Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Right Honble. Henry Fox Esqr.

One of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State.

Endorsed:

Boston, Septr 16th, 1756.

MAJR. GENL. SHIRLEY.

R Novr. Ist.

is illuminating so far as the characters of the two men are concerned. Shirley's letter is the sturdy honorable defense of an officer against what he considers unworthy attack. When Loudoun is compelled to admit a point in his predecessor's favor, he does it grudgingly. The Earl's letter may be judged by the following

extracts:

Albany 3d. October 1756.

From the time I received his Letter of August 10th, I resolved to drop all Correspondence with him, as Mr. Shirley; the governor I could not do that with: the only Letters I have writ him since, was the demand for Aid on the taking Oswego; the next was an Account of it's being certain that it was taken, in answer to one from him, in the name of his Assembly; the third was the Letter to Acquaint him, that it was expected, he should obey His Majestys Commands, in going home.

These are the only Letters I have wrote to him, for I have neither time nor Inclination, to enter into a Paper War with Mr. Shirley.

Since writing the above, I am informed, Mr. Shirley is endeavoring to lay the mismanagement at Oswego, on us; and says, that after he had forwarded Provisions to Schenectady, that we brought them back here; I was sure that had not happened after I arrived but must have been at the time he Commanded, if it was at all. And after examining into it, I have the State of that Case from the Commissary of Stores, who at that time, had the delivery of the whole Provisions, which I send enclosed.

I have said in my Observations on Mr. Shirley's last Letter, that I did not expect any of that Recruit to the Provincials of Six hundred Men, which he mentions or the Waggons, which there were no appearance of at that time; but that I may not do him any injustice I must now acknowledge, that there are arrived 320 Men, and Sixteen Ox Carts; and I hear, there are more Carts on the Road; they will be of great use, though they come very late, con

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO STEPHEN HOPKINS1

SIR,

Boston, September 20, 1756.

I have but a few moments time before the post will go out for the last time before I embark for England, to desire Your Honor to let me know by a letter to be transmitted to me, in England, under cover, to Messrs. Thomlinson and Trecothick, merchants, in London, how your Assembly and people would stand affected towards an expedition against Cape Breton, early in the spring, in case that should be proposed from England, with an assurance of the places being kept, and with proper arrangement.

I am, with great regard, &c., &c.

To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq.

W. SHIRLEY.

ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS TO HORATIO

DEAR SIR,

SHARPE [Extracts]2

Philad. Octor. 8th, 1756.

Your favour I had the honor to receive a few days after I gave the Government into Mr. Denny's hands, to whom I

sidering I demanded them August 20th and they arrive October 2d.

The Right Honble.

Henry Fox Esqr.}

LOUDOUN.

It should be remembered that between Aug. 20 and Oct. 2 the demand had to travel from Loudoun to Shirley, and the oxen had the return journey to take. See Morris to Sharpe of Oct. 8, following.

R. I. Col. Rec. 5, 565. The letter is interesting as illustrating Shirley's activity and the eagerness with which he turned to a new field of effort.

2 Original, Maryland Historical Society. Printed: Arch. of Maryland, 6, 492. These extracts are here given to show the view

wish a more agreeable, and advantageous administration, than fell to my share.

*

All designs of acting offensively seem to be laid aside for this year, and I do not know that we shall have as many men next summer as we had this, unless the New England governments are better pleased than I imagine they have had any reason of late to be. The Loss of Oswego I esteem a very fatal blow to the British Interest on this continent, and must be owing to the alterations made in the Plan of operations settled at New York which with great submission to better Judgements, I think could not be changed but for the worse. I find the N. York scheme is to lay the blame of that affair upon Genl. Shirley, but how just their censures are the following facts will show.

Genl. Webb arrived at New York. June 7th

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Genl. Abercromby arrived

both arrived at Albany

Do. 15

Do. 25

taken of Shirley's campaign by the Governor of Pennsylvania. Franklin's view was equally favorable.

A different and less friendly opinion is that of Sir John St. Clair in his letter to Sharpe of Sept. 22: "What has happened to us by Mr. Shirley's conduct is enough to alter the nature of Man, nor do I find he has altered his way of thinking since he has been superceeded" [sic]. This was written before the aids raised by Shirley, after leaving New York, had been received and in the unfavorable atmosphere caused by the controversy regarding rank between the British and Colonial officers. Lt. Col. St. Clair served under Braddock at Fort Duquesne and saw in the failure of the New Nork campaign a disaster of almost equal weight. For this disaster he placed all blame upon Shirley, who appeared to be condemned already. Judgments of the time favorable to Loudoun are liable to be influenced by the fact that the latter was the new Commander in Chief and representative of the Crown in America. An opinion of Governor Dinwiddie would be regarded as hardly impartial when we find him in a letter of Oct. 28 to Loudoun offering to pay that general from Mar. 8, 1756, the same amount that he had been paying Lord Albemarle for his commission as Governor of Virginia (Dinwiddie Papers, 2, 534); and judgments from other persons dependent upon the Earl would be little more trustworthy.

On the 26th of June Genl. Shirley acquainted Genl. Abercromby of the state of Oswego and advised the sending two Battalions there.

Bradstreet returned to Albany on the 12th of July having thrown into Oswego six months Provisions for five thousand men, and a great quantity of Ammunition and naval stores, and defeated a party of French and Indians on his way back; and on the same 12th of July informed Genl. Abercromby that he had intelligence from his Prisoners, that a french army was in motion and designed to attack Oswego; whereupon the 44th Regiment was ordered to hold itself in readyness to march to Oswego.

Lord Loudoun arrived at New York,
Do arrived at Albany

[ocr errors]

July 23
Do 29

On the 12th of August the 44th Regiment moved towards Burnets field, with a number of Battoe men who had remained Idle at Schenectaday from the 11th of July and on the 19th of August Genl. Webb then at Burnets field, received the news of Oswego's being taken, upon which he marched to the Oneida carrying place and ordered the wood creek to be filld with trees, which was accordingly very effectually stopd.

I have mentioned these facts that you might be satisfied of the truth with respect to that important Loss.

I wish you much health and success in every affair you undertake and am with great truth,

Dr Sir

Your Most obedt

Humble servt

ROBT H. Morris.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY 1

To the Rt. Honble. Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury.

The Memorial of Major General William 'Shirley, late General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in North America.

Humbly Sheweth,

That your Memorialist, pursuant to the Directions of His Majesty's late Secretary at War, reimburs'd himself in America for the Expences, he had been at, for Levy Money, and the incident Charges of inlisting the Soldiers of his late Regiment; which he did with all the Frugality in his power, the said Expences falling 10s. 3d. per man short of what was allow'd to him and Major General Sir William Pepperrell upon the Reduction of their former Regiment in 1749 for the like Charges; as also of what was allow'd by His Majesty for the like Expence of raising Levies in North America for the Royal American Regiment, since the Commencement of the present Warr.

That your Memorialist, in raising the beforementioned Levies, was oblig'd to employ Recruiting Parties in the four Colonies of New England, and the three Provinces of New Jersey, New York, and Pensilvania; from which three. Provinces it was necessary to transport the Troops inlisted there (amounting to 426 Men) by Sea to Boston, chiefly in the Winter, which cost your Memorialist £575: 1: 6; and their Subsistence in the three beforementioned Provinces from the time of their being rais'd to their Imbarkation for Boston (which he likewise paid) cost him £148: 8/, as will appear by the Accompt of those Expences herewith presented, and sworn to.

That he was likewise oblig'd to be at the Charge of £513: 1 B. M., Additional Manuscript 33055, 240. A transcript is in the Library of Congress.

« AnteriorContinuar »