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SIR,

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ROBERT HUNTER

MORRIS1

Boston, Febry. 20th, 1756.

I inclose to your Honour, at the Request of the Assembly of this Government, a Copy of their Resolves concerning the part they will take in the plan of Operations propos'd by me to them and his Majesty's other Northern Colonies, as far Westward as Virginia inclusive, for removing the Incroachments of the French at Crown point, upon the Lakes Ontario, Erie, and etc., and the River Ohio; and am in hopes, the Provinces of New York, Rhode Island, Connecticutt, New Hampshire, and the Massachusetts Bay will raise Troops sufficient for the propos'd Expedition against Crown Point, the last mention'd Province having, as you will perceive by the inclos'd Resolves of the Assembly, . . . determin'd to raise 3000 as their Quota, and if the others do in proportion, it will produce a Body of 9000 men for that Service. But unless the Governments of Virginia, Maryland, and Pensilvania send some considerable assistance, I shall not have a number sufficient for the Service propos'd on Lakes Ontario, Erie &c, and as I shall have no Troops for that Service, but his Majesty's four Regular Regiments, and the Independent Companies of New York, all which are still very incompleat and together with the Jersey Regiment of 500, will, I am affraid, fall far short of 4000 Effective men.

The Reduction of the French Forts at Niagara, and getting the Mastery of the Lake Ontario, according to his Majesty's Instructions to the late General and myself; which expressly mention it as a more important Service than the Reduction

11 Penna. Arch. 2, 579. For similar letter to Governor Wentworth see N. H. Prov. Papers, 6, 480, and to Governor Hopkins, see Kimball, Corres. R. I. Gov. 2, 188. On Mar. 13, in reply to a similar letter, Governor Dinwiddie of Va. wrote: "Our people seem to be wrap'd up in a lethargic supineness and continue inactive in the time of most apparent danger." Dinwiddie Papers, 2, 369.

of Fort Duquesne, is doubtless the most effectual measure for securing the Southern Colonies from the Incursions of the French and Indians, and the breaking up the possessions of the former on the Ohio and Lake Erie, as those settlements principally, if not wholly, draw their support from Canada, from which they would be cutt off, if their passage over the Lake Ontario was barr'd; at the same time it is necessary that the western Colonies should raise a Body of men, strong enough not only to repel the Incursions of the French and their Indians, but to attempt the Reduction of Fort Duquesne; for which Services I believe you will think 4000 men a sufficient Force.

By the inclos'd List your Honour will find that if the Governments of Virginia, Maryland and Pensilvania, do furnish their Quota for the Operations of this year, in the same manner as the Northern Colonies seem dispos'd to do, according to the proportions settled by the Commissioners at Albany in 1754; which I don't doubt his Majesty expects, and I can't but hope they will do; they ought to raise 7284 men; and if 4000 of them will be sufficient to be employ'd on the Frontiers of those Colonies, there will remain a Body of 3284 men, which I think cannot be employ'd more to the advantage of those colonies, than on the Lake Ontario, and when join'd with the Troops, I intend to take with me there, will give me a sufficient Force effectually to secure that Lake, and by that one Stroke to give an irrecoverable wound to all the French Incroachments upon the Great Lakes and Rivers; after which Fort Duquesne may very easily be reduc'd in the Course of the Summer, if the French should not abandon it without waiting 'till they should be attack'd there. What an effect this would have at the same time in our favour upon all the Indians on the Continent, I need not observe.

It gives me great pleasure to find that the measures, which Govr. Dinwiddie hath taken with the Cherokee Indians, have had so good success; I . . . heartily wish these measures, together with those he is pursuing with the Catawba's may induce them to furnish the number of men, they propos'd, which certainly will be of great Service in the Operations of

the next Campaigne; 1000 of these Indians joining with 4000 men of the Southern Colonies will doubtless be sufficient to do every thing necessary on that side, and nothing seems wanting to enable us to carry every point against the French this year, but the Southern Colonies exerting themselves in the same proportion with the Eastern ones, and sending 3000 men to join the Regular Troops, intended for the Operations on the Lake Ontario, &c.

I can't but hope that your Honour will see these matters in the same light with me, and do every thing in your power with the Assembly of your Government to induce them to enable you to furnish the Quota of that Dominion, for repelling the French of Canada at this most critical Conjuncture, and before they are strengthen'd with fresh Reinforcements from France, from their dangerous Incroachments upon his majesty's Territories, and for putting an End to the Ravages and Depredations of them and the Indians in their Interest within the Borders of his Majesty's western Colonies upon this Continent: with regard to myself, your Honour may depend on my doing every thing in my power for the protection of the Frontiers of Pensilvania in particular.

As it is necessary that an Officer of Rank in his Majesty's Army should be appointed to take upon him the command of all the Forces rais'd in the Colonies of Pensilvania, Maryland and Virginia, and South Carolina to be employ'd in an Expedition against Fort Duquesne; I have appointed for that purpose Govr. Sharpe, whom his Majesty was pleas'd before the arrival of the late General Braddock in North America, to appoint to the like but more extensive command. I am with Esteem and Regard,

Sir,

Your Honour's most Humble

and most obedient Servant, W. Shirley.

Honble Robert Hunter Morris, Esqr.

Endorsed:

Genl Shirley, about the operations of the summer, 1756, and the numbers necessary.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO HORATIO SHARPE1

SIR,

Boston, Febry 23d. 1756.

I receiv'd your Favour of the 24th Jany.2 a few Days since and am very glad to find what good Effect the Steps already taken have had towards engaging the Cherokees to the British Interest, and I have great hopes that if you can prevail on the Gentlemen of your Assembly to enable you in behalf of the Province of Maryland to join in the Measures prepar'd, the Friendship of not only the Cherokees, but also the Catawba's may be secur'd to us, and that they may be induc'd to join us with a considerable number of their Warriors, which certainly will be of exceeding great Service in the Operations of this Year.

I now inclose to your Honour, at the Request of the Assembly of this Government, a Copy of their Resolves concerning the part they will take in the plan of Operations propos'd by me to them and his Majesty's other Northern Colonies as far Westward as Virginia inclusive, for removing the Incroachments of the French at Crown-point, upon the Lakes Ontario, Erie, &c, and the River Ohio; and am in hopes, the Provinces of New York, Rhode Island, Connecticutt, New Hampshire and the Massachusetts Bay will raise Troops sufficient for the propos'd Expedition against Crown point, the last mention'd Province having, as you will perceive by the inclos'd Resolves of the Assembly, determin'd to raise 3000 as their Quota, and if the others do in proportion, it will produce a Body of 9000 Men for that Service; But unless the Government of Virginia, Maryland, and Pensilvania send some considerable Assistance, I shall not have a number sufficient for the Service propos'd on Lakes Ontario, Erie, &c, as I shall not have any Troops for that Service but his Majestys four Regular Regiments and the Independent Companies of New York, all which are still very incompleat,

1 Original, Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

2 Sharpe's letter of Jan. 24 is in Arch. of Md. 6, 337.

and together with the Jersey Regiment of 500 will, I am affraid, fall far short of 4000 Effective Men.

The Reduction of the French Forts at Niagara, and getting the Mastery of the Lake Ontario, according to his Majesty's Instructions to the late General and myself; which expressly mention it as a more important Service than the Reduction of Fort Duquesne, is doubtless the most effectual Measure for securing the Southern Colonies from the Incursions of the French and Indians, and the breaking in the possessions of the former on the Ohio and Lake Erie, as those Settlements principally, if not wholly, draw their Support from Canada, from which they would be cutt off, if their passage over the Lake Ontario was barr'd; at the same time it is necessary that the Western Colonies should raise a Body of Men strong enough not only to repel the Incursions of the French and their Indians, but to attempt the Reduction of Fort du Quesne; for which Services I believe you will think 4000 Men a sufficient Force.

By the inclos'd List your Honour will find that if the Governments of Virginia, Maryland, and Pensilvania do furnish their Quota for the Operations of this Year, in the same manner as the Northern Colonies seem dispos'd to do, according to the proportions settled by the Commissioners at Albany in 1754; which I don't doubt his Majesty expects, and I can't but hope they will do; they ought to raise 7284 Men; and if 4000 of them will be sufficient to be employ'd on the Frontiers of those Colonies, there will remain a Body of 3284 Men which I think cannot be employ'd more to the Advantage of those Colonies, than on the Lake Ontario, and when join'd with the other Troops, I intend to take with me these will give me a sufficient Force effectually to secure that Lake, and by that one Stroke to give an irrecoverable Wound to all the French Incroachments upon the Great Lakes and Rivers; after which Fort Duquesne may very easily be reduc'd in the Course of the Summer, if the French should not abandon it without waiting till they should be attack'd there what an Effect this would have at the same time in our Favour upon all the Indians on the Continent I need

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