must know his former founded on 'em, will protect me, I ones, better than I can; but when the Campaign doubt not from so injurious a Charge; is over, I hope to be able let it come from what Quarter it will. to shew you, in a clear light, what they have been here. Paragraph 13h proper Letter for Mr. 13. I can't therefore but look upon this All that passed between Letter as one of the Effects of the ReMr. Alexander and me, in this Letter, was, that sentment which Your Lordship sent me I thought it a very im- Word by Mr. Alexander, You was deShirley to write to me, termin'd to Shew me, for writing You and that it had cut off all the Letter of the 10th August, in which personal correspondence between us; but that he I have been so unfortunate as to incur might depend, on having Your Lordship's Displeasure against my an Answer to it, at a Intention.1 proper time. Paragraph 14h of the Letter here men writing it. that on the Information 14. After having given Your Lordship I have enclosed a Copy all the Satisfaction, I can, in answer to tioned, from whence you your Letter of the 6th Instant, I beg will be able to Judge, leave to say that Your Lordship seems how far I was right in to me, to have given Yourself a very My own Opinion was, needless trouble in sending me a Letter, I send you, of his Manage- to let me know that I am ordered diment last year and this rectly to depart for England, by three at Oswego, I am entitled to send him home Pris- Letters from His Majesty's Secretary oner; but other People of State, all which Your Lordship obthought this would appear Violent; and I am always serves I have Received, and as they willing, to be advised to carry the Highest Authority in themselves, can't be suppos'd to receive any Additional Force from Your Lordships moderate measures. Ante, p. 501. A good discussion of this controversy between Shirley and Loudoun is given by Parkman in chapter 13 of his "Montcalm and Wolfe." Letter; which I can't but think concerns matters, which are entirely out of Your Lordship's Department. I have the Honor to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's Most Humble and Most Obedt: Servant WM. SHIRLEY. P.S. I have Issued a Warrant for em pressing [25] Ox Teams and Carriages, for Your Lordship.1 His Excellency the Right Honble: the Earl of Loudoun etca. With His Lordships Remarks thereupon. - WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ISRAEL WILLIAMS' [SEAL] William Shirley Esqr. Captain General and To Israel Williams Esqr Greeting. Whereas His Majestys Service does require a considerable Number of Teams and Carriages for transporting Provisions 1 See Shirley to Israel Williams of equal date, (a) warrant for ox teams, etc., (b) warrant for raising troops, and (c) circular letter to Colonial Governors urging the enlistment of additional troops, following this letter. Original in Mass. Hist. Society, Col. Israel Williams Manuscripts, 71 D, 254. for the Forces in the County of Albany within the Province of New York. You are therefore hereby impowered and directed forthwith to issue your Warrants in His Majesty's Name to such Persons as you may judge will most effectually execute them, immediately to impress within the Limits of your Regiment Twenty five substantial Carts and Ox Teams with Drivers necessary and proper for transporting Provisions for the use of the said Forces, to proceed without delay to the said City of Albany there to be employed as His Excellency and the Right Honble Earl of Loudoun General and Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America shall direct; The Charge of which will be defrayed by the Publick, And make Return to me of your Doings hereon; Hereof fail not. Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Boston the 13th day of Septr 1756 in the thirtieth Year of his Majestys Reign. W. SHIRLEY. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ISRAEL WILLIAMS1 [SEAL] WILLIAM SHIRLEY Esqr. Captain General To Colonel ISRAEL WILLIAMS, Greeting. I do hereby impower you and in his Majesty's Name require you forthwith to draw out or cause to be drawn out of the Regiment of Militia under your Command, either by Inlistment or Impressment as shall be found most proper and necessary Three hundred and fifty able bodied, effective Men, to be well armed and appointed, to be under the Command of such Officers as I shall commissionate; Who must hold themselves in readiness to march out upon any Emer 1 Original in Mass. Hist. Society, Col. Israel Williams Manuscripts, 71 D, 255. of gency for the Relief of the Provincial Troops under the Command of Major General Winslow, at what time you or in your Absence the Chief Commander over the Men so drafted out your Regiment, shall call them out to this Service; Which you or the chief Commander of the Troops so to be drawn out of your Regiment are hereby ordered to do so soon as you or he shall receive certain Intelligence from the Right Honble. the Earl of Loudoun, or Major General Winslow of any Motions of the Enemy to attack the Provincial Forces; and for the Encouragement of the Soldiers so drawn out, that Provision is made for each Man so drawn out who shall furnish himself with a good Musket to carry with him, and shall actually proceed on the Service, that he shall receive Three Dollars Bounty Money at the Time when they shall receive their Wages, and to be added in the Muster Rolls accordingly; and that they shall be allowed the same Pay and Subsistence with the other Forces, in the Pay of this Province, and that they shall not be held to any further Duty of this kind, after the Enemy shall be withdrawn; for all which this shall be your Warrant. Given under my hand and Seal at Boston the 13th day of September 1756 in the 30th Year of his Majestys Reign. W. SHIRLEY. THE EARL OF LOUDOUN TO THE COMMITTEE OF WAR AT BOSTON [Extract]1 Mr. Shirley wrote to me on the 26th of August, to know the Truth or Falsehood of the Account of the Loss of Oswego, not only in his own Name, but in that of the Government. In Answer, I acquainted him therewith in a public Letter, and insisted "that he should lay it before the General Court not by Extracts, but in the Whole." This Desire of mine that you should be thus authentically informed of the facts, he calls, “a very improper and unprecedented proceed 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. Inclosed in Shirley to Fox, Sept. 15. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. ing, which has not the least Tendency to promote his Majesties Service, but the direct Contrary, especially at this "Juncture, by creating parties and factions in the several "Governments." In order to remove the Evils that this Aspersion may create, I herewith send you inclosed a Copy of that Letter; which I cannot but think is a proper one for me to write, in order to remove the Doubts, which had arisen of the facts, and must consequently obstruct the necessary Reinforcement, I had applied for. a true Copy, JAMS. BRADFORD Secy. Endorsed: Extract from the Earl of Loudoun's Letter to the Committee of War at Boston dated Septr. 13th: 1756. In Majr. Genl. Shirley's Letter of Septr. 15th: 1756. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO STEPHEN HOPKINS1 SIR, Boston, September 13, 1756. I hereby acquaint Your Honour, that I have caused to be raised within this Province, six hundred men, to make up the deficiency that happens to be of the number of troops this government had agreed to supply for the army of the provincial forces, for His Majesty's service, against Crown Point, which are now actually on their march; as also, that I have issued orders for one thousand men to be drawn out of the regiments of militia, in the western parts of this Province, to hold themselves in readiness to march forthwith to the succor of the provincial forces, on any emergency, and advices thereof received from the Right Honourable the Earl of Loudoun, or Gen. Winslow, agreeably to the resolution of our General Court, copy whereof, you have herewith. 1 The letter here given was a circular one addressed to several Colonial governors. This copy addressed to Governor Hopkins of Rhode Island is printed R. I. Col. Records, 5, 533. See also letter to Hopkins in Kimball, Corres. Col. Govs. of R. I. 2, 233. |