More than fifty persons were accused, including the Governor, Intendant, seventeen Commandants of posts, two Commissaries of the Marine, and one Commissary of the Superior Council of Quebec. The President of this comfamily, he not only escaped all censure but

enlarged; they extended to Louisiana and of malversation

was M. de

mission years,

Sartine, at the time Lieuteuant-General of police; the Reporter

and engaged the attention of

Europe.

all

The Marquis de Vaudreuil was acquitted

at Montreal, Brfcard, the Controller of the tolerated, favored

600,000 p. 40;

p.

livres.

navy

was M. Dupont.

a restitution to the

King

(

The

trial lasted

at Quebec,

who were

convicted of having, during their administration'

Mr. Bigot to Bordeaux, where he passed the remainder of his

in the indictment, received only

life in

ease and comfort

and the Mde Pompadour, of Canada, was mulcted Eficydopedie Methodique: JarUprudenae t. 11., 206; CoHections Quebec Historical and Literary 83),

whose wife was

Smith's Canada,

I.,

207, 220,

who

Bigot's mistress,

specifies the

three

of twelve millions of livres.

In .March, 1763, Messrs. Bigot, the Intendant, Varin, the Commissary

and committed, themselves, the abuses, malversations and frauds charged

a sentence of banishment

Pean (supra,

The Court decreed

of all blame.

powers and duties of the Intendant.

— Ed.

).

in the

Major

sum of

Society, \%5%,

PARIS DOCUMENTS The

regular troops numbered on

included, sick and invalids, and

remained

been

lias I

I

to

Beam, and on I

expect 16 or 1,700 of them will return.

The

the

my

relief for the

rest

all

have

to

of

of their pay

journeys and other expenses they

Mary with

part of the regiment of

same day arrived two transports with some troops of

we

bills

who have

their papers maturing.

arrival here only the ship Elizabeth

not be long before

have the honor

them the continuance

will be pleased to obtain for

which would be a great

make, and the delay attendant on

have found on

'twill

1127

hope, Sir, that in consequence of the protection you grant to troops

to the P' of January,

have

XVII.

where they have formed settlements. been liquidated from the 1" of January to the 1" of September in

your department, you

in

:

day of the surrender of Montreal, 2,200 men,

the country

in

The pay exchange;

I

the

the Colony; I hope

receive others.

be with respect, Sir,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Cli" de Levis.

(Signed),

Return of

the

Emharhation of

tlie

French Troops

at

Quebec.

Sailors,

NAMES or THE VESSELS. Wnmen

«

ChildreD.

Bristol Galley

Yarmouth Packet,

Colonials Colonials, Colonials

Grandyille Ki ngston

Colonials, Colonials,

Charles

Town

Beam

Elizabet h Mary Elizabeth,

Elizabeth

,

Languedoc Berry

-j

Lady Mary,

Languedoc, Royal Roussillon,

Duke j

Brothowod, -j

Annao

\

Isaac,

Adventure, Mary,

Joanna

.

These vessels -were

.

Berry,

not yet ready to

La Reine,

on the 13 8ber.

sail

Guyenne

Mary Jane

Young

Beam, Beam, Languedoc,

-j

Rebecca

3 8bei 3 8be 3 8be

Berry,

Guyenne Berry ,

Guyenne Marquis de Vaudreui Chevalier de Levis, M. de Bourlawiaque,

30 15gun'n

The Imendaut

James, Abigail Jenny,

Languedoc La Sarre La Sarre,

Mulberry

—

The other vessels destined for the transportation of the remainder of the troops Note. were not as yet designated. The Kingston man-of-war, 64 guns, was to convey the troops to England, where they were to be put on board another transport.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1128

M.

de Vaudreuil

to

Od

M. Berry er. board the Ship Adventure,

in

the Brest roads, 28"" November, 1760.

My

Lord,

By my letter of the 10''' of T""", I have had the honor to report to you the necessity to which was reduced of capitulating on the 8"" of last month with General Amherst, being persuaded, my Lord, that you will have appreciated the force of the motives which have obliged nie to that course, I flatter myself you will have the goodness to approve my conduct to the King, and that you will have recognized therein as much of prudence as of attachment to a people whose fidelity to his Majesty has never been falsified. I

The moment

I

My

days, but

lasted 40 days. I

beg you,

my

you

left

Canada,

it

Lord, I

be persuaded that

to

feel to

viva voce of the very

M.

Lord, in having the honor to transmit

and of other documents

has not failed to suffer during the voyage,

me

This circumstance obliges

power, through the anxiety to assure

I

my

10"" 7''", of the capitulation

letter of the

health being feeble before

which has

any time,

arrive, I shall not lose

you another copy of my annexed thereto.

to

I

to

postpone

shall hasten it as

appear before you.

'Twill be to

my

departure for a few

much

me

I

my

I am, my Lord, Your most humble and most obedient servant, Vaudreuil. (Signed),

profound respect with which

de Vaudreuil

to

M.

Berryer.

December, 1760.

Brest, 10"-

My

as will be in

a great satisfaction

Lord, feel

more than any one

else the impression

which the

the mind of a Monarch, jealous of the glory of his arms.

more mortifying humiliations; but,

to

me

my

better; the Council of

as

in a defensive

loss of a great

The

late

career, long brilliant, I

was not accustomed

Lord, circumstances have been such as to render

War

held with

all

the principal officers

representation of Chevalier de Levis' was not the

efl^ect

make on much the

country must

events have been so

is

it

to

impossible to do

proof of this; the posterior

of relief arrived or of

new

resources

discovered, but only of the conditions imposed on the troops by the enemy. Fkancois, afterwards Duke, de Levis, belonged to the ancient house of Mirepoix, and

was born in 1720 at the castle of was Aid-de-Camp to Marshal de them that they were surrounded by the whole French array. After his return from Canada, he served as Lieutenant-General in Germany and commanded the van-guard of the army under Conde, at the battle of Johannisberg, August 30th, 1762. The peace of Versailles terminated his military career, for he was promoted to be Governor of the Province of Artois. In 1771 Chevalier de Levis had conferred on him ihe command of a company of the guards of Monsieur, afterwards Louis XVIIL He was created Marshal of France in 1783 Duke de Levis in 1784, and died at Arras in 1787, in consequence of sickness which was aggravated by the effort he made to open the sittings of the States of Artois. This Assembly, to testify their respect for the character of '

Ajac, in Langueiloc.

Levis Mirepoix, with

He entered early, as whom he captured two

Chevalier de Levis, into the military service

;

battalions of the enemy, near Montalban, by persuading

;

this

brave and good man, voted that he should be interred at the public expense, and erected a monument to his

memory

in

The insane fury of the populace during the Revolution destroyed, however, both church and monument. Biographie VniverselU. Ed.

the cathedral at Arras.

—

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XVII.

1129

In such a situation, the impossibility of resistance being demonstrated, ought I to sacrifice my people and even the troops, rather than submit to conditions doubtless little honorable to the [King's] arms, buttlie severity of which is somewhat balanced by the interests preserved Besides, my Lord, on this occasion there was no question to the Colony and the Colonists.

all

a defence; the walls of Montreal did not permit any

making

of

the disproportion of numbers, and the visible impression

doubt not

;

became necessary, then,

it

not the glory of the King's arms have been rashly compromised in view of

Would

to attack.

was producing on the soldier. I it in the same terms.

it

de Levis and the superior officers of the troops speak of

M""

Notwithstanding the desire they would have

felt

to

do better, they have never been able

to

prevent themselves appreciating these inconveniences, more to be dreaded for them and for the glory of arms, than the onerous conditions of the capitulation.

In regard

to

in my letters of the month of June, had received enemy could employ, the assurance that the English were not sending any new forces to America, the hope of of the campaign, (bunded upon all you did me tie honor to observe to me;

what

1

have had the honor of observing

the uncertainty of the forces that the

by your dispatches peace

course

in the

my

that,

all

Lord, animated

preserve the Colony to the prescribed to 1

me

my

I

confidence;

King.

its

justification

I shall not fail,

in regard to the officers

my

who have come

in the

is

extreme desire

I

Lord, to execute what you

with

felt to

have

me from Canada.

am, with the most profound respect, My Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Vaudreuil (Signed), P. S.

The

continuation of

my

fit

of the gout detains

me

still

Observations on certain Peculations in

U Original of 66?' was

here in spite of myself.

New

France.

want of order in the launching. Anchors at first, or some vessels kept in the offing to pay out a hawser to that ship, would have prevented the current in the middle of the river, whither she was propelled, carrying her her to Ance des Mers, a quarter of a league above and on the same side as the ship yard bow was stove in on a rock at a fathom's distance from the shore there were twenty feet of water under the stern post; there was a cable ashore on a coriis mart for caution, which having In 1750, the ship

lost

at

Quebec

for

;

;

caught, had to be cut; one of the persons, the cause of this loss, had nevertheless 8 livres for

(|,

10,000

the iron taken from L' Original drpcssc.

at that time, and up to 1758, vessels built by a company which seized on commerce and coasting trade of the Colony this manoeuvre was protected there was sent from France in the same taste, everything necessary, or supposed to be so, to the service, without any verifications; the magazines in town and in the country, were the same; in fine, everything was carried off from the Quebec settlements that was accumulating after the most severe scarcity had in them down to the very shalots, to send them elsewhere

There had been,

the entire

;

;

Vol. X.

142

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1130

raised the price of every article to the highest point, a storekeeper publicly retained at Montreal

a sloop loaded with butter; this supplies.

The merchant began

was

in

September, when everybody was laying up his winter

to retail his butter at eleven sovs the pound, but the keeper of

the store, quite at ease in regard to the police, offered 13 sous for the whole, too well assured of gaining by the speculation.

Sticks of timber belonging to the King's yard were sold at 5 @^ 6' the cubic foot as damaged,

same timber was used for field carriages and other artillery they had become petrified, no doubt. In 1755, when M' Dieskau was in command of the troops, two of the King's clerks were named Commissaries to that General's army, when he went to attack the George intrenchment on Lake St. Sacrament or George, on the confines of New-York. The French possessed in the vicinity. Forts Carillon and St. Frederic on Lake Champlain, 20 leagues south of Montreal those appointments were, at first, found very proper; but things changed these honest men were dismissed, and through connections, the office was given to a favorite officer, who knew enough to give the stores, where he realized what he pleased, a preference over his profession. Bad articles were delivered to the troops, who gave strong proofs of their sensibility of the fact. When M"' Dieskau was repulsed from that intrenchment, some Indians went at Carillon to notify this confidant of the stores thereof, adding: Comrade, the French are all dead. He left to a

supposed individual

necessaries at 30 and

this

;

some

so7is ;

;

incontinently the frontier

and

fort,

fell

back on Saint Frederic.

Repose

is

The consumptions were beyond measure, and the transportation of not furnished, was so much the more onerous, as the major part was often no one being responsible for what he had In January, 1760, it was difficult to get

necessary in trade. goods, which were

stolen or dissipated,

in his charge. a

Montreal clerk to be responsible for the clothing of

the troops and for other indispensable articles of great scarcity, destined for Isle aux Noix,

This commissary made bales, and saw bales made, of them, conducted them carefully because

he was forced

to do so; returned from his mission in three days, without stopping on the way, which he was applauded previously it required a month, and the robberies succeeded each other in the stoppages and on the road but a proces-verbal of a bale or puncheon J@^ J or I empty of the goods, provisions or liquors they contained or should contain at starting, was

for

;

;

all

the satisfaction for the robbery.

Had

provisions, &c., been economised at the beginning of this war, they

fallen short so early

;

at the posts on

Lake Champlain, the horses were

'twas the surplus of the rations of two pounds, which quantity contractor does not give tickets of savings, because bread

fed

would not have

on bread

many do

'tis

true

not eat, and

the

was yet cheap; but

it

;

would have

have baked and delivered only what could be eaten and that the King or the contractor should have credited the soldiers with the overplus at the current price of provisions, been proper

to

economise

this object so important in a country where 'twas to be feared the enemy communication with France, whence the most of the provisions were brought during the war; there were in the Colony regiments to spare and legions of Indians came down to Quebec, a distance of 1,200 leagues. So little economy was observed in this regard,

in order to

would cut

off all

that the best tables and the greatest facilities,

which was not the case everywhere, were to be That will be too much the case always,

found with those entrusted with the King's provisions. if

striking examples are not

made

;

and the superiors of those fellows must absolutely have

neglected the King's interests or be partners in the waste and plunder.

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

XVII.

1131

This conduct, which creates a scarcity of everything at once, has given rise to mutinies among the troops one occurred in i75S or 1759 at Carillon, one in 1760 at Isle aux Noix; ;

which were occasioning extraordinary what they receive for a scouting or war expedition a month's provisions are devoured in 8 days or less, if they return sooner. The Canadians might have easily waged this war. The same defect has prevented the Englisii being harassed during the winter of '59 (3. '60 in the environs of Quebec who, unable to obtain a cord of wood for fuel and the ovens, would have been obliged to surrender. follovs's

it

that

consumptions.

no parties have

The Indians never

been

sent

out

bring back any part of

;

;

Quebec was besieged by the French in the spring would have accomplished that object; the English appeared in the had it been the French, the enemy would have road-stead the first, the siege was raised surrendered voluntarily or by force, notwithstanding the scarcity of ammunition. Then, a French fleet, over lazy, was obliged to take refuge in the Bay of Chaleurs in the Gulf of It

has been generally asserted, at the time

of 1760, a single ship

;

Saint Lawrence, not being able to get up to Quebec.

been delivered

in greater quantity to the Acadians,

The

ought

effects of this fleet

wandering and wretched

to

have

for five years.

this want of vigilance; 'tis no less certain that they would not have met the crowd at the sortie from the post of Ristigouche, had consent been previously given to the baking of a supply of biscuit in case of accident. In fact, that post would have been rather evacuated when orders were sent to return to France

The enemy

profited

by

after the capitulation,

previously the coasts of Acadia cost the

advance

to the

farmer consisted of the

King considerable, although

bit for a bridle, spurs, fans,

it

was

a time

when

the

&c.

In 1758, Fort Frontenac on Lake Ontario contained all the provisions, merchandise, ammunition and the presents for the posts of the Upper country, but being guarded only by 45 men, M"" de Montcalm expressed his impatience and apprehension on this point; that post required much more people; an English army of 4,000 men which was long known to be in the vicinity, laid siege to it and immediately captured it; half the people that had to be levied in the district of Montreal, object; the

enemy

when

this

news

arrived,

would have

sufficed to preserve that precious

burnt, sunk, and, in addition, carried off the fleet of schooners detained

in port.

At the close of 1758, preparations were making at Detroit, a most considerable post situated between Lake Erie and Lake Huron, to send provisions for the relief of Niagara, to the Beautiful river, whence they were ordinarily forwarded; this plan approved at first, was afterwards set aside, as these provisions, &c., were required for the private and invincible trade of some person in that very post itself, and at those of the Mis-a-vis and Ouyatanons quite near. In the spring of 1759, 150 Militia, almost all belonging to Fort Duquesne, who had wintered at Detroit, were also detained under pretext of the necessity of making a ditch around the stockaded fort which tumbled

down immediately;

authority

was abused;

there

was no cause

on the entire post, but the workmen were paid, in fact, out of Had those Militia and several farmers gone early to the relief of Fort the King's stores. Machault, a frontier post on the Oyo and had the provisions destined for it been forwarded there at the same time. Fort Niagara, the key of the Upper posts, would not have been stripped, for apprehension, 1,800" of a tax

for the sake of peltries, of

400 of the best men, and of provisions

for the Beautiful river; that

held out 15 @, 17 days, but 'twould have Successfully resisted had the force not been divided ; that post taken, all the others fall of course. fort

was immediately afterwards besieged,

it

;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1132

At Detroit the people desolated by their taxes, wished to abandon their farms; those only were permitted to do so who ceded them to tiie receiver of the land tax. The letters were intercepted by the Commandant for fear the Court would be informed of these manoeuvres. Nephew du Cours is storekeeper. At Montreal, in 1760, some honest people paid for articles belonging to the King 4"=p'=' above the price in France, to replace those they had lost in the service and others were giving only cent per cent for their ordinary necessaries. 'Tis pretended also, that the old levy of wheat was very

One

critical.

of the contractor's clerks, conducting a large quantity of provisions and ammunition

from Montreal to Frontenac, on the

wished the Captain of the transport between that

river,

and Niagara to take charge of his provisions according to the invoice, of which he was the The casks and barrels appeared full, but they were not so, in fact, by a great deal bearer. part of the flour

was

rotten,

and moreover, stove

to take charge of anything for the King, for

in at

whom

one end.

This Captain was advised not

ordinarily supplies were taken at Frontenac

his account, for, as things would turn out, 'twould be necessary to explain that such barrels were only half full, &c. The clerk did not wisii that; he was answered that the Commandant of Niagara would make his remarks on the invoice he had the hardihood to say that he should He was one of those men of whom surely take some out; at all events this half postille [a]. there are hundreds, who, from being half naked on coming to Canada, have had 100,000//a;i«

on

;

100,000

icus 2 (a, 3 years after.

In the spring of 1759, 2 months before the siege of Niagara, there was at the River aux Boeufs only very bad bread, and a pound a day at that no brandy for the detachment for Fort Machault, and, at the same time, the Indians remarked " 'Tis not the French who are fighting, ;

:

we;" 50 men, without

'tis

then do without

men and

Again, Detroit could

succor, formed the garrison of the latter fort.

provisions in that quarter; navigation being open since the beginning

March for other things, ought to have been for that in preference. At the Little Fort of Niagara, the Carrying place was worth whatever one pleased the effects of which the King was to pay the freight, being estimated by him who received the pay

of

;

therefor himself.

The workmen

of the fort

making shoes and

were rather employed

in private speculation

;

in the spring of 1759, at

Entire families of adopted Indians were going for a Frenchman, the

make

la taille at the

they obtained for

tiiat

portage, in

they were not the less paid by the King.

Com'

of the Little Fort, to

Large Fort of Niagara this was permitted only to the Indians themselves ; peltry, worth about a beaver, a pot and J of brandy, which cost only 35 ;

sous the pot.

This beaver was often paid at the Little Fort by Indians for a loaf, no doubt, from the stores, and brandy, disbursed so sparingly by the King to the Nations, was then worth 2 Louis. The Commissary's clerk and those attached to that Frenchman, have been seen making the most rapid trade at the Little Fort; liquors, bread, ornaments adapted to those Nations, were selling in abundance for peltries, which ought not to be the case there. In the beginning of the autumn of 1759, at the close of the siege of Quebec, the General of the French troops precipitous '

400 per

hill.

was defeated and killed when the enemy landed at I'Ance des mers, a very That General made very great efforts. General Wolf was killed also, but

cent.

[o] See in this conneotion the note

which has been sent me

after

all.

Tis at the end of the Memoir.

— Ed.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII. about 3,000 men,

whom

1133

by platoons, were forced

the former bad

to give

way

before 5,000

Quebec was to receive in the night from 3 Rivers feint. enemy was aware of the fact; whilst approaciiing in barges

picked soldiers; their landing was a

some bateaux of provisions; at day-break, they is

effected

the

answered the sentinel on shore

part of the troops in the general to

camp

abandon baggage and ammunition

Cartier, instead

without

would

;

— This

Such

many

is

;

—

;

to the English

'twas thought, perhaps, that provisions

town had considerable, notwithstanding. it.

Biscuit

'Tis also asserted that there

to

general capitulation concluded at Montreal has been foreseen by the French

at

procured

all

The Nations were

Quebec.

necessaries.

their

was were

open the trench, earth being scanty towards the country,

not too well stocked with means to resist the enemy, as almost

remained

landing

another to make a defence, and certainly the enemy would not be

any better able than the French which is a cape.

The

a

below that town, received orders through the woods to Jacques

Quebec was surrendered

the general opinion

inhabitants of the

one to capitulate

;

flour from three Rivers

to go, partly in disorder,

promised from Jacques Cartier; perhaps people wish letters

is

at Beauport, i a league

of helping M'' de Montcalm, and

firing a shot.

fail

:

This happened within musket-shot of Quebec; the major

and the guard seized.

discouraged by the

all

fall

Nevertheless, General Mure, the

who were

the warlike stores

of

had

Niagara, where they

Commandant

of Quebec,

permitted, notwithstanding his barbarity, but he was interested, that refreshments and liquors

should be taken from his quarters for certain French favorites at Montreal.

want of brandy and salt at the posts. where great waste prevailed, people reformed by passing the supplying of fire-wood by the King; as regards the baking of bread for the Nations, the

The At

troops were no less in total

that of

La

Presentation,

provision contractor had caused his traveling deputy to establish that fraudulent practice. It

may

be added to the article of the 50 lucky fellows, that some have had millions nearly

;

were keeping their tables, clothes, carriages, and There are some who at present are issuing 'Twere bills of exchange at any price people please, because they have plenty of them. proper that such things were marked, in order that the most legitimate may be liquidated at that

is

to say,

more

spending like Lords

or less simple clerks in

times of great distress.

their price.

Many farms and houses

in

Canada and

In regard to the Little Niagara fort,

cost the

King very dear

at

some of the

it

in

France have -sprung out of these fortunes. be said, that some accommodating Squaws have

may

posts.

Article on Acadia.

On

the Missionary of the Bay des Ouijius, or Miramichi, went over suddenly to the English with 15 Acadian families and some Indians he had abandoned a rich chapel and published, some time previously, at the church door, to the Acadians that he had orders from the enemy to enjoin on them, on pain of punishment, to denounce all the movements of the F'rench that they should be informed of. This Abbe had, in September, the audacity to write to Beausejour, that having Micmacks in that quarter, he had pursued his object he was their Missionary.

the ll"" July, 1760,

Abbe Maniac,

;

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1134

Memoir on

the

adopting the frivolous ideas entertained

named

and

Congress, are incapable of

for the future

France respecting our possessions

in

The French

statesmen have notions difFerent from the simple vulgar. superficial to trouble

By M. Dumas.

Boundaries of Canada.

'Tis supposed that the plenipotentiaries

themselves about the future

;

in

whom wisdom

but Ministers

Canada;

are too volatile and too

has selected

commerce, the progress of good of the State and the King's glory necessarily require that the restitution

ability directs, will, of themselves, observe that the interests of

navigation,

tiie

Canada be laid down as a preliminary in the Treaty of peace. more favorable conjunctures, we would be justified in demanding of the English damages corresponding to the enormous depredation of our Marine, as well commercial as national, but the circumstances which will exist at the conclusion of the peace, are to decide of

In

the sacrifices

we

be obliged to make, or the advantages which are possibly to result

shall

therefrom.

Commerce has changed

the face of Europe

;

it is

now

evident that

the long run the

in

more

commercial nation will become the more powerful.

We On

can no longer dispense with America without falling sensibly from our state of splendor.

Canada depends the fate of the rest of our Colonies. These principles, clearer than the day, once admitted, that restitution ought to form the basis and foundation of the Treaty of peace. But will the work of our Ministers be durable? For want of local knowledge, will they be

in

the restitution of

a condition to manage, beneficially, the interests of the

King and Nation

Will they prevent the subterfuges in which English trickery will not the English desire peace, do they desire

to be lasting?

it

fail

to

maritime despotism which constitutes the sole object of their policy?

it

project

to appear,

now,

another time?

in

when we

shall

be least on our guard?

enemy

If

Will they not preserve

And

will they not

Incapable of accomplishing that

consequence of the exhaustion of their finances, In front of an

regard?

Will they renounce that system of

a constant hankering to render themselves masters of the vvholeof America? allow

in this

envelop them?

will

they not renew

it

at

so active, so ambitious, so enterprising, conjectures are

as good as demonstrations; the past cannot render us too cautious for the future.

By

a fatality wiiich cannot be comprehended, the English were better acquainted than

before the war, with the topographical

map

advantage do they not possess to cheat us?

of our possessions.

To

Aided by similar

this object, then,

help,

should be directed

we

what

all

the

prudence and sagacity of our plenipotentiaries.

Boundaries. I limit their labors, respecting

Canada,

to four general objects:

The entire property of both shores of the River and Gulf of S' Lawrence. 2""* The property of the^ lakes and rivers which form the natural communication between Canada and Louisiana they consist of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the Ohio. 1''

;

S'^'i

That neither of the two Nations can form any establishments on the

rivers watering the

possessions of the other. 4"'

Thatboth Colonies

shall exist

with advanced posts, which

always

at

is

and increase by population, without coveririg their frontiers

a principal of jealousy, suspicion and distrust

hand or a pretext often specious,

for a rupture

;

between the two Nations.

an occasion

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII. As

cede

for the first article; to

Acadia

to

is

reduce

to

evidently, to a

ourselves,

immense population

susceptible of an

the erection of fortifications and of posts tiiere.

is

one of the most advantageous both

flatter

is

for

Solid settlements, of every description, can

be found there; agriculture can be followed with the greatest success. herself that she would preserve,

That peninsula

precarious possession.

position

its

;

1135

English, as tliey pretend, the entire peniiisuhi of

tlie

in peace, tlie possession of

tiie

In vain would France

mouth of

the river,

if

Already masters

of Newfoundland, guard the entrance. The Peace will scarcely be signed, when the activity of that ambitious people will be

the English obtained the entire cession of that peninsula.

they should grant us the property of a country whereof they revived

;

v^-ould

soon will they be seen establishing themselves on the North side of that peninsula

and neglecting the remainder,

if

necessary, in order to transport to that quarter

all

their

industry in favor of plantations.

What service would not the plenipotentiaries be rendering the State, if by their ability they would induce the English to consent to a division of that peninsula, so that France should preserve the property of the Northern part, from Cape Canso to Minas? But if their zeal become useless if English firmness leave no hope on that point, they ;

ought to be prepared continent.

'Tis

metropolis;

we

English

to rather

break

all

conference than to give up one inch of ground on that

evident that our Colony would lose thereby

The

would think proper. that

communication with the

demarcation which separate the respective

lines of

drawn

possessions on the map, annexed to this Memoir,' are sacrifices

all

should no longer possess the free entrance of the river, except so far as the

it

is

possible

for

France

to

make.

'Tis

in accordance with the largest

for

the

plenipotentiaries to take

advantage of favorable events to obtain the best terms; but in all possible reverses 'twill be more advantageous for the King and the State to renounce Canada and consequently Louisiana,

which cannot

The The The

exist

without

it,

than to cede an inch of territory beyond that division.

blue color indicates the French possessions. red indicates the British possessions. green,

what can be ceded towards Hudson's bay

;

should events require France

to

make

further additional sacrifices. I

have said, and repeat it, Louisiana cannot exist for us without Canada. But for France promptly to cede these two Colonies to the English, than

advantageous

'tis

to

more accept

conditions worse than those indicated by the lines drawn on that map.

On

this hypothesis, let the

River Pentagouet be the boundary of the English possessions on let them be precluded from settling only the right bank.

the continent on the N. E., and

Let the River only the

left

St.

John bound the French settlements and

let

them be precluded from

settling

bank.

The territory between these two rivers shall perpetually remain neutral and undivided between both nations, as marked on the map by the yellow color. The second object of the labor of our plenipotentiaries relative to Canada, regards the communication of that Colony with Louisiana. The projects of the English would be accomplished beyond their hopes, were the freedom of that communication not stipulated and

solidly established

by the treaty of peace

;

'twould be separating two Colonies which

cannot sustain themselves except by their immediate '

The map

is

wanting.

affinity.

— Ed.

Now,

that

communication can

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1136

occur only by the Ohio; every other route renders

it

very

often even impracticable.

difficult,

'Tis essential then to insist strongly on the entirfe possession of the Ohio.

That afar,

navigable throughout

river,

all

its

and combines the advantage of distance

course for very large

threatens Louisiana

craft,

in concealing preparations, vpith that of

extreme

rapidity of current for promptitude of execution.

To make English.

the Ohio the boundary of the respective Colonies,

In fact, already the English population

one step to take

to clear the Apalachies,

The

signing of the treaty.

left

is

is to

surrender

advancing towards that

does not perceive

The

in that

entirely to the

has only

it

and that step would be taken on the day

after the

bank of the Ohio would be under English cultivation

than four years, whilst our population would not reach that point

Who

it

river,

in

in less

the space of a century.

explanation the approaching and inevitable

fall

of Louisiana?

Ohio cannot then be too much insisted on, the Apalachies constituting the limits but if events were such as to force us to give way on that important article, the only middle course to adopt is marked on the map by the yellow color; namely, to entire possession of the ;

leave the course of that

river neutral, unsettled, without

ownership, free to both

nations

convey on it their goods for movable trade, with express reservation to France of the communication between both those Colonies. The possession of Lakes Ontario and Erie, which is the consequence of that communication,

to

is

a point of the greatest interest to us, the rather as for

want thereof those lakes assure more uncertain, but which

another passage by the Miamisand Ouabache rivers, more

difficult,

furnishes nevertheless, a resource in times of misfortune.

I

admit that very favorable events

would be required to reduce the English to abandon the South shore of Lake Ontario of which they are a long time in possession through Fort Choueguen a possession usurped but constant and, as it were, unopposed; an empty protest by the French government, when the first foundations of that; post were laid is the only contradiction they have experienced. If circumstances were such, on the conclusion of the peace, as that France had to make ;

good

its

advantages, that would

be the

moment

to

protest against that usurpation.

important object merits the greatest attention of our plenipotentiaries. consider the course of the waters to perceive that that

Lake commands

General Amherst has found no route more certain for invasion

;

It

is

This

sufficient

to

the whole of Canada.

the event has not over justified

his principles and mine. If,

on the contrary,

possessed

it

we

are reduced to take back

Canada

in the

before the war, France might consent to confine

the North shore of

Lake Ontario, leaving the South shore

free

its

same condition

cultivated

that

we

settlements to

from the Bay of Niaoure

to the

River Niagara.

The English would preserve the freedom of conveying their merchandise for movable trade mouth of the Chouaguen river, and could extend themselves only to the Onondaga river

to the

far as the River a la Famine on the other. But nothing should make France give up the property of the soil, so that the freedom of trade granted to the English, could not at any time invest them with a title thereto. Let tlieir possessions be always confined to tiie heads of the rivers by which they are watered, and let the height of land be constantly the limit between the two nations. The entire possession of Lake Erie ought to belong to France incontestably up to the head

on one side and as

waters of the streams

tiiat

empty

into that lake

on the South side; the

the Ohio are included in the neutrality proposed by that river.

rivers flowing

towards

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII. The

3*

object

proposed

head of

the

at

this

Memoir

1137

will

be rendered

by a

clearer

brief reflection.

The

English are ten

push our posts as

to

if

it

should please us to attempt

he have

in his favor

^d

their

all

it.

meditates an expedition prepares

enemy

should

means and resourses would not guarantee them against an invasion

He who his

if

we

the heads of the rivers which water the English Colonies,

far as

superiority in numbers,

when

But

our one in America.

passing the height of lands,

secretly,

it

and when

'tis

time

to

put

it

in execution,

the current of the stream which conveys him with rapidity, he surprises

succeeds; the same

infallibly

is

not the case where the aggressor has to ascend

the rivers, has portages to make, lakes to traverse and

preparations necessary to be

made

the immense to pass movement, and the slowness

mountains

for that purpose, discover the

;

of the execution affords time to the menaced province to place itself in a state of defence.

The English Colonies

are in the latter position in respect to Canada, and

were the English

in the first relative to the English Colonies

Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario I

am

war can be will

man

of sense

who

is

carried on in that country, will agree with

never preserve Canada

if

conversant with the manner in which

me

that

under unfavorable circumstances is

all

the resources of the state

the English are once settled at the heads of our rivers.

again, one of the conditions which must never be consented to.

which

Canada would be

advance their settlements on

or the Ohio.

and every

fully convinced,

to

to

France,

I

'Tis,

Should peace be concluded

point out the only middle course to be adopted,

the neutrality of certain districts; such might

Lake

S'

Sacrament be without great

prejudice to us, provided the English confine their settlements to the sources of the waters

flowing into the River of Orange.

Come we now to the fourth principle T know nothing more useless in that

:

country than forts

to

cover the frontiers

;

they are

equally a burthen to both Nations, which have an equal interest in demolishing them are, in

;

they

time of peace, a source of useless expense, and experience has demonstrated that,

time of war, they would be good for nothing. difficulties, to afford

They would

These

frontier posts are

umbrage and sometimes furnish pretexts

in

adapted only to create

for a rupture.

favor that Nation which would preserve the desire to seize the possessions of

would pounce on its enemy when least expected, more difficult, more tedious, were they no longer !" in existence. If entrepots must be established, the step forward is a cry " To arms The French plenipotentaries will labor usefully for that Colony, and more profitably still for the Royal Treasury, if they agree with the British Ministers on not preserving any post or the other.

By

aid of those stand-points,

it

whilst every considerable enterprise becomes

the frontiers on either side

That does not exclude

;

thus,

Choueguen and Niagara

to trade or otherwise,

which each Nation

but merely on what

called frontier, an outlet

To

is

place matters at the worst,

and peace be concluded If,

will be demolished,

useful settlements in the interior of the possessions, either relatively

in

if

is

to

be at liberty to

an unpropitious

any part of Canada, the

least

dangerous

for us

the English possessions in the direction of Hudson's bay.

Lake Superior Vol. X.

according to

its

interests

;

moment for ijs we be under

in order to obtain the conditions I propose,

sacrifices in

direct,

which may tend to supply means of an invasion. the fortune of war be unfavorable to France this campaign, the necessity of making new would be to allow more extent to Let us cede to them the whole of

rather than qne inch of territory in the south part, at this side the height

143

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1138

of land or the Apalachies. That sacrifice, wliich is to be made by France at the most critical moment, is marked by the green color on tlie map. Anything beyond those lines of demarcation, and France must give up Canada, inasmuch as it is

evident she cannot preserve

it;

moreover, to maintain ourselves

in that state, the Minister

must essentially and constantly occupy himself therewith, but above all things, must men be carefully selected, to whom the government, the police and finances are to be confided. Otherwise, we shall labor for our enemies. Canada, bathed in the blood of our unfortunate Colonists, will soon be the appendage of the English. Our clearances, our settlements, our

much fruit to be gathered by them when they have arrived at naaturity. Let the height of land and the Apalachies be the limits between the two peoples! Nature

villages, will be so

appears to have marked them expressly.

permanent and always ready

always

to

when they seek to establish interests of men can destroy. 'Tis,

factitious peace

or the

The

negotiators, yet

it

is

that barrier

People aspire to a

on arbitrary lines which the revolutions of time

perhaps, a fault into which have fallen our ablest

the most important object of a treaty of peace, since

'tis

germ which

the fatal

man cannot change

caprice of

protest against the usurper.

it

destroys or foments

the occasion of most wars.

The height of land and the Apalachies once determined on as the line of separation between the two Colonies, the modification, the compromises I propose by neutralizing certain districts, may be admitted according as circumstances will be more or less favorable to France, when peace will be concluded. One reflection more remains boundaries,

is,

to

be submitted, which, although not bearing directly on the

nevertheless, very intimately connected with them.

Considering the enormous e.xpense entailed on us by the service of Indians have always thought that the King would maintain at much less expense

permanent corps

of troops capable of defending

reflection, the utility of their assistance, I

But

this prejudice is

customs;

have found

its

This terror will be always very useful alliance

at all times, it

to

and when

I

in

and attachment of those people.

war, I

Canada

a

have weighed, with

be only one of opinion and prejudice.

founded on the terror inspired by their cruelty and barbarity

consequently will preserve

it

it

in the

in their

power.

to the

Nation which will be best able to manage the

We

possess one real advantage over the English in

let us carefully avoid doing it the smallest damage by any convention with our enemies which could cause the Indians to suspect our alliance and good faith. However simple and natural such an accord might be, the English would not fail to present it to the

this regard

;

Indians in a light that would render suspicious and vindictive

have poured out generation,

in

;

it

odious

to

them.

These people are proud, jealous,

an appearance of defection on our part, after

our defence, would render them irreconcilable

to

all

the

blood they

us from generation to

and that would be the greatest of misfortunes for both our Colonies.

plenipotentiaries ought to be distrustful on this point.

I

am

fully

Our

convinced that the British

Ministers will set snares for them on this point, which is of more importance for them in America than the gain of many battles. As for the rest, a Governor-General, instructed and attentive, will know how to maintain the alliance of all the people of this continent in peace as in war, without those enormous expenses which knavery conducts and ignorance tolerates. Dumas.' (Signed), Paris, 5"" April, 1761. '

He became,

after his return to Europe,

Governor of the Islands of France and

PARIS DOCUMENTS:

M. Bourlamaque

My

to

XVII.

1139

M. Accaron.

Lord,

Memoir on Canada.

take the liberty to address you a

I

You

treated therein by a recapitulation at the end of the Memoir.

will

be able

to see the objects

'Tis the fruit of

my

inactivity

from Malta, and of my information acquired in that Colony during the five have been employed there. 'Tis true that actual circumstances do not permit of

since I returned

years that I this

Memoir being

the views of those

duty

at

Memoir

But independent of the public not being able

of any utility.

who

hazards to render you an account of

all

will let

may

govern, these circumstances

you know the desire I

feel to

my

to penetrate

change, and I have thought

be useful and

my

zeal for

it

At the worst,

labors and ideas.

all

my this

that appertains to

the King's service. I

am

with respect,

My

Lord,

Your most humble and Most obedient servant, Bourlamaque.'

Paris, 1" August, 1762.

Memoir on Canada by M.

cle

Bomiamaque.

opinion to be formed respecting this Colony from the expenses which

Were an

occasioned during the war, and the profits derived from

would appear disadvantageous

to

France.

But

in

it

since

its

establishment,

its

it

has

possession

seeking for the causes of those expenses

and the sources of those profits, it will be easy to convince oneself that the errors of administration have produced the one and dried up the other. It is not pretended, however to enter into the detail of those errors, and still less to cast but it can be asserted suspicions on the conduct of those who have been charged therewith without rashness that since the commencement of the century, Canada has been governed on false principles both as to its increase and its commerce, either because those who had ;

the administration thereof have been wanting in sagacity,

union and that tone of truth so

necessary to instruct Ministers on distant objects, or that the Court has paid too

little

attention

to the resources and interests of the country.

The

military department has not been treated

more successfully; no arrangement during the

peace, no frontier solidly established nor even recognized, no or attack

reasonable project for defence

a few troops but without form, instruction or discipline; no magazines, and the sole

;

resourse, a blind confidence which, united to the base

apprehension of displeasing, promised

successes instead of pointing out wants.

Hence

weak

it

or

has arisen, that the war could be sustained only so long as the

conducted.

ill

For, although the

efforts

of the

inhabitants have retarded the loss of the Colony up to the scarcity,

it

can, nevertheless, be asserted that the second '

This

officer

died in

176-1,

troops

and

moment

enemy would be

the

fidelity of the

of the most frightful

campaign would have been the term of

Governor of the Island of Guadaloupe. Oarneau,

III.,

361.

— Ed.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1140

the defence, had the enemy,

who were

infinitely

more numerous, had,

at the

commencement

of the war, chiefs of the slightest experience. I

do not speak here of private interest

attributed to people in office, but

subalterns,

whenever the

and cupidity, shameful vices which cannot be

which do not

want sagacity

chiefs

to injure the public

fail

good, by infecting

or firmness.

Honors almost equal and an equal authority between the Governor and Intendant, might If these two men are equally capable, they will be enemies, because it is the part of humanity not to desire any one to participate glory and favor and each of them will seek, perhaps, to degrade the views of his colleague, either If one of them be superior in talent, the weaker will directly or by underhand means. fiqually endeavor to injure him, because vanity and jealousy are still more frequent among men of middling minds than among others, or else he will become his creature and echo. well have sometimes been a source of abuse.

;

'Twould be necessary then to place confidence in only one or divide it among three. When the French commenced settling Canada, the natives of the country waged a cruel and obstinate war against them thence, the Colonists accustomed themselves to entertain a great respect for the Indians. It has since existed notwithstanding their weakness and the augmentation of the forces of the Colony. 'Twas believed, up to the last moment, and an effort was made to persuade the Court, that their alliance was almost sufficient to repel the English. The expenses have been prodigal in order to please them; or that confidence has at ;

least served as a pretext for excessive expenditure.

Experience ought

The

Indians are good for

error as to the aid to be expected from them.

well disposed, a General will derive great benefit from them in the

and making prisoners in their

way

only

;

but this

when one

is all.

The

way

best are at most huzzars

much

famish an army, are importunate and occupy to

have corrected the

besides, they act well

;

They

cost a great deal,

of the Chief's time,

despised by the soldier, are capable of discouraging him on every occasion. essential, then,

to preserve the alliance of the Indians, as

much

and when

of obtaining intelligence

possession of a decided superiority.

is in

to

petite guerre,

for the

I

and although

believe

it

to be

interest of our trade

members in war but we must not either fear them, or rely two much on their by treating them with justice and firmness, they will be rendered much better. Complaisance renders them insolent, very costly and less useful. as to constitute

assistance

We

;

;

omit here the advantages the possession of Canada will confer, as regards the

shall

navy, which requires sailors experienced by commerce

;

the benefit to be derived from

our manufactures to which Colonial luxury assures the sale of old fashioned goods

;

Kingdom can

confine ourselves to giving an idea of the useful productions which the

it

we

by

shall

obtain

from that country.

The

Canada produces grain of every description in abundance if cultivated ever so much more than is necessary for its inhabitants. Sufficient might be exported to feed our American islands and even the maritime provinces of the Kingdom, which are sometimes in want thereof. Hemp grows there quite well; cattle are abundant, and will furnish, when required, hides, salted provisions and wool, much superior to those of France,

little,

soil

of

;

'twill furnish

and almost equal to those of England. This last particular especially merits great consideration. Cod is caught at the mouth of the River St. Lawrence and on the western shores of the Gulf. In Canada are found building timber, which will pass as very good

when

private interest does not succeed in

commercial navy will

purchase

its

depreciating

ships there, as the English do in

New

it

;

in all

England.

cases, the

The

well selected,

stave trade will not be

if

more

PARIS DOCUMENTS difficult for us

XVII.

:

1141

Tar and the gums are abundant. Mines of iron demanding only good management, and even lead in the districts bordering on

there than for our neighbors.

are found there,

the River Mississipi.

The major part of the above objects have been of little consideration up to permanent measure has ever been adopted to increase the cultivation of the sources of inexhaustible wealth for that country.

The

this time, soil

because no

and the

cattle

—

iron mines and ship building have not

been of any great use; the extraordinary price of labor has absorbed the profits thereof. Doubtless it has not been perceived that this has been caused by the negligence of the government, for it is not with a Colony which produces the materials of subsistence, as with our American islands. Labor may be a little dearer there than in Europe, but 'twill never be so high as it has been in Canada whenever the credit of specie will be maintained and attention paid to Monopoly has been sometimes seen to invade the commerce of primary

primary matters. productions

in

the interior and produce a scarcity on an abundant

soil,

but which, like

all

others, experiences years of sterility.

The fur trade, which appeared alone to when the posts where the Indian trade is private individuals

who,

fixing

receive, discourage the Hunter,

The monopoly

and excite

in

him the

of the beaver conferred on the

for extending its

more considerable

carried on, shall no longer be in the hands of an arbitrary price on the goods they furnish and on those they

every privilege of that description

The rage

attention, will doubtless be

fix

desire to convey his skins to the foreigner.

Company

of the Indies must be prejudicial, for

a licensed monopoly, and the license does not

is

power

remedy

frauds.

always exhausted the strength of Canada. The interior of a country, rich in all sorts of productions and bare of farmers, has been neglected, to go and plant new settlements of no use, and without any communication the expenses thereof afar has

;

have been immense; agriculture has been thereby arrested the most robust youth annually destroyed, and only a small number of private individuals benefitted, who have found therein ;

the source of their fortune at the King's expense.

On

this occasion,

we cannot

avoid saying, that whatever limits the English prescribe to us

in that part of the world, as long as France shall retain both banks of the River St.

Lawrence and the tributary streams, from its mouth to Lake Ontario, and the power of trading with the Indian Nations by the lakes and the Grand river, even without any property in those lakes, we shall have lost nothing except chimeras and shall not be deprived of the source of real wealth.

As

do not deny that

would be more advantageous to the French to possess, all commerce in that quarter; but this advantage would have reference only to peltries, and our loss in this respect, in consequence of more confined boundaries, would be of little moment, in comparison with what would remain ours in the interior of the country. Those who pretend that, if a treaty of peace for the rest, I

it

alone, posts on the LaHes, to exclude the English from

reduce our boundaries ever so

'twould be better to cede the entire Colony, understand very

little,

imperfectly the advantages that might accrue to

it

from a good administration, and, doubtless,

reason as some Canadians do, who, having spent their lives trading with Indians, other interest and direct

'Twere if

all

their

the impossibility of defending

moment of a rupture; but defence. The only question is,

first

views

it

would confer on France,

oblige us to expect the destruction of our hopes at the

fortunately, nature has to

know no

to that.

useless to demonstrate the advantage the possession of Canada

endowed

employ the season of peace

that country with

in turning

them

means of

to advantage.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1142 Canada St.

is

open

from Lake Ontario,

only

attack

to

Lake Ciiamplain and the River

Lawrence.

I suppose tlie English

masters of the sea; but I suppose at the same

time,

the

that

Governor has taken care to form magazines of provisions in sufficient abundance to feed the troops during a campaign, should a year of barrenness occur in the course of the war. I suppose, again, that arms and ammunition have been sent him before the means of transportation are intercepted. Thus, 'tis for him to form his plan of defence, independent of aid from Europe. 'Tis necessary that he have this plan before his eyes the very

moment France

into possession of Canada, and that he lose not a single day, without

On at the

the

Lake Ontario

side no great fear need be entertained,

Rapids of Cataracoui.

That

taken of the favorable positions those Rapids afford.

General Amherst

will reenter

at its execution.

people are willing to remain

frontier will be impenetrable, if ever so little advantage be

very inferior to the assailants, will be to attack

if

working

A

few properly located

sufficient for defence.

who was Commander-in-Chief

of the English troops, selected that frontier

He was aware

Canada, with the main army.

and troops

forts

'Tis true that in 17G0, Major-

of

it

being impossible for us to send any

troops there, and of the resolution of the domiciliated Indians of the Colony to abandon our alliance; besides he

dreaded, or feigned to dread, the post of Isle aux Noix which he had

respected the preceding year, and wished to prove that,

if

he had not completed the conquest

Brigadier Gages whom he had by those Rapids. However that may be, that choice of attack does little honor to his military knowledge; the defection of the Indians and of the corps of Militia to whom the defence of the Rapids had been confided, saved his army from utter annihilation,

Canada

of

commissioned

On

the

1759,

in

the

fault

ought

side,

He aux Noix

to

be

imputed

to

to penetrate

Lake Champlain

the middle of the River St. John, and

be guaranteed as impregnable.

may

if

furnishes an

excellent post.

It is

situated in

ramparts and casemates are constructed there,

'Tis true that

it

it

may

defends only the channel of the river, and that

But the country is most of the There will, then, remain the resource of amusing the enemy in the woods by a flying camp, which will draw subsistence by the River St. John or the River St. Lawrence, whilst the enemy will be obliged to make his transportation by wagons in a country intersected by marshes and creeks with a fort in his both banks

be traveled beyond the range of cannon shot.

time overflown and passable only

rear.

A

in

extremely dry

seasons.

very inferior corps will then possess a great advantage to prolong the campaign until

him on the

which overflow the He aux Noix, and some small armed vessels which will find shelter at that Island, secure its communication with the lower part of the river, and prevent the enemy throwing bateaux below He aux Noix, the arrival of forces capable of fighting

country.

after

we

setting in of the rains

'Tis necessary, moreover, to have a fort on the

same

having made the portage in front of that island.

It

river in the rear of

may

could have a superior navy on Lake Champlain, 'twould be very

undertake anything

now suppose

be asserted even that

if

enemy

to

difficult for the

this side the lake.

enemy, notwithstanding those difficulties, are strong enough and country between Lake Champlain Lawrence the worst will be to evacuate all the settlements in that and the River St. These settlements quarter, and to remove the farmers and cattle to the left bank of the river. will be laid waste, the river Chambly will experience some incursions of light troops, but so long as He aux Noix will hold out, as the enemy has no bateaux to cross the river, we shall be I

fortunate

enough

that the

to render themselves masters of the ;

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XVII.

:

1143

very sure to see him repass Lake Champlain at the close of the campaign, should have sufficient pioneers to

make

a firm road

to the

bank of the

horses to transport bateaux and cannon, two or three armed bateaux on

would be

sufficient to

render the passage of

In this plan for the defence of the

greatly below

what they were

Frontenac or at the time or the

St. Frederic,

means

it

before this war, and I

even though he

river,

and

River

St.

tiie

sufficient

Lawrence

absolutely impossible for him.

Colony on the side of the

because

for,

do not think

lakes,

have reduced

1

its

boundaries

do not suppose any solid post at Niagara,

I

it

possible to have during the peace, either

Besides

to give these posts the necessary strength.

'tis

the settlements

These do not extend beyond the Rapids of Cataracoui and terminate five leagues below He aux Noix. To draw one's forces within a smaller compass in order to augment them, is an axiom so much the more true, as in the case under consideration, it will not produce any loss, and 'twere desirable that it had been practiced Yet forts can be built at Niagara, Frontenac and in the war which Canada had just sustained. St. Frederic when more essential objects will have been attended to. aflfords no defence up to Quebec. It has often been On the sea side the River St. Lawrence remarked that there were islands or capes adapted to the closing the passage of the river. This is a mistake a thousand fortresses below that town will not be able to prevent the enemy's ships reascending it. And even between Quebec and Point Levis, although the river of the Colony that require to be defended.

;

be at that place only 600 toises wide, to stop ships there would require batteries on both sides of the river, which is an impossibility, because no fortress can be erected opposite Quebec that would not be excessively commanded. It would stay the enemy only the very brief time Therefore, we shall be always restricted to the batteries of Quebec, required to reduce it. and however formidable these may be, they will not stop ships which will take advantage of

the wind and tide. Tiiese inconveniences of defence.

A

abandoned

to its

must not prevent Quebec being regarded

own

resources

when

the

enemy

decided superiority; then he will stop to besiege

will it,

and

ships,

sufficient force

cannot be mustered

or

endeavor to penetrate into the country.

to oblige

him

can will

it

will not

permit that garrison

to quit the

it

before the departure of the

to raise

he hazard leaving a garrison in Quebec during the winter.

around the town

it,

he will be very bold

The French

it

find

cattle

for the sick,

who

cannot be fed in

on

meat?

laid,

assured that the Colony

Where

?

This plan of forming

1759, and would have forced the English to

surrender the place in the midst of winter; but the Governor and Intendant, before

was

How

covert-way without fighting.

salt

if

troops cantoned

be able to provide immense quantities of fuel necessary to pass the cold season

cantonments around Quebec was proposed

and be

have forced the landing and acquired a

undertake the siege, supposing he have time to terminate

If he

as Canada's essential point

fortress can be constructed there capable of sustaining a long siege,

was absolutely unable

to furnish provisions

whom

necessary

to

it

feed

the troops in those cantonments.

Should the enemy, instead of laying siege garrison with a portion of his

to

army and undertake

Quebec, content himself with blockading

its

to penetrate into the interior of the country,

then the defeated troops will retire ten leagues above Quebec, across the River Jacques Cartier,

which forms an impenetrable barrier and covers, by land, all the left bank of the River St. Lawrence. The right bank, which is less important, is intersected, at nearly the same distance, by rivers and positions easily maintained, and the troops posted on those two banks will be able to sustain themselves and keep up a communication by crossing the river.

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1144 But

not sufficient to be posted on both sides of the river, which

is so wide that the without any opposition from the land batteries. 'Tis necessary to provide, before the war, some flat-bottomed frigates that is to say, drawing 8 or 9 feet of water, each armed with 18 or 20 twenty-four pounders. They will fight 'tis

enemy would

easily

remount

it,

;

advantageously those of the enemy,

who

compromise his ships of the Line in a river where the want of water would expose them to run aground at each instant. If, nevertheless, the knowledge of the country had given him the idea of getting similar vessels built superior in number, the Richelieu Rapids, 14 leagues above Quebec, would still be remaining to stop them. Ships can remount that part of the river only one by one and with the aid of a strong wind. Four frigates anchored above those Rapids would easily destroy a hundred ships, one after the other. The troops, by fortifying themselves at those Rapids, will be able to prolong the campaign until bad weather sets in, and if Quebec hold out, the campaign will always wind up by the departure of the enemy. 'Tis to be observed that I have placed things at the worst that I abandon Canada to its own resources, and that it is not to receive any succor from France; for, were a squadron sent before the arrival of the enemy, 'twould be morally impossible for the latter to remount the river above Quebec, even after having beaten that squadron, because its debris reunited with the navy of the country and placed in proper positions, would suffice to render the navigation will not dare

;

of the river impracticable.

Neither have

I

mentioned the numberless defensive stratagems that may be employed, such and artificial fires, chains and gun-boats. I have supposed that the

as fire-ships {hrulots) rafts

troops destined to prevent the landing have been defeated, and have remained very inferior to the enemy.

'Tis, nevertheless,

improbable that the latter could transport a number of troops

considerable enough to render the defensive very disproportionate.

This it

so

is

much

the

more

true, as the three corps of troops

be simultaneously attacked on

its

which are to defend Canada,

a junction again whenever judged proper, in order to fight the

the

more uneasy, and afterwards

establish

if

three frontiers, have the advantage of being able to form

return, each to

its

own

enemy whose

district

;

position will be

whilst the

any communication, nor even any precise concert between the

enemy cannot

different corps

he

will put in motion.

I think

which

is

I

may

conclude, without rashness, that, in fortifying

Quebec

quite possible, the worst that will happen will be, after

in a respectable

many

manner,

reverses, to behold one-

But the departure of the enemy will always is very abundant there, this loss will soon be repaired. 'Tis even to be supposed that the enemy have the inhumanity and the opportunity to burn all the settlements he will have overrun. In regard to the grain and cattle, they will be sent up to parts where the enemy cannot penetrate. The destruction just mentioned need not even be feared, could a considerable number of flat-bottomed frigates and gun-boats be constructed previous to the war, in order to possess a superior Marine before Quebec. fourth of the settlements of the Colony destroyed.

leave the property thereof to the King, and as timber

I

shall

remark on

this

occasion what occurred in the campaign of 1759, which opened on

That town was not capable of sustaining a was taken beforehand to close the river. A few merchant frigates, armed and commanded by some privateering officers, constituted our whole navy. The fireships were badly managed and were too few. The passage of the river below Quebec was not contested. The army, which opposed the landing, amounted to noi more than 3,000 our side without any preparations for Quebec. siege.

No

precaution

PARIS DOCUMENTS Regulars; the Militia

The

who were

XVII.

:

joined to them were

1145

excessively diminished by desertion.

Quebec a height that

English, after having been repulsed on landing, surprised above

might have been very

easily defended, and, having

the 13"' September our

little

formed with great promptness, defeated on

army, which retired behind the River Jacques Cartier, without

The Lieutenant-Governor

provisions, ammunition, artillery or tents.

gates to the English without having been attacked.

of

Quebec opened his them were still six weeks

All these advantages did not give

confidence enougli to dare ascend any higher than Quebec, although there

They contented themselves with posting a garrison in that place during the Had Quebec been in a condition to sustain a siege of three months, what advantage

of campaign. winter.

would the English have derived from of September ? After having disposed of the utility of placing

in a position to

it

defend

their landing

Canada may be

itself, I

proceed

to

and from the victory of the thirteenth to the

hazard

Kingdom, and of the possibility ideas on the manner it ought

my

it would occasion during the peace. Governor of that Colony be a Military man, in order to be able to a statesman, to promote agriculture, trade and the industry of the dispose it to sustain a war inhabitants of a firm and active character, laborious himself and seeing to everything jealous 'Tis proper the of the public good an enemy of rogues and irreproachable as to interest. Court should fix a sum for the expenses of the Military, Marine and fortifications, the expenditure should be left to his judgment. whereof 'Tis no less essential that the Intendant should be an honest man, economical, enlightened, instructed in every department of government, police, justice, finance, agriculture, population, trade, industry, details of Marine, &c., vigilant of the King's interests and of those of his country; severe on the subject of swindling, and submissive to the authority of the GovernorGeneral in all cases wherein the council hereinafter [mentioned] would not be assembled.

to be

governed and the expenses

'Tis necessary that the

;

;

;

;

The head

of the church ought to be a Bishop,

knowledge of the most is sufficiently

who combines

essential departments of the civil

and

with the talents of a pastor, the

political administration,

and who

enlightened to prevent religion being, in his hands, an obstacle to the good of

the Colony.

The Court may above described

invest the Governor-General with

but as

;

'twill

all

authority

when he

will be such as

be necessary to secure the liberty of the citizen, and to provide

against vexations, as well as against enterprizes which too extended a confidence might engage

him

to

undertake of his

own

motion, there shall be appointed a Council of State, composed

of the Governor-General, Bishop and Intendant. the three shall require shall be recorded

;

it.

This Council

shall

meet whenever one of

Business shall be disposed of by a plurality of votes.

Its decisions

copy of the registers shall be furnished each of the members to be sent to

the Court, each of the three being responsible for his opinions.

There

shall

be a Secretary of the Council of State, whose duty

it

shall

be to

of the business to be discussed; to keep the register and do the writing, and

make a minute make whatever

copies appertain thereto.

Colony who

will have reason to complain of the Governor-General, Bishop or the Intendant, who, on the information they will take of the grievance, shall be entitled to cause the Council of State to be summoned, if the case appear to them worth the trouble.

Every

citizen of the

shall be at liberty to apply to the

Vol. X.

144

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1146 They

shall,

one and the other, be

perceive

will

tiiat

at liberty to

Governor-General

the

innovation, which would appear to them in

whenever they

interests, or

Tlie Governor-General

make

himself obliged to

have the Council convoked whenever they expenses excepted) will

(military

will have, themselves,

be guilty of

with the public good or the King's

conflict

any useful novelty

to propose.

assemble the Council of State also whenever he will consider

shall

essential innovations,

received the consent of the Court thereto.

and conform

to

decision, before having

its

In regard to military matters,

he shall render an

account thereof only to the Court, whose instructions will serve him as a rule. Justice shall be administered as usual in the Superior Council.

There

shall

be established at Quebec a Chamber of commerce whose deliberations and

decisions shall be subject to the revision of the Council of State, which will not prevent such

Chamber

w

li

commerce reporting

of

have submitted

It shall

directly to the Court

decisions or whatever propositions

it

be composed of the most experienced merchants, and there shall be allowed, on the

some honorary reward

report of the Governor-General,

have proposed the most useful means interest of the

government on

The Council

of that Board

who

will

country relatively to the

of

Commerce shall pay attention to prevent monopolies and enlighten the The Council of State shall be considered sovereign in this matter.

this head.

of State shall be privileged to impose a tax on provisions

both foreign and domestic, other

members

to the

to increase the trade of the

Kingdom.

The Chamber

No

its

to the Council of State.

money

shall

if it

and merchandises,

observe that they are rated at too high a price.

be current in the Colony except that of printed paper and of the same

form as was in circulation there formerly, with this difference, that the notes ( ordonnances ) shall be stamped and signed not only by the Intendant, but also by the Governor-General and a

Commissary

The

or Comptroller appointed for that purpose.

notes {ordonnances) shall be carried, as formerly, to the Treasury annually, before the

departure of the ships, in order to be withdrawn by the Treasurer and replaced by

exchange

A

at

minute

which

one or two terms in favor of those shall

who

shall bring

them

bills

of

in.

be drawn up of the notes {ordonnances) converted into

bills

of exchange,

vise) by ( which minute shall be transmitted to Court. The notes which will have been withdrawn shall be burnt and the minute of their numbers preserved, in order to be replaced under the same title, according as needs shall be. All the fixed expenses shall be regulated by returns from the Court. Extraordinary or unforeseen expenses shall not be approved, if not clothed with the authority of the Council of

shall

be signed by the Intendant, Comptroller, Treasurer, and countersigned

the Governor-General

;

State, unless they regard the Indians or Military department.

Although the military expenses be entirely referred to the prudence of the GovernorGeneral, the Intendant and, under him, the principal clerks

and obliged regard

he

to

war and may be within

may

ylnme) are authorized

his resort, but to instruct the

Governor as

to the prevarications

overlook, and the Court on those the Governor would not perceive.

Goldsmiths obliged

{officiers de

take an exact and detailed knowledge thereof; not to oppose the plans which

to

will deliver.

shall

be forbidden to melt gold or silver coin, and with this view,

render an

account of the materials they

will

shall

be

employ and of the work they

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII.

1147

As efforts should be made to give tlie most advantageous circulation to the paper money, it would be for tiie King's interest to withdraw from Canada the gold and silver coin which the English will possibly leave there sufficient

and

money

paper

;

and

Bank should

exchange payable

silver coin into bills of

soon as there shall be in circulation

to this end, as

for daily trade, a

be established which

would convert gold

with a moderate premium.

at sight,

This

operation would prevent gold and silver coin depreciating the value of the notes, or passing by

means

of smugglers into foreign countries.

The Governor-General

shall, the first year,

Colony in the towns and

the

knowledge he

to

be taken of the inhabitants of

a return of the acres of land under

;

the quantity of horses and

their average annual produce;

cultivation;

order a Census

in the rural districts

and on the with

cattle,

will acquire of the situation of the country in this regard, shall, in concert

the Council of State, form regulations for the increase of agriculture, population and cattle.

He

shall

The

even be authorized

to

make advances,

at the King's expense, to the poorer classes.

troops being able, with very few exceptions, to meet, in time of peace,

the wants of

all

the service, the farmers shall return to their farms in order to cultivate them, but those will volunteer to be

employed on the King's works and

who

be admitted and

in voyages, shall

favored by the government.

As

the inhabitants of the rural districts shall be no more diverted from their labors, they

will be at liberty to devote themselves entirely to the cultivation of their lands

and

to the

But the Canadian being naturally lazy and working precisely only to furnish himself with necessaries, it would be proper to force him to reasonable labor by some impost which obliges him to draw from his land what may naturally be expected from

increase of their cattle.

This impost ought

it.

to

be in provisions, and the best manner of levying

oblige the farmers to feed a part of the soldiers

whom

the

King

will

it

would be

keep there.

to

This plan

will be explained hereafter.

Spruce beer being the natural drink of the country, molasses, which manufacture, shall pay only

little

Merchandises of the greatest necessity shall be taxed

eight per cent.

is

necessary for

its

shall

pay seven or

five or six

per cent, and

Wines and brandies

or no impost duty.

those of luxury shall pay higher import duty in proportion to their uselessness.

Taverns

The

in the

towns and suburbs

shall

pay license.

fees of verification {droit de controk)

on

all

instruments {aclcs), also the mutation fines

{droit de lods et ventcs), shall be strictly levied.

Magazines of shall

import

it

salt shall

be established

from France, and

encourage the Colonist

to

it

towns and principal

in the

forts.

shall be sold for his profit, at a very

manufacture

salt

provisions, the trade in

The King's

ships

low price, in order to which would be very

profitable to the country.

The same

King's ships shall also carry gunpowder, which shall be sold to the inhabitants at the

price as in France.

Experienced overseers

who

shall furnish

iron,

shall be sent to shell

Canada

to

and shot necessary

work for

the Iron mines near

Three Rivers,

the artillery, and whatever will not

eventually be consumed Officers of the

in the King's service, shall be sold to private persons. Regular troops, Commissaries or other persons in the King's service, shall not

be permitted to pursue any trade of what nature soever

themselves, their wives, children or domestics

any speculation uor

to furnish horses

;

it

may

be, directly or indirectly,

by

neither shall they be at liberty to enter into

and carriages

for the service, transports for

voyages by

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1148 sea, or

on the lakes and River

(

St.

any merchandise or

provisions, of

strictly observed, as

it is

Lawrence ) nor

to take

;

charge of any improvements, furnish

what nature soever the same may

of great consequence.

Officers

be at liberty only to improve farms, take tracts of land

and others

and

(co}iccssio?is)

This

he. in

article

must he

the King's service shall the produce thereof

sell

of every description.

'Twould be proper to attract foreign families to Canada without regard to religion that Colony would be thereby augmented without damage to the Kingdom, and the small number of Protestants, whom that toleration would introduce there, would never be considerable enough to injure the religion of the ancient inhabitants the odds are that most of those families would soon embrace the dominant religion. They might, however, be constrained to have ;

;

their children baptized.

would be conveyed to Canada in the King's ships; lands would be granted and the Governor authorized to make them advances in cattle, implements, grain and subsistence, which advances will be repaid at a fixed time. These them on

families

arriving,

All grants formerly

end of three years,

if

made

to private individuals

and not improved, shall be annulled at the any settlers on them, and the King

said individuals have not placed

shall be at liberty to grant the land to other persons.

The

who

which trade is carried on with the Indians, shall no longer be granted to Trade there shall be free to every one, and no fees shall be exacted from those

posts at

individuals. will

send canoes thither.

Commandants

any sort of trade thereat, either

receive only such presents as the Indians

King

shall not

two years

of posts shall be relieved at least every

liberty to carry on

;

they shall not be at

merchandise or

may make them

make them any

be obliged to

in

it

;

in furs.

They

shall

being well understood that the

other compensation, and that the Belts which

the Indians will give shall belong to the King.

The

garrisons of the forts shall be relieved every year, and the provisions necessary for the

year, and the goods intended for the Indians, shall be sent thither at the or

commissary

shall be appointed to

The canoes

that are to carry these

new

soldiers belonging to the

detached

who

same time.

convey them and he will be responsible

for

A

clerk

them.

provisions and merchandise shall be armed by the

number be

garrison, and if the

When

will return with the canoes.

insufficient,

navigation will be

some others

difficult,

as

it

shall is for

be all

distant posts, Militia will be detailed to pilot and instruct the soldiers.

The Governor-General posts, the goods

shall adopt the best

measures to save the King from purchasing

He

necessary for Indian presents.

will regulate those presents,

department has been the source of very costly frauds, he trustworthy agents, of the authorized to

make

number

gratuities to the

of Indians

He

shall regulate the prices of

who

commanders who

to punish, with the greatest rigor, those

who

shall

shall take care to

the

at the

and as

this

be informed by

and he

be

will

visit

will

conduct themselves properly, and

posts,

shall

have proved unfaithful.

goods at the posts, and take care that the commandants

prevent monopoly at them.

He

shall fix the places

number

of the posts as

where trade

much

will

be carried on with the Indians, and shall reduce the

as possible, especially those

more

distant.

It is

sufficient to

prevent the Indians trading with the English, and for that purpose he shall regard, as a principle, to procure for

them the best and cheapest goods

possible.

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII.

1149

Could we possess, on this point, an advantage over the English, the Indians would be easily attracted with their packets to places less distant from the Colony. Care should be taken to prevent Canadian and French vagabonds (liljcrtins) being received among the Indians, because, once adopted by them, they are lost to the State. The King having discharged what remained of the soldiers belonging to the troops of Canada, after the reduction of that country, it is impossible to reorganize those troops, which

would be composed of new

levies

and consequently incapable of waging war. some Infantry regiments which shall remain

indispensable to transfer to that Colony there during three or four years.

And

as the officers of those regiments

appears

would be deprived of

whom

the privilege of visiting, from time to time, their families, from

It

in garrison

they derive

their

would be right that the King indemnify them by a more liberal pay. This will be stated by and by. The finances would gain by this arrangement. The King would not be obliged to keep up a greater number of troops during the peace, and would, consequently, save the expense of those he keeps up in Canada. 'Tis true that when war would break out, 'twould be necessary to fill up this void by augmentations. But this would be less inconvenient than to confide the defence of a Colony to soldiers who have never been in the field. resources,

it

Canada requires a small corps of artillery, composed of gunners, bombardiers, artificers and workmen. This corps cannot be less than two hundred men during the peace, and will be increased in time of war.

There shall be stationed in the Colony, one Chief-Engineer and 4 ordinary ones. The number will possibly be less when no more fortifications will be constructed. It would be proper to form, in Canada, a troop of volunteer Chasseurs, commanded by Canadian

officers

conversant with the

sk\rm\s\V\ng {iKtitc guerre),

who

{lihertins)

would serve

language of the Indians. in

time of peace

ordinarily give themselves up to the Indians, and

services as correspond with

during peace; in war

it

its

organization.

It

might be easily increased

This troop, destined for

in collecting

would

together the stragglers

would be employed

in

such

number 160 men hundred men; the people

suffice for it to

to three or four

of the country being very well adapted for this service.

'Twould, besides, be necessary

to

keep up a corps of sailors there,

who would serve in time man the ships destined

of peace in lake and river transportation, and during the war, would to defend the entrance into the Colony.

It could, in time of peace, be merely 150 or 200 men, who, having acquired the knowledge of the navigation of the country, would be officers of a crew during the war. The expense of their maintenance would be advantageously compensated by the continual and necessary transportation, the expense whereof they would save to

the King.

The

Militia of

Canada

men

are very good.

That country possesses a much greater number of

whom, when reduced to obedience, great is an enemy to constraint, and inconstant, but very docile when he meets firmness and justice in his officers. He prefers skirmishing [la petite guerre) and is well adapted to it. Yet it will not be difficult to make him fight according to order when supported by Regulars, if his love of glory, which is natural to the naturally brave

than other countries, from

advantage can be derived

in

The Canadian

war.

inhabitants of Canada, be flattered. In

war

time, 8,000 good Militia can be put under arms; but

made with

care and rigorously.

There are no

tricks

'tis

necessary that the levies be

and intrigues which good men

will not

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1150 employ

bad

to get the

11 @^ 12,000

men

;

if

end of twenty years, the

On

march

to

and

in

tlieir

In critical times the levy can be raised to

stead.

population be attended to during peace,

Militia will be one-third

'tis

to be

hoped that at the

more numerous.

the ordinary strength of the battalions in time of peace, 'twould be necessary that there

should be constantly in Canada twelve battalions of old troops; this would give about six

thousand men, which would be few were the Colony attacked before succors from France.

It

iiad

received any

'Tis to be supposed, however, that before the entrance were closed on

transports, time will be affbrded to

augmentation, wivich

is

160

men

convey some new battalions

contracted, as proposed,

it

lieing

thither, or at least the ordinary

per battalion; then, there would be 8,000 infantry, which,

joined to the Militia, would suffice to preserve the country,

when

the lines of defence

would be

understood that the Court will send a stronger force thither,

and endeavor

to repair the annual losses by risking small convoys, which will if dispatched towards the end of February. 'Twere desirable that among the twelve battalions there should always be two or three of German troops, the soldiers of which would be allowed to marry in the country after three years' service; this would be the means of augmenting the population without affecting that if

possible,

hardly ever be intercepted

of the Kingdom injuriously. Besides, these battalions would be a decoy for the bushrangers and vagabonds of the English Colonies, where there are a great number of Germans. If the capitulation of our

conveyance

German

regiments, or the difficulty of recruits should prevent their

Canada, the French battalions which might go there, may be allowed to enlist into each company a certain number of Germans whom they would leave in the country. Perhaps the condition of Canada, when it will return under the King's rule, will not allow to

of the twelve battalions being sent thither at quarters and subsistence for the officers.

the

first

of the

once.

It

might be inconvenient

to procure

In that case, 'twere well to send only eight or ten

and second years, during which arrangements might be made

for the

reception

rest.

'Twould be proper

to allow each

Captain a gratuity of 400" per annum, and each Lieutenant

250''; the superior officers in proportion.

As the

soldier

is

to

stopped from his pay

;

be victualed by the King or the farmer, 3 sous 6 deniers a day will be he will have 2 sous remaining.

The King will retain also the stock purse {la masse) and supply the clothing. • The soldier's ration in Canada cannot be less than 2S ounces of bread, 6 ounces of peas and 8 ounces of salt meat, or 12 ounces of fresh meat. The air of the country requires more food than that of France.

This ration will cost

at

most S\

.

Foreign goods and provisions being dearer in Canada than in France, 'twould be proper that the King should grant officers the privilege of carying gratis on board his ships as tons per battalion.

The same

frivor will

be allowed as formerly

much

as

25

Governor-General and Commissaries this would amount to the

it may be extended to the staff of forts and to 450 tons, which would be an inconsiderable object when divided among the ships the King will dispatch annually to Canada.

Intendant;

;

to

The troops will be permitted to leave in France one officer per regiment in the ports of the Kingdom to take charge of the correspondence, and make purchases and attend to commissions for the officers.

The soldier's clothing will be the same as in France, adding merely a blanket and jacket every two years, a pair of cloth gaiters, a pair of mittens and six pairs of shoes every year.

PARIS DOCUMENTS Hereafter

outfits shall not be furnished soldiers

The

nor servants.

who

Militia

XVII.

:

li5L

going on any war expedition, nor to

will serve shall receive only

officers

one pair of shoes per month, one

pair of leggings and a hraguet per campaign, a jacket and pair of leggings to those on duty in

The expense

winter.

has no need of two

of outfits has always been very considerable and useless.

Servants ought to be supported by their masters.

suits.

One

soldier

In regard to

Militiamen, they must be obliged to carry wherewith to clothe themselves during the campaign

Canada

the people of

are in sufficiently easy circumstances to dispense with this allowance,

except an aid to the poorest

When

sort,

frontiers, and,

when on

a gratuity.

the effectives

;

in

encamped

in

uninhabited

the march, the officer shall receive one ration for himself, similar to the

and one for his servant,

soldiers,

by way of

the troops will be detached throughout distant forts or

being well understood that such

it

every other case, he shall support himself on

Artillery officers shall

is

to

be given only to

his pay.

no longer possess the privilege of passage nor of powder

{droit dc

voyage ni de poudre).

Persons

who

travel shall no longer be allowed certificates of their expenses to be paid

pretence of service; those

who make bona

fide

on

journeys, in extraordinary cases, by order of

the Governor-General, shall be indemnified for their disbursements by gratuities, and great attention shall be paid thereto.

As the Governors of Montreal and Three Rivers are useless in time of peace, and can be in time of war by the superior officers of the battalions, 'twill be well to suppress those governments. Each of the three towns shall have only one King's advantageously replaced

Lieutenant, one Major and one Adjutant.

The

towns

posts of Major and Adjutant in these

be given to active and intelligent

shall

because they will have charge of the detail of the Militia under the King's Lieutenant and the Governor-General.

officers,

The

latter shall

be Inspector of the troops

Inspector

Commandant

and good

for

of the troops

;

there shall not, in future, be any Major-General

— an improper

office,

which

is

expensive, embarrassing

nothing.

Recruits shall be furnished by the

King and conveyed

in his ships, according to the returns

the Governor-General shall transmit at the close of autumn.

Each

of the King's Lieutenants shall cause the

Major

to

keep an exact

within his government between the ages of 18 and 50, wherein those

be designated, the whole

The

to

be divided into three classes

roll

who

— good, middling

of the Militia

are married shall

and bad.

King's Lieutenants shall make, twice a year, the review of the Militia at the beginning

at the end of summer. The Governor-General shall be present at one of these reviews; each Militiaman shall be obliged to have a good musket, a powder-horn and a shot bag. 'Twill be necessary that the King should have conveyed to Canada 400 master and

and

journeymen mechanics of

all

trades, especially for the forges

victualed at the King's expense during the

first

and ship yards, who will be employed except at public

years, and not be

works. 'Twill be necessary to have tools of of iron for the It is is

first

most important

very destructive,

all

sorts also sent out in sufficient quantity,

and

a supply

year, until the forges can furnish some. to

have buildings erected

Timber being abundant,

this

for the artillery stores, as

expense will be

trifling.

the air of

Canada

;

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1152

The provisions necessary for tlie subsistence of the troops cannot be expected to be found in Canada the first year; fifteen or twenty thousand barrels of flour and four or five thousand from France; this will not augment the expense. upon the detail of the expenses that Canada will occasion the King during each year of peace, including what will have to be done there to place it in a barrels of pork will have to be sent

We now

proceed

to enter

state of defence.

The annexed

table will

show what

salary

is

proposed to be given to the Governor-General,

They ought to appear sufficient man who has a perfect knowledge of the country. 200,000", which we propose for Indian presents, will be more than sufficient in the hands an enlightened Governor who attends to the King's interests.

the Intendant, the Staff, Civil officers and those of justice.

to

every disinterested

150,000" for extraordinary expenses will

who

meet unforeseen items,

themselves and any advances

will distinguish

be made to

to

new

of

gratuities for subjects

during the

settlers

first

years of the peace.

The Governor shall be obliged to render an exact account of these two items, and furnish thorough information thereof to the Intendant, who, however, will not be at liberty to refuse to discharge, in this regard, the Governor-General's orders.

200,000"

for the

expense of management and clerks ought to

economical and experienced, the rather as the ration, which cost less, if the purchases be judiciously made,

managed. The Intendant shall be obliged to this department as well as of all other details of

suffice, if

we have

the Intendant be

estimated at S

sous, will

and the milling, curing and fattening be well render an account to the Governor-General of finance.

Recruits will not cost the King anything, because he will

find, from the non-completes and pay and subsistence that will suflSce for this item. Hospitals and Missions have The endowments in Canada. If these are not sufficient for the support of the Clergy and the Nuns, for the attendance on sick soldiers, by giving up the price of the ration, and for the support of the Missionaries of the Colony, some pensions on the

gratuities, a profit in

any want without taxing the King.

livings will supply It

remains

to enter into the detail of the

artillery, royal buildings, forges

As

expenses to be incurred for the

fortifications,

and ship building.

the materials to be used in these different objects exist in the country, the expense cannot

be better estimated than by calculating the workmanship.

People can work

in

Canada only from

during the remainder of the year,

During those

five

months

is

the 15"" of

May

to the

15"' of October.

The

cold,

excessive.

the troops will be in

camp

in those places

which are

to

be

fortified

during winter they will be quartered on the farmers, except the garrisons for the towns and forts; these

From

may

be estimated at 1,500 men.

the five working

months must be deducted the Sundays and

principal holidays, there

remains 130 days. 12 battalions in camp will be able

to furnish

2,500

workmen who

will be paid at the rate

of 12 sous each working day.

1,200 volunteer

workmen can be drawn from

the towns and country,

receive 10 sous per day.

All these items are calculated in the annexed table.

who

will be fed

and

PARIS DOCUMENTS: The

soldiers in

men

1,500

camp

will be fed, for five

in garrison also

farmers, on

whom

lie

will

be quartered, and

not lodge any

will

men

XVII.

1153

in the year, at the

during the winter months.

labor, will be able to derive from his farm

who

months

King's expense.

But the remainder

be fed

will

expense of said fanner, who, with

at tlie

wherewith

to feed

The at the

trifling

his lodger, the rather as those

will contribute their share of tiie subsistence, according to the

which shall be drawn up the only one that the Canadian roils

for this

purpose in each parish, and

sort of tax will

tliis

be

pay the King. A number of horses, sufficient for the works of the fortifications and artillery, shall be purchased or hired on the King's account. About 300 will be required which can be found without any difficulty in a country where there are too many. This expense, and the other will

extraordinary disbursements for the works, have been estimated at 120,000''.

The King

retaining 3 sous G den. a day from the soldier's pay, there have been properly

deducted from the

total of

the

expenses, 415,187",

since this

sum

will

return

extraordinaries of war, or be employed in the receipt of the Colonial treasurer.

expense will therefore be If

we

calculate

into the

The annual

only 2,005,773'"'.

what the King

is

to receive

from the import duties on

all

liquors and dry

goods, tavern licenses in the towns, from the registry, mutation fines, the sale of salt and

powder, and from the grants of land, in proportion to the population.

sum

this

will

exceed 500,000", and increase, annually, in

Thus, there will remain about 1,500,000"

to

be provided

each year for Canada, which sum will not begin to be paid, only the second year, at the maturity of the bills of exchange a part of that sum even will return the first year in the for

;

country in paper money. 'Tis easy to see fortifications

required

by the table that

more than one-half of

that

sum

will

be employed in the

and other works belonging to the King, and consequently will be no longer

when

those will be completed.

King to release his Canadian subjects from every species of would then have to be paid for subsisting the soldiers who would be quartered on them, and this could not be less than 5 sous a day, which would amount If higher views determine the

import

for

some

years, the farmers

to 258,000", to be added to the

above sum.

In regard to the duration of the works, yet,

it

appears impossible to determ.ine that at present

we may promise

state of defence,

if

ourselves that, in five or six years at most, the three frontiers will be in a care be taken that the 4,000 men destined for those works be well employed.

from omissions, but such would be trifling. Canada must necessarily be

It is

not pretended that the table of expenses

The

warlike stores, the guns and artillery furniture with which

is free

provided, are not included in this estimate; neither the implements of every description, and for the navy which must be sent thither until the Colony be able to furnish them.

cordage

would be very considerable if the King were obliged to purciiase it But we could, the very first year of the peace, begin to make this provision by dismantling those places in the Kingdom nearest the sea, which will be afterwards supplied at leisure. The expense, though heavy in itself, will, in this way, be light.

The in

article of artillery

one year.

The

estimate for this provision will be furnished,

We

shall not treat here of the profits

if

necessary.

which the King's finances and the State will derive indirectly from Canada in the way of trade. But 'tis to be presumed that if that Colony be well governed, it will amply indemnify for the 1,500,000" it will have cost during the first years of the peace. Vol. X.

145

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1154

Many little

things proposed in this

of Canada, or by those

Memoir may be objected

who have

to

;

by those who know Those objections might be

especially,

private interests there.

answered

in advance, but they would have swelled into a volume. The only object of this Memoir, which is already too long, is to fix the mind on the expense Canada would occasion and the means of governing it well. Nothing is put forth but what is established on solid

reasons or experience.

Expense of Canada during

the

first

year of the Peace.

Gratuities to the officers of battalions and artillery, engineers and constructors,

Commandants

Gratuities to

"190,000

of distant posts,

25,000

Blankets, jackets, &c., to soldiers and gunners,

85,000

Salary of Governor-General,

"

50,000

" Intendant,

25,000

"

" Clerk of the Council,

"

" 3 King's Lieutenants, (a. 5,000" each, " 3 Majors, (I, 3,000'' each, " 3 Adjutants, (S, 1,200" each,

" "

3,000

15,000 9,000 3,600

Captain of the port of Quebec,

•'

"

" "

" Commissaries, Controllers and principal storekeepers, " Officers of justice for the Council and other jurisdictions, " Indian Interpreters and their subsistence,

••

2,000

35,000 40,000 15,000

Fuel and candles for the guard-houses,

10,000

Keep and subsistence of 150 chasseurs commanded by 12 Idem for 150 seamen commanded by 12 naval officers, Subsistence of 200 gunners for one year,

(3. 8'

48,000

officers,

45,000

29,200

per day,

Subsistence of 400 master or journeymen mechanics, for one year, of 400 masters or journeymen, (3, 30', one with another, for 130 days, Subsistence of 1,200 country workmen for 150 days,

58,400

Pay

78,000 72,000

Subsistence of 1,500 soldiers of the battalions for a year, Subsistence of the remaining 4,800 soldiers for 150 days, whilst in camp, Pay of 1,200 country workmen, @. 10' for 130 days,

219,000

Pay

195,000

288,000 78,000

of 2,500 working soldiers at 12' for 130 days, 48 Sergeants, (3, 30= for 130 days,

9,360

Supplement for the pay of 200 master or journeymen mechanics who may be employed the year round Supplement for the pay and food of 400 country workmen who may work at the forges and on building timber the whole year, Expense of horses and extraordinary expenses for the fortifications and artillery,

54,000

,

Indian expenses,

.^

Expenses of management and transport and pay of the clerks and commissaries, Extraordinary expenses,

Deduct

for the total

69,400

120,000 200,000

200,000 150,000

for retaining 3'

Remains,

'

6"^

from the pay of 6,500 soldiers or gunners

expense of each year,

2,420,960 415,187 "2,005,773

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII. From

this is

duties, &c.,

still

to

1155

be deducted what the King will annually derive from Canada

which we have estimated

in

import

at 500,000'".

Recapitulation of the subjects treated of in the preceding Memoir. Pack.

Canada is of great utility to France, Canada can be placed in a position to defend employed

1140 herself, if the first

years of the peace are

and provisioning the country, Plan of administration for Canada,

1141

in fortifying

Expense that Colony

1145

will occasion for the first years of the peace, including the

works

iry for defence,

1

Abstract of a

Plan

to

Excite a RehelUon in Canada. 1763.

In consequence of the indifference, incapacity or private interest of those at all times administered its affairs, the

who have

almost

importance of Canada has never been presented before Besides the loss of that beautiful and vast

the eyes of the Court in a true point of view.

country, France has lost 70 @. SO thousand inhabitants, the species of which

more

154

is

so

much

the

rare as there never has been a people so docile, so brave and so strongly attached to their

Prince. The vexations they have suffered for several years, and particularly during the five immediately preceding the surrender of Quebec, without murmuring or daring to transmit their just complaints to the foot of the

have related to two striking instances

month

The cloak

of

March

last,

this is

afford sufficient proofs of their docility.

Memoir

I

have addressed

of the

King's authority.

I

the Minister in the

to

merely an abstract.

severe laws imposed on them were always justified and covered

sacrifice

Their love

and submission

for their

by the respectable made them

Prince,

everything rather than wish to be suspected of the slightest disobedience to his

This

Majesty's orders.

when

whereof

Throne,

in the

their grain,

is

cattle,

so true, that not a single one

sheep,

made

the slightest complaint, even

notwithstanding they were what had been paid them. have caused them to receive with too much

hogs, &c., were

carried

off,

obliged to purchase for their support the same things at double 'Tis to be feared that this bad treatment will

readiness the mild regime of the English, the latter in their policy having neglected nothing to expedite the return of that comfort and liberty which they enjoyed before Sieur Bigot's

advent into the Colony, nevertheless,

I

do not doubt but they would

still

prefer the domination

of France, were they certain of finding the same advantages and same tranquility that they

enjoyed up to 1750. 'Tis not for me, simply a private individual, to penetrate the wise views of the Ministry,

but

'tis

permitted me, as a good citizen, ardently to wish that the State do not ever lose sight Events sufficiently propitious may intervene, as well from the constitution of the

of Canada.

government of England, the aversion the Indians entertain towards the English, as through the friendship

country.

all

the Nations feel for the French, to restore to the latter the possession of that

In this idea,

it

were well

to find

means

to

prevent the extinction of that love which

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1156

may

the inhabitants of the Colony

These are the means I propose There is remaining in Canada

feel in their hearts for the

still

domination of France.

:

before

its

invasion.

a pretty considerable

sum

notes, the circulating

in

I calculate that fths at least are in the hands of the farmers

medium who are

persuaded, for the English never cease to insinuate, that France will never pay them.

The King vrill have to determine the question of those notes by finding some means of withdrawing them. This means would serve as a pretext for sounding the farmers as to how they are disposed. But two or three persons, well known to them, must be found, for whom they entertained some respect, persons both of discretion and intelligence. These would be invested with orders from his Majesty to pass, with the approval of the Court of London, to Canada to take up those notes and to conclude with the farmers such settlement as would be determined on; pretexting, apparently, some expenses of the Colony amount whereof it is desirable to ignore in consequence' of the want of order in the The pretext will appear, unfortunately, sufficiently specious. 'Twould not be necessary to have the farmers brought into the towns on the contrary,

the

administration.

;

'twould be better for the object of the operation, to go from parish to parish, in order to be

more iheir

at liberty to converse with

them, on pretence of unwillingness

to divert

them from

work.

Perhaps I

shall be told that the

hard to find.

I

proper persons for the execution of this project would be

believe there are plenty sufficiently disinterested to abandon their personal

interest in order to concur with that of the State, liable to suspicion.

What

But

in that there

I have stated above

object of the

amount

is

and the delicacy of whose mission much caution and discretion.

is

not

could not be too

the abstract of the

Memoir

I

have furnished

last

March, the

more them might be more specious but the operation would not have produced such important effects as it might do now in regard to the open war which the Indians are waging against the English besides, the latter having somewhat abandoned the lenity with which they treated the farmers from the time Quebec was surrendered until tiiey were sure of the cession which France made to them, it will be easier to persuade the Canadians to shake off the yoke, especially when certain of being sustained by the Indians with whom they would reunite. I understand the Canadian he is sometimes extravagant and enterprising two wise heads are only required to excite among them that fermentation of the notes then remaining in the hands of the farmers being

considerable, the pretext to retire

;

;

;

;

;

the Indians even might be excited to pretend to force the Canadians to revolt

wage war against them less reproach to make them to

the

same

as against the English.

The

latter

;

threatening

would, then, have

if this project and that of the Missicipi should fail. Should the fermentation commence whilst the persons charged with this mission would be in the Colony, and should the English suspect them, there is no doubt of their running some

risks; but they can adopt

the I

way

I shall

manage

shall go, first, to

The Lake

some precaution

by means of the Indians.

to get clear

Here

is

:

Montreal to commence operations respecting the notes; I shall proceed

of The Two Mountains for pleasure I shall not fail to meet Nepissings and Algonquins there, who have begun to bestir themselves in order to reunite the other Indians; I shall advise some chiefs of the object of my mission and dispose them to stand ready to facilitate my escape through the Upper country and conduct me to New Orleans. at

once to

;

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII. I shall

beginning

return from the Lake ;

I shall

of

The Two Mountains

have myself conveyed

parish to parish as far as

Cap Moraska

;

Lake

3 leagues of the

And

operation.

prudent for

me

Two

of the

as far as St.

Mountains, the

more assured safety, under return by New Orleans. for

to

South shore

to tiie

M.

de St.

[

The peace which

O"-

commence operations from

to

Ange

Anne on

the Island of Montreal, within

last parish, all

to 31.

which would terminate my I believe it would be

circumstances,

(PAbkidie.

Extract of the letter from M. de St. Ange,

Dabbadie,

without making any-

return thence to Berthier' in order to cross over to

Joachim and return by the North shore

St.

1157

to Montreal

Commandant

at the Illinois, to

M.

9^", 1764.

iDclosed in M. D'abbadie's letter of the 29th January, 1765. ]

the English reported to have

so stable and general as they might suppose.

made with the Indian Nations has not been One party only of what are called the Five

Nations, had accepted the propositions, and through the lure of plunder had promised to escort In fact, I did hear from Frenchmen the detachments the English might turn out for Detroit. and Indians that 500 men of that party had accompanied M' Bradcheet, who commands 1,200 men and 300 Canadians as far as Detroit, where, after a conference with Pondiak, they had returned to their first resolution and Assured that chief that they would do all in their power I annex to persuade the English of their fidelity, so as to betray them at the proper time. all

hereunto a

was

letter that

to pursue.

Commandant

writes me, which will inform you nearly of the course he

This letter has been handed

me by some Indians sent express who has sent me word

Captain Maurice^ has been arrested by Pondiak,

forward him

to

me

this spring.

This

officer

was bearer

of Instructions

here.

that he should

which Pondiak

has kept.

M' Bradcheet has written me from Cedar Point,^ near the Miamis river, IS leagues from I have had no news of I do not know what has become of him and his army them since. Pondiak, far from making the peace which that officer was instructed to negotiate with all

Detroit.

;

the Nations, got angry and furious

when

'twas proposed to him, and as a token of his never at least 6 feet long

having had any such idea, sent at once, through all the Nations, a Belt and 4 inches wide, on which are marked all the Nations in his interest.

Red men

He

invites, first, all

and that of all his people, if they will not consent. He describes the English as the most cruel of enemies, with whom there is no guarantee for any conventions they might enter into as to what regards their country, and who would conceal their resentment until they would have an opportunity to

the

satisfy '

to help him,

and next threatens them with

it.

Below Quebec.

=

See VII., 863.

'

The

east point of

Maunieo bay, near Toledo, Ohio.

— Ed.

his hatred

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1158

The Chaouanons, whom

I have had the honor to announce to you in my letter of the IS"" Oi August, have arrived here on the 27"= of that month, to the number of 60, to demand of me

most urgent necessaries, which

their

I could not supply; in

view of the circumstances and

tiieir

war against the English, however, I could not refuse giving them drive them against us. I had the message explained to them which

dispositions to continue the

something, so as not to

you convey with

to

them,

answer

in

to the

one they had sent you.

They appeared

me

to

satisfied

it.

The

chief of that Nation has decided on going to see you, to explain to

condition to which

hope that they would relieve

You can

it.

He

down

goes

in this

me which

who were

tended only to vast expense and are contrary

King's intentions and the orders you have given

them against

abandoning them

us,

entirely,

by rejecting

and

all

finally, that

pass very uncomfortable moments.

me on

their

its

bateau with his wife.

appreciate. Sir, the embarrassment I labor under with those people,

every day making demands on of driving

you the wretched

reduced, his resolution, his attachment to the French, and finally,

it is

this head.

demands; of

On

their accusing the

French of

they should be driven to despair, has caused

Their sojourn here has not

to the

the other hand, the fear

failed

to occasion

me

to

heavy

expense for their subsistence alone.

An

Iroquois chief

came here some twenty-five days

ago.

After having held such conversation

among Indian Nations, he asked me for some assistance which I could not give him, having neither the right nor the ability to do so. He decided on going down with some as

is

usual

hunters.

It

is

twelve days since he

left

with a Frenchman

who accompanied him from

the

Chouanons. I cannot express to you,

uneasiness present circumstances give

Sir, the

to respond to all the Nations,

and

I

am

unable to do

so.

To speak

me

;

I

should have

them of peace," that's fifty Red men here every where they have a father,

nothing can afford them

to

less satisfaction. There are at least day who must be fed, and who no longer recognizing but this post most frequently leave very much dissatisfied and afterwards return under the impression that they will meet with more favor. all

;

This, Sir, to

of

is

my

present condition.

Circumstances and your orders permit

me

only to talk

them of peace, which they will not listen to, and the total want I am in of goods puts my power to give any mark of benevolence to these unfortunate people. I

have had the honor

to

request you, Sir, to have regard to

my

situation.

If the

it

English do

not take possession of this country, in a short time, I shall be overpowered this spring by Pondiak's partizans, who are increasing daily. So much for the Indians, &c.

Colonel Brad-street to

M.

out

all

de St. Ange.

Sir,

I have been informed of the pains taken by M. de to

remove

all

Neyon, before leaving the

liinois country,

were disseminated among the render them unfortunate and are

suspicion and to put a stop to false reports that

settlers and Indians dwelling there, which would tend only to very disadvantageous to the English troops sent to take possesion of that post.

PARIS DOCUMENTS doubt not,

:

XVII.

II59

you have followed such a good example, and that you will afford all the protection in your power to Captain Morris, of the English troops, who will hand you this letter, to enable him to execute the orders he has received from me. I

Sir, that

have the honor to

I

Camp

at

20'"

be, &c.,

Cedar Point,

Jh. Bkadstreex.

August, 1761.

M.

de St. Ancje to

M.

cVAhladie.

Extract of a letter from M. de St. Ange,

Commandant

of the Ilinois, to M.

Dabbadie, of the 2°" X"", 1764. Since

my

last,

which

has transpired here. be.

that

am

I all

1

I had the honor to write you by M'' Datchurrut's bateau, nothing new have had no news of Pondiak nor from Detroit, where he continues to

also ignorant of

what has become

of

RP Bradstreet and

his

detachment, but

I

know

the Nations continue their enterprise and that neither the English nor French could,

by any means, turn them from their Father back.

bounty, and

who announce

me

to

Their principal object at present is, to have always some one of these poor wretches on the King's

their purpose.

In fine, Sir, there

is

the visit of their people this spring.

Lake and most distant Nations have sent to tell me the same thing, and knowing them to be in want of everything, I doubt not that they will keep their word, and with so much the more reason, as they are almost all wintering at the Ilinois river and at that of St. Jerome.^ Being, thus, near here, their first movement this spring will be to come hither. All the

Their ordinary harangues

are, to see their Father,

and to be assured that the English

will

never come here.

Conference between

M.

d''Ahbadie

and

Speech of the Chouanon Indian Chariot Kaske

the Indians. to

M. Dabbadie.

my coming here and my Though I have no retinue, I am no less a man of influence of the Chouanon Nation, deputed by the Grand Chief to visit and to talk with you. Here's a Belt of five rows which he has instructed me to present to you it contains the names of 47 I

come from

heart

is

a great distance

;

the INIaster of Life has vouchsafed

pleased with beholding you.

;

villages

who

are willing to die in alliance with the French, defending their lands to the last

They hope

drop of their blood. here formerly;

many

people

all

that

you

will succor

them and never abandon them.

the world appeared gay and happy; now, everything

whom

I

do not know; '

Sow,

I

am

the River Wabash.

sad myself, yet, since De

Vide' a Carte de la Louieiane.

I

is

sad.

behold you

— Ed.

I

I

came

see a great

my

heart

is

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1160

my

content, and

eyes are getting clear.

I

shall tell

my

how

Nation

I

saw you and how you

received me. Father, I ask you to relieve your children, the Chouanons, who have always held the French by the hand. Our warriors, our old men, our women and our children are sad at not seeing the French any more among us. The English are coming there and saying, that the land is theirs and that it is the French who have sold it to them. You know well that our fathers have always told us that the land was ours, that we were free on it, that the French did come to settle there only for our protection and defence, as a good father protects and defends his children. You placed the tomahawk in our hands to strike the English, which we did we will keep it eternally, and we will repeat unceasingly to our children, that they must retain it ;

also for the defence of their land.

am

I

deputed by

the chiefs to

all

from you what you wish us

you

to continue the war,

pay them well;

shall

French do not abandon

behold the French

among

and

to

know

are rich in

furs; our

to trade

with our

children are

If the

Nation.

aid from

adopted you as our Father and will never hearken

Send us traders; we we all naked since the French have ceased coming

save to your word.

women and

demand

We have

to do.

English will never take our lands, and

us, the

if

we

our hearts will be glad.

us,

M. d'Abbadie's Answer. M. de

know you

me who you

you, have long ago told

He

your Father.

to

What you French,

me

Ange,' your Father, has advised

St.

tell

affects

me

of the

my

receives

you

are.

But

heart.

if

Red and

of the

sad

also,

chiefs

thank the Great Spirit and

will

for

who

are here and

having conducted

provide for your wants.

who wish

other Nations

they are

more, the French and your Father are sad blood of the

I

as a dear child

Chaowanons and

The

of your visit.

to die attached to the

behold the French no at seeing the earth always stained with the because

they will

White man.

Has not M. de Neyon,^ your

Father, announced to you, on the part of the Great Chief, that the

Great Emperors of France and of England had made peace? That by this arrangement the English and French were friends and that the lied men, who are partisans of the one

and the other, should look on each other as brothers? Why, children, do you continue the war? And what will it avail you thus to redden the earth with your blood ? It is repugnant When Nations make peace, they forget whatever to Nature and the Great Spirit forbids it.

was done during the war and bury free '

French

If the

their hatchets.

retire to their lands,

you are

on yours, and wherever the French chiefs and their warriors will be, they will always

Captain Louis St. Ange de Belkive was a veteran

officer.

He commanded

the escort

which aceompanied Father

Charlevoix, the celebrated historian and traveler, through the country in 1721, and distinguished liimself against the Outa-

gamie in 1728.

command said,

He was one

of the principal officers in Louisiana in 1730

Mississippi as late as 1772. Charlevoix, Journal Eistorique

Johnson '

to

succeeded

Nyon de

Villiers in June, 1764, in the

;

Lettre

XXVH.

;

Gayarri,!, 440; H., 114; Monelle, L, 411;

Dartmouth, 4th November, 1772.

Nton de Villiers was

the youngest of seven brothers, six of

succeeded Captain Macarty

in

the

command

of Fort Chartres,

the Cross of St. Louis as a reward lor his fidelity and services. called the Great Villiers, to

L,

;

which he surrendered to the English on the 14th October, 1765, and retired to St. Louis. It is however, that he afterwards returned and resumed the command at Fort Chartres for a brief period. He was on the of Fort Cbartres,

185.— Ed.

whom

Washington surrendered

whom,

'tis

said, lost their lives in the

which he held

wars in Canada.

until the 15th of June, 1764,

when he

He

received

M. Gayarre confounds him with his brother, Goulon-Villiors,

in 1754. Histortj of Louisiana,

II.,

100, 110, 114; Bossu's Travels,

PARIS DOCUMENTS

XVII.

:

1161

bear you in their hearts, and with pleasure provide for your wants through their traders. You know that they are settled on the right bank of the Great River Mississipi, but the powder

and

ball they will carry you are to be used only in liunting, so as to feed and clothe your old men, yourselves, your women and children. Give up, then, waging war, my children, and reject, as evil counsel, whatever is told you of the English. Peace will bring back plenty to your villages, and the English themselves will hasten with goods to supply your wants. Attend well to this word Chariot Kaske let it have weight among the Nations and assure them that the Great Emperors of France and England have made peace only for the happiness of the Red men and of the Whites. Copy. March, 1765, (Signed), Dabbadie.^ ;

Surrender of Fort Cliartres

to the JEnglish.

LoUISIANNA.

Minute of the Surrender of Fort Chartre to M. Sterling, appointed by M. Degage, Governor of New-York, Commander of His Britannic Majesty's troops in America. This day, the tenth of October, one thousand seven hundred and

Ange de

Belrive, Captain of Infantry,

Commandant

sixty-five,

we, Louis Saint

Most Christian Majesty at the said Fort Chartre, and Joseph Lefebvre, King's storekeeper and acting Commissary at said fort, pursuant to orders we have received from Mess" Aubry, Knight of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis, Commander of the Province of Louisiana and Foucault,^ Commissary for his

Controller of the Marine, Ordonnaleur in the said Province, surrender said Fort Chartre to M"' Sterling," deputed

by M" Degage, Governor of New-York and Commander-in-Chief of His

Britannic Majesty's troops in America and in

all

the left portion of the Province of Louisianna,

according to the Seventeenth Article of the definitive Treaty of Peace concluded at Versailles 'M. d'AoBADiB succeeded M. de Kerlerec («K/>ra, p. 281) in the government of Louisiana, or of so much of it as remained to tha after the peace of 1763, and arrived, on the 29th of June, of that year, at New Orleans where the King kept a factory, was commissioned Director-General, with the powers of a Military commandant. In 1764 he received

French

of which M. d'Abbadie

orders to surrender the country to Spain; he was profoundly distressed by the duty he was instructed to perform, and the grief

which

it

just towards

occasioned caused the death of this worthy

all,

and inflexibly firm in causing the laws

man on

the 4th of February, 1765.

to be respected;

He was

a disinterested ruler,

he severely repressed the excesses of masters

and protected the Indians from every kind of repression. By his example, he caused religion and morality to be honored, and left a memory dear to all the Louisianians. French's Historical Memoirs of Loui»iana,\., 142; M. d'Abbadie was succeeded by Captain Aubry ( tupra, p. 901 ). ( Oayarri'i Lotiisiana French Domination,) IL, 96-1 16.

towards their

slaves,

'Mr. FouoACLT succeeded M. Rochemore Comptroller on the 10th February, 1763.

as Intendant of Louisiana,

He was

conspirators against the Spanish Governor, Ulloa.

and was

at her house it

He had always kept up

was supposed that conspiracy was concocted.

by order of Governor O'Reilly, October following, where he was thrown, on arrested

where he arrived

the very personification of treachery.

in August,

He

his arrival, into the Bastile.

See VU., 786.

Vol. X.

146

1761,

and was appointed

In 1768 h« was one of the principal

widow

Pradel,

afterwards turned informer against his colleagues, but

1769, deprived of his oflnce

cheated a host of people in Louisiana. Gayarri't History of Louisiana, IL, •

in June,

a scandalous connection with a

He was

and sent a prisoner

a conceited and narrow

to

France 14th of

minded man, und ^- Ed.

88, 91, 93, 186, 232, 273, 306, 307, 810.

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1162

the 10"" of February, 1763, between His Most Christian Majesty of France and Navarre, and

His Britannic Majesty.

We

have proceeded to the said surrender as follows;

To

wit:

Fort Chartre, situate fronting the river to the south,

New

about four hundred leagues from

Orleans.

Fort Chartre.

The

southeast bastion,

toises and

two

as far as

that of the

southwest inclusive

— eighty

—

nineteen toises and a half. The west face, with its bastions five and one-half toises. The flank of the bastion three toises, one foot. The privies The curtain between the two bastions, some privies inclusive fifty-five The north face twenty-four toises. The face of a curtain on the north fifty-nine and one-half toises.

—

—

—

—

East

—

commencing

face,

and one-half

feet.

Northeast curtain

at the northeast

— sixty-one and a half

sentry-box

— twenty-six

toises.

toises.

Gate

at the

main entrance.

Height of the south gate to the arch

— ten

feet.

—

toises.

five feet high, ten feet wide. Arch over the gate Depth, two toises, furnished with a sentry-box on each side, a cut stone platform above the gate, three toises long and two wide, with two leaden gutters furnished with a wooden gallery; the wicket of the gate of cut stone, two embrasures on the open platform one stair ;

of nineteen steps of stone and plank with a stone balustrade, to ascend the said platform vent fort

;

a

on both sides with four cut stone buttresses, two within and two without.

Body South side on the south

two windows

of the building,

— Fourteen in cut stone,

in

North side

wood, furnished with

— Two

one

and hinges;

stair,

for a store

and quarters

for the store-keeper.

on the west and four on the east

furnished with their iron shutters, hinges and sashes

of cut stone, furnished with

store, with

which serves

toises long, four toises

its

and hinges

their shutters

;

in the

;

;

five

windows

in the garret,

west gable, one window

shutters an^ hinges.

rooms, one closet for lodging the store-keeper, two

ditto,

serving as a

three doors^ in cut stone, furnished with their outside shutters, sashes

in the garret, three

windows

in

wood, furnished with

their shutters

and iron

work; one double chimney. Guard-House. South side

—-Fourteen

windows in windows in cut

five

toises long, four toises

on the west and four toises on the east;

work work in

cut stone, furnished with their shutters and iron stone, furnished with their shutters and iron

;

;

two windows

in the eastern gable,

the garret, two

wood, furnished with their shutters and iron work; in the west gable, a door as an entrance to the guard-house, and furnished with its iron work.

in

in cut stone

PARIS DOCUMENTS: North stair to

fa§acle

— A room

;

room

a

XVII.

for the officer; a

1163 room

for the

gunner, with a

ascend to the garret; two rooms and one closet for the chapel and Missionary's quarters

work

;

in the garret, three

;

windows in cut stone, furnished with their shutters and windows in wood, furnished with their shutters and iron work

a screen above that of the chapel iron

guard

for the

;

four

;

one double and one single chimney.

Government House.

— Thirteen

South face

and a half

and

toises

stone, furnished with their shutters and iron

toises

five

on the west; four windows in cut

work; two doors

in cut stone,

one a screen,

furnished with their iron work; one porch with a stair inside to go up to the garret; two

rooms, three closets, furnished with their doors and iron work; one kitchen with an oven in it;

work; a

a closet, furnished with doors and iron

cellar; in the garret, three

windows

in

wood, furnished.

— One door

its iron work five windows in cut stone, work; a bull's eye; in the garret, two windows in wood, furnished with their shutters and iron work; in tiie west gable, one room, one closet, one window in cut stone, furnished with its shutters and iron work; walls two toises high, two double chimneys, a coach-house to the west, a pigeon house, two toises, cellar three toises

North face

in cut stone,

furnished with

;

furnished with their shutters and iron

high, with a large stone well inside.

Intendant's House.

South face

— Three

and a half toises, and

on the west, two doors

five toises

in cut stone,

one a screen, furnished with their iron work four windows in cut stone, furnished with shutters and iron work; in the upper rooms, three windows in wood, with their iron work ;

and shutters

a portico, with a stairs to go up to the garret,

;

with their iron work

and iron work North face

chamber and a

— One

two rooms and

three closets furnished

one kitchen containing an oven, and a pantry, furnished with their doors

two windows

a cellar, to the east

;

iron work, one

;

in cut stone, furnished

with their shutters and

closet.

door in cut stone, furnished with

its

iron; five

windows

in cut stone,

furnished with their shutters and iron work; two double chimneys; one oven for the troops. 1st Barrack.

— Twenty

at the north, two toises and two feet; three doors two corridors, in one of them a stair to go up to the garret; three barrack rooms, two rooms and two closets for the officers' quarters, furnished with their shutters and iron work nine windows in cut stone, furnished with their shutters and trimmings; in the upper story, six windows in wood, furnished with their shutters and

East front

in cut stone, furnished

toises

and two

feet

;

with their iron work

;

;

iron work.

West

front

— Two doors

five windows in worn; in the upper story, three windows at the north, an out-house with a door in shutters and iron work work, and three windows in wood, furnished with their shutters

in cut stone, furnished

with their iron work, and

cut stone, furnished with their shutters and iron

wood, furnished with their wood, furnished with its iron

in

and iron work at the south, one window work ; three double chimneys. ;

;

in cut

stone, furnished

with

its

shutter and iron

NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1164

2d Barrack

West

front

—-Twenty

toises

and two

stone, furnished with their iron

feet,

and

doors in cut

five toises at the south, three

work, two corridors,

in

one of them a

stair to

go up to the

rooms and two rooms and two closets for officers' quarters, furnished with and iron work nine windows in cut stone, furnished with their shutters and iron the upper story, six windows of wood, furnished with their shutters and iron work.

garret, three barrack

their doors

work;

in

;

East front

— Two doors

shutter and iron

its

;

windows

five

in cut

upper story, three windows in wood, at the south, one window in cut stone, furnisiied

work

;

in the

work work; three double chimneys, one oven

furnished with their shutters and iron

with

work;

in cut stone, furnished with their iron

stone, furnished with their shutters and iron

for the troops.

Powder House. Four

toises in front,

with

its

gate in cut stone, furnished with two doors, one of sheet iron

and the other of wood, furnished with their ironwork, five toises and a half wide, six toises long; one building two toises high, one window above, in cut stone, furnished with its shutters in

wood, and one of

iron.

Bake House. Seven

toises on the north, eleven feet high,

stone, furnished with their shutters and

two ovens in them one the garret; two single chimneys, one stone well

their doors to

two gables each two

and ironwork

toises, four

ironwork; two rooms and one

;

stair with its balustrade of

;

in front of

windows

in cut

closet, furnished

wood

with

go up

to

the bake house.

Prison.

South front six

toises, four cells of cut stone furnished

with their doors and ironwork; two

doors in cut stone furnished with their ironwork, one at the west and the other at the east; four

windows

in cut stone, furnished

with the iron bars and shutters and ironwork

;

two

at the

south and two at the north, with two double stairs of wood; with a small gallery to each, a

double chimney.

One

large relief gate to the north, similar to that at the south.

Two wooden

privies at the north and

two of stone

at the west, furnished

with their doors

and ironwork.

The The

height of the walls

is

eighteen feet

;

Fort.

south curtain, on the river side, has eight buttresses

and forty-seven loop-holes; the north curtain has eight buttresses and forty-seven loop-holes; east ditto, ten buttresses and fifty-five loop-holes; west ditto, ten buttresses and fifty-five loop-holes.

The bake-house

bastion, at the southeast, has eight buttresses and

embrasures; Prison

ditto, at the

fifty

loop-holes, and eight

southwest, eight buttresses and forty-nine loop-holes, and

eight embrasures; northwest ditto, eight buttresses, forty-eight loop-holes, and eight embrasures;

Powder house

ditto,

embrasures; the whole

at

the

northeast,

in cut stone;

eight

buttresses,

one cut stone sentry box

fifty

in

loop holes,

and

eight

each bastion, overhanging

the walls d cul de lampe with a cornice above, and vaulted, seven cut stone steps to get to

it.

PARIS DOCUMENTS

:

XVII.

1165

Store.

Of

wooden all

wide

posts in the ground, forty toises from the fort, three toises

with shingle

toises long, covered pillars

a large stone

;

a large double gate, five

;

chimney

in

at the gable end, ten

by four and ironwork

the centre, supported

windows furnished with

their shutters

the buildings, above enumerated, are covered with shingles.

Which

buildings and fortifications mentioned

above named, have

officer

Commander-in-Chief of

this

day surrendered

to

in

M'

present minute.

the

Sterling,

his Britannic Majesty's troops in

We,

the

deputed by M' Degage,

North America, and

in the

entire Left of Louisiana.

Fort Chartres

We,

tiiis 10"' S''",

the

1766.

Commandant

of his Britannic Majesty's troops at Fort Chartre, and we,

named by his Britannic Majesty, do certify that Ange and M'' Lefebvre have signed, though written

the Commissioner

the two copies

which

in Englisli, are

M""

de

conformable

St.

to the present.

(Signed), (

Signed

Tho'. Sterling.

Humsey.

),

Count

A

D'' Estaing\s

Proclamation

Declaration addressed in the

to the

name

People of Canada, &c.

of the

King of France

to

all

the ancient

French of North America.

The undersigned, that

which

beneficent

authorized by his Majesty, and thereby clothed with the noblest

effaces all others,

protector of

his

in

the

name

who were

—

all his

Countrymen

in

title,

of the Father of his country,

subjects, to offer a support to those

the blessings of his government

To

charged

North America

with

and the

born to enjoy

:

you never could cease to be French. A war, which was declared against us only by seizing nearly all our seamen, and the principal advantages of which our 'common enemies entirely owed to the courage, the talents and the numbers of the brave Americans, who are now fighting against them, has wrested from you that which is most dear to all men even the name of your country. To compel you, in spite of yourselves, to bear the arms of parricides against it, must complete the measure of misfortune with this you are now threatened: a new war may justly make you dread being obliged to submit to this most intolerable law of slavery. It has commenced, like the last, by depredations upon the most

You were born French

;

;

:

valuable part of our trade.

been confined

in

Too long already have a great number of unfortunate Frenchmen You hear their groans. The present war was declared by from the King of Great Britain to both Houses of Parliament, the

American prisons.

a Message in March last, most authentic act of the British Sovereignty, announcing to all orders of the State, that to trade [with America] though without excluding others from the same right was an offence that frankly ;

NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

1166 avow such

was to defy tliis Sovereignty tiiat she should revenge it, and deferred more advantageous opportunity, when she might do it with more appearance of for she declared that she had the right, the will, and the ability legality than in the last war to revenge, and accordingly demanded of Parliament the supplies. The calamities of a war thus proclaimed, have been restrained and retarded as much as was possible, by a monarch whose pacific and disinterested views now reclaim the marks of your former attachment, only for your own happiness. Constrained to repel force by force, and multiplied hostilities by reprisals which he has at last authorized, if necessity should carry his arms, or those of his allies, into a country always dear to him, you have not to fear either burnings or devastations and if gratitude, if the view of a. Flag always revered by those who to

intention,

;

this only to a

;

:

have followed

who

it,

should recall to the banners of France, or of the United States, the Indians

loved us, and have been loaded with presents by him

never, no never shall they

employ against you

whom

their too cruel

they also

methods

call their father;

These they

of war.

shall renounce, or they will cease to be our friends. It will not be by menaces against our countrymen that we shall endeavor to avoid combating them nor shall we weaken this Declaration by invectives against a great and brave nation, which we know how to respect, and hope to vanquish. As a French gentleman, I need not mention to those among you who were born such, like myself, that there is but one august House in the universe under which the Frenchman can ;

be happy, and serve with pleasure

by blood, have been

at all times,

since its head, and those

;

through a long

than ever delighted with bearing that very

own.

decorations, which, in our

are nearly allied to

precluded.

They

them recover.

manner of thinking

first

of his

These,

I

am

so well

how

to

deserve them,

bold to hope and to promise, their zeal will soon

will merit them,

his talents

by our

are precious treasures, but from which,

who have known

when

they dare to become the friends of our

not ask the companions in arms of the Marquis de Levi, those

who admired

him

day more

at this

which Henry IV. regarded as the

title

misfortunes, the French Americans,

I shall

who

Monarchs, and are

not excite any regrets for those qualifications, those marks of distinction, those

I shall

common are now

line of

and military

tact,

who have

who

make

allies.

shared his glory,

cherished his cordiality and frankness, the

principal characteristics of our Noblesse, whether there be other names in other nations, among which they would be better pleased to place their own. Can the Canadians who saw the brave Montcalm fall in their defence, can they become the enemies of his nephews? Can they fight against their former leaders, and arm themselves against their kinsmen, at the bare mention of whose names, the weapons would fall from their hands ? I

shall not

observe to the Ministers of the altars that their evangelic efforts will require a

special protection of Providence to prevent the faith being diminished

worldly interest getting

tlie

better,

imposed upon them, becoming

less

and the

political

by example

indulgence of Sovereigns,

;

to

whom

prevent

force has

proportionably as those Sovereigns shall have less to fear;

who preach it should form a body in the State; and Canada, that no other body would be more considered, or have more power to do good than that of the Priests taking a part in the government, because their respectable conduct has that

it is

necessary for religion, that those

in

merited the confidence of the people. I

shall

not

all my countrymen in general, that a vast same manners, the same language, where they find

represent to that people, nor to

monarchy having the same

religion,

the

kinsmen, old friends and brethren, must be an inexhaustible source of commerce and wealth,

PARIS DOCUMENTS: XVII. more

easily acquired

strangers of another hemisphere,

and despotic Sovereigns,

will,

much worse than they treated

among whom everything

sooner or their late

I shall not urge, to a

victorious.

1167

and better secured, by a reunion with powerful neighbors, than with later, treat

them

is different,

and who, being jealous

conquered people, and doubtless

as a

countrymen [the Americans] who made those Sovereigns to join with the United States is to secure

whole people, that

whole people, when they acquire the right of thinking and acting own interest but I will declare, and I now do formally declare In the name of his Majesty, who has authorized and so commanded me, that all his former subjects in North America, who will not acknowledge, any longer, the supremacy of Great their

own

happiness

;

for,

must know

for themselves,

may depend upon

Britain

Done on board

a

their

;

his protection

and support. harbor of Boston, the 2S"> day of

his Majesty's ship the Langucdoc, in the

October, 177S.

ESTAING.'

BiGREL DE Granclos, Secretary, appointed by the King, to the squadron

commanded by

the

Count D'Estaing.

On board From

the Printing

the Languedoc office

;

of F. P. Demauge,

Printer to the King and the Fleet.

'

Chaeles Hector, Count d'Estaing, was born at the Chateau of Ruvel, in Auvergne, in 1729.

He commenced

the

military career as Colonel of an Infantry regiment; soon became Brigadier; served as such in India under Count Lally and

was taken

prisoner at the siege of Madras in 1759.

He was

released on parole which he afterwards broke;

time taken and then sent to England where he was thrown into prison at Portsmouth. eternal hatred to everything English.

At

the peace of 1763 he

was promoted

to

He

finally returned

was

a second

home vowing

be Lieutenant-Generat of the navy and to

American Independence.

in 1778, when he was au attack on Savannah in October, 1779, and afterward reduced the Islands of St Vincent and Grenada, and defeated Admiral Byron. He returned to France in 17S0, and continued to serve until the peace of 1783, when he was at the head of the combined fleets of France and Spain. In the course of the French revolution he took sides with the movement was appointed Commandant of the National guard of Versailles, where he connived at the outrages committed at the Palace by the populace on the 5th and 6th of October, 1789, on which occasion he seemed to have lost that daring

sent, with twelve ships of the Line, to

be Vice-Admiral

aid the cause

of

He made

;

spirit

which he had formerly evinced.

that city.

He

He

next removed to Paris and enrolled himself as a private in the National guard of

soon became suspected and was thrown into the prison of

St. Pelagic.

He was

afterwards called on to testify

against the unfortunate Marie Antoinette, but though the Queen had been his political opponent, he had too high a sense of

honor to

tell

anything but the truth, and sjioke only of her heroism and her noble resolution, expressed

He was dragged, himself, years. He met his fate with

soon

at the age of 65

his characteristic bravery. Biographic Universelle

(

Harpers' ed.

),

I.,

86, 222.

— Ed.

after,

in his presence, to die

before the Revolutionary tribunal and guillotined 28th April, 1794,

with her husband.

;

Alison's History of Europe

FOR GENERAL INDEX TO THIS WORK, SEE LAST VOLUME.

?>>?