O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.

There is a speech of the Six Nations bearing date Thursday 19 th May from the whole letter and speech of which it appears that the Six Nations have been, and are very far from that satisfaction of mind, with the conduct of the Province of Pensilvania which the Proprietors boast of and found their challenge upon. The Proprietors are further pleased to add to their challenge …

Sir William Johnson gave it as his opinion that the hostilities which Pensilvania had suffered from some of the Indians living on the Susquehanna did in some measure arise from the large purchase made by the Governour two years ago. This is the point to be proved and more then this it is apprehended will be proved by the following Quotations from authentick Records & Papers …

that the Six Nations had only made over their right of sale, and taken an earnest piece, when the lands came to be settled, that they should receive a consideration for them. and that At the same time John Schecelany, a Deleware Indian, burned some houses that were built on Penns creek (below Shamokin on the West side) and said there should be no plantations made on their …

" The said Margaret says she often heard the Indians say and declare most solemnly they never would leave off killing the English as long as there was an Englishman living on their lands that they -- PAPERS RELATING TO THE SUSQUEHANNAH RIVER. were determined to drive them all off their lands, naming Minisinck almost to the North River East, (in the provinces of New York & …

& the sundry Indians therein mentioned, & which Sir William Johnson transmits herewith to the Right Honorable the Lords of Trade puts beyond dispute and demonstrates the Truth of what Sir William Johnson gave as his opinion in his aforesaid letter to the Lords of Trade and he apprehends it doth very fully evidence the conclusions of belief he then drew from that opinion …

This he has heard from many of the chief and oldest men amongst them both in the English and Delaware Language which he sufsworn before him 27 th ficiently understands The Proprietors say, that as the Six Nations are not well satisfied with the sale of those lands on the Ohio, they are willing to waive that part of the Treaty provided &c a As Sir William Johnson has never seen …

" I never understood from any of the Six Nations that they deemed the Lands west of the Susquehana as a purchase, but rather as a deed of Trust and rec' d 1000 Dollars as an Earnest Price and looked on it that when the lands came to be settled they should receive the Consideration and the Commissioners who were sent from Pensilvania to make that purchase at Albany in 1754, viz …

In answer to Sir William Johnson's opinion about the Government of Pensilvania raising Forces and building Forts on the Susquehana River | Vol. 1. -- PAPERS RELATING TO THE SUSQUEHANNAH RIVER. " The Proprietors say this Insinuation is without any sort of Foundation, as it never would have been attempted had not the Chiefs of the Indians living on the Susquehannah and Delaware …

complied with at that time." In a Message winch Sir William Johnson received the 23 d May 1756 from the Onondaga Indians they say as follows : " Tell our Brother farther that since we took the hatchet out of the hands of the Delaware and Shawanese they have told us there is an army of the English coming against them, (they mean the Provincial Troops of Pensilvania under …

Sir William Johnson well knowing how extremely tender the Indians in general are, with regard to Forts, near to their country or hunting grounds and naturally judging a Body of Armed Men, to support as it were the building of those, at a time, and in places where he had many reasons to believe the neighbouring Indians (as it hath since fully appeared) were dissatisfied with …

opinion but doth with yet stronger degree of conviction than formerly, humbly offer his conception of the matter in the same words as before. Namely, " that the most effectual method of producing tranquility to that Province would be a Voluntary and open Surrender of that Deed of Sale, to fix with the Indians in the best manner they can, the bounds for their settlements, and …

Abbe Picquetj much confidence has taken charge of it, and of testing, as much as possible what reliance is to be placed on the disposition of the Indians. 1 Nevertheless, as Mr de la Gallisonniere had remarked in the month of October, one thousand seven hundred and forty eight, that too much dependence ought not to be placed on them, Mr de la Jonquiere was written to on the …

by the Abbe Picquet for his mission and a letter from that Abbe containing a Relation of his voyage and the situation of the place. He says he left the fourth of May last year with twenty-five Frenchmen and four Iroquois Indians he arrived the thirtieth at the River de la Presentation, called Soegatzy. The land there is the finest There is Oak timber in abundance, and trees of …

To accomplish tin's, they are gone to regulate their affairs and have promised to return with their provisions. The situation of this post is very advantageous at the head of all the rapids, on the ; it is on the borders of the River de la Presentation, west side of a beautiful basin formed by that river, capable of easily holding forty or fifty barks. In all parts of it there …

The AbbC Picquet departs from Quebec for Fort Frontenac; he is to look in the neighbourhood of that Fort, for a location best adapted for a village for the Iroquois of the Five Nations who propose to embrace Christianity." EARLY SETTLEMENT AT OGDENSBURGH. A fort on this point would would be impossible to approach, and nothing commands, it. The east side is be impregnable more …

Whereas by means of a Fort at the Point, it would be easy to have a force there in case of need to despatch to Choueguen and to intercept the Enghsh and Indians who may want to penetrate into the Colony, and the voyage to Missilimakinac could be made Frontenac and more easily assist Choueguen. in safety. Moreover, this establishment is only thirty-live leagues from Montreal …

@ fifteen to twenty livres instead of forty-five and fifty livres which are given for the whole voyage. Other batteaux of La Presentation would convey them farther on, and the first would take in return plank, boards and other timber, abundant there. This timber would not come to more than twelve @ fifteen livres, whilst they are purchased at sixty-eight livres at Montreal and …

The most dangerous of those rapids, in number fourteen, are the Trou Abbe Picquet points out a mode of rendering this River navigable and to meet the expense he proposes a tax of ten livres on each canoe sent up and an ecu (fifty cents) on each of the crew, which according to him will produce three thousand livres, a sum sufficient for the workmen. (the Hole) and the Buisson …

M. de la Jonquiere in particular says, he will see if the proprietors of batteaux would contribute to the expense necessary to be incurred for the Rapids ; but he asks that convicts from the galleys or people out of work (gens inutiles) be sent every year to want of men, and the few he has exact high wages. Mm to cultivate the ground. He is in Mr. Bigot also sends a special …

Since all these letters M. de la Jonquiere has written another in which he states Longueuil informed him that a band of Savages believed to be Mohawks had attacked that M. de -- Sieur Picquet's Mission on the twenty-sixth of October last that Sieur de Vassau, commandant of Fort Frontenac, had sent a detachment thither which could not prevent the burning of two vessels loaded …

M. de la Jonquiere adds that the Savages were instigated to -this attack by the English. The Iroquois who were on a complimentary visit at Montreal were surprized at it and assured M. de Longueuil that it could only be Colonel Amson [Johnson'?] who could have induced them. He omitted nothing to persuade those same Iroquois to undertake this expedition and to prevent them going …

Lawrence, whither numbers of those two Nations have of late years been debauched and gone to live. Tho' our Indians do not now resort to those places as frequently and familiarly as l Equal to $653.23. EARLY SETTLEMENT AT OGDENSBURGH. they formerly did, yet some among them do occasionally visit there, when the French and the Indians in their interest poison the minds of ours …

He followed this advice and entered the Congregation of The direction of the new converts was soon proposed to him but the activity of his Saint Sulpice. him to seek a wider field, and led him beyond the seas in 1733, to the Missions of induced zeal North America where he remained thirty years, and where his constitution debilitated by labor, acquired a force and vigor which …

Picquet learned, by one of these detachments that the English were making warlike preparations at Sarasto [Saratoga?] and He informed the General of the circumwere pushing their settlements up to Lake St. Sacrement. stance and proposed to him to send a body of troops there at least to intimidate the enemy, if we could do no more. The expedition was formed. M. Picquet …

the Savages and other parties of the enemy sent by the English against us, caused him to select a "I am building: a Fort at this Lake which the French call Lake St. Sacrement, but I have given it the name of Lake George, not only in honour to his Majesty but to ascertain his undoubted dominion here." Sept. 3d, 1755. Lond. Doc. xxxii., 178. Sir VVUlia7n Johnson, to the Board of …

Lake Ontario, an establishment which succeded beyond his hopes, and has been the most useful of all those of Canada. Mr. Rouille, Minister of the Marine wrote on the 4 lh May 1749 "A large number of Iroquois declared that they were embracing desirous of Christianity, it has been proposed to establish having ; a Mission towards Fort Frontenac in order to attract the greatest …

so much importance to succeed in dividing them, that nothing must be neglected It is for this reason that His Majesty desires you shall prosecute the design that can contribute to it. of the proposed settlement. If it could attain a certain success, it would not be difficult then to make the savages understand that the only means of extricating themselves from the pretensions …

Latitude on the Presentation River, which the Indians name Soegasti, thirty leagues above MontReal fifteen leagues from Lake Ontario or Lake Frontenac, which with Lake Champlain gives rise 15 leagues west of the source of the River Hudson which falls into the to the River St. Laurence Fort Frontenac had been built near there in 1671, to arrest the incursions of the sea at New …

The Marquis of Beauharnois and afterwards M. de la Jonquiere, Governor General of New France, were very desirous that we should "occupy it, especially at a time when English jealousy irritated by a war of many years, sought to ; ; ; alienate from us the Tribes of Canada. This establishment was as if the key of the Colony, because the English, French and Upper Canada savages …

of the King's effects could be constructed there at a third less expense than elsewhere because timber is in greater quantity and more accessible, especially when M. Picquet had had a sav. there for preparing and manufacturing the timber. inill erected In fine he could establish a very important settlement for the French Colonists and a point of reunion for Europeans and …

He animated the workmen and they laboured from three o'clock in the morning until nine at night. As for himself his disinterestedness was extreme. He received at that time neither allowance nor presents he supported himself From the King he had but one ration of two pounds of bread and one ; by his industry and credit. half pound of pork, which ridges, made the savages say …

so that this Mission was, from that time sufficiently powerful to attach the Five Nations to us, amounting to twenty-five thousand inhabitants, and he reckoned as many as three thousand in his Colony. them fully in our interest, we were By attaching the Iroquois Cantons to France and establishing certain of having nothing to fear from the other savage tribes ambition of the …

There were in the Fort, seven small stone guns and eleven four to six pounders. The most distinguished of the Iroquois families were distributed at La Presentation in three vilthat which adjoined the French fort contained, in 1754, forty-nine bark cabins some of which were from sixty to eighty feet long and accommodated three to four families. The place pleased them on account …

Twelve Ancients; chose the most influential among the Five Nations; brought them to Mont-Real where at the hands of the Marquis Du Quesne they took the Oath of Allegiance to the King to the great astonishment of the whole Colony where no person dared to hope for such an event. In the month of June 1751, M. Picquet made a voyage around Lake Ontario with a King's Canoe and one …

The quarter is beautiful but the land He visited Fort Toronto, seventy leagues from Fort Frontenac, at the West end of Lake is not good. He found good Bread and good Wine there, and every thing requisite for the trade, whilst Ontario. they were in want of these at all the other posts. He found Mississagues there who flocked around him they spoke first of the happiness their …

The view extends to a great distance they have the advantage of the landing of all the canoes and barks which land and are in safety there. But the rain was washing the soil away by degrees, notwithstanding the vast expence which the King incurred to sustain it. M. Picquet was of opinion that the space between the land and the wharf might be filled in so as to support it and …

He measured the height of one of those falls from the The establishment at this Carrying 60Uth side, and he found it about one hundred and forty feet. The Indians, who place, the most important in a commercial point of view was the worst stocked. came there in great numbers, were in the best disposition to trade, but not finding what they wanted, they went to Choucguen or …

He set out immediately, as well as the Chief of the Little Rapid with all his family abandon Chabert de Joncaire would not him. with all those Savages to return to Fort Niagara. M. At eacli place where they encountered camps, cabins and entrepots, they were saluted with musquetry by the Indians who never ceased testifying their consideration for the Missionary. M. Picquet took …

This young girl spoke so well to her Uncle, though she had but little knowledge of Religion that he promised to repair to La Presentation early the following spring, and that he hoped to gain over also seven other Twenty-five leagues from Niagara he visited the River cabins of Senecas of which he was chief. Gascouchagou ' The young Indians jumped into the midst where he met a …

The English to throw disorder into this new levy sent a good deal of brandy. Some savages did, He therefore desired much that Choeguen in fact get drunk whom M. Picquet could not bring along. were destroyed and the English prevented rebuilding it and in order that we should be absolutely masters of the south side of Lake Ontario, he proposed erecting a Fort near there at the …

Two batteries each of three twelve pounders, would have been more than sufficient to reduce that establishment to ashes. It was prejudicial to us by the facility it af- 1 The Genesee River. In Belin's Map of Partie Orcidentale de la Nouvelle France, 1755 (No. 992 W. C. State Lib.) it is described as a " River unknown to Geographers, filled with Rapids and Waterfalls." 2 The …

The difference between the two first of these posts and the last is, that three or four hundred canoes could come loaded with furs to the Portage, and that no canoes could go to Toronto except those which cannot pass before Niagara and to Fort Frontenac, such as the Otaois of the head of the Lake {Fond du Lac) and the Mississa°-ues so that Toronto could not but diminish the …

They fired several volleys of musketry They were answered in the same style from all the little craft of bark. and cheered incessantly. and M. de la Valtrie caused the guns of the Fort to be discharged at the same time, Verchere de M. transported with joy at the honors paid them also kept up a continual fire with Indians and the The commandants and officers received our shouts …

His Indians distinon the river Corlac (Corlear) as on that of Choeguen. as well Forts the of all of La Presentation the warriors guished themselves especially at Fort George on Lake Ontario where alone with their bark canoes destroyed the English fleet commanded by Capt. Beccan who was made prisoner with a number of others and that in sight of the French army, commanded by M …

The English had surprised and killed their nephews in the three villages of the Loups (Mohegans ?) M. de Vaudreuil requested him to form parties which could succeed each In 1758 he destroyed the English forts on the banks other in disquieting and harassing the English. of Corlac, but at length the battle of the 13 Sept. 1759, in which the Marquis of Montcalm was killed …

long time, having become aggravated, finally caused his death at Verjon on the 15 th July 1781. his life time he was complimented with the title of " Apostle of the Iroquois." Note. --Fort In la Presentation, with the River, under the names of Wegatchi, Swegatchi, Oswegatchi, will be found laid down in the following Maps and Charts, viz* A Map of that part of America which was …

Burnet to the Board of Trade. New York, Oct. 16, 1721. That I miglit improve their (the Indians') present good humor to the best advantage I have employed the live hundred pounds granted this year by the Assembly chiefly to the erecting and encouraging a settlement a Tirandaquet a Creek on the Lake Ontario about sixty miles on this side Niagara whither there are now actually …

This Company have undertaken to remain on this Settlement and that never above two shall be absent at once, and tho' these have the sole encouragement at present out of the public money yet there is nothing that hinders as many more to go and settle there or any where else on their own account as please. This place is indisputably in the Indians possession and lies very …

Wherefore to break that Practice more effectually I have placed a sufficient Guard of Soldiers on the Carrying Place to Canada and built a small Blockhouse there 3 with the remainder of the five hundred pounds before mentioned. As to Niagara I did write to the Governor of Canada to complain of all the unwarrantable steps he has taken and among others of his erecting a …

The news of this establishment on soil always considered as belonging to France appeared to him the more important as he felt the difficulty of preserving the post of Niagara where there is no tort, should the English once fortify Chouaguen and that in losing Niagara the Colony is lost and at the same time all the trade with the upper Country Indians, who go the more willingly …

He immediately despatched M. de Longueuil to the Iroquois and thence to Choueguen. He commanded him to induce the savages not to suffer this Establishment, and in case he could not prevail on them to oppose it openly, to persuade them to remain neuter and to suggest to them at the same time, that it is their interest to maintain us at Niagara or to consent to our building a …

M. de Longueuil took occasion to reproach the Iroquois Chiefs who were present that they were no Letter dated 31 October, 1725. ; longer masters of their lands. This succeeded they blew out against the English told them they would bear with them no longer, having permitted them to come to trade. They even promised him they should remain neuter in case of war against the …

New France in 1686. (M. de Longueuil writes that) he has given orders to Chevalier de Longueuil his son who commanded there (at Niagara) not to return until the English and Dutch retire from Chou25 July, 1726. guen where they have been all summer to the number of 300 men, and should he meet their canot 9 on the lake, to plunder them. the Marquis of Beauharnois sends an extract …

have obtained the consent of the Six Nations to build it, and having intelligence that a party of French of ninety men were going up towards Niagara I suspected that they might have orders to interrupt this work, and therefore I have sent up a detachment of Sixty Souldiers with a Captain and two Lieutenants, to protect the building from any disturbance that any French or …

My Lord Bellomont formerly intended to build a Fort by King William's order near this place, and it went so far that even plate and furniture for a chappie there, were sent over from England, but the Design was laid by upon his Death, and has never been resumed since 'till now. The Assembly provided three hundred pounds last fall for this service, of which I then acquainted …

Burners despatch and the preceding Docs., correct the mistake and furnish the precise date. which has been copied by McAuley, Dunlap and others who have followed him without enquiry. PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. I hope the Assembly will supply this Deficiency when they meet, but I was so convinced of the benefit of the undertaking that I was resolved not to let it fail for want …

own Indians. The Detachment of Souldiers which I sent to up arrived safely there the beginning of this month, it is not likely that any attempt will now be made to hinder it, and I depend upon its so that being of the best use of anything that has ever been undertaken on that side either to preserve our own Indians in our Interest, or to promote and fix a constant Trade with …

I have been, Sir, the more astonished at it, since you should have considered your Undertaking as a thing capable of disturbing the Union of the two Crowns You cannot be ignorant of the possession during a very considerable time, which the King my Master has of all the Lands of Canada, of which those of the lake Ontario and the adjacent Lands make a part, and in which he has …

if suit/ Redout ml, of /f„ giver Chouaguen- Jinflfis I) Ely fn Harh Cannes 70 Caoins lielvnging SufneShglish and Tniis,/ i}„ Troops (7 Situation if tli, <l, - fhi/ili I'/lfl/lltt/ilx Sn Inn Ih'ii iti In 11 1/1 A 1/1 f 1/Id pii't/x i/i/diii/ 200 Pii-u.f Traders „/„,., fi0 Soldiers Camp fl,i/,. 7,i ifi if iti 11 clay di il„ Jilivnlii'Ji C Twenty Ji all, „u.r he.lonpin.tf lull …

you are beginning and pretending to make at the Entrance of the Lake Ontario into the River of Oswego, the fortifications that you have made there, and the Garrison that you have posted there, as a manifest infraction of the Treaty of Utrecht, it being expressly settled by that Treaty, that the subjects of each Crown shall not molest nor encroach upon one another, 'till the …

The Court of France which I have the honour to inform of it this moment, will have Room to look upon this undertaking as an act of hostility on your part, and I dont doubt but you will give attention to the justice of my Demand. I desire you to honour me with a positive answer which I expect without delay by the return of these Gentlemen, I am persuaded that on your side you …

Sir, but you will have the same Regard for them as for the King's Officer I dont doubt, who goes along witli them. COPY OF THE SUMMONS TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE FORT RUILT BY THE ENGLISH ON THE SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER CHOUEGUEN TO WITHDRAW WITH THE GARRISON OF SAID FORT, SERVED BV M r BEGON MAJOR OF THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF QUEBEC ON BEHALF OF THE MARQUIS …

Treaty of Utrecht, which mentions that the subjects of the two Crowns shall not intrench upon one anothers Land, 'till the Decision of the Limits by the Judges delegated to that End, has sent me with orders to summon you to draw out at furthest within a fortnight the Garrison of this place with arms, munitions and other effects belonging to the people of Albany or other …

Major of the Town, Castle and Government of Quebec, having in execution of the orders to us given by the Marquis of Beauharnois Governor and Lieutenant General for the King in all New France, arrived before the Fort built by the English on the borders of Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the River Choueguen, sent to advise Mr. Bancker Commanding the Ganison of our arrival and had …

had been sent thither by his General Government to build the said fort there with the consent of the Six Nations and even under valid contracts with them that if we wished, he would cause the Chiefs of the Onondaga Indians then on the spot, to come who would inform us of it whom we refused to hear being unwilling to have any discussion with them. After which he added, that he …

he persisted in his original sentiments and said that he had as much right to summon the Commandant of Niagara ; finally he should send the summons to his Governor General, promising to give an answer so soon as he should receive orders. Done at Choueguen the 1 st August 1727. (Signed) Begon. ' 1. In Lond. Doc. XXIII. are papers purporting to be Translations of the two …

You perceive, Sir, that I would complain of the sudden and peremptory summons that you have and which was brought to me by an express, before the arrival sent to my Officer posted at Oswego ; of M De la Chassaigne. r should think, Sir, that you might have waited for my reasons in answer to what you were pleased to write to me, before you took so Extraordinary a step, and that …

De Longueuil, then Commander in Chief in Canada, of a Fort that had been built at Niagara and tho' I received no answer from him by the bearer of my letter and at last received one that was not at all satisfactory, I contented myself with writing to our Court about it, whence I am informed that our Ambassadors at the Court of France, has orders to represent this undertaking as …

that I writ to Mr. de Longueuil upon that subject which he has no doubt shown to you. I come now, Sir, to the subject of your Letter, there are two things which you complain of, first of the trade at Oswego, secondly of the Redoubt as you call it, and of the Garrison that is in it ; as for the Trade I cannot understand how you could be surprised at it, since we have carried on …

It is upon this, Sir, that we pretend to have an equal right with you of trading thro' all the Lakes and all the Continent, and that incontestably, by virtue of the Terms of the Treaty. It follows therein that also the Natives of those Countries shall with the same liberty resort as they and French Colonies, for promoting a Trade on one side or the other, without any …

But as for our Right to carry a Trade every where among the Indians, one cannot find expressions more contrary to the terms of the Treaty than those in your letter, where you name 'several places occupied by the French, who alone, say you, have had the Right and been in possession of trading there. You will oblige extremely if you will shew me how to reconcile that with a full …

to hinder its being Surprized, and that have posted some Souldiers in it, but that which gave me the first thought of it, was the fortified and much larger house which the French have built at Niagara, upon the lands of the Five Nations, as it appears even by the Confession of M. de Longueuil, in his letter to me of the 16 th of August 1726, for he pretends that the Five …

of the Five Nations, and always on pretence that they Avere only to be houses for the conveniency of Trade with them and without ever pretending to claim the Property of those places And you seem, Sir, to allow almost as much yourself for you say, That His Most Christian Majesty had ordered : Forts and other Establishments to be built in different places, &c, without any …

I can't comprehend what use the Article of the Treaty to which you allude, can be to you, and I can't find the words in the Treaty as you have cited them, nor even the sense entirely agreeable to them. You call the post which we have settled at Oswego a manifest infraction of the Treaty of Utrecht, it being mentioned expressly in the Treaty that the Subjects of one and the …

The words we are now upon are these as follows, The Subjects of France inhabiting Canada and others, shall hereafter give no hindrance or Molestation to the five Nations or Cantons of Indians, subject to the Dominion of Great Britain, nor to the other Natives of America who are friends to the same, in like manner the subjects of Great Britain shall behave themselves peaceably …

subject to the Dominion of Great Britain. But as there is mentiou made of other Americans Allies of Great Britain and of American Subjects or friends to France, without naming them, it is as clear as daylight that the Commissaries are only to determine about these last. You have now, Sir, my reasons for acting as I have done, and of which I have given an account to the Court …

You may, Sir, make such complaints hereupon as you judge proper, as you have informed me that you have already made some, and at the same time you will not think it strange that on my part I inform the Court, in what manner you have summoned the Kings Officer posted at Oswego, without waiting for any Explanation from me upon it. This is a step which the King my Master may …

New York 24th August 1727. which I have been building this Spring at Oswego, at the mouth of the Onnondages River, was upon the point of being finished, when at the same time I learnt by an Express that the Governour of Canada had sent a summons to the said Fort to have it Demolished and abandoned in 15 days, copies whereof in French & English both as they were delivered to I …

I agreed to leave it to be decided between the two Crowns as he proposed but in the mean time thought myself obliged to hold and maintain it. I have enclosed copies of the Governour of Canada's letter to me in French and my answer to him in the same language, together with my own translation of both letters, wherein Your of Montreal, as he [Vol.'I.] ' PAPERS RELATING TO …

But this new house at Oswego will make a stand that will embolden our Five nations, & will not easily be taken without great Cannon, the wall being four foot thick of good large stone, and it is repreme that the French cannot bring large cannon against it, since they have no way but come up from Montreal to the Lake against a Violent stream, all full of Rifts & Falls & …

The French have a Fort on the Lake at Cadaraqui, where the biggest Guns they have are patereros, that one man can carry about in liis arms So that probably they could bring no bigger thither. I have had a report from some New England captives lately redeemed from Canada that the Governour of Canada was preparing 400 French & 800 Indians to attack this Fort. But there is reason …

as we shall be ready to defend ourselves against the French, so that I am in good hopes to be able to hold this place, in case we are attacked, and I hope Your Lordships will support me in taking these measures for securing our right to the five nations against the Encroachments and Pretensions of the French, and represent the whole affair to His Majesty, both of the French …

On the arrival of the Nontagues at my tent, they told me on the part of the Commandant of Choueguen, that as I was passing his place on public business, I must fire the first salute and lower my PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. flag. my people would persuade me to do so. I therefore suddenlyknow such Ye is not the intention of your Father Onontio whose mesA young fool in the canoe …

They returned to said fort and reported to me that the Commandant insisted on what they had I asked them whose was the land over which I wished to pass This question caused them to droop their heads and they remained in pensive silence. It was not until I told them that I wanted a decisive and substantial answer, that they replied The ground over which I wished to walk was …

During this interval the Commandant of Choueguen sent for six of the principal Chiefs including me. My Chiefs invited me to follow them. I answered that I had no business at that house they were masters to go since they wished it I should keep my tent with the young men. Tegarioguen wished to remain with me ; I persuaded him to accompany the others, so that I may learn from …

I will always act so towards you. I invite you to peace and tranquillity between you and us. He gave them three pots of Rum, a large piece of Pork and a bushel of peas which they brought He assured that I found them in a state of great Drunkenness, except Tegarioguen. to the Camp. the Choueguen Sachem had been charmed to see them and that he gave them milk to drink to their …

answered Indian fashion ; I knew no flag should not be lowered until I was tied. always but that of their Father Onontio which I carried, and it Contrary to the custom of lowering it at sundown, it remained flying night and day the whole of the time I was constrained to remain at that post. On the day of our departure it was again the same tune. I must absolutely fire first …

They answered You're right, Under their Father's flag, And forthwith they furled the British flag which has not made its Flag since they dared not pass Choueguen without a British flag. Father ; but you know we have every thing to manage here. there was nothing to be feared. I replied -- appearance since. GOY. CLARKE TO THE COMMANDER AT OSWEGO. [Lond. Doc. XXV.] Sir -- am …

ing by, I assured him I wo'd enquire into it, and I hope you will be able to acquit yourself of what he lays to your charge. I desire you will be very vigilant and guard carefully against all surprizes of the Indians or others, Capt: Dick will convey this to you to whom you ought to give an account of your Garrison by all opportunity's as he is the Commanding Officer on the …

does not stagger the best resolutions of the Six Nations, who at present fear more than they love the French ; that Fortress, or rather Trading house, for it is no better, is in a very defencemen it is and has been without Ammunition, the Assembly refusing to be at the expense, as well as to make provision it is true they have given money to build a wall round the house, for …

which I have had the honour to Govern some years, yet I never took myself to be thereby discharged from carrying my thoughts to things of a more extensive nature, especially to such whereon the peace & happiness of the Plantations, and the Trade of England, if not the very being of His Majesty's Dominion on this Continent depend, I have often reflected on the progress that our …

be for ever secured from the annoyance of the French, and may without danger or interruptions, extend their settlements as far back as they please. The French had lately three, and have now two sailing vessells, each of about 50 or 60 Tons, on On the North East end whereof, near the entrance into the River of St. Lawthe Lake Cadaraqui : rence, they have a small stone Fort …

In those vessells they carry the Soldiers, Artillery, Ammunition and Provision to the Forts, and transport to & fro the goods they sell to & buy from the Indians It is through this Lake they pass from Canada By means only of their Mastery on that Lake to Messasippi, & from thence back again to Canada it is that, they have acquired, and still hold their power over all the …

them in their Expeditions against the Indian Nations, subject to His Majesty, and depending on the Governments of Virginia, the two Carolina's & Georgia, who have it in their power (by their situation, if their strength were equal, as it would be, were they united and resolved) to interrupt the march of the French from Niagra to Messasippi this the French know full well, and …

which has subsisted ever since we first settled this Country, yet if Oswego be taken, (as nothing can hinder it while the French are masters of the Lake) the Five Nations will, and must of course, submit to our Enemy, who will oblige them to assist in all their expeditions In which Event every one of our Provinces may be so attacked, that the Planters will be obliged for the …

As a remedy for these Evils, which are almost as great as can befall the Nation, I propose that a Regiment of eight hundred men be sent from England (or if half the number of private men be sent, the other half I believe may be raised here) with an Engineer, Artillery, and Ammunition, & posted in the Sineca's Country on the Lake Cadaraqui, at a proper Harbour for building of …

The consequences whereof will be of the greatest moment. All our Colonies from this to Georgia, will be secure from the incursions of the French in time of War. The Indians depending on the Governments of Virginia, Carolina and Georgia, who are now almost every year attacked by the French, and their Indians will live unmolested ; All the Indian Nations living on or near the …

& Influence of our Enemy will be confined to the Cold Country of Canada, which will scarce be worth keeping, and to the Banks of the River Messasippi, Nay, no sooner will the Five Nations see us masters on the Lake, than they will assist us to take the two Forts of Frontenac, & Niagra, for they are now complaisant to the French only through Fear, knowing them to be a …

whereon they are built) who by the 15 th Article of the Treaty of Utrecht are explicitly acknowledged to be subject to the dominion of Great Britain, I am sensible that by the same article it is stipulated that both the English & French, shall have a free Intercourse for Trade with all the Indians & the (when we are Masters of the Lake) in the like manner that ours is now …

Before the French begun to build the Fort at Niagra, which is about 20 years ago, they cajoled some few of the young fellows of the Five Nations, to give them permission to build a trading House there, but so soon as it reached the ears of the Sachims or Rulers of those Nations, they resented it, acquainted the Governor of this Province, that the French had begun to build, & …

our Vessells should be built, & the Regiment quartered, the Climate is temperate, & the lands exceeding Fertile, so that in three years time from their going thither, provisions of all kinds (sufficient for the Regiment & Vessells) may be raised, Except only Beef, which will require a year or two more, in the mean time cattle may be drove thither from the County of Albany …

When we have thus vindicated our Right & established our Dominion on the Lake, the Regiment may then be employed in the reduction of the Fort at the Crown Point, wherein, if there be need, we may I believe have assistance from the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, who have settlements not far from thence, and who claim the lands adjoining to it, & one of them …

& from whence the French can annoy our Fishery at Newfoundland, & guard their own navigation to & from Canada. That place is such a Thorn in the sides of the New England people, that it is very probable a large body of men may be raised there to assist in any such design, and if proper officers are sent from England in the summer to exercise them, they may by the ensuing …

You will judge what a Baulk and Discouragement, this Instance of Pusilanimity has occasioned to those Number of Indians, of the far Nations, who have rarely come to Trade with us but perhaps finding the French, had no Goods to supply them at Niagara, resolved to proceed to Oswego, where some of them found the place was basely deserted by most of the People, and no Goods to …

how fatal such an Event would prove to this Colony in particular, and the British Interest upon the Continent in general, may be easily foreseen. in favour of our natural Enemies the French ; The pernicious Consequences which must inevitably flow from this sort of Demeanour, I persuade myself, you will think deserving of your serious Attention, and that you will put this most …

Nanangousy, Chief of the Iroquois at the Sault has returned from Choueguen where he has been to spy. He reports that outside Fort Choueguen there is but one Trader's house that there was a great number of Dutch and Palatine traders at the place called Theyaoguin who were preparing to come and make a considerable trade at Choueguen, and that there was nothing at that fort to …

taken out of the Fund of £5000 granted for Transportation and Refreshment of the King's Troops, and for other extraordinary Services Necessary for the Use and Security of the Colony, in the present Juncture and that if he was willing it Should be taken out of that Fund, he would advise with the Council upon it, on his Return. To which General Braddock had agreed. And thereupon …

My lord,--I had the honour to inform you by my letter of the 2d inst. that the English were deploying a large force towards Chouaguen ; that they had built some 10 gun brigs there and two descriptions of galleys 1 that a body of 3000 men were also assembling at Fort Necessity about 40 -, leagues from Fort Duquesne and that its vanguard of 700 men had already arrived there. She …

I am, my lord, about to send some reinforcements to this last fort, but this diversion will not cause me to change my design on Lake Ontario which I had the honour to communicate to you. The preservation of Niagara is what interests us the most if our enemies became masters of it and keep Chouaguen, the Upper Countries would be lost to us, and besides, we should have no more …

daring enough, in the beginning of June, to send three balls through the King's Flag flying from a batteau of an Officer who was conducting a detachment to the Belle Riviere. They have actually two and perhaps three flat bottomed gun brigs with sweeps, which cruise from day to day, on Lake Ontario. They are about to launch others for similar purposes. I have advices of the 20 …

" When it was determined that the Army at Oswego should go into winter quarters, they began a new fort upon a'hill on the east side of the river about 470 yards from the old one it is 800 feet in circumference, and will command the harbour it is built of logs from 20 to 30 inches thick the wall is 14 feet high and is encompassed by a ditch 14 feet broad and ten deep; it is to …

An hospital of framed work, 150 feet by 30, is already built, which may serve as a barrack for 200 men; and another barrack is preparing of 150 feet by 24."-- Account of American affairs in 1755, in Gentleman's Magazine, xxvi. 6. ; ; ; : PAPERS RELATINS TO OSWEGO. themselves to accomplish my wishes. This army will be furnished with portable cannon and munitions of war and …

It is from Chouaguan proceed all the Belts and messages that the English scatter among the Far Nations. It was alway at Chouaguen that the English held Councils with the Indians and by means of presents, In fine, Chouaguen principally of intoxicating liquors, persuaded them to assassinate the French. is, consequently, the direct cause of all the troubles that have supervened …

These same tribes acknowledging and from that moment unable to communication except with the French, the prodigious quantity of Beaver and Peltry have any other of the service and of commerce. which went to the English will return to the trade of France. I request you, My Lord, to be assured of my punctuality in obeying all that is prescribed by my instructions and that I …

connoissance I caused to be made of it this winter by two small parties I sent thither. PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. The first of these parties brought me two prisoners, the second commanded by M Mo de Louvigny, That officer remained several days in the neighborhood Ensign has completely fulfilled its mission. of Chouaguen and did, himself, examine everything. were under the …

That they had heard the Cannon of Oswego for half a day after they left their Castle, and that the General Rendezvous of the Enemy was about twelve Miles from Oswego. That upon the receipt of Col. Bradstreet's Letter he had determined to set off with what Militia he could get together immediately, and to order the rest to follow him to the German Flats, and in his way to take …

bad consequences the loss of it must be attended with, and therefore that he hop'd they would march the Troops or such part of them as they should find necessary for the relief of that place. The Council declared His Excellency had taken all the measures in his power on this Occasion. [N. Y. Mercury May 31. 1756.] Oswego May 17. 1756. I arrived here three days ago, after a …

up this Morning to the Reefs, with 24 Men, two miles off, for a Guard to the Battoes at that Place upon which Numbers of People, with a few Mohawks run from the Town that Way. The Firing still continued; and soon after a man came in with an Indian Scalp, and brought Word, that Blair's Upon which Party was attacked by a Party of French & Indians, himself and one Soldier Killed …

Lieut Blair, though a Young Gentleman not more than 18 or 19, behaved like a brave Soldier; for being wounded the first Fire, he begged his Men to Tree all, and fight on, for he was a dead Man, and that they might soon expect assistance Soon after he received another Ball in his Throat, when he immediately fell. The Sergeant, with the Men, bravely maintained their Ground, till …

As yet, little is done to the new Ones, and will not, till we are reinforced, that we may have a Strong Guard to cover our Men in the Woods. At the Falls, (12 Miles from hence) a good Stockaded Fort Plenty of fresh Beef and Fish, the latter of which, in three Hawls is building, to defend that Pass. of a Seine, filled a Battoe, so hope soon to have a very healthy Garrison. [ …

From the same, June 28, 1756. ] Oswego vizt Instant, about 4 o'clock in the Morning, a Party of 3 or 400 French & Indians, By Several Letters received from Albany we have That on the 16 th the following Intelligence from attacked the Forts Oswego and Ontario and Killed & Scalped five of the Battoe Guard, sent from Fort Ontario on that side of the River That they took one …

ten Minutes after, upwards of 1000 French and Indians appeared upon the Beech, and drew up in a Line three deep, reaching almost a Mile, and gave the Boats a Volley, some of their Shot droping within 5 yards of them : That they fired about five Minutes, when the Boat gave them another Fire, three Huzza's & row'd ofi', and returned to Oswego about 5 o'clock That the three …

endeavoring to get to Niagara, but the wind blowing constantly from the westward, were forced to return, having made no discovery but what related to a further knowledge of the Lake. Last Wednesday, seven nights, we sailed on a second cruise, and the Sunday following, at day dawn, as we were steering a course for Oswego, (having promised Col. Mercer to return off the harbor in …

At this time, one of the two vessels, which proved to be the Commodore, fired two guns to leeward and hoisted a French flag at his foretop mast head, which we took for a signal for the two sternmost vessels to make sail and join, as he and the next to him directly hauled on the wind, and clewed up their main top sails. At 5 o'clock, being then about one and a half miles from …

small schooner not bigger than a four cord boat, under the command of Mr. Farmer, with 6 swivels, and 13 seamen and soldiers. At half past five, wore and made the best of our way to Oswego. On PAPERS RELATING TO OSWESO. which the enemy gave chase, and had the French Commodore behaved at the time as he ought, he must have brought us to action very soon and taken us but he was …

M. we got into Oswego. The new brigantine and sloop are to be launched to morrow the Snow in ten or twelve days. But we are greatly disappointed in guns for them, for Col. Bradstreet arrived here yesterday with 600 battoes, and with him came only sixteen carriage guns and sixteen swivels, whereas the BriganHowever, we shall get some small guns from the tine only should mount …

to have large parties to cover the carpenters others to clear the woods around the garrison that it would be imprudent to attempt it till we are stronger. For these ten days past we have quitted the Fort on the hill, on the Oswego side, it not being tenable but as some troops (about 200) are come up with Col. Bradstreet, we expect it to be immediately put in a posture of …

the 26th of June perceived across the Bay of Quintee some coming towards them. chase, all our sails set, but the enemy immediately sheered off. We gave them He was pursued so close that he was obliged to abandon his sloop, which was his third vessel. We left this to our two barks our two Corsairs continued in pursuit of the enemy who seeing himself gained on cut his boat loose …

On the 25th June, as our two Corsairs were cruising between the Islands of Couis and the Galops, one of them being near the Bay of Niagara, got intelligence of a schooner returning to Chouaguen. He gave chase and found liimself in doubling a point quite close on Chouaguen. The Schooner had time to enter the River, were it not for which she would not have escaped this Corsair …

he was attacked from the North side of the River by about 700 of the Enemy, of winch 200 were Regulars, the Rest Canadians and Indians. Col. Bradstreet, who at that time was near the Front of his Party, proceeded with six Men to a small Island near the Enemy, and ordered a few more to follow him there, to keep back the Enemy from fording the River, till the rest of his Men …

This Aflair on the Island lasted near an Hour, and had given the Rest of our Battoemen Time to land on the South side of the River and those on the Island perceiving the Enemy were coming to surround them with their whole strength, retired to the South side of the River, and were followed by the Enemy. Our People made a feint Flight until the chief of the Enemy had forded the …

brought two prisoners with him. 1 Incorrectly written for Neaourc or Hungry Bay, Jefferson Co., at the entrance of which are the Galop Islands. On the opposite or north side are the Islands of Couis, near the bay of Kenti. They are to be seen in Sauthier's Map 1777, 1779. English $)l&1t ofm& Forts with part qfth&Ifov&r Oriondaao j HJixkel$\thtrio 175 6. //Ofey Z J 7/e / 73 …

Places Ontario Fort Distance from Oswego ,? Entf /i sh .Miles t'swet/o Bift Whale boat harbour ditto. It ditto 4f ditto. <? ditto. Island 1/E -& ditto Swam/' \ lOi ditto. Is la lit/ dit/o. Oswego Falls ditto Cany i rig place. 12 £ ditto. Hill Island L () PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. [From the same, July 26. 1756.] Since our last, many letters are come to Town from Albany, all …

400 had possessed themselves of a thick Pine Swamp, on which he attacked them in their own way, behind Trees, but finding that to little purpose, while the Enemy remained covered, he prevailed on his Men to rush in upon them, which had so good an effect that the Enemy were soon dispossessed of the swamp, but still made a running Fight from Tree to Tree. In this manner they …

Bradstreet marched up to the Place described by the Prisoner, and fell in with a few of them straggling before the Rest but the whole party soon took to their Heels, and with the utmost Precipitation and Confusion, repassed the River, some leaving behind them their Arms, others their Blankets, and many Indian Implements of War. The first attack of A Scouting Party the Enemy …

However with this Reinforcement it was determined to pursue the Enemy to their Camp about 12 Miles off, if they could, by the next Morning, have 200 Men more from the Garrison of Oswego, and accordingly an Express was dispatched to Col. Mercer for that Purpose, who sent the 200 Men requested but unluckily a Storm of Rain came on so hard as to render it impossible to keep the …

been sent to that Garrison, in large Squadrons of Battoes, all other attempts to been ineifectual for notwithstanding our Interest in the Six Nations, we have would ; have undoubted Accounts, that 1200 of the Enemy have lain undiscovered in their Country, not far from Oswego ever since May last. When Capt. Bradstreet left Oswego, he gave strict Orders, that the several …

Bradstreet was after that, reinforced by six others, and a Party of above 70 of the Enemy then fell upon him, and by pouring in cross Fires, wounded 12 of but after some Time, the French were forced to retire a third Time. his Men A large Body of about 400, being then observed to advance upon the North Side of the River, about a Mile higher, Capt, Bradstreet imagined, that …

Bradstreet then animating his Men, entered the swamp, and forced the lasted above an hour the River, where many of them were slain. of it into Another Party was at Enemy out that Time, attempting to ford the River when Capt. Bradstreet came up with them, and after he fell in with them, the whole Body was routed. Not long after this last Action, a Company of Grenadiers …

The Enemy fled in the utmost Disorder for some Traders were passing by the Place of Action a few Days after were hailed from the Shore by 20 Frenchmen, who being without Provisions and unable to find their Camp, were stroling about the Woods, upon the Banks of the River in great Distress, and begged to be taken up and carried to Oswego. The Traders being in Number but about …

bona gu en 17 5 6 SUB LE CAN/ ^Siiliii^" OM "tM '%'.*> UBLISHED BY QUE.8I J: ^s Hfc ...... •• TAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. whole Party. --Nor did he -- The whole Number he had with him, was only Twelve. -- Nine could not be brought the State of our Interest with them engage. -- One went for securing his Rear, and preventing the Enemy from Surrounding his receive any Help from …

18 inches in diameter, smooth @ 9 feet from the ground. The The excavated earth had been thrown up en glacis on the counterscap with a very steep slope over the berm [covered way]. Loop holes and embrasures are formed in the pickets on a level with the earth thrown up on the berm and a scaffolding of carpenter's work extends all around so as to fire from above. It has eight …

JOURNAL OF THE SIEGE OF CHOUAGUEN, COMMENCED THE 11 th AUGUST 1756, AND CONCLUDED THE 14 th AT NIGHT J BY THE MARQUIS OF MONTCALM. [Paris. Doc. XII.] On the arrival of the French Troops in Canada in the month of May, every disposition having been made for the Campaign, the Marquis of Vaudreuil Governor General of New France detached a body of Colonial Troops and Militia …

Barn was destined for Niagara, Guyenne for Frontenac, and Sieur de Villiers Captain of a Colonial Troop, hung on the enemy and watched The his movements towards the river Chouaguen, with a corps of 700 men, Canadians and Indians. defence of Fort du Quesne and the Belle Riviere (Ohio) was confided to a somewhat considerable party of Canadians and Savages, and Sieur Dumas …

Toward mid- June it clearly appeared from the report of the Indians sent out as scouts from the depositions of several prisoners from the vast preparations made at Albany and Fort Lydius, that Upon this the English had offensive intentions in the direction of the Point of Lake St Sacrement. intelligence, the Marquis de Montcalm proposed a diversion towards Lake Ontario for the …

communication with the Five Nations, Albany and the River Hudson defended by three forts Fort Ontario on the right bank of the River, Forts George and Chouaguen on the left bank, as well as a species of Crown work, in earth, serving as an intrenched Camp, having also a good port and a its ; well sheltered harbour. But this siege so important to the Colony did not seem feasible …

Sieur de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, Governor of Three Rivers was, accordingly sent with a fresh body of Colonial troops and Indians to assume command of Sieur de Villiers' Camp, established at Niaoure bay about 15 leagues from Chouaguen; Sieur de Bourlamaque received orders to commence at Fort Frontenac whatever preparations he may deem necessary ; Sieur Decombles, Engineer, to …

of that frontier in the hands of Chevalier de Levis with a corps of 3000 July to Montreal where lie arrived on the 19 th ; on the 21 st and arrived at Frontenac on the 29 th Beam's battalion had already received orders to . repair thither from Niagara, and Sieur Mercier Commander of Artillery had arrived there two days before. Having made those preparations inseparable from a …

where the second division composed of Beam's batallion, of the Militia, of 80 The number of troops destined for the exbatteaux of Artillery and provisions arrived on the 8 th pedition was nearly 3000 men to wit, de la Sarre's, Guyenne's and Beam's batallions amounting to only 1300 men; the remainder, soldiers of the Colony, Militiamen and Indians. Sieur de Rigaud's corps …

On the ll ,h at break of day 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, sent at 3 o'clock in the morning to make arrangements for this siege and the attack, was killed, returning from his reconnoissance, by one of our Savages [a …