66

Earl of Loudoun, General, and Commander in Chief of all the Kings Forces in North America, by which You will perceive that His Lordship received "Accounts on the 19th: "Instant at Night, That His Majestys Fort and Garrison at Oswego, together with the Naval Armament and Stores, are "fallen into the hands of the French; that from the Condition and Number of the Troops, left with His Lordship when he came to his Command, he can Scarce hope to do more, than to resist the French power in that Quarter; and therefore "demands of me an Aid of as Considerable a Body of Men "with Arms, as I can send, to be raised in Companies, and sent off as fast as raised; and also a Number of Carriages or Ox Teams, wherewith his Lordship may be able to Transport Provisions, as the province of New York alone, is not able tó Supply all." 1

You are too sensible Gentlemen of the bad Consequences, which must arise to all His Majesty's Colonies upon this Continent, from the loss of Oswego to the French, to Stand in need of being urg'd to Comply with his Lordship's demands upon this Occasion.

1 The letter of Aug. 20 from Loudoun follows:

Albany, 20th August, 1756.

SIR, Ás, by accounts I received last night, His Majesty's fort and garrison at Oswego, together with the naval armament and stores, have, by a series of bad circumstances, fallen into the hands of the French; and as, from the condition and number of the troops left to me, when I came to my command, I can scarce hope to do more than to resist the French power in that quarter, I must earnestly recommend to you to consider without delay, how far the provincials now in arms, are exposed to the weight of the French, in the parts towards Crown Point, and the dangerous events of any accident happening to them in consequence of these circumstances, and what forces you can immediately send to reinforce them, as it seems absolutely necessary to do, for the security and safety of the country.

Therefore, in consequence of the powers given to me, by His Majesty's commission under the great seal, and of his orders signified to you, by his secretary of state, I do demand of you an aid of as considerable a body of men, with arms, as you can send, to be raised in companies, and sent off as fast as raised; and also a

The French are, by this Acquisition, got into the possession of the Heart of the Country of the Six Nations of Indians; and if a very Vigorous Stand is not immediately made against their progress, there is the utmost danger that they will very soon make themselves Masters of the whole of it, from the Lower Castle of the Mohawk's, within 20 miles of Schenectady to the Castles of the Seneca's, in the Neighbourhood of Niagara, and Consequently have all those Indians entirely in their Interest.

ame to his meer; the

s'd

You perceive likewise, Gentlemen, by his Lordships Letter, com to employ, that his Misfortune at Oswego will require hi all the Troops which were left with him, when he c Command, to resist the French power in that quard Consequence of which is, that the Provincial Troops for the Expedition, against Crown point, will be expoh alone to the whole weight of the French power there; whic we know is already very great and it is much to be fear'd, may be suddenly encreased by the unfortunate Event at Oswego; and in case the Provincial Troops should receive a blow from the French on that Quarter (which from their present numbers unsupported by a Body of Regular Troops, there is reason to apprehend, especially, if they shou'd proceed to make an Attempt for the Reduction of the French Forts in those Parts) I need not Observe to You in how dangerous a Situation the whole Country must then be, on all sides.

The last Year, Gentlemen, this Government raised in the Whole for the Expedition then depending against Crown point 4200 Men; The Service now requires a greater Force, than it did then; It is therefore incumbent upon You to Augment Your number of Troops in proportion to the present Emergency; and it is the more incumbent upon You to number of carriages, or ox teams, wherewith I may be able to transport provisions, as this province alone is not able to supply all.

I am with great truth and regard, sir,
Your most humble servant,

Shirley's reply of Aug. 30 is on p. 526.

LOUDOUN.

do it, as the example of this province, will probably influence the Neighbouring Colonies upon this Occasion.

I can't therefore in the least doubt, Gentlemen, but that you will most readily Comply, with what his Lordship requires, by enabling me, in the most Expeditious manner, to send him an Aid, of as Considerable a Body of Men, with Arms, from this province, as Can be sent upon this Extraordinary Occasion; and I would recommend it to You, in the most Earnest manner, as a matter, which appears to me of the last importance, that the Service for which this Augmentation shall be made, be not Limited or Confin'd to any particular place, but that the Troops, should be employed, either towards Oswego, or Crown Point, as his Lordship shall Judge His Majesty's Service and the Security of the Colonies may require at this Critical Conjuncture.

His Lordship has likewise requir'd of me to send him a number of Carriages, or Ox Teams in order to Transport provisions. I know from Experience that the Country near Albany, can't furnish a Sufficient number; and I must therefore desire You to Consider and Advise me how they may be procur'd in the most expeditious and effectual manner in the parts of this Province nearest to Albany, and I will give immediate orders, that this part of his Lordship's desire may be Complied with.

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, As the matters, I have now laid before this Court, are of very great importance, and this province is deeply interested in them, and as they will require the Court's most Speedy and Close Attention, I must desire you forthwith to send out Messengers to Call in your Absent Members, that there may be a full Court to Consult about them.

Council Chamber August 30th, 1756.

W. SHIRLEY.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE EARL OF
LOUDOUN1

MY LORD,

Boston, August 30th, 1756.

On Saturday the 28th Instant in the Afternoon, I had the honor of your Lordships Letter dated the 20th Instant, Acquainting me that your Lordship had received Accounts, that the Fort and Garrison, at Oswego, with the naval Armament and Stores are fallen into the hands of the French and demanding of me an aid from this province, of as Considerable a Body of Men with Arms, as I can send, to be rais'd in Companies, and sent off as Fast as rais'd.

The Governors of the Massachusetts Bay, My Lord, are prohibited by the Royal Charter to empress any of the Inhabitants to be transported out of the province, without the Consent of the Assembly; and it is by Virtue of an Act of Assembly, that I have Issued my Warrants, for empressing the Men, which I had the Honor to Acquaint your Lordship I was raising to Compleat the Quota of their Troops for the Expedition against Crown Point.

In order to Obtain such Consent, for raising an Additional number of Men for his Majesty's Service under your Lordships Command I have this day laid Your Lordships Letter before the General Assembly, and urg'd them in the Strongest manner to exert themselves to the utmost of their Abilities, at this Critical Juncture; a Copy of My Speech to them upon this Occasion I have enclosed; and I shall Continue to use my best endeavours to perswade them to Comply with your Lordships demand.

Yesterday afternoon I had the satisfaction to receive a Letter from Mr. Winslow, in answer to mine of the 10th Instant to him, a Copy of which I had the honor to send your Lordship, by which I perceive the provincial Officers were

1P. R. O., C. O. 5, 47. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. A copy of this letter was inclosed by Loudoun in his letter to Fox of Oct. 3, where the aid furnished by Shirley is acknowledged. See post, p. 577, note.

brought before his Receipt of that Letter, to a better sense of their duty, with respect to a Junction with his Majesty's Regular Troops, by Your Lordship's moderation and goodness towards them, than I thought appeared in their Answer, before given to the Question propos'd to them upon that point, which gave me great pleasure.

The late heavy blow received at Oswego, hath given me infinite Concern; whatever your Lordships Counsels shall be, for retrieving it as much as may be, I wish Your Lordship the utmost Success in them, and in every other part of His Majesty's Service under Your Lordships Command; Having the honour to be with very great Truth and Respect. My Lord,

Your Lordship's

most humble and

most Obedient Servant

W. SHIRLEY.

His Excellency the Rt: Honble: Earl of Loudoun etca.

Endorsed:

Copy of a Letter from

Majr. Genl: Shirley to

The Earl of Loudoun
August 30th: 1756

in the E. of Loudoun's Letter of Oct. 3d, 1756.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE GENERAL COURT

1

OF MASSACHUSETTS 1

GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL AND HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES

I am sorry to Acquaint you, that I learn by the Return of an Express I sent to Albany last Friday Evening, that the

1 Massachusetts Archives. A copy is in P. R. O., C. O. 5, 47, inclosed in Shirley to Loudoun of Sept. 3 and in Loudoun to Fox of Oct. 3, 1756. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. The Message of the Assembly in reply expressing concern at the loss of Oswego is in Mass. Arch. and in C. O. 5, 47. It covers about 400 words and is dated Sept. 8.