York some time since being now at Canada did inform Mr. Le Count that the English had assembled all their Nations with a design upon Canada which obliged Mr. Le Count to raise all the men he could possible which was that Number he said And says he knows nothing more His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher's Speech to the Indians at the State-House in Albany February 25 1692. BRETHREN IT is not unknown to some of you that I came last October into these parts upon no other occasion than to view the Fronteers and put them into the best posture I could to secure us and you from the Attempts of the French and their Indians our Enemies and yours And in order to this I sent a supply of Ammunition Artillery and Christian Souldiers sufficient to prevent any Insult from our Enemies and it had the effect I expected for they durst not face the weakest of our Garrisons I came now for your Relief and have lost no time the same day that I had an acccount from hence that our Enemies were in this Countrey I put my self on board a Sloop and brought with me 150 Christian Souldiers besides Volunteers and arrived here before I could be expected I then immediately marched to Schenactady from whence I sent you Supplies of 200 and odd Men Ammunition Provision c. with which those that joyned you before under the Command of Major Schuyler might have secured an entire Victory and prevented the French and their Indians from any possibility of getting back to their own Houses but it has pleased God to order it otherwise I had also 200 Christians more upon their March who arrived here and would have been a considerable Reinforcement to us but the Action being over I commanded them back to their former Residence till further Orders It is obvious to me and I believe to you all that this Calamity is fallen on you by your own Faults I could never suppose my Brethren the Mohaques would be so supine and careless as to suffer the French and their Indians to enter their Castles without the least Resistance These Men that have an Enemy near must sleep with Arms in their Hands and one Eye open that is they must keep Scouts and Spyes so as never to become a Prey to their Enemies by their own Negligence I must advise you that for the future you keep strict Watch so that I may have timely Notice of the Enemy's Motion and you will then see how easily they will be defeated I hope it is now apparent to you that the great King of England is ready to apply his Arms for your defence when you consider that in a very days I am come personally to your Assistance with near 400 Christian Souldiers I have had the Honour to bear Command under the great King of England my Master where I have seen the French fly before his Victorious Arms and last Summer it pleased God to add to his Victories by the Defeat and Destruction of their Fleet in which most of their Ships were burnt or sunk I came now in great haste and brought no Presents with me but design by the blessing of God to be with you at the beginning of the Summer to give you something to wipe off your Tears for the Brethren that are lately lost to renew the ancient Covenant Chain and to give you further Assurances of the Great King of England's Favour and of my own Readiness upon all Occasions to appear as his Servant for your Protection against our Enemies and yours My present Care now is to provide for the Mohaques Nation about which I have given my Directions to Major Schuyler who will appoint them a place for their Residence I have also ordered some Corn for their present Support which they will receive from him I must add that it concerns your Honour and Reputation to make some brisk Attempt upon our Enemies and this with what Secrecy and Expedition you can that those People may see you retain the ancient Courage of your Ancestors and I do not question but God will give you Success by a severe Revenge on our Enemies and yours I am informed that your Young Men have killed the Horses of some Christian Souldiers who were upon the same Service with you it is not Brotherly and I desire for the future you will take care to prevent such Outrage that the ancient Covenant Chain may be preserved inviolable on your parts as it will be on the part of my Master the Great King To conclude I must tell you that I doubt there is some false Brothers among us who keeps Intelligence with our Enemies concealing their Designs and exposing ours if you have one Frenchman among you he will be true to his Countrey by betraying you I have order'd you some Bread and Bear and desire you will drink the Healths of my Great Master and Mistriss the Victorious King and most Illustrious Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland and all Their Majesties Territories in America and so bid you farewell The Answer of the Five Nations viz. The Mohaques Oneydes Onondages Cayouges and Sinnekes To his Excellency Benjamin Fletcher Captain General and Governour in chief of Their Majesties Province of New York c. in Albany this 25th of February 1692. Sadeganaktie Sachim of the Onondages Speaker Interpreted by Hille the Interpretess Brother Cayenquirago which signifies a Great Swift Arrow a Name the Five Nations have given His Excellency because of his speedy Arrival here with so many Men for their Relief when the Enemy had fallen upon the Mohaques Country WHen we arrived at Schenactady after our march against the Enemy you were pleased to desire us to come hither where we heard you Great Swift Arrow speak and participated of your Favours we acknowledge that the Enemy the French of Canada have fallen upon our Brethren the Mohaques and destroyed their three Castles which we can attribute to nothing else but their not hearkening to the Great Swift Arrow's good Advice which was to keep good Guards and out Scouts We return you Brother Great Swift Arrow our hearty Thanks for your Care in providing for the Mohaques that they may not starve nor be in want in this Extremity Brother Great Swift Arrow You propose to us the attacking the Enemy in their Country to shew them that we have not lost the Courage of our Ancestors we return you our hearty Thanks for your good Encouragement for we are in a manner drunk with the Blood lately shed by them It is not usual for us while we are in that Grief and Anxiety as now we are to proceed to revenge our selves of the Enemy you have lost your Blood as well as we therefore that Blood ought to be revenged unanimously by both sides Brother Great Swift Arrow You recommend us to go and attack the Enemy where they are at home in Canada but you are acquainted with us of Old that it is our Custom first to bewail
we decamped and marched to the Place where the Enemy had lain the Night before Feb. 15. In the Morning two of our Indian Scouts returned the third being run over to the Enemy who brought us News they had seen the Enemy within ten Miles Our Indians came up with us about 12 a Clock being 290 Men and Boys some Armed and some without Arms a Consult being had we marched about four a Clock and encamped all together having marched about ten Miles that Afternoon This Night a Consult was held and Spyes sent to discover the Enemy Feb. 16. We marched early in the Morning and having gone ten Miles found the place where the Enemy had lain two Nights before we halted there an Oneyde Indian came from the Enemy being sent to our Indians to debauch them over to the French which Messenger we did not think fit to send back being one of the Prisoners taken at Tionondoge We sent an Express to Major Ingoldsby to acquaint him that the Enemy had built a Fort and were resolved to fight us and sent for supplies of Provision Ammunition and Men. We marched on toward the Enemy and met with one of our wounded Indians who informed that the Enemy stayed for us in a Fort upon which we marched about two Miles where a Christian Boy Arnant the Interpreters Son came to us who had been three years a Prisoner among the French he gave an Account that the Enemy were about 6 or 700 Men and within three Miles we marched forward to find some convenient place to Encamp and to fortifie our selves from the Enemy that Night We had Scouts out Christians and Indians all Night to watch the Enemies motion who brought an account in the Morning that we were within a Mile of their Fort. Feb. 17. We decamped and marched towards the Enemy with Scouts before us and did not take a direct line but went round for fear of an Ambuscade and came in sight of their Fort about eight a Clock in the Morning where our Scouts came and shewed us where the Enemy lay upon which all the Officers were commanded to take their Posts and make ready to engage being 250 Christians and 290 Indians the Enemy seeing us gave three Huzza's which we answer'd with as many and as loud as they and made the Woods ring our Indians went to work to fall Trees and fortifie but the Enemy sallyed out immediately we engaged them and beat them back into their Fort our Indians fell to work again and desired our Christians to help which they did the Enemy sallied out with all their Strength a second time encouraging their Men crying They run we will cut them all off and get their Provisions We received them briskly and beat them back into their Fort with the loss of several of their Men Our Men fell to work again about the Fort the Enemy sallied out the third time but were as well repulsed as before and beat into their Fort with considerable loss our Indians bringing several of their Heads and Scalps into our Fort after this the Enemy was quiet and we finish'd our Fort as soon as this Skirmish was over we sent an Express to Major Ingoldsby to acquaint him what had passed praying him to hasten our Recruits with Provision and Ammunition for that the greatest part of our Men had not had any Provision in two days time we sent our Scouts of Christians and Indians all that Night to discover our Enemies Motion and lay all Night in our Fort it was extream bad cold snowy Weather Feb. 18. Being cold stormy Weather and Snow insomuch that we could scarce see any Tract our Scouts came in this Morning which gave Account that the Enemy were in their Fort some being still popping at our People About nine a Clock an Indian that left the French in their Fort told us He thought the Enemy would retreat that they were packing up their Baggage Upon which Major Schyler ordered the Captains to draw out their Men to march round the Enemy's Fort to stop them but the same time had an Account they were fled he commanded the Officers to pursue them and to hinder their Retreat till Men and Provisions came up but the Men wanting Provision refused to march the Officers with 60 Christians and some Indians pursued the Enemy till they had made a small Fortification but the Officers not having Men to engage them nor to make a Fort returned back leaving two Officers with 40 Men and 100 Indians to watch their motion expecting our Provision to come up that Night Feb. 19. About 7 a Clock in the Morning we had an Account that our Provisions were near at hand which came up to us about nine or ten a Clock with 80 Men commanded by Capt. Simms the Provisions being immediately distributed among the Men those that were first served were commanded away after the Enemy with five Baskets a Man About four a Clock the Van being commanded by Capt. Peter Matthews and Capt. Arent Schuyler came up near the Rear of the Enemy the Scouts telling us the Enemy were within less than an English Mile we desired the Indians to joyn with us to fall upon their Rear till the rest of our Men came up sending in the mean time to our People to march up in all haste but the Indians halted and could not be perswaded to march the Mohaques being most unwilling because the Enemy had dropt several Prisoners who told them that if they pursued them they would kill all their Wives and Children whom they had Prisoners after an hours Consultation of the Indians most of our Men came up we marched with all speed thinking to overtake the Enemy before they got to the River-side but there being a flake of Ice in one part of the River and all open above and below the Enemy got over before we got up We encamped by the River-side that Night Feb. 20. In the Morning Major Schuyler resolved to march over the River to pursue the Enemy ordering the Officers to get the Men ready for that purpose but many of the Men being wearied with fatiegue their Shoes being quite wore out and Provisions scarce were not able to make any further pursuit But that which did most of all discourage us was that the Indians had great averseness to pursue or fall upon the Enemy because of their Wives and Children whereupon we marched back In this Engagement we lost four private Souldiers and four Indians two Officers and twelve Christians and Indians wounded and we had an Account by some of our Indian Prisoners that made their Escape that we killed of the Enemy 33 whereof we found but 27 among which was their Commandant one Captain and two other Officers with two of their commanding Indians and 26 Wounded We rescued between forty and fifty Prisoners Since their Retreat we are informed by divers of the Prisoners who come home daily that all our Men Prisoners except five have made their escape
and condole the Death of them killed by the Enemy for we are all of one Heart one Blood one Soul nevertheless we design to go out and to fall upon the French but we must first secure our Castles since we know that the Governour of Canada is intended to send out a considerable Party but whither we know not Brother Great Swift Arrow While you press us to go and attack the Enemy of Canada by Land we expect according to the many Promises and Engagements made to us to hear of a considerable Force to go with great Guns by Sea that the Enemy might be assaulted both ways and so overcome we press this the harder because a great part of our Strength is now broke and therefore take it not amiss that we push this Point of taking Canada by Sea since its impossible to be done by Land alone Brother Great Swift Arrow We return you our hearty Thanks that you are so ready to assist us upon any Occasion and for the good advice to be watchful and keep out good Scouts and Spies it is probable that we would have done a great deal more damage to the Enemy had we been so well provided with all sorts of Ammunition as the Indians of Canada are but some of our Men have Guns and no Powder nor Ball and some but Bows and Arrows as Major Schuyler saw when we came up to him but the Governour of Canada supplies his Indians with all sorts of Arms and Ammunition which we found now we engaged them We pray you Great Swift Arrow to have a careful Eye over us since this Party of the French that has destroyed the Mohaques Castles is but part of his Strength he is working with the Ottawawa and Dowaganhaes Indians where he has a great Magazeen and supplies them with all sorts of Ammunition and we fear that Force will come down upon us still Brother Great Swift Arrow We return you Thanks for remembring our Dead and that you will condole their Death when you come up in the beginning of Summer but you can expect no Return from us being in so mean a Capacity and Condition Brother Great Swift Arrow You inform us of the great Victory that our Lord of Lord meaning the great King of England has got upon the French the common Enemy at Sea which is admirable and all the Nations are heartily rejoyced at it and we hope that the great God that has his Seat above the Heavens will give the same success to our great Lord of Lords Arms in this part of the World over his and our Enemies the French of Canada We pray that you would be pleased to acquaint our great Lord of Lords who lives over the great Lake of our mean Condition and what Posture we are in and how easy it is to destroy Canada if all our great Lord of Lords Subjects in these Collonies would unite and joyn together with some Ships that carry great Guns which our great Lord of Lords can easily spare us after this late Victory over the French at Sea We desire that you would be pleas'd to order a Smith to be with us in our Country to repair our Arms that we may defend us from the French His Excellency replyed That he hoped they were sufficiently satisfied of his Readiness to assist them and that the Force the French had now sent was the most they could make and if they will but keep out Scouts and advertise his Excellency timely of the Enemies coming his Excellency does not doubt with the Strength he has in his Province to deal with the Governour of Canada and all his Power The Governour granted their Request of the Smith to be in their Country to repair their Arms. Proposals made by four of the chief Sachims of the Five Nations to his Excellency Benjamin Fletcher in Albany the 26th of February 1692. Brother great Swift Arrow WE are come to acquaint you that one of our Men has last Night in a drunken Fit killed an Indian that came over from the French at which we are much concerned and therefore come to see how our Brother great Swift Arrow resents it We desire that you will be pleased to prohibit the selling of Rum while the War is so hot since our Souldiers cannot be kept within Bounds if they be drunk Brother great Swift Arrow We answer'd your Excelleny's Proposals yesterday but had not time to consult with that deliberation as we ought and if therefore there be any thing omitted or if we failed of our Duty we beg that you would be pleas'd to pardon that Omission for we must declare in behalf of all the Nations that we are singularly obliged to you Brother great Swift Arrow for your so extraordinary Dispatch and suddain Arrival here for our Relief with so considerable a Force the like never having been done before whereby we see your readiness and alacrity to help and assist us And we do also return you Thanks for leaving your Directions with Major Schuyler to take care of the Mohaques Nation We are thankful for your kind Expressions to be so ready to come for our Relief and that you warn us to come and acquaint you as soon as we see the Enemy a coming a far off not doubting of your Power to protect us since we have seen a sufficient Proof of that already by this late Expedition Brother great Swift Arrow We do engage to make a narrow enquiry as soon as we come into our own Country about the French Prisoners who we suspect may betray us we have had two Bouts with the Onedeys about the Priest Milet that is among them and we intend to try the third time We desire that you Brother great Swift Arrow may come up as soon as the Bark is loose upon the Trees since we have a Design upon the Enemy We forgot to answer you in that Business about the Young-men killing the Horses we acknowledge it s not Brotherly but very ill done and as soon as we come into our Country we will take such Methods that it may be prevented by finding out them that have done it causing them to make Satisfaction His Excellency replied that he was much concerned that they should Exercise their Arms one against another while there is an Enemy in the Field and hopes they will for the future endeavour to prevent such Irregularities That they may be now sufficiently convinced how ready the Arms of the great King of England is to succour them and that his Excellency for his own part will never spare to expose his Person for their Security That the Rum shall be prohibited upon their Request and that the most he requires of them is to be Vigilant and Careful and not to suffer themselves to be Surprized and then they need not fear the French To his Excellency Benjamin Fletcher Captain General and Governour in Chief of Their Majesties Province of New-York Vice-Admiral of the same The Humble Address of the Mayor Aldermen and Commonality of the City of Albany May it please your Excellency WE are extreamly sensible of your Excellency's special Care not only for the Safety and Security of your Excellencies Government in general but in particular for the extraordinary Regard taken for this City being the utmost Frontier thereof seated near One Hundred and Fifty Miles up in the Country whilst the same was attacked by the Enemy of Canada who had surprized and burnt the three Castles of the Mohaques killed divers of their Fighting Men and led in Captivity upwards of 130 Women and Children and that your Excellency should within two Days after Notice received from hence make that Dispatch as to be here so suddenly with 300 Men and sufficient Provisions and Stores of War for our immediate Relief which was more than ever could be expected in this Winter Season We therefore out of a deep sence of your Excelleny's unparallell'd Affection to and Care for us cannot but esteem our selves highly obliged to your Excellency and beg of you to accept our Unfeigned Thanks assuring your Excellency As we shall never forget your extraordinary Care of us so we shall ever admire and beg the continuance of your Excellency's benign Government over us And since the Mohaques Nation is wholly dispersed by the Enemy's burning all their three Castles and our Farmers live stragling up and down the Country in great Danger to be cut off by the skulking Indians We pray that your Excellency in your Wisdom will be pleased to order some convenient Place where the Remnant of the said Nation may be convened together and fortified for any Attack of the Enemy and that the Farmers may be ordered to fortifie themselves in Companies together that the Enemy may not have an advantage of them And we humly beg your Excellency to believe We are always ready to venture our Lives and Fortunes for Their Majesties Service the Defence of this Province and with all chearfulness and allacrity shall endeavour whenever it lies in our Power to demonstrate our true Affection to your Excellency in particular and to approve our selves Your Excellency's most Dutiful and most Obedient Servant's Peter Schuyler Mayor Levinus V. Schaick Alderman Rymen Barentse Assistant Dirk Wessels Recorder Evert Banker Alderman Johannis Roseboom The House of Representatives for the Province of New-York Wednesday A. M. March 22. 1693. Ordered THat the Thanks of this House be given unto his Excellency for his favourable Speech and his Care of the Frontiers of this Province by the great Dispatch he made in his Personal Appearance there upon the late Invasion of the French Ordered That Mr. Wessells Mr. Pell Mr. Kipp Capt. Whitehead Mr. Rutsand Mr. Theunissen Mr. Tuthill and Mr. Barnes do wait upon his Excellency and Council with this Message By Order of the House of Representatives James Graham Speaker FINIS
A JOURNAL OF THE Late Actions OF THE French at Canada WITH The Manner of their being Repuls'd by His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher Their Majesties Governour of New-York Impartially Related by Coll. Nicholas Reyard and Lieutenant Coll. Charles Lodowick who attended His Excellency during the whole Expedition To which is added I. An Account of the present State and Strength of Canada given by Two Dutch Men who have been a long Time Prisoners there and now made their Escape II. The Examination of a French Prisoner III. His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher's Speech to the Indians IV. An Address from the Corporation of Albany to His Excellency Returning Thanks for His Excellency's early Assistance for their Relief Licensed Sept. 11th 1693. Edward Cooke London Printed for Richard Baldwin in Warwick-Lane 1693. THE PREFACE As this following small Treatise is a short Narrative of some little Check given by the English Gallantry to the Arms and Attempts of France so far off as the Indian Territories so it gives us an occasion of considering How the Great Lewis may justly plume himself with a Title peculiarly his own viz. The great Disturber of the World For tho the Bloodiest and most Active Scene of that Monarch's Ambition seems bounded within the Confines of Europe yet is there hardly that most distant Region or Nation the very utmost Corner of the Universe but has some Footsteps of his Aspiring Arms. For besides the Tragick Theatre he has made within the Bowels of Christendom not to instance his Leagues with Mahomet the unnatural Subjection of his most Christian Cross to the most Anti-Christian Crescent his Ambition has been a little busie too in the American Quarter of the Globe 'T is true his Strength has neither been formidable nor his Stars favourable in this Remoter Stage Justice seems at least to the American Climate to reign Lady of the Ascendant in carrying Victory to the Honester Side witness the several Advantages obtain'd not only in the following Expedition the subject of our present Treatise but in divers other Advances of Their Majesties Prosperous Arms in those Parts But as this Preface is only a Compliment to my Readers Introduction I shall leave him to the Entertainment he finds only assure him we have this Credit to the Truth of our Narration That 't is no more than what has been already Printed at New-York by his Excellency's the Commander in Chief in the Expedition particular Authority there and now made Publick Here for the Satisfaction of all such Honest English Readers as can take Pleasure in the Success of their Countrey 's Arms and Interest A Journal of the Late Actions of the FRENCH of CANADA c. SUNDAY the 12th of February 1692. about ten a Clock at Night an Express from Lieut. Colonel Beecknam of Vlster County gave his Excellency an account of Advice from Albany of the French and Indians consisting of 550 being within twenty Miles of Schenectady on the 8th Instant an Hour before Day ready to fall upon the two first Castles of the Mohaques Whereupon His Excellency ordered the Col. of the Militia of the City of New-York to draw out his Regiment the next Morning Monday the 13th Orders were sent to Col. Courtland of Kings-County to detach out of their Regiments a hundred and fifty Men to be forth-with ready to Imbarque at the Ferry About eight a Clock in the Morning the City Regiment being under Arms his Excellency on Horse-back at the head of the Regiment demanded Who were willing to follow him to the Frontiers against the Enemy They unanimously threw up their Hats and cryed One and all Upon which the Colonel was ordered to detach 150 of the fittest Men to be under the Command of three Captains with their Subalterns ready at the first Beat of Drum and dismissed the Regiment and ordered all Sloops for Transportation to be secured About ten a Clock his Excellency did send the Express forward to Col. Beecknam with Orders to get all the Horses in the County of Vlster together in readiness to carry his Excellency and the Detachments from Kingstone to Albany by Land in case the River was not open and to forward any Confirmation of the News to his Excellency Tuesday the 14th by break of Day came an Express from Major Ingoldsby confirming the former News and that the two first Castles were taken by the French and Indians Whereupon eight Sloops were ordered with necessary Provisions and Ammunition to go round the Fort and to be ready to Sail and the Detachment of the City Regiment did immediately Imbarque About four a Clock afternooon the Tide offering his Excellency attended with the Officers of the Detachment and several Volunteers did imbarque and set sail Friday the 17th about 9 a Clock his Excellency arrived at Albany being 50 Leagues distant from New-York with five of the Sloops having met with much Ice in the River which gave some Difficulty the rest arrived towards Evening As soon as they came on Shore his Excellency ordered Captain Schuyler to march 50 of the Men for Schenectady about a 11 a Clock his Exellency followed with 16 Horse leaving Instructions with Col. Beyard to forward all the rest of the Detachments as they did arrive towards Schenectady without loss of time together with the Ammunition and Provisions About 3 a Clock afternoon his Excellency met Major Ingoldsby about 8 Miles from Schenectady on his Return from Albany having gone from thence to visit Schenectady that Morning His Excellency arrived at Schenectady being 20 Miles from Albany about 5 a Clock About 9 a Clock at Night Capt. Schuyler with his Men arrived and found Provisions and Quarters in readiness for his Men. Saturday Morning the 18th by break of Day the Men were ready to be transported over the River but a violent Storm did hinder their Transportation till Afternoon and sundry Indian Women loaden with Provisions were sent along with them This Day about Noon Major Merrit with the rest of the City Detachment did arrive at Schenectady and were immediately furnished with Quarters Ammunition and Provisions ready to march next Morning Sunday the 19th by break of Day the rest of the Forces that were fit to march did attempt to get over but great quantites of loose Ice did hinder till about 10 a Clock the Ice setling they got over it on Foot which in two Hours after was dispersed and the River open again This party carried a further supply of Provisions and Ammunition Monday the 20th by Break of Day those of the City Detachments who were not able to march the Day before being refreshed his Excellency detached from the Garrison of Schenectady so many of them as made 42 who did immediately march with 13 Horses loaden with Provision and Ammunition About 2 a Clock afternoon arrived at Schenectady Capt. Stillwell with the Detachment of Kings County consisting of 50 Men who were ordered to refresh themselves till next Morning and 3 Horses with Provisions ordered to be in
readiness to attend them Tuesday the 21st The Horses being carried over the River and the Men ready to be transported came an Express from Major Schuyler giving Intelligence of his being near at hand on his Return who arrived about 4 a Clock afternoon upon which the Men and Horse were remanded and sent back to their own Home There marched by his Excellency's Order to joyn Major Schuyler since his Arrival 208 effective Men besides Guides and Carriers of Supplies with considerable quantities of Provisions and Ammunition which are since returned Wednesday the 22d His Excellency returned for Albany accompanied with Major Schuyler and several of the Forces came from pursuit of the Enemy and arrived about 3 a Clock afternoon much dissatisfied at the Enemies escape His Excellency did order Major Schuyler with some other Officers to give the Journal of their Action in the Woods At 4 a clock arrived Col. Willet at Albany with 120 Men from Queens County who were next Morning remanded home to their Habitations together with the rest of the Detachments At Night his Excellency sent to call those Indians that were returned from the Fight to meet him next Morning at Albany Thursday the 23d A Proclamation issued requiring all the out Farmers to draw themselves into Neighbourhoods for their better security against the sculking Enemy and to fortify with Stockadoes Fryday the 24th His Excellency received an Address from the Corporation of Albany congratulating his safe Return and returning Thanks for his early Assistance with his personal Presence for their Relief c. Saturday the 25th The Indians being arrived last Night and giving their Attendance this Morning his Excellency being accompanied with the Magistrates of this City and the Souldiers and Militia in Arms came to the City Hall and made his Speech to the Indians which was Interpreted to them by the Interpretess Helle. In the Afternoon they gave their Answer to his Excellency by the same Interpretess Sunday the 26th About 8 a Clock in the Morning four of the chief Sachims came to his Excellency with some further Propositions which he immediately answer'd to their Satisfaction Monday the 27th His Excellency caused a Proclamation to be published prohibiting the selling of Rum to the Indians and did imbarque for New-York where he arrived Thursday Morning following and was received with such Expressions of Joy and Thankfulness as the place could afford Nicholas Beyard Col. Charles Lodwick Lieut. Col. A JOURNAL of the Actions in the Woods between the FRENCH and INDIANS IN Obedience to his Excellency's Command Peter Schuyler Mayor with the other Officers under his Command gave this following Account of their Proceedings since the first Intelligence of the Enemy's descent into the Country of the Mohaques February the 8th being Wednesday about 2 a Clock afternoon we had the Alarm from Schenectady that the French and Indians had taken the Mohaques Castles soon after we had the News that a Young-man called Jan Baptist van Eps taken at Schenectady 3 Years ago was run over from the French as they were to attack the first Castle of the Mohaques and come to Schenectady who related that the French were 350 Christians and 200 Indians Major Ingoldsby sent forth-with his Warrants to command in the Farmers of Capt. Genits and Capt. Tunis's Companies of Militia This Night Lieut. John Schuyler and Cornet Abeel with 55 Horse marched to Schenectady February 9. Cornet Abeel came express from Schenectady and desired that Major Schuyler or Major Wessels might be sent thither to pacifie the Indians who were enraged that no Christians went out in pursuit of the Enemy Upon which Major Schuyler at his own Request was permitted to go that Evening As soon as Major Schuyler arrived there he sent out Scouts to spy the Forts and the Enemies Motion and withal to go and warn the Tionondoge Indians of the Enemies coming but they having gone 12 Miles returned about 12 a Clock at Night saying they could not get over the River Feb. 10. Major Schuyler sent Lieut. John Schuyler and Lieut. John Sanders and six more to view the Mohaques Fort that was possessed by the Enemy who brought News that the French were in both the Forts of all which he gave advice to Major Ingoldsby at Albany Feb. 11. Major Schuyler sent 10 Christians and 40 Indians to lie near the Enemy and to watch their Motion who made a small Fort to retreat into and so spyed what the Enemy did Feb. 12. News was brought to Schenectady by some of the said Scouts that they had heard firing at the Mohaques Forts which was supposed the Tionondoge Indians against the French which News Major Schuyler sent forward to Albany Whereupon Major Ingoldsby detached about 200 Men out of the several Companies of the Militia Fuzileers and Troop commanded by Capt. Peter Matthews Capt. Arent Schuyler Capt. Benj. Phips Capt. Kihad van Renslaer and Capt. Tho. Gartin who arrived at Schenectady about 2 a Clock afternoon and joyned Major Schuyler The Waggons with Bread arrived that Night This day our Scouts brought us the News that the French were there still and that they had also cut off the third Castle of the Mohaques called Tionondoge and that none of the upper Indians were come down all which was advertised to Major Ingoldsby forthwith and Major Schuyler sent to him for Orders to march Feb. 13. This Morning having received no answer of the said Express Major Schuyler sent another to march and being pressed with the Indians who threatned else to desert us was forced to march the Men over the River without Orders which came about 4 a Clock in the Afternoon when most of the Men were got over the River This very time we had News by our out Scouts that the French had burnt the Mohaques three Castles and were marched away which Major Schuyler ordered Lieut. Young to signifie to Major Ingoldsby We marched 12 Miles that Evening being 273 Christians In the Night about 10 a Clock one of our Scouts came in and told us that 600 of our uppermost Indians were coming down Major Schuyler forthwith sent the same Messenger that brought us the News to Major Ingoldsby and desired that Provision and Ammunition should be sent after us not knowing what the Indians might have occasion for Feb. 14. About 1 or 2 a Clock in the Morning we decamped and marched to the small Fort that was made by our 50 Scouts about six a Clock in the Morning where we had Advice that the Enemy was not above eight Miles from us upon which Lieut. Harme van Slyk and two Indians were sent to discover the Enemy who brought us word they were marched two Indians came to us with News that there were 300 of our upper Indians within 20 Miles of us whereupon we sent two Indians back to hasten them up and to let them know we were there to joyn them We sent three Mohaques to discover the Enemy about 4 a Clock in the Afternoon