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♦'>

THE JOURNAL

MAJOR GEORGE WASHINGTON.

-> /

^l)in'0 Mtptintfi,

NO. I.

THE JOURNAL

Major GEORGE WASHINGTON,

8KMT Br THE

Hon. ROBERT DINWIDDIE

TO THK

COMMANDANT OF THE FRENCH FORCES IN OHIO.

WITH A MAP.

NEW YORK:

REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SARIN.

1865.

200 ecpiti printed on rnnnU paper.
60 ccpiu <m large paper.

No.

BITISIIBI, OAMBSIDQl:
PUKTID BT a. 0. BOUaaiON AMD OONFAIIT.

psa.

ya/"j,i £i.'nt/\nr ^vm

Jtt-rUace ibra^Ihrt

THE

JOURNAL

O F

Major George PP^q/hington^

SENT BY THE

Hon. Robert Dinwiddie, Efq;
His Majefty's Lieutenant-Governor, and
Commander in Chief of Virginia^

TO THE

Commandant of the French Forces

o »

OHIO.

To which are added, the

Governor's LETTER:

AND A

Translation of the French Officer's Anfwer.

WITH

A New Map of the Country as far as the
MISSISSIPPI

rVILLIJMSBURGH Printed,

LONDON, Reprinted for T. Jefferys, the Corner

of Sf. Martin's Lane.

MDCCLIV.

[Price One Shilling.]

i r

k i

;

Maps, Plans and Charts j'njl imported by
Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to his Royal
Highne/s the Prince </ Wales.

LE Indies Orientale, avec le cote dc Coromandel, et
rAnalife par M. D. Anville.
Novelles Cartes de Ics Indies Orientale par M. D apres

de Mannivellette.
Theatre de la Guerre in Italie par M. D' Anville, prem.

Partie. ^ », • •

Mappemende de M. Boulanfger avec ton Memoire, in

Quarto. . . . c

Memoire fur les nov. decouveitcr de 1 Amiral de I-onte,

avec Cartes
Confiderations Geographiques: in Quarto, avec 4 Cartes

par M. Buache.
Canada de Robert, 1753.
Porter de France par Jalliot, 1754.
Dekiles Atlas complete, large Paper and fmall.
The German Atlas compleat by Homan.
Atlas de France, 1751.

The Chinefe Atlas by D'Anville. « 1.

The Ruffian Atlas compiled and engraved at Peterlburgh.
D'Anvilles's new^ Maps of Italy, North America, South

America, Africa and the Eaftward Part of Afia
Benin's Sea Charts.
Plan of Rome

— Venice

Berlin

Environs o(f Paris, 9 Sheets

Paris, one Sheet

the Military School

Verfaillcs, one Sheet »

Marly

Nancy

rOrient

Speedily will be publijhed.

A Map of the Seat of War in the Eajl Indies,

with a Memoir.

^li

1 •J«*^• •^h* •rh* •^h* »y*ho •'Ahc u^h* •Af^ <

ADVERTISEMENT.

AS it was thought advifeable by his Honour
the Governor to have the following Ac-
count of my Proceedings to and from the French
on Ohio, committed to Print ; / think I can do
no lefs than apologize, infome Meafure,for the
numberlefs Imperfections of it.

There intervened but one Day between my Ar-.
rival in WiUiamfburg, and the Time for the
Council's Meeting, for me to prepare and tran-
fcribe^from the rough Minutes I had taken in
my Travels, this Journal', the writing of which
only was fiifficient to employ me clofely the whole
Time, confequently admitted of no Leifure to
confult of a new and proper Form to offer it in,
or to correal or amend the Virion of the old :
Neither was I apprifed, nor did in the leafl con-
ceive, when I wrote this for his Honours Peru-
fal, that it ever would be publifhed, or even have
more titan a curfory Reading', till I was in-
formed, at the Meeting of the prefent General
Affembly, that it was already in the Prefs.

There is nothing can recommend it to the
Public, but this. Thofe Things which came
under the Notice of my own Obfervation, I have

been

Advertisement.

been explicit andjujl in a Recital of: Thofe

which I have gathered from Report, I have been
particularly cautious not to augment, but col-
lected the Opinions of thefeveral Intelligencers,
and fele6led from the whole, the mofl probable
and confiflent Account.

G. Washington.

THE

JOURNAL, &c.

Wednefday, OHober 31/?, 1753.

WAS commiffioned and appointed
by the Honourable Robert Dinwiddie,
Efq ; Governor, &c. of Virginia^ to
^^ vifit and deliver a Letter to the Com-
mandant of the French Forces on the Ohio, and
fet out on the intended Journey the fame Day :
The next, I arrived at Frederick/burg, and en-
gaged Mr. Jacob Vanbraam, to be my French
Interpreter ; and proceeded with him to Alex-
andria, where we provided Neceflaries. From
thence we went to Winchejler, and got Baggage,
Horfes, &c. and from thence we purfued the
new Road to Wills-Creek, where we arrived the
14th of November.

» Here

C lO )

Here I engaged Mr. Gtyi to pilot us out, and
alfo hired four others as Servitors, Bamaby
Currin, and John Mac-Quire, Indian Traders,
Henry Steward, and William Jenkins ; and in
Company with thofe Perfons, left the Inhabitants
the Day following.

The exceffive Rains and vaft Quantity of
Snow which had fallen, prevented our reaching
Mr. FrazierX an Indian Trader, at the Mouth
of Turtle-Cxttk, on Monongahela [River] till
Thurfday the 22d. We were informed here,
that Expreffes had been fent a few Days before
to tne Traders down the River, to acquaint them
with the French General's Death, and the Return
of the major Part of the French Army into
Winter Quarters.

The Waters were quite impaflable, without
fwimming our Horfes ; which obliged us to get
the Loan of a Canoe from Frazier, and to fend
Bamaby Currin, and Henry Steward, down
the Monongahela, with our Baggage, to meet us
at the Forks of Ohio, about lo Miles, there to

crofs the Aligany.*

As I got down before the Canoe, I fpent fonie
Time in viewing the Rivers, and the Land in
the Fork ; which I think extremely well fituated
for a Fort, as it has the abfolute Command of
both Rivers. The Land at the Point is 20 or 25

♦ The Ohio and Aitgat^ are the fame River.

Feet

( 11 )

Feet above the common Surface of tlie Water ;
and a confidcrable Bottom of flat, well-timbered
Land all around it, very convenient for Building :
The Rivers are each a Quarter of a Mile, or
more, acrofs, and run here very near at right
Angles : Aligany bearing N. E. and Mononga-
hela S. E. The former of thefe two is a very
rapid and fwift running Water; the other deep
and ftill, without any perceptible Fall.

About two Miles from this, on the South
Eaft Side of the River, at the Place where the
Ohio Company intended to eredt a Fort, lives
Shingifs, King of the Dehwares : We called
upon him, to invite him to Council at the Loggs-

Town.

As I had taken a good deal of Notice Yefter-
day of the Situation at the For^s, my Curiofity
led me to examine this more particularly, and I
think it greatly inferior, either for Defence or
Advantages; efpecially the latter: For a Fort
at the Forks would be equally well fituated on
the OAio, and have the entire Command of the
Monongaliela ; which runs up to our Settlements
and is extremely well defigned for Water Car-
riage, as it is of a deep ftill Nature. Befides a
Fort at the Fork might be built at a much lefs
Expence, than at the other Place. —

Nature has well contrived this lower Place,
for Water Defence; but the Hill whereon it

muft

' wa*»!iiiwMiaijJt.

I-

( »2)

muft ftand being about a Quarter of a Mile in
Length, and then defcending gradually on the
Land Side, will render it difficult and very ex-
penfive, to make a fufficient Fortification there.—
The whole Flat upon the Hill muft be taken-in,
the Side next the Defcent made extremely high,
or elfe the Hill itfelf cut away ; Otherwife, the
Enemy may raife Batteries within that Diftance
without being expofed to a fingle Shot from the
Fort.

Shingi/s attended us to the Loggs-1oyix\,
where we arrived between Sun-fetting and Dark,'
the 25th Day after I left William/burg. We
travelled over fome extreme good and bad Land
to get to this Place . '

As foon as I came into Town, I went to Mo-
nakatoocha (as the Half-king was out at his
hunting-Cabbin on little -ffmz/^^-Creek, about 1 c
Miles off) and informed him by John Davifon
my Indian Interpreter, that I was fent a Meffen-
ger to the French General; and was o-dered to
call upon the Sachems of the Six Nations, to ac
quamt them with it.— I gave him a String of
Wampum t, and a Twift of Tobacco, and de-
fired him to fend fcr the Half-King; which he
promifed to do by a Runner in the Morning, and
for other Sachems— I invited him and the other

f A kind of Indian Money ; alfo given as a Prefent or Mark of
Fnendfhip.

great

( »3)

great Men prefent to my Tent, where they
ilay'd about an Hour and retum'd.

According to the bed Obfervations I could
make, Mr. Giff^^ new Settlement (which we
pafs'd by) bears about W. N. W. 70 Miles
from W^///j-Creek ; Skanapins, or the Forks N.
by W. or N. N. W. about 50 Miles from that ;
and from thence to the LoggS'Town, the Courfe
is nearly Weft about 18 or 20 Miles: So that
the whole Diftance, as we went and computed
it, is at leaft 135 or 140 Miles from our back
Inhabitants.

25M, Came to Town four or ten Frenchmen
who had deferted from a Company at the Kuf-
kujkas, which lies at the Mouth of this River.
I got the following Account from them. They
were fent froin New-Orleans with 100 Men, and
8 Canoe-Loads of Provifions to this Place ; where
they expefted to have met the fame Number of
Men, from the Forts on this Side Lake Erie^ to
convoy them and the Stores up, who were not
arrived when they ran-offi

I enquired into the Situation of the French, on
the MiJJiJJippi, their' Number, and what Forts
they had built. They inform'd me. That there
were four fmall Forts between New-Orleans and
the Black-IJlands, garrifon'd with about 30 or 40
Men, and a few fmall Pieces in each : That at
New-Orleans, which is near the Mouth of the

Mijfiffippi,

I' ill

3^ 1

(■4)
MifftJJippi, there are 35 Companies, of 40 Men
each, with a pretty ftrong Fort mounting 8 Car-
riage Guns ; and at the Black-IJlands there are
fevcral Companies, and a Fort with 6 Guns.
The Black-IJlands are about 130 Leagues above
the Mouth of the Ohio, which is about 350 above
New-Orleans, They alfo acquainted me, that
there was a fmall pallifado'd Fort on the Ohio,
at the Mouth of the Obaijh about 60 Leagues
from the MiJJiJtpiy The Obaijh* heads near
the Weft End of Lake Erie, and affords the
Communication between the French on MiJJiJ-
Jippi and thofe on the Lakes. Thefe Deferters
came up from the lower Shanoah Town with
one Brown, an Indian Trader, and were going
to Philadelphia.

About 3 o'clock this Evening the Half-King
came to Town. I went up and invited him with
Davijon, privately, to my T;nt; and defir'd him
to relate fome of the Particulars of his Journey
to the French Commandant, and Reception there:
Alfo to give me an Account of the Ways and
Diftance. He told me, that the neareft and
levelleft Way was now impaflable, by Reafon
of many large mirey Savannas ; that we muft
be obliged to go by Venango, and fhould not get
to the near Fort under 5 or 6 Nights Sleep,
good Travelling. When he went to the Fort,

• Or Wahajb, written by the French Ouabacb.

a«MM

( '5)
he faicl he was received in a very ftern Manner
by the late Commander; Who afk'd him very
abruptly, what he had come about, and to declare
his Bufmefs : Which he faid he did in the fol-
lowing Speech.

Fathers, I am come to tell you yoiir own
Speeches ; what your own Mouths have declared.
Fathers, You, informer Days Jet a Silver Ba-
fon before us, wherein there was the Leg of
a Beaver, and deftrd all the Nations to come
and eat of it ; to eat in Peace and Plenty, and
not to be churlifli to one another : And that if
anyfuch Perfon fhould be found to be a Dif-
turber, I here lay down by the Edge of the Difh
a Rod, which you muflfcourge them with ; and
if I your Father, fhould get foolifh, in my old
Days, Ideftre you may ufe it upon me as well

as others.

Now Fathers, it is you who are the Diflurb-
ers in this Land, by coming and building your
Towns ; and taking it away unknown to us,
and by Force.

Fathers, We kindled a Fire a long Time ago,
at a Place called Montreal, where we defired
you to flay, and not to come and intrude upon
our Land. I now deftre you may difpatch to
that Place ; for be it known to you. Fathers,
that this is our Land, and not yours.

Fathers,

( >^> )

Fathers, I lie/ire you may hear me in Civil-
ne/s ; if not, we ph 7/ handle that Rod which
was laid down for the Ufe of the abflrepcrou^.
If you had come in a peaceable Marnier, like our
Brothers the ^nglifh, we JJiould not have been
againfl your trading with us, as they do ; but
TO COME, Fathers, and build Houses upon our
Land, and to take it by Force, is what we
cannot submit to.

Fathers, Both you and the Englifh are white,
we live in a Country between ; therefore the
Land belongs to neither one nor t'other: But the
Great Being above allowed it to be a Place of
Reftdence for us ; fo Fathers, I deftre you to
withdraw, as I have done our Brothers the Eng-
lifti : For I will keep you at Arms length. I
lay this down as a Trial for both, to fee which
will have thegreatefl Regard to it, and that Side
we zvillfland by, and make equal Sharers with
us. Our Brothers the Engl i fh have heard this,
and I come now to tell it to you , for I am not
afraid to difcliarge you off this Land.

This he faid was the Subftance of what he
fpoke to the General, who made this Reply,

Now my Child, I have heard your Speech:
You fpoke firfl, but it is my Time to fpeak now.
Where is my Wampum that you . .^-jay,

with

( '7 )
tvith the Marks of Timns in it ? This Wam-
pum I do not kncnv, . hick you / ive di/charged
me off the Land with ; But you need not put
yourfelf to the Trouble of fpi'^king.for I wtli
not hear you. I am not afraid of Flies, or Muf
guitos,for Indians arefuch as thofe. I tell you,
down that River I will go, and will build upon
/'/, according to my Command. If the River was
block'd up, I have Forces fufficient to burfl it
open, and tread under my Feet all thatfland in
Oppofition, together ivith their Alliances ; for
my Force is as the Sand upon the Sea Shore :
Therefore, here is your Wampum, I fling it at
you. Child, you talk foolifli ; you fay this Land
belongs to you, but there is not the Black of my
Nail yours. I faw that Land fooner than you
did, before the Shannoahs and you ivere at War :
Lead was the Man who went down, and took
Poffeffion of that River : It is my Land, and I
will have it, let who will fland-up for, orfay-
againfl,it. Til buy attd fell with (he Englifli,
(mockingly). If People will be riud by me,
they may expe5l Kindnefs, but not elfe.

The Half-King told me he enquired of the
General after two EnglifJimen who were made
Prifoners, and received this Anfwer.

' %

Child, You think it is a very great HardfJiip
3 that

\
111

( 18)

^Aai I made Prifoners of thofe two People at
Venango. Dont you concern your/elf with it :
We took and carried them to Canada, to get in-
telligence of what the EngHfh were doing in
Virginia.

He informed me that they had built two
Forts, one on Lake Erie^ and another on French-
Creek, near a fmall Lake about 15 Miles afun-
der, and a large Waggon Road between : They
are both built after the fame Model, but differ-
ent in the Size ; that on the Lake the largeft.
He gave me a Plan of them, of his own draw-
ing.

The Indians enquired very particularly after
their Brothers in Carolina Goal.

They alfo afked what Sort of a Boy it was
who was taken from the South-'Ex2inc\i', for they
were told by fome Indians, that a Party of
French Indians had carried a white Boy by the
Kufkufka Town, towards the Lakes.

iblh. We met in Council at the Long-
Houfe, about 9 o'Clock, where I fpoke to them
as follows.

Brothers, I have called you together in Coun-
cil, by Order of your Brother the Governor of
Virginia, to acquaint you, that I am fent, with
allpofftble Difpatch, to vijit, and deliver a Let-
ter

(19)

ter to the French Commandant., of very great
Importance to your Brothers the Englifh ; and
I dare fay, to you their Friends and Allies.

I was defired, Brothers, by your Brother the
Governor, to call upon you, the Sachems of the
Nations, to inform you of it, and to ajk your
Advice and Afjfiflance to proceed the nearefl and
befl Road to the French. You fee, Brothers, I
have gotten thus far on my yourney.

His Honour likewife defired me to apply to
you for fome of your young Men, to condu£land
provide Provifions for us on our Way ; and be
a Safeguard againfl thofe French Indians who
have taken up the Hatchet againfl us. I have
fpoke this particularly to you, Brothers, becaufe
his Honour our Governor treats you as good
Friends and Allies-, and holds you in great
Efleem. To confirm what I have faid, I give
you this String of Wampum.

After they had confidered for fome Time on
the above Difcourse, the Half-King got up and
(poke.

Now, my Brothers, in Regard to what my
Brother the Governor has defired me, I return
you this Anfwer.

I rely upon you as a Brotlier ought to do, as
you fay we are Brothers and one People : We

fhall

■■■?|
(ii

C20)

JItallput Heart in Hand, and /peak to our Fa-
thers the French concerning the Speech they
made to me ; and you may depend that we will
endeavour to be your Guard.

Brother, as you have q/ked my Advice, I hope
you will be ruled by it, and Jlay till I can pro-
vide a Company to go with you. The French
Speech-Belt is not here, I have it to go for to my
huni'ng-Cabbin : Likewife the People whom I
have ordered in, are not yet come, nor cannot
till the third Night from this \ till which Time,
Brother, I mujl beg you to flay.

I intend to fend a Guard of Mingo's, Shan-
noahs, and Delawares, that our Brothers may
fee the Love and Loyalty we bear- them.

As I had Orders to make all pofTible Difpatch,
and waiting here was very contrary to my Incli-
nation, I thanked him in the moft fuitable Man-
ner I could ; and told him, that my Bufinefs re-
quired the greateft Expedition, and would not
admit of that Delay. He was not wellpleafed
that I fhould offer to go before the Time he had
appointed, and told me, that he could not con-
fent to our going without a Guard, for Fear fome
Accident fhould befal us, and draw a Reflexion
upon him. Befides, fays he, this is a Matter of
no fmall Moment, and muft not be entered into
without due Confideration : For now I intend to

deliver

(21 )

deliver up the ^iK^«^^-Speech-BeIt, and make
the Shanoahs and Delawares do the fame. And
accordingly he gave Orders to King Shingi/s,
who was prefent, to attend on Wednefday Night
with the Wampum ; and two Men of their Na-
tion to be in Readinefs to fet-out with us next
Morning. As I found it was impoflible to get-
off without affronting them in the moft egre-
gious Manner, I confentedto ftay.

I gave them back a String of Wampum which
I met with at Mr. Frezier's, and which they had
fent with a Speech to his Honour the Governor,
to inform him, that three Nations o{ French In-
dians, viz. Chippoways^ Ottoways, and Orun-
daks, had taken -up the Hatchet againft the
Englijh ; and defired them to repeat it over
again : But this they poftponed doing till they
met in full Council with the Shannoahs and
Delaware Chiefs.

2'jth. Runners were difpatched very early for
the Shannoah Chiefs. The Half-King fet out
himfelf to fetch the 7^nr«^^-Speech-Belt from his
hunting Cabbin.

28/^. He returned this Evening, and came
with Monokaioocka, and two other Sachems to
my Tent ; and begged (as they had complied
with his Honour the Governor's Requeft, in pro-
viding Men, &c.) to know on what Bufinefs we
were going to the French ? this was a Queflion

I
'i

! I

w ::

( " )

I all along expedled, and had provided as fat-
isfadory Anfwers to, as I could ; which allayed
their Curiofity a little.

Monokatoocha informed me, that an Indian
from Venango brought News, a few Days ago,
that the French had called all the Mingo's, Del-
awares, &c. together at that Place; and told
them, that they intended to have been down the
River this Fall, but the waters were growing
cold, and the Winter advancing, which obliged
them to go into Quarters ; But that they might
affuredly expedt them in the Spring, with a far
greater Number; and defired that they might
be quite paflive, and not to intermeddle, unlefs
they had a Mind to draw all their Force upon
them : For that they expedled to fight the Eng-
lijh three Years (as they fuppofed there would
be fome Attempts made to ftop them) in which
Time they fhould conquer : But that if they
ftiould prove equally ftrong, they and the Eng-
lijh, would join to cut them all off, and divide
the Land between them : That though they had
loft their General, and fome few of their Sol-
diers, yet there were men enough to reinforce
them, and make them Mafters of the Ohio.

This Speech, he faid, was delivered to them
by one Captain Joncaire their Interpreter in
Chief, living at Venango, and a Man of Note in
the Army.

29/^

(23)

2<^ih. The Half-King and Monokatoocha,
came very early, and begged me to flay one Day
more : For notwithftanding they had ufed all the
Diligence in their Power, the Shanoak Chiefs
had not brought the Wampum they ordered, but
would certainly be in To-night; if not, they
would delay me no longer, but would fend it
after us as foon as they arrived. When I found
them fo preffing in their Requeft, and knew that
returning of Wampum was the aboliftiing of
Agreements ; and giving this up, was fhaking-
off all Dependance upon the French^ I confented
to ftay, as I believed an Offence offered at this
Crifis, might be attended with greater ill Confe-
quence, than another Day's Delay. They alfo
informed me, that Shingifs could not get-in his
Men ; and was prevented from coming himfelf
by his Wife's Sicknefs, (I believe, by Fear of
the French) ; but that the Wampum of that Na-
tion was lodged with Kujlaloga one of their
Chiefs at Venango.

In the Evening late they came again and ac-
quainted me that the Shannoahs were not yet
arrived, but that.it fhould not retard the Profe-
cution of our Journey. He delivered in my
Hearing, the Speeches that were to be made
to the French by Jejkakake^ one of their old
Chiefs, which was giving - up the Belt the
late Commandant had afked for, and repeat-
ing

(M)

ing near the fame Speech he himfelf had done
before.

He alfo delivered a String of Wampunni to
this Chief, which was fent by King Shingi/s, to
be given to Kii/laloga, with Orders to repair to
the French, and deliver-up the Wampum.

He likewife gave a very large String of black
and white Wampum, which was to be font up
immediately to the Six Nations, if the French
refufed to quit the Land at this Warning; which
was the third and laft Time, and was the Right
of this yejkakake to deliver.

30//^. Laft Night the great Men aflembled to
their Council-Houfe, to confult further about this
Journey, and who were to go : The Refult of
which was, that only three of their Chiefs, with
one of their beft Hunters, fhould be our Con-
voy. The Reafon they gave for not fending
more, after what had been propofed at Council
the 26th, was, that a greater Number might give
the French Sufpicions of fome bad Defign, and
caufe them to be treated rudely ; But I rather
think they could not get their Hunters in.

We fet out about 9 o'Clock with the Half-
King, Je/kakake, White Thunder^ and the Hunt-
er ; and travelled on the Road to Venango,
where we arrived the 4th of December, without
any Thing remarkable happening but a contin-
ued Series of bad Weather.

This

\ ':

(25)

This is an old Indian Town, fituated at the
Mouth of French Creek on Ohio ; and lies near
N. about 60 Miles from the Loggs-Toyiw, but
more than 70 the Way we were obliged to go.

We found the French Colours hoifted at a
Houfe from which they had driven Mr. John
Frazier, an EngliJJi Subject. I immediately re-
paired to it, to know where the Commander re-
fided. There were three Officers, one of whom,
Capt. Joncaire, informed me, that he had the
Command of the Ohio : But that there was a
General Officer at the near Fort, where he ad-
vifed me to apply for an Anfwer. He invited
us to fup with them ; and treated us with the
greateft Complaifance.

The Wine, as they dofed themfelves pretty
plentifully with it, foon banifhed the Reftraint
which at firft appeared in their Converfation ;
and gave a Licence to their Tongues to reveal
their Sentiments more freely.

They told me. That it was. their abfolute De-
fign to take Pofleflion of the Ohio, and by
G — they would do it : For that altho' they were
fenfible the Englijh could raife two Men for
their one ; yet they knew, their Motions were
too flow and dilatory to prevent any Undertak-
ing of theirs. They pretend to have an un-
doubted Right to the River, from a Difcovery
made by one La Salle 60 Years ago ; and the
4 Rife

\
I

(26)

Rife of this Expedition is, to prevent our fettling
on the River or Waters of it, as they had heard
of fome Families moving-out in Order thereto.
From the beft Intelligence I could get, there
have been 1 500 Men on this Side Ontario Lake:
But upon the Death of the General all were re-
called to about 6 or 700, who were left to gar-
rifon four Forts, 150 or there abouts in each.
The firft of them is on /rmr^-Creek, near a
fmall Lake, about 60 miles from Venango, near
N.N.W. the next lies on Lake Erie, where the
greater Part of their Stores are kept, about 15
Miles from the other. From this it is 120 Miks
to the carrying Place, at the Falls of Lake Erie,
where there is a fmall Fort ; which they lodge
their Goods at, in bringing them from Montreal,
the Place whence all their Stores come from.
The next Fort lies about 20 Miles from this, on
Ontario Lake. Between this Fort and Mon-
treal there are three others, the firft of which is
near oppofite to the EngliJJt Fort O/wego. From
the Fort on Lake Erie to Montreal is about 600
Miles, which they fay requires no more, if good
Weather, than four Weeks Voyage, if they go
in Barks or large Veflels, fo that they may crofs
the Lake : But if they come in Canoes it will
require 5 or 6 Weeks, for they are obliged to
keep under the Shore.

Ith. Rain'd exceffively all Day, which pre-
vented

( 27 )

vented our Travelling. Capt. Joncaire fent for
the Half-King, as he had but juft heard that he
came with me : He affedled to be much con-
cerned that I did not make free to bring them
in before. I excufed it in the beft manner I
was capable, and told him, I did not think their
Company agreeable, as I had heard him fay a
good deal in Difpraife of Indians in general.
But another Motive prevented me from bring-
ing them into his Company: I knew he was
Interpreter, and a Perfon of very great Influence
among the Indians, and had lately ufed all pof-
fible Means to draw them over to their Intereft;
therefore I was defirous of giving no Opportu-
nity that could be avoided.

When they came in, there was great Pleafure
exprefled at feeing them. He wondred how
they could be fo near without coming to vifit
him ; made feveral trifling Prefents ; and ap-
plied Loquor fo faft, that they were foon ren-
dred incapable of the Bufinefs they came about,
notwithftanding the Caution which was given.

dth. The Half-King came to my Tent, quite
fober, and infifted very much that I fhould ftay
and hear what he had to fay to the French. I
fain would have prevented his ipeaking any
Thing, till he came to the Commandant; but
could not prevail. He told me, that at this
Place a Council Fire was kindled, where all their

Bufinefs

i '

(■J •■ r

III

'itii

■1

< if

(28)

Bufinefs with thcfe Peopl'* was to be tranfadled ;
and that the Management of the Indian Affairs
was left folely to Monfieur Joncaire. As I was
defirous of knowing the Iffue of this, I agreed
to ftay : But fent our Horfes a little Way up
French Creek, to raft over and encamp ; which
I knew would make it near Night.

About 10 o'clock they met in Council. The
King (poke much the fame as he had before done
to the General ; and offered the French Speech-
Belt which had before been demanded, with the
Marks of four Towns on it, which Monfieur
Joncaire refufed to receive ; but defired him to
carry it to the Fort to the Commander.

^th. Monfieur La Force, Commiffary of the
French Stores, and three other Soldiers came
over to accompany us up. We found it ex-
tremely difficult to get the Indians off To-day,
as every Stratagem had been ufed to prevent
their going-up with me. I had laft Night left
John Davifon (the Indian Int^tpreter whom I
brought with me from Town, and ftridly charged
him not to be out of their Company, as I could
not get them over to my Tent ; for they had
fome Bufinefs with Kujlalogay chiefly to know
the Reafon why he did not deliver up the French
Belt which he had in Keeping: But I was
obliged to fend Mr. Gi/l over To-day to fetch
them ; which he did with great Perfuafion.

(29)

At 1 1 o'clock we fet out for the Fort, and
were prevented from arriving there till the nth
by exceflive Rains, Snows, and bad Travelling,
through many Mires and Swamps. Thefe we
were obliged to pafs, to avoid crofling the Creek,
which was impoflible, either by fording or raft-
ing, the Water was fo high and rapid.

We pafTed over much good Land fince we left
Venango, and through feveral extenfive and very
rich Meadows ; one of which I believe was near
four Miles in Length, and confiderably wide in
fome Places.

1 2th. I prepared early to wait upon the Com-
mander, and was received and conducted to him
by the fecond Officer in Command. I ac-
quainted him with my Bufmefs, and offered my
Commiflion and Letter : Both of which he dc'
fired me to keep till the Arrival of Monfieur Ri-
parti, Captain, at the next Fort, who was fent
for and expefted every Hour.

This Commander is a Knight of the military
Order of St. Lewis, and named Legardeur de
St. Piere. He is an elderly Gentleman, and has
much the Air of a Soldier. He was fent over
to take the Command, immediately upon the
Death of the late General, and arrived here
about feven Days before me.

At 2 o'clock the Gentleman who was fent for
arrived, when I offered the Letter, &c. again ;

which

' fi

1 1

\ i3

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);;

,::(

1 '

^^1

I'll

(30)
which they received, and adjourned into a pri-
vate Apartment for the Captain to tranflate, who
underftood a little Englijh. After he had done
it, the Commander defired I would walk-in, and
bring my Interpreter to perufe and corredl it;
which I did.

13///. The chief Officers retired, to hold a
Council of War ; which gave me an Opportu-
nity of taking the Dimenfions of the Fort, and
making what Obfervations I could.

It is fituated on the South, or Weft Fork of
French Creek, near the Water ; and is almoft
furronnded by the Creek, and a fmall Branch of
it which forms a Kind of Ifland. Four Houfes
compofe the Sides. The Baftions are made of
Piles driven into the Ground, ftanding more than
12 Feet above it, and (harp at Top: With Port-
Holes cut for Cannon, and Loop-Holes for the
fmall Arms to fire through. There are eight
6 lb. Pieces mounted, in each Baftion ; and one
Piece of four pound before the Gate. In the
Baftions are a Guard-Houfe, Chapel, DoAor's
Lodging, and the Commander's private Store :
Round which are laid Plat-Forms for the Can-
non and Men to ftand on. There are feveral
Barracks without the Fort, for the Soldiers
Dwelling ; covered, fome with Bark, and fome
with Boards, made chiefly of Loggs. There
are alfo feveral other Houfes, fuch as Stables,
Smiths Shop, &c.

(3' )

I cniild get no certain / iccount of the Num-
ber of Men here : But according to the beft
Judgment I could form, there are an Hundred
exclufive of Officers, of which there are many.
I alfo ga/e Orders to the People who were with
me, to take an exaft Account of the Canoes
which were hauled-up to convey their Forces
down in the Spring. This they did, and told
50 of Birch Bark, and 170 of Pine; bt fides
many others which were blocked-out, in Readi-
nefs to make.

\dfth. As the Snow encreafed very faft, and
our Horfes daily became weaker, I fent them off
unloaded ; under the Care of Barnaby Currin
and two others, to make all convenient Difpatch
to Venango, and there wait our Arrival, if there
was a Profpeft of the Rivers freezing : If not,
then to continue down to Skanapin's Town, at
the Forks of Ohio, and there to wait till we
came to crofs Aliganey; intending myfelf to go
down by Water, as I had the Offer of a Canoe
or two.

As I found many Plots concerted to retard
the Indians Bufinefs, and prevent their return-
ing with me ; I endeavour'd all that lay in my
Power to fruftrate their Schemes, and hurry
them on to execute their intended Defiign. They
accordingly prefled for Admittance this Even-
ing, which at Length was granted them, pri-
vately.

l; !!

i !

(32)
vately, with the Commander and one or two
other Officers. The Half-King told me, that he
ofFer'd the Wampum to the Commander, who
evaded taking it, and made many fair Promifes
of Love and Friendfhip ; faid he wanted to live
in Peace, and trade amicably with them, as a
Proof of which he would fend fome Goods im-
mediately down to the Log/ s-T own for them.
But I rather think the Defign of that is, to bring
away all our ftraggling Traders they meet with,
as I privately underftood they intended to carry
an Officer, &c. with them. And what rather
confirms this Opinion, I was enquiring of the
Commander, by what Authority he had made
Prifoners of feveral of our Englijh Subjefts.
He told me that the Country belong'd to them;
that no Englijhman had a Right to irade upon
thofe Waters ; and that he had Orders to make
every Perfon Prifoner who attempted it on the
Ohio^ or the Waters of it.

I enquir'd of Capt. Riparti about the Boy
who was carried by this Place, as it was done
while the Command devolved on him, between
the Death of the late General, and the Arrival
of the prefent. He acknowledged, that a Boy
had been carried paft ; and that the Indians had
two or three white Men's Scalps, (I was told by
fome of the Indians at Venango Eight) but pre-
tended to have forgotten the Name of the Place

which

11'

(33)
which the Boy came from, and all the Particu-
lar Fads, though he had queftion'd him for fome
Hours, as they were carrying him paft. I like-
wife enquired what they had done with John
Trotter and James Mac Clocklan, two Penfyl-
vania Traders, whom they had taken, with all
their Goods. They told me, that they had been
fent to Canada^ but were now returned Home.

This Evening I received an Anfwer to his
Honour the Governor's Letter from the Com-
mandant.

15///, The Commandant ordered a plentiful
Store of Liquor, Provifion, &c. to be put on
Board our Canoe ; and appeared to be extremely
complaifant, though he was exerting every Arti-
fice which he could invent to fet our own In-
dians at Variance with us, to prevent their go-
ing 'till after our Departure. Prefents, Rewards,
and every Thing which could be fuggefted by

him or his Officers. 1 can't fay that ever in

my Life I fufFer'd fo much Anxiety as I did in
this Affeir : I faw that every Stratagem which
the moft fruitful Brain could invent, was prac-
tifed, to win the Half-King to their Intereft ;
and that leaving him here was giving them the

Opportunity they aimed at, 1 went to the

Half-King and prefs'd him in the ftrongeft

Terms to go : He told me the Commandant

would not difcharge him 'till the Morning. I

5 then

( !

y. 1

i %

\ 1

!l /j

(;

1^1

(34)
then went to the Commandant, and defired him
to do their Bufinefs; and complain'd of ill Treat-
ment : For keeping them, as they were Part of
my Company, was detaining me* This he prom-
ifed not to do, but to forward my Journey as
much as he could. He protefted he did not keep
them, but was ignorant of the Caufe of their

Stay ; though I foon found it out : He had

promifed them a prefent of Guns, &c. if they
would wait 'till the Morning.

As I was very much prefs'd, by the Indians,
to wait this Day for them, I confented, on a
Promife, That nothing ftiould hinder them in
the Morning.

\(>th. The French were not flack in their In-
ventions to keep the Indians this Day alfo : But
as they were obligated, according to Promife,
to give the Prefent, they then endeavoured to
try the Power of Liquor ; which I doubt not
would have prevailed at any other Time than
this : But I urged and infifted with the King fo
clofely upon his Word, that he refrained, and
fet-ofF with us as he had engaged.

We had a tedious and very fatiguing Paflage
down the Creek. Several Times we had like
to have been ftaved againft Rocks ; and many
Times were obliged all Hands to get-out and re-
main in the Water Half an Hour or more, get-
ting over the Shoals. At one Place the Ice had

lodged

'•\

\ I }

C35)
lodged and made it impaflable by Water; there-
fore we were obliged to carry our Canoe acrofs
a Neck of Land, a Quarter of a Mile over.
We did not reach Venango, till the 22d, where
we met with our Horfes.

This Creek is extremely crooked, I dare fay
the Diftance between the Fort and Vetiango
can't be lefs than 130 Miles, to follow the Me-
anders.

22,d, When I got Things ready to fet-ofF, I
fent for the Half-King, to know whether he in-
tended to go with us, or by Water. He told
me that White-Thunder h^d hurt himfelf much,
and was fick and unable to walk ; therefore he
was obliged to carry him down in a Canoe. As
I found he intended to ftay here a Day or two,
and knew that Mon(\t\xx y one aire would employ
every Scheme to fet him againft the EngliJIi as
he had before done; I told him I hoped he
would guard againft his Flattery, and let no fine
Speeches influence him in their Favour. He
defired I might not be concerned, for he knew
the French too well, for any Thing to engage
him in their Behalf; and that though he could
not go down with us, he yet would endeavour
to meet at the Forks with Jofeph CampLell, to
deliver a Speech for me to carry to his Honour
the Governor. He told me he would order the
young Hunter to attend us, and get Provifion,

&c. if wanted.

Our

•iii

|l!

(36)

Our Horfes were now fo weak and feeble, and
the Baggage fo heavy (as we were obliged to
provide all the Neceffaries which the Journey-
would require) that we doubted much their per-
forming it : therefore myfelf and others (except
the Drivers who were obliged to ride) gave-up
our Horfes for Packs, to afTift along with the
Baggage. I put myfelf in an Indian walking
Drefs, and continued with them three Days, till
I found there was no Probability of their getting
home in any reafonable Time. The Horfes grew
lefs able to travel every Day ; the Cold increafed
very taft ; and the Roads were becoming much
worfe by a deep Snow, continually freezing:
Therefore as I was uneafy to get back, to make
Report of my Proceedings to his Honour the
Governor, I determined to profecute my Jour-
ney the neareft Way through the Woods, on
Foot.

Accordingly I left Mr. Vanbraam in Charge
of our Baggage ; with Money and Direftions,
to provide Neceffaries from Place to Place for
themfelves and Horfes, and to make the moft
convenient Dipatch in Travelling.

I took my neceffary Papers ; pulled-off my
Cloaths ; and tied myfelf up in a Match Coat.
Then with Gun in Hand and Pack at my Back,
in which were my Papers and Provifions, I fet-
out with Mr. Gift, fitted in the fame Manner,

( 37 )
on Wednefday the 26th. The Day following,
juft after we had palTed a Place called the Mur-
dering-'Tovfn (where we intended to quit the
Path, and fteer acrofs the Country for Shanna-
pins Town) we fell-in with a Party oi French
Indians, who had lain in Wait for us. One of
them fired at Mr. Gift or me, not 15 Steps off,
but fortunately miffed. We took this Fellow
into Cuftody, and kept him till about 9 o'Clock
at Night : Then let him go, and walked all the
remaining Part of the Night without making
any Stop ; that we might get the Start, fo far, as
to be out of the Reach of their Purfuit the next
Day, fince we were well affured they would
follow our Trad as foon as it was light. The
next Day we continued travelling till quite dark,
and got to the River about two Miles above
Shannapins. We expeded to have found the
River frozen, but it was not, only about 50
Yards from each Shore : The Ice I fuppofe had
broken up above, for it was driving in vaft
Quantities.

There was no Way for getting over but on a
Raft : Which we fet about, with but one poor
Hatchet, and finiflied juft after Sun-fetting. This
was a whole Day's Work: we next got it
launched, and went on Board of it : Then fet-
off. But before wewere Half Way over, we
were jammed in the Ice, in fuch a Manner that

1 1

C38)

we expedted every Moment our Raft to fink,
and ourfelves to perifh. I put-out my fetting
Pole to try to ftop the Raft, that the Ice might
pafs by ; when the Rapidity of the Stream threw
it with Co much Violence againft the Pole, that
it jirked me out into ten Feet Water: But I for-
tunately faved myfelf by catching hold of one
of the Raft Logs. Notwithftanding all our Ef-
forts we could not get the Raft to either Shore ;
but were obliged, as we were near an IHand, to
quit our Raft and make to it.

The Cold was fo extremely fevere, that Mr.
Gi^ had all his Fingers, and fome of his Toes
frozen ; and the Water was fhut up fo hard, that
we found no Difficulty in getting-off the Ifland,
on the Ice, in the Morning, and went to Mr.
Frazier'%. We met here with 20 Warriors who
were going to the Southward to War: But
coming to a Place upon the Head of the great
Kunnaway^ where they found feven People
killed and fcalped (all but one Woman with
very light Hair) they turned about and ran back
for Fear the Inhabitants fhould rife and take
them as the Authors of the Murder. They re-
port that the Bodies were lying about the Houfe,
and fome of them much torn and eaten by Hogs:
By the Marks which were left, they fay they
were French Indians of the Ottoway Nation,
&c. who did it.

C 39 )
As we intended to take Horfes here, and it
required fome Time to find them, I went-up
about three Miles to the Mouth of Yaugkyaugh-
gane to vifit Queen Alliquippa^ who had ex-
prefled great Concern that we pafled her in go-
ing to the Fort. I made her a Prefent of a
Matchcoat and a Bottle of Rum ; which latter
was thought much the beft Prefent of the two.

Tuefday the i ft Day of January, we left Mr.
Frazier's Houfe, and arrived at Mr. 6"^'s at
Monongahela the 2d, where I bought a Horfe,
Saddle, &c. the 6th we met 17 Horfes loaded
with Materials and Stores for a Fort at the Forks
of Ohio, and the Day after fome Families going-
out to fettle: This Day we arrived at Wills
Creek, after as fatiguing a Journey as it is pofli-
ble to conceive, rendered fo by exceflive bad
Weather. From the firft Day oi December to
the 15th, there was but one Day on which it did
not rain or fnow inceflantly; and throughout the
whole Journey we met-with nothing but one
continued Series of cold wet Weather, which
occafioned very uncomfortable Lodgings ; ef-
pecially after we had quitted our Tent, which
was fome Screen from the Inclemency of it.

On the 1 ith I got to Belvoir\ where I flopped
one Day to take necefTary Reft ; and then fet out,
and arrived in William/burgh the 16th; when
I waited upon his Honour the Governor with

the

;>.

(40)
the Letter I had brought from the French Com-
mandant; and to give an Account of the Suc-
cefs of my Proceedings. This I beg Leave to
do by offering the foregoing Narrative as it con-
tains the moft remarkable Occurrences which
happened in my Journey.

I hope what has been faid will be fufficient to
make your Honour fatisfied with my Condudl ;
for that was my Aim in undertaking the Jour-
ney, and chief Study throughout the Profecu-
tion of it.

With the Hope of doing it, I, with infinite
Pleafure fubfcribe myfelf.

Your Honour's moft Obedient,

And very humble Servant,

G. Wajhington.

COPY

(41 )

COPT of his Honour the Governor's
Letter y to the Commandant of the French
Forces on the Omo,fent by Major Wafli-
ington.

SIR,

THE Lands upon the River O/n'o, in the
Weftern Parts of the Colony of Virginia,
are fo notorioufly known to be the Property of
the Crown of Great-Britain ; that it is a Mat-
ter of equal Concern and Surprize to me, to
hear that a Body of French Forces are eredling
Fortrefles, and making Settlements upon that
River, within his Majefty's Dominions.

The many and repeated Complaints I have
received of thefe A(fts of Hoftility, lay me un-
der the Neceffity, of fending, in the Name of the
King my Mafter, the Bearer hereof, George
Wq/Iiington, Efq; one of the Adjutants Gen-
eral of the Forces of this Dominion ; to com-
plain to you of the Encroachments thus made,
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and of the Injuries done to the Subjefts of
Great-Britain, in open Violation of the Law of
Nations, and the Treaties now fubfifting be-
tween the two Crowns.

If thefe Fadls are true, and you fhall think fit
to juftify your Proceedings, I muft defire you
to acquaint me, by whofe Authority and Inftruc-
tions you have lately marched from Canada,
with an armed Force ; and inva'l^d the King of
Great-Britain s Territories, in the Manner com-
plained of? that according to tht Purport and
Refolution of your Anfwer, I may adl agreeably
to the Commiflion I am honoured with, from the
King my Mafter.

However Sir, in Obedience to my Inftruc-
tions, it becomes my Duty to require your peace-
able Departure ; and that you would forbear
profecuting a Purpofe fo interruptive of the
Harmony and good Underftanding, which his
Majefty is defirous to continue and cultivate
with the moft Chriftian King.

I perfuade myfelf you will receive and
entertain Major Wajhington with the Can-
dour and Politenefs natural to your Nation;
and it will give me the greateft Satisfaftion,
if you return him with an Anfwer fuitablc to

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my Wifhes for a very long and lafting Peace
between us. I have the Honour to fubfcribe
myfelf,

S I R,

Your moft obedient,

Humble Servant,

Robert Dinwiddie.

William/burgh, in Virginia, )
Oaober 31ft, 1753. j

TRANS-

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(44)

TRAJ^SLATIOJ^ of a Letter from
Mr. Legardeur de St. Piere, a principal
French Officer, in Anfwer to the Govern-
or's Letter.

SIR,

AS I have the Honour of commanding here
in Chief, Mr. Wajliington delivered me
the Letter which you wrote to the Commandant
of the French Troops.

I fhould have been glad that you had given
him Orders, or that he had been inclined to pro-
ceed to Canada^ to fee our General; to whom it
better belongs than to me to fet-forth the Evi-
dence and Reality of the Rights of the King,
my Mafter, upon the Lands fituated along the
River Ohio^ and to conteft the Pretenfions of the
King of Great-Britain thereto.

I fhall tranfmit your Letter to the Marquis
Duguifne. His Anfwer wi'i be a Law to me ;

and

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and if he fhall order me to communicate it to
you, Sir, you may be aflureu I ihall not. fail to
difpatch it to you forthwith.

As to the Summons you fend mc to retire, I
do not think myfelf obliged to obey it. What-
ever may be your Inftruftions, I am here by
Virtue of the Orders of my General ; and I in-
treat you, Sir, not to doubt one Moment, but
that I am determin'd to conform myfelf to them
with all the Exadlnefs and Refolution which can
be expe<5ted from the beft Officer.

I don't know that in the Progrefs of this Cam-
paign any Thing has pafled which can be re-
puted an Aft of Hoftility, or that is contrary
to the Treaties which fubfift between the two
Crowns ; the Continuation whereof as much in-
terefts, and is as pleafing to us, as the Englijh.
Had you been pleafed, Sir, to have def'-ended to
particub.rize the Fafts which occafi d your
Complaint, I ftiouH have had the lionour of
anfwering you in " " fuUeft, and, I am per-
fuaded, mofl jtadtory Manner.

I made it my particular Care to receive Mr.
WaJJiington, with a Diftinftiou fuitable to your
Dignity, as well as his own Quality and great
Merit. I flatter myfelf that he will do me this

Juftice

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(46)
Juftice before you, Sir ; and that he will fignify
to you in the Manner I do myfclf, the profound
Refpeft with which I am,

SIR.

Your moft humble, and
rooft obedient Servant,

Legardeur de St. Piere.

From the Fort fur La Riviere au Beuf,
the i%th <?/■ December 1753.

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