American History Told by Contemporaries/Volume 2/Chapter 19
CHAPTER XIX — INTERCOLONIAL WARS
117. The Taking of Schenectady (1690)
BY COMPTROLLER-GENERAL DE MONSEIGNAT
Monseignat was a Canadian official, a protege of Madame de Maintenon, to whom this account is addressed. — Bibliography: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, V, 190; Parkman, Frontenac and New France, ch. xi; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 131. — For earlier Indian wars, see Contemporaries, I, Nos. 39, 40, 60, 91, 127, 134.
. . . NEWS arrived at Quebec of the success of the first party that had gone out against the English, and which had been organized at Montreal. It might have consisted of two hundred and ten men ; to wit, of 80 Indians of the Sault and the Mountain, sixteen Algonquins, and the remainder Frenchmen. It was commanded by Lieutenants Le Moyne de Sainte Héléne and Dailleboust de Mantet, both Canadians, under whom were Sieurs le Moyne d'Iberville and Repentigny de Montesson. The best qualified of the French were Sieurs de Bonrepos and de La Brosse, reduced lieutenants (reformés) Sieurs Le Moyne de Biainville, Le Bert du Chesne, and la Marque de Montigny, who all served as volunteers. They took their departure from Montreal in the fore part of February. . . .
. . . they . . . experienced inconceivable difficulties . . . having been obliged to wade up to their knees in water, and to break the ice with their feet in order to find a solid footing.
They arrived within two leagues of Corlard about four o'clock in the evening, and were harangued by the Great Mohawk, the chief of the Iroquois of the Sault. He urged on all to perform their duty, and to forget their past fatigue, in the hope of taking ample revenge for the injuries they had received from the Iroquois at the solicitation of the English, and of washing them out in the blood of those traitors. This Indian was without contradiction the most considerable of his tribe, an honest man, as full of spirit, prudence and generosity as possible, and capable at the same time of the grandest undertakings. Four squaws were shortly after discovered in a wigwam who gave every information necessary for the attack on the town. The fire found in their hut served to warm those who were benumbed, and they continued their march, having previously detached Giguières, a Canadian, with nine Indians, on the scout. They discovered no one, and returned to join the main body within one league of Corlard.
At eleven of the clock at night, they came within sight of the town, resolved to defer the assault until two o'clock of the morning. But the excessive cold admitted of no further delay.
The town of Corlard forms a sort of oblong with only two gates — one opposite where our party had halted ; the other opening towards Orange, which is only six leagues distant. Messieurs de Sainte Héléne and de Mantet were to enter at the first which the squaws pointed out, and which, in fact, was found wide open. Messieurs d'Iberville and de Montesson took the left with another detachment, in order to make themselves masters of that leading to Orange. But they could not discover it, and returned to join the remainder of the party. A profound silence was every where observed, until the two Commanders, who separated after having entered the town for the purpose of encircling it, met at the other extremity.
The signal of attack was given Indian fashion, and the entire force rushed on simultaneously.
M. de Mantet placed himself at the head of one detachment, and reached a small fort where the garrison was under arms. The gate was burst in after a good deal of difficulty, the whole set on fire, and all who defended the place slaughtered.
The sack of the town began a moment before the attack on the fort. Few houses made any resistance. M. de Montigny discovered several which he attempted to carry sword in hand, having tried the musket in vain. He received two thrusts of a halbert (pertuissane) one in the body and the other in the arm. But M. de Sainte Héléne having come to his aid, effected an entrance, and put every one who defended the place to the sword. The Massacre lasted two hours. The remainder of the night was spent in placing sentinels, and in taking some rest.
The house belonging to the Minister was ordered to be saved, so as to take him alive to obtain information from him ; but as it was not known, it was not spared any more than the others. He was killed in it and his papers burnt before he could be recognized.
At day break some men were sent to the dwelling of Mr. Condre who was Major of the place, and who lived at the other side of the river. He was not willing to surrender, and put himself on the defensive with his servants and some Indians ; but as it was resolved not to do him any harm, in consequence of the good treatment that the French had formerly experienced at his hands, M. d'Iberville and the Great Mohawk proceeded thither alone, promised him quarter for himself, his people and his property, whereupon he laid down his arms on their assurance, entertained them in his fort, and returned with them to see the Commandants in the town.
In order to occupy the Indians, who would otherwise have taken to drink and thus rendered themselves unable for defence, the houses had already been set on fire. None were spared in the town but one belonging to Condre, and that of a widow who had six children, whither M. de Montigny had been carried when wounded. All the rest were burnt. The lives of between fifty and sixty persons, old men, women and children were spared, they having escaped the first fury of the attack; also some thirty Iroquois, in order to show them that it was the English and not they against whom the grudge was entertained. The loss on this occasion in houses, cattle and grain, amounts to more than four hundred thousand livres. There were upwards of eighty well built and well furnished houses in the town.
The return march commenced with thirty prisoners. The wounded, who were to be carried, and the plunder with which all the Indians and some Frenchmen were loaded, caused considerable inconvenience. Fifty good horses were brought away. Sixteen of them only reached Montreal. The remainder were killed on the road for food. . . .
Such, Madam, is the account of what passed at the taking of Corlard. The French lost but twenty-one men, namely four Indians and seventeen Frenchmen. Only one Indian and one Frenchman were killed at the capture of the town. The others were lost on the road.
E. B. O'Callaghan, editor, Documents relative to the Colonial History of the State of New-York (Albany, 1855), IX, 466-469 passim.
118. The Evil Deeds of the Spaniards (1702-1740)
The writers were a committee of the South Carolina legislature, appointed to draw up a statement of the ways of their countrymen. They have not spared the dark tints in their picture. — Bibliography: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, V, 342-343. — For earlier accounts of the Spaniards, see Contemporaries, I, Nos. 17-25, 46.
IN 1702, before Queen Anne's Declaration of War was known in these Parts, the Spaniards formed another Design to fall upon our Settlements by Land, at the Head of Nine Hundred Apalatchee Indians from thence. The Creek Indians, in Friendship with this Province, coming at a Knowledge of it, and sensible of the Dangers approaching, acquainted our Traders, then in the Nation with it, when this Army was actually on their March coming down that Way. The Traders having thereupon encourag'd the Creeks to get together an Army of Five Hundred Men, headed the same, and went out to meet the other. ... the Creeks rushing forth fell on them, killed and took the greatest Part, and entirely routed them. . . .
In the latter End of the same Year, Queen Anne's War being commenced, Col. Moore then Governor of this Province, with Reason expected a Visit from the Spaniards, and it having been suggested to him, that St. Augustine might be easily taken, if surprized, he judged it best to give them the first Blow. Accordingly he undertook an Expedition against it with about Five Hundred Whites, and Five Hundred Indians. He himself with Four Hundred of the Whites proceeded in the Vessels directly to the Bar of St. Augustine Harbour, whilst Col. Daniel landing at St. Juan's march'd directly from thence with the other Hundred and the Indians, and entered the Town with them only, the same Day as the Vessels appeared in Sight. This little Army kept the Castle close besieged above Three Months ; and repelled several Sallies with the Loss of very few Men. Yet having no Bombs with them, and a Spanish Man of War coming to its Relief from the Havanna with a considerable Number of Men, on Board Four large Transports, which landed on Anastatia, they were obliged to retreat : But not without First Burning the Town.
In 1704, Col. Moore was commissioned as Lieutenant General by Sir Nathaniel Johnson, who succeeded him in the Government, to make an Expedition against the Spaniards and Indians at Apalatchee, about Eighty Miles to the West of St. Augustine, on the same Motives that the preceding Expedition had been undertaken. . . . By this Conquest of Apalachee the Province was freed from any Danger from that Part during the whole War. And this important Service was effected without putting this Government to the least Expense.
In 1706, the Spaniards at St. Augustine joined the French from Martinico, in making up a Fleet of Ten Sail, with Eight Hundred Men, Whites, Mustees, and Negroes, and Two Hundred Indians, to invade this Province. The Ship on Board which the Chief Commander was, being separated from the Fleet, fell into Sewee Bay, not knowing the Place. The rest coming over Charles-Town Bar, anchored just within on a Sunday, where they remained, sending Parties ashore on James-Island and Wando-Neck, plundering and burning Houses, &c. 'till Friday following Capt. Fenwicke going from Charles-Town, with One Hundred Men, landed at Hobkaw in Sight of Town, upon a Party of One Hundred and Thirty Men, who had got thither and set a Ship on Fire. He attacked them, killed and wounded about Thirty, and took Seventy Prisoners. The next Day the Ship which had lost Company, still not appearing, the whole Fleet set Sail again.
In 1715, Peace having been some Time concluded between the Crowns, the Yamasee Indians . . . living contiguous to, and in the most intimate Manner with the Settlers in those Parts, having been ill used by some of the Traders amongst them, were so far disgusted, that they broke out war with this Province, by massacring on the Fifteenth Day of April above Eighty of the Inhabitants of Granville County. . . . headed by Spaniards, they cut off several of the Settlers, and carried off their Slaves. The Slaves themselves at length, taking Advantage of those Things, deserted of their own Accord to St. Augustine, and upon being demanded back by this Government they were not returned, but such Rates paid for those that could not be concealed as that Government was pleased to set upon them. The Evil encreasing, altho' Col. Barnwell who was sent from hence to St. Augustine, immediately after the Conclusion of Queen Anne's Peace, had in Behalf of this Government then entered into a stipulation with that, mutually to return any Slaves that should for the future desert either Government ; Col. Hall was sent to St. Augustine in 1725, with whom that Government confirmed the said Stipulation. Notwithstanding which, the very year following :
In 1727, Peace between the Crowns continuing, fresh Depradations were committed on this Province from Augustine, both by Land and Water ; which created the Expense of Two Expeditions to prevent the Progress of them. . . . At the same Time a Party of Yamasee Indians, headed by Spaniards from St. Augustine, having murdered our Out-Scouts, made an Incursion into our Settlements. . . .
In the latter End of 1737, still Peace subsisting, great Preparations were made to invade openly this Province and Georgia. For that Purpose a great Body of Men arrived at St. Augustine, in Galleys from the Havana ; which put this Province to a very large Expense to provide against. But happily they were countermanded just as they were ready to set off.
In 1738, altho' Peace subsisted, and Governor Johnson after his Arrival here had. in 1733, renewed the before mentioned Stipulation, another Method was taken by the Spaniards to answer their Ends. Hitherto the Government of St. Augustine had not dared to acknowledge, much less to justify, the little Villainies and Violences offered to our Properties : But now an Edict of his Catholic Majesty himself, bearing Date in November 1733, was published by Beat of Drum round the Town of St. Augustine (where many Negroes belonging to English Vessels that carried thither Supplies of Provisions, &c., had the Opportunity of hearing it) promising Liberty and Protection to all Slaves that should desert thither from any of the English Colonies, but more especially from this. And, lest that should not prove sufficient of itself, secret Measures were taken to make it known to our Slaves in general. In Consequence of which Numbers of Slaves did, from Time to Time, by Land and Water desert to St. Augustine ; And, the better to facilitate their Escape, car ried off their Master's Horses, Boats, &c. some of them first commiting Murder ; and were accordingly received and declared free. Our present Lieutenant Governor, by Deputies sent from hence on that Occasion to Seignor Don Manuel de Montiano, the present Governor of St. Augustine, set forth the Manner in which those Slaves had escaped : and redemanded them pursuant to the Stipulation between the Two Governments, and to the Peace subsisting between the Crowns. Notwithstanding which, tho' that Governor acknowledged those Slaves to be there, yet producing the King of Spain's said Edict he declared that he could not deliver them up, without a positive Order for that purpose from the King, and that he should continue to receive all others that should resort thither, it having been an article of Complaint against his Predecessor, that he had not put the said Edict in force sooner. The Success of those Deputies being too well known at their Return, Conspiracies were form'd and Attempts made by more Slaves to desert to St. Augustine : But . . . by great Vigilance, they were prevented from succeeding. However, In September 1739, our Slaves made an Insurrection at Stono, in the Heart of our Settlements not Twenty Miles from Charles-Town ; in which they massacred Twenty-Three Whites, after the most cruel and barbarous Manner to be conceiv'd ; and having got Arms and Ammunition out of a Store, they bent their Course to the Southward, burning all the Houses on the Road. But they marched so slow, in full Confidence of their own Strength from their first Success, that they gave Time to a Party of our Militia to come up with them. The Number was in a Manner equal on both sides ; and an Engagement ensued, such as may be supposed in such a Case. But by the Blessing of God the Negroes were defeated, the greatest Part being killed on the Spot or taken ; and those that then escaped were so closely pursued, and hunted Day after Day, that in the End all but Two or Three were killed or taken and executed. That the Negroes would not have made this Insurrection had they not depended on St. Augustine for a Place of Reception afterwards, was very certain ; and that the Spaniards had a Hand in prompting them to this particular Action, there was but little room to doubt. . . .
On this Occasion every Breast was filled with Concern. Evil brought home to us, within our very Doors, awaken d the Attention of the most Unthinking. Every one that had any Relation any Tie of Nature ; every one that had a Life to lose, were in the most sensible Manner shocked at such Danger daily hanging over their Heads. With Regret we be wailed our peculiar Case, that we could not enjoy the Benefits of Peace like the rest of Mankind ; and that our own Industry should be the Means of taking from us all the Sweets of Life, and of rendering us liable to the Loss of our Lives and Fortunes. With Indignation we looked at St. Augustine (like another Sallee!) That Den of Thieves and Ruffians ! Receptacle of Debtors, Servants and Slaves ! Bane of Industry and Society ! And revolved in our Minds all the Injuries this Province had received from thence, ever since its first Settlement : That they had, from first to last, in Times of profoundest Peace, both publickly and privately, by Themselves, Indians and Negroes, in every Shape molested us, not without some Instances of uncommon Cruelty. And what aggravated the same was, that this Government (on the contrary) had never been wanting in its good Offices with our Indians in their Behalf: And even during Queen Ann's War had exercised so much Humanity towards them that, in order to prevent those Indians from scalping them, according to their Custom ; when they should take any of them Prisoners, a Law was passed to give them Five Pounds Proclamation Money for every one they should bring in alive ; and accordingly a great Number of the Spaniards, by that Means, were brought in alive, and the Reward paid for them.
B. R. Carroll, compiler, Historical Collections of South Carolina (New York, 1836), II, 351-359 passim.
119. A Ballad of Pigwacket (1725)
ANONYMOUS
This lively poem is a reasonably accurate account of one of the skirmishes in which the frontier wars abounded. The fight occurred May 8, 1725. — Bibliography: Thomas Symmes, Historical Memoirs of the Late Fight at Piggwackett (Boston, 1725). — For other colonial verse, see Contemporaries, I, Nos. 82, 138, and below, Nos. 159, 164, 171, 182.
- OF worthy Captain Lovewell, I purpose now to sing,
How valiantly he served his country and his King ;
He and his valiant soldiers, did range the woods full wide,
And hardships they endured to quell the Indian's pride. - 'Twas nigh unto Pigwacket, on the eighth day of May,
They spied a rebel Indian soon after break of day ;
He on a bank was walking, upon a neck of land,
Which leads into a pond as we're made to understand. - Our men resolv'd to have him, and travell'd two miles round,
Until they met the Indian, who boldly stood his ground ;
Then speaks up Captain Lovewell "take you good heed," says he,
"This rogue is to decoy us, I very plainly see. - "The Indians lie in ambush, in some place nigh at hand,
In order to surround us upon this neck of land ;
Therefore we ll march in order, and each man leave his pack,
That we may briskly fight them when they make their attack." - They came unto this Indian, who did them thus defy,
As soon as they came nigh him, two guns he did let fly,
Which wounded Captain Lovewell, and likewise one man more,
But when this rogue was running, they laid him in his gore.
-
Then having scalp'd the Indian, they went back to the spot,
Did seize them for their plunder, and carry them away.
Where they had laid their packs down, but there they found them not,
For the Indians having spy'd them, when they them down did lay,
- These rebels lay in ambush, this very place hard by,
So that an English soldier did one of them espy,
And cried out, "here's an Indian," with that they started out,
As fiercely as old lions, and hideously did shout. - With that our valiant English, all gave a loud huzza,
To shew the rebel Indians they fear'd them not a straw :
So now the fight began, and as fiercely as could be,
The Indians ran up to them, but soon were forced to flee. - Then spake up Captain Lovewell, when first the fight began
"Fight on my valiant heroes ! you see they fall like rain."
For as we are inform'd, the Indians were so thick,
A man could scarcly fire a gun and not some of them hit. - Then did the rebels try their best our soldiers to surround,
But they could not accomplish it, because there was a pond,
To which our men retreated and covered all the rear,
The rogues were forc'd to flee them, altho' they skulked for fear. - Two logs there were behind them that close together lay,
Without being discovered, they could not get away ;
Therefore our valiant English, they travell'd in a row,
And at a handsome distance as they were wont to go. - 'Twas ten o'clock in the morning, when first the fight begun,
And fiercely did continue until the setting sun ;
Excepting that the Indians some hours before 'twas night,
Drew off into the bushes and ceas'd a while to fight, - But soon again returned, in fierce and furious mood,
Shouting as in the morning, but yet not half so loud;
For as we are informed, so thick and fast they fell,
Scarce twenty of their number, at night did get home well.
-
And that our valiant English, till midnight there did stay,
And brought away their wounded as far as they could come.
To see whether the rebels would have another fray ;
But they no more returning, they made off towards their home,
- Of all our valiant English, there were but thirty- four,
And of the rebel Indians, there were about forescore.
And sixteen of our English did safely home return,
The rest were kill'd and wounded, for which we all must mourn. - Our worthy Captain Lovewell among them there did die,
They killed Lieut. Robbins, and wounded good young Frye,
Who was our English Chaplain ; he many Indians slew,
And some of them he scalp'd when bullets round him flew. - Young Fullma too I'll mention, because he fought so well,
Endeavouring to save a man, a sacrifice he fell ;
But yet our valiant Englishmen in fight were ne'er dismay'd,
But still they kept their motion, and Wyman's Captain made, - Who shot the old chief Paugus, which did the foe defeat,
Then set his men in order, and brought off the retreat ;
And braving many dangers and hardships in the way,
They safe arriv'd at Dunstable, the thirteenth day of May.
J. Farmer and J. B. Moore, editors, Collections, Historical and Miscellaneous (Concord, 1824), III, 64-66.
120. The Louisburg Expedition (1745)
Curwen was a Salem man, who later took the wrong turn in the Revolution, and became a loyalist refugee in England; see No. 169 below. — Bibliography: on Curwen, see Tyler, Literary History of the Revolution, I,367-368; on the Louisburg expedition, Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, V, 434-452; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 131.
BOSTON, March 23, 1745. The General is embarking, and we shall sail this afternoon. — Commodore Warren is coming to our assistance, which with the blessing of God will be of great advantage. — There will go down in the first embarkation at least twenty-five hundred soldiers. Sheepscot, March 27. We have in our mess Mr. Walter, our chaplain, who is a very pleasant companion. — I dined to-day on board of Capt. Grant, who to-morrow with Capt. King will breakfast with me. — Out troops were landed at Chapeaurouge on the 29th March.
Canso, April 17. Wrote home for provisions and stores to be sent in case the goods I expect shall arrive safe from England. We are almost reduced to pork and pease.
Our men-of-war and privateers are stationed all round the Island to prevent vessels going in or coming out. This evening another prize arrived, taken by Capt. Donahue, in the Swan of Marblehead, who behaved very bravely. The prize had captured the packet sent from Boston to Canso to notify us that Commodore Warren was coming to our assistance, which heightens our spirits.
Canso, April 22. Capt. Durell is come in this afternoon to our assistance ; as yet we have no news of Commodore Warren ; hope it will not be long before he arrives with an account of the French men-of-war expected. Our last transport arrived this afternoon ; we had almost given her up.
I believe our campaign will be short, and expect the place will surrender without bloodshed.
Last night our chaplain and doctor went with two companies to attack St. Peter's, and we are momently looking for their return. I long to be once within the walls of Louisburg. This is the strangest country I ever knew ; not two fair days together.
Canso, April 27. The Connecticut fleet arrived, and Col. Lathrop handed me my letter. The scheme of attacking Louisburg is altered every day.
Commodore Warren has arrived. I trust the expedition will prove successful, and that our friends will remember we are going against our common enemy. May 1st. a small party went to the harbour and burned a small quantity of wine, brandy, and naval stores.
Camp before Louisburg, May 6. We have got possession of the Grand Battery; the French departed from it three days ago; they spiked all the guns, but we have got seven of them clear, and five of them are continually playing upon the town. Our soldiers are all in good heart, and I doubt not in a few days we shall have the town. We have taken a great number of prisoners.
Commodore Warren this day came ashore to visit the General ; he and all our officers have a good understanding among themselves. Yesterday a gun at the Grand Battery split and wounded five of our men. They now and then throw a bomb, but do no damage.
This morning came in Col. Moulton with his detachment from St. Peter's, which they have demolished with the loss of but one man. Providence has signally smiled, and I doubt not the campaign will be crowned with success. I am willing to undergo any thing for the good of our cause.
Camp before Louisburg, May 12, 1745. Commodore Warren has had two hundred marines and sailors ashore for three days past in order to attack the Island battery, but something or other has always prevented its accomplishment, so the Commodore has ordered them all aboard and gone on board himself not a little dissatisfied.
Camp before Louisburg, May 26. Commodore Warren has taken the Vigilante, a 64 gun ship from France, coming with ammunition for this garrison. She was manned with five hundred men, had five hundred barrels gunpowder on board : she lost thirty men before she struck. The command of her is given to Captain Douglass, who before had the Mermaid, and Capt. Montague is to have the Mermaid. This has given new life to all our officers and soldiers.
Capt. Gay ton is safely arrived at last, which affords great joy, for we almost despaired of him, being out so long after all the transports had arrived that left under his convoy.
Capt. Fletcher has had the misfortune to lose ten men by the Indians; seven killed, and three taken prisoners. They went ashore ten miles above where we lay to get wood, and keeping no guard, were beset by the Indians and cut off.
Camp before Louisburg, June 2d. We have made an attempt upon the Island battery, and failed. Abbot, a townsman of mine, was wounded in the leg, and I fear he will lose his life.— An hundred men are missing, and we are in hopes they are taken, as two boats laden with men were seen going into the town after the attack, when the French gave three hurrahs. Young Gray is dead, and three of Capt. Grant's men are missing, all of Salem. Our scouts have had an engage ment with a number of French and Indians which we routed ; killed thirty and wounded forty ; we lost but six killed ; among them is the brave Capt. Dimmock, of Barnstable, and twenty wounded, some very dangerously. Our men got under the very walls before the French fired a gun.
Louisburg, June 17th, 1745. The Governor, aware of our preparations for a general assault, thought it best to capitulate, and has just surrendered the city to our arms.
Louisburg, July 25th, 1745. An East India ship, worth at least ₤200,000 sterling, came off the harbour, and fired a gun for a pilot. The Commodore sent out two sixty gun ships, which came up with, and took her in three hours ; we had the pleasure from the walls to see her strike to them. Two others, sent out three weeks before her, bound hither, are hourly expected to heave in sight. Col. Graham goes to morrow in a sloop as a flag of truce for Canada, with about thirty French prisoners ; he is the only Englishman that goes in her.
I am going on board Capt. Lovett to St. Peter's, with a number of my soldiers, to guard the wood-vessels going there : our affairs will soon be settled, and I shall, to my great joy, return home.
Samuel Curwen, Journal and Letters (edited by George Atkinson Ward, New York, etc., 1842), 12-14.
121. A Spanish Privateer in the Delaware (1748)
Philadelphia, June 2.
SUNDAY Evening arrived a Number of Mariners, that had been Prisoners on board the Clinton, who inform'd that the Richa, Capt. Burk, bound from Philadelphia to London with a very valuable Cargo, was taken by the said Privateer on the 16th past, about 25 Leagues from the Capes; that on the 17th she took a Sloop bound from Providence to Philadelphia, George Smith, Master, laden with Sugar and Indigo ; that on the 21st she took a Hermaphrodite Vessel, Capt. Hinsley, bound from Virginia to Bristol ; that on the 25th she came to an Anchor in Hoar kill Road, and they used all their endeavours to get a Pilot to carry her up into the River, but in vain ; and a Sloop standing in for the Road, she weigh'd and gave chase to her, but the Sloop stood out again and got clear ; during the Chase they saw a large Brigt, which stood toward them, and proved to be another French Privateer, commanded by Capt. Berneau, with 180 Men, 14 carriage Guns and 30 Swivels, in 33 Days from Cape Francois, during which Time they had taken 6 Prizes. Standing in again for the Shore, they saw two Sloops lying at Anchor in Townsend's Inlet, about 16 Miles Northward of Cape May; and manning out their two Boats, they sent them in to take them, which was done accordingly.
A Boat belonging to one of these Sloops was given to about 27 Prisoners to carry them to the Jersey Shore. While they were on board the Clinton, they learnt that she had been out from Cape Francois between 8 and 9 weeks, and had taken eleven Prizes, five of which they had [brought] out of Ocricot, in North Carolina ; and that there were then fourteen Sail of Privateers cruizing between Sandy-Hook and South Carolina.
Yesterday arrived here Capt. Thomas Blake, late of the Schooner Martha, bound from Georgia for this Place, laden with white Sugar, &c. taken by the Sloop La Fortune, Capt. Ramong, from the Havannah, of 10 Carriage Guns, Consort to the St. Michael, and bound into Delaware to join her ; this Privateer came up on the Jersey Side of the Bay, and miss'd her Consort, who went down the other Channel : She landed her Prisoners at Cohansy, and returned to the Capes. While the Prisoners were on board they learnt, that 4 Sail more of Spanish Privateers, were fitting out for this Coast. This Sloop had taken Capt. Edwards, in a Sloop from St. Kitts, bound hither with West India Goods. At the same Time Capt. Thompson, who had been bound from Virginia to Scotland, was taken off the Coast ; and Capt. Roberts, who had been taken in a Ship bound from Jamaica to London, by a French Privateer, after an Engagement of 4 Hours, in which the Enemy lost 12 Men, and Capt. Roberts one. — The Boston Weekly News Letter, June 23, 1748. No. 2410.
New-York, June 6.
Wednesday last arrived here the Privateer Brig Castor, Capt. Arnold, of this Port from a Cruize of about 11 Months, but without any great Success ; which we hear is chiefly owing to her being a heavy Sailer.
This Morning hove in Sight, from a Cruize of about 5 Weeks, the Privateer Snow Royal Catherine of this Port, Capt. John Burges, Commander, with three Prizes ; two of which we hear are Sugar Ships, and the other a French or Spanish Privateer Brig with upward of 100 Men on board ; which they took lying at Sandy Hook, as they were coming in, on Friday last : But further Particulars must be deferred till our next. . . . — The Boston Weekly Post-Boy, June 20, 1748. No. 709.
Philadelphia, June 9. Since our last arrived two French Flags of Truce from Hispaniola, one of which is taken by a Boat and Hands with a Commission from the Government of the Jerseys, and carried to Burlington for Condemnation. She had before been plundered of her most valuable Goods by a Providence Privateer. The other is seiz'd by the Collector of his Majesty's Customs of this Port. 'Tis said there is an other in this River, and that more are expected. There is Advice by these Flags, that a very large French Fleet lies at Cape Francois, waiting for Convoy to return Home ; that they were in great Want of Provisions, and under continual Apprehensions of being attack'd by Admiral Knowles.
The Enemies Privateers have left our River at present. — The Boston Evening Post, June 20, 1748. No. 671. . . .
New-York, June 20. By an Express which came Yesterday Afternoon from Philadelphia to his Excellency our Governour, we hear, That on Friday the 17th Mr. Jenkins arrived there in a Sloop, and made his Affidavit before the President and Council, that he had been taken Wednesday the i5th on his passage from Boston bound to Philadelphia, about 5 Miles from Cape May, by a Spanish Privateer Sloop commanded by Don Joseph Hantenoau, mounted with 6 Carriage Guns and about 10 Swivels, having on board about 40 Men, who plunder'd his Vessel of every Thing valuable, and then gave him his Vessel again, with which he arrived in Philadelphia. This Privateer that took him was then in Company with six others, viz. 2 Ships, 2 Brigs, and 2 Sloops. This we suppose to be Don Pedro's Fleet from the Havannah.
Boston. Last Night several Vessels arrived here from Philadelphia, who came out with above 30 others, bound to other Ports, and convoy'd out of Delaware River by the Love Man of War, with her Tender the Privateer Snow above-mention'd which she had mann'd and brought with her from Virginia. — These Vessels left Cape May last Thursday, and we are inform'd, That 4 Days before they sail'd, the said Man of War took another Spanish Privateer Sloop of 8 Carriage Guns and a Number of Swivels, within Sight of the people on Shore. This is the Privateer that Look Capt. Jenkins, mention'd in the above Paragraph under New York. — The Boston Weekly News-Letter, June 30, 1 748, No. 2411.
William Nelson, editor, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey (Paterson, 1895), XII, 452-461 passim.