them, representing the obligation of their oath, and the terms of the pass received from me at this place.

Mr. Bellestre who has been some time amongst the Spaniards is said to be at the head of 200 French who have Joined the Rebels on their march, 100 from Illinois the rest from St Vincennes &c.

The 6th our tents were struck before day and most of our stores embark'd when three Hurons from Sandooské arrived with a very circumstantial account of the approach of the Rebels by several different routes, that the advanced guard of their main body was 800 strong, that they were provided with cannon to come against Detroit, with various particulars calculated to alarm and disconcert the Indians.

I told the Messengers, however little credit I gave to this account; it should be communicated to the 4 neighbouring nations, but that I had engaged to assist the Ouabash Indians, I would keep my word.

The Indians being assembled in the afternoon, heard my opinion of the intelligence, and with the utmost chearfullness agreed to accompany us. During our meeting the Vessels hove in sight. The 7th at 8 in the morning Capt. Bird with 50 of the King's Regt from Niagara landed.

Capt Lernoult has permitted Lieut Shourd with 2 Serjeants and 30 men to accompany us, which considering our hasty levies will be a reinforcement of consequence. The true spirit of the service prompts Lieut Shourd his Serjeants & I think the greater part of his men to present themselves on this occasion.

Our strength will now consist of one Lieut of Artillery, with two Gunners -one Lieut of the Kings 2 Serjeants and 31 Rank & File & the Volunteer and Militia as mentioned in a former letter.

The Indians about 70, several of them chiefs,-the rest pick'd men. My satisfaction is all are Volunteers.

Your Excellency will I hope excuse the hurry & incorrectness of my letter. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect, Sir,

Your Excellency's most devoted, most obedient & most humble Servant,

HENRY HAMILTON.

Detroit.

LETTERS OF LIEUT. GOV. ABBOTT TO GEN. CARLETON.

DETROIT April 25th 1778.

SIR-I left St Vincenne the 3rd of february, & after a painfull journey of thirty three days through the woods, arrived here the seventh of March.

I once flattered myself (as I had the honor of informing your Excellency) of being able to remain without incurring any great expence, experience has convinced me to the contrary, which determined me to leave the place before the Indians returned from their winter Hunt, knowing they would be much exasperated my not making large presents.

I hope your Excellency will approve my conduct, it was the only alternative left, under the restrictions you was pleased to lay on me; it was not possible for me to meet thousands of savages, without presents of ammunition, Liquor, & Merchandize, notwithstanding every precaution in my power, I have been obliged to incurr a great expence to keep the Indians in the crown's interest, for which I have drawn on Mr. Dunn.

The necessity, & the nature of my situation, I hope will induce your Excellency to order payment, however unfortunate I may have been to fall under your displeasure.

The utility of a Person to command at St Vincenne to prevent the Savages entering into the Rebels service, I submit to your Excellency, if this is necessary, it must of course be attended with expence.

I enclose the instructions I left with Major Beaulon senior officer at St. Vincenne. I have the honor to be Your Excellency's most obedient & most humble servant

EDWD. ABBOTT.

I enclose a copy of a letter sent me from St Vincenne, which arrived this morning.

His Excellency Sir Guy Carleton.

Endorsed: From Lieut Govr Abbott Detroit 25th April 1778, inclosing Instructions given to Major Beaulon commandant at Post Vincennes.

[B 122, p. 48.]

DETROIT June the 8th 1778.

SIR-I have enclosed Your Excellency the declaration of Monsr Monbruin which yesterday came to my hands from St. Vincenne. Your Excellency will plainly perceive the employing indians on the Rebel frontiers has been

of great hurt to the cause, for many hundreds would have put themselves under His Majesty's protection was there a possibility: that not being the case, these poor unhappy people are forced to take up arms against their Sovereign, or be pillaged & left to starve; cruel alternative. This is too shocking a subject to dwell upon. Your Excellency's known humanity will certainly put a stop if possible to such proceedings, as it is not people in arms that Indians will ever daringly attack; but the poor inoffensive families who fly to the deserts to be out of trouble, and who are inhumanely butchered sparing neither women or children.

It may be said it is necessary to employ Indians to prevent their serving our enemies, I will be bold to say, their keeping a neutrality, will be equally (if not more) serviceable to us, as their going to war, for the reason I have already gave; & surely the presents they receive will prevent their acting against us. I have the honor to be Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant. EDWARD ABBOTT.

His Excellency Sir Guy Carleton. Quebec.

Endorsed: Gen. Abbott of June the 8th recd July 7th. Inclosing declaration of Monsr Monbrun.

[B. 122, p. 50.]

ACCOUNT OF THE EXPEDITION OF LIEUT. GOV. HAMILTON.

SIR-The last letter I had the honour of addressing to Your Excellency was dated May the seventh 1781, and was accompanied with returns of the Prisoners and general account of disbursements and of cash received at different times, duplicates of all which shall be sent by the first opportunity.

The Packet which brought Major Hay and myself sail'd from Sandy Hook on the 27th of May, and arrived at Falmouth on the 21st of June.

Yesterday being the 5th of July I had the honor of paying my respects to Lord George Germaine. His Lordship was pleased to attend to the account I gave of an ill success, and the treatment we experienced from the rebels, from the day of our being made prisoners of War, the 25th Feby. 1779 to the 4th of March 1781, when we were totally out of their power by a final exchange.

Having mentioned to His Lordship that I had preserved a diary of trans

actions He directed me to commit to paper a brief account, and transmit the same to Your Excellency.

In obedience to His Lordships orders I shall endeavor to avoid detail and supply as well as may be the want of such papers as were seized by order of the rebel governor Mr. Jefferson, on our being thrown into the Dungeon at Williamsburg. Some things previous to the arrival of Your Excellency at Quebec it may be proper slightly to mention.

On the 9th day of November I arrived at Detroit, and almost immediately applications were made by the Indians for my assent to their making inroads upon the Frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia, this I declined giving not having received possitive orders on the subject, and the Rebels being in possession of Montreal, all intercourse with Sir Guy Carleton was cut off.

In the month of June 1777 Lieut. Governor Cramahé wrote me a letter containing a copy of Lord George Germaines orders and instructions, by which I was authorized to appoint Proper officers and Interpreters & to send them with the Indians against the rebels with the strictest injunctions to discourage & restrain them from their usual barbarities.

A most strict adherance to these injunctions has been observed on my part, & as whatever I advance can be well supported, I shall mention some of the measures taken with the Indians, to invalidate the odious falsities propagated by the rebels in different parts of America, & to show that the Savages have yielded to restraint & foregone their habits of cruelty.

When any party of Indians were desirous of going on a discovery, they were brought to me by the Interpreters, every dissuasive against cruelty was used their pretensions to the title of Warrior set in a just light, presents promised them for prisoners brought in alive, which the liberality of government enabled me to make them, and the stability of future peace urged it after the conclusion of it, the Americans had living proof of the humanity of the Indians, in the preservation of their children and other defenceless persons.

Some or all these arguments had their weight with the very first party sent out which returned with seven prisoner alive, who testified to the gentle treatment shown by the Savages. The presents given on this occasion were incentive to other parties to act in like manner, and when we went against St. Vincennes we left 129 prisoners of different ages and sexes, who seemed heartily greatful for their humane treatment, being clothed and fed at the expense of the crown, and allowed all liberty within the settlement.

On the 6th of August 1778 intelligence was brought me by Mr Francis Maisonville of the attack of the Ilinois by Colonel Clarke, the shamefull treatment of Monsr de Rocheblave, who was laid in irons and put into a

4

place where hogs had been kept, ankle deep in filth, the indignities offered Madame de Rocheblave, the destruction of his property &c.

Expresses were dispatched with all possible speed to inform the Commander in Chief at Quebec, Lieutenant Colonel Bolton, commandant at Niagara, and Captain De Peyster commandant at Michilimackinac.

No time was lost in making preparations for executing the orders of the Commander in Chief should he approve of an attempt to dislodge the rebels. Monsieur de Celeron was sent off directly for Quiattanon with Belts and Speeches for the Miamis Indians, and those of the river Ouabache, his orders which were given him in writing, as was the case with all partizan officers, directed that he should as soon as possible, give me information of the dispositions of the Indians, the numbers & if possible the views of the Rebels, and that he should not fail to have the few small cannon at Fort Sackville spiked, and the Trunnions knocked off, a detail of his treacherous conduct Phad the honor of laying before Your Excellency in a letter from Ouiattanon.

Sept 15th I had the honor of a letter from your Excellency, and in consequence wrote to Major De Peyster at Michilimackinac informing him of my design of attempting to dislodge the rebels from the Illinois.

Having received the companies of militia I found there would be as many of them turn out Volunteers as with the regulars. La Mothes company, and the Indians would employ what little craft we had.

Capt. Lernoult who at that time commanded the Detachment of the Kings (8th) Regiment assisted me greatly in forwarded everything necessary to be provided, and gave permission to Lieutenant Howe [Shourd?] two Sergeants and thirty rank & File who were all Volunteers to accompany me.

Orders having been given in time for putting the carrying place at the Miamis in order, repairing the carriages &c proper artificers engaged, craft overhauled and the weight of the provisions, ammunition, stores, Indian, goods, &c calculated. The Indians being found well disposed, & messengers sent to the different nations resorting to Detroit, apprizing them of my design, & exhorting them to send out frequent parties upon the frontiers, the day was fixed for our departure.

Pere Potier the Jesuit Missionary a man of a respectable character and venerable figure, came to the head of our little encampment on the common of Detroit, and having attended to the reading the Articles of War, and the renewal of the Oath of Allegiance to His Britannick Majesty, he gave the blessing to the Catholics present, conditionally upon their strictly adhering to their oath, being the more engaged thereto as the indulgence and favor of their prince merited their best Services & had exceeded their most sanguin expectations. The subsequent behavior of these people has occasioned my recalling this circumstance.