[Paris Doc. X.] April 4, 1748. Nanangousy, Chief of the Iroquois at the Sault has returned from Choueguen where he has been to spy. He reports that outside Fort Choueguen there is but one Trader's house; that there was a great number of Dutch and Palatine traders at the place called Theyaoguin who were preparing to come and make a considerable trade at Choueguen, and that there was nothing at that fort to betoken any expedition on the part of the English among the 5 Nations. [Council Minutes XXV.] Fort George, New York, 23. April 1755. The Governor acquainted the Board that among the other measures concerted at Alexandria, the Fort at Oswego, as a Post of great Importance, is to be strengthened by a detachment of all the effective Men belonging to the two independent Companies at Albany, and two Companies from Sr William Pepperel's Regimt who are to throw up Intrenchments and make Such additional Works as may be thought wanting for its Security. That he signified to the General [Braddock] that the Province would not he apprehended, supply Provisions for so many Men, unless the Expense might be taken out of the Fund of £5000 granted for Transportation and Refreshment of the Kings Troops, and for other extraordinary Services Necessary for the Use and Security of the Colony, in the present Juncture; and that if he was willing it Should be taken out of that Fund, he would advise with the Council upon it, on his Return. To which General Braddock had agreed. And thereupon the Governor desired the opinion of the Board. The Board were of Opinion His Honour might draw out of that Fund for Six Months Provisions for those Troops and for One hundred Battoes and a sufficient Number of Steersmen, to be employed in transporting them and their Provisions & Stores. And also for Pickaxes, Spades, Shovells and other necessaries for making Intrenchments, if such proper Implements could not be supplied out of the King's Stores here. M. DE VAUDREUIL TO THE MINISTER. [Paris Doc. XI.] Quebec, 10 July, 1756. My lord, I had the honour to inform you by my letter of the 2d inst. that the English were deploying a large force towards Chouaguen; that they had built some 10 gun brigs there and two descriptions of galleys;' that a body of 3000 men were also assembling at Fort Necessity about 40 leagues from Fort Duquesne and that its vanguard of 700 men had already arrived there. We had confirmation of this news from reliable Indians of different villages and they gave us assurances sufficiently convincing not to allow us to doubt it. They even added, as a matter of certainty that 4000 men were going to Choueguen; that the five nations were spread on the wings of this army; that the English would seize Niagara and Fort Frontenac, and moreover that they had constructed 600 batteaux at Orange; that they were still busy at a great many others; that there were, likewise, 5000 men encamped outside Orange covering two leagues of Country; that this army was to march against Fort St. Frederic [Crown Point] and finally advance on our settlements on this Continent. 1 am, My lord, about to send some reinforcements to this last fort, but this diversion will not cause me to change my design on Lake Ontario which I had the honour to communicate to you. The preservation of Niagara is what interests us the most; if our enemies became masters of it and keep Chouaguen, the Upper Countries would be lost to us, and besides, we should have no more communication with the river Oyo. THE SAME TO THE SAME. Montreal 24 July 1755 However great the evil [the backward state of Canada and the low state of its finances] I must remedy it and in carrying out my views and my zeal in this regard, I must not lose sight of my 1 The first English vessel on Lake Ontario was a little schooner 40 feet keel with 14 sweeps or oars and 12 swivels. She was launched on 28th June, 1755. design against Chouaguen, since on the success of this depends the tranquillity of the Colony. The expedition against Chouaguen which had at all times been easy, is to-day unfortunately very difficult and that, I cannot help repeating, because the English experienced no opposition in their undertaking and preparations. The quiet state of the Colony had, even, rendered them so haughty that having arrived at the degree of perfection they aspired to, they boldly raised the mask, and were daring enough, in the beginning of June, to send three balls through the King's Flag flying from a batteau of an Officer who was conducting a detachment to the Belle Rivière. They have actually two and perhaps three flat bottomed gun brigs with sweeps, which cruise from day to day, on Lake Ontario. They are about to launch others for similar purposes. I have advices of the 20th of this month stating that those two barks have been with several Batteaux as far as beyond Quinté where the English landed and that it is certain they will go to Niagara. Chouaguen is no longer a Trading house; it is regularly fortified and suitably furnished with pieces of artillery. There is a second Fort equally provided with cannon. The Woods that surrounded Chouaguen and militated against its defence, no longer exist. They have rendered its approaches difficult.' They are in strength there and become stronger every moment by the troops that arrive from Orange. Yet, My lord, I act with confidence, and dare flatter myself to have Chouaguen razed. The army will be composed of about 4300 men, 2000 of whom will be regular troops, 1800 Canadians and 500 domiciliated Indians. I perceive with joy that the one and the other greatly exert 1 "When it was determined that the Army at Oswego should go into winter quarters, they began a new fort upon a hill on the east side of the river about 470 yards from the old one; it is 800 feet in circumference, and will command the harbour; it is built of logs from 20 to 30 inches thick; the wall is 14 feet high and is encompassed by a ditch 14 feet broad and ten deep; it is to contain barracks for 300 men, and to mount 16 guns. On the other side of the river, west from the old fort, another new fort is erecting; this is 170 feet square, the rampart is of Earth and Stone, 20 feet thick and 12 feet high, besides the parapet; this is also encompassed with a ditch 14 feet broad and ten feet deep, and is to contain barracks for 200 men. An hospital of framed work, 150 feet by 30, is already built, which may serve as a barrack for 200 men; and another barrack is preparing of 150 feet by 24."-Account of American affairs in 1755, in Gentleman's Magazine, xxvi. 6. themselves to accomplish my wishes. This army will be furnished with portable cannon and munitions of war and implements generally requisite for a siege. Since the 12th instant the troops file off by brigades for Fort Frontenac. I expect the remainder of the army will have left Montreal by the 10th of next month; and that all my forces will be collected at Fort Frontenac by the 25th of the same month, unless the weather be unfavorable. I should have been highly gratified, My Lord, to march at the head of the army, persuaded of the effect my zeal for the Kings service and my country would have produced on the Canadian soldiers and more particularly the Savages. But Fort St. Frederic [Crown Point] being equally menaced, my presence is necessary at Montreal. Baron Dieskaw will command this army. I confer daily with him and see with pleasure that he ardently desires to accomplish my views. As for the five Nations I reckon not on their aid, but I do not despair of their neutrality. From the hour of its foundation, Chouaguen is the rendezvous of the different Indian tribes. It is from Chouaguen proceed all the Belts and messages that the English scatter among the Far Nations. It was alway at Chouaguen that the English held Councils with the Indians and by means of presents, principally of intoxicating liquors, persuaded them to assassinate the French. In fine, Chouaguen is, consequently, the direct cause of all the troubles that have supervened in the Colony, and of the infinitude of expences these have entailed on the King. From the destruction of Chouaguen will follow: On the one hand the complete attachment of all the upper country Indians; on the other, a considerable diminution in the expenditure incurred at present by the King for the Colony. Should the Five Nations take sides with the English, they would abandon them the moment Chouaguen was no more. The Indian tribes having no longer a resource with the English to obtain intoxicating liquors, I shall insensibly destroy the trade in Brandy at certain posts, so destructive to the prosperity of the service and of commerce. These same tribes acknowledging and from that moment unable to have any other communication except with the French, the prodigious quantity of Beaver and Peltry which went to the English will return to the trade of France. I request you, My Lord, to be assured of my punctuality in obeying all that is prescribed by my instructions and that I shall do everything in my power to signalize my zeal for the King's service. With the most profound respect, I am, My Lord, Your very humble and very Obedient Servant VAUDREUIL. THE SAME TO THE SAME. [Par. Doc. XII.] Montreal 2 Feb. 1756. Chcaguen is now in a state of defence; it would be impossible to undertake besieging it unless with a strong army and considerable artillery. The English have three forts there, each of which has cannon and bombs. The garrison consists of 600 men who are constantly on the alert. I know less of the situation of Chouguen through the reports of prisoners and deserters, than through a reconnoissance I caused to be made of it this winter by two small parties I sent thither. The first of these parties brought me two prisoners, the second commanded by M Mo de Louvigny, Ensign has completely fulfilled its mission. That officer remained several days in the neighborhood of Chouaguen and did, himself, examine everything. He could not burn the barks because they were under the cannon of the Fort and well guarded. He made two prisoners, and on his return rendered 60 @ 80 batteaux unfit for service. [From Council Minutes XXV.] At a Council held at Fort George in the City of New- His Excellency (Gov. Hardy) communicated a Letter from Sir William Johnson of the 16th Inst, advising that he had just reed a letter from Colonel Bradstreet in which he writes "This moment |