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WILLIAM SHIRLEY'S DEFENSE OF HIS MILITARY COMMAND IN AMERICA

AM SL.

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one view, the several matters, which I apprehend will clearly determine to what Causes the loss of Oswego, and the failure to prosecute the Expedition against Crown Point this Year to Effect are to be imputed.

It appears from the Minutes of the Council of War held at Albany the 26th [25th ?] May last, and my Letter to Major General Abercromby dated the 27th June; Copies of both which I inclos'd in former Letters, particularly one dated the 4th July from New York; that the Land and naval Forces, to which I had determin'd to trust the defence of Oswego, were to consist of a Garrison of 1300 Troops, 550 more to be posted at several passes between Oswego and Albany for Guarding the Magazines, and keeping open the Communication between those two places; two Vessels of ten Carriage Guns each, and two small Schooners (us'd as Row Gallies) of ten Swivels each, all built the last year; three Vessels built this Spring and Summer, mounting one of them 18 Cannon, one 16, and the other 12; which two last are in the Minutes of the Council of War held at Albany by mistake mentioned to carry only 10 and 8 Cannon; 250 Whaleboats capable of navigating the Lake Ontario, and holding 16 Men each; and 2000 Battoemen, which though the French in the North could move effectively; yet he does show his appreciation of the strategic importance of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence as an effective line of defense and offense against the French. With them he would have secured the entrance to Lake Champlain, and thus have controlled the best route into Canada open to a land force. On Lake Ontario he planned to place vessels giving easy locomotion to the land forces, a line of action whose wisdom was proved by the combined British and American force two years later, but whose most pronounced justification came in the War of the American Revolution and in Perry's campaign on Lake Erie in 1813. This letter shows no less forcibly the difficulties faced by Shirley in 1756 and the policy of his superiors in command taking away the possibility of success for a really well-planned campaign. For a further statement in his own behalf, see Shirley to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, post, p. 581, and his petition to the Crown with accompanying papers, post, p. 587, Sept. 24, 1757.

1 See Council Minutes of May 25, and letters of June 27 and July 4, ante, pp. 453, 468, and 478.

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