houses on the left bank of this creek which were burnt, and nothing remains of them but the ruins. Having passed this creek, the high road is followed for a distance of four leagues to the village of the Palatines. All sorts of vehicles travel this road. The Palatine Village* was situated on the left bank of the Mohawk river, not directly opposite Fort Kouari but about half a quarter of a league above it. You go from this village to the fort by batteau; the river can even be forded in several places. The Palatine Village which consisted of thirty houses has been entirely destroyed and burnt by a detachment under M. de Belhetre's orders. The inhabitants of this village formed a company of 100 men bearing arms. They reckoned there 300 persons, men, women and children, 102 of whom were made prisoners and the remainder fled to Fort Kouari, except a few who were killed whilst fording the river. From the Palatine Village to the Little Falls, still continuing along the left bank of the river, is estimated about three leagues. In this distance there had been eight houses which have been abandoned. The inhabitants of these houses compose a company with those of Fort Kouari at the opposite side of the river. The portage at the Little Falls is a quarter of a league, and is passed with carts. There is a road on both sides of the river, but that on the left bank is preferable, being better. From the portage at the Little Falls, continuing along the left bank of the river, there is only a foot path which is traveled with difficulty on horseback. Three leagues must be made over this this path to arrive at the Canada creek where we meet the high road that passes from the termination of the Little Falls portage, along the right bank of the Mohawk river, where there is a ford above Fort Cannatchocari, opposite the mouth of the Canada Creek. There is also a ferry boat at this place to put carts across when the river is high. After fording Canada Creek, we continue along the left bank of the Mohawk river and high road which is passable for carts for 12 Note in Orig.-It requires a day to descend the river with batteaux from Fort Bull to the Palatine Village and three to return; and to go down from the Palatine village to Corlar requires [a day?] and a day and a half to return. leagues to Col. Johnson's mansion. In the whole of this distance the soil is very good. About 500 houses are erected, at a distance one from the other. The greatest number of those on the bank of the river are built of stone. Those at a greater distance from the river in the interior are about half a league off; they are new Settlements, built of wood. There is not a fort in the whole of this distance of 12 leagues; There is but one farmer's house built of stone that is somewhat fortified and surrounded with pickets. It is situate on the bank of the river three leagues from where the Canada Creek empties into the Mohawk river. The inhabitants of this Country are Germans. They form four companies of 100 men each. Col. Johnson's mansion is situate on the border of the left bank of the River Mohawk; it is three stories high; built of stone, with port holes (creneleés) and a parapet and flanked with four bastions on which are some small guns. In the same yard, on both sides of the Mansion, there are two small houses; that on the right of the entrance in a Store, and that on the left is designed for workmen, negroes and other domestics. The yard gate is a heavy swing gate well ironed; it is on the Mohawk river side; from this gate to the river there is about 200 paces of level ground. The high road passes there. A small rivulet coming from the north empties itself into the Mohawk river, about 200 paces below the enclosure of the yard. On this stream there is a Mill about 50 paces distance from the house; below the Mill is the miller's house where grain and flour are stored, and on the other side of the creek 100 paces from the mill, is a barn in which cattle and fodder are kept. One hundred and fifty paces from Colonel Johnson's Mansion at the North side, on the left bank of the little creek, is a little hill on which is a small house with port holes where is ordinarily kept a guard of honour of some twenty men, which serves also as an advanced post. From Colonel Johnson's house to Chenectedi is counted seven 1. This Creek (I am informed by Fisher Putman, Esq. P. M. of Tribes Hill,) goes now by the name of Old Fort Creek. Its original Indian name, he adds, was Kayadarosseros. leagues; the road is good; all sorts of vehicles pass over it. About twenty houses are found from point to point on this road. The Mohawk river can be forded during summer, a league and a quarter west of Chenectedi. Opposite Chenectedi the traverse is usually in a ferry boat and batteaux. The inhabitants of this Country are Dutchmen. They form a Company of about 100 men with those on the opposite side of the river below Fort Hunter. Going from Chenectedi to the mouth of the Mohawk river where it discharges into that of Orange, there is a Great Fall (Cohoes) which prevents the passage of batteaus, so that every thing on the river going from Chenectedi to Orange, passes over the high road that leads there direct. From Orange to New York is counted 50 to 60 leagues. Barks from New York ascend to Orange. There is also a high road from one to the other of these towns, on the left bank of the river. The country is thickly inhabited on both sides of the river. The inhabitants of Orange are, also, mostly Dutch like those of Chenectedi. From Orange to Boston is considered about 60 leagues. The road thither is across the country. From Boston to New York is reckoned the same distance following the road along the seaside. New York, situate on the left bank of the Orange River, near its mouth at the sea, is located on a tongue of land forming a peninsula. It is fortified only on the land side. Opposite New York is a large Island (Long Island) very well inhabited and very wealthy. All sorts of vessels of war and Merchantmen anchor between the town and that Island. NOTA. In the whole Country of the River Corlar there are nine Companies of Militia under the Command of Colonel Johnson; eight only remain, that of the Village of the Palatines being no longer in existence, the greater portion having been defeated by M. de Belhetre's detachment. Colonel Johnson assembles these companies when he has news of any expedition which may concern the Mohawk river. In the latter part of April 1757, on receiving intelligence by the savages that there was a strong detachment ascending the river St. Lawrence and entering Lake Ontario, he assembled these Com panies and went to the Village of the Palatines where he was joined by another body of 11 @ 1200 men sent him by the commandant of Orange; this formed in all a force of 2000 men. He entrenched himself at the head of the Palatine Village where he remained in Camp fifteen days, and did not retire until he received intelligence that the French detachment seen on the River St Lawrence had passed by and taken the route to the Belle Rivière (Ohio.) This was the detachment of 500 men that had been sent last year to reinforce Belle Rivière, and had left Montreal in the latter days of the month of April. |