the Six Nations to take up the Hatchet against the French, and that he is on his march to Crown Point. We cannot expect to be fortunate in all our Plans of Operations, but the Success of his Majesties Arms in Nova Scotia gives us great pleasure and in some measure eleviates [sic] the great loss at Monongahela. The loss of our Artillery is monstrous, as no doubt the Enemy will turn them against us, I know not how much of them are lost but I think if Col. Dunbar had made a Stand at the Meadows, the Enemy wou'd not have attack'd us in an open Field; But I hear he destroyed every thing that was there, Provisions and all, and marched into Fort Cumberland. As he is esteemed a good Officer, no doubt he had good reasons for so doing; but I am fully convinced, they would not have attacked him there. The People in this Dominion are greatly alarmed and I have good reason to think they will do every thing in their power to forward a second Attempt against the Enemy. I shall wait with great Impatience for the return of this Express, as the future designation of the Forces is entirely with You, I therefore hope you will give the Messenger all possible dispatch. Wishing you Health and Success in all Your Operations, I remain with great Esteem, and due Respect. Your Excellency's Most Obedt. humble Servt A true Copy Exam'd by ROBT DINWIDDIE. WM ALEXANDER Secy. Endorsed: Copy of a Letter from the Honble Robert Dinwiddie Esqr to His Excellency Major General Shirley dated the 29th July 1755. in Majr Genl. Shirley's Letter of Augt. 11th, 1755. PROCEEDINGS OF A COUNCIL HELD IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK [Extract]1 PRESENT The Honble James De Lancey Esqr Lieut Govr. etc. Mr Alexander Mr Kennedy Mr Murray Mr Holland Mr Chambers The Board also took this Opportunity to represent to his Honour the great Concern they were under to hear that the Army was going into Quarters, for that it will probably give the French Army at Fort Duquesne or the greatest part of them an Opportunity to march with the Artillery they have taken from General Braddocks Army, to reinforce the Garrison at Niagara, and thereby endanger the Success of the Expedition intended against that Fortress, and perhaps risque the Fort of Oswego, a post of the last Importance on the Lake Ontario: and as the Season is not yet so far spent, but a great part of the Army late under the Command of General Braddock, may as yet march into this Province, in order to reinforce or sustain his Majesty's Troops under the Command of Major General Shirley at Oswego, or the Provincial Forces under Major General Johnson at Crown Point, they humbly Conceive they may be of much more use in this way than in Quarters. And the Board are the rather of this Opinion because from the situation of places they apprehend the French may be attacked and driven from all the Incroachments, with the greatest advantage by the way of Oswego or Crown Point. And therefore it should seem that not only the Kings Forces to the Southward, but also II. 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. Inclosed in Shirley to Robinson, Aug. those that can be spared from Nova Scotia should Quarter near Albany to be ready for any future Operations. A true Copy Examined by GEO: BANYAR D: Cl. Conl. A true Copy Exd by WM. ALEXANDER Secy. Endorsed: Extract of a Council held at New York on Friday SIR, the 1st day of Augt 1755. in Majr. Genl. Shirley's Letter of Augt. 11th, 1755. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THOMAS DUNBAR 1 [Orders to Col. Thomas Dunbar] From the Camp on the Mohawk River 36 Miles distant from the Oneida Carrying Place, August 6th, 1755. — I am now upon my March to Oswego in order to proceed to the Strait of Niagara in the Expedition under my own immediate Command; and an Express from Govr. Morris having overtaken me here with a Letter, Inclosing a Copy of one from yourself to him, dated July 16th in which you inform him that you are on your March with the Forces late under the Command of Major Generall Braddock, to Philadelphia in order to go into Winter Quarters there with about 1200 Men and Officers, I am to acquaint you that two Expeditions of very great Consequence to his Majesty's Service, are now carrying on, One Against the French Forts at Niagara, and on the Lake Ontario, and the other against their Forts at Crown Point, and on the Lake Champlain; and 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46, and Massachusetts Manuscripts, Vol. 1, Library of Congress. See also Shirley to Dunbar of Aug. 12, post, p. 231. that the French with their Indians are so much strengthen'd, at both places, by the Generals Defeat, and the retreat of the Forces to Pensilvania, that the Troops employ'd in both the said Expeditions stand in need of being reinforc❜d. Wherefore, as the Chief Command of all his Majesty's Forces in North America is now devolv'd upon me by the Death of General Braddock, I think it my Duty to employ the Troops belonging to your own, and the late Sir Peter Halkett's Regiments, in such parts of his Majesty's Service to the Northward, as shall most require their Assistance; for which purpose I have sent you the Inclos'd Orders. I desire you will be pleasd to make me a Return of the State and Condition of His Majesty's two British Regiments, and the three Independent Companies under your own Command, as Also of Fort Cumberland at Wills's Creek, which I doubt not, you will take the best Care you can to have put into a proper posture of Defence. I am Your Most Obedt. Humble Servt. A true Copy Examd. W. SHIRLEY.1 WM. ALEXANDER Secy. Endorsed: Copy Major General Shirley's Letter to Colo: Dunbar dated Camp on Mohawks River Aug. 6th: 1755 1 Shirley has been censured for ordering Dunbar to New York, but this disposal of the British forces seems to have been the first effort to offset Dunbar's resolution to go into winter quarters in August. On hearing more definitely of conditions in Western Maryland and Virginia, Shirley at once determined that the frontiers should not be abandoned. See Shirley to Robinson, Aug. 11, following and to Dunbar, Aug. 12, p. 231. No change of view came to Lt. Gov. De Lancey, who would have agreed with Dunbar that nothing more should be attempted in the west. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO SIR THOMAS ROBINSON 1 SIR, Camp at the Carrying place of Oneida near the head of the Mohawks River Augt. 11th, 1755 It is with great Concern, that I transmit you the inclos'd Accounts of the Defeat of the Southern Forces under the immediate Command of the late Major General Braddock, and of the Retreat, which ensu'd upon it under the Command of Colonel Dunbar, contain'd in the Copies of two Letters from Capt. Orme his first Aid de Camp, one to myself, the other to Govr. Dinwiddie, another from Major Washington to Govr. Dinwiddie, a Letter from Colonel Dunbar to Govr. Morris, one from Govr. Dinwiddie to myself, and another from him to Colonel Dunbar; two of which I received on my March upon the Mohawk's River within these six days, and four by Express from Virginia last night, and beg leave to refer to for the particulars both of the Action, and the Re treat. From these Accounts it appears to me, that the first of these unfortunate Events is very much to be imputed to the Advantage, which the Enemy had of his Majesty's Forces from the Situation of the Ground, they were posted upon during the Engagement, and their Covert way of fighting in the Indian Manner from behind Trees and Logs; which occasion'd that Panick and Confusion in the Troops, that expos'd them not only to be shot down at Pleasure by the Enemy, but to be destroy'd by each other. 1 P. R. O., C. O., 5, 46. A transcript is in the Library of Congress. Inclosed in this letter are Robert Orme to Shirley of July 18 (ante, p. 207); George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie of same date (Ford, Writings of Washington, 1, 173); Robert Dinwiddie to Shirley of July 29 (ante, p. 211); and Extract of Proceedings of Council of War at New York, Aug. 1 (ante, p. 214). For a French account of the battle see 2 Penna. Arch. 6, 256. See also Winthrop Sargent, History of Braddock's Expedition, Philadelphia, 1855, and Shirley to Robinson, Nov. 5, post, p. 315. Other letters mentioned as inclosed are here omitted. |