as to ensure the capture of the Blockhouses, now erecting at Fort Brewerton, Three Rivers, &c.

It is manifest that we shall be able to transport them with a certain degree of facility, and it may be possible that we might destroy, or occupy, if it be an Object, Fort Schuyler or Stanwix, tho' I should rather prefer this place to become in the first campaign a point of assembly for the Enemy-we filling up Wood Creek.

The next requisite, My Lord, for this expedition is its Officers. In this Province, the Captains Shank, Smith and Shaw of the Queen's Rangers, Captn. Seward of the Artillery and Captn. Bunbury of the 5th, are probably second to no men in their respective ranks and situations.

An able Field Officer is without doubt necessary to command, either, as my second or in Chief, if, as probably may be the case, the King's Interests should require my presence elsewhere.

Should Your Lordship under existing circumstances spare Lt. Col. Beckwith for such attempts, my satisfaction would be complete. I know him to be perfectly calculated for this kind of Service, and that he possesses the good opinion of the Officers of the Queen's Rangers, who in the late War, were personally acquainted with him. I have also the highest opinion of the spirit of resource and experience of Captain Gleason of the Artillery, for an enterprise that requires so much combination.

On the supposition that such an attempt should be entirely successful and that he should preserve posts of communication completely fortified with stockades of trees, &c., &c., (as were practiced by the Loyalists, &c., on Bergen Point in the late War), and reclaim Three River Point, Oswego and the Great Sodus, our naval station for Gun Boats &c., during the Winter, it is probable that the levies of Troops in the Provinces &c., from the United States, would be successfully carried on, and should, by any circumstances, Lower Canada be secure, and Yr. Lordship by a competent reinforcement from Europe, and the accumulation of these Levies, secretly raised and despatched in silence, be enabled to move early in the ensuing Spring into this Province, the Power of retaliating attempts might be of infinite extent, by acting on the Mohawk, the Susquehanna or Ohio.

The United States would hazard all their Colonies or Settlements beyond the Mountains, and perhaps ultimately, by a successful co-operation on the sea-coast, be effectually dismembered and disabled from prosecuting those malignant and malicious views which self-defence must of necessity in some period or other compel Great Britain to consider as the main Object of her Policy.

I have thus offered to Your Lordship a summary of my Ideas on the Subject of this Country, and its present Power, not only to repel, but to retaliate any hostile attempts-I need not represent to Your Lordship's experience that it is almost impracticable to form any kind of satisfactory system in War, but it is peculiarly so where the Powers to be combined are a scanty and divided Army, indefensible Fortresses, unprovided Arsenals, an untried Militia and Indian Allies. In such difficulties all that a zealous Servant of the King has to offer is the exertion of his best Abilities. I have the honor to be, &c., J. G. SIMCOE.

Rt. Honble. Lord Dorchester.

Sir:

FROM R. H. SHEAFFE TO CHARLES WILLIAMSON.

SODUS, 16th August, 1794.

Having a special Commission for that purpose from the Lieutenant-Governor of His Britannic Majesty's Province of Upper Canada, I have come here to demand by what authority an establishment has been ordered at this place, and to require that such a design be immediately relinquished, for the reasons stated in the written declaration accompanying this letter, and for the receipt of which Protest I have taken the acknowledgement of your Agent, Mr. Little.

I regret exceedingly in my private as well as public character that I have not the satisfaction of seeing you here, but I hope, on my return, which will be about a week hence, to be more fortunate.

Captain Williamson, Bath.

I am, Sir, &c.,

R. H. SHEAFFE, Lieut. 5th Regt.
Q.M.G. Dept. in His Britannic Majesty's Service.

FROM ROBERT HAMILTON TO J. G. SIMCOE.

To His Excellency John Graves Simcoe, Esquire, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Upper Canada, &c., &c., &c.

May it please Your Excellency.

His Majesty's loyal and faithful Subjects of the Home District of Upper Canada, tho' at present they do not know a single disaffected person, possessed of property among them, Yet anxious to maintain and preserve the blessings they enjoy from their connection with Great Britain, and their participation of her happy Constitution, Do wish to associate for the purpose of supporting the Laws, of discountenancing all seditious or incendiary opinions, and of defending at the risk of their Lives and Fortunes, their present Government against all foreign or domestic Enemies and they do most humbly entreat Your Excellency to sanction and countenance these their Loyal Intentions in this Association.

Newark, August 16, 1794.

R. HAMILTON, Chairman of the Association.

Endorsed:-Mr. Hamilton, Chairman of the Loyal Association to His Excellency, The Lieutenant Governor. August 16, 1794.

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO ALEXANDER MCKEE.

NIAGARA, August 17th, 1794.

Sir:

I have just received your letter of the 4th of August by an Express overland, which at the same time brought me your letter of the 7th of August to Lieutenant Colonel England, with the information that a part of General Wayne's Army had arrived at the Glaize.

Captain Bunbury will be the bearer of this letter. He will also communicate

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with you on all such measures as may be necessary in this critical situation. I consider the possession of Turtle Island of great importance.

It is with confidence that I rely on you in this exigency to keep up the resolution of the Indians. It is obvious that if Wayne attacks the Miamis Post that a War commences between Great Britain and the United States, in which case his distance from all supplies will, I hope, ultimately occasion the destruction of his Army. In case he remains at the Glaize, (I believe he will proceed), on our side of the Line, the Indians will meet with protection and provisions.

Brant is here and is anxious for our instantly collecting to attack (with the Indians) Wayne's Army. I hope we may be assured that the Pennsylvanians will not occupy Presque Isle.

Sir:

Endorsed:-D'ft to Colonel McKee. 17th August, 1794.

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO R. G. ENGLAND.

August 17th, 3 P.M.

I am to Acknowledge your letter of the 8th of August and its important enclosures.

I am glad, as at present it is neither proper for you nor myself to go to the Miamis, that you have detached Major Campbell to that Post.

Captain Bunbury on my receival of your letter of the 5th Inst., was immediately detached to occupy the Post on Turtle Island with such Instructions as he will communicate to you when he shall place himself under your command. Upon your letter which I have just received I have ordered a further reinforcement of

C. S. Ser. Dr. R. & F. 1 1 2 1

40.

the Queen's Rangers to be added to his command. This detachment, together with the soldiers of the Queen's Rangers whom I have formerly sent to the Miamis Post with Lieutenant Pilkington, I consider with the Shipping and Gun Boats as necessary to be stationed at Turtle Island to prevent all egress from the Miamis River or access to it.

I hope that every means will be made use of to preserve the confidence of the Indians, and that proper measures will be taken to explain to them that the nature

Cannon

2.

2

Six

of Mr. Wayne's irruption must probably be ruinous to himself, that if he attacks the King's Posts, his Subjects will rise up as one man against him, that they will be amply supported if they choose to retire on our side of the water, and there can be little doubt that their Great Father over the water, when he hears of this inroad which the Virginians have made, on account of his attachment to the Indians, will exert his utmost power to drive the Enemy back and restore to them their just inheritance. I sketch this as the general style of argument which I doubt not but your zeal and ability will improve to the public advantage.

Pounders.

S. R. & F.

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20

I particularly recommended small Gun Boats to your attention. The Commandant's Boat, your builder assured me, would be able to carry two Six Pounders with facility.

It must be obvious that by your Shipping the Transport Vessels, unless in case of emergency, should Lord Dorchester order any movement of Troops, it would not be practicable to execute.

Be so good as to send down Lt. Giving's Recruits.

Endorsed:-D'ft to Colonel England, 17th August, 1794.

Sir:

FROM ALEXANDER MCKEE TO R. G. ENGLAND.

RAPIDS, 17th August, 1794.

Agreeably to my promise of yesterday I have now to inform you that the Indians have this day returned an answer to General Wayne's speech. It is entirely calculated to gain a few days time in hopes that the Poutewatomis and Indians about Detroit may increase their strength so as to enable them to meet him with a prospect of advantage. It is said that he is reinforced by another 1000 of the Kentucky Militia, who have orders to bring up more Artillery. I have the honor to be, &c.,

To Colonel England.

Sir:

FROM R. G. ENGLAND TO J. G. SIMCOE.

A. MCKEE.

DETROIT, Aug 17th, 10 o'clock A.M.

This dispatch, which I now have the honor to forward to your Excellency, was sent on the 15th inst. to the Mouth of this River, with hopes of overtaking the Beaver, which unluckily sailed from thence a few hours before my Express arrived there. I now send it by the Nancy and I have directed the master of her to speak to any vessel that he meets on the Lake, supposing your Excellency may be on board of her. I have also sent copies of this dispatch now forwarded by an express by land.

I send under the care of the master of the Nancy, Mr. Newman, the Acting Quarter-master of the Kentucky Militia, who deserted from them, as has been reported to your Excellency, you will find him a smart sensible young man, and acquainted with the opinions of the people he quitted, but you must give him time to answer and not hurry him. He this morning informed me that he is confident the Kentucky Militia does not in the whole amount to more than fifteen hundred, and that a part of that number was left behind. I now send this man that you may have an opportunity of speaking to him and obtaining information from him. Mr. Mills, the master of the Nancy, may be relied on, and I have intrusted him to his care, and also an American pack horseman taken in the unlucky affair near Fort Recovery, all the information Newman has hitherto given proves correct. I endeavoured to make a friend of him and gave him a suit of clothes and proper provisions. He wrote me several letters, some of which I forward to you, to explain the kind of man he is. The number of Indians collected at the Foot of the Rapids amount by my letter of the 5th inst., to thirteen hundred warriors and more were met on their way there by my Express.

The Garrison and Colonel McKee are plentifully supplied with provisions, a great number, above sixty, is sent in here sick, and every vessel that arrives brings in some. I endeavoured to replace them as well as our few numbers will allow me. I have not here more than twenty men fit for duty, and those are employed day and night on duty and fatigue.

I have ordered the Militia Commanders to have their Regiments ready to move at the shortest notice, whether in the whole or by detachments as may be considered expedient. Col. Caldwell is at Fort Miamis, with sixty or seventy fighting men with arms. Mr. Francis Baby is there with one hundred Canadians

to work, and I have sent Mr. Montigny to the River aux Raisins, to procure a detachment from that settlement with arms to go to the Fort, and also with instructions to send away from the River aux Raisins all the corn collected there and all the cattle, and in case the corn cannot be moved to destroy it, provided that he finds General Wayne proposes to move that way, this is to be delayed until the last moment that the Inhabitants may not be distressed. I beg leave to suggest to your Excellency the propriety of ordering an additional quantity of provisions for this Post, particularly corn and flour, in case it should be found necessary to feed the Indians for any length of time. I send an account of what we now have here, but I know there is a large quantity at Turtle Island, on board the Chippawa and Dunmore, exclusive of rations at the Fort for fifty days for three hundred and fifty men.

His Excellency Lieut.-Gov. Simcoe.

I have, &c.,

R. G. ENGLAND.

Sir:

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO R. G. ENGLAND.

In consequence of an Act of the Legislature of the Province of Upper Canada in their second Session for the better regulating of the Militia of this Province and of the Thirteenth Clause of that Act, I am empowered to call out the Militia of the Province of Upper Canada to serve in conjunction with His Majesty's Forces, under the guidance or superintendance of such Officers as I shall appoint.

I hereby require and direct that you immediately consult with the Lieutenants or Deputy Lieutenants of the Counties of Essex and Kent, and if it be necessary in any case, call out the whole of the Militia of those Counties respectively, or if it be more conducive to the public Service that they, as Lieutenants of the Counties aforesaid by their own authority, call out such detachments as may be necessary, agreeably to the Fourteenth Section of the above treated Act, to serve under your general guidance and command.

I also enclose the Act as amended in the said Session which ascertains the Nature and Extent of the Services on which the Militia may be employed.

N.B. If you can procure some able bodied men from the Militia to serve in the Garrison of Fort Lernoult with the Artillery, they may be assured not of Infantry but of Gunner's Pay.

Endorsed:-To Colonel England, 17th August, 1794.

Sir:

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO ROBERT PRATT.

NAVY HALL, 17th August.

In case the Saguina has not sailed you will be pleased to order the detachment of the Queen's Rangers under the orders of Captain Bunbury, together with the two men of the Royal Artillery, two six pounders and their ammunition, and lose no time in getting the vessel to sail for Turtle Island.

To Captain Pratt (at Fort Erie.)