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situated to send parties from for the purpose aforesaid to gain advantages.

The reasons why I would neglect Shirley and Pelham Fort is because the Indians were scarce ever known the last war to come down Deerfield River, and that road is very bad and almost impassable. Shirley is rotten and if maintained must be rebuilt. That at Morrisons will answer as well and can be much easier supply'd. After all if our Government would build a Fort upon the top of Hooseck Mountain between Pelham and Fort Massachusetts it would shorten the scouting and answer as well the first proposed line thro Charlemont.

I would further propose that two Forts be built between Massachusetts Fort and Hudsons River, as laid down in the plan, between which places there is a large opening where the Enemy can (now Hooseck is destroyed) come down to the Dutch Settlements, Stockbridge and Sheffield, and where they are gone to Connecticut without difficulty, nay I apprehend the Westerly towns of Connecticut are exposed now to such bold fellows as were at Stockbridge; that one Fort be built and garrisoned by Connecticut, the other by New York. This line of Forts will shut up all between Connecticut and Hudson's Rivers and be the cheapest and best defence and security to all within, if well supplyd with men, of anything I can at present think of, and if your Excellency approves of it and should press it upon those Govts. it is so reasonable and also necessary for their safety I cant but hope they would at once comply with it.

As to the Forts above the line, if the Govt. of New Hampshire would support them it might be well, but the Advantages that would arise to this Govt. by doing it, would not countervail the expence, nor lessen the charge we might be at in defending our Frontiers in the Left Sides of the River where they can be much easier and Cheaper Supply'd with Provisions. Notwithstanding the Garrison at No. 4. the Enemy can and will come down Black River, Williams River, or West River, go over East or turn down South, without hazard, and return with like Security the same ways or go above.

The grand design Colo. Stoddard had in Garrisoning No. 4, was that Parties might be sent out from thence to waylay the roads from Crown Point and said there ought to be 100 men, posted there, well supply'd, fifty to be out at a Time. But he liv'd to see himself disappointed, the Govt. never did afford a sufficient Number of men for that Purpose, and it was with the utmost difficulty Provisions were obtained for those that were there, many were lost there and in going without doing any great good. That Fort might divert the Enemy Sometimes, but 'till the French join openly with the Indians, they will not fight Forts much, but in Small Parties carry on a Scalping War, and the more Compact the better it will be for us.

The Attempt to settle those distant places in the Wilderness in the manner it has been carried on, I never tho't prudent and to protect them will be extremely difficult and chargeable.

I Submit the whole, who am your Excelcys. most obedt. Humble Sert.

His Excelcy. Wm Shirley Esqr.

ISR. WILLIAMS.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO ISRAEL WILLIAMS 1

SIR,

Boston, September 26, 1754.

I have received a Packet from you by Major Williams, containing a Plan of the Western Parts of the Province, a List of the Officers and Centinells in your Regiment, and three Letters, one dated the 12th and two the 17th of September Instant.

I am extremely well satisfied with the great care and vigilance you have already shew'd for the protection and safety of the people upon the Western Frontier, and have great Confidence in your abilities and fidelity in the discharge of

1 Original, L. S., Mass. Hist. Society, Col. Israel Williams Manuscripts, 71 D, 87.

your military trust, upon any future emergency, at this dangerous conjuncture.

As to the difficulty, you mention in your letter of the 12th Instant to arise from the appearance, which my second Orders to you have of abridging the Power given you in my first Orders, and confining it to the Limits of your own Regiment, I think my remarks upon the inclos'd copys of the Orders, I sent to Colo. Worthington, and my second Orders to your self, will best clear that up, and explain both of them, so as to make them consistent with each other.

I am glad, you found your Regiment and the towns within. the limits of it, so well provided with arms and ammunition, as they appear to be by your return upon those articles. Exact care should be taken that all failures and deficiencies be fully and speedily made up: The refusal of the Selectmen of the Town of Northampton to give any Account of their Town Stock shall be inquired into.

It is necessary, that the limits of your's and Colonel Worthington's respective Regiments should be settled, I don't apprehend any better rule for doing that than the former settlement under Colo. Stoddard, vizt. the Northern Line of Springfield, which is the Southern Line of Northampton and Hadley to be the dividing Line; and so I state it, at least for the present; if there should be any good reason for altering it, that may be done hereafter.

Major Williams will accept of a new commission for Fort Massachusetts, which I design shall be enlarged by a superior command over the soldiers posted at Pontoosuck in special cases; I should be sorry to do anything, which may look like a slight upon the present Commander Captn. Chapin, of whose courage I have a good opinion; but as the command which the King's service now requires the Captain of that fort to have given him, must be enlarged, and Major Williams, besides being an officer whom I look upon to be well qualified for it, hath those further pretensions to it, that it was upon his resignation of the command of the Fort, that Captn. Chapin was commission'd for it, I hope he will not think it a slight upon him, if when I add another charge to

the Captain's Commission for that Fort, I give it [to] Major Williams; I shall be very glad if he will serve as Lieutenant under Major Williams, and will give him the first proper promotion, which shall happen in my power; You will be pleased to let Captn. Chapin know this; and I leave it to your discretion to act in the manner, you shall think proper, with the inclos'd blank commissions concerning the Captain and Lieutt. of Fort Massachusetts as well as the others.

I inclose a Major's commission for Captn. Elijah Williams, dated the day after Major Hawley's commission; Be pleased to let him know that it is my clear opinion, he may accept it quite consistently with his honour, considering the circumstances of Major Hawley's appointment, notwithstanding Major Hawley is a Junior Captain to him: I shall likewise appoint Captn. Williams Commissary, as desired in your letter.

I approve very well of the command, you propose for Lieutent. Hawkes, whom I have a good knowledge and opinion of, and inclose a blank commission for him, to be filled up by yourself accordingly.

The plan you sent hath been of great service for my information in the state of the Western Frontier, and I much approve of the Line of Forts propos'd by you for the defence and protection of it, by marching parties or scouts.

So far as I could go in the execution of it before the meeting of the General Court, I have gone, and propos'd to his Majesty's Council the augmentation of the garrison of Fort

assachusetts with 25 men, and 30 men to be posted and employed in scouting as you shall think most for the protection of the frontier under your care, which you will find they have advis'd to, and you will raise the men accordingly.

When the General Court meets I shall endeavour to carry the remainder of your scheme into execution, and shall make the protection and defence of that part of the Province, in the most effectual manner in every respect, one of the principal objects of my attention.

Major Williams put me in mind of a special commission which I gave the late Colo. Stoddard, appointg him to a

military command, which he held during the late war, for the defence of the Western Parts of the Province: I should be glad if you or Major Williams could by any means recover a copy of that commission for me.

I shall be glad to give you a mark of the regard, I have for you, in that way, or any other which may happen in my power; and am,

Sir,

Your most assur'd Friend

and Servant.

W. SHIRLEY.

Colonel Israel Williams.

STATE OF THE REGIMENTS OF WILLIAM SHIRLEY AND SIR WILLIAM PEPPERRELL1

Mr. Shirleys and Mr. Pepperels Regts. were raised out of the men who went to take Cape Breton.

The Estabt. was made to commence from 24th Septr. 1745and the first Estabt was for 92 days to 25 Decr. 1745.

18 Septr. 1754. The Paymt. Genl., by letter from Mr. Scrope, was directed to advance 3 months subsistence for the Officers and Companies of those Regts. to enable them to proceed there and to raise Men for forming the Regts.

In 1750 [Apr. 10] Sr. Wm. Pepperel demanded £6292. 16: for Levy money Contingencies for 832 men at 7. 11. 3 man. He was allowed 3733. 7. o. for 758 men only, and it was paid out of monies in the hands of the Paymat. by mustering the Regt. compleat to 24 Decr. 1745, and by savings by Respits on the Muster Rolls.

Mr. Shirley also demanded £8364. 8. o for 1103 men at £7. 12. I a man which was reduced to £6691. 13. 4 which was for 880 men and paid in like manner.

The first Establishment of Shirleys and Pepperels Regiments was for 92 days from 24 Septr: 1745 to 24 Decr. fol1 B. M., Additional Manuscript 33046, 293-315. A transcript is in the Library of Congress.

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