the batteaux should have been, of necessity, aban 'oned. A very violent gale from the West retained the army until the 14th and though it was not altogether calm, ten leagues were made that day under sail, though we did not leave until noon. The navigation is pretty dangerous for canoes and batteaux; the waves extraordinarily high, and the landing very difficult, there being numerous shoals in some places and in others headlands against which the sea breaks at a stupendous height. We camped in a river where the wind was less violent, and arrived next day, the 15th, at Fort Frontenac. On the 16th, the militia and soldiers were occupied conveying fire-wood to the fort and in cutting and transporting what was necessary for the requisite planks and boards. The masons who had been left there had erected during the Count's absence a building of 120 feet, along one of the curtains, not so high on that side as the parapet. The wood work is attached, and there is a range of loop holes along the upper loft as in the remainder of the fort. This long building contains a chapel, the officers' quarters, a bakery and the stores which are at present filled with provisions for the subsistence of the troops for more than eight months, exclusive of refreshments and what will be required for the Indians who may pass there. The two pieces of cannon, one of which was employed in the campaign and a quantity of grenades were left there. The army sojourned there the 17th; encamped on the 18th at La Galette and on the 19th on Lake St. Francis. On the same day, the enemy attacked some canoes of our people, who had found means to precede us. One of our party was drowned, one wounded; the enemy lost three men and could not be captured by a detachment which was sent in pursuit. On the 20th we arrived at Montreal. Some batteaux upset in the rapids and three militiamen were drowned. We were obliged to make good to the others the arms and bagage that the boat lost by upsetting. We might extend the narrative of this campaign to a greater length, but as we should be obliged to use terms little known to those unacquainted with Canada, we considered this slight sketch would suffice. It might have been more advantageous to His Majesty's arms, and more glorious to Count de Frontenac, had the Onnontagués followed their first plan; it would have, no doubt, cost the lives of some brave men, as the Iroquois do not fight with impunity. There might have been, perhaps, six to seven hundred men in their fort including those who had come to their aid, and scarcely any would have escaped; but their loss cannot fail to be considerable. After M. Denonville's [departure from] the Seneca country, we know the difficulty that Nation had to subsist for several years. The Iroquois were powerful, and are diminished since; assistance from the English, especially in provisions, comes in less abundantly; wheat is worth twenty francs the minot [three bushels] at Orange; the pound of powder, a pistole; lead and other merchandize are, in truth, cheaper than with us. The Mohawks have very little Indian corn; the Oneidas are ruined, and it is not known whether the Senecas will not remember the high price the Onnontagués set on provisions at the time of their discomfiture, when they were obliged to give most valuable belts for supplies. There remain then only the Cayugas who can succor their neighbours, and we cannot say if they alone are sufficient for that purpose. Their hunting and fishing will, without doubt be interrupted by the different small parties now in the field. In fine, it is certain, by continuing the war as at its commencement, and as Count de Frontenac determined, the Iroquois will be reduced to the necessity of dying of hunger, or accepting peace on the conditions we may think proper to impose on them; and if the almost invincible obstinacy they seem to have to wage it with us continue, we will not despair to bring them to it, if this blow, struck without the participation of our allies from above, and which they did not believe could be undertaken without them, could force them to make as great efforts on their side as we have made on ours; it will be easy to urge them to it as long as the French remain at Missilimakinac and at other posts, but when the fatal moment of their return arrives, their absence will put an absolute termination to the little good will the former may feel towards us, when they shall see themselves abandoned. Possibly they will be greatly cooled down this autumn, seeing neither pow How can they be per der nor ball, nor goods coming to them. suaded to wage war without furnishing them with the means; how can the destruction of the Iroquois be completed without their aid, if they withdraw from us and retire into the woods? Count de Frontenac learned on his arrival, that an Onontagué who had been captured at the fort above the island of Montreal [killed] himself in prison. On the 22d August, thirteen Algonquins brought in two Mohawk scalps, and one woman and two girls, prisoners. Seven savages from the Sault and the Mountain who had been detached to Oneida with Mons" de Vaudreuil, brought in a prisoner of the same Nation, who was burned at Montreal. Some small parties of the enemy appeared along the south shore, but they made no attack, and the harvest has been saved very quietly. COLL. FLETCHER TO THE LORDS OF THE LATE COMMITTEE DATED THE 22D AUG. 1696. [Lond. Doc. X.] May it please your Lordships. On the 2nd instant I had intelligence the Governor of Canida was in our Indian Country with 1000 French and 2000 Indians, and that the people of Albany were in some consternation lest the Indians of the Five Nations should joyne with them and fall down upon Schenectady and Albany. He surprized one Castle at Oneyde which he burnt, and destroyed the Indian corne. The Onondages sent away their old men, women and children to the southward, the young men tarryed 'till they perceived the French were too numerous for them, then burnt their Fort and retreated, leaving their corne to be destroyed. It is reported by some prisoners that did escape, that an Indian brought tydings to Count Frontenac, that I was on my march from Albany with a great army as numerous as the trees of the woods, which hastened his retreat, the Cayounges and Sinnekes are no[t] hurt, I wrot to Connecticut for their quota and to the Governour of the Jerseys for men to meet me at Albany, but all my endeavours could no obtain one man from them It is resolved in Council here for His Majtys service that the Oneydes and Onondages be supply'd with corne the ensuing yeare which will add to the charges of this Province. I have herewith transmitted to your Lordps a copy of my proceedings at Albany on this occasion, I have delayed the giving them the present from His Majty untill such time I can get them all together, and having received advice from the R' Honble the Lords of His Majtys Privy Council of a designe the French have upon some part of America, I hastened to Yorke, for in a month or six weeks time the winds are esteemed a defence to this Coast. AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATE EXPEDITION TO ALBANY IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST 1696. [London Doc. X.] July 31. His Excelly Benjamin Fletcher had certain intelligence that the French were on their march against the Indians of the Five Nations. Sunday Augst the 24. Intelligence came the French were in the Indian Countrey and that the inhabitants of Albany were apprehensive of their marching against that garrison. At the same time came a letter from the R' Honble the Lords of his Maty Privy Council advising of preparacons made by the French against some part of America. His Excell. the same day did recommend to the Council to cause the guns and batterys to be put in order and about noone took his departure for Albany. On the 7th of Augst his Excell arrived at Albany and called a Council of such gentl. and officers as were upon the frontiers. [Council Min. Vol. VII.] At a Council held at Albany the 7th day of August 1696. Coll. Nich. Bayard of the Council Majr Peter Schuyler of the Matth: Clarkson Secy L' Coll. Charles Lodwick Coll. Richd Ingoldesby Capt James Weems Capt William Hyde Capt. Peter Matthews Evert Banker Esq Mr. Dellius the Minister to the Indians His Excell the Governor said : Gentl. As soon as I had certaine notice from you that the enemy were marched into the Countrey of our Indian friends, and by the number of their forces did seeme to threaten this place & Schenectady, I made all the haste I could to yo' assistance, loosing no more time but while I wrott to Connecticutt & the Jerseys for such supplys of men as I conceived necessary upon this occasion by this letter which I received at the same time (with those from Albany) from the Lords of His Matyes Council in England, you will see that I could not reasonably draw forces from New Yorke nor be well spared from that place myself; yet by advice of his Matyes Council there I am come up with a part of my own Company and desire yo' advice what is most proper to be done for the King's service and y' own safetyes and for the secureing the Indians in their fidelity and renewing the covenant chain: this we are to consider, that time may not be lost and the Countrey not burthened by an unnecessary charge. His Excell. further proposed sending thirty men of his own Company now brought up with him with a detachment of twenty out of each of the three Companyes here, into the Indian Countrey to cover the retreate of our Indians and secure them from their fears. The Council were of opinion the French being retreated it would be an unnecessary charge. And offered their advice that the Sachems of the Oneydes should be sent for (who are here) and their losse condoled, which was accordingly done. |