THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

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Re: THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER IX.

EXTINCTION OF FRENCH POWER IN AMERICA.
, continued ...

While this untoward state of affairs with the French was growing worse, the zeal of Pitt was stirring the sluggish British to action.

The proposed campaign involved, besides the conquest of Ticonderoga, the capture of Fort Niagara and the siege of Quebec.

On the 27th of July General Prideaux, who was joined by Johnson at Oswego, appeared before Niagara, but the siege had scarcely begun when he was slain.

Johnson then assumed command and the siege continued.

On the 24th a large body of French and Indians attempted to raise the siege.

A sharp conflict ensued and the effort was defeated.

The garrison surrendered the next day.

With the fall of Louisburg, as already recorded, General Amherst embarked four or five regiments and hurried to Boston, whence he marched across the country for Lake George, reaching there in October (1758).

Abercrombie had already been recalled (September) and Amherst given the command of all the forces in North America, which he assumed in November. 2

Amherst 3 began at once his preparations for an active campaign.

He proved to be the right man for the emergency; and the colonies had need of all their confidence in him and his proposed measures, for he called for more than seventeen hundred recruits, a number that appalled them, coming as an addition to their already heavy sacrifices.

But inspired by the enthusiasm of Pitt and relying on the genius of Amherst, the colonies yielded up their men and means.

Rogers, with an augmented force of rangers, under Stark and other Indian veteran fighters, was constantly on the move, harassing the enemy's outposts, capturing prisoners, sometimes singly and often in considerable numbers, but always enduring the severest hardships and occasionally suffering defeat.

The shores of Lake George and the upper end of Lake Champlain constituted the field of operations, and there was hardly a mile contiguous to the banks of either from Fort George to Crown Point that was not the scene of some thrilling incident connected with the war.

"General Gage, who was a prominent officer in Amherst's campaign, being assigned to leading and important duties, with a strong detachment was sent forward in advance of the main army, and taking position at the head of the lake, proceeded to the erection of some temporary defenses on a commanding eminence, spoken of as Element Hill in one of the soldier's journals, to the west of the old Fort William Henry, to which was given the name of Fort Gage 4 in honor of its builder."

"Gage was soon after joined by Stark with three companies of rangers."

"Rogers, with the other three companies, remained at Fort Edward, engaged in frequent scouts and reconnaissances, under the immediate supervision of Amherst in person."

Continuing our extract from Dr. Holden: "The main body of the army was put in motion in the early part of June, and after three days' march General Amherst encamped with his entire force at Fort Edward."

"Here the troops were again placed under a rigid system of discipline, exercise, and drill to prepare them for their coming duties."

"The raw and inexperienced provincials who composed the greater portion of the army, unused to the irksome and rigid requirements of stern military rules, soon manifested a disposition to return to the homes from which they had been so unceremoniously torn."

"Wearied and heartsick of the monotonous camp duties assigned them, with a certain prospect of a dangerous march and a sanguinary battle-field before them, the spirit of insubordination 5 and desertion spread to an alarming extent; the provincials by twos, threes and even whole platoons stealing off to the woods, despite the most exacting vigilance, and animated appeals to their patriotism and courage."

"At length Amherst found it necessary to resort to the terrible death penalty to stay the progress of the alarming defection in his fast dwindling army."

"Four deserters, Dunwood, Ward, Rogers and Harris by name, were apprehended, and after a trial by court martial, were shot in the sight of the whole army, which was drawn out in battle array to witness the execution."

"This stringent measure had the desired effect in stopping the progress of desertion." 6

2 Abercrombie returned to England; evaded censure; was gladdened by promotion, and lived to vote as a member of Parliament for the taxation of a country, which his imbecility might have lost, and which was always the object of his malignant aspersions. — Bancroft.

3 Amherst, without any claim to brilliancy or genius, was calculated to command success by the excellence of his judgment, his prudent circumspection, and persevering firmness. His character and policy had secured to him the respect and confidence of the colonies. His measures were not stimulated by the arrogance of Braddock, nor trammeled by the feebleness and indecision of Abercrombie, nor dishonored by the pusillanimity of Webb. — Watson.

4 Holden in his History of Queensbury, from which the above extract is taken, says, in a footnote, concerning this fort that he "has sought diligently for some account or description of this fortification, whose name and site, tradition has preserved for more than a century, but none has been found." "It is on the authority of the late Hon. William Hay, of Saratoga Springs, that the period above named is given as the date of its construction. It was probably little more than a redoubt, and intended as a flank support to the main fortifications now known as the ruins of Fort George."

5 Thomas Burk, waggoner, tryed by a court martiall of the line for abusing and offering to strick his officer at Half-way brook, is found guilty of the crime laid to his charge, and sentenced to receive four hundred lashes. The general approves of the above sentence, and orders that the said Thomas Burk is marched to-morrow morning at 5 o'clock by the provost guard, regiment to regiment and that he receives 30 lashes at each of the four regular regiments, beginning at Forbse's and so on to the right. That he also receives 30 lashes each at the head of 8 provincial regiments, and 40 at the head of Schuyler's. — Wilson's Orderly Book.

6 Of the severity of the discipline followed in this campaign, the following is an illustration. "Ticonderoga, 3d August, 1759." "George Edwards a deserter from the 17th regiment is to suffer death." "The Picquits of the line to assemble immediately in front of Montgomerys." "The commanding officer of Forbes will order that remment to erect a gallows imediately on the battery in front of Montgomerys, where the prisoner, George Edwards is to be hanged in his French coat, with a libble on his breast, Hanged for deserting to the French." "He is to be hanging all day and at the retreat beating he is to be buried very deep under the gallows, and his French coat with him." "This to be put in execution instantly, and if the provost martiall does not find a hangman, the commanding officer of the picquitts will order that provost martiall does it himself."— Wilson's Orderly Book, p. 113.

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thelivyjr
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Re: THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER IX.

EXTINCTION OF FRENCH POWER IN AMERICA.
, continued ...

"Towards the close of June, the army, amounting to six thousand men, preceded by Rogers's rangers, advanced in two colums to the head of Lake George, where they erected their camp, very nearly on the ground occupied by Abecrombie the year before."

"On the following day Amherst traced a plan for a fortification near the camp ground, which was soon afterwards constructed, and whose ruins are now crumbling in massive piles upon the shrub-grown eminence to the east of the village of Caldwell."

"While the army remained posted at this position, several days elapsed in bringing up, from the various posts below, the artillery, heavy stores, boats and baggage, necessary for prosecuting the siege of Forts Carillon and St. Frederic."

"During this time the corvette, Halifax, which had been sunk at the head of the lake after Abecrombie's retreat the preceding year, was raised and refitted, together with several bateaux, and a large floating battery, in which labor Captain Loring of the English navy, lent his most efficient aid."

"In the mean time several skirmishes both by land and water occurred between the scouting parties of the opposing forces, in the majority of which the French were triumphant."

During the ensuing month Amherst's army was swelled to more than eleven thousand effective men, and on the 21st of July, 1759, the bosom of Lake George was again the scene of a gorgeous array of boats bearing this army towards their enemies.

A landing was made on the eastern shore, nearly opposite Howe's Cove, whence he was prepared for his successful march against Ticonderoga.

The unhappy condition of the French had already impelled Montcalm to ask repeatedly for his own recall, a request that was as often endorsed by Vaudreuil; but the home government appreciated the genius of the general at its true value and sent him the following dispatch: "You must not expect to receive any military reinforcements; we will convey all the provisions and ammunition possible; the rest depends on your wisdom and courage and the bravery of your troops."

Our sympathy must go out to the gallant officer who was constrained to turn his thoughts from his family and his wasting estate and give up his life for a falling fabric.

He wrote a friend in France: "There are situations where nothing remains for a general but to die with honor. "

Amherst arranged his forces in four columns, the center ones consisting entirely of regulars, and led by himself, while the two flanking columns, composed mainly of provincial troops, were commanded by General Gage.

His whole force numbered eleven thousand eight hundred and thirty-three men, with a section of the royal artillery and fifty-four guns of various calibre.

On the 21st of July the army landed and bivouacked at the same point where Abercrombie had camped the year before.

The next day they reached the foot of the lake and disembarked.

Rogers with his rangers pushed forward across the mountain ridge, and took possession of the bridge and saw-mills at the lower falls.

On what is now known as Mount Hope they were met by a squad of French and Indians and a skirmish followed.

The latter were readily dispersed and retreated hastily to the fort.

That night Amherst with his whole force occupied the heights around the fort, resting upon their arms.

The next morning the rangers were pushed forward to a point on the shore of the lake partly flanking the enemy's batteries, while a force attacked the works in front, carrying the first entrenchment and forcing the enemy inside the fort.

While these preliminary operations were going on the provincials were engaged in hauling the artillery and ammunition over the "carrying-place " from Lake George.

As soon as the artillery was in position and his lines formed Amherst moved forward to make the final assault.

To his surprise he found the entrenchments almost unoccupied.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
thelivyjr
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Re: THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER IX.

EXTINCTION OF FRENCH POWER IN AMERICA.
, continued ...

The circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the post by the French, as narrated in Holden's History of Queensbury, were as follows:

"The defense of the frontier of Lake St. Sacrament and fortress of Carillon was entrusted at this time to M. de Boulemarque, an officer of distinguished ability, who for two campaigns had served with great success in this vicinity."

"The garrison consisted of one battalion of the regiment of La Reine, two battalions of the regiments of Berry, one hundred and fifty soldiers detached from the other five battalions, an equal number of soldiers of the marine, and eight hundred provincial militia, making an aggregate of two thousand three hundred men."

"His instructions, based upon dispatches recently received from the court of France, were not to hazard an engagement but to fall back before the advance of the English army, and take position upon an island in the river St. John which was judged to be the post best adapted to protect the frontier."

"The main body of the French and Canadian forces were at this time drawn away by Montcalm to the north for the defense of the almost impregnable stronghold of Quebec, which was being threatened by the veteran brigades under the command of the daring Wolfe."

"M. de Boulemarque, finding the English army too well prepared for an attack, and he being too circumspect to trust the event of a siege, prudently resolved to act in conformity with his instructions and abandon the fortress to its inevitable fate."

"Accordingly preparations were made for a retreat, and during the night of the 23d the main division of the army filed noiselessly out and retired to their boats."

"The final defense of the post was committed to the care of Captain d'Hebecourt and four hundred men."

"During the retreat of the main body the attention of the British army was diverted by the assault of this small force upon the entrenchments."

"This threw the English lines into such confusion that they fired upon each other, thus enabling the assaulting party to retire in safety to their defenses."

"In this affray the English lost sixteen men."

"During the next three days the fire from the French batteries was maintained with great activity and effect holding the English well in check."

"Among the killed in these discharges was Colonel Townsend, assistant adjutant-general, an officer of great ability and universally beloved throughout the army."

"During this period the English engineers were busily engaged in planting siege batteries, while a portion of the army was employed in preparing fascines."

"At the same time a portion of the rangers was dispatched on a scout to Crown Point."

"To Major Rogers was entrusted the important duty of cutting away a large boom which the French had built across the narrow part of the lake, opposite the fort, to obstruct the navigation."

"On the evening of the 26th some deserters brought to the English camp intelligence that the French had abandoned the fort, and that, in expectation of an assault from the besieging army, a slow match had been left burning which connected with the magazine and battery, every gun of which was loaded to the muzzle with grape, canister and chain shot."

"In addition to this, several mines charged with the most destructive missiles were sprung beneath the fortifications."

"This timely notice saved the English forces."

"At ten o'clock at night, in the sight of the whole British army, which was drawn out in anticipation of the spectacle, the most terrific explosion took place."

"Running along the cleft chasms in the rocky ground the yellow fire rushed, greedily lapping with the forked tongues of its lambent flame the gaping crevices in the massive masonry, that trembled, reeled and fell, while the solid earth for many rods shook as with the throes of an earthquake."

"One after another the guns of the fortress flashed out from the sulphurous glow that invested the ruined pile, and their sharp reports were slowly answered by long, dull echoes from the deep caverns beneath."

"Bombs, grenades and rockets, booming and whirring through the heavy night air, exploded in every direction, trailing earthward long and glittering lines of various colored light."

"Soon, through the dim haze of smoke and vapor the glaring red light of the barracks and woodwork of the fortress burst forth, revealing through the veil of surrounding gloom, the ruined wrecks hurled in unsightly piles along the line of fortification, while here and there a long gaping fissure in the smoking earth exhibited the direction of the mines, and the tremendous agencies which had toppled down the massive ramparts and towering bastions from their rocky bases." 7

7 Holden's History of Queensbury.

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Re: THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER IX.

EXTINCTION OF FRENCH POWER IN AMERICA.
, continued ...

General Amherst, mistaking the then inevitable current of events and consequently magnifying the importance of Ticonderoga and Crown Point after their capture, began the work of erecting a new fortress near the site of St. Frederic but of vastly greater strength and magnitude.

The conquest of Canada left the fortification useless and unfinished after an expenditure of more than ten million dollars.

He also began the vigorous construction of a naval flotilla for Lake Champlain which should permanently secure its conquest.

While this work was progressing two measures of considerable importance were ordered by Amherst.

The first was the construction of a military road from Crown Point to Charlestown on the Connecticut River.

This was an improvement of great value at that time and opened up a large territory to settlement earlier than would have been the case without it.

It is said that the remains of this work may still be traced.

The other measure contemplated the destruction of the Indian village of St. Francis on the river of that name about midway between Montreal and Quebec.

Rogers was selected for the undertaking and given command of one hundred and forty-two men.

He descended the lake with caution and on the tenth day concealed his boats at the foot of Missisqui Bay, leaving two Indians to watch them.

Two days later he was overtaken by the Indians with the information that he was followed by the French, who had captured his boats and were in ambush awaiting his return.

In this emergency he conceived the bold and hazardous design of prosecuting his original purpose, after which he would march through the wilderness to the "Cohase Intervales," a point sixty miles north of Charlestown on the Connecticut River, and the northernmost English post on that stream.

He immediately dispatched eight of his men under Lieutenant McMullin through the wilderness to Crown Point with a request to Amherst to send the necessary supplies to meet him at the designated point on the Connecticut.

On the evening of the twenty-second day of their march the little band reached the vicinity of the Indian village, which was carefully reconnoitered.

At dawn the next morning they fell upon the unsuspecting savages, of whom few escaped; about two hundred were killed.

Daylight revealed to the victors the sight of more than six hundred English scalps of both sexes and all ages floating from the lodge poles of the Indians.

If this massacre of the village seems a cold and blood-thirsty deed, the finding of these dread trophies of savage atrocities against helpless Europeans must modify our deprecation of it.

Rogers loaded his men with what plunder they could carry and started for the Connecticut.

He was pursued by a body of Indians who hung upon his rear, repeatedly attacking him.

He was finally forced to divide his party in order to more readily procure subsistence, which policy left him still more exposed to the assaults of the Indians, who killed many and captured a number of prisoners.

Rogers and the remainder of his men reached the appointed place on the Connecticut after much hardship, only to find it deserted by the men who had been sent by Amherst with supplies.

Rogers then took with him one ranger and an Indian youth and started to descend the river on a raft; the journey was at last accomplished after the most perplexing trials and inflexible determination, and supplies were forwarded to the waiting rangers.

Rogers returned to Crown Point on the 1st of December, and when the scattered parties were reassembled he reported a loss of three officers and forty-six privates.

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Re: THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER IX.

EXTINCTION OF FRENCH POWER IN AMERICA.
, continued ...

Meanwhile the construction of Amherst's navy was progressing under direction of Captain Loring, and by the 11th of October there were finished a sloop carrying sixteen guns, a brigantine and radeau mounting six cannon of large calibre.

Under escort of these vessels, Amherst embarked his army on bateaux and sailed down the lake on his long deferred expedition towards Quebec.

On the following day twelve of his boats were foundered in a gale and the remainder of the fleet sought shelter in lee of the western shores. 8

Loring took the brigantine and sloop, continued on down the lake and forced the French to destroy two of their vessels in a bay on the northeast of Valcour Island; a third was sunk, and one schooner only was saved by seeking shelter under the guns of Isle aux Noix.

It is believed that Amherst's extreme caution more than the exigencies of the situation, caused him to return to Crown Point after an absence of ten days, instead of pressing on to the relief of Wolfe.

This brave but fated officer found himself before Quebec in June, with eight thousand men in transports under convoy of twenty-two line-of-battle ships.

He landed his men on the Isle of Orleans, three miles below the town, and on the 30th seized Point Levi, opposite the city, on which he erected batteries.

Several unsuccessful efforts were made to cut out and destroy the French shipping, and two months passed during which little progress had been made towards the capture of the city.

Neither had any intelligence been received from Amherst other than report by the enemy that he had retreated.

General Wolfe was prostrated by sickness and the future looked gloomy, but a council of officers called at his bedside decided to scale the heights of Abraham from the St. Lawrence and assault the town.

Feeble as Wolfe was, he resolved to lead the attack.

The camp below the Montmorency was broken up on the 8th of September and Montcalm's attention was diverted from the real movement by seeming preparations to attack his lines.

On the I2th the vessels bearing the army moved up the stream above the intended landing place.

At midnight the troops left the ships and proceeded in flat boats and with muffled oars to the landing, where a ravine led up to the plains.

In early morning the entire English force had reached the destination and were ready to attack the works.

8 Mr. Watson in his History of Essex County concludes that Amherst probably advanced under his adverse circumstances to the vicinity of Valcour Island and there on the mainland formed an encampment. In support of this conclusion he quotes as follows from the writings of Alvin Colvin, esq.: "I adopt this conclusion from the language of an English writer of the period, and from the popular traditions of the region." "Those are still living who recollect an opening on the pine bluffs, south of the Ausable River and directly upon the boundary line between Clinton and Essex counties, which, in the early part of the century, was known as Amherst's encampment." "It exhibited vestiges of extensive field-works, the habitual caution of Amherst would have led him to erect, and also the remains of tar manufactories, formed in the primitive manner of the pioneers." "It is a singular coincidence that the tar and pitch used in the equipment of Macdonough's fleet more than fifty years afterwards, were made on the same ground and by a similar process."

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Re: THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER IX.

EXTINCTION OF FRENCH POWER IN AMERICA.
, concluded ...

Meanwhile Montcalm saw the coming doom and on the 24th of August wrote with realistic forecast: "The capture of Quebec must be the work of a coup de main."

"The English are masters of the river."

"They have but to effect a descent on the bank on which this city, without fortification and without defense, is situated, and they are at once in condition to offer me battle which I cannot refuse and which I ought not to be permitted to gain."

"In fine, Mr. Wolf, if he understands his business, has but to receive my first fire, to rush rapidly upon my army, to discharge his volley at close quarters, and my Canadians, without discipline, deaf to the call of the drum and trumpet, and thrown into disorder by this assault, will be unable to recover their ranks."

"They have no bayonets to meet those of their enemy ; nothing remains for them but flight, and I am routed irretrievably."

"Mr. Wolfe" understood his business.

This plan of assault, so clearly practicable to the experienced eye of the French general, was substantially carried out, and after a sanguinary battle (the details of which are beyond the province of this work) the victory was won, with a thousand prisoners and five hundred French killed, among whom was the brave Montcalm.

The English loss was six hundred killed and wounded, among the former being the gallant Wolfe, who received three wounds early in the attack, the third one being mortal.

General Townsend now prepared to besiege the city itself.

"Threatened famine within aided him," and five days after the death of Wolfe (September 18, 1759), Quebec with its fortifications, shipping, stores and people was surrendered to the English.

General Murray, with five thousand troops, took possession, and the fleet with the sick and prisoners sailed for Halifax.

For the fall of Quebec Montcalm was largely held responsible and was even charged with deliberately sacrificing it to gratify his jealousy of Vaudreuil; but a calm view of the situation in the brilliant light of his previous heroic services will hardly substantiate such charges.

Vaudreuil returned to France after the capitulation, and he also became an object of persecution and unjust censure.

A period of quiet followed these events, during which Amherst devoted his energies to the extension of the works at Ticonderoga, the erection of the great fortress at Crown Point, and began the building of Fort George. 9

A comparative brief campaign in 1760 completed the conquest of the French in the New World.

De Levis made a heroic effort to recapture Quebec in the battle of Sillery, in which Murray suffered a disastrous defeat; but it came too late to permanently re-establish the fortunes of France.

Amherst's plans for the year 1760 embraced his own advance upon Montreal by way of Oswego and the St. Lawrence, for which purpose he reserved for himself by far the strongest column of the army, numbering about ten thousand men.

With this invincible force he moved with his accustomed deliberation and caution and appeared before Montreal on the 6th of September.

Haviland was left in command of the fortresses on Lake Champlain, from which locality several successful incursions were made against Canadian settlements under command of Rogers, while awaiting the deliberate movements of Amherst.

On the 16th of August the last military pageant of this war left Crown Point and sailed down the lake.

It comprised about three thousand regulars and provincials under Haviland, who were embarked in bateaux under convoy of four war vessels, with an equal number of radeaux bearing heavy armaments.

Bougainville occupied the Isle aux Noix, which he had strengthened by anchoring a fleet of small vessels on his flank.

He had sixteen hundred men.

Haviland reached the mainland opposite the island without opposition, where he erected batteries.

The vessels of the French were dispersed or captured and on the night of the 20th they abandoned the position.

The fortifications at St. Johns and Chambly were evacuated at the same time, the garrisons falling back towards Montreal.

Meanwhile Murray had ascended the river from Quebec and joined Amherst before Montreal, where Haviland formed a junction on the 7th of September.

Here was gathered all that remained of the chivalry of France in the New World, with their allies, to oppose the last attack, the success of which would drive them from the country forever.

However honorable to the French arms, the struggle was hopelessly unequal and on the 8th of September Vaudreuil capitulated and New France, with all of its dependencies, fell into the hands of the British.

Amherst made terms of generous magnanimity and the details were soon agreed upon, while England sent up a national shout of exultation.

Although hostilities between the two nations ceased, a formal peace was not established until 1763, when, on the 10th of February, the treaty of Paris was signed, by which France ceded to Great Britain all her possessions in Canada.

On the 30th of July, 1 760, Governor De Lancey, of New York, suddenly died and the government passed into the hands of Cadwallader Golden, who was commissioned lieutenant-governor in August, 1761.

In October of that year General Robert Monkton was appointed governor of New York.

9 Concerning the erection of this fort Dr. Holden, in his History of Queensbury says: "The plan of Fort George was marked out by Colonel James Montressor, chief engineer on General Amherst's staff, on the 22d of June, 1759." "It was laid out on an elevation situated about six hundred yards south from the head of the lake, and about the same distance easterly from the site of old Fort William Henry." "It was known in colloquial parlance as 'Montressor's Folly.'" "The only portion of the fort ever completed was the southwest bastion." "A temporary stockaded post was built within its protection; also officers' barracks, soldiers' barracks, guard-room, kitchen and store-houses." "A saw-mill in the swamp, southwest from the fort, furnished a great portion of the material for these buildings." "An irregular wall to the northeast, whose ruins are still partly visible, enclosed a space devoted to gardening purposes." "In 1776 there were erected for hospital use two buildings, one on the flat below the fort, and the other, of considerable dimensions, near the former site of Fort William Henry, which were used for the accommodation of General Schuyler's army, then lying at Fort Edward." "To these were probably added others, for in the army correspondence of those days we learn that over three thousand troops were invalided here with the small-pox." "... At the time it was taken possession of by Burgoyne's advance there were fourteen pieces of artillery here, only two of which were mounted."

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER X.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.


Pioneers of Northern New York — Governor De Lancey's Proclamation — Its Effect on Settlements — Jeffrey Cowper — Queensbury Surveyed — Abraham Wing's Advent — His Family — The Queensbury Patent — Names of the Original Proprietors — Their Early Meetings and Action — Division of Lots — Steps toward Permanent Settlement.

THE tumult of the war we have attempted to describe had scarcely ceased and the new reign of peace begun in the land, before the adventurous pioneer found his way into the wilderness of Northern New York in quest of a home where he and his descendants could enjoy the fruits of his labor.

The territory known as the New Hampshire grants, over which there had been so much strife, was already echoing with the sounds of the settler's axe.

From Charlestown, No. 4, in that territory John Goffe, in charge of eight hundred levies, cut the road already alluded to through the wilderness to Crown Point, where he joined Colonel Haviland in his expedition against Montreal; and through the lands of Queensbury hunters and trappers made their trails and disbanded soldiers explored among the often trod battle-fields for eligible sites for homes on lands given to them under military grants.

There were small clearings about the three picketed forts which have been mentioned as erected during the French war along the line of the old military road; beyond these almost the entire territory was unbroken wilderness.

Northward from Albany the only settlements were a small hamlet at Fort Edward and a still smaller one at Stillwater, and the tide of immigration soon to begin its flow northward had not yet set in.

But while the smoke of battle had but just disappeared and there still lingered possible danger to the exposed northern frontier, already repeatedly devastated by the hand of war, it was felt that there was a necessity for taking steps that would lead to its settlement by a class of inhabitants peculiarly adapted to withstand any incursion from hostile forces.

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Re: THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER X.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
, continued ...

In pursuance of this action Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey issued the following proclamation:

"By the Honorable James De Lancey Esq., His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-chief in and over the province of New [ L. S.] York and the territories depending thereon in America."

A Proclamation.

"Whereas from the Success of His Majesty's Arms, in the reduction of the important Fortresses at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the Very Strong Works erecting at the latter, the whole Country along Hudson's River down to Albany, will for the future be so effectually covered and secured from the Ravages of the Enemy, that the Inhabitants may return to their settlements and abide there with safety to their Persons, Families and Estates; in confidence of which many have already returned to their Habitations."

"And whereas the Fortress now erecting at Crown Point is in great forwardness, and His Excellency, Major-General Amherst hath assured me, that he is determined it shall be so far finished before the Troops go into Winter Quarters, as to answer the purpose of covering and protecting the country, and as an encouragement to Settlers, he has desired that I would make known that those who with the leave of this Government shall now choose to go and settle between Lake George and Fort Edward, will there find, three Several Spots of cleared Ground, two of them capable of containing half a dozen Families each, and the other not less than twelve; on which shall be left standing for their Convenience the Wooden Hutts and Coverings of the Troops that have been posted there since the Beginning of the Campaign, which from the footing we have now at Crown Point, will be no longer necessary, and will be evacuated and left for the use of those who shall become Settlers."

"The first of the said Spotts is situated four miles above Fort Edward; The Second at the Half-Way Brook; and the other three miles from Lake George."

"The Soil good and capable of improvement, and all three well watered."

"The Half-Way Brook being the Spott sufficient for a dozen families."

"I have therefore thought fit by and with the Advice of His Majesty's Council to issue this Proclamation Hereby inviting the Inhabitants who formerly abandoned their Dwellings to return to their Settlements, and improve the advantages offered to them under the Protection and Cover of the important Posts and Strong Fortresses above mentioned."

"And as an inducement to such as shall be inclined to settle on any or either of the three Spotts of ground above described; I do hereby promise his Majesty's Grant thereof to any persons who shall apply for the same, on condition of immediate settlement thereof in the form of a Township with a sufficient quantity of woodland adjoining for that purpose; and that I will use my Endeavors to obtain for the Grantees an Exemption from the Payment of Quit Rent for such a number of years as His Majesty shall be pleased to indulge therein."

"Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Fort George in the city of New York the 21st day of September, 1759, in the thirty-third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith and so forth."

"James De Lancey."
"By his Honour's Command,"

"G. W. Banyar, D. Sec'y."

"God save the King."

This proclamation had the desired effect and led to the immediate application of Daniel Prindle and others for a patent for a township of twenty-three thousand acres, lying upon the Hudson river and embracing within its limits the three clearings mentioned.

Previous to this however the buildings at Half-way Brook were occupied by Jeffrey Cowper, or Cooper (the name being spelled both ways), who was, without doubt, the first white inhabitant to make a permanent residence in the town.

In regard to him Sir Jeffrey Amherst wrote in a letter to a Mr. Sharpe, dated New York, 20th of October, 1762, as follows: "The permit to Jeffrey Cooper to occupy the small Post at Half-way Brook between Fort Edward and Lake George, was only intended for the preservation of the barracks, etc., that had been erected there, and for the convenience of Passengers, as I judged it unnecessary after the reduction of Canada, to leave a Garrison at that Post."

TO BE CONTINUED ...
thelivyjr
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Re: THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

Post by thelivyjr »

HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER X.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
, continued ...

Little is known of Cooper's life, but it has been conjectured that he was a seafaring man, from the fact that in the "Calendar of English Manuscripts" in the Secretary of State's office is filed a petition by "Ephraim Cook, owner of the Snow Cicero, thirty-four guns," in which he applies "for a commission, and in case of his death, to his first lieutenant, Richard Harris, and Jeffrey Cowper, his second lieutenant to command said Snow Cicero."

His name appears in the town records for the year 1766 only, and in April of the year preceding he stands charged in the account book of Abraham Wing 1 with one hundred pounds of pork and seven pounds of nails.

It is supposed that the permit to Cooper was granted as early as 1759 or 1760, while Amherst was in that vicinity.

In the summer of 1762 the survey of the town plot of Queensbury was in progress by Zaccheus Towner, who was accompanied to the region by Abraham Wing, as appears in the following journal:

"August 23d day, 1762."

"Then set out for Queensbury township from home early in the morning, and dined at Nehemiah Merrits."

"Then set off for our journey and lodged at Esquire Castle's that night."

"The 24th traveled to Livingstone's manor; the 25th traveled to Greenbush and lodged at Captain Dows."

"The 26th we passed the ferry and eat breakfast in Albany and got our stores and traveled to Stillwater and lodged at Millerd's that night."

"The 27th was a rainy morn'ng, but we traveled on to Demises and there we eat breakfast, and waited there a little while, then went forward and eat dinner at Moores, and traveled that night to Fort Miller and stayed there that night."

"The 28th we set forward, being a showery day, made a short stop at Fort Edward where we were obliged to show our pass, and then set forward and arrived at the Half-way Brook about the middle of the day, where we were doubtful of some trouble."

"We had not been there in the tavern many minutes before the question was asked of the tender, whether we should have the liberty of a room to put our stores in, and so told our business."

"He replied, there is room enough, and after a short consideration, he replied, if we would go with him, he would show us a room, and accordingly we cleared out our house, put in our stores, and went to surveying the town plot."

"The 29th, being the first day of the week, set forward early in the morning."

This was the first visit of Mr. Wing to the scenes of his subsequent labors, and it is to be regretted that the journal must be abruptly concluded with the above entry.

The town plot alluded to as such by him is elsewhere described as the originally proposed site of the village.

1 All of the extracts from what we call the Wing papers that appear in this work, are from Dr. A. W. Holden's admirable History of Queensbury, published in 1873. A few years prior to that date the late Abraham Wing gave Dr. Holden access to family books, papers, etc., which had descended through three generations of the family, from which he obtained much material that was almost invaluable in the preparation of his work. It was most fortunate that this work was performed when it was, for a little later when the great fire of 1864 destroyed the greater part of the village of Glens Falls, those books, papers, etc., were burned.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
thelivyjr
Site Admin
Posts: 73424
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Re: THE POT BELLY STOVE ROOM

Post by thelivyjr »

HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, continued ...

EDITED BY H. P. SMITH

1885

CHAPTER X.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
, continued ...

The Wings of this country, as far as known, are descended from John Wing, who settled in Sandwich, where, as appears by the records, he had three sons, Daniel, John and Stephen.

These accepted the Quaker beliefs, and their descendants became scattered through different parts of the country.

Daniel was the eldest son and had a son of the same name, who was born November 28th, 1664, and married Deborah Dillingham, of Sandwich, in 1686.

His oldest son, Edward, was born July 10th, 1687.

He had three wives, the first, Desire Smith, November, 1713, of Dartmouth, whither he removed; second, Sarah Tucker, June 1st, 1714; third, Patience Ellis, October, 1728.

Abraham Wing, the pioneer of Warren county, was the son of Edward and Sarah (Tucker) Wing, and was born at Dartmouth, Bristol county, province of Massachusetts Bay, on the 4th of August, 1721.

Sometime previous to 1745 he removed to "The Oblong," Duchess county, the precise date not being now known.

He married Anstis Wood, supposed to be the daughter of William Wood, of Dartmouth.

Following is the family record:

Phebe, b. 5th of 3d month, 1742, m. Nehemiah Merritt, jr.
Sarah, b. 7th of 12th month, 1743, m. Ichabod Merritt.
Hannah, b. 28th of 12th month, 1745, m. Daniel Merritt.
Benj., b. 18th of 9th month, 1748, m. Thankful Lockwood, d. 19th June, 1824.
Deborah, b. 6th of 7th month, 1750, m. Daniel Jones.
Patience, b. 6th of 9th month, 1751, m. Phineas Babcock.
Content, b. 11th of 4th month, 1751;, m. Jacob Hicks, James Higson.
Abraham, b. 29th of 6th month, 1757, m. Mary McKie.
Mary, b. 9th of 11th month, 1760, m. Andrew Lewis.

On the 29th of May, 1762, the patent of Oueensbury was granted to twenty-three petitioners, as will presently be further alluded to; in the month of June following Abraham Wing, of the Oblong, purchased of several of the patentees for a nominal sum all their right, title and interest in this grant.

In August following the official survey of the town was made by Zaccheus Towner, as mentioned in Mr. Wing's diary, divided into sections; these were distributed by lot at a meeting of the proprietors, and subsequently deeds of partition were executed, giving each one his title.

In this allotment Abraham Wing came into possession of two sections, upon which the principal portion of the village of Glens Falls 2 is built.

He was subsequently granted by the proprietors as a free gift, a lot of ten acres of land on the left bank of the river, embracing the valuable water privileges, in consideration of his erecting a saw-mill and grist-mill at that point.

In 1765 he removed with his dependents and laborers and began a settlement; three log houses were put up that fall and winter, one of which stood back of the old McDonald mansion, near the railroad; the second at the old Buckbee place on the Sandy Hill road, and the third near Duncan McGregor's residence.

In the spring of 1766 their families were removed hither and in May the first town meeting was held, at which Mr. Wing was elected supervisor, a position which he held until after the close of the Revolutionary War.

During that period he was the foremost man in the little community — "the merchant, the lawyer, the minister and the inn-keeper united in one." 3

He, with his sons-in-law and others, suffered heavy losses during the war, for which he was never adequately remunerated.

He was, like most of the early settlers in this region, a member of the society, or sect, of Friends (Quakers) and consistently followed and adhered to this simple religious faith to the end of his life.

His remains repose, with those of many other early settlers, in the burial ground by the Half-way Brook, where the old Quaker church stood.

2 In this work the present customary spelling of the name of the village will be followed, unless in case of quotations from old documents. The name has passed through several phases of orthography, such as "Glenns Falls," "Glenn's Falls," "Glen's Falls,'' and the present better style.

3 Holden's History of Queensbury.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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