I beg leave to assure you Sir that I shall consult economy as much as may be consistent with His Majesty's service in the expence of the expedition under my command. I omitted to observe to you before that the reason of my being the Colonel of the two New England Regiments gone to Nova Scotia was principally for the sake of encouraging the inlistmts and saving the expence of the pay of two Colonels, having no expectation of any allowance or pay to myself in it. I hope Sir, consideration will be had of an allowance for my necessary suite in the expedition under my command, and as the execution of the command will be attended with an extraordinary charge to myself, especially in the rank to which I have lately had the honour to be promoted in His Majesty's army, I hope His Majesty will be pleas'd to order me a proper support in it during the time of the service. The expence of my travelling charges out of my own pockett in my journey to Alexandria and back (being about 1250 miles) tho' I made use of my own horses half the way and my servants the whole, and had some horses found for me in two of the governments, exceeded £200 sterling, which is near double the income of my government to me for the time I was absent from Boston.

The inclos'd copy of the General's instructions will show you Sir, the extent of my command.

My desire of laying before you a particular state of the Colonies with regard to the operations carrying on there against the French, and the very little appearance there is of their forming a plan of Union among themselves, as recommended by His Majesty, in one view, hath drawn this letter into a greater length than I design'd, which I hope you will be pleas'd to excuse on that account.

I am with the greatest Regard

Sir

Your most humble

and most Obedient Servant

The Right Honorable Sir Thomas
Robinson one of His Majesty's
Principal Secretaries of State.

W. SHIRLEY.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO SIR THOMAS ROBINSON 1

SIR,

Boston, New England, June 25, 1755.

I have the pleasure to inclose you a copy of the letter which I received Yesterday from Lt. Colonel Monckton Commander in Chief of the forces employed in the Expedition for removing the French from their Incroachment in Nova Scotia, giving me Advice of the Surrender of the French forts upon the Isthmus on the 16th Instant, with Copies of the Articles of Capitulation proposed on the part of the French, as also of those granted them by Colonel Monckton.

I hope those Troops will soon be Masters of the French Forts upon the River St. Johns in the Bay of Funda; and that like Success will attend the other parts of the general plan of operations now carrying on for the recovery of all his Majesty's just rights in North America.

2

I beg leave to recommend Lt. Loring who will have the Honour to deliver my dispatch to you and whom I employed in the Expedition against Cape Breton. he is a Lieutenant upon half pay in the King's Navy, and was made a Lieutenant for his good Services in that Expedition, and has a thorough knowledge of the Sea Coasts in these parts.

I am Sir with the highest Respect

1 B. M., Additional Manuscript 32856, 195. A transcript is in the Library of Congress.

2 Joshua Loring was born in Boston in 1716 and served as a captain in the provincial service during the Louisburg expedition of 1745. As a result of that service he became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. He was advanced to the grade of Captain in 1757, and in 1759 commanded on Lake George and Lake Champlain. Captain Loring stood by his king in 1776 and went to England, where he died in 1781, after seeing his estates in America confiscated by the new government.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO WILLIAM JOHNSON 1 Albany, July 16th, 1755.

SIR,

Yesterday I received the Engineer's Report of the State of the Powder in your Stores, with his Opinion that it is not safe to proceed in the Expedition under your Command without an Addition of 64 Barrells, as also your Representation to me thereupon. As I have greatly at Heart the Success of his Majesty's Arms, and particularly of the Command, which I have intrusted you with, I have examin'd into the Stores of the Niagara Expedition; and as I find I may spare you 52 Barrells of Powder out of 'em, which is the utmost I think I can safely do; that the Expedition to Crown point may by no means be retarded, I have now given Directions to Lt Winder who hath at present the Care of my Stores, to deliver immediately that Number of Barrells to your Order, taking a Receipt for the same.

As so much Business of great Importance was transacted between you and the General, I thought it my Duty to give you the most early Intelligence of his Death, and the Occasion of it.

On the 8th Instant we encamp'd about ten Miles from the French Fort, and upon calling all the Guides, the General, from the Intelligence he could collect, determin'd to pass the 1 Doct. Hist. New York, 2, 391.

2 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. Inclosed in Shirley to Robinson, Aug. II. A transcript is in the Library of Congress.

Monongahela twice in order to avoid a very bad and dangerous defile call'd the Narrows. To secure our Passage, Lieut. Col. Gage was order'd, about an hour before Day break, to march with a Detachment of 300 Men to make the two Crossings, and to take Post upon Advantageous Ground after the last Crossing.

Sir John St. Clair with a working Party follow'd at Day break, and the whole march'd at six o'clock. Lt. Col. Gage and Sir John St. Clair's Detachments having made the two Passages, the General pass'd with the Column of Artillery, Ammunition, Provision and Baggage, and the main Body of the Troops about one o'clock. When the whole had march'd about half a mile, the advanc'd Party found some French and Indians posted on a very advantageous Heighth, some of whom fir'd upon one of their flank Parties, which immediately alarm'd the whole, and brought on a very severe Firing without any Order or Execution.

The General immediately sent forward his van guard under the Command of Lieut. Col. Burton1 to sustain the two Detachments, and instantly form'd the Column in such a manner as to secure it, and to be able to bring more men to Act in case of Necessity.

The two Advanc'd Parties gave way, and fell back upon our Van, which very much disconcerted the Men, and that, added to a manner of fighting they were quite unacquainted with, struck such a Pannick that all the Intreaties, Perswasions, and Examples of the General and Officers could avail nothing, nor could order be ever regain'd; after firing away all their Ammunition they gave ground and left the Artillery, Baggage, etc. in the hands of the Enemy.

The General was with great Difficulty brought out of the Field, he had five Horses Shot under him, and was at last mortally wounded, of which he died the 13th Instant.

.Lt.

1 Lt. Col. Ralph Burton was wounded in this engagement, but recovered in time to command a brigade in the Louisburg campaign of 1758 and to become lieutenant governor of Quebec after its capture by Wolfe. He was advanced to a major generalship in 1762 and died in 1768.

I should be extremely happy to have your Directions as soon as possible in relation to the papers of the General, which should go with the Command. As Col. Dunbar seems to think that he has an Independent Command,' and as it was always imagin'd that in case of any Accident the whole Command on the Continent devolv'd to you, I shall not part with any Papers 'till I receive your Instructions; I heartily wish you Success, and am with the greatest Sincerity. Dear Sir,

Your most Obedient, and
most Humble Servant.

ROBT. ORME.

I am so extremely ill in Bed with the Wound I have receiv'd, and Capt. Morris likewise wounded that I have been oblig'd to beg the favour of Capt. Dobson to write this Letter; I propose to remove to Philadelphia as soon as I'm able; from thence to Boston, where, if you should be anyways near; will do myself the pleasure to wait upon you. Col. Dunbar is returning to this Place with the remainder of the Troops and Convoy. As the whole Baggage fell into the Enemy's hands, the Papers the General had with him are all lost.

Endorsed: Copy letter from Robert Orme Esqr. to Major General Shirley dated Fort Cumberland July 18th, 1755, in Majr. Genl. Shirleys letter of Augt. 11th, 1755.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO RICHARD PETERS 2
Albany, July 23, 1755.

SIR,
At II O'Clock at Night on the 27th Inst. I receiv'd your
Advice and Letter dated 18th dispatch'd to me by Order of

1 That Governor Shirley had no intention of acquiescing in this claim of Dunbar is seen from his orders of Aug. 6 and 12, post, pp. 215 and 231. 2 Original, Historical Society of Pennsylvania.