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Masters of the Navigation of all these Lakes, and Trade upon them, together with the Country to the Southward of them, but let them into the Heart of the Country inhabited by the Six Nations, and consequently be attended with the immediate Defection of all those Castles to the French Interest: and in such Case we have the greatest reason to expect, the French will very speedily have a strong Fort upon the Great Carrying Place at the Head of the Mohawk's River which would be soon followed by the loss of Albany and Hudson's River; the Consequence of which must in a short time prove fatal to the whole Province of New York.

Oswego being secur'd, a sure Foundation will be lay'd for finishing, the next Summer, such parts of the before mentioned Plan, as can't be accomplish'd this Fall, provided the Operations are begun early in the Spring with a proper Force: and I think, as we shall or may have the Start of the French in our Naval Force upon the Lake Ontario, that six Regiments of 1000 Men each would be a sufficient Strength to accomplish every thing against any Force, the French will probably be able to bring upon the Lake Ontario from Canada; or muster up in any of their Garrisons upon those Lakes or the Ohio to oppose us.

For furnishing this force in time next Spring, I propose, Sir, to leave my own and Sir William Pepperrell's Regiments, in Winter Quarters at Oswego, which will save the Fatigue and Expence of their going back to Boston, New York and Philadelphia this Year, and returning here in a few Months; and to order the two Regiments under the Command of Col. Dunbar, and the late Sir Peter Halket to March as early as may be the next Year to Albany and from thence proceed to Oswego, and join the other Forces as soon as possible. These four Regiments being recruited to their full Complement, as I hope they may be in the Winter, will produce 4000 Men, and the 2000 Ordered by His Majesty to be rais'd, exclusive of the Number requisite to compleat these and the three Regiments posted in Nova Scotia to 1000 each, will make 6000 Men, and together with one more Vessel of Eighty Ton upon the Lake Ontario, and a Sloop of 60, with a small Row

Galley of 20 Ton for the Lake Erie, and a few Whale Boats, will in my Opinion be a sufficient Force, if properly exerted early in the beginning of the Summer, to secure the Dominion of the Southern and Western Country, behind the Apalachian Mountains, at least as far as the Missisippi to the Crown of Great Britain by the end of the Year; and I might add that this would make it a very easy Task to break up the French Settlements upon that River the Year following, if that should be His Majesty's Pleasure.

I am with the greatest Respect,

Sir,

Your most Humble and

most Obedient Servant

W. SHIRLEY.

Rt: Honble: Sir Thos: Robinson Knt: of the Bath,Į one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State.

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[Orders to Colonel Thomas Dunbar.]

Whereas by the Death of Major General Braddock the Command of all his Majesty's Forces in North America devolves upon me, and upon advices received from the Governors of Pensilvania and Dominion of Virginia, of the Defeat of part of his Majesty's Forces under the said late General's Command I think it for the good of his Majesty's service that an Attempt should be made as soon as possible for the Reduction of the Forts Duquesne and

1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. Massachusetts Manuscripts, Vol. 1, Library of Congress. See also Shirley to Dunbar of Aug. 6, p. 215.

Presque Isle with the Forces now under your Command and those which shall be raised by the Governments of Pensilvania Maryland and Virginia or either of them for the same Service

Now I do hereby direct that upon the receipt of these my Orders (any thing before contain'd in my former Orders to you of the 6th instant to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding) you collect as soon as may be such Provisions, Pieces of Ordnance, Ammunition and Stores as you may meet with at Winchester and Fort Cumberland or elsewhere in Virginia (reserving for the said Fort what you think necessary for the Defence thereof) as also such as you shall receive from the Lieut: Govr: of Pensilvania and Maryland (to whom as also the Lieut: Govr: of Virginia you will be pleased to make application for the same) and those you buried in your Retreat, and after making the proper Dispositions of his majesty's forces under your Command and the Provincial Troops you shall receive, you are immediately to march with the said Troops to Fort Duquesne at which place I don't in the least doubt from your Experience and good Conduct of your safe arrival: and you are to send me as soon as may be a return of the strength you march off with as well as the Artillery Ammunition Stores Provisions etc.1

1 The retreat of Dunbar after the battle of Fort Duquesne was considered a great reflection on the character of the British soldiers. As John Shirley wrote Governor Morris of Pennsylvania on the same date as this letter: (1 Penna. Arch. 2, 387.) DEAR SIR,

I have little of News to add since my father's last letter to You, inclosing Copies of his Orders to Col. Dunbarr, whose Retreat is tho't by many here to be a greater Misfortune than the late Genl Braddock's unhappy Defeat. What Dishonour is thereby reflected upon the British Army! Mr. Dunbarr has ever been esteem'd an exceeding good Officer, but nobody here can yet guess at the Reason of his Retreat in the Circumstances he was in, and some severe Reflections are thrown out upon his Conduct; Some would have him sent with 500 Men to bring back what he bury'd

Upon your arrival with the Forces under your Command before Fort Duquesne you are to beseige it in the manner you shall judge most proper for the reduction thereof and upon your succeeding in it, you are to leave a Garrison there sufficient for the Defence of it, and to proceed with the Forces under your Command to the French Fort at Presque Isle,

with 1500. As for my own part I think one can't be too cautious how they blame on these Occasions, and let the appearances be what they will time shd be allow'd for a fair and impartial inquiry. In the mean time it is a most mortifying and shocking Consideration that so fine an Army shd be beat and intirely drove out of not only the field, but so far from it, by abt 500 Indians and French, which indeed is enough to provoke any People to speak what they think. How do you approve of my father's Disposal of the forces remaining with Col. Dunbarr? I could not write to You 'till that was over, and don't know what to say now. Upon the whole I think it will turn out to be the best Disposition that could be made of 'em: We may want some of 'em to secure this Place and the Wood Creek 'till our Return, and Johnson may now want to be supported; besides which the Mohawks who go with us and Johnson must have their Women and Children. and old Men well defended against any Insults from the French and their Indians by my father, and the N. Y. Indep. Compy are at Fort Cumberland. Add to this that they will be so much the nearer the Seat of Action for the next Campaigne.

We left Albany the 24th of July and with great Difficulty got here not till the 8th Instant, the Water being excessively low and our 84 Battoes (for my father wd see all the Powder and Shot up with him) being as deep again as any which went before us: but these were not the only Difficulties we had to surmount; we were oblig'd to stop to confer with the Indians which cost us three days, and we found that instead of Mr. Johnson's securing for our Expedition a Number of men and having them ready, he had lay'd every Obstacle in our way, and had forbid 'em going with us, telling 'em by Hendrick that there was nothing to be done at Niagara, and that such of 'em who prefered going with us rather than to Crown Point wo'd be look'd upon as Cowards. However, by means of Lydius and Mr. Fisher we have got 26 of 'em here; we had thirty, but Hendrick took away four of 'em, and for a time confin'd Fisher, and we have, and shall have when Col. Mercer brings up the Rear, abot the same Number of Stockbridge Indians, and I look upon. abot thirty young fellows from Albany and it's Environs to be as good as Indians. We have likewise engag'd 40 Irregulars to re

and attempt the Reduction thereof and in Case of success against it to leave a Garrison in it sufficient for it's Defence, both which Garrisons are to remain there untill further Orders.

And in case of your failure in both these Attempts (which God forbid) you are to make the most proper Disposition of his Majesty's Forces to Cover the Frontiers of the provinces particularly at the Towns of Shippenburgh and Carlisle at or near a place called McDowell's Mill where the new Road to the Alleghany Mountains begins in Pensilvania from the Incursions of the Enemy untill you shall receive further Orders.

You will carry Mr. McMullengh and Mr. Orde officers of the Train of Artillery and Matrosses, as also such of his Majesty's Independent Companies now posted at Fort Cumberland as you shall think proper with you to Fort Duquesne.

Lastly if thro' any unforeseen Accident it shall become absolutely Impracticable for you to put these Orders in Execution which yet I hope can't be the case, then you are forthwith to follow my former Orders of the 6th instant. W. SHIRLEY.

A true Copy Examd.

WM. ALEXANDER Secy.

Endorsed:

Majr. General Shirley's Orders to Colonel Dunbar Dated August 12: 1755.

main on this Place well arm'd to help keep this and the Creek 'till we Return. We go from hence to-morrow, and expect to be at Oswego in 4 days afterwards. Col. Mercer will be six days behind us, and we can't have less than six more to fit out from Oswego after he joins us, so that we shan't be before Niagara 'till the 1st Week in the next month.

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