THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Letters
(April 10-July 19, 1764)
(Due to length divided here into three parts)
In: Bouquet Papers, Michigan
Pioneer
and Historical Society Hist. Coll.,
Vol. 19, pp. 252-268.
Haverstock's Accounts will be settled & paid as shall appear just.
Hick's cannot be paid (tried) for want of a sufficient number of officers at Fort Pitt till I get there.
If I could not well do without him for a guide would you grant him his life on that account only.
Major Munstead does not propose to Join for several months, I think he should at this time, as I cannot give a sufficient attention to the Battn I beg Lieut Hutchins & Prevost may be ordered to Join at Fort Loudoun.
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H. B. |
A packet from Fort Pitt, quiet there on the 25th May, more scalping on the frontier particularly at Bedford Ligonier, I wish Capt Ourry could return soon having nothing here.
Copy of a Letter to Genl. Gage the 7th June 1764 (entered)
[A 8, p 415]
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COL. HENRY BOUQUET TO WILLIAM RUTHERFORD
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PHILADEPHIA 5th July 1764 |
Colonel Bouquet
To
William Rutherford Esqr
SIR
I was favoured yesterday with your Letter of the 27th June, and am glad to hear of the favourable Disposition of your frontier people to assist in putting a speedy end to the War, which I can see no other way to effect, but by attacking the Savages in their own Towns; I am sorry that it is not in my Power to obtain for those who would join me as voluntiers, the usual Pay given by your government to those who serve in the Militia, as the Governor and Council have already acquainted me that it was not possible, being contrary to Law; however People who have their whole at Stake, should not on account of a Triffling Pay, neglect they only opportunity they will ever have to be revenged of their Barbarous enemies, and by chastising them make them feel the hardships of a war which alone can make them more careful in observing their Treaties; The heavy Expense attending this Expedition for the Crown, and the Province of Pennsylvania doth not leave room to expect that another will be set on Foot should this miscary, and the war may then last, till the Savages are tired of it; but with the chearfull assistance of three or four Hundred good woodsmen, I think we might flatter ourselves to burn every Town about the Ohio.
This Government is going to issue a Proclamation offering a consid- (page 264) erable Reward for Scalps which no doubt will be a great inducement to volunteers to join us this way and the good People of your Frontiers have always exerted themselves with so much spirit and often with success against the Savages, will not I hope be backward on so favorable an opportunity. I enclose Letters from Colonel Stephens and Colonel Lewis which I beg you would enclose to them, Colonel Cresap and Major Field have already offered to join me with volunteers and with your assistance and that of all well wishers to the cause I flatter myself that we shall succeed in prevailing upon a sufficient number to give in their names as it is absolutely necessary that I should know their numbers to prepare in time everything for them.
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HENRY BOUQUET |
Colonel Bouquet to
William Rutherford Esq.
Dated Philadelphia 5th July 1764.
[A 20, p 263]
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COL. HENRY BOUQUET TO COL. STEPHEN
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PHILADELPHIA 5th July 1764. |
Colonel Bouquet to Colonel Stephen.
SIR
Governor Fanquier having been pleased to acquaint me that you would assist me in the Expedition intended against the Indian Towns upon the Ohio, as far as your orders and the Law would permit. I beg eave to request that you would give Encouragement to good woodsmen on your Frontiers to Join as Volunteers the Troops under my command; it is not in my Power to give them any pay, and I can only supply them with Provisions and Ammunition during the campaign. It would be necessary that I could be informed as early as possible of the number I could depend upon in order to lodge Provisions and Ammunition at Fort Cumberland for them, that they may Join us at Fort Pitt by Braddock's Road, which will be the shortest way, and as I would not occasion them any unnecessary fatigue, they might Join me at Fort Pitt, about the 25th September next, when I shall be ready to cross the River and march to the Enemy. We have the same Regular Troops we had last year, and one thousand men from this Province. They grant besides a considerable Reward for Scalps, which no doubt will be a strong inducement to several woodsmen and hunters, to come with us. But I have so great an opinion of (page 265) the courage and Experience of the Inhabitants of your Frontiers, that I would think myself certain of success could I be Joined by three or four hundred of them under proper officers of their own choice.
The fate of this war must depend in a great measure upon the success of this Campaign, as from the difficulty of obtaining hereafter Provincial Troops and the heavy Expense acerning to the Crown, it is easy to foresee that this will be the last Expedition this way. Therefore it is an opportunity not to be neglected by our Frontier People who are so much exposed to the Depredations of the Savages.
I shall be particularly obliged to you for your good offices and interest on this important occasion. Sent a duplicate of the above letter to Colonel Lewis.
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HENRY BOUQUET |
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Endorsed: |
Colonel Bouquet |
Dated Philadephia 5th July 1764
[A 20, p 267]
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LIEUT. DEDERICK BREHM TO COL. HENRY BOUQUET
SIR
The answer you was pleased to favour me with from Carlisle the 2nd May I received the 28th last month.
It is not a dissatisfaction in the Army that has occasioned me to trouble you so often, in begging your consent to leave the Regiment upon full pay; but the confidence I took, in the Readiness I had the pleasure of hearing, you allways have expressed to serve an officer under your command, neither are the reasons I have given you, any proceedings out of an imaginary Injustice done me in the service (as I am very well convinced that I have had all share of preferment due me) butt only such as a person of my age without either Interest and money ought to consider, and if you would be pleased to grant me my request, all and entirely in your power every officer Junior to me would be favoured by it, in getting a step by it, and the Reduction of the Army has put many better officers than me upon Ensign's half pay, who would very gladly get an opportunity of getting into the Army again; I am very well persuaded that me leaving the Army will be no detriment to the Service, as little as the advantage would be to the Publique for me to remain in it; because the station I am in is rather mechanically than otherwise, and therefore the service can only loose, by a Person who directs machines to make the motion they per- (page 266) form. I must begg once more as a particular favour, having no other interest to depend upon than yours, to get out of the Regiment upon full pay, and although I should leave the Regiment, my gratitude will allways put me in mind how much I'll be indebted in acknowledging myself, with greatest respect
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Sir |
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Your most obedt hmble Servt |
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D. BREHM |
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DETROIT
July 13th 1764
To Col. Henry Bouquet.
Endorsed: Lt. Brehm 13th July 1764. Recd 5 Sep.
[A 20, p 289]
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LIEUT. GEORGE MC DOUGALL TO COL. HENRY BOUQUET
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DE TROIT July 14th 1764. |
DEAR SIR
The reason of my not wrighting you for some time past, I was sent to Niagara on business for this garrison and some of my own, Inclsoed is two Returns of the Detachment here one dated May 11 and another July 14th mentioning all the casualties from 11th May, after my Return from Niagara I received a letter from Captain Barnsley by your order, desiring that I would bring all the cloathing with me that was at De Troit & Niagara, I examined the cloathing that was at Niagara, and found a hundred and Twenty hats, twelve coats, and fifty pairs of breeches that was good for anything, the rest being all rotten & good for nothing; Those that was good I brought along with me, and have served them out to the men that was prisoners, as they stood most in need of them, which I hope you will approve of, and if we should stay any time here, I believe I shall be obliged to buy coats for the men, they having almost none that can be called a coat, by reason of the cloathing they have had two years ago being much damaged before they got there, they want for nothing else. I having brought everything they wanted from Niagara, except the cloathing due to them by the King, for all the fatigue they have had the men is very healthy, and desires nothing more than to Join you. I shall obey the orders received from Captain Barnsley as to the tents thats left at Niagara, and the supernumerary arms. By the consent of Colonel Gladwin & Lieut Brehm, I have agreed to take a man in the place of Hartman; Colonel Gladwin has given Hartman liberty to go and Join you to get his discharge if you approve of it, the man is engaged for (page 267) life. Hartman says you promised him his discharge, which was part the reason that I consented to take the other in his place.
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Believe me Sir |
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Your much obliged |
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GEORGE MCDOUGAL |
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To Colonel Bouquet
Endorsed: Letter from Lieut McDougal Dated July 14th 1764
Received the 5th September
[A 20, p 294]
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LIEUT. GEORGE MC DOUGALL TO COL. HENRY BOUQUET
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DETROIT 18h July 1764 |
DEAR SIR
The Fourteenth Inst. I wrote to you by Mr. Boyle & Inclosed two Returns of the Royal Americans thats here, and at the same time acquainted you that I had changed a man in place of Hartman if agreeable to you give him his discharge. Colonel Gladwin has given him a Furlough to Join you to get it if you think proper. We have nothing new here, only all the Savages in this Part begs earnestly for Peace, we have had some Delaware and Shawanese here who also begs for peace but Colonel Gladwin told them that we had nothing to say to them, if they wanted Peace they must go to Fort Pitt or Sir William and ask it there, as they did not belong to his Department, No news as yet of the Army.
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From Sir |
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Endorsed: Letter from Lieut McDougall 18th July 1764. Received 24th Sept. by Harman.
[A 20, p 298]
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COL. HENRY BOUQUET TO JOHN HARRIS1
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PHILADELPHIA |
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SIR
I received your Letter of the 15th and am sorry that it is not in my power to employ your brother as a Gun Smith with the Army, upon his refusing it last year, Captain Hay tooke Butler's son,2 who has remained in pay ever since at Fort Pitt, and as he has done his duty, cannot with justice be turned out, and only one can be employed.
After all the noise and bustle of your young men upon the Frontiers everybody expected that they would have offered their services as Soldiers or Volunteers, for the defence of their Country, as being the fittest men for an Expedition against Indians, and as the best way to wipe off Reproaches cast upon them for the Violences committed, and offered to defenceless Indians.
Instead of such Honourable conduct, I see by your Letter that they go as Pack Horse Drivers and waggoners, employs for which a coward is as fit as a brave man: Will not People say that they have found it easier to kill Indians in a Goal, than to fight them fairly in the woods? I am the more concerned for that mean spirited behaviour, as the ministry at home appear greatly incensed at their past proceedings, and I make no doubt when His Majesty in informed what little assistance I have had from the Frontier Inhabitants, and that hardly any men of Property and Character have joined the Expedition, that they will hereafter be left to fight their own Battles themselves, as while they are exempted to pay their Proportion of Taxes; the Government had a more particular right to depend upon their Personal Services, and that they would have made some amends for the Large Sums of Money laid out chiefly for their Protection.
They have called very loudly also, for a Reward for Scalps, tho' I dont hear that any of them stirrs to obtain it.
The Virginians who are not so nearly concerned in is war, having a brave Militia to cover their Frontiers, have offered me a number of Volunteers to serve on the Expedition without Pay, and not a single man of this Province has hitherto offered himself.
They will be judged by their Actions, and not by their words, and that Judgement will not be as much to their credit as I could wish. For my own part I am so much disgusted at the Backwardness of the Frontier People in assisting us in taking Revenge of the Savages who murder them daily with Impunity, that I hope this will be the last time I shall venture my Reputation and Life for their sake.
I am very sorry to be obliged to alter the High Opinion I had of them, and that they give so just a cause for censure, as it must affect any Person of Honor and Integrity who has Interest among them.
I thought proper to acquaint you with my own Sentiments.
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I am |
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Your most Humble Servt. |
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Mr. John Harris
[A 20, p 299]
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1 John Harris, founder of Harrisburg lived at this time at Paxton, the ancient site of that city.
2 See appendix.
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