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further in Charge to assure those Indians that if the Treaty took full effect, and their future actions corresponded to the Professions made to the Deputies of the Six Nations, they shoud find a ready Disposition in this Government to return to their old Friendship, on their giving up the English Prisoners and acknowledging their Faults.

The Council requests of your Excellency that you will be pleased to make Sir William Johnson acquainted with these matters that they may be properly mentioned at the Treaty at Onondaga and if this be done they apprehend no ill consequences can attend the Declaration of war but that it will appear that this Government tho' reduced to the necessity of making it and offering rewards for such, as woud go out against such a Destructive Enemy, has paid a due regard to the Mediation of the Six Nations, and will still do it, nor do the council think that Sir William Johnson shoud blame, but rather justify this step, especially as during the time of the meeting at Otsaningo, the Delawares from the Ohio, were doing their greatest mischief both in this and the neighbouring Provinces, and do still vow not to leave an English Man alive, which shoud stir up these very Susquehannah Indians, in conjunction with the Six Nations to assist us in bringing them to terms of Peace, and to consider this Declaration as made against these implacable and obstinate Enemies and not against any that now are or hereafter may be disposed to hearken to the Six Nations mediating in our favour.

The Council doubts not but the Governor will concur with them in these Sentiments and supply what is wanting of his Authority in this letter, but in the mean time till he can signify this himself, as he is at a Distance they thought it their duty to lay these matters before your Excellency, and request they may be communicated to Sir William Johnson, with all possible dispatch to take off any prejudice that may arise in his mind or with the Indians, on occasion of this Declaration, and least any accident shoud have befallen Mr. Claus, and the Letters sent by him miscarry they further desire you will furnish Sir William Johnson, with one of the

Printed Proclamations and the Copy of the Governor's Letter to him, of the 24th April.

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In this Letter I have the Honour to transmit you an Account of the Progress made in the Preparations for executing that part of the plan of Operations contain'd in the Council of War held at New York the 12th and 13th of December, which is there propos'd to be carry'd on this Year upon the Great Lakes and River Ohio.

In my Letter of the 6th Instant I observ'd that his Majesty's Service both at Lake George, and Oswego had suffer'd the last Year for Want of a sufficient Number of Waggons, Horses, and Battoe-men's being furnish'd by the then Governor of New York, for transporting the Men, Provisions, Artillery and Military Stores necessary to be employ'd in those two Expeditions; and acquainted you with the Measures, I had taken for preventing his Majesty's Service from suffering in the same Manner this Year in the present Expedition against Crown-point; and am now to inform you, Sir, that to prevent it from suffering in this Article at Oswego, and to secure the transportation of a sufficient Quantity of Provisions. and Stores to that place for 6000 Men during the whole Campaigne, I gave Orders for engaging 2000 Battoe-men to be dispos'd into Companies of 50 Men each under the Command

'P. R. O., C. O. 5, 46. A transcript is in the Library of Congress, and another among the Parkman Papers in the Mass. Hist. Society. 2 Ante, p. 433.

of one Captain and an Assistant, and to be put under the General Direction of one Officer well Skill'd in the many Branches of this important Trust; the due Execution of which is absolutely necessary for supplying his Majesty's Service upon the Lake Ontario with Magazines of provisions and Stores, and will require not only the whole time and Attention of the Officer employ'd in it, but likewise his personal Attendance on every part of the Duty: and for this Reason, Sir, I have been oblig'd to constitute a New Officer (Lt. Colonel Bradstreet) to superintend this Busness, which together with the Care of overseeing the Construction of the Whale Boats propos'd to be employ'd on the same Lake, and clearing the Obstructions in the whole Water Carriage between Schenectada and Oswego could not possibly be executed by the Deputy Quarter Master General, consistently with the Business of his Department; especially if his Attendance should be necessary, any part of this Campaigne on Lake Champlain; which is most likely to be the

case.

In Consequence of this Provision the 2000 BattoeMen have been rais'd, and the Chief part of them been some time employ'd in transporting Provisions and Stores to Oswego, 600 Battoe Loads at least of which, and 200 Whale Boat Loads must be, as I am inform'd, at Oswego by this time.

The 44th, 48th, 50th, and 51st Regiments are now almost compleat.

The Recruits of the 50th and 51st, and the New Jersey Regiment are march'd for Oswego; the 44th and 48th, with the Detachment of Royal Artillery are under Orders to take the Field at 48 Hours warning; and two of the Independent Companies of New York are posted at the Magazine on the German Flatts, and the little Carrying place on this Side, for the Security of the Provisions there and keeping open the Communication between Schenectada and those places.

The greatest part of the Provisions necessary for the Troops destin'd for Oswego are at Albany and Schenectada,

except that part of them, which, as I have before observ'd, are moving from thence to Oswego.

And as I can't find hitherto, that Sir William Johnson hath brought the Indians of the Six Nations to be of the least service in keeping the Road thro' their own Country to Oswego open, and free from Scalping parties of the French Indians, who have found means to surprize and cutt off a small Fort and Party of 25 Men at one End of the Great Carrying place, I have order'd three Companies of Rangers, consisting of one Captain, one Lieutenant, one Ensign, two Serjeants, two Corporals and 60 Men each to be rais'd as soon as may be, and constantly employ'd in Scouting the Country from the German Flatts to Oswego; which I am fully perswaded is absolutely necessary to be done for keeping open the Communication between that place and Oswego, and will effectually do it, besides making frequent Incursions into the Enemy's Country, and committing Ravages in it.1

I am likewise, Sir, to acquaint you that the Commanding Officer of the Vessells built on the Lake Ontario the last Year is gone to Oswego, with a sufficient Number of Sailors to fit them out as soon as possible; and 100 Carpenters are gone there to build three Vessells more, 30 of which have been at Work on them above five Weeks, and the Stores for them all are on their Way to Oswego.

I shall have the Honour of transmitting you an Account of the Situation of Indian Affairs by the next Opportunity;

The following extract from a letter of Sir William Johnson to Shirley written May 10 shows the conditions on the route to Oswego:

wish the Companies of Rangers, your Excellency mentions, were ready to go upon Duty, when I would hope to be able to join Indians with them; and unless this Method takes place, I despair of the Communication to Oswego being secur'd.

Endorsed:

Extract of Sir William

Johnson's Letter to

General Shirley dated

10th May 1756.

a true Copy, WM. ALEXANDER, Secy.

the time of this pacquets' Sailing not permitting me to do it

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Before I left Boston, the Massachusetts government passed an act of Assembly, to subject the troops raised within this Province for the expedition against Crown Point, to the King's articles of war, a copy of which act, I have ordered the Province secretary to send Your Honour; and I look upon this point to be so essential an one for keeping up a proper command and discipline among the provincial troops, as well as regulars, that I must recommend it to Your Honour in the strongest terms, as I have to all the other governments concerned in this expedition, to pass a like act with regard to their troops.

The season of the year for opening the campaign, is now far advanced, and Your Honour is sensible how much the success of our operation against the enemy depends upon our entering early upon action.

1 R. I. Col. Rec. 5, 526. See ibid. 5, 492-494, for act of May 8 providing for the regulation and government of Rhode Island troops on the Crown Point Expedition.

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