from Quebeck, dated the 17th August last they had receiv'd advice there, that a body of 3000 English was Arriv'd about thirty Leagues Distance of Fort Frederick, and that Another Courier arriv'd at Montreal, with an Account, that on the 12th of August they were within Ten Leagues of the Fort; that Baron Dieskau, who was march'd with the Troops sent from France, and 4500 men part Canadians and part Wild Indians, to form the Siege of Fort Chouaguen, had given over that Enterprize, and was March'd towards Fort Frederick with two Battalions, 1200 Canadians, and 600 Indians, which the Governour of Quebeck got together upon the first News of the March of the English. Extract of an Article from Paris dated Octr. 20th, 1755. Examin'd by WM. ALEXANDER, Secy. Endorsed: Extract of an Article from Paris dated Octr. 20th, 1755. in M. G. Shirley's, Janry 12th, 1756. THOMAS DUNBAR AND THOMAS GAGE TO WILLIAM SHIRLEY BEHAVIOUR OF THE TROOPS AT THE MONONGAHELA 1 Albany, [October] 21, 1755. By Order of His Excellency Major General The different Officers of the late Sir Peter 'P. R. O., C. O. 46. Inclosed in Shirley to Robinson, Nov. 5, 1755. The inquiry is endorsed Nov. 21, probably an error for Oct. 21, and was undertaken at Shirley's direction (pp. 242 and Major General Braddock on the Monongahela on the 9th of July 1755, being Called to enquire into the Causes and Circumstances of the bad Behaviour of the King's Troops in the said Action, — It Appears that the Troops were on their March when the first Alarm was given by a Fire on the Van Guard, Commanded by Coll Gage; That an Order was then given to the Main Body to advance; that they Accordingly Marched forward in good Order and with great Alacrity, but when they had Advanced to a particular place, they were ordered to halt with a design of forming into a Line of Battle, But when that was Attempted, it Proved ineffectual, the Whole falling into Confusion, and all the endeavours of the Officers could not get them into any Regular Form, and being by this time within Reach of the Enemy's Fire, they Appeared Struck with a panick, and though some seemed Willing to Obey, when Ordered to form, Others Crowded upon them, Broke their order, and Prevented it; and in this Irregular Manner they Expended a great part of their Ammunition. Notwithstanding this Confusion, there were several Parties advanced from the Main Body in order to Recover the cannon, but were fired upon, from the Rear by our own people, by which Many were killed, and a great Many of them Discharged their pieces even in the Air; This confusion having now Continued upwards of three hours, an Order was given to beat a Retreat to bring the Men to Cover the Waggons, and Carry off as Much as Could be, they stood about the Waggons for some Little time Without any fire, and then 316). A transcript is in the Library of Congress and another is among the Parkman Papers in the Mass. Hist. Society. Thomas Gage was Lt. Col. of the 44th regiment under Braddock. He is better known to Americans as Governor of Massachusetts at the opening of the American Revolution, serving from 1774 to October 1775. His military advancement dates from 1758 when he became Colonel of the 80th regiment. He was placed in command of the Army in North America in 1763 and made a Lt. Genrl. in 1770. Retiring to England at the close of his career in Massachusetts, Gage died in 1787. a Smart fire Coming from the Front and Left Flank, the Whole took to Flight; Several Attempts were made to halt the Men, in Order to Make a Regular Retreat, but to no purpose, they went off as fast as they Could, until they got about three Miles from the field of Action, where there were about a hundred Men, halted with much Difficulty untill several Small Bodies Join'd them from the Rear, and then Continued the Retreat. The Question being Asked, if any of the Men Could be Named, who had behaved Remarkably ill, Answer was made they Could Not Name any in particular and that the Bad behaviour was general; however, that Courts Martial were held on the Armys Arrival at Fort Cumberland, and the men, who had come off unwounded without Arms or Accoutrements were punished. The Bad behaviour of the Men is in some Measures Attributed to the following Reasons. Ist: They were greatly Harrass'd by dutys unequal to their Numbers, Dispirited by Want of Sufficient Provisions, and not being allowed time to dress the little they had, with nothing to Drink but Water, and that Often Scarce and Bad. 2d: The frequent Conversations of the Provincial Troops and Country people was, that if they engaged the Indians in their European Manner of fighting, they would be Beat, and this some of their Officers Declared as their Opinion, and one of them to Coll Dunbar on the Retreat, for which he Severely Reprimanded him. 3d: The Want of Indians or other irregulars to give timely Notice of the Enemy's Approach, having only three or four, guides for out Scouts. Lastly the Novelty of an invisible enemy and the Nature of the Country, which was entirely a Forest. A true Copy Examin'd by THOS. DUNBAR Colo. Endorsed: Inquiry into the Behaviour of the Troops at the Monongahela dated Albany 21st Novr. 1755. in Govr. Shirley's Novr. 5, 1755 WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO WILLIAM WILLIAMS 1 INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAPT. WILLIAMS Fort Williams, October 29, 1755. You are to employ as many of the Men of the Detachment under your Command as you possibly can, in finishing the Fort this day marked out at this place and called Fort Williams, and Compleating Barracks therein sufficient to contain 150 men. You are also to build therein a Store house of about the same dimensions of that already built here, and as soon as the Barracks are fit to receive the Men of your Detachment you are to Quarter them therein. When the Works above directed are Compleated, you are to employ as many of the Men under your Command as you judge can be safely spared from Fort Williams in mending and repairing the road from hence to Wood Creek, especially in making a good Bridge over the place called the Morass, by first laying good sizeable Logs lengthways, parrallel to the road, well pinned down and then by laying other Logs of a less Size across and well fastned to the former. And as I have ordered Lieutt. Col. Mercer to send from Oswego an Officer and thirty Men, to reinforce your De 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. A second copy is in C. O. 5, 47, and there is a transcript in the Library of Congress. 2 Fort Williams was at the eastern end of the Mohawk or "Great Carrying Place." Its importance lay in its commanding the trade between the English and the Six Nations and guarding the route to Oswego and Lake Ontario. The carry was between the Mohawk River and Wood's Creek. A map in Hurlbut, "Historic Highways," 7, 143, reproducing one in the British Museum, shows the various forts at the crossing. tachment, you are to take them under your Command, and quarter them also in Fort Williams. And Whereas I have ordered Capt. Marcus Petri with the Men under his Command to build a Fort at the upper Landing on the Wood Creek, to be called Wood Creek Fort, and when that is Compleated to detain 20 of the Men of his Company to be employed in cleaning the Wood Creek down to the Mouth thereof and when that is finished and Capt. Petri leaves that Fort it will be proper to have a Guard there, you are then to send an Officer with thirty Men to Garrison that Fort. When the Works above directed are Compleated you are to build another Storehouse in Wood Creek Fort. And Lastly you are to endeavour to get as much Provision as you can, carried over to Wood Creek Fort. Yesterday I had the Honour to receive a Letter from You dated the 28th of August,2 acquainting me that their Excellencies the Lords Justices were pleased to order me to take, for the present and until His Majesty's Pleasure shall be further signified, the Command in Chief of all his Maj 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. A transcript is in the Library of Congress and another is in the Parkman Papers in the Mass. Hist. Society. 2 Ante, p. 242. In a circular letter of November 4 from the Lords of Trade to the Colonial Governors, the establishment of a packet boat service between America and Great Britain had been considered, thus securing a more regular means of communication. (1 N. J. Arch. 8, pt. 2, 146.) |