"The Eckerlin brothers again traveled toward the wilderness. Since their dwelling on the New River was sold, they traveled toward Beeler's and they got involved in large and extensive land deals consisting of 16,000 acres, which according to their assertions was far from 16,000 acres." (Sangmeister, HSCV, v.v, p.99)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://books.google.com/books?id=I-JhAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA341#v=onepage&q&f=false
Title: The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania: 1742-1800
Volume 2 of The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania: A Critical and
Legendary History of the Ephrata Cloister and the Dunkers, Julius Friedrich
Sachse
Contributor: Julius Friedrich Sachse
Publisher: Printed for the author, 1900
Original from: the University of California
Digitized: Jan 26, 2008
p.341
...
Rather than again have any misunderstanding, Onesi-
mus [Israel Eckerlin] left the Kloster after a sojourn of about six months
(October 2, 1750), and went to the house of Jacob Sontag,
one of the secular congregation.
It was during these two visits of the Eckerlins that an
intimacy was formed between the three Alsatians and
Brother Ezekiel (Sangmeister), the outcome of which will
appear later on.
During the meantime the elder brother, Jephune [Samuel Eckerlin], ignor-
ant of any fresh trouble at the Kloster had sold his lands on
the New river, packed up his peltries and Indian wares
and started for Ephrata. Great was the surprise of the party
upon their arrival, when they learned from the former
Prior the story of his second departure.
After a short stay at Johann Bauman's,141 the Eckerlin
party wended their way towards Philadelphia, where they
sold to advantage their furs and traded for other goods
needed by the pioneer for life in the forest.
Sangmeister, in his account says that during their stay in
the city, Point-no-Point was bought for the party. This is
a tract of land facing on the Delaware, now known as Rich-
mond, and forms a part of the city. As Onesimus refused
to live so near civilization the deal was repudiated. No
official record of this transaction appears to have been made
so far as the writer has been able to discover. The Ecker-
lins and their immediate followers now concluded to journey
_______
141 The Bautnan plantation adjoined the Kloster property.
p.342
toward the western wilds of Virginia, and there establish
themselves anew. ...
======================================================================
http://www.archive.org/details/selectionofgeorg00crogrich
II
A selection of George Croghan's letters and
journals relating to tours into the western
country--November 16, 1750-November, 1765.
1751] Croghan's Journals 61
p.61
...
May the 26th. [1751] A Dunkar from the Colony of Virginia
came to the Log's Town and requested Liberty of the
Six Nation Chiefs to make [a settlement] on the River
Yogh-yo-gaine a branch of Ohio, to which the Indians
made answer that it was not in their Power to dispose of
Lands; that he must apply to the Council at Onondago,
p.62
and further told him that he did not take a right method,
for he should be first recommended by their Brother the
Governor of Pennsylvania, with whom all Publick Business
of that sort must be transacted before he need expect to
succeed. 25
...
_______
25 This Dunkar (or Dunker) was doubtless Samuel Eckerlin one of three
brothers who migrated from Ephrata about 1745, and ultimately settled on the
Monongahela about ten miles below Morgantown, West Virginia. The Dunkers
were a sect of German Baptists that arose in the Palatine about 1708, and mi-
grated to Pennsylvania in 1719. Their formal organization took place at a
baptism on the banks of Wissahickon Creek (near Philadelphia) in 1723.
There were several divisions of this sect, one of which founded the community
of Ephrata. Their tenets were baptism by immersion, a celibate community
life, and refusal to bear arms. The Eckerlin brothers sought a solitary wilder-
ness life, and at first were regarded with favor by the Ohio Indians. A massa-
cre, however, demolished their settlement in 1757. Three of the party were
captured, and sent as prisoners to Canada, and later to France. For details
see Sachse, German Sectarians of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1900), ii, pp.
340-359. ED.
===============================================================
http://books.google.com/books?id=Y50fAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA531#v=onepage&q&f=false
or
http://books.google.com/books?id=vdQLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA531#v=onepage&q&f=false
or
http://books.google.com/books?id=Tq8UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA531#v=onepage&q&f=false
Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania: from the organization to the termination of the proprietary government. [Mar. 10, 1683-Sept. 27, 1775], Volume 5, 1851.
p.530
"An Account of the Proeeedings of George Croghan, Esquire, and Mr. Andrew Montour at Ohio, in the Execution of the Governor's Instructions to deliver the Provineial Present to the several Tribes of Indians settled there:
" May the 18th, 1751—I arrived at the Log's Town on Ohio with the Provincial Present frum the Province of Pennsylvania, where I was received by a great number of the Six Nations, Delawares, and Shawonese, in a very eomplaisant manner in their way, by tiring Guns and Hoisting the English Colours. As soon as I came to the shore their Chiefs met me and took me by the Hand bidding me welcome to thoir Country.
" May the 19th.—One of the Six Nation Kings from the Head of Ohio came to the Logstown to the Council, he immediately came to visit me, and told me he was glad to see a Messenger from his Brother Onas on the waters of Ohio.
"May the 20th.—Forty Warriors of the Six Nations came to Town from the Heads of Ohio, with Mr. Ioncoeur [Joncaire] and one Frenchman more in company.
" May the 21st, 1751.—Mr. Ioncoeur, the French Interpreter, ealled a council with all the Indians then present in the Town, and made the following Speech:
" ' Children—
" ' I desire you may now give me an answer from your hearts to the Speech Monsieur Celeron (the Commander of the Party of Two Hundred Frenehmen that went down the River two Years ago) made to you.' His Speech was, That their Father the Governor of Canada desired his Children on Ohio to turn away the English Traders from amongst them, and disharge them from ever coming to trade there again, or on any of the Branches, on Pain of incurring his Displeasure, and to enforce that Speeeh he gave them a very large Belt 4 Wampum. Immediately one of the Chiefs of the Six Nations got up and made the following answer:
" 'Fathers:
" ' I mean you that call yourselves our Fathers, hear what I am going to say to you. You desire we may turn our Brothers the English away, and not suffer them to come and trade with us again: I now tell you from our Hearts we will not, for we ourselves brought
p.531
them here to trade with us, and they shall live amongst us as long as there is one of us alive. You are always threatning our Brothers what you will do to them, and in particular to that man (pointing to me); now if you have anything to say to our Brothers tell it to him if you he a man, as you Frenchmen always say you are, and the Head of all Nations. Our Brothers are the People we will trade with, and not you. Go and tell your Governor to ask the Onondago Council If I don't speak the minds of all the Six Nations;' and then returned the Belt.
" I paid Cochawitchake the old Shawonese King a visit, as he was rendered incapable of attending the Council by his great age, and let him know that his Brother the Governor of Pennsylvania was glad to hear that he was still alive and retained his senses, and had ordered me to cloathe him and to acquaint him that he had not forgot his strict Attachment to the English Interest. I gave him a Strowd Shirt, Match Coat, and a pair Stockings, for which he gave the Governor a great many thanks.
" May the 22d.—A number of about forty of the Six Nations came up the River Ohio to Logstown to wait on the Council; as soon as they came to Town they came to my House, and after shaking Hands they told me they were glad to see me safe arrived in their Country after my long Journey.
" May the 23d.—Conajarca, one of the Chiefs of the Six Nations, and a Party with him from the Cuscuskie, came to Town to wait on the Council, and congratulated me upon my safe arrival in their Country.
" May the 24th.—Some Warriors of the Delawares came to Town from the Lower Shawonese Town, and brought a Scalp with them; they brought an Account that the Southward Indians had come to the Lower Towns to War, and had killed some of the Shawonese, Delawares, and the Six Nations, so that we might not expect any People from there to the Council.
"May th 25th.—I had a conference with Monsieur Ioncoeur; he desired I would excuse him and not think hard of him for the Speech he made to the Indians requesting them to turn the English Traders away and not suffer them to trade, for it was the Governor of Canada's Orders to him, and he was obliged to obey them altho' he was very sensible which way the Indians would receive them, for he was sure the French could not accomplish their designs with the Six Nations without it could be done by Force, which he said he believed they would find to be as difficult as the method they had just tryed, and would meet with the like Success.
" May the 26th.—A Dunkar from the Colony of Virginia came to the Log's Town and requested Liberty of the Six Nation Chiefs to make on the River Yogh-yo-gaine a branch of Ohio, to which the Indians made answer that it was not in their Power to dispose
p.532
of Lands; that he must apply to the Couneil at Onondago, and further told him that he did not take a right method, for he should be first recommended by their Brother the Governor of Pennsylvania, with whom all Publick Business of that sort must be transacted before he need expect to succeed.
...
===============================================================
http://books.google.com/books?id=hBIwAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA47
A History of Preston County, West Virginia, Volume 1
Oren Frederic Morton, John Rufus Cole
Journal Publishing Company, 1914 - Preston County (W. Va.)
p.47
...
In the surveyor's books of Augusta county is the following entry:
"Survey'd for Samuel Eckerlin 360 acres of land in Augusta County Lying
on ye East Side of Monongalo River Between the mouth of Indian Creek & Ecker-
lin's Creek. This 20th ap. 1753.
By Andr Lewis asst s. Thos Lewis sur."
The actual surveyor was the General Andrew Lewis who fought and
won the great battle of Point Pleasant, and whom Washington thought
the proper man to lead the American armies in the Revolution. He also
surveyed for Samuel Eckerlin four other tracts, aggregating 820 acres.
Two of the entire five were on the east side of the river. One is men-
tioned as three miles below where Eckerlin "now lives." This circum-
stance makes it probable that the brothers arrived on the Monongahela
in 1752. Their settlement was in the immediate vicinity of the line
between Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and Dunkard's Creek derives
its name from them.
...
---------------------------------------------------------
http://books.google.com/books?id=byASAAAAYAAJ&q=%22250+on+both+sides+where+he+lives%22
Virginia frontier: the beginning of the Southwest: The Roanoke of colonial days, 1740-1783
Frederick Bittle Kegley
Southwest Virginia Historical Society - History - 1938 - 786 pages
p.120-121
... The Eckerlins, Samuel and Thomas[sic], acquired other land in 1753,
"250 acres on the west side of Monongala three miles below where he, Samuel,
lives"; 240 acres at the mouth of Eckerlin Creek, 80 acres on the east side be-
tween the mouth and fork of Indian Creek, "250 on both sides where he lives,"
360 on the east side between Eckerlin's and Indian Creek.
[note: 250+240+80+250 = 820 acres]
-----------------
Kegley "Virginia Frontier"
p.133
...
Since 1745 John Blair and associates had held for development a grant
for 100,000 acres "on the Potomac." Their interest was transferred to the
region between the Yohogania and the Monongahela, which was surveyed for
them by Andrew Lewis in 1753, when he also surveyed the Redstone tract of
5500 acres. At this time Samuel and Thomas Eckerling were living on the
west side of the Monogahela.
...
-------
http://books.google.com/books?id=EAc1AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA180&dq="Samuel+Eckerlainse"
The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 5
Philip Alexander Bruce, William Glover Stanard
The Society, 1897 - Virginia
p.175
List of Early Land Patents and Grants Petitioned for in Vir-
ginia up to 1769, preserved among the Washington Papers.
"In obedience to his Excellency, the Governor's commands
in consequence of an order of the Ho of Burgesses, of the 29th
Nov., 1769, I hereby certify that the following is a true and full
acct of all the Orders of Council for granting Lands agreeable
to their request to his Excellency, and also of all Petitions which
have been presented the consideration of which is postponed, &
likewise of all Petitions for lands lying between the Alligainy
Mountns & a line that may be run from the Western Boundary
of the No. Carolina line to the confluence of the river Ohio with
the Missippi, in my office which have not been presented.
N. Walthoe, cl. Coun."
...
4. Nov. 4th. [1745] To Jno. Blair, Esq., and others, 100,000 acres
p.176
lying to the westward of the Line of Lord Fairfax, on the waters
of Potomac & Youghyaughye. [Greater Part Surveyed.]
...
p.178
...
20. ... [Oct. 26, 1751?]
To John Blair, Esqr, & Co. leave is granted to renew an order
of Council granted Nov. 4th, 1745, for 100,000 acres lying on
the westward of the line of Lord Fairfax on the waters of Poto-
mack and Yough'y. [The Same with No. 4.]
...
p.180
...
32. Nov. 9. [1753] To Samuel Eckerlainse & others, 5,000 acres,
part of the vacant land lying between Lord Fairfax's line and
the line of John Blair, Esq., and Co.'s and that of ye Ohio
Compy. [Nothing Done.]
...
===============================================================
***************************************************************
The Eckerlins may have played an incidental role in the events leading up to the Battle of Great Meadows (Also called the Battle of Fort Necessity) on July 3, 1754.
According to the journal of George Washington--which was captured by the French at the Battle of Great Meadows on July 3, 1754 and then translated into French and published in 1756--on June 27th, 1754, Washington detached Captain [Andrew], Lieutenant [Thomas] Waggoner, Ensign [John] Mercer, two Sergeants, two Corporals, one drummer, and sixty men, "in order to endeavor to clear a road to the mouth of Red-Stone Creek, on Monongahela."
Another account by an unidentified author, certainly recounted from memory after the events, can be found in the "notebook" of James Wood of Frederick County:
"Lewis was detached wth. a Lieut. an Ensign two Corporals 54 men ordered to clear a Road from Guess's [Gist's] House to the mouth of Red Stone
Polson detached with 26 men to go to the Dunckars. Ordered to Build Canoes and to bring Corn down
Mohangala [Monongahela] to the mouth of Red Stone."
"Polson" was lieutenant William Polson of Captain Robert Stobo's company. The "Dunckars" must refer to the Eckerlin brothers, who had settled near the mouth of what was later called Dunkard Creek. It is 32 miles up the Monongahela River from the mouth of Redstone Creek to the mouth of Dunkard Creek.
Since no date is provided in this account, we must accept that Lewis was detached on June 27th, as given in Washington's journal. It is inferred that Polson and his men were detached at the same time. We also have an indirect reference to Polson's and Lewis's detachments in an account of the Ohio expedition of 1754 written by Adam Stephen for Benjamin Rush in 1775. Stephen wrote, "Artificers were Sent to build boats on Monongahela & men employ'd in Opening Roads to that River."
Shortly after Lewis and Polson had been detached, Washington received intelligence that a large force of French and Indians had left Fort Duquesne and was searching for his small army. Lewis's detachment was recalled. But Polson's detachment, evidently, was not recalled. (See discussion below.) Perhaps this was because their mission--trying to obtain food for famished soldiers--was too important; or perhaps it was because they had already begun their trip up the Monongahela and so could not be contacted.
A war council was held at Christopher Gist's house, probably in the afternoon or evening of June 28th, where it was unanimously agreed that the soldiers should retreat to Great Meadows and there fortify themselves against the impending attack by the French. It was hoped that supplies and reinforcements would arrive there before the French. Because of contradictory dates given by Washington and Stephen in subsequent reports, we do not know for certain on which day the retreat began. From a letter written by Adam Stephen and published August 29, 1754 in the Maryland Gazette, we are told that the soldiers of the Virginia Regiment (and Mackay's Independent company) arrived at the Great Meadows, "very much fatigued", on July 1st.
In his biography of George Washington, Douglas Southall Freeman gives a reasonable chronology of events: "[I]t is impossible to fix the time of departure from Gist's. A prudent commander, accustomed to difficult marches and not fearing immediate attack, would have started, if possible, on the 29th and would have bivouacked that night by the roadside. As he had to call on his men to pull their cannon over the ridges, he would not have attempted a continuous march unless he knew his foe was at his heels. The probability therefore is that the column left Gist's on the afternoon of the 29th. If it covered two miles that day and six through difficult country on the 30th of June, it would have reached the Great Meadows, over the last five miles of the road, late in the afternoon of the 1st of July." (George Washington: A Biography, vol.1, p. 400, fn. 105).
There exists a "morning return" for Washington's Virginia regiment dated July 1st, 1754. (Presumably this was one contemporary document which Washington managed to retain.) Where this morning return was made is not specified. Assuming the return was indeed made in the morning hours of July 1st, then to fit with Freeman's chronology, it must have been made where they had bivouacked on the evening of June 30th, when they were still an estimated five miles from Fort Necessity at the Great Meadows.
The return shows one lieutenant and 26 men still "on command", that is, on duty away from the regiment. Note that the return corresponds to the numbers given for Polson's detachment in the account found in James Wood's notebook. (Perhaps this surviving return was the source for the numbers given in the notebook.)
All that we know about Polson and his detachment is that they were ordered, presumably on June 27th, on a foraging mission to the Eckerlins' settlement, and that by the morning of July 1st they had not yet reunited with the regiment, which was then camped about five miles from Fort Necessity. Can we reconstruct their probable movements during that time period?
We might speculate that Polson's men did march to the mouth of Redstone Creek, did construct canoes, did paddle 32 miles up the Monongahela to the mouth of Dunkard Creek, and did find the Eckerlin settlement. In their book The Effects of the French and Indian War on Civilian Life in the Frontier Counties of Virginia, 1754-1763 (1969), this was how authors Chester R. Young and Wesley E. Pippenger, using the reference from James Wood's notebook, interpreted events. On page 176 they wrote, "Near the end of June the Dunkers were visited by a detachment of twenty-six men from the Virginia Regiment then encamped at Gist's new settlement. The soldiers came to buy corn for their half-starved comrades." Unfortunately no record exists which indicates whether or not Polson successfully completed his mission. Assuming that they had made contact with the Eckerlins, if they then returned by the same route, they would have to have reached the mouth of the Redstone by mid afternoon of June 30th, at the latest, because Villier's French force was advancing up the Monongahela in pirogues and arrived at the mouth in the late afternoon of the 30th.
The likelihood of the above scenario hinges on the ability of Polson's men to have built their canoes in the time available. Suppose that they had already begun their journey upstream before they could receive the recall--that is, they left early on the 28th--then they had only one day, the 27th, minus the time it took to march to the mouth of the Redstone, to complete their canoes. Alternatively, suppose that they were informed of the upcoming war council but were instructed to continue with their foraging mission; then they might have had an additional day, the 28th, to finish their canoes. That would have left them with all day of the 29th to reach the Eckerlins and the morning and early afternoon of the 30th to get back down to the mouth of the Redstone before the French arrived there. Could the necessary watercraft for 27 men be constructed in one day, or in two?
It is possible that late on the 28th or before they set off early on the 29th, a runner arrived with news of the large French force coming from Fort Duquesne and the war council's decision to retreat to Great Meadows. If they were told to abandon their mission at that point, then, conceivably, they should have been able to march back to Gist's and to overtake the slow-moving Regiment before the end of the 30th. In that case they would have been present at the July 1st morning return. But they were not. So let us assume that they continued on with their mission but with the revision that they were now to rendezvous at Great Meadows instead of at Gist's. They had until the afternoon of the 30th to complete their canoes and get going upstream. Moreover, now informed of the French force coming southward, they determined that after reaching the Dunkers, they could not go back the way they had come for fear of encountering the enemy. Fortunately, there was another, safer return route which Polson and his men could have taken. Three connecting Indian paths linked Dunkard Creek to Great Meadows. From the mouth of Dunkard Creek, an Indian trail (the Warriors Path) ran south-southeast to connect, somewhere between present-day towns of Gans and Smithfield in Fayette Co., PA, with the Catawba Path, which came from West Virginia and ran north-northeast through Gans, Outcrop, Smithfield, and Uniontown. At Uniontown the Catawba Path intersected Nemacolin's Path, which came east from its terminus near the mouth of the Redstone, through Uniontown, to Half King's Rock, where it joins the road to Gist's, along which Washington's men were retreating. This united road then continued east to Great Meadows. The total distance alone this route is roughly 23 miles.
Villier's army had camped at Gist's plantation on the evening of July 2nd. The next day, after a seven hour march in rainy weather, the French came within sight of Fort Necessity. Polson's detachment would have to have reached the fort before that time.
sources:
http://books.google.com/books?id=lJQtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA163
Journal of Colonel George Washington: Commanding a Detachment of Virginia Troops, Sent by Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia, Across the Alleghany Mountains, in 1754, to Build Forts at the Head of the Ohio
George Washington
J. Munsell's Sons, 1893 - Washington's Expedition to the Ohio, 2nd, 1754 - 273 pages
p.7
THE JOURNAL OF MAJOR WASHINGTON.1
...
_______
1 This is a private journal of Colonel George
Washington's, kept by him on his march from Alex-
andria to the Ohio in the spring of 1754. By mis-
chance and the accidents attending war it fell into
the hands of the French. The Journal was in no
sense an official one, and even the French rendering
of it makes it accord, in all essential points, with his
letters to Governor Dinwiddie and to other corre-
spondents. ...
...
p.128
...
June 27th. Detached Captain Lewis,Lieutenant
Waggoner and Ensign Mercer, two Sergeants,
two Corporals, one drummer and sixty men, in order
to endeavor to clear a road to the mouth of Red-
Stone Creek, on Monongahela.
[Here the journal abruptly stops.]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An overlooked account of the experiences of Washington and the Virginia Regiment during the spring and early summer of 1754 can be found in the "Notebook" of James Wood (which is located in collection number 173/box 1 under the title "James Wood Account Book/ Journal", Stewart Bell Jr. Archives Room, Handly Regional Library, Winchester, Virginia).
Below is an excerpt:
...
Lewis was detached with a Lieut.
an Ensign two Corporals 54 men
ordered to clear a Road from Guess's
House to the mouth of Red Stone
Polson detached with 26 men to go
to the Dunckars. Ordered to Build
Canoes and to bring Corn down
Mohangala to the mouth of Red
Stone. ...
...
Note: This mention of the Dunkers in the notebook of James Wood was brought to my attention by a citation in a book by Chester R. Young and Wesley E. Pippenger entitled The Effects of the French and Indian War on Civilian Life in the Frontier Counties of Virginia, 1754-1763 (1981). On page 176, the authors wrote, "Near the end of June the Dunkers were visited by a detachment of twenty-six men from the Virginia Regiment then encamped at Gist's new settlement. The soldiers came to buy corn for their half-starved comrades."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below are two subsequent accounts, one by George Washington and one by Adam Stephen. Their dates for events conflict. Douglas Southall Freeman concluded that "The simplest and most probable reconciliation of dates is had by assuming Stephen one day behind and Washington at least half a day ahead in his chronology. George may have confused in his journal the first and second council, or else he may have assigned the date of the 28th to events that began on the night of the 28th-29th." (George Washington: A Biography, vol. 1, p. 396, fn 85)
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(lw010014))
Virginia Regiment War Council, June 28, 1754, Proceedings
Letters to Washington and Accompanying Papers. Published by the Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Edited by Stanislaus Murray Hamilton.
At a Council of War held at Mr. Gists June 28th. 1754
After the Junction with our own Detachmt.** and the Independent Company
To Consider what was most prudent & necessary to be Done in the present
Situation of Affairs: It was Unanimously Resolved that it was Absolutly ne-
cessary to Return to our Fort at the meadows & Wait there until Sup-
ply'd with a stock of provisions Sufficient to serve us for some months.
...
**Probably only Lewis's detachment had returned. Washington's "A report
of ye Regimt July 1st, 1754" shows that 1 Lieutenant and 26 Privates were
still "on command". That would be Polson's detachment.
-----------------------------
http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc4800/sc4872/001279/html/m1279-0559.html
The Maryland Gazette, August 29, 1754; page 2, cols 2 and 3; page 3, col 1.
page 2, col. 2:
The following is the Copy of a Letter from Capt.
Stephen, to a Gentleman in this Province ; and
as it throws new Light on the late Affair at
Ohio, we hope it will be agreeable to all our
Readers, who wish well to Troops who are em-
ployed in the Defense of our Frontier. ...
S I R,
June 29, we received certain Intelligence, that
the French were reinforced with 300 White Men,
and the same Number of Indians, and that they in-
tended to march immediately to attack us; Whereupon
Col. Washington call'd a Council of War, wherein
it was resolved to send an Express to hasten the
Independents to join us, and that in the mean Time
page 2, col. 3
we should set about fortifying ourselves, as well as
the Time would permit, and there wait the Arrival
of Cap. Lewis, and Mr. Polson, who were out on
Detachments, and to whom Orders were sent to join
us with the utmost Expedition. Captain Maccay ar-
rived at our Camp at Gist's House, in the Night,
and we were joined by our Detachment** next
Forenoon [on June 30th]; when a Council of War was again call'd,
wherein it was resolved to retreat immediately, car-
rying all public Stores with us; ...
**Probably only Lewis's detachment had returned. Washington's "A report
of ye Regimt July 1st, 1754" shows that 1 Lieutenant and 26 Privates" were
still "on command". That would be Polson's detachment.
...
July 1st, we arrived very much fatigued at the
Meadows, and had continued our Retreat, but for
Want of Horses and Conveniencies to carry off our
Ammunition. ...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwser4.html [Series 4. General Correspondence. 1697-1799]
http://memory.loc.gov/mss/mgw/mgw4/029/0000/0078.jpg
George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence. 1697-1799
Virginia Regiment, July 1, 1754, Morning Report on Troop Strength of Colonel Washington's Regiment
Image 78 of 626
"A Morning Return of Coll Washingtons Regiment, July the 1st 1754"
... On Command** ...
Lieutenans 1
...
Private 26
_______
**"on command"-A term used for a soldier on detachment or on duty away from his regiment.
(See http://www.royalprovincial.com/etc/gloss/gloss.htm )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://books.google.com/books?id=OMcbAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA43
The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. XVIII (1894)
"The Ohio Expedition of 1754." By Adam Stephen. Pages 43-50
p.43
[This account by General Adam Stephen of the Ohio expedition of
1754 has lately come to light among the papers of Dr. Benjamin Rush,
now in possession of the Library Company of Philadelphia, to the di-
rectors of which institution my thanks are due for permission to publish
it. The manuscript is endorsed, in the handwriting of Dr. Rush, " Col.
Stevens's life written by himself for B. Rush in 1775." Peculiarities of
spelling, etc., of the original are here retained. ...]
...
p.46
...
... It is
uncertain whether the English or French fir'd first—Stephen
wth the platoon he Commanded rush'd in among them, and
took Monsieur Druillon the Commanding Officer prisoner
with his own hand—Jumonville who had Commanded was
p.47
kill'd the first fire. The number of the Enemy was forty,
& they were all kill'd or taken to One—— This happen'd
on the 28th of May, in the Morning.
After this Affair, having Sent the prisoners to Winches-
ter, Where the Governour & Several of the Council were
treating with Some Indians the troops advanc'd twelve
Miles, took post at Guest's plantation, the only Settl'n't at
that time over the Mountains.
Artificers were Sent to build boats on Monongahela &
men employ'd in Opening Roads to that River When Intel-
ligence Was brought us that 700 men had arriv'd at Fort
du Quesne from Canada, Under Command of Joumonville's
brother, who was kill'd in the late Skirmish; and that in
two days 1200 French & Indians were to March to Atta'k
us. Being only about 300 men it was resolv'd to Retreat
12 miles to the great Meadows & there erect a Stockade fort
& wait the Enemy. Having no horses our Men haul'd Nine
Swivel guns 12 miles over as rough Road as any in the
Mountains, Officers & men living at time on parch'd Corn.
On the 1st of July our Scouts inform'd us that the Enemy
had advanc'd as far as Redstone; on the 3d one of the Out
Sentries, was Shot in the heel by the dawn of day: About
11 O'Clock the Enemy — Approach'd us in three Col-
umns.
Stephen was Major—The men fit for duty under Command
of Col. Washington amounted to 284.
...
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***************************************************************
===============================================================
http://books.google.com/books?id=hBIwAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA47
A History of Preston County, West Virginia, Volume 1
Oren Frederic Morton, John Rufus Cole
Journal Publishing Company, 1914 - Preston County (W. Va.)
p.47
...
The ninth of November following the visit of the surveyor, the gov-
ernor of Virginia signed an order of council "to Samuel Eckerlainse &
others, 5,000 acres, part of the vacant land lying between Lord Fairfax
line and the line of John Blair, Esq. and Co.'s and that of ye Ohio Com-
pany." This grant did not go into effect, partly no doubt because of the
Indian war which broke out the following season. The wording of the
order makes it probable that the tract was to include the Dunkard Bot-
tom. And as the party to whom an order of council was given was re-
quired to parcel out the grant among actual settlers, it would look as
though the Eckerlins were planning to establish a colony of their co-
religionists. It appears somewhat singular to us that such people, who
were non-resistants, should be willing to settle on the very frontier, and
face the everpresent danger of Indian warfare.
It was probably a feeling that they would be safer on the Cheat that
led the Eckerlins to abandon their Monongahela settlement and make a
new home on the broad expanse ever since known as the Dunkard Bot-
p.48
tom. It is believed that their cabin stood on the east side of the river, a
mile above the bridge at Caddell. Here are the remembered traces of a
small clearing in which fragments of dishes have been found. The spot
was dangerously near the Great Warpath.
In this remote locality, not less than fifty miles by any practicable
route from the settlements on the South Branch, the brothers lived until
about 1756 [sic-1757]. Their ammunition and salt running low, Samuel Eckerlin went
eastward by the Indian path, and in the Shenandoah Valley he got
what he wanted in exchange for his furs. But on his return, while lodg-
ing at Fort Pleasant on the South Branch, he was arrested as a spy in the
service of the red men. The suspicious settlers would allow him to pro-
ceed only as a prisoner under guard. The French and Indian war was
now well under way, and having suffered much already, they were de-
termined to take no chances.
But when Eckerlin and his escort arrived at the Dunkard Bottom, it
was only to look upon the ashes of the cabin and the scalped and muti-
lated body of the slain brother. During his absence the Indians had de-
tected the settlement, and had made a summary example of what they
regarded as poaching on their domain. The surviving brother was now
glad to accompany his guard on their return, and the valley of the Cheat
seems to have known him no more.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Writing about his visit to the Eckerlins' settlement at Dunkard Bottom in the latter half of June, 1756, Sangmeister noted that "They also talked much about buying all the land between their dwelling, where they presently were, and Patterson Creek, a two-day's journey away, and settle pious people upon it so that they would always lodge with pious people who were on their land while traveling to and fro. And since they faithfully, firmly, and truly believed according to their impression that many people would still come to them and live with them, they regretted that their house was not located right by the side of the creek so that a whole series of houses could be built." (HSCV, v.vi, p.48)
===============================================================
http://rotunda.upress.virginia.edu/founders/default.xqy?keys=GEWN-print-02-03-02-0361
George Washington To Robert Dinwiddie
To The Honble Robert Dinwiddie, Esqre Governor of
Virginia.
Honble Sir, [Winchester, 28 September 1756]
...
... They have had information on the Branch, that the Dunkers (who are
all Doctors) entertain the Indians who are wounded here, and that there were several then with them. Captain
Spotswood marched out with 80 men to their Houses, to bring in all he finds there. I am your Honors &c.
G:W.
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http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc4800/sc4872/001279/html/m1279-1134.html
Maryland Gazette, Thursday, May 5, 1757, page 2, column 3:
PHILADELPHIA, April 28.
...
A Gentleman at Conococheague, in a Letter to
his Friend here, dated the 14th Instant, writes to
the following Purport: That the Catawba Indians,
lately gone to Fort Cumberland, are chiefly old experi-
enced Warriors, and among them eight War Captains,
who seem all hearty in the English Interest, and say,
they will not return to their own Country again,
while any of the Shawanese or Delawares, in the
French Interest, are to be found, and hope to find the
same Spirit among the White People ; and that they
are to be joined by a Number of stout young Men at
the Fort, in order to go out against the Enemy. That
one of the Dunkers, who live on the Monongahela,
had come in, and said, that a much greater Body of
Indians than that gone to the Fort, had been at their
House, and had 17 Scalps with them, which they
took from some Frenchmen, that were employed in
cutting Logs, nine Miles above Fort Du Quesne ; and
supposes, that the Party that brought in the five Scalps,
and a French Prisoner, some Time ago, belonged to
that Body, and that the rest had gone home with the
other Scalps.
...
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http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field%28DOCID+@lit%28lw020103%29%29
Robert Dinwiddie to George Washington, August 8, 1757
[footnote 1 fromThe Papers of George Washington: Colonial Series, 4. Pages: 366-367]
WILLIAMSBURG Augst. 8th. 1757.
SIR,
The Bearer hereof Sam. Akerling1 has desir'd me Leave to go to see his Brothers near the Monongahelay proposing to give Security with you of his return to be here in the Octr. Court;--as I am a Stranger to the Evidence against him on Suspicion of being a Spy, which he sincerely denies & begs to be tried, but that cannot be 'till Octr.--wherefore I refer him to You, & if You have any favourable Circumstances in his Affair, I give You Leave to allow him to go to his Brothers, giving Security for his Return by the above Time; and then the Evidence against him must be collected & sent here.
I have several Letters from Augusta, Halifax & Bedford, giving Acct. that the Enemy has murder'd some of our poor People & taken 11 Captives, praying my Assistance--I have order'd out some Companies but wrote them You was to send a Detachment from the Regmt, which I hope You have done, if not, I desire You will imediately do it agreeable to what was concerted at Philade
I expected Mr. Atkin before this--we are informed here that there has been a great Breach and Uneasiness among the Indians, from some of them being put in Prison, but as I have no Particulars of that Affair, I hope its without Foundation.
By Your long Silence it's to be expected You are in great Peace & Quietness. I remain with Respect
... Sir
... Your. mo.hble Servant
... ROBT. DINWIDDIE
_______
1 "Sam. Akerling" is the Dunker (Dunkard) Samuel Eckerlin who came with his brother Israel Eckerlin to Virginia in the 1740s. Since 1755 they had lived with other Dunkers on the Cheat River to the west of Fort Cumberland.
For Eckerlin's subsequent dealings with GW and Dinwiddie, see GW to Dinwiddie, 5 Oct. 1757; Dinwiddie to GW, 24 Oct. 1757; Robert Stewart to Dinwiddie, 9 Nov. 1757 (printed below), and Robert Stewart to Dinwiddie, 24 Nov. 1757, and enclosure [from McKenzie].
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http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field%28DOCID+@lit%28gw020089%29%29
George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, October 5, 1757
Fort Loudoun, October 5, 1757.
Honble. Sir: Both your Honor's letters of the 24th ultimo I received by Jenkins. As I cannot now send a proper monthly return of the regiment, for want of the remarks of the officers at the out-posts, I enclose your Honor an exact return, however, of our effective strength, and how disposed of, which will at present answer the end proposed equally well. I likewise send you enclosed the return of provisions, specifying the time they will serve.
I am informed "the contractor is to lay in the provisions for the troops in New [ sic] Hampshire, at this place; that he is to have 6 d a man per diem for the whole he supplies, and that he is not to pay those who must inevitably be employed in issuing out the provisions at the different garrisons."
This information, I flatter myself, is without foundation; as it is beyond doubt that provisions could be purchased in Hampshire, where the troops are quartered for half of what the contractor has for laying them in here, and that the amount of the waggonage and other charges of transporting these provisions from hence to New [ sic] Hampshire will exceed the whole cost of the provisions, if purchased there; not to mention the great risque, trouble of escorts, &c., &c.
The assistant commissaries must still be continued, or some persons in their room, who, under the direction of a principal, would have purchased the provisions upon as good terms as any contractor. Besides, the commissary used to act as wagonmaster, supply the different garrisons with candle, made from the tallow of the country's beeves, and do many things for the good of the service, not to be expected from a contractor.
I shall take the earliest opportunity of communicating your Honor's intentions, respecting the ranging company, to Captain Hogg, who, I am informed, is lying ill, in consequence of the bite of a snake at Dickinson's Fort, and will, I fear, be unable to raise the men I am afraid the recruiting one hundred men will be found a very difficult task. I am quite at a loss how to act, as you did not inform me upon what terms they are to be levied and supported, what bounty money to allow, what pay to engage the officers and men, how clothed and supported, what the officers' pay and what kind of commissions they are to have.
Mr. Robert Rutherford, late deputy-commissary here, says that he could raise the men in a shorter time than any other, and from his universal acquaintance on the frontiers, and the esteem the people in general have for him, I am apt to believe he could raise them as soon as any person whatever.
If they should have the same bounty, allowed by the Assembly for recruits, I shall want money for that purpose. The £68 13 s 8 d I received from Colo. Fairfax of the country's money I accounted with the committee for in April last. Enclosed is a copy of the last letter I received from Colonel Stanwix.
The enemy continue their horrid devastations in this settlement. Enclosed is a copy of a letter from Capt. Josha. Lewis. Immediately on receipt of Capt. Lewis', Capt. McNeill, 3 subalterns, 4 sergeants, and 70 rank and file, marched up to act in conjunction with Captn. Lewis. The day before Captain Lewis was attacked, twenty Cherokees, headed by one of the principal warriors of that nation, marched from hence to the South Branch, which with the troops under Captains Waggener and McKenzie, will, I hope, secure that quarter.
So soon as Captn. McNeill returns, I will order him up to his company to which I have by your orders appointed him; as I have Mr. Chew in room of Mr. Fell.
When Mr. Atkin went from here he carried Mr. Gist and the Indian interpreter with him. Since several parties of Cherokees have been here, by which I and my officers were involved in inconceivable trouble, as we had neither an interpreter, nor a right to hold conferences with them; nothing to satisfy their demands of things of which they were in the greatest need; nor liberty to procure them. These warlike, formidable people, altho they seem to have a natural strong attachment to our interest, will, I am afraid, be induced by such treatment to hearken to the pressing solicitations of the French, who (by the latest and best accounts, copies of which I enclose) are making them vastly advantageous offers. The Chief of the Cherokee party, who went last to the Branch, (and is said to be a man of great weight among that nation), was so incensed against what he imagined neglect and contempt, that, had we not supplied him with a few necessaries, without which he could not go to war, he threatened to return, fired with resentment, to his nation. In short, I dread that, by the present management of Indian affairs, we are losing our interest of that people, the preservation of whose friendship is of the last importance to the colonies in general, and this in particular.
I am sorry to acquaint your Honor that Hamilton, the quartermaster hath misbehaved egregiously, embezzling and disposing, (in a clandestine manner) of some of the regimental stores, and afterwards running away and carrying a man of the regiment with him. He had leave to go to Alexandria, to order up some of the stores left there, and managed his affairs with such cunning, that he was gone too long to be pursued, before he was suspected.
Enclosed is a copy of the proceedings of the court of enquiry. Several things were found at many different houses, and the magistrates did not behave consistently with their duty.
I do not know, that I ever gave your Honor cause to suspect me of ingratitude, a crime I detest, and would most carefully avoid. If an open, disinterested behavior carries offence, I may have offended; because I have all along laid it down as a maxim, to represent facts freely and impartially, but no more to others, than I have to you, Sir. If instances of my ungrateful behavior had been particularized, I would have answered to them. But I have long been convinced, that my actions and their motives have been maliciously aggravated.
As your Honor proposes to leave the colony in November, I should be glad of liberty to go down to Williamsburg towards the last of this month, or first of the next, if nothing should intervene, to settle some accounts with your Honor and the Committee, which may not be done in so satisfactory a manner after you are gone.79
[Note 79: "I cannot agree to allow you leave to come down here at this time. You have been frequently indulged with leave of absence. You know the fort is to be finished, and I fear when you are away little will be done; and surely the commanding officer should not be absent when daily alarmed with the enemy's intentions to invade our frontiers, and I think you are in the wrong to ask it. You have no accounts that I know of to settle with me; and what accounts you have to settle with the country may be done at a more proper time."-- Dinwiddie to Washington, Oct. 19, 1757. The copyist (in 1785) of this letter in the "Letter Book" was more than usually careless. The two instances of writing New Hampshire and "maliciously aggravated" (pp. 140 and 141) are evidence of this. Dinwiddie's letter is in the Washington Papers, and is printed in Hamilton's Letters to Washington, vol. 2, p. 216.]
The last alarm occasioned a great many of the inhabitants in this county to go off, whereupon vast numbers are still moving. I fear that, in a short time, this very valuable valley will be in a great measure depopulated; and what farther steps to take, and how to obviate so great a misfortune, I am quite at a loss. As I have hitherto neglected nothing in the compass of my power, it is very evident, that nothing but vigorous offensive measures, (next campaign,) can save the country, at least all west of the Blue Ridge, from inevitable desolation.
We are in great want of a Quartermaster to take care of the stores, and I really do not know of a fit person, unless your Honor will please to bestow the office upon Mr. Kennedy. He acted sometimes as Quartermaster-sergeant, then as Commissary, and I believe is better acquainted with the duty than any one we can get. He bears a good character and is acquainted with figures.
The Dunkard doctor gave me notice of his intentions to wait upon your Honor again for his release, I in a late letter transmitted an information of the French deserters (who came from Fort Cumberland) against them, and think it my duty further to add, that I firmly believe they are employed as spies, and are useful to the French. Of this, all the frontier inhabitants seem convinced, and are so apprehensive of the consequences that it has caused numbers to remove, and will cause a general terror among them, if this person is suffered to return and the others to remain out there. For which reason I should really be glad to receive orders to bring the others in. 'Tis better, provided they do not assist the enemy, to bring them in, than to keep a whole country in perpetual uneasiness on their account.
Mr. Rutherford set about making his return, the moment your Honor's letter came to hand, and but this instant has finished it, having everything to measure and weigh, in order to be exact.
Since writing the foregoing, the express, which I sent to Major Lewis, is come in, and brings returns of those companies; so that your Honor will now receive proper monthly returns of our strength for July and August; by which you will see, that our total strength amounts to thirty-two commissioned officers, forty-eight noncommissioned, and seven hundred and three rank and file; whereof twenty officers, thirty non-commissioned, and four hundred and sixty-four rank and file, are employed in this county and Hampshire. But there are always six women allowed to a company, who draw provisions; and the officers receive more or less according to their respective rank, as your Honor would see by the estimate I received from Colonel Stanwix, and enclosed you some time ago; which must be allowed for in the calculation.
I have this instant received letters from Captains Waggener and McKenzie, by express. The first writes that two men were killed, [or] captured about 2 miles from his fort. The other says that a Cherokee party just as they were setting out to go to Captn. Waggener's heard that Pearis was at Fort Cumberland and marched to him.
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http://rotunda.upress.virginia.edu/founders/default.xqy?keys=GEWN-print-02-05-02-0010
The Papers of George Washington Digital Edition > Colonial Series (7 July 1748–15 June 1775) > Volume 5 (5 October 1757–3 September 1758), p.19-22
p.19
From Robert Dinwiddie
Sir 19th Octr 1757
...
p.20
... The dunker is to be Examind before the Council, when I Shall take notice what You write of him, & then I shall write You what is thot necessary to be done, ...
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http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field%28DOCID+@lit%28lw020133%29%29
Robert Dinwiddie to George Washington, October 24, 1757
WILLIAMSBURG Octr. 24th. 1757
SIR
I wrote You by Jenkins to which be refer'd. As I have contracted with Mr. Ramsay to Supply the Forces in the Pay of this Country, that are in the Counties of Frederick & Hampshire, I enclose You a Copy of the Contract, that You may see the several Articles thereof properly perform'd & I am convinc'd this Contract will be a great Saving to the Country--& if Mr. Ramsay shou'd at any Time have occasion to transport any Provisions to the Forts in Hampshire, You are to grant him a proper Escort;--he is to furnish the Inds. with fresh Proviss. so that You will have no Trouble on these Affairs.
Several People have applied to me for the Bounty on taking up Deserters, which I cannot pay till I have an Acct. from You of receiving those People from the Constales, wch I desire you will send me by first Oppty, that they may be paid in order to encourage others to take them up.
This comes by Mr. Richd. Smith the Indn. Interpreter, who is to rema. at Winchester till the Indians come in, with whom he is to go out to War--Mr. Gist is to take care of the Indian Goods appropriated for Presents, which he is to dispose of on occasion in the same Method Mr. Atkins did.
The Duncard's Petition was heard before me & the Council, & Yr. Letter in regard thereto; & as the People on the Frontiers are uneasy with them, believing them to be Spies;1 it was resolv'd that You send a Party out to bring in the other two Brothers, with their Cattle & Horses & any Thing they have that they conveniently can bring with them, & to remain among the Inhabitants durg. the present War, after which to be restored to their Lands, which Order You are to comply with in the most prudent Manner
[Note 1: 1 The Dunkers, Dunkards, or Brethren refuse to go to law or to engage in war.]
... I remain
... Sir
... Your humble Servant
... ROBT. DINWIDDIE
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http://www.consource.org/index.asp?bid=582&fid=600&documentid=65493
Volume: The Papers of George Washington: Colonial Series, 5. Pages: 46-47
Robert Stewart to Robert Dinwiddie (November 9, 1757)
Fort Loudoun Novr 9th 1757
Honble Sir
For upwards of three Months past Colo. Washington has labour’d under a Bloudy Flux, about a week ago his Disorder greatly increas’d attended with bad Fevers, the day before yesterday he was seiz’d with Stitches & violent Pleuretick Pains upon which the Docr Bled him and yesterday he twice repeated the same operation. This Complication of Disorders greatly perplexes the Doctr as what is good for him in one respect hurts him in another, the Docr has strongly Recommended his immediatly changing his air and going to some place where he can be kept quiet (a thing impossible here) being the best chance that now remains for his Recovery, the Colo. objected to following this advice before he could procure Yr Honrs Liberty but the Docr gave him such reasons as convinc’d him it might then be too late and he has at length with reluctance agreed to it, therefore has Directed me to acquaint Yr Honr (as he’s not in condition to write himself) of his resolution of leaving this immediatlyand of his reasons for doing it which I have now the honor to do.
Yr Honr’s Letter of the 24th Ulto (by Smith) did not reach the Colo. till the afternoon of the 6th Instant he has since sent a Copy of Yr Contract with Mr Ramsay to the Commandg Officer of each Garrison in this and Hampshire Counties and issued the necessary Orders relative thereto.
there’s no Deserters been brought to the Regiment by Constables or others for which the Colo. has not paid Rewards In consequence of your Orders the Colo. has Commanded Captn Waggener to Form as strong a Party as he can by Detachments from the different Garrisons on the Branch to bring in the Duncards But he humbly conceives it would have been prudent to have confin’d the Duncard Doctr till the Return of this Party as it’s more than probable that if he’s disaffected to our Government which many violently suspect he and his Brothers will immediatly move to Fort Duquesne, give the Commanding officer there Intelligence of our Intentions and thereby enable him to Form some Plan for the Destruction of our Party But as the Colos. Orders were positive he did not choose to defer the Execution of them.
When I last had the honor of writing You I inform’d Yr Honor of my Intentions of applying to Lord Loudoun so soon as could hear of His Lordship’s going into Winter Quarters I have since communicated my Intentions to Colo. Washington, who was Pleas’d to approve of it but exprest some Inclination to have Yr Honrs approbation to my leave of absence to Wait on His Lordship wherever He may be,this I flatter myself You will be Pleas’d to do which will much oblige &ca
Robert Stewart
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://books.google.com/books?id=6lyoNSR9qdwC
Letters to Washington and Accompanying Papers: 1756-1758, v. 2
By George Washington, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, 1899
p.243
[November 24, 1757]
FROM CAPTAIN ROBERT STEWART.
Dear Sir
When big with the hopes of your speedy Recovery indulging myself in the pleasing thought and impatiently expecting the agreeable Accots. Jenkins handed me your very obliging & affectionate Epistle of the 20th Inst. But how great was my Disappointment at Acct of the bad State your obstinate & deeply rooted Disorder has reduc'd you to ? I easily conceive how disagreeable it must be to a person of sense to be laid under a necessity of paying a due deference to the Pompuous Grimace and formal Prescriptions of the Learn'd Faculty under whose hands you have
p.244
the misfortune of being, but I hope My Dear Colo. that not only regard to Self Preservation but to your Country in general and the Regiment in particular will induce you implicitly to obey every Order your Physicians may Judge necessary for the Conservation of that Life all Justly rate so high and for which you are undoubtedly in some measure answerable to your Country I Beg you'll Pardon this Freedom which proceeds from the deep Concern I'm under. —
By the Inclos'd from Mr. Rutherford you'll observe his Success — Capt. Swearingen requests you'll send him a Line signifying that the Rangers will not be Incorporated into the Regiment and if you cou'd limit the time of their Service it would greatly accelerate the Recruiting — Cunningham (of the Mill) says that Mr. Ross Bargain'd with him for a qty of Flower to be Deliver'd here, and that the Contractor won't receive it he begs to be inform'd what to do ? Captn. Trent wants to know if you'll be Security for the Indian Goods Captn. Gist wants from him? — Bush says the things you ordered for the Artillery will amount to a pretty large Sum, he daily expects them and as he's to pay ready money for them begs you'll Please give orders for paying him — In consequence of the Inclos'd** from Capn. McKinzie I sent up the Dun1 Docr. which I hope you'll approve of — no accots of the Enemy since — The Works goes on here as well as can be expected both your Smith & Trigg have been sick for several Days but are now got to work again — Mr Boyd arrived some time since with four Months Pay 2 of which he has paid
__________
**McKenzie's enclosure was not included in this book. The enclosure is printed in vol. 5 of The Papers of George Washington: Colonial Series. See after this letter.
1 Duncard.
p.245
I Beg you'll [mutilated] neasiness from the affairs on the Frontiers as they are in as good a Posture as can reasonably be hop'd for.
Agreeable to your Desire I have wrote to Colo. Stanwix (who is now mov'd to Lancaster) Inclos'd is a Copy thereof likewise of my last to the Governor and his answer by which you'll observe he Orders me to send him a List of the Deserters that were brought back to the Regiment and to whom the Rewards were paid ? this I cannot do unless you'll Please send it me from your Cash or Rect Book His Honr has given his approbation to my going to the Northd and when I reflect how far the Season is already advanc'd how much time it will require to perform my part in the Event of Success the Difficulties Delays may occasion and how vastly improbable my ever having such another chance I begin to Dread I have stayed too long, therefore requests you'll be Pleas'd to give me your Leave and would it not fatigue you too much a Letter to His Lordship and another to Captn. Cunningham would be of infinite Service to me as you must be suppos'd to know me (as a Soldier) [inserted: better] than any that have Recommended me I would [mutilated] s give you so much trouble in your present Situation did not this seem to be my last Effort for being extricated out of that disagreeable uncertainty in which I have so long liv'd and were I not morally certain your Letters wou'd be of vast advantage to me —
I Return you Mr Smith's Letter Magazine &c with a List of what have and will beyond a doubt Subscribe will exert myself in getting all I can —
p.246
I'm vext I have tir'd you with the tedious length of
this will only add my most fervent Wishes for your
speedy Recovery which would make everybody here
immensely happy particularly him who ever is
With the most perfect Esteem & Respect.
Dear Sir
Your most Affecttionate &
Most Obliged hble Servt
Robert Stewart
Fort Loudoun }
Novem 24th 1757 — }
As for Election [mutilated] ry thing goes on }
in all Quart [mutilated] sfaction — No Accots }
[mutilated] w Governr. }
------------
The Papers of George Washington: Colonial Series, v.5, p.61
[See also http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field%28DOCID+@lit%28lw030079%29%29 in which the letter is erroneously labeled with the date of October 14, 1758]
Enclosure I
Robert McKenzie to Robert Stewart
Sir Saturday Night [November 1757]
I am glad to find by your Lettr to Capt. Waggener that the Duncard Doctr. is not escaped which we took here for granted. There is not a Man upon the Branch that can positively undertake to pilot the Party to his Settlemt. & at this Time of the Year it is very dangerous to go such a Distance & over such bad Mountains witht. a proper Guide. I wish you would undertake to send him up immeadiately, & if his Bail is not yet released I will be bound to return him safe, or bring a certain Certificate to prove that the Country will suffer Nothing from him for the future. I am to command the Party, & am therefore more anxious for its Success -- I am sure the Good of the Service necessarily requires his Presence.1 --
A Party of 8 Indians fell upon two Hunters abt. Sunsett. They fired 4 shot at the Enemy but upon seeing the rest (three only being seen at first) they run off two different Ways both untouched. One is come in the other missing -- I shall endeavor to know what is become of him in the Morng. -- The man missing is Lane, the other Cox2 --
I am Sir
Yr. Mot. obedt.
Saturday Night}
ROBT. McKENZIE
Addressed. -- On his Majty Service
... To ---
... Robt. Stewart Esqr.
... Commanding at
... Fort Loudoun --
__________________
1 Samuel Eckerlin led McKenzie's party to the Dunker encampment. ...
2 From the Maryland Gazette:
http://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc4800/sc4872/001279/html/m1279-1268.html
Maryland Gazette, Thursday, December 8, 1757, page 3, column 2:
ANNAPOLIS, December 8.
We have an Account, that on Friday the 25th of November, as one Cox, and another Man, were hunting for Deer, on the Virginia Side of Patowmack, a little above the Mouth of the Conococheague, they discovered Three Indians sitting on a Log, and agreed each to Fire at his Man, which they did, and kill'd them both on the Spot, but the other made off immediately, and soon returned with 6 or 7 more Indians, when a Skirmish ensued, in which Cox and his Companion, Fired, one of them 4 Times, and the other 5, and mortally wounded one Indian, but were at last separated, and one of them made his Escape, but the other was taken Prisoner. The Indians burnt the Bodies of the Two Dead Indians, and carried off their Prisoner, and the Wounded Indian, who Died on the Way, and they buried him. The Second Night after, the Prisoner made his Escape, and came back the same Road, and got safe in ; but on his Way, when he came to the Indian's Grave, he dug his Body up, and scalp'd him, with a sharp Stone ; for he was deprived of his Knife and every Weapon of Defense by the Indians, when he was taken Prisoner.
-----------------------------------
http://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc4800/sc4872/001279/html/m1279-1272.html
Maryland Gazette, Thursday, December 15, 1757, page 3, column 3:
ANNAPOLIS, December 15.
On the 27th ult. Capt. M'Kensie, with a Number of Men, from Virginia, went out in order to bring in the Dunkers, if they are not gone out to Fort du Quesne : As they lived unmolested, they were supposed to have held Correspondence with the Enemy. One of the Men who went, was Jacob Lane, who was lately taken as he was Hunting with James Cox, and afterwards made his Escape from the Indians (as mentioned in our last) and brought in with him an Indian's Scalp to Pearcall's Fort : He cut himself loose with a Piece of Glass Bottle, which he found on their March, and con-ealed under one of his Arms, till Opportunity served to use it.
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French and Indian War Notices Abstracted from Colonial Newspapers, vol. 3: January 1, 1758-September 17, 1759
By Armand Francis Lucier
p.1
PHILADELPHIA Jan. 5. [1758] Extract of a letter from
Dumfries, in Virginia, Dec. 27, 1757.
"Capt. McKenzie, who was sent out for the Dun-
kers, told me Yesterday, he found nothing on the
Spot they inhabited but some Spears, and were
French Made." [These Dunkers as they lived un-
molested by the French, were supposed to be in
their Interest.]
Pennsylvania Gazette, [5 Jan 1758?]
Extract of a Letter from Dumfries, in Virginia, December
27, 1757.
"Captain McKenzie, who was sent out for the Dunkers, told
me Yesterday, he found nothing on the Spot they inhabited but
some Spears, broken Tomahawks, and the Ashes of their Hutts.
The Spears were of French Make."(These Dunkers, as they lived
unmolested by the French, were supposed to be in their
Interest.)
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http://books.google.com/books?id=lzrnAAAAMAAJ&q=Dunkers#search_anchor
The London chronicle, Volume 3
By William Fuller Maitland
Item notes: v. 3 - 1758
p.170
middle of three columns:
Dumfries in Virginia, Dec. 27. Capt. M'Ken-
zie, who was sent out for the Dunkers, saw
spears, broken Tomahawks, and the ashes of
their hutts. The spears were of French make.
Annapolis, Dec. 8. About 12 days ago Capt.
Wallace, in the King George, belonging to
Bristol, arrived in Virginia, who took up at
sea, ...
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===============================================================
The capture of the Eckerlins as recorded by the French:
http://books.google.com/books?id=AXYOAAAAYAAJ
Journal du marquis de Montcalm durant ses campagnes en Canada de 1756 à 1759
p.301
Du 1er au 8 septembre 1757.— ...
Par les nouvelles de la Belle-Rivière et de Niagara,
il paroît qu'il n'est question que de quelques courses
qui aboutissent toutes à quelques chevelures. L'on a
ramené trois Anabaptistes établis sur la frontière de la
Virginie. Les Canadiens les ont d'abord pris pour des
Augustins. Ces trois Anabaptistes vivoient depuis
longtemps dans les bois, dans une espèce d'hermitage,
donnant indifféremment des vivres aux Anglois, aux
François et aux Chaouénons qui les aimoient beaucoup;
ce sont des Outaouais [Ottawas] qui les ont pris.
------------------------------------------------
http://books.google.com/books?id=4QZHvz0fdDQC&pg=239
or
http://books.google.com/books?id=4QZHvz0fdDQC&pg=239#v=onepage&q&f=false
Ecrits sur le Canada: mémoires, journal, lettres
By Louis Antoine de Bougainville
2003 - 425 pages
p.238 [Journal de L'Expédition D'Amérique]
...
SEPTEMBRE
Du 1er au 10 septembre. ...
p.239
Des Outaouais ont pris à 40 ou 50 lieues du fort Duquesne trois espèces
d'hermites qu'on a envoyés à Montréal. Depuis onze ans ils vivaient seuls dans
ces montagnes et étaient sortis d'un couvent établi dans la Virginie depuis près
de quarante ans. Ce sont vraisemblablement des anabaptistes chassés d'Alsace
qui se sont réfugiés.
...
Le 9, ...
Here is a google translation:
SEPTEMBER
1st to 10th September. ...
...
Ottawa took 40 or 50 miles from Fort Duquesne three species
of hermits who were sent to Montreal. For eleven years they lived alone in
the mountains and were released from a convent established in Virginia for nearly
forty years. These are probably the Anabaptists expelled from Alsace
who are refugees.
...
The 9th, ...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pierre Pouchot's Memoirs translated into English:
Read Online: http://www.archive.org/stream/memoiruponlatewa09poucrich#page/94/mode/2up
M. Pouchet, Memoir upon the late war in North America, between the French and English, 1755-60, Vol. I.
translated by Franklin B. Hough (1866)
p.93-94
AN ENGLISH HERMIT BROUGHT TO NIAGARA.
...
About this time, there were brought to Niagara,
two men, who were like hermits, and were taken by
a party of Outaouais, on the upper Monongahela. These
two men had lived there about twenty years, with the
consent of the nations on the Ohio. They told M.
Pouchot, that they followed the Romish ritual in
their prayers, that they had three convents in Penn-
sylvania composed of 1,500 religious persons, and that
their founder was Frisham Cotre-Chiété [Beissel]. They add-
ed that the English had tried to compel them to
serve in the war, and that they had been mostly
obliged to disperse in the woods. They said they
were three brothers, that the English had formerly
taken them from their solitude, and had kept them a
long time in prison, to discover if they had any re-
lations with the French or their Indians, but having
found nothing they had let them go, except the third
brother who was still held as a prisoner at Williams-
burgh. These people appeared very simple and sincere,
and were held in the greatest veneration by the
Indians of these settlements.
...
...
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