IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) »t signifie "A SUIVRE". le symbols V signifie "FIN". IVIaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed et different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams Illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reprodult en un seul clichA, 11 est film* A partir de I'angia supArieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'Images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la mAthode. irrata to pelure, n d □ 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 AN IMPARTIAL ACCOUNT O F Lieut, Col. BRADSTREi^T's EXPEDITION ■.[■:%:'■:_ T'o ;v FORT FRONTENAC. TOWBICH ARE ADDSD, A £sw Refle6iions on the Condudb of that , Enterprize, and the Advantages rcfulting from its Succds. II \ '\ By a Volunteer on the Expedition. » t; LONDON: Printed (br T. Wilcox, oppofite the New Church in the Strand I W, Owen, Temple-Bar y M. Coopek* Pater*NoJier'RauJi and Mr. Cooke, at the Royal" Extbottge, IILDQQIAX. \i L JM" '"'- I Mh- T'^'^^-T O^O 'D •^r o ,«-sf P J-T*. ■v„ l! ' 4, i . V. ^r^*;i- A'-" ^ ^-i U ;. ■>■■>; '• < '\ t '^ . - -ih.,i - '•*- - fr ; ■'••?) $4 'P ::t »/ 'AS CO .^ 'Si^ ''*■'' ■ ■■ , ;■'' ■ •"■ '•■^ , . ■ ' '«w. AN • ■ / * ' > impartial Account, 6*^,' Ffc3L"*l ARLY iti the fpring of the yeaf |x E Sj 1758, when the plan of opera- k-]|f?jM( rations for the then enfuing cam-» paign, was the fubjedt of deliberation in our military councils) Lieutenant Co!. Bradflreet, from a knowledge of the Arength and iituation of the enemy's fort at Cadaraqui, and their ufual military oe- conomy, judg'd an attempt upon Fort Frontenac (whilft the whole force of Ca- nada was employ'd in oppofing our incur- (ion into their country on the fide of Lake George) to be attended with the ut- moft probability of fucccfs. The reduc- tion of which, in its confcquences, would undoubtedly be of the highcft importance V ■■ .t B t6 ■1 1 ■; :i:i '%■•■■ 4 • Ifc .' i 172319 K'i [ 2 ] to the general intereft of the colonies. He therefore very foon communicated his thoughts on this fubjed to the commander in chief,* laying before him his reafons for the pradicability of the undertaking. Many obje^ions were flarted, and many difficulties rais'd againd it, as an unfeafable plan. However, the deceased Lord Howe, ^ho exceird in penetration and judgment, highly approved of the fcheme j remov'd every objedion, and obtained the aifent of the general, to its being carried into exe- cution, as foon as our army had made an edablifhment on the north (ide of Lake George : at the fame time General Aber- crombie was prevailed upon to have a fort built on the Oneida Carrying Place -, a dif- poiition was made accordingly, and a number of batteaus built and prepared at Schenectady. Our army having affembled at Lake George, and made an unfuccefsful attempt on the enemy's poft at Ticonderoga, re- ♦ Major General Abercrombie. turned ^- « T 3 1 turn'd to Fort William-Henry on the ninth of July, •. ; t . . . . :^ I H'S'< iM ■•■. Col. Bradftreet continuing immovably fix'd in his former opinion, of the pra6ti. cability of reducing Cadaraqui, deftroying the enemy's (hipping, and depriving them of the dominion of the lakes ; now re- newed his applications for the necefTary troops, artillery, 6cc. to profecute the plan before concluded at Albany. From the ruling gentlemen in power, he was a- gain oppos'd, and depriv'd of the aids of my Lord Howe, (who, unfortunate for thefe colonies, fell in the fkirmiih on the fixth of July) he was in the greatefl dilemma, Iea(l the influence of his oppo- nents might occaiion a rejection of his plan i he however defired a council of war, before whom he laid open his fcheme, fubjoining the ftrongeft resfonings on the probability of fuccefs. M^riy after the warmeft oppofition, reludlantly approved, and finally, by a majority it was carried in the affirmative, and a report drawn up in favour of the fcheme. ^ r [. . B 2 ' On t 4 1 On the 13th of July, the general gave orders, that the New York regiment -, the New Jerfey regiment ; the Rhode Ifland regiment •, Col. Dotey'? regiment of Maf- fachufet*s-Bay Troops, and a detachment from the train of artillery fhould repair to Schenectady, there to obferve fuch or- ders and diredlions, as they fhould receive from the commanding officer at that poft. f'l The New York regiment left Fort William- Henry on the 14th of July, and was followed in regular fuCceflipn, by the other Troops on the 15th, i6th, 17th and 18th Inftant. And oil the 24th Inftant, the whole alTembled at Schenectady. '• ' 4 A few days preceding our arrival at Schenedady, Major Arbuthnot, of CoK Williams's regiment, of Bofton Troops, who were ported here^ had been order'd with a command of 300 men to Fort Harkemer, to join the troops at that poft, under the command of Lieutenant Col, Clinton, of the New York regiment, who Wits ^> 'I fir lol r n was orderM to march with two companies of the f^id regiment, two independant companies, the company of rangers, and the reinforcement of Col. Williams's regi- ment, to the Oneida Carrying Place, and to take pofTeflion of that pofl, which he accordingly did, and on his arrival imme- diately repaired the ruins of Fort Cra- J i>. On the 25th of July, firigadicr Gen.' Stanwix ordered^ ** That Lieutenant *< Mills, of the independants, march with ** the regulars under his command, by '* break of day on the 26th. And that " Col. Williams, with the remainder of " his regiment, proceed at the fame time, " for the Oneida Carrying Place. That " the Rhode Ifland and Jerfey regiments, '^ march at the dawn of day on the " 27th. The New York regiment on , ('I ■!i * + This fort, which was built of logs, was fet on fire and abandoned by Major General Webb, on the lofs of Ofwego in Auguft 1756, ' m , a, ^ "the t 6 ] tke tSth; And Col. Doughtey's r«gU ment with the train, on the 29ths ** Battetus were furnished the different corps by the quarter mailer, and loade4 with provifions, each carrying fourteen " barrels." . , «< (C ■ '>•••■-.'»» f«»< t In purfuance of the general'a orders, detachments were made, and the di£Ferenc corps' reviewed by Col. Bradftreet, and on the 1 2th, in the afternoon, Capt. Ogilvie, with the regulars, march*d to fort New- port at the head of Wood Creek, about a mile from Fort Craven, and on the 13 th, he advanced to Fort Eagle, com- monly caird Bull's Fort, about three miles farther. As there Ayas no^ a fufticient quantity of provifions carried to Fort Newport, to load all the batteaus ; the detachment of Provincial troops, did not move from their encampment, until the 14th, in the morning, when the whole niarch'd to that pofl: and loaded their batteaus, and fix companies of the New York regiment proceeded to Bull's Fort, the remainder of the troops continued at Fort Newport. . „ , . ,.,..;, This fort, is only the ruined remains of a fquare pallifadoe enclofure, r«:uate at the fource of Wood Creek, built hi 1756, by «< [, I. ] by^iredion of Col. Bradftreet, to cover the provifions that were brought there, in or- der to be tranfported to Ofwego ; till that time, the portage from the landing at Fort Craven, had always been about three miles farther, that is, to Bull's Fort. The intermediate part of Wood Creek, between Fort Newport and BulPs Fort, never having been explored, nor efleemed navi- gable ; indeed in its natural ftate, it can only with propriety be call'd a brook or rivulet, as it has not fufHcient depth of water to float even an empty batteau j but the grouiids, from whence it is fup- plied, being low and marfhy, abounding with fprings, and furrounded with fmall eminences } a dam was thrown acrofs, by which a body of water is coUedted j the boats being put into the creek and loaded, are kept in readinefs, and whenever a fuf- ficient quantity of watef is gathered, the fluice is open'd, which conveys them to the next dam. Thus whenever the pond at the head has emptied itfelf, and tha( water is again difcharged through the dif- ferent dams below it, the boats are obliged to lay ftill^ until they can be again floated, C 2 by ■ > I :i I If) I t 12 1 by a new colledion of water, ai the head of the firft dam. The want of water in Wood creek, detained our boats all night, between Fort Newport and Bull's Fort \ but a plentiful rain falling towards day, on the 1 5th they were brought down to us,.; In the afternoon, many proceeded, and with the regulars, mov'd on, to where Canada Creek difcharges itfelf into Wood Creek, about four miles beyond Buirs Fort. . . / . B . . This fort, which is commonly dlftin- gui(h*d by the name of Bull's Fort, is, however, properly Fort Eagle. The portage, as I have before obfervcd, till the year 1756, extended to this port. I9 1755, Mr. Shirley ordered a fryiall palli- fadoe work to be thrown up, for the co* ver of the provifions, &c, which iver? brought hither, to be tranfported to Ofwe- go J Lieutenant Bull, with a party of hip majefty's troops, was ported at thjs: ftaj- tion. This unfortunate gentleman, whp gave Name to this fort, was furprifed by a party of about 500 French and Indians, who inhumanely maflacred both biinfejf, and I \ { '3 ] and his little grarUbn, and burnt the ,nd >i^ In the fucceeding year, Colonel Brad* ftreet caufed another pallifadoe fort to be ere6t^d, which he call'd Fort Eagle. It is fqituatc on the bank$ of the Wood Creek, its form, ^ regular fquare, with four badions ; each cxtctiour fide, about iixty yards in length 3 jt was furrounded i3y a vi^ide ditch, communicating with the creek ; , a cjcofs which, a very iine ftrong dam was made, by which means, theditch^ furrdunding the fort, was kept fuU of water ; for a work of its kind, 'tis the beft cdnftrudted of any in our poffeffion; On the furrendcr of Ofwego to the enemy, this, together with all our other pofts, beyond the German Flats, was demo- lished by order of the Earl of Lou- dotv V •" ' •' ->-■• '•-'•'■ '•■••-'■ ■ r:DH ''hJl^ . ;;; ^; ■- ■ ' ' ■ .- ^-''^ ,' ^^ -■■ _ On the 1 6th, in the morning, the troops from Fort Newport, join'd thofe at Fort ,Eagle« from whence, the \Vhole march'd 40 Canada Creek, where they embark'd on .1 .-vA:^:::. ,.u'-. ■ boftrd • '. m . s I V «« 1 1 ,!-r n t, p m' board their rcfpedive ' battcaiis, cighiccft men in each. The whale-boats wtrfc mann'd by the batteau men, and detach- ments from the different corps of Prbvin- cials; they proceeded in front, the regulars next, and the provincials followed^ in the order in which they were loaded. In this manner we advanced to the SpackBergh, about four miles from Canada Creek; which with the greateft difficulty wc reach'd by fun-fet, meeting with the uti- moft obftrudion from the trees, which had fallen a-crofs the creek^ and in many places entirely blocked u^ its pafT^ge ; thefc we were obligM to cut away, to to make an opening for our boats : by the addition of the waters from Canada Creek, this part of the Wood Creek has a cdnfi^ derable depth ; its navigation will, howe- ver, always be attended with difficulties, arifing from its not being above fifty yards wide, and the trees falling a-crofs from rtach fide ; unlefs all the woods on its banks fhould be cleared off; and even then, from its extream Terpentine cburfe, and the rapidity of the current, it will e> ^Yorc; remain an unpleafant navigation: The a V t d > u f o e Is The lands on each ^e are l6w and vety rich, confer'd. with large timber ; they like- ,wiie aboond with poifonous {hmbs and iffroods of-Y^ripus kinds: the falling of whofe leaves, impregnate the ponds and rivulets with their unwholefome qualities ; hence, thefe waters are not to be drank without manifeft bad effed^; indeed I obferved, that moil of the men employed tp bring down the batteau^ from fort Newport, who wipre obliged, to be coiHi- npall|r in the water, had the ,fkin entirely takep; from their feist,;: in which a very high inflammation was rais'd : if fuch was the effect on the external parts, hpw much more injurious mud its efficacy have been, on the ,(l|Omiach and.b^^ffls, as they were under thp peceility of making it their con^mon drink whild in their paf- (age. ;. •— : rr. -- rv ■■■ I. < '■>',? The very extraordinary ficknefe, which afterwards prevailed among our. troops^ was probably, in a great mealbre, owing to the bad quality of the waters they drank aqd. cook'd vvith;.it is true Cd. Bradilreethad oblain'd.^ plentiful fupply of :• I .f < . 1 '. » > m mi i Rt ; of rumi ^^iih was nfeaitt to the men' t^itii a libenil hand • bur tkiis^ ahho^ k tntght leiien or abate its mflligrianteffe^b^ fomb meafure, wa& ftill far from* teriderbg ft wholeibme. . -. Vi^''^"^' ,-■"■■'■•■'"'' -:. The'lhdlAi> tradcrt WhoTreqaented this Credt,' 6n Iheff r6titfe to OfWegO, &6; ufualif tdok a ktg of water in each of their batteaus, at the ilprings riiing from the high groimds near the head of it, Whkh they ufed with, fuch oecbrionil^i as to tiiake'it lift, till they reach'd the Ondi- da'rivir, where '^^freffi firpplies could be haidv -?^'"' 'vJ J u^. ;i^, But to proceed t from the Spack fiergh, we crhbark*d at fufti rifi on the T7th5 and after ericoufttering the diflicnkfes^ of the preceding day, without making a fingle halt, arrived in the evening, at the mouth of Wood Creek, at the Oneida Lake, The diftance of this days march, being by eftimation twenty miles 5 about half a mile from the Lake, a creefk call'd the Fifh Kill empties itfelf into Wood Creek. It is by the route of this creek, the In- dians ' ^ f '7 ] dians from Ofwcgatchie come to Oneida, and from thence, make incurfions and commit ravages on the inhabitants of the Mohocks country. According to the beft information I could obtain, their journey to the mouth of this creek, is ufually per- form'd in three days -, and its diftancc from Ofwegatchie about a hundred miles. In the morning of the i8th, we em- bark*d on the Oneida Lake. This lake is about thirty-two miles in length, and eight in breadth ; it affords a moil delight- ful profpcdt, the lands which furround it, are low and well timber'd; it abounds with a variety of fi(h, its falmon, perch and trout are excellent, and remarkably large. For about half a mile from the fhore, it is (hallow, and the bottom covered with redifli ftone, though farther diftant it is very deep. The Indians who inhabit its banks, are the Tufcarocoes, and the nation from whom it derives its name. The Oneida Caftle, lies about three miles foutb, from the mouth of the Wood D Creek. 4 [ i8 ] Creek. The rivers or creeks, which empty themfelves into this lake, are the Tufcororoe river and Oneida Creek on the fouth ; the Swarte Kill* on the north, apd Wood Creek on the eaft. In the fpring, its waters are tolerably good, though in the fummer generally covered with a fcum, when they are very unwholefome. On the fouth fide, lies a large tradt of mar Hi, which abounds with wild fowl of various kinds. At the north wed end of the lake, are feveral iflands, about four miles from the Oneida river j Thefe we pafs'd at five o'clock, and proceeded down the river about fix miles, where we made our firfl halt ; having advanced this day thirty eight miles. The river call'd the Oneida River, is the fame flream that is called the Onon- daga river, at its.difcharge into Lake On- tario^ But as the Senecas River runs into it, at about twenty miles diftant from the Oneida Lake 3 the intermediate part be- ♦ Black Creek. tween r '9 I tween this river and the lake, is caird the Oneida river ; and that part where the Se- necas River runs into it, is call'd the Three Rivers, tho* in fadl, there are but two rivers. At the entrance of the Oneida River, is a rift of rocks, and a fifhing ware extending a-crofs the channel. Here we found an Indian encampment, and a party catching iiOi and eels ; of the latter, they take prodigious quantities an- nually, which they dry, and lay up for winter ufe. They inform*d us, a party of feven Ofwegatchie Indians, had been with them the preceding day, who were gone forwards to Cadaraqui, but we could not learn, they had any intelligence of our ap- proach. We were in pain for a fcouting party, which Col. Bradftreet had fent for- wards from Bull's Fort, to reconnoitre the country as far as Ofwego. In the morning of the 1 9th, we em- bark'd, k and at ten o'clock reached the Three Rivers, which, as before defcribed, is the confluence of the Oneida, the Sene- ca and Onondaga rivers. Here fome of D 2 our '! ' [ 20 ] our advanced whale-boats returned with the intelligence, that they had diicovcred two men fcalp'd, on an ifland, two miles on this fide of the Ofwego Falls. On our arrival there, we found the fcalp'd people to be fcrvants to the officers, who com- manded the fcouting party fent from Bull's Fort. They had left their whale boat and all their flores at this illand, under the care of two lads, and were gone on foot to Of- wego. The fervants, very imprudently, made a large fire •, which, in all probabili- ty, was the means of their being difcover- cd by the enemy, who were fuppos'd to be the Indians, lately gone from the One- ida fifhing place; it appear'd that they had been in extream haile, as they never ftripped the people, nor took away any of the ftores. From hence, we foon pro- ceeded to Ofwego Falls, where we arrived about four o'clock. The diflance of this days march, is eflimated twenty fix miles. V . -. „ .. . The [ 21 1 The liver, from the Oneida Lake, is about 250 or 300 yards wide j its courfc in foine plates rapid, in others gentle, ac- cording to the depth of water, which is various. The lands on each fide are very rich and level, covered with hiclcery, but- ternut and Linwood, they appear to be annually overflowed, which muft add to their fertility. The ufual landing place is very near the falls, where is a finall cove, into which the batteaus are brought, in order to be drawn over the carrying place, which is about fifty yards a- crofs. fc^ However, to cover and fecure our land- ing, and bringing in our batteaus, we were order'd to halt about half a mile on this fide the Falls, where the whole body, except four men in each boat landed, form'd and march*d to the grounds oppofite the Falls. A detachment of 100 men, advanced about a mile along the river, whilft others were order'd to fcour the woods 5 but on difcovering no traces, or appearances of any eneniy, they re- : ; ^ turn'd t " ] turned and join*d their refpedive corps. This evening the whole army encanap'd on the grounds oppofite the Falls, on the north fide of the river. m This catarap:ii Thefe countries were formerly the feats of numerous tribes of Indians, but are now abandoned to herds of deer, elks and buffaloes, which with a variety of other wild beads, are here caught in great num*- bers. To return to Ofwego : the harbour is very commodious, form'd by a point of land, projedting from each (hore, at the mouth of the river. Here velTels may lie in the greatefl: fafcty ; tho* by a fand bar, which extends a-crofs the harbour's mouth, no large (hipping can be admitted ; veffels drawing about ten or eleven feet water, are the largefl which can crofs it. At the mouth of the river, and on the north eaft fliore, we found plenty of fi(h^ which were an excellent repaft. On the 2 2d in the morning, reviewed our arms, drew ammunition, cook'd three days provisions, and at eleven o'clock em- barked. The order of march was this, the 1 f ( [ 27. ) the Indians and rangers in whale boats ad- vanc'd } th^n the batteau men and detach- ments from the different corps of Provin- cials in whale boats^ forming the front of the main body } the Regulars in batteaus nejft, jhen the New York regiment and the Jcrfey troops^ the train of artillery in the center, the Maffachufets and Rhode Jflanders in the rear of the main body^ and the rear guarcj in whale boats. , ; ) .■ ■ n I - Thus we embark'd on the Lake j our fleet confifted of 1 23 batteaus, and 95 whale boats, which made a formidable ap- pearance. The weather being calm and favourable, the opportunity of advancing, as far as poffible, was not to be neglected ; for on the leaft rife of wind, the fwell is very great j this obliged us to keep along {bore, that we might land, and draw up our boats, whenever the wind heightened. We continued rowing, till about two o'clock in the morning, and then came too in a fine bay. : . 'r . '!■: ''"''I On the 23d, at eight in the riiorning, embark'd, but the wind and fea rifing, E 2 we iJrs I i t 28 ] wc were obliged very foon to put a-flioro again. At three in the afternoort, em- bark*d again, and at ten o'ddck halted. This afternoon, fomc of our advanc'd boats, difcover'd five Indian canoes hear the land, which they purfued, and fked upon, but the Indians by putting into the tr^ek ipade their efcape. ■ i . •" • J. > ii On the 24th, at two in the morning, the report of four difcharges of cannon, at Cadaraqui, were diftin L 'I [ril i B*''-'' t 30 ] ing, and having difcovered no enemy with- out 'the fort, the guards were mounted, and the remainder of the troops, ordered to lie on their arms. This night, the enemy difcharged about fifty rounds of cannon ihdt at us, but we were out of their reach, cover'd by a riling ground, between us and the fort, . •O: On the 26th, at an hour before day, the whole flood to their arms ; at day light, all the boats were moved to a bay nearer the fort, it being a more fecure harbour. The artillery was now landed; this be- ing done, three companies of the New York regiment, were ordered to pofTefs themfelves of the high grounds on the wefl fide of the fort, which they did without any oppofition; the major part of the army, were now immediately ordered to make fafcines and gabions. This morning. Col. Bradflreet recon- noitred the grounds furrounding the fort, and in the afternoon, the commanding ofHcers of corps, were order'd to appear at his tent ; on their aflembling, he inform'd them. k t 3« ] them, that the deiign of his calling them together, was, to acquaint the he had been ftrnifhed with only fevtinty rounds of amtiiunition for each piece of cannon, and in the fupplies of intrenching tools, had been limited to the fcanty allowance, of forty fpades, and the like number of pickaxes ahdrfhovdsj that therefore he ^Ouldnot think of making any approaches at a great difta!nce ; that he had thorough- ly reconnoitred the grounds furrounding the fort, and on the weft fide, difcovered a fpot very advantageoudy fituated, at about one hundred atjd fifty yards diftant; this he purpofed to poffefs himfelf of, under • cover of the night ; firft taking pof- fefliion of • the enemies ^old breaft work, which was about 250 yards fouth from the fort, arid thereby drawing their atten- tion on that quarter, where the men might be in the greateft fecurity. Through the breaft-work, he purpofed cutting embrazures for two pieces of can- non, and three haubitzers. That on the poft, to the weft of the fijrt, he intended to credl: a fmall facine battery, throwing up a trench I 1. 1 [ 32 J tr£nch,to the right and left, for the cover of the men. He .ohferv'd, thai tl^efe were ,the rneafures, which his fituation fuggeOe^ ,tQ hin), to be the mod likcjiy to fucceed, . ■, , ; ft ' >l\t' And added) that he would lead them with bravery end prudenqe, but could not iight for them ; that if the troops behaved only with comn^on refolution, he would ii^fure them fuccefs. The commanding officers of the different corps» ipprov'd of his propqfals, a^ the only me^ft^res to bjB purfued in thefe circum Aances. , . -.r.. This whole afternoon the et^emy kept a continual firing from thieir cannon, on the invefling party, and all others who made their apppearance in fight of the fort ; but without effisA. , Our cannon were carried to a rifmg ground, about f^ve hundred yards from the fort 5 here all the fafcines were brpught, and towards evening, 1200 men w^rc paraded, a captain and two fubalterns to every fifty men; a Arpng guard w^s mounted on the batteaus, and , . .,, ,,. »t [ 33 1 at about eight o'clock in the evening, Col. Bradftreet placed himfelf at the head of a- bout 600 men } principally, Rhode Ifland, MafTachufets and Jerfey troops, and with the engineer, condudled them to the ene- my's breaftwork ; pointing out what he intended them to perform } after which he return'd to the parade, and putting him« felf in the front of a like number of iroops, compos'd of one company of Regulars, fe« ven companies of the New York regiment, and a number of batteau men : thefe he conducted to the rifing ground on the weft, each man carrying a fafcine, and two pickets on his (boulders, together yrith his arms. . The enemy firft obferving the party at the breaftwork, were diverted froni at» tending to thofe on the other fide, and kept a continual fire on the breadwork, jthough without doing any injury. How- ever, on our approach towards the weft baftion, the noife and ruftling, which the fafcines made among thebuQies, difcovered the advancing of a party, on that quarter ; as the night was very dark, they only F fired SI I # i\,-\ [ 34 1 on ihe found, which being a very indif- ferent diredlion, t^cy wounded only one man on our march, *t- ; Col. Bradftrect having laid out the works, and feen them in feme degree of forwardnefs; after giving the neteflary di- rections for the perfecting them, * went in pcrfon with about loo men, to it % WJ * On Col. Bradftrect*3 leaving this poft, Mr. George Coventry had the direction and fuperinten- dance of the works. This gentleman, a lieutenant in the 55th regiment, was recommended to Colonel Bradftreot, by the late Lord Howe, as a proper pcrfon for an aiTiitant deputy quarter mailer j and more par- ticularly, as capable of being greatly fcrviceable on this expedition. I Oiould do him much injuftice, if I did not declare, he has done honour to his lordfhip's r>commendation j his vigilance, a<5tivity, zeal for the fervlce, indefatigable induftry, and diftinguifhed bra- very; all confpired to render him the idol of the officers, and the admiration of the troops. And cer- tainly, if there is any merit in the reduction of Cadaraqui, Mr. Coventry, muft indifputably be admit- ted to have the greateft, by far the greatcft ihare in it, of any man on that expedition. Col. Bradftreet excepted. He has fmce fucceeded capt. Chrifte, of the 48th regiment, in his department of afliftant dep. quarter m after general j which office he executes with integrity, :.nd univerfal applaufe, the r 35 1 the place where the cannon were left, and fent us two twelve pounders, with Mr. Wilfon, an officer of the train -, thcfe were fafely conduded : Col. Bradftrcet then vifited the breaftwork, where he con- tinued the remaiih^er of the night, judging his prefence more neceiTary in that quarter. Captain Stevens, of the train, from his flation to the eaftward, threw a number of (hells into the fort, with great fuccefsj they did confidcrablc damage to the inner part } one burA near the magazine, and fired a quantity of gun-powder, which fcorch'd fomc of the Indians almoft to death, and greatly intimidated thegarrifon. The enemy after difcovering our fituatioti to the weft, by the afiiftanceof the moon, which rofc about four o'clock, kept an inceflant fire on us, both from their fmall arms and cannon, though with very bad fuccefs ; fince notwithftanding our near approach, they only wounded eleven pcr- fons the whole night. After day light, Mr. Wilfon began to cannonade the fortj in' the management of his artilkry, he dlf- F 2 cover'd r I hk [ 36 ] cover'd great judgment and fkill, cverjr ball doing execution. Between feven and eight in the morn- ing, they hoifted a red flag, and beat a jjarley, and then the firing on all fides was ftopp*d} on the appearance of an officer advancing towards us, Mr. Sowers the engineer, was fent to meet him, and by that officer, was condudlcd into the fort. He was order'd by Col. Bradftreet, to let the commandant know, that if he would indantly furrender, the garrifon might keep their money and cloathing, and (hould be carried prifoners of war to Albany, from thence to be exchang*d for an equal number of Englidi as foon as poffible, and that he would only wait ten minutes for an anfwer. The com- mandant readily accepted of thefe terms, which were put in form, and fign*d by the parties. Capt. Ogilvie immediately march*d in pnd took poflefllon 5 Col. Bradftreet con- fidering the difficulty of carrying the gar- rifon, with a number of women and chil- dren. t 37 ] dreii) fuch a vafl diflance thro' the depth of the wildernefs; and for many other reafons, thought it proper to give them leave to depart immediately for Canada, on condition of their returning Col. Schuy- ler in the room of the commandant, and an equal number of men, women and children, of the like rank, for the reft; The garrifon confifted of i lo men, cx- clufive of about forty, who were on board the veiTels ; thefe made their efcape, for attempting to run off with the vefTels^ which they found impradlicable, the wind being unfavourable, and captain Stevens keeping a conftant firing upon them, and hulling them feveral times, they thought proper to run *em both a-ground, on the iiland oppofite to the fort, and made off in their boats, as did eight Indians who had been in the fort 5 three of whom, were burnt almod to death by the burding of a fheli. .0 Immediately after the farrender of the fort, Our Indians (who had all, except five or fix) kept at a mile's diftance during the attack, came running from the woods, where [ 38 ] where they had been conceal'd -, like ra- venous beafts, full of the expedations, of fatiating theic blood-thirfty fury on the captives i but were ftopp'd by Col. Brad- ftreet, who charg'd them in the flri(fteft manner, not to injure or moleft any one of the prifoners ; they heard his injundtion with the moft evident marks of concern^ and entreated him only to clofe his eyes, aiid turn his back upon them, agreeable to the pradlice of the French : but he, with fome warmth i pofitively denied them, in- fifling on their ftri<5tly obfcrving his or- ders 3 and to divert their attention to ano- ther object, he told them» they now had it in their power, to enrich themfelves by plunder, which they were at full liberty, to take as much of as they pleas'd 3 adding, that he hop*d they would make good ufe of their time, as he was determined to fet every thing on fire very foon. The fcarch for valuable goods, became then their en- tire purfuit ; they applied themfelves with the utmoil indullry in loading their boats; and by that means were diverted from the thoughts of fcalping. In the mean time, the garrifon were furnifhed with batteaus, on 1 f! I [ 39 1 on board of which, they carried their ef* fecfls, . , About noon, we began to deftroy the provifions, by fetting them on fire; we likewife fet fire to the veflTels, which lay near the wharfs, ; - About this time Monf. Noycn, with his garrifon, embark*d under the greateft appa- rent afflidtion, for the melancholy de- (Iruction they beheld ; tears flowed uni- verfally from their eyes 3 but in the midft of their grief, they could not refrain pro- fefiing the higheft fenfe of gratitude, for the humane and generous treatment, they had met with from Col. Bradftreet ; the commandant in particular, made the warmeft acknowledgments, confeffing the ufage they had received, was both unex- peded and undeferv'd. Indeed, they were all aftortiflied, at the extraordinary fubordination of our Indians, from whom they had been under the mod dreadful ap- prehenfions. ?h lUS, on A^ m [40 ] Among the various intelligences we re- ceived from the garrifon, we were in- formed, th;?t an army of four thoufand Canadians, and a thoufand Indians, were adually on their march from Montreal, in order to make an incurfion into this pro- vince, on the fide of the Mohocks river ; and that they were to be join'd by all the Indians of the five nations, fome of which, the Onondagas in particular, had already received prefents, on the ftrength of their engagements J* and as a corroborative proof, we found the garrifon had been em- ployed in baking bread for this army, up- wards of a fortnight. As Col. Bradflreet was not inclineable 'to rifque a battle with fuch a fuperior force, the troops under his command be- ing already greatly harrafs'd j he very rea- dily bethought himfelf of an artifice, which might retard the approach of this * On our arrival at Ofwego, we found a number of new empty cafes and chefts, from whence the goods had been taken, which had been diftributed to thef« Indians. I army. t 41 ] army, and thereby give us an opportunity of fecuring our return, as far as the Ofwego falls, before they could pofiibly come up with us. This ftratagem was as follows : On M. Noyen*s embarkation, he went towards him in fome apparent hurry, and told him, he had forgot to give him, and the prifoners a pafs, which might poflibly occafion their being flopped at Ofwegat- chie, as he had fent Col. Potter with 1 500 men a crofs the country, to reduce that pofl: ; who might, perhaps, detain him ' until he could produce evidence of his having left fort Frontenac with his leave ; Noyen, very thankfully waited, till the Colonel had drawn a pafs. for him, and his party. In all probability, had M. Noyen met the army, faid to be on its march to Ca- daraqui, it would have ftopp'd their pro- ceeding further than Ofwegatchie 5 leaft by advancing, they might have put them- felves between two fires. It is faid, that on M. Noyen's fliewing the command- ing officer at La Gallete, the pafs direded to Lieutenant Colonel Potter, he imme- G eva- U, : ri ' ■ H h t 42 ] cvacutcd that poft, and with the garrifon, which confifted of but twenty five men, went down to Montreal with Noycn ; and that the officer was afterwards depriv'd of his commiffion, for abandoning his poft> before attacked by an enemy ; this is re- lated by feveral prifoners, fince arrived from Canada. After the departure of the garrifon, the remainder of the afternoon was employed in deftroying the provifions, the Acres without the fort, and in putting on board our batteaus fome of the efFedts. In the evening, a body of men were ordered to demolish the fort walls, and the houfes in and about it. The fort was built of ftone, its form a fquare, with four baftions, each exterior fide about one hundred yards in length ; its walls could never be intended to fuf- tain a cannonading, as their bafe was only three feet thick, and the upper part not a- bove two. The inner part of the fort, was furrounded with houfes, fome ferv'd as (lores for dry goods, others for provi- lions, b1 [ 43 ] (ions, and the dwellings of officers and foldiers ; on the outfide of the fort, were about ten or a dozen houfes, chiefly ufed as ftores, but the principal warehoufe was on the wharf, which was about two hun- dred feet in length, and about twenty five in breadth, in this was depofi:ed, in the mod regular and neat manner, the fails and rigging of the feveral vefTels which lay near itj thefe were a.fnow, a brig, three fchooners and two (loops ; likewife a great variety of Indian goods and provi- fions, of the latter a prodigious quantity was on the wharf, piled up againft the ftore houfe, along the whole length ; there was judg'd to be at leaft ten thoufand barrels of the different fpecies : in and a- about the fort we found fixty pieces of cannon, fixteen mortars, and fix brafs patterraras, all which were effedually de- ftroyed and render*d unfit for ufe. The (lores were filled with prodigious quanti- ties of Indian goods of various kinds, the prime coft of which, the commandant valued at eight hundred thoufand livresj* * Equal to 35,000/. fterling. G 2 thi y.. [ 44 ] the grcatcft part of which were burnt with the fort, our batteaus being too deep laden with provifions, &c. and too much crowded to admit of any confiderable ad- dition to their cargoes, without greatly en- dangering them on the Ontario. On the 28th in the morning, after having fufficiently demoHQied the walls of the fort, we fet fire to the houfes, the bar- racks, breaftwork, fences, and every thing which would burn ; we then took out fome part of the loading from the brig and fchooner, which were run aground, when they floated and were got off, and pro- ceeded for Ofwego. In the afternoon we cmbark'd, and landed on the little ifland oppofite to the ruins of fort Frontenac, where we continued this night. On the 29th at day break, embarked, but the wind coming a-head, and the fea growing too rough to continue on it, we halted at ten o'clock in a very fine bay, a- bout twenty miles diftant. At 3 o'clock, fail'd again, and |n the evening, came too at an ifland on which we continued. On [ 45 1 : On the 30th, at the dawn of day, cm- bark'd, and at 1 2 o'clock this night, landed at Ofwego, where we found both the vef- fels which had arrived the preceeding eve- ning, fafely moor'd. On the 31ft, we took out of the veffels fome of their lading, after which fet them on fire, and with the remains of their car- goes, fent them a drift on the lake. At noon, eight men were order'd on board each batteau, the remainder march'd as a flank guard ; towards evening, we halted at the fix mile creek ; our boats, on account of the deep loading, and the great force of the flream againfl them, could not be carried farther. On the firfl of September, we proceeded to the Ofwego falls, a mile below which, we encamps on a plain formerly an Indian field. On the 2d and 3d, we were employ *d in bringing the batteaus to the falls, and drawing them over the Carrying Place; On V I Si u: [ 46 ] • On the 4th,cmbark*d twenty three men in each bateau, and advanced fifciBen nfiiles*' ll\ ■! •:(• On the 5th, proceeded to the iflands in the Oneida Lake, on one of which we landed, at nine in the evening* ..( \ • On the 6th, crofs*d the Lake^ and pro- ceeded dbout four miles up Wood Creek. •>( ii'- On the 7th in the evenings arrived at Canada Creek. And^/ v . j • { On the 8th in the morning, advanced to Bull's fott i here a command of 500 men was left, and officers appointed from the different corps, to receive, and make a ge- neral divifion of the plunder, in proportion to the number of men each corps confided of J an equitable diftribution was after- wards made in each corps, in which the officers and foldiers fhared equally j the re- mainder of the troops march*d to the O- neida ftation, having been abfent twenty four days. ■li Having [ 47 1 Having row regularly purfucd the thread of this narrative, from the origin of this enterprize to the rctarn of the army, I {hall fubjoin an account of the plunder taken at Cadaraqui ; exclufive of what the Indians took, which were of the mod va- luable kinds } feveral of them, on their re- turn to the Mohocks country, I have been told, fold to the amount of three, four, and one to the value of five hundred pounds, in lace, paint, bever, £cc. ! > II The goods divided at Bulls fort were as follows : ' ' ^ 178 Gold and filver laced hatts ' ' 33 Pieces of gold lace * ( :;. 7 16 Pieces of filver lace '•"''.■ 400 Pieces of ribband 445 Pieces of gartering ' : 45 Pieces of ferriting '" \'S- 238 Pieces of napp*d frieze ' • \ 3690 Mens (hirts 828 Pair of full'd woollen (lockings 1978 Woollen caps ■ 1674 Plain coats 375 Cal- 5!' •\ ( 48 1 575 Callimancoe gowns 689 Childrens gowns and frocks 2 1 10 Blankets ,. > . r . 120 Ruggs 313 Laced coats I 85 Pieces of white linncn • 16 Pieces of ftriped ditto ..; 56 Pieces of crofs barr*d iluff* , 662 Childrens fhirts 270 Bags of Vermillion ^^ Fox fkins , *, ( ; - 53 Otter fkins • 4950 Raccoon fkins 360 Bever fkins 4007 Deer and elk fkins 732 Bear fkins 152 Pieces of Ticklcnburgh 383 Skains of tent cord 147 Finefuzees 400 mufkets 46 Pair of piflols 205 Brafs kettles 78 Barrels of gun-powder never divided, but fent to the magazine at fort Stanwix on the Oneida carying place. Thcfc I \ I I led, fort heie t 49 ] I ^'.■ nr.j '1. L^ Tlicfe were the goods brought to Bull's fort, which certainly, were not the one fourth part, of what were burnt in the ftorcs and on board the velTels. I (hould here have made a paufc, and come to a conclufion, but as a great deal of pains has been taken by a fet of gentlemen, en- vious of the rifing charadter and, fame of Col. Bradftreet, to depreciate from the merits of this Conqueft j rcprcfenting it, as *' a mad, injudicious fcheme, the fuccefs of " which, was » lerely owing to chance " and accident." I fliall endeavour to point out a few particulars, relative to the condu<5t of this expedition^ and the im- portance it has manifeftly been of to thefe colonies ; which I (hall confider in a two* fold light. : ' .,... . .' .:■ ::ia>'^X'. ■ ■' ' '» '■'■'- • ■ f Firft, the enterprizc, or aAion itfelf. it' Secondly, the conftquences refulting from it! '^ ' ' ' ■' ' ■ ' •!\ As to the firft pofAt j the principal foun- dation of a fuccefsful enterprize againft this - - H fort. i \\\ % It '■ I*! (-'] V r 50 ] fort, was laid in the information Colonel Bradftreet had received, concerning the ftrength of the works, and the garrifon pofled within them, and in his knowledge of the ufual military oeconomy of the I^rei^ch* Thefe matters we may conclude, from the oppofition he met with at head qaarters, he was better acquainted with, than even the commander in chief, as every circum- flance relative to the fituation of the gar- rifon, anfwered his expe(5tations. Indeed,, by the inftructions Col. Bradftreet re- ceived from the general, he was left the fole judge of the probability of fucceeding, and whether, if on his arrival at the great carrying place, he fhould, from the intelli- gence he might there receive from the Indians, judge it prudent to proceed. As by this inftrudtion, the entire burthen of the event of the expedition. Was thrown upon Col. Bradftreet, it made him parti- cularly cautious, of obtaining the fulleft, and moft circumilat>tial information, of the force the enemy had at Cadaraqui, 'which being fatisfadtory, he inftantly determined OBI profccuting his plan. • • • » ■■■ ■ ■'The i I [ 5. ] The executive part of which, remains next to be confider'd ; in this we find all thofe requifites, effentially neceflary in the condudl of enterprizcs in the American wilds, together with thofe charaderiftics, which have ever diftinguifhed the greateft generals. Firft, caution and fecrecy, in preventing the enemy from difcovering the obje C 53 ) which, dedufking the time we were o- bliged to lie dill, was pafs'd in lefe than &x days. So fecret and fudden: wfts our ap>^ proach, that the enemy never heard of, nor apprehended the advancing of an army a<* gainft them, till we were within fifteen miles of their gates. , . i , : '/ ^ ; • k-, ,r f*k «k *:r The j\ic%ment, prudence and intrefudi<* ty with which the attack was conduced, fully appear on conHdering, that from our fcanty fupplieis of ammunition and in- trenching tools, the iiege was not to be protracted ; and formal approaches at the diftance of feveral hundred yards, agreeable to the cudom and pradibe of modern at- tacks, would never have given room to hope for fuGceft, efpecially as our quantity of ammunition, would not have been iJaSi- cient tot hold out above twenty four Hours firing ; Col. Bradftreet therefore, wifely determined to make his approaches imme- diately within fiich a diflance, as that eve^^ ry ball might do executbn ^ thefe ap- proaches he prudently made in the night, for altho* they might have been afFcdted in (he day, ft ill it would have cofl the lives of many. tj; m ■ill m m m m I ', I I 54 ] many, which was prevented by attrading the attention of the garrifon to a quarter, where the men might lie covered and fe- cure from their fire; as to the bravery of advancing within one hundred and fifty yards of the fort walls, without any cover- ing whatever, open to fallies froth the gar- rifon, no body acquainted with the attack of fortified places, can deny, but was as daring, and bold, and flill in our (ituation as neceflary a condudtas is to be met with in the records of any military atchieve- ments of the moft enterprizing g^ne- ' * -1 Having I think, fully confidered the a£tion itfelf ; I (hall now proceed to point out the importance of the conqued, by (hewing the advantages we have gain'd by it ; but as no improvements have yet been made on our part, the advantages are in a great meafure to be eftimated, from the diftrefs and injury the enemy have fufFer* ed by its reduction; in this view, we fhall therefore confider it. ;.'.r-;^;. , .:7« :* I. By I c t r I 55 1 t ■Oin ii7f •Kti. ..'^ •I. till ' By the dcmolitibn effort Frontenac, the tnemy have been depriv*d of their grand magazine, from whence their weftem ter- ritorieSj garriibns, and Indian allies were fupplied with ammunition, provifions, and goods of all kinds* By the deftrudion of their fleet, the intercoiirfe between Canada and Niagara, has in a great meafure been cut off, and the dominion of the lakes wrefted from their hands ; by which, ac- cording to their own confeflion, they will be obliged to abandon their fettlemerits, forts, and poffeffions on lake Erie, the ftreights of take Huron, and the lake Su- periour 3 their traded aAdintereft with the Indians inhabiting thofe countrieSj- mufl confequently decay,* - and if a proper ufe is made of thefe advantages, may hehkierly taken from them. . » * • . j» i»>. J a *: fIJ In The expedition of M. Levy againft the fettlements on Mohocks river, was by this conqueft entirely ftopp'd and render'd im- practicable, by which we continue in pof- feffion of the Oneida carrying place, on which we have eredted a ftrong fort 3 this m 'i Si' I' 7 ' t S6 ] in all probability, we (hould not have ef* fe&cd this ycaf, unlefs the expedition to Cadara^ui, had been prpjedted and carried into execution : As only^ooo nnen were to have been ordered for this fervice, who^ excluiive of the interruption M. Levy might have given th^rji^ would have been undoubtedly difturb'd by the five nations^ they being averfe to itj and having actually eogi^'d to take up the hatchet, and declare in favour of the enemy. In confiiquence of the redudtbn of fort Frontenac, the De- Uwares, Sbawanefe, and other Indians, inv iiabiting the bock parts of theib colonies, have been influenced to conclude a peace with 08 at Eafton^ in October laft ; and is there not the higheft reafon to imagine, the good difpofition which General Forbes found tlie Indians in, on the Ohio, is prin- cipally owing to the conqueA of Cadaraquij by which all their fupplies of ammuni- tion and pcovifions were cut ofF, and they depriv'd of the means of fubfi fling. If Frontenac had remain'd in pofl'eflion of the enemy, is there not the greatefl; probability, they would have fent a rdnforcement to Jl I i7 ] M. de Lignery,^ having a fleet to tranf-* port, and provifions to fubfift them on fuch an enterprize. This M. Levy might have effeded, after having fufficiently a<« larmed us on the Mohocks river, and drawn t. ^ of our troops thither from Lake George ^ indeed it tu' ^^^t have beeqi done, even (ince our troops withdrew from fort William Henry j by which the expe-> dition of General Forbes would have beca fruftrated, .: r ru ^,., ',: n Thus had it not been for the reduction of fort Frontenac, our fituation on the con-* tinent would have been the fame, as at the opening of (he campaign, with the addi-* tioii of an almoft infupportable tax to no purpofe. But the taking of Cadaraqui } to fum up the whole in a few words, has de-* priv'd the enemy of Lake Ontario » has fruftrated their fcheme of making an in« curfion into this province ; has kept the Five Nations in a Aate of neutrality $ has influenced the Indians on the frontiers of Penfilvania, Jerfey and Virginia to a peace 5 * Thii geatleman commanded at Fort du Qaefxie on thf Ohio. I ha« ft m 1 ' 11 1 . ) [^58 ] has facV'tatcd the expedition againft ibrt Du Quefne ; has broken the chain of attach- , ment and interefl, which fubfifled between the French and th« Indians oft the Ohio ; and has i.•'' . j» . ,'i ««;i f' "-- r • V id. ■• a :4* ;13 ^t-/,. ^:if^ ^«l**-^-.-.. J ■■ ■ ■, ' ^r .,,; % f^.^"-^". > ^ ' 4 «