as I heard he designed to leave the Independent Companies at Fort Cumberland, I directed they should remain there for that Service until further Orders, and particularly recommended to him the protection of that Fort; but in his next Letter to me, he let me know, that upon his finding that General Braddock did not intend to leave those Companies at Fort Cumberland, he had brought them with him to Philadelphia, which he accordingly did, and is the reason for their not going into Garrison at Fort Cumberland. My motive for ordering Colonel Dunbar to march his Troops to Albany, as soon as he could was, that if he had arriv'd there in time (which I was in hopes he might have done) he might have assisted in the Attempt against Crown Point, or at least have made ready to Cover Albany, in case General Johnson had been beat: and indeed it was extremely happy that the French Forces, which attacked General Johnson's camp, were repulsed and intirely defeated by him; for if they had prevailed in their Attack, there is the utmost reason to believe, as Colonel Dunbar did not arrive till about five Weeks after the Action, that the French General would have made himself Master of Albany, and in that Case have cutt off all Communication between Oswego and that Place; the Consequences of which might have been fatal to the Troops under my immediate Command, and very probably ended in the Loss of Oswego itself. I have the Honor to be with the highest respect. Sir Your most Humble and most Obedient Servant W. SHIRLEY. Rt. Honble. Sir Thomas Robinson Knt of the Bath, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State. provision for the spring campaign if not earlier (Dinwiddie Papers, 2, 261). The year following the defeat of Braddock was as severe as any year of war to Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Parkman, "Montcalm and Wolfe," Vol. 1, passim. Note especially the report of the French commander at Fort Duquesne, Capt. Dumas, in July, 1756, ibid. 1, 329. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO CHARLES HARDY [Extract]1 Albany, November 8, 1755. I acquainted your Excellency from Oswego, that I designed to Garrison the two Forts, in the Mohawk's Country with the King's Troops during the Winter, and had given orders Concerning it at Schenectady; it would have made a saving to the Publick in the Article of Pay, Provisions, and Barracks, and been a More Expeditious way of Covering the King's Troops intended for that Service, in this Severe Season of the Year. Since my Arrival here, your Excellency hath Acquainted me, that you have received Messages from those Indians, desiring that the Garrisons now Posted at those Forts may be Continued there, and Not exchanged for Others, Consisting of the Regular Troops. I have the Honour to be of the same Sentiments with you, that the Indians should not be Disgusted; Especially at this Critical Conjuncture, by putting Troops into their Forts, built for their Protection, that would be Disagreable to them; But as it Appears to me most probable, that this Application of the Indians to your Excellency was made at the Instigation of the Officers, who at Present Command those Forts; I would Mention it for your Consideration, whether it Might be Adviseable to try the Indians further upon that Point, by a Message to them, in which I will join with you letting them know that if any Regular Troops are sent to their Castles their Officers and Soldiers shall Consist Chiefly of Americans, who shall have Strict Orders to treat them with all Kindness and Civility and to know their Answer upon it.2 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. Inclosed in Shirley to Robinson, Dec. 20. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. 2 This letter, the reply of Hardy of Nov. 9, and Shirley's letter to Robinson of Dec. 20, in which both are inclosed, illustrate well the difficulties surrounding the Colonial Commander in Chief of the His Excellency Sir Charles Hardy. Endorsed: A true Copy Examined by WM. ALEXANDER Secy. Extract of a Letter from Major General Shirley to Govr. Hardy dated Novr. 8. 1755. in Govr. Shirley's of Decr. 20th, 1755. CHARLES HARDY TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY1 Albany, Novr. 9th, 1755. SIR, After what has Passed Between the Indians and me with Respect to Garrisons: which I have already acquainted your Excellency with, I Cannot think it advisable to Send the message you Propose and as General Braddock has in Consequence of his Instructions from home with the unanimous opinion of the Council at Alexandria given General Johnson a Commission to Take upon him the management and Care British forces in America when he attempted to obtain aid from New York for national purposes. That province would not work under Shirley's leadership, and in the end secured his dismissal from office. To the jealousy existing between New York and Massachusetts and the constant friction between DeLancey and Hardy of the former and Shirley of the latter colony was added the fear of Sir William Johnson that in some way his position as Superintendent of Indian relations would be lost. The letter of Dec. 2, 1755, from Secretary John Pownall to Johnson (Docts. rel. Col. Hist. N. Y. 6, 1622) encouraged the latter greatly. See Sir William Johnson to Governor Hardy, Oct. 22, Oct. 24, Oct. 31; to Governor Hopkins of Rhode Island, Nov. 1; Shirley to Johnson, Nov. 15, and Johnson to Shirley, Nov. 17, 1755, in Johnson Manuscripts. The principle of the supreme authority of the commander in chief designated by the Crown was acknowledged by Shirley in defeat (Speech to the General Court of Massachusetts, Sept. 8, 1756, post, p. 548) as well as in time of success. 1 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. of Indian affairs, I Cannot but offer it as my opinion to your Excellency, that he be advised with on this occasion, and if the Indians Should make any Application to him on his Return from the Lake for Garrisons for their Protection I shall acquaint your Excellency with it, and Concert with you the Proper measures.1 For Should Regular Troops be sent to their Castle without such an application from them, I apprehend it may Cause Great uneasiness among them. In answer to your Excellency's Letter of yesterday with Respect to Victualling the Independent Companies: There can be no Dependance on the Assemblys making Provision for it. Those of them that have been Posted at Oswego have been Victualled by the Province out of the Duties arising on goods sold there. I am Sir, Your Excellency's His Excellency Genl. Shirley a true Copy Examin'd by WM. ALEXANDER Secy. Endorsed: Copy Letter from Govr. Hardy to Major General Shirley dated Albany 9th Novr. 1755 in Govr. Shirley's of Decr. 20th, 1755. CHARLES HARDY. 1 Shirley already had issued his summons for a Congress of Governors (Shirley to Benning Wentworth, Nov. 7, N. H. Prov. Papers, 6, 445). On Nov. 11 he wrote Governor Morris of Pennsylvania (1 Penna. Arch. 2, 481), and on Nov. 26 he requested Johnson (Johnson Manuscripts, 3, 259) to meet him at New York. Governor Sharpe of Maryland was invited also (1 Penna. Arch. 2, 497), but had little hopes of aggressive action resulting from the conference. As he wrote Dinwiddie: "It is reported that Genl. Johnson will proceed no farther this season." (Oct. 28, Arch. of Md. 6, 304.) SIR, WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS1 Albany, November 15th, 1755. Yesterday afternoon I had the honour of receiving two packetts from you by express, the first dated Octr. 31st, and a subsequent one without date. In the former of these you represent to me the devastations now making by the French, and Indians in their Interest, upon his Majesty's Subjects in the back Settlements of your Government, and the designs which you apprehend the French have upon his Majesty's Territories there, particularly Shamokin; and acquaint me "That your Council have unanimously advised You to apply to me, to order such of his Majesty's Forces as the present Exigencies of the Province under your Command require; and his Majesty's Service in the other Colonies will permitt me to spare," and in the latter you inform me, you have received further Intelligence of the Mischiefs and Crueltys by the Indians. "That you are without Men, money, Arms or Ammunition at your disposal; can gett no Aid from the Assembly of your Province, and do not see how you can protect the People, or secure the province from being laid waste, unless I will supply you with troops and money for that purpose"; and desire me to furnish you with the latter upon the foundation of Sir Thomas Robinson's circular Letter dated June 19th to the several Govrs. upon this Continent, directing them to Apply to the Commander in Chief of his Majestys Forces for the time being in North America, for such Sums of money which may be necessary to discharge such Expences, as have been or may be incurr'd on account of the Services or operations to be perform'd by them, or in any respect under their directions, and which are not properly chargeable to the account of their respective Governments. 1 1 Original, Hist. Society of Pennsylvania. Printed: 1 Penna. Arch. 2, 493. |