Sir:

THE SIMCOE PAPERS

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO JOSEPH BUNBURY.

389

I have ordered Captain Pratt to place the Sergeant and twenty men of the Queen's Rangers, now at Fort Erie under your Command, together with the two men of the Artillery, and the two Six pounders, ammunition, &c.

You will be so good as to consider these men as part of your Detachment for the defence of Turtle Island. I apprehend you will find the Chippawa and the Gun Boats at that place. Lieutenant Givings will be ordered to join you. Major Campbell being at the Fort Miamis, of course you will receive such orders as he thinks proper to give, after acquainting him with my general Instructions.

Endorsed:-To Captain Bunbury, August 17th, 1794.

Sir:

FROM JOHN ASKIN TO ALEXANDER MCKEE.

DETROIT, August the 17th, 1794.

I yesterday received Lt.-Colonel England's orders directed to me as Senior Officer at present in the County of Essex to put the whole of the Militia of that County in a state to be ready to march at the shortest notice. In consequence of which I have wrote Capt. Fields' at river à La Tranche, to examine & see what Arms & accoutrements may be wanted for to complete the Militia on this side of that river & to come immediately for them. I have ordered the like to be done at the Petite Cote & I shall also send to the New settlement, tho that may not be so necessary as I suppose Lt.-Colonel Caldwell has taken with him from that Quarter all those who were in a situation to march.

At 11 o'clock to day I will examine the arms & accoutrements of the four companies opposite the town. You will no doubt Sir, see that is a necessity for having more officers appointed. I beg leave to mark out that there is a Joseph Beaubien of a good family & a man who is desirous of taking any Commission from you, he in my opinion would make a good Lieut. or Ensign as you may judge fit. There is also a Pierre La Bute who I understand would likewise make a good officer, these two belong to my company; Mr. Dufresne who was an officer in Lower Canada would be of great help to Major Parent who cannot read or write, there is likewise in same company a Francois Pratt who perhaps would answer well as an Ensign. Capt. Smith having a Flank Company will want two Lieuts.

Capt. Baby's Company who lies between Major Parent's & mine has neither Lt. or Ensign, I understand there is a J. Bapt. Tourneau called Jaurette that would make a good officer, on the river à La Tranche, Alexis La Bute & perhaps Geo. Jacobs would answer as officers, please permit me to say that I do not by any means urge that those gentlemen I recommend should get commissions, I let you know only for your information my opinion of them which I have chiefly from report & I believe the whole if known would readily accept a commission, none of them having been officers before in this District. I beg leave to mention John Martin, you know his Character, as he refused a Lieutenancy on this side, he is unprovided

1 Daniel Fields.

2 Thomas Smith.

3 Afterwards captain of a flank company of the 1st Regiment of Kent Militia in the war of

for. I learn that down below no Field Officers have Companies, if that is the case, there is reason for those new Capts., provided you think proper to adopt that mode. Besides I have what I did not know before that Mr. Clinch at Niagara is both a Capt. & Adjutant.

I have the honor of being with the utmost respect, Sir,
Your most obedient & very humble servant,

JOHN ASKIN.

The Honorable Alexander McKee, Esq., Lieutenant for the County of Essex, at Foot of the Rapids.

FROM JOHN ASKIN TO ALEXANDER MCKEE.

DETROIT, August 17th, 1794.

Sir:

Since I did myself the honor to write you this morning I have been over the river reviewing the men, arms, &c., &c. I find there is very few wanting, the people seem well disposed & ready to march when ordered but the companies are much weaker than I expected, owing to several engages I suppose, being gone away lately. Between Maisonville's & the Huron Church there is not quite 60 men & from your house to Drulliard's Mill there is no more than eleven which was meant for Capt. Smith's Company, but as Capt. Allan who joins him in the Southern Battalion has by his return to me this day 41 men, I beg you will be pleased to change the boundaries between the Northern & Southern Battalion so that Mr. Smith may get more men; for none can be spared, they not being now equal to what the Law directs. Capt. Monforton's below Capt. Allen's is strong enough he has 29 men. In addition to those whom I mentioned this morning as thinking they might answer for officers (if you have no other in view) there is a Vital Dumouchel who Capt. Baby wishes much to have for his Lieutenant & I must again repeat that Joseph Beaubien's conduct to day gives me every reason to think that he is a very good subject & well qualified to be an officer. The Militia on this side were called out when I was over & I learn that Capt. Meldrum, Lieut. Duggan, Lieut. Shephard and the officers of the Company I formerly had & that Capt. Park, Lieut. Frazer & Ensign Roe the Lawyer have the other Town Company. I did not learn who is to be Major, I beg leave to say I fear for poor Martin.

I have the honor of being with much respect,

Sir,

Your most obedient, very humble servant.

JOHN ASKIN.

The Honorable Alexander McKee, Lieutenant for the County of Essex, at the Foot of the Rapids.

Sir:

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

August 18th, 1794.

I was favored with your letter of the 8th of August and its enclosure. I have written in detail to go by the first vessel that shall arrive, understanding that the Saguina has sailed. On this account I write by your messenger simply to say that I will join you as soon as possible, with all the force I can muster.

If there be no Shipping sufficient for the purpose, a part at least of the embarkation must proceed by the Lake. You may hire merchant vessels for the transport if you judge it expedient.

There is a report here which is credited that the Emperor has totally defeated the Regicidal Army. Your faithful servant

Lieutenant Colonel England, Commanding at Detroit.

J. G. SIMCOE.

My Lord:

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO LORD DORCHESTER.

NAVY HALL, August 18th, 1794.

I do myself the honor of enclosing to Your Lordship the communications which I received late last night from Lt.-Colonel England and Col. McKee.

I shall lose no time in proceeding to Detroit with all the force I can muster leaving the Garrison of Niagara with its usual complement of Infantry, and ordering the Artillery then at Kingston to supply in part those whom I shall think necessary to carry with me to Detroit.

The whole detail of this arrangement will be transmitted to Your Lordship so soon as it shall be decided upon.

I cannot flatter myself with much hopes of repelling Mr. Wayne, and feel that my character as a Military Officer must suffer in the extreme, but an honorable devotion to the public service bears me up above all personal considerations, and it is possible that my character as Civil Lieut. Governor may enable me to promote His Majesty's Interests.

The People of the States, as predicted, have heavy Artillery at Le Boeuf 1 -The Six Nations, I believe, remain steadfast in their opposition to the Establishment at Presqu'Isle.

Should Your Lordship be reinforced, and at this crisis, augment the force in this Province, so as to enable me to meet Mr. Wayne on equal terms, and His Majesty's Troops in such an event be successful, I cannot but foresee the perfect safety of the Canadas as the result of such a measure, as in all probability, if he be permitted to establish himself at the Detroit, it may eventually occasion their loss. I have the honor to be, &c., J. G. SIMCOE.

Rt. Honble. Lord Dorchester.

1 Now Waterford, Pa.

Sir:

FROM R. G. ENGLAND TO ALEXANDER MCKEE.

DETROIT, August 18th, 1794, 12 o'clock.

Your letter of the 15th reached me Yesterday Just in Time to send a Copy of it by the Nancy that was then under way. I was disappointed in your not sending for his satisfaction the Indians Answer to General Wayne. I directed the Nancy to speak to every Vessel he met coming from Fort Erie as I am confident that Colonel Simcoe is on his way either to You or to this Post and I should suppose the former. Mr. Askin Junr returned Yesterday from Saguina. I have directed Mr. McKee to send you the Account he brings from thence which goes by this Express. If I am to credit Newman's Information The whole of the Kentucke Militia Amount Only to 1500-a Part of which was to remain behind to convoy Provisions and which part I suppose from what he says, and from Your Information, has lately Joined General Wayne at least so far as may be relied on him.

I have sent You Such a Supply of Provisions lately as will prevent Your being in want for that Article for some considerable time whatever Your numbers may be. The Dunmore was the last Vessel dispatched and is under the Direction of Commodore Grant at Turtle Island.

Be so good as to acquaint Lieut. Selby with my compliments that I forwarded his Letter to Capt. Pratt and now send him a Letter lately arrived. The Deserter Griffin is sent to Fort Erie. I am, &c.

Colonel McKee.

R. G. ENGLAND.

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

No. 1.

August 19th, 1794.

Sir:

I am to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 6th of August and its enclosures, by the Saguina on the 12th, the Express over land not having arrived.

As far as I can judge Newman must have been sent in for some sinister purpose. I am very sorry to find that the Garrison at Fort Miamis continues sickly. I trust that you will make every exertion to have the Fort completed, which from Lt. Pilkington's accounts I had reason to hope would long ere this have been the

case.

I beg that you will keep Lt. Pilkington with you until further orders, and that the Works at the Miamis and Turtle Island shall be finished. I had also directed a small Block-house to be built at the entrance of the River au Raisins, of which I have heard no mention.

I much desire that the detachment of the Queen's Rangers, as soon as they can possibly be spared as Artificers from the Miamis, may be placed under Capt. Bunbury's Command and form part of his Garrison.

In my Instructions of the 18th of April, 1794, I limited the detachment at the Fort to a certain number of Troops and Cannon proportioned to the Ground of the Post to be occupied, and if the Engineer has followed the directions he then received, that Force must be adequate to what under existing circumstances could be afforded for its defence. At any rate, if in your judgment more men and cannon

shall be necessary, they must be sent from Detroit. Herewith you will receive a copy of Capt. Bunbury's Instructions, which I must beg you as far as the Service permits, to comply with. I also enclose an extract of a letter which I have lately received from Lord Dorchester, together with a Protest with which you will comply or not as existing circumstances shall render practicable or expedient.

I think your answer to the Huron Chiefs in all respects to have been wisely and prudently delivered. I have transmitted it to the Commander in Chief. I fear from French intrigue that there is little hopes of peace, and in that case I cannot but suppose that this Country will be reinforced and not left to its fate.

I must again recommend to you to consider your moving water force of the greatest consequence, and if possible to procure the seamen to re-enter. It is necessary for you to purchase all the Indian corn that you can procure, as the Indians must be amply supplied with provisions in case of hostilities, and all the corn in this District will scarcely be sufficient for the consumption of the Six Nations, though it shall if possible be reserved for the Felicity when she shall arrive at the Grand River.

If circumstances shall permit I shall withdraw Capt. Bunbury and his detachment of the Fifth and Queen's Rangers in October.

Lieutenant Colonel England.

Enclosure 2.

FROM CAPTAIN WILLIAMSON' TO MR. SECRETARY RANDOLPH.

BATH, August 19, 1794.

I have the honour to transmit to you, by express, a protest in writing delivered by a British officer to a young man that manages my business at the settlement

1 Charles Williamson, born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, about 1750. He entered the army and attained the rank of captain in the 25th Regiment of Foot. While on his way to America during the war of the revolution, he was taken by a French privateer, and held a prisoner in Massachusetts until the peace. He married there but returned to England. After retiring from the army he became the agent for an association of English capitalists formed for the purchase of land in the United States. He emigrated to the United States and became naturalized to facilitate his operations. During the winter of 1791-2 he was in Pennsylvania and sought the acquaintance of George Hammond. On 11 April, 1792, he obtained a deed from Robert Morris of 1,200,000 acres of land in central New York, as trustee for the association composed of Sir William Pulteney, John Hornby, and Patrick Colquhoun, the latter being an occasional correspondent of Lord Grenville on American affairs. Pulteney seems to have furnished nine-twelfths, Hornby, twotwelfths, and Colquhoun, one-twelfth of the capital supplied. Williamson acted with great energy. He opened a wagon road from Williamsport, Pa., to Canaseraga creek on the Genesee, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, built a saw-mill and many houses for a German colony; improved the navigation of several streams and exported lumber as far south as Baltimore. His first settlement was significantly named Williamsburg. In 1793 he founded the village of Bath, so called in honor of a daughter of Sir William Pulteney, who had become Countess of Bath by marriage. A year later he began settlements at Geneva, Lyons, and Sodus, the latter of which he named Pulteneyville. He was elected a member of the Legislative Assembly of the State, and afterwards appointed judge of the county court and commanding officer of the militia of the county of Steuben. In 1800 he conveyed the tract purchased by him to Pulteney and his associates, under a recent act enabling aliens to hold lands, and his agency terminated soon after. He returned to Scotland and died in 1807 of yellow fever while on a mission to Havana. He has been credited with the authorship of a rare pamphlet entitled "Description of the Settlements of the Genesee Country in the State of New York, in a Series of Letters from a Gentleman to his Friend." First Edition, (4to, Albany, 1798.) Second Edition (New York, 1799.) A reprint of the second edition appeared in the "Documentary History of the State of New York," Vol. 2, p. 655. The first edition contained but five letters; the second, eight.